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Desert.
Scorching hot.
Whoosh whoosh… over a dozen sharp kunai flew through the air, aiming straight at six fleeing shinobi.
"Wind Release: Wind Wall Jutsu!"
Among the six fleeing, all wearing Sunagakure headbands, one turned and formed hand seals, releasing a wind wall from his mouth to block the incoming kunai.
But by doing so, he fell behind and was caught by the pursuing enemies.
"Daiki!!!" The five in front halted their steps. Before they could react, a loud warning came from their comrade.
"Don't stop, keep moving!"
The one lagging behind faced away from his comrades, his expression wild, ready to sacrifice himself as rear guard.
"Go!"
The five ahead heard the resolve in their comrade's voice and understood someone had to cover their retreat. Suppressing their grief, they quickened their pace, unwilling to waste the chance their comrade created.
"Trying to escape? Too late!"
The pursuers were about twenty Kirigakure ninja, led by a middle-aged man wearing a mask. He sneered coldly, using the momentary pause of the five to close the distance, then formed hand seals and unleashed a large-scale Water Release jutsu.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Surge!"
Like a raging river bursting during the rainy season, a torrent of explosive water suddenly appeared in the hot desert, surging violently toward the six Sunagakure ninja.
"To unleash such a powerful Water Release!"
Daiki's expression changed. To produce such a large-scale Water Release in the desert, this Kirigakure shinobi was a strong upper-rank ninja.
"Earth Release: Earth Formation Wall!"
"Ah…"
Daiki frantically poured chakra, releasing Earth Release. A thick earthen wall rose from the desert, blocking the overwhelming water surge.
The five Sunagakure ninja ahead used this moment to escape, putting some distance between themselves and Kirigakure as they continued deeper into the desert.
Thunk!
A sharp blade pierced Daiki's chest. Lowering his head, Daiki looked at the blood-dripping needle. A flicker of recognition crossed his eyes, and suddenly he realized something. His expression changed as he turned to shout a warning to his comrades.
But… thunk thunk!
Only fresh blood spilled from his mouth in response.
"Ninja… Sword… Seven Swordsmen!"
In his final moments, Daiki saw a yellow-haired shinobi with spiky hair and a Kirigakure Anbu mask-the wielder of the long sword "Nuibari," a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Sss!
From afar, Kurisame Chōmaru retracted steel wires in his hands, pulling the long sword "Nuibari" free from Daiki's body and back into his grasp.
"I hope that scorching Release user, Pakura, proves interesting!"
Carrying a decapitating greatsword, Biwa Jūzō swiftly passed by Kurisame Chōmaru, his words dripping with mockery.
Kurisame Chōmaru followed silently. As an Anbu, he was like a ruthless killing machine, mechanically executing missions without idle talk.
"Don't be careless. The Fourth Mizukage sent all seven of us to surround and kill her, so her strength must be considerable."
Splash… Behind them, Suikazeyama Fuguo removed his transformation, reverting from the middle-aged man to his true form. Looking at his companions, he said:
Earlier, he had unleashed that large-scale Water Release jutsu in the desert.
The great sword "Samehada" granted him massive chakra, allowing him to perform large-scale Water Release even without water nearby.
He was also the strongest among the Seven Swordsmen.
Of course, his strength was limited, and the other six did not fear him.
Uchiha Shinpachi, wielder of the explosive blade "Shibuki," sneered, "As long as you don't hold us back, I can handle that little woman alone."
At this, the hot-tempered Biwa Jūzō said, "My decapitating greatsword is starving. Soon, you'll see how I feed it with that little woman's blood."
"Heh heh…" The others responded with cold laughter.
Seeing the six grow increasingly tense, Suikazeyama Fuguo quickly reminded, "Don't forget, this mission was assigned by the Fourth Mizukage."
The Four's prestige remained high in their minds, and the reminder calmed them.
No matter what, the mission came first.
They couldn't afford to disappoint the Fourth Mizukage.
The Fourth Mizukage, who perfectly controlled the Three-Tails, was himself an elite skilled in various Water Release secret techniques, making his power formidable.
The Seven Swordsmen who witnessed the Fourth Mizukage quell the village's internal chaos knew his terrifying strength and dared not disobey his orders.
The five Sunagakure ninja pursued and hunted by the Seven Swordsmen didn't know of their existence, nor that they were targeting Pakura.
They foolishly thought finding Pakura meant salvation.
But it was no surprise they trusted Pakura so much.
Over the past year, Pakura's scorching Release had risen strongly.
Her scorching Release was a perfect counter to Kirigakure's Water Release, far different from the original story's version extinguished by a mere splash of water.
No Water Release could withstand Pakura's scorching Release; it would evaporate instantly.
In close combat, Pakura's scorching fireballs killed on contact; kunai and long swords were useless against her.
Plus, Pakura's taijutsu was strong.
This forged a terrifying battlefield killing machine.
Ordinary Jonin couldn't stand against her.
Over the past year, Pakura had killed more than fifteen Kirigakure Jonin.
Remember, each Jonin had no obvious weakness in taijutsu and possessed powerful secret techniques or abilities.
Even the famous Kirigakure Seven Ninja Swordsmen were only Jonin.
This showed that each Jonin's strength was no joke.
To kill a Jonin, one needed to be an elite like an Kage. Otherwise, Jonin rarely died in equal combat.
Pakura's ability to kill so many Kirigakure Jonin indicated she had reached Kage-level strength.
If they didn't surround and kill her soon, once she grew to Kage-level, she would be a huge threat to Kirigakure.
Thus, the Fourth Mizukage sent the Seven Ninja Swordsmen to jointly surround and kill Pakura, eliminating this future danger early.
…
"Quick! Quick!"
Above the desert, Pakura led a team of ten Sunagakure ninja moving at full speed.
An hour ago, she received news that two companion squads scouting enemy bases were being chased by Kirigakure.
She immediately led three squads from the base to assist.
Screech… high above, a gray eagle guided Pakura's team, suddenly calling out.
Hearing the eagle's cry, Pakura's expression tightened. She warned, "Enemies ahead, prepare for battle."
"Yes."
The three Sunagakure squads responded immediately, drawing kunai and long swords, ready to fight.
Soon.
The three companions appeared ahead. After a chase, two stayed behind to cover the retreat and died.
Now, the three survivors finally saw the people they longed for most.
"Yes, Lady Pakura!"
"Great, Lady Pakura is here!"
The three cried with joy and quickened their pace.
With Pakura's arrival, even the numerous Kirigakure pursuers behind would not be her match.
This was the confidence Pakura had earned over the past year on the Kirigakure battlefield.
Soon.
The five met with Pakura's group.
At that moment, six from the three squads behind Pakura stepped forward, their hand seals complete. Their chests swelled as they released both Wind and Fire Release jutsu.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
"Wind Release: Wind Blowing Jutsu!"
Three unleashed Fire Release, three Wind Release. The wind fueled the flames, instantly expanding the fire's range from a hundred meters to five hundred meters, forming a sea of fire surging toward the Kirigakure pursuers behind.
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