"Toda-senpai, take Pakura and the others and retreat first!"
"The number of elites Kirigakure has sent this time is too many. Continuing to fight will only lead to unnecessary casualties. I'll cover your retreat!" Sōmi supported Pakura as they descended from the golden cloud, addressing the middle-aged shinobi.
"My Magnet Release techniques are all large-scale jutsu. If you stay here, you might get caught in the crossfire." Seeing the hesitation on Toda's face, Sōmi added to reassure him.
Pakura glanced at Sōmi. His high nose bridge, dark and bright eyes, and handsome face exuded a resolute aura. Under the sunlight, he radiated an undeniable youthful vitality.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, but as a seasoned veteran of war, she quickly regained her composure.
She spoke, "We'll wait for you at the defensive fortifications behind us. Don't push yourself too hard. If you can't hold them off, retreat while fighting. Reinforcements are already on their way!"
Sōmi nodded, clearly agreeing with Pakura's suggestion.
Seeing this, Toda decisively made up his mind. He pulled out a bamboo tube from his ninja pouch. The tube was palm-sized, dark yellow in color, and appeared to have been soaked in oil for a long time.
Injecting chakra into it, a spark shot out from the tail end of the bamboo tube, launching it into the air.
With a loud bang, the tube exploded, releasing a red mist that spread across the battlefield.
Upon seeing the signal, the Sunagakure shinobi stopped engaging the enemy and began retreating from the battlefield.
This intention, of course, did not escape the notice of the Kirigakure ninjas.
Fuguki Suikazan roared in anger, "Those Sunagakure cowards are trying to run! Pin them down!"
His hands moved rapidly, forming a series of hand seals.
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"
Spiraling torrents of water formed around Fuguki Suikazan, rotating violently before surging forth with overwhelming force.
The water roared like a broken dam, a torrent over ten meters high crashing down toward Sōmi and the others.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Sōmi slammed his hands onto the ground, and a massive earthen wall rose, lifting the three of them onto its surface.
Boom!
The torrent collided violently with the earthen wall. Fortunately, the wall was sturdy enough to withstand the impact without collapsing.
However, other Sunagakure shinobi were not so lucky. Without powerful Earth Release techniques for protection, they were instantly swallowed by the rushing water, their bodies tossed and turned in the raging currents.
In this open terrain, the water carried over a dozen Sunagakure shinobi hundreds of meters away before gradually dispersing.
What remained was a muddy landscape dotted with unconscious Sunagakure shinobi lying in shallow pools of water.
After dispersing the chakra sustaining the earthen wall, Sōmi allowed it to crumble, and the three of them leapt back to the ground.
Toda and Pakura immediately ran to the rear to check if the unconscious Sunagakure shinobi could still be saved.
Meanwhile, Sōmi stayed behind, facing Fuguki Suikazan and Kushimaru Kuriarare directly.
Fuguki sneered, "What's this? You're not running with them? Planning to stay and die?"
Kushimaru said nothing, letting out a strange cry before disappearing from sight.
Sōmi didn't hesitate. He slammed his hands onto the ground again.
The golden rod he had planted into the ground earlier had been absorbing and converting large amounts of gold sand after its seal was released. The amount of gold sand directly determined the power of Sōmi's jutsu.
"Gold Sand Prison Flow!"
The ground in front of Sōmi suddenly sank, forming a massive sand vortex!
As the sand swirled, a large amount of gold sand emerged. Kushimaru, who had disappeared earlier, reappeared just three meters away from Sōmi.
But his feet were now tightly bound by two streams of gold sand, immobilizing him and dragging him slowly into the vortex.
The same scene unfolded with Fuguki Suikazan, though his expression showed no panic, only mild surprise.
He drew his massive sword and swung it forcefully at the sand binding him.
Slash!
Gold sand scattered as the bandage-wrapped Samehada revealed its sinister form.
The deep blue blade, covered in barbs, opened at the tip to reveal a gaping maw filled with sharp teeth.
The sturdy gold sand seemed like mere clay before Samehada, easily swept aside.
Sōmi, fully aware of Samehada's peculiar properties, remained calm, his hands shifting through a series of hand seals.
As Kushimaru severed the gold sand with his needle, Sōmi's next jutsu was already prepared. He clapped his hands together.
"Extinguishing Sand Burial!"
A deep fissure suddenly opened beneath Kushimaru and Fuguki, causing them to fall instantly.
However, as experienced combatants, they quickly reacted, using their weapons to embed themselves into the walls of the fissure, halting their descent.
Sōmi's tactics didn't stop there. Clenching his right hand, he caused the walls where their weapons were lodged to collapse.
From the openings, a torrent of gold sand surged into the fissure, aiming to bury the two completely.
At this moment, Kushimaru and Fuguki felt a sense of helplessness, their strength rendered useless. They could only watch as their bodies were dragged deeper into the fissure.
Having never faced Sōmi before, they had underestimated his methods, leading to their current predicament.
"Golden Avalanche Burial!"
Massive streams of gold sand poured into the fissure from both sides, quickly burying the two. Sōmi formed another seal and slammed his hands onto the ground.
Boom!
The earth trembled violently.
Yet, through his connection with the gold sand, Sōmi could sense that the two had not been crushed into pulp. Most likely, they were still alive.
Just as Sōmi was about to take further action, a silver lightning bolt suddenly descended from above, striking down fiercely.
"Hahaha!"
"Those two fools got taken out by some no-name Sunagakure ninja!"
"How ridiculous!"
The gold sand beneath Sōmi's feet shot upward, forming a radiant golden umbrella that deflected the lightning.
Sōmi squinted slightly, his gaze locking onto a new figure who had appeared ahead.
The newcomer had long green hair, thick eyebrows, sharp teeth, and wore bandages over his upper body, covered by a black vest.
It was another member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen: Raiga Kurosuki!
Raiga held a pair of short, forked blades in both hands, their surfaces crackling with silver electricity.
Though Raiga laughed wildly, his expression was one of caution.
The two Thunder Swords clashed together, generating two silver orbs of lightning the size of heads. These orbs streaked through the air like shooting stars, heading straight for Sōmi.