After the illusion dissipated, the stunned Yoshio noticed only the Eighth standing a hundred meters ahead, as well as the scattered underlings cowering in the corners, afraid to get caught in the commander's rampage.
He warily looked around, searching for that monstrous enemy with his eyes, but saw no one. A few seconds later, realization hit him that it had all been an illusion, and Yoshio sighed in relief while feeling immense shame. He turned his gaze to the Eighth standing nearby and resolved to kill him and all his men at any cost to keep this disgrace secret.
Enraged, Yoshio charged at the Eighth wordlessly; the latter maintained absolute calm, preparing to buy as much time as he could.
Even with three tomoe and a fully overloaded Exo-suit, the Eighth dodged only the first strike. The second grazed his block but was enough to break his arm in three places and send him flying.
Crashing back-first into a massive rock, the Eighth snapped to attention and leaped aside. A split second later, the powerful Jonin's foot smashed into the spot where he had stood, shattering a chunk of the rock.
Before the fight, the Eighth thought he could hold the enemy for at least half a minute, but the foe was much stronger than anticipated. Not five seconds passed before his arm was broken, and he nearly died.
Yoshio had no intention of toying with his prey and immediately dashed again after the failed attack, appearing before the Eighth in less than a second for a simple punch to the chest. To his surprise, the enemy commander didn't dodge but countered with a sword thrust.
The Chapter of the Green Palm had no fear of a mere Chunin's counterattack and merely grinned savagely as he completed his punch. His fist hit the Eighth's chest squarely, and even the toughest Exo-suit absorbed less than ten percent of the force. The Eighth smiled in turn, as for the first time in hours, something went according to his plan.
The Eighth's incredibly sharp and sturdy katana pierced Yoshio's flesh, but even so, the blow lacked force to penetrate the Jonin's toughest muscles. The blade sank only three centimeters into his abs, but that was more than enough for the subsequent electric discharge.
After the exchange, the Eighth with his destroyed ribcage was sent flying, while Yoshio took the strongest electric shock. And though it was far from enough to take him out, that's not what the Eighth had counted on.
Slamming into a solid rock, the Eighth teetered on the brink of unconsciousness. His entire chest was obliterated, and his heart beat only by miracle. Lungs ruptured, he couldn't breathe or move.
On the verge of death, he regretted only disappointing his father and making his mother cry. The hellish pain from ruptured organs didn't stop him from executing the plan, and in the next instant, it was over.
Barely surviving the main electric shock, Yoshio's instincts screamed of danger. He leaped aside instantly, but post-shock, his body refused to obey fully, and he only reached the gorge's edge when the massive explosion series engulfed him.
The blasts were so powerful that Yoshio feared for his life again and hastily surrounded himself with a water barrier. Even so, he couldn't avoid injuries. The shockwave propagated perfectly through water, giving the Jonin severe internal contusion and ruptured eardrums, causing him to lose technique control for seconds.
Large shrapnel kept slamming into his tough flesh, several hitting his abdomen and piercing intestines and bladder. Yoshio felt unbearable pain and came to, hiding behind the water barrier again. Only after ten seconds did the explosion cacophony stop, and three underlings rushed to aid the boss.
"Boss! Boss! Are you okay? – The arriving slightly plump thirty-year-old man shouted in shock."
"Khha… Khha…" Yoshio coughed. He was barely conscious and heard nothing. Glancing at the underling, he growled:
"Catch them all… Kill! – He snarled viciously, his head aching unbearably."
"Y-yes, boss! – The man declared and headed to base to fetch an Iryonin, as the one who treated Hide couldn't escape the blast, his body now buried in rubble with his patient."
The other two underlings immediately pursued the escaped enemies but found no one. Had Yoshio personally chased one direction, he'd likely catch someone, but his underlings were mere Chunin without such speed or senses.
About a minute and a half after the Eighth's retreat order, all Team Three members heard a loud explosion behind and flinched, turning back as one.
Tears welled in their eyes, and the Twelfth's Sharingan activated involuntarily, adding a third "comma." His tears turned red, fists clenched with a loud crack. He blamed his weakness, heart tearing from unbearable pain.
All felt similar emotions and only after seconds resumed flight, remembering their older brother's dying order. Each had time for soul-rending thoughts, but despite the urge to return and avenge by tearing enemy flesh, they could only grit teeth in impotence and keep running.
The moment the Eighth, a thousand kilometers from home, activated the "last resort" formation, Kenshin was strolling in the garden with Noriko, Makoto, and Meyumi. His smile froze, heart stabbed by ill foreboding.
"Something wrong, Kenshin? Did I disappoint you? – Makoto asked, looking into his eyes."
"Mm… No, Makoto, everything's fine. Unfortunately, the walk's canceled. Sixth, escort the girls back. – He said calmly and flew to the highest roof. His thoughts and feelings in chaos, he wanted no contact with loved ones."
Ten minutes later, Kasumi climbed the roof and approached her husband in lotus position. She hugged him from behind gently, resting her head on his shoulder, rubbing her cheek against his.
"Something happened? – She asked softly."
"Team Three activated the last resort formation. I don't know what they faced, but the enemy is much stronger than them…" He replied with a sigh, stroking her tender hand.