At Teizawa's command, Samui drew her short blade and charged out first.
Karui followed close behind.
The sound of her longsword leaving its sheath trembled through the air.
Omoi circled in from the flank.
At some point, the lollipop in his hand had been replaced by a short blade.
Three Kumo jonin. Three sharp killing intents.
All aimed directly at the carriage loaded with seven billion ryo.
Behind them, dozens of Kumo ninja followed.
"Enemy attack!"
The Iwa ninja's warning tore through the quiet of the forest.
The scouts walking at the very front whipped around.
Their hands were already reaching for their ninja-tool pouches.
But Samui was faster.
Her short blade drew a cold flash through the air. One of them grunted and collapsed.
Blood splashed onto the dust of the main road, spreading into a pale stain.
"There's an ambush! Protect the carriage!"
The Iwa ninja shouted one after another and rapidly tightened their formation.
Earth Release ninja raised earthen walls around the outer layer.
Wind Release ninja laid down blades of wind through the air.
Lightning Release ninja had electricity leaping across their fingertips.
Dozens of Iwa elites constructed an airtight defensive line in the blink of an eye.
But the Kumo ninja were faster.
Karui's longsword sliced in from the side.
Her blade swept across one Iwa ninja's arm, sending droplets of blood flying.
Omoi burst out from behind the bushes.
His short blade stabbed straight toward another Iwa ninja's back.
Samui had already broken through the first defensive line.
Her short blade darted left and right through the crowd.
Every swing brought up a spray of blood.
The light of ninjutsu flickered through the forest.
Fire Release against Wind Release. Lightning Release against Earth Release.
Kunai crossed in midair, and blades reflected dazzling white light beneath the sun.
Dozens of Iwa ninja and dozens of Kumo ninja clashed in a chaotic melee.
Shouts of killing, screams, and the ringing clash of steel wove together until the entire forest seemed to boil.
Samui forced back the Iwa ninja in front of her with one slash.
Her gaze locked onto the carriage.
The carriage was surrounded by layer after layer of earthen walls.
Its wheels had sunk into the ground, sealing it firmly in place.
Her target was the money.
Not to steal it. To destroy it.
As long as that seven billion could not reach Konoha, Iwagakure would not be able to win the Four-Tails at auction. Then the Four-Tails would belong to Kumogakure.
Karui swept past her side.
Her longsword pierced through an Iwa ninja trying to approach the carriage.
"Samui, I'll open the way!"
She shouted, lightning coiling around the edge of her blade.
Then she slashed violently toward the earthen wall ahead.
With a boom, a crack split through the wall.
Samui slipped through the opening.
Her short blade pointed straight at the carriage.
"Don't even think about it!"
A furious shout exploded beside her ear.
The ground collapsed with a roar, and an earthen wall several meters thick erupted from underground.
It stood between Samui and the carriage like a small mountain.
That wall was thicker, taller, and sturdier than all the ones before it.
Its surface gleamed with a metallic luster.
Clearly, the caster had poured a level of chakra into it far beyond an ordinary ninja.
Samui's pupils contracted slightly.
She abruptly raised her head.
At the top of the earthen wall stood a burly figure.
Dark-brown armor. An honest-looking face.
And eyes burning with anger.
"Kitsuchi..."
Karui's startled voice came from behind her.
Everyone froze in that instant.
Kitsuchi?
Why was he here?
He should have been in Konoha, waiting at the inn.
He should have been dealing with that Kazekage.
Why would he appear here?
The battlefield fell into a strange silence.
Kitsuchi stood atop the earthen wall, his face dark.
His gaze swept over Samui, then Karui, then Omoi...
Finally, it landed on the carriage.
His daughter was still inside that carriage.
The seven billion was still inside that carriage as well.
"Everyone from Kumogakure..."
His voice was low and hoarse, carrying anger he could no longer suppress. "You've gone too far."
No one answered him.
Samui tightened her grip on her short blade. Karui held her sword horizontally before her chest.
Three Kumo jonin, facing the Iwa ninja best known for defense.
None of them dared act recklessly.
Far away, on the branch of a large tree, Teizawa leaned against the trunk.
He watched the scene with great interest.
He had changed into Kumo attire, and a cloth covered his face, leaving only his eyes exposed.
From the outside, he looked no different from the other Kumo ninja.
After all...
What did Kumogakure robbing Iwagakure have to do with Sunagakure?
He had no intention of exposing his identity.
Kitsuchi's appearance was indeed beyond his expectations.
According to the intelligence, Kitsuchi should have been in Konoha, waiting for news. He should not have appeared here.
Teizawa narrowed his eyes.
His gaze swept over Kitsuchi.
Had Kurotsuchi informed him at the last moment?
Or had Kitsuchi sensed something himself?
Either way, this old boy had arrived rather quickly.
It seemed this honest-looking fellow was not exactly simple-minded.
The corners of Teizawa's mouth lifted slightly.
But so what if he came?
The ones making a move were Kumo, and the ones taking the blame would also be Kumo.
All Teizawa needed to do was watch the show.
At that moment, Kitsuchi jumped down from the earthen wall.
He landed beside the carriage.
His gaze swept over his wounded subordinates, then over the Kumo ninja still locked in combat.
"You want this money?" He patted the carriage's compartment. "Then get through me first."
Samui tightened her grip on her short blade and did not retreat.
Karui and Omoi moved in from both sides.
Three Kumo jonin formed a pincer attack.
The air froze for an instant.
In the distance, Teizawa leaned against the tree trunk.
He took a raisin from his pocket and tossed it into his mouth.
This show was getting more and more interesting.
On the battlefield, Samui's gaze swept over Kitsuchi's burly frame, then the carriage guarded by layer after layer of earthen walls, then the subordinates still fighting around them.
Omoi put away his usual careless attitude.
Karui held her sword horizontally before her chest.
Both of them were looking at Samui.
Kitsuchi's defensive power ranked high even across the ninja world.
And the three of them were only jonin.
In a direct clash, their odds were not good.
Samui subconsciously glanced back.
Teizawa was leaning against a distant tree trunk.
His face was covered, and he looked as if the matter had nothing to do with him.
But he was there.
Samui's heart suddenly steadied.
She did not know exactly how strong Teizawa was.
But as the Kazekage, as the strongest person in Sunagakure...
He should be able to deal with Kitsuchi, right?
Even if Sunagakure was the weakest of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, even if Teizawa could not defeat Kitsuchi...
He should at least be able to restrain him.
No matter what...
As long as he was there, they still had a chance.
Samui withdrew her gaze and tightened her grip on her short blade.
"Attack."
Her voice was very soft, yet it carried unquestionable resolve.
Karui was the first to charge out.
Lightning coiled around her longsword as she stabbed straight toward Kitsuchi's face.
Kitsuchi did not dodge.
He did not even move.
The blade stopped three feet away from him.
An earthen wall appeared out of thin air and sent Karui flying back, sword and all.
Omoi cut in from the side, his short blade stabbing toward Kitsuchi's ribs.
Kitsuchi did not even look at him.
He stomped one foot down.
The ground beneath Omoi's feet instantly surged upward, forcing him to retreat.
Samui did not rush to strike.
She was waiting.
Waiting for Kitsuchi to reveal an opening.
But Kitsuchi stood there like a mountain, unmoving and unshakable.
His defense was flawless.
Neither Karui's blazing assault nor Omoi's side attack could shake him in the slightest.
"Little girl from Kumogakure..."
Kitsuchi's voice was low, carrying a trace of disdain.
"You're still far too young."
(End of Chapter)
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