Fūka

Caught off guard, Uzumaki Hane felt the ground soften and a powerful suction force pull Uzumaki Hane downwards. Having experience dealing with Ninjutsu like the Swamp of the Underworld, Uzumaki Hane wasn't afraid of this Antlion and didn't struggle, allowing himself to be sucked in.

Taruho struggled to get out and saw Uzumaki Hane being sucked into the ground. She called out worriedly, "Uzumaki Hane..." She tried to go downstairs, but she lost her footing and fell to the floor.

Fudō watched as Uzumaki Hane was trapped in his Ninjutsu, a smile spreading across his face. "Let's see if you don't die this time." Now that Uzumaki Hane was dealt with, he might as well kill the priestess as well, eliminating a future threat for his future acquisition of the Moryo. With that thought, Fudō headed towards the priestess's room.

Suddenly, the ground where Uzumaki Hane had just been buried began to melt. Fudō sensed something was wrong. With a bang, the ground exploded, and countless pieces of lava flew everywhere. A lava fire dragon soared into the sky, with Uzumaki Hane standing on its head, looking down at Fudō.

Lava dragons scattered across the ground, hissing as the earth began to melt. Uzumaki Hane landed on the ground, a murderous glint in his eyes, and roared, "Great Eruption!" He clasped his hands together, transforming them into a gigantic Rock Fist, which crashed down upon Fudō. Fudō watched the Rock Fist descend upon him without offering any resistance. Boom! A deep lava crater was left in its wake.

Uzumaki Hane frowned, a premonition rising in her heart that Fudō was probably still alive, and the two would soon meet again. However, to Uzumaki Hane Fudō merely a defeated opponent now, and she didn't care even if he were still alive. She should go check on Shion and the others.

Uzumaki Hane Feather flashed and appeared upstairs. Taruho Earth Flow over anxiously, her body covered in wounds, looking even more disheveled, probably from the fall she had just suffered.

Uzumaki Hane asked, "Taruho, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," said Taruho worriedly. "Lady Shion has already left through the secret passage, but I don't know if the enemy has any accomplices. Uzumaki Hane, let's chase after them immediately and protect Lady Shion." Just now, she took a step and almost fell because she lost her footing.

Uzumaki Hane said, "You're injured like this, you should go and heal yourself right away. I'll take care of Shion."

Taruho knew that her injuries would only slow down Uzumaki Hane, so she said, "Uzumaki Hane, I'm leaving Lady Shion in your care." After saying that, she told Uzumaki Hane the location of the secret passage.

Uzumaki Hane rushed straight into the secret passage. The passage was long, and it took Uzumaki Hane quite a while to emerge. Outside the passage was a waterfall. Shion was kneeling before the waterfall, anxiously waiting, tears glistening in her eyes. Upon seeing Uzumaki Hane, her eyes filled with surprise and joy, but she quickly suppressed her joy and calmly said, "Uzumaki Hane, you're not dead."

Uzumaki Hane reached out and stroked her hair, saying, "I've driven the intruders away, and Taruho is alright, just a little injured."

Shion slapped away Uzumaki Hane's hand and said, "Uzumaki Hane, you're too weak and useless. You actually let him get away."

Uzumaki Hane reached out and flicked her forehead. Shion covered her forehead and angrily said, "Damn it, who gave you permission to be so rude?" She bared her teeth and claws and lunged at Uzumaki Hane.

Uzumaki Hane stretched out her right hand and pressed it against Shion's forehead. Shion's arms were too short, and she couldn't reach Uzumaki Hane no matter what she did.

When Shion stopped, exhausted, Uzumaki Hane said, "Alright, the palace has been destroyed. We need to go back and clean up the mess. But the intruder escaped; he's a powerful missing-nin. If he had planned an assassination, I might not have been able to detect it. From now on, we need to be careful. Don't leave my sight." Then, Uzumaki Hane led Shion back to the palace.

Taruho, struggling to stay upright, directed the soldiers to clean up the battlefield. Seeing Shion return safely, she staggered over and said, "Lady Shion, are you alright?"

Looking at Taruho's battered and bruised state, Shion's eyes flashed with worry, but her face remained calm as she said, "Taruho, go and bandage your wounds right away. You'll be fine here with Uzumaki Hane protecting you."

Uzumaki Hane also said, "Alright, you go and heal your injuries. I'll stay here and protect Shion."

Having witnessed Uzumaki Hane's power, Ashiho said in Taruho, "Uzumaki Hane, I entrust Lady Shion's safety to you." She then turned and left.

Shion turned and entered the palace, followed by Uzumaki Hane.

In a forest not far from the palace complex, Fudō emerged from the ground. Fudō body was covered in burn marks, making him look utterly wretched. However, Fudō of immediately tending to his wounds, Fudo quickly moved away. Had he been a moment later, he would have been dead. He hadn't expected his opponent to be so powerful. His eyes filled with hatred, Fudō said, "I will be back."

After traveling for a while, several fireballs suddenly appeared ahead. Fudō quickly retreated, avoiding all the fireballs. A beautiful woman appeared in front of Fudō, with long, blood-red hair.

Fudō glared at the woman and said, "Fūka, what are you doing?" The woman was Fūka, another subordinate of Kazuma, a former ninja from Sunagakure.

Fūka said, "I never thought you'd have such a pathetic day."

Fudō of answering Fūka's question, Bu Feng asked, "Fūka, what are you doing here?"

Fūka said, "Didn't Kazuma send you to seize the Moryo, to greatly aid our attack on Konoha? However, Lord Kazuma was worried that you weren't strong enough, so he sent me to help. Ah, I can't take it anymore, this is too exhausting. Let's finish this quickly."

Previously, Fudō wouldn't have agreed, but having just been defeated by Uzumaki Hane, Fudō knew Uzumaki Hane 'Uzumaki Hane strength and knew that he probably couldn't deal with him alone. Fudō said, "Let's go," and led the way to Yomi's stronghold.

Fūka followed behind, watching Fudō with curiosity. Fudō didn't seem angry at all. Looking at the wounds on Fudō's body, it seemed that Fudō had suffered a terrible defeat. Fūka wondered who had defeated him and who really wanted to drain his Chakra.

The two arrived at the stronghold where Yomi was located. Three figures flashed, and Kusuna and his two companions appeared in front of them. Kusuna, who was in the lead, said, "Lord Fudō, I wonder if that person has been dealt with?"

Fudō was somewhat ashamed to talk about this and remained silent. The female ninja, Shūri, looking at the disheveled Fudō, exclaimed excitedly, "Lord Fudō, you didn't kill him? Were you no match for him?"

Anger flashed in Fudō's eyes. He flashed forward and appeared in front of his opponent, throwing a punch. Bang! Shūri sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the cliff wall. Shūri stood up, looking at Fudō in fear. She hadn't even seen Fudō's attack clearly. If he wanted to kill her, it wouldn't be so easy.

Fudō them and walked into the base with Fūka.