Shira's sword strike embodied all his mind, strength, and yearning for victory.
The sword light was not dazzling, but restrained, precise, and swift, carrying a resolute determination to pierce through gaps, directly stabbing the gap less than two fingers wide that was exposed between the shoulder armor and breastplate of the heavily armored rock ninja due to his staff-wielding movement!
According to his current perception, which far surpasses that of ordinary people, that place was a tiny point of stagnation in the flow of the opponent 'Chakra at the moment of exertion, and also a relatively vulnerable connection.
Fast! Accurate! Ruthless!
This sword strike almost reached the pinnacle of his normal combination of Taijutsu and swordsmanship.
He could even feel the slight resistance as the sword tip pierced the air and touched the opponent's inner leather lining—the next moment, it would penetrate flesh and blood, destroy tendons and veins, at least cripple the opponent's arm, and thwart this fatal sweep!
However, just as the sword tip was about to pierce the flesh—
The heavily armored rock ninja's bloodshot eyes, the only part visible beneath his helmet, suddenly flashed with a fierce light!
Instead of panic, a cruel, predatory glint flashed across his face, like prey caught in a trap!
"Rock Release: Hardening!"
A deep, muffled roar erupted from beneath the thick rock armor. It wasn't Hand Seals, but rather some kind of instantly activated bloodline technique or solidified Ninjutsu.
Between the gaps in the armor that should have been fragile, the gray-brown rock skin instantly gleamed with a metallic, dark luster, the muscles bulging, as hard as iron!
Not only that, but a powerful, concentrated earth-attribute Chakra, full of the power to counteract the impact, suddenly erupted in the area of his shoulder and neck where he had been stabbed!
"Bite--!!!"
A piercing, teeth-grinding sound of metal scraping against metal rang out! Shira felt as if the tip of her sword had not pierced flesh and blood, but rather had been slammed into an indestructible granite cliff face that had withstood thousands of years of wind and rain!
An irresistible, overwhelming, and terrifying force of recoil surged along the sword, wrist, and arm, crashing into his body like a runaway bull!
"What?!"
Shira's pupils contracted sharply, alarm bells blaring in his mind, but it was too late to change his move. He only had time to forcibly distort the breathing rhythm of the Seven Heavens Breathing Method, attempting to channel the power into his feet to dissipate the impact.
"Bang!!"
A dull thud. Shira was thrown away like a kite with a broken string by the terrifying recoil!
The tiger's mouth of his right hand, which was holding the sword, instantly split open, blood gushing out. The longsword slipped from his hand, spinning in the air and flying far away before crashing into the sand in the distance.
His chest felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, his blood churned, and a sweet taste rose in his throat, almost causing him to spit out blood. He forced it down, but felt as if his internal organs had shifted.
His body tumbled uncontrollably through the air several times before crashing heavily into a pile of rocks more than ten meters away. His back slammed hard against a protruding rock, and his vision went black; he almost fainted.
Excruciating pain! From my arms to my chest, and then to my back, the pain was everywhere!
More importantly, the psychological impact of having her determined and powerful sword strike, which was so easily countered and severely damaged by the opponent in such an almost brutal manner, caused Shira to momentarily lose her composure and feel cold.
"Cough cough..."
Shira curled up in the pile of stones, coughing violently. Each cough tugged at her chest and abdomen, causing excruciating pain.
His right arm hung limply, temporarily numb. He struggled to get up, using his left hand to support himself, but felt a sudden dizziness.
" Shira!" Asuka's angry shout came from not far away, along with Sasori's roar. But they were also entangled with other Iwa ninja and could not break free for the time being.
The heavily armored rock ninja had only a faint white spot and a crack on his shoulder armor. He shook his thick neck, making a "crack" sound.
His scarlet eyes locked onto Shira, who had fallen to the ground. He grinned, revealing yellowed teeth, and with heavy, determined steps, dragging the terrifying stone club, he approached step by step. His gaze was like that of someone looking at a swatted insect, filled with cruel mockery and murderous intent.
"Kid, you wield the sword well, but unfortunately, you lack strength."
A deep, hoarse voice came from beneath the helmet, like the grinding of rocks, "The tender shoots of Sunagakure should stay obediently in the sand. Coming here... is just courting death."
He raised the stone staff high, its shadow completely enveloping Shira, who was barely supporting her upper body. Before the staff even fell, the suffocating, malevolent wind had already pressed down.
Was she going to die? The thought, like a cold, venomous snake, instantly flashed through Shira's mind.
No! I can't die here! The faces of my parents, the worried look in Ameno's eyes, Chiyo's cold snort, Gaara's smile, Guy-sensei's burning youth, Rock Lee's indomitable shout, the "dry rations" that Uzumaki Kei secretly slipped to me... countless images flashed by like fragments.
"Ugh--!"
The shock of the desperate situation caused something within Shira to explode! It wasn't the activation of the Seven Heavens Breathing Method, but a more primal and violent survival instinct, mixed with resentment, anger, and an obsession with protecting!
Driven by this will, ignoring the excruciating pain in his right arm and the churning in his chest and abdomen, he slammed his left hand on the ground and rolled awkwardly to the side, while simultaneously pushing off upwards with all his might with his left leg!
The target is the area behind and to the side of the opponent's front knee as they step forward and support their body—not a vital spot, but it's one of the fulcrums for balance and also a relatively weak point in leg protection!
"Bang!"
The kick landed squarely on the side of the opponent's knee.
The heavily armored rock ninja swayed slightly, causing the trajectory of the stone club he was about to throw to deviate a little, and it landed heavily on the rock next to where Shira had just been standing.
"Boom!"
Stone fragments flew everywhere, leaving a shallow crater in the ground. Although Shira dodged the fatal blow, she was stung by the flying stones, and her rolling momentum was also slowed down, making her even more disheveled.
"A desperate struggle!" Enraged by the ant's counterattack, the heavily armored rock ninja roared and swept his stone staff across a wider area, sealing off Shira's space to dodge left and right.
It looked like Shira was about to be split in two by that blow!
" Earth Release · Earth Style Wall!"
" Puppet Technique: Mechanical Shield!"
Two urgent shouts rang out almost simultaneously! A much thicker earthen wall rose up on the side of Shira. Although it was shattered by the stone club, it successfully slowed down the speed and force of the stone club's sweep.
At the same time, a square shield made of metal and hardwood, engraved with intricate patterns, flew in spinning and blocked Shira's path with a loud clang!
It was Captain Reppu and Sada! Blood trickled from the corner of Reppu's mouth, clearly indicating that forcibly using a more advanced Earth Release to intercept had aggravated his injuries.
Sada, his face pale, flicked his fingers, manipulating the shield puppet to desperately hold back the stone club. Cracks instantly appeared on the shield, which groaned under the strain, but ultimately it blocked the fatal blow.
"Take him away!" Reppu roared at Asuka, then swung his sword and charged at the heavily armored Iwa ninja again, buying time for Shira.
The Asuka swooped down like a true falcon, scooped up the nearly exhausted Shira, hoisted her onto its shoulder, and ran wildly towards the cave where the wounded were gathered without looking back.
Sada also controlled the nearly broken shield puppet, fighting and retreating.
Shira, perched on Asuka's shoulder, felt her vision blur and her ears ring. She saw Captain Reppu clash with the heavily armored rock ninja again, staggering backward and spitting out blood.
He saw that although the Ryoma Jonin in the distance Kamui and severely injured one person with a combination of ninjutsu, he himself was also entangled by another heavily armored Iwa ninja and several ordinary Iwa ninja, and had several wounds on his body;
They saw that although Jonin Baki had suppressed his opponent, he was unable to gain the upper hand immediately; they saw the entire camp's defensive line teetering on the brink of collapse under the onslaught led by several heavily armored Iwa ninja, with Sunagakure fighting valiantly, each wounded...
Defeated? No, they were at a complete disadvantage.
His newly acquired swordsmanship, his newly grasped sense of airflow, and his pressure point techniques proved utterly powerless against the overwhelming force and special defensive Ninjutsu.
The shockwave from that sword strike was still raging within him, a constant reminder of his defeat and weakness.
"Cough cough, put me down... I can still..." Shira struggled, her throat filled with the taste of blood.
"Shut up! Save your energy!"
The Asuka growled, its footsteps unwavering, and shoved him into a relatively safe corner of the cave, where several seriously injured Sunagakure were already gathered. " Medical-nin! Check on him!"
A medical ninja with a bandaged arm and a pale face Chunin over to examine Shira's injuries. His expression changed. "Fractured right wrist, torn tiger's mouth, internal injuries, it's serious! Don't move!"
Shira leaned against the cold rock wall, letting the medical-nin treat her wounds, but her eyes were fixed on the horrific battlefield outside the cave.
The bitterness and pain of defeat, along with the anxiety of seeing his comrades struggling, burned like poisonous fire in his heart.
For the first time, he realized with such clarity that the fighting on the border was far more brutal than he had imagined.
Skill and wisdom are important, but absolute strength, uncanny Ninjutsu, and rich experience often determine life and death.
I still have a long way to go.
He gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, his left hand trembling as he reached for the hard object in his pocket—the "specially made Military Rations Pill " wrapped in coarse cloth given to him by Uzumaki Kei.
Now is not the time; this should be a lifesaver in a more critical moment. He touched the inner lining of his ninja tool pouch again, where the heavy sand dumbbell Gaara given him was.
He couldn't collapse here! He closed his eyes, intending to forcefully circulate the Seven Heavens Breathing Method, even if it was just the most basic breathing rhythm, in an attempt to calm his blood and qi and gather a trace of strength.
First Activation? Second Activation? In his current physical condition, forcibly activating it would likely cause him to collapse. But he couldn't bear to do nothing.
The shouts, explosions, and clanging of metal outside the cave grew increasingly intense, and dust fell from the cave ceiling.
The Sunagakure's defenses seem to be on the verge of collapse.
Those heavily armored Rock Ninja, like unbreakable rock giants, wreaked havoc on the battlefield.
Shira's left hand slowly clenched, her nails digging into her palm. Blood seeped out from between her fingers, dripping into the sand beneath her, where it was quickly absorbed, leaving only a dark stain.
His gaze passed over the chaos at the cave entrance and landed on the gloomy horizon further away.
There, the morning star seemed to struggle, trying to break through the thick darkness...