Chapter 324: A Perilous Situation

By setting off a series of traps, they managed to take the lives of four Sand Shinobi, an impressive feat.

Once the traps ended, Kotoe's side and the Sand Shinobi clashed directly.

Kotoe and Shin, along with the Rain-nin they led, had no training or coordination together, so when they faced the Sand Shinobi, it quickly became a free-for-all. As a result, the situation quickly turned one-sided.

Like Konoha, the Sand Village was one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, with a foundation and resources that far surpassed Ame. Moreover, the Sand Village followed an elite training approach that Rain shinobi couldn't match.

Even a simple clash of kunai showed the difference; the Sand Shinobi were at ease, while the Rain-nin fought with gritted teeth. In the skirmishes that followed, the casualties were mostly Rain-nin unless they could attack two-on-one, but in terms of numbers, Ame was also at a disadvantage.

While the Rain-nin were crushed, they still managed to serve their purpose.

In contrast to Rain's miserable state, Kotoe and Shin's teamwork was a significant pressure on the Sand Shinobi.

Under the Rain-nin's cover, a single thin, deadly green senbon from Kotoe could take the life of a Sand Shinobi, especially when combined with Shin's genjutsu, which increased the senbon's hit rate and amplified its deadly poison.

Being at a disadvantage, Kotoe and Shin were careful to conserve their chakra. By sacrificing the Rain-nin, they managed to reduce the number of Sand Shinobi at minimal cost, preserving their strength for a final confrontation.

When the number of Sand Shinobi that fell to Kotoe and Shin reached seven, all the Rain-nin with them had perished.

Now, Kotoe and Shin were surrounded by the Sand Shinobi and had no choice but to fight with all their might.

Five or six fireballs radiating intense heat flew toward Kotoe and Shin, controlled by Pakura.

Although Pakura wielded a sword, she kept her distance during the battle, continuously launching Scorch Release fireballs from afar. If they hit, they could kill; if not, they would deplete Kotoe and Shin's chakra.

As the fireballs flew towards them again, Shin quickly summoned a high-density Water Formation Wall to block Pakura's Scorch Release fireballs. Steam sizzled out, shrouding Kotoe and Shin.

Knowing the high temperature of Pakura's fireballs, Shin used twice his usual chakra to create the Water Formation Wall, the only way to withstand her fireballs.

As the dense steam surrounded them, Pakura refrained from using her Scorch Release and, along with the other Sand Shinobi, began hurling kunai into the steam.

About fifteen kunai pierced the air and entered the steam. Sparks flashed within as each kunai was deflected.

Then, five Sand Shinobi used Earth Release techniques, sending sharp earth spikes and jagged stones flying into the steam.

Swish!

With a warning from Shin, Kotoe and he darted out of the steam, dodging the Earth Release attack. However, the Sand Shinobi waiting on the sides moved in with kunai and swords, launching a close-range attack.

Several figures flew past Kotoe and Shin, weapons clashing and sparks flying in the air as the two successfully blocked the attacks.

The Sand Shinobi's close-range assault failed, and after their attacks ended, they didn't immediately initiate a second wave, because...

Over thirty fist-sized fireballs launched by Pakura sped toward the two as they stood on a nearby tree.

With smaller fireballs, Pakura could control more of them at once.

While smaller fireballs had increased hit rates and flew faster, their power was slightly diminished, making them easier to block with ninjutsu. However, if they hit an enemy, regardless of size, the fireballs would evaporate the target's water and blood in a short time.

Swish, swish, swish!

Over thirty small fireballs quickly approached the two, covering a larger area than larger fireballs.

Shin, skilled in Water Release, swiftly moved in front of Kotoe, once again using double the chakra for his Water Formation Wall to block the barrage of fireballs, releasing another cloud of steam.

Had Shin known that the smaller fireballs were easier to block, he wouldn't have used twice the chakra. With each block against Pakura's attack, his chakra rapidly depleted.

Under siege, they faced two options: use their strongest jutsu to inflict damage on the Sand Shinobi and then retreat, or withdraw immediately, gradually pulling the Sand Shinobi into a chase.

With the steam swirling around, Kotoe's face grew serious. He quickly flung out ten senbon from within the steam, aiming precisely at the Sand Shinobi's positions based on memory from when Pakura launched her fireballs.

Despite the decent accuracy and steam concealment, the Sand Shinobi still dodged the senbon. Such projectiles were only effective when used from concealment.

Without the Rain-nin's cover, Shin had no time for genjutsu, making it difficult for Kotoe's senbon to be effective.

"A or B?" Shin suddenly asked. As soon as Kotoe responded with "A," the two leapt to a different tree, dodging a Wind-Earth combination jutsu that tore through their previous position.

At that moment, two figures charged from the left and right—Pakura and the Sand Shinobi Kazeya Kurosawa.

Pakura wasn't just a ninjutsu specialist; her taijutsu and swordsmanship were excellent, and her Scorch Release could enhance her blade to create the "Overheating Kill" effect when stabbing her enemy. She chose to engage in close combat at this point.

Kazeya was also a rare sword expert in the Sand Village, joining Pakura in the assault.

Each wielding a sword, Pakura went after Kotoe, while Kazeya took on Shin.

"Watch out."

Shin cautioned, his Sharingan glinting as he used its dynamic tracking ability. He thrust his "Bee Sting" technique toward Kazeya, a spear-like stab reminiscent of a wasp's stinger.

Kazeya, mid-swing, twisted his body to avoid the Bee Sting, but it threw off his attack's aim.

The two quickly retracted their swords and clashed again. Shin kept an eye on Kotoe, who was only a step away from him, facing Pakura and Kazeya simultaneously.

Pakura's sword struck toward Kotoe, who countered with a kunai in reverse grip. The moment it blocked her blade, Kotoe felt intense heat searing through the handle into her hand.

Pakura sneered coldly, adding force to her sword, effortlessly breaking the kunai and slashing toward Kotoe.

In the split second before impact, Kotoe had no time to form hand seals. She could only watch as the blazing sword moved closer.

Had she known that Pakura's Scorch Release combined with her blade could easily cut through dense materials like a kunai, she wouldn't have used it for defense.

In this critical moment, Shin, who was engaged with Kazeya, stretched his leg backward, kicking Kotoe out of harm's way but exposing his own leg to Pakura's blade.

As Kotoe was knocked aside, she watched in horror as Pakura's blade sliced through Shin's knee with a hiss, severing his lower leg and sending blood spurting out.

Despite losing a leg, Shin barely flinched. As his balance wavered slightly, his "Bee Sting" pierced Kazeya's abdomen by a centimeter before Kazeya quickly withdrew, avoiding a deeper wound.

...

After forcing Kaze to retreat, Shin leaned back, tilting his head, his scarlet Sharingan meeting Pakura's gaze.

Genjutsu...!

Pakura's body froze, her sword still extended, as if time itself had stopped.

Suspended in the air, Kotoe deftly pulled a senbon from her ninja pouch and hurled it toward Pakura. Then, forming hand seals, she sent several vine-like tendrils, as thick as a baby's arm, toward Shin, who was falling backward, wrapping around him.

Kazeya retreated, Pakura was caught in genjutsu, and a deadly senbon sped toward her.

Kotoe pulled Shin, whose right leg had been severed, toward her with the vines, and they fell together.

However, the Sand Shinobi present weren't only Pakura and Kazeya. Noticing the senbon aimed at Pakura, a Sand Shinobi skilled in throwing techniques quickly flung a kunai, knocking the deadly senbon off course and saving Pakura.

Meanwhile, the remaining Sand Shinobi prepared to attack Kotoe and Shin, who had lost their balance in mid-air.

At that critical moment, a thunderous rumbling came from the side. Large trees seemed to be crashing down as if something powerful had struck them, heading straight in their direction.

The sudden noise drew the attention of the Sand Shinobi.

Looking over, they saw a wave of leafless trees, as if alive, surging toward them. Each Sand Shinobi's expression shifted, and they immediately backed away, abandoning their attack on Kotoe and Shin.

Pakura broke free from the genjutsu and, seeing the scene, decisively retreated with the remaining Sand Shinobi.

These trees were the result of Ye Zi's Wood Clone's Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence, which extended to nearly a kilometer from his location.

The spread of the Deep Forest Emergence unintentionally saved Kotoe and Shin from a wave of attacks. However, they were also within the jutsu's range.

"Kotoe," Shin called out as he was being pulled back through the air.

Understanding, Kotoe tightened her grip and threw Shin backward, sending him flying behind her.

As he passed over Kotoe, Shin quickly formed hand seals. Wood Release vines, similar to Kotoe's, sprouted from his hands and latched onto a distant tree. With a powerful tug, he pulled himself and Kotoe rapidly toward the tree. As they neared it, he extended the vines to another tree, using this method to escape the Deep Forest Emergence's range.

Landing shakily, Shin appeared almost out of chakra, while Kotoe still had a considerable reserve.

Without hesitation, Kotoe executed Plan A from their contingency plan, using her most powerful jutsu... to devastate the Sand Shinobi!

The risk was that if the jutsu didn't cause significant damage, retreating afterward would be challenging.

Despite understanding this drawback, Kotoe proceeded without hesitation.

Once the movement of the trees ceased, the remaining Sand Shinobi, a dozen or so, stood on trees around Kotoe and Shin, surrounding them from above.

Wood Release: Strangling Vines!

Kotoe's expression turned icy, and chakra flowed swiftly from her.

From the ground around her and Shin, thick, red vines, as thick as an adult's arm, burst forth. Nearly a hundred of them snaked outward like serpents, lunging toward the surrounding Sand Shinobi.

The Sand Shinobi's faces changed. Some chose to leap away using taijutsu, while others, realizing the vines were too fast to evade, encased themselves in solid earth spheres using Earth Release.

The nearly hundred vines spread out, forcing each Sand Shinobi to face at least three.

The six Sand Shinobi who encased themselves in earth spheres for protection were each entangled by three or four vines.

Meanwhile, the remaining Sand Shinobi tried to flee, but the vines, moving swiftly, caught up with three lagging behind. The vines coiled around them tightly, crushing two of them into lifeless corpses.

Fresh blood sprayed onto the crimson vines, enhancing their color, and was soon absorbed by the thorn-covered tendrils.

The vines reached their limit, unable to extend further, while the remaining Sand Shinobi escaped the jutsu's range. The Sand Shinobi encased in earth spheres, unable to escape, were squeezed until they perished along with their earthen shields.

After using this jutsu, Kotoe began to pant, her chakra consumption having also taken a toll on her stamina.

"Kotoe, go on ahead," Shin urged, his right leg severed, after witnessing Kotoe's Strangling Vines eliminate nine elite Sand Shinobi.

The two were now in poor condition, while around seven Sand Shinobi remained relatively capable. In such a situation, there was no doubt—they had to flee.

However, with his leg severed, Shin's chances of escaping were slim.

Without a word, Kotoe wrapped Shin's right arm around her neck, supporting his shoulder.

There was no way she would abandon Shin, especially after he lost a leg to save her.

"Forget about me. If you keep this up, neither of us will get away," Shin said solemnly.

"How will we know if we don't try? Besides, I won't leave you behind. Can you still move your left leg? Work with me."

Without waiting for Shin's answer, she pushed off the ground to leap onto a tree. Shin, caught off guard, didn't exert force with his left leg in time, and their first attempt to jump onto the tree failed.

After falling back down, Kotoe shot Shin an angry glare, scolding, "Didn't I ask you to work with me? Let's try again."

Shin hesitated, then a faint smile spread across his face. This time, he timed his movement with his left leg, and they successfully leapt onto the tree, bounding away in retreat.

The remaining Sand Shinobi, having escaped Kotoe's Strangling Vines, weren't about to let them go and immediately pursued.

Since she was carrying Shin, Kotoe's speed was slower, unable to match the Sand Shinobi's pace. Soon, she could sense them gaining from behind.

Though grateful that Kotoe insisted on escaping with him, Shin didn't want to burden her.

"This is as far as we go. If we continue like this, we won't escape. Even with a leg lost, I can still buy us some time," Shin suddenly said.

Kotoe stayed silent, continuing to leap forward, rejecting Shin's proposal with her actions.

Shin sighed slightly and reached to pry her hand off, but she spoke sternly, "Do you want me to live with guilt forever?"

He had lost a leg to save her. If she abandoned him now, facing death, she would never forgive herself.

Shin's hand froze, his gaze dropping as he replied, "Don't you want to stay by Lord Ye Zi's side? If you die…"

"Of course," Kotoe replied, resolute. "That's why we're both going to survive!"

Before she could finish, Kotoe gritted her teeth, speeding up as they leapt. Their pace quickened slightly, but they still couldn't match the Sand Shinobi.

Shin's hand, which had reached for Kotoe, slowly withdrew.

"If that's how it is, then let me live with guilt for a lifetime."

..

Shin silently pondered, refraining from speaking words of farewell, sensing Kotoe's determination. He knew that nothing he said would change her mind.

Before long, the Sand Shinobi Kazeya caught up, his expression fierce as he descended from above, swinging his blade toward Shin and Kotoe's backs.

Hearing the sharp sound of the wind, Shin and Kotoe turned to see the figure of Kazeya and his blade approaching.

Shin's Sharingan flared as he prepared to cast a genjutsu on Kazeya. However, remembering Shin's skill in genjutsu from their previous encounters, Kazeya shut his eyes, his blade's swing unhesitating.

"What?!" Shin's expression shifted as his mind raced, seeking a way to get Kotoe to dodge the attack.

Supporting Shin, Kotoe had no time to react, and the blade seemed poised to cut them both in two.

"Got you!" Kazeya's eyes filled with murderous intent.

But at that moment, a flash of lightning shot toward Kazeya. Before he could react, it struck him from the side, knocking him violently in the other direction.

The lightning was actually his blade, Chijin, wrapped in a current of electricity—a projectile thrown by Ye Zi, who had arrived just in time to save Kotoe and Shin at the critical moment.

The unexpected rescue left Kotoe and Shin stunned. They paused atop a tree, and as they watched Ye Zi approach with a calm expression, they both breathed a sigh of relief.

"We're saved."

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