Konoha had deployed seven full units in this assault, and within a short span, they had destroyed the wharves at Sabaku Port, nearly twenty large ships, and most of the port's warehouses.
Even the goods now sunk beneath the sea carried a hefty value.
If just one unit could successfully hold the rear, this entire surprise attack would go down as a sweeping victory for Konoha.
When the order to cover the retreat came down, Jenri's hands trembled as she faced the oncoming Suna shinobi. She raised her kunai in front of her, fighting the rising dread.
"Fujikita, don't be afraid. As your acting squad leader, I won't let you die before I do."
Yako blinked in surprise.
Such courage and strength, from someone so small.
This world was filthy and broken, and yet—some people still stitched it together with bare hands.
There was darkness in the village, plenty of it… but there were also those poor souls who shared their warmth with one another.
Yako kept weighing his options. This time, should he keep lying low—or finally do something?
Maybe… it's time to show a little strength. Build some credit toward a promotion in the ANBU.
Being just a squad leader gave him too little authority. He needed more—more freedom, more respect.
Only then could he face what lay ahead.
Lay low in the wild, survive. Lay low in the system… thrive.
Wouldn't hiding at the top be even better?
His gaze swept the battlefield, searching for Hippo.
Disguised as a genin, Hippo belonged to a different unit. He noticed Yako's look and stopped halfway through the line.
Yako pulled out a scroll and rapidly jotted down an intel report on the current battle.
He deliberately omitted Nara Mi's disgraceful behavior—that would be reported separately, in a direct communication to Hatake Sakumo, along with the true cause of Chota's death.
This scroll focused solely on the performance of each Konoha unit.
Jenri glanced back, expecting Fujikita's response—but instead found him furiously writing on a scroll.
Even with her slow intuition, she finally noticed—Fujikita was... strange. Too strange to be a regular genin.
Why the hell is he writing a report now?
Yako finished the scroll and flung it at Hippo.
To Jenri's astonishment, the scroll moved so fast it vanished from her eyes.
Fujikita is… that strong?
Hippo caught the scroll and gave a subtle nod to Fox.
He understood what Fox meant. Writing the report was part of their ANBU duties—but at the same time, Yako was still publicly genin Fujikita.
He had a second duty: helping six full units of Konoha shinobi escape.
Both missions… were his responsibility.
From his pouch, Yako drew a mask.
He placed it over his face.
And with that one action, his entire presence shifted.
The furtive, awkward Fujikita disappeared—replaced by something sharper, colder.
He's ANBU?
Yako turned to Jenri.
"Chūnin Jenri. Stand behind me.
I am Fox, Tokubetsu Jōnin of Konoha's ANBU. As of now, I am your acting captain.
What was it you said earlier?
'Don't be afraid. As your acting captain, I won't let you die before I do.'"
In a flicker of movement, Yako Body Flickered to the front line and stood shoulder to shoulder with the unit commander.
"Fox, ANBU squad captain. I happen to be operating within your unit's jurisdiction. Reporting for duty."
The commander's mouth twitched. On this brutal battlefield… he actually smiled.
An ANBU captain… His strength shouldn't be much below mine.
With him here, the rear guard essentially has two elite assets.
"Good!" the commander barked.
"I'll take two squads and stall Rasa himself! You take one and guard the paragliders!"
"Understood."
Yako nodded at Jenri's unit commander, signaling him to follow, then charged toward the Suna shinobi pursuing the six retreating Konoha units.
The unit commander immediately gave hand signs, calling the squads forward to follow the ANBU captain.
Beyond the dock, Konoha ninja had begun deploying their paragliders. One by one, they stepped forward and caught the sea breeze to launch into the sky.
Behind them, a flood of Suna shinobi surged forward.
They shouted, desperate to stop Konoha before the shinobi could take flight.
Yako landed between them—blocking the Suna forces from reaching his comrades.
He weaved hand signs.
"Earth Style: Earth Longspear!"
He had once used the Water Severing Wave in front of Rasa to protect Pakura. But now—he relied only on Earth Longspear.
In front of him, a fan-shaped area—more than 200 square meters—erupted with a forest of long spears jutting from the ground like thorns.
More than a dozen Suna shinobi were skewered mid-charge, their bodies hanging like rags on the stone spines.
Jenri, running near the rear of the squad, saw the terrifying display of Earth Release and froze in awe.
This… This is the power of an ANBU? One jutsu, and he can kill over a dozen enemies?!
Yako started another round of hand signs, preparing a second Earth Longspear.
Two Suna shinobi suddenly burst from the ground beneath him, aiming kunai at his legs.
Clang!Crack!
Their blades snapped clean in half.
They stared in disbelief at the broken metal.
What the—?!
Has the equipment division been taking kickbacks?!
What the hell are these kunai—glass?!
Ignoring the stunned attackers, Yako unleashed the second Earth Longspear.
Another dozen Suna shinobi were lifted into the air, lifeless.
Only then did Yako finally raise a leg. Left, then right—he kicked both attackers.
The Suna shinobi whipped out fresh kunai—but even before they died, they cursed their supply team.
With this kind of gear, Sunagakure's days are numbered!
Their kunai shattered like dry twigs.
So did their ribcages.
More and more Suna shinobi tunneled up beside Yako, emboldened by desperation.
Puppets surged from the ground too, attacking in waves.
In front of Yako now stood at least four full Suna squads—dozens of enemies.
But no matter how fierce the puppet, it crumbled like paper beneath Yako's hands.
Copper light gleamed across his palms as he shattered them with a single hand chop.
Poison-tipped blades scraped against his skin—and failed to leave a mark.
Kunai and puppets didn't work. In the distance, several Suna shinobi weaved hand signs.
A violent wind roared in—slicing gales sharp enough to cleave trees in half.
They tore through Yako's clothing, but at his skin… they scattered like leaves in a breeze.
His body remained untouched.
Only more of that red-bronze skin emerged beneath the tattered cloth.
When Yako saw some of the shinobi circling behind him, he felt a sudden chill in his spine.
No way. Do they really think my "absolute defense" has a weak point… back there?
Where the hell are they getting that idea? Are they sick?!
Idiots and their flashes of inspiration… so troublesome.
Amid the chaos, the shinobi behind him struck.
They only succeeded in destroying his cloak.
Unfazed, Yako withstood the kunai and Wind Release—and began weaving another Earth Longspear.
The jutsu not only killed, but reshaped the battlefield—slowing pursuit and blocking off routes.
In mere moments, Yako had crippled half a unit.
The remaining Suna shinobi no longer dared surround him—but neither could they give up the mission.
They attempted to bypass him, charging toward the Konoha ninja.
Their backs were left completely exposed.
Terrifying… This ANBU can ignore all physical attacks. How are we supposed to fight that?
Neither Wind Release nor puppets worked—Suna's specialties were useless.
There was no bypassing him. Not really.
One wave after another, Yako flooded the field with Earth Longspears—creating a wall of stone thorns.
He shouted to the unit commander at his side:
"Buy me some time. Hold them off!"