After Kyosuke and the others had left, i Terumī and Ao looked at the unconscious Kisa, then at each other, feeling a sense of helplessness.
We were supposed to be probing the enemy, but we ended up getting beaten up... really... i sighed to herself, then prepared to leave.
Although the Sand ninja seed to be targeting the Konoha ninja, if they discovered that their combat power was diminished, there was no telling what they might do.
Even though i herself was not afraid of them, having to protect the unconscious Kisa while fighting at a nurical disadvantage was a headache even for her.
So, after a brief mont of thought, i gave the order to retreat.
I'll let you dogs bite each other. I'm not playing anymore.
While both Kyosuke and i's squads had chosen to avoid a direct confrontation, one team was charging straight at the Sand ninja.
This reckless team was, of course, the Cloud ninja squad.
"Captain," Samui suddenly called out as they were speeding along.
Hearing her, Darui turned to look at his expressionless comrade and asked lazily, "What's up?"
"Why are we attacking the Sand's team first, instead of targeting the Stone or probing Konoha?" Samui asked with a puzzled expression.
"Well~ it's not like we're specifically targeting them," Darui said with a faint smile, glancing at the sowhat silent Yugito. "It's just that the Sand are the closest to us."
"So, we'll just take them out along the way."
However, none of the Cloud ninja noticed that on a large tree not far from them, a transparent figure was watching them with cold, calculating eyes.
At this ti, Kyosuke's team of three was advancing at a steady pace.
Although the path was filled with various traps and ferocious beasts, these were no obstacle for them.
"How far are we from the exit?" Kyosuke suddenly asked Hyuga Yōmyō.
"Hmm... we've probably only covered about a quarter of the distance," Hyuga Yōmyō replied.
A quarter... Kyosuke murmured to himself, then asked again, "How far are the Sand ninja from us?"
"Closer than before. Less than two kiloters," Hyuga Yōmyō said, then paused for a mont before adding urgently, "There's a team rapidly approaching the Sand. They're engaging!"
"Actively attacking the Sand? Which village's squad is it?" Kyosuke asked, his eyes narrowing slightly, his tone unreadable.
"It's... the Cloud ninja squad!" Hyuga Yōmyō said.
"Stop!"
Hearing this, Kyosuke suddenly waved for the team to halt. He then lowered his head in thought for a mont before saying coldly, "We're going back."
"Uh, back to where?" Hyuga Yōmyō asked.
Kyosuke turned to him with a smile. "Of course..."
"To take them out."
"Damn you, Cloud ninja! You really think I'm afraid of you?" Kuro roared, looking at the wounds on his body.
"What a hot-tempered fellow," Darui said with his usual nonchalant air, but his hands showed no signs of slacking.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
He suddenly released a water-style ninjutsu at Kuro.
But strangely, this was not an offensive jutsu.
Kuro, looking at the wall of water surrounding him, was about to say sothing with a grin when Darui's second ninjutsu descended.
"Lightning Release: Wave of Inspiration."
A bolt of lightning suddenly shot out from his hand and quickly spread through the Water Formation Wall.
Now, Kuro finally understood his intention.
This was a combination ninjutsu. Darui had first used the Water Formation Wall to restrict his enemy's movents and then used the conductivity of water to deliver an attack.
If it had been anyone else, even if they weren't defeated outright, they would have likely been injured.
But Kuro, who was proficient in taijutsu, was not among them.
"Seven Heavens Breathing thod: Third Gate."
"Open!!!"
With Kuro's roar, a massive wave of chakra erupted from his body.
Although opening the third gate was not enough to break the Water Formation Wall with a burst of chakra alone, it could effectively reduce the damage from Darui's Lightning Release attack.
For Kuro, this was enough.
"Hah!!!" After withstanding Darui's attack, Kuro roared again, then shattered the Water Formation Wall with a single punch and charged out.
But before he could celebrate, a long sword crackling with intense lightning ca whistling down at him.
Just as Darui was about to succeed, a massive puppet suddenly shot out from behind him and enveloped him.
With no other choice, Darui had to forcefully twist his body, ultimately managing to evade the puppet's attack with only minor injuries.
The one controlling this puppet was, of course, Sasori, who was currently engaged in a fierce battle with Yugito.
He was simultaneously fighting Yugito while controlling another puppet to help his teammate escape.
An operation of this difficulty would likely be a challenge even for ninja who had specialized in the puppet technique for many years.
At this mont, not only Sasori's teammate, Kuro, but also Darui was filled with admiration.
"What a skilled fellow," Darui praised, but his hands were secretly forming hand seals again.
It was clear that although he was impressed by Sasori's puppet technique, it was not enough to extinguish his fighting spirit.
However, just as he was preparing to launch another ninjutsu, he felt a numbing sensation from his previous wound.
This feeling made his heart sink.
Poison on the puppet?! Darui thought, quickly retreating while taking an antidote pill from his pocket.
But it was clear that this antidote was not enough to completely neutralize Sasori's poison.
Although Sasori's skill in poison at this ti had not yet reached the level where he could poison the Third Kazekage, it was not sothing a re antidote pill could cure.
Seeing this, Darui called out loudly. Then, with his other two teammates providing cover, he stood in a standoff with the three Sand ninja.
"Darui-kun, are you alright?" Yugito asked with concern, her eyes cautiously fixed on the trio opposite them.
"It's a troubleso poison," Darui replied, frowning.
"Then should we retreat for now?" Samui, who was also on high alert, calmly suggested.
Darui thought for a mont and was about to give his order when he saw three figures slowly approaching from a distance.
He looked at the three of them, who clearly did not co in peace, and let out a wry smile. "It seems that even if we wanted to leave now, it wouldn't be so easy."
These three were, of course, the Stone ninja squad.
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