"Pakura?" Setsuna glanced at this beautiful Kunoichi who had relatively little focus in the original work, destined to die betrayed by Sunagakure's higher-ups.
Seeing Pakura and her fresh troops join the fray, hope surged once more in the hearts of the Sunagakure's Ninja.
"Good! Everyone, listen to Pakura-sama!"
"We'll leave this battlefield to Pakura-sama and the other leaders. Let's go rescue people!"
Pakura couldn't fully grasp the situation immediately, but just from the scene, she could tell the young man before her was not an enemy she could handle alone. "Rasa-sama, Chiyo-sama, let's attack together."
"Alright." Rasa and Chiyo exchanged nods. This was their chance for redemption.
"Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder!" A high-temperature, distorting aura appeared around Pakura.
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Waves!" Rasa condensed waves of gold sand to block Setsuna's line of sight.
"Puppetry Technique: Three Jewels Suction Crushing!" Chiyo manipulated the three puppets [Buddha], [Dharma], and [Sangha] to launch a combined attack, intending to disrupt Setsuna's movements with suction force.
Sasori remained silent, manipulating the Third Kazekage puppet to launch [Iron Sand Gathering Assault]. Although both the Third Kazekage and Rasa used Magnet Release, their focuses were different, with one specialized in iron sand, the other in gold dust.
Onoki flew into the air, aiming his hands downward but not yet using Dust Release.
In a surround and attack situation like this, a held-back technique posed the greatest threat, especially a Kekkei Tota like Dust Release, which meant certain death upon contact.
Even Setsuna felt pressure facing this situation.
Although his defense was strong, he was still flesh and blood. Taking normal Ninjutsu was fine, but Kekkei Genkai and Kekkei Tota were a bit beyond the norm.
Yet, the more perilous it became, the more Setsuna's blood boiled with excitement.
"Now this is more like it." As soon as Setsuna finished speaking, strange markings appeared around his eyes.
He was currently gathering his energy ball, so using his energy power wasn't ideal. He borrowed Senjutsu Chakra from the Don Slime instead, taking this opportunity to adapt to Sage Mode.
"Those markings are...!" Onoki's pupils contracted sharply, and he shouted a warning, "Be careful! He can use Sage Mode!"
"Sage Mode?" Before Pakura could fully process it, she saw Setsuna easily dodge their attacks, appearing almost instantly in front of her, then delivering a Kizaru-style side kick.
Fortunately, Rasa's desire for redemption was so strong that he broke through his limits and reacted in time, manipulating the gold dust waves to block Setsuna's kick.
Even so, the shockwave from the air passed through the gold dust waves and struck Pakura heavily.
Pakura was sent flying over a hundred meters away, vomiting a large mouthful of blood.
"Is this man a monster?" Pakura knelt on one knee, echoing the sentiment of many others.
Although she had realized Setsuna must be strong, she never imagined the enemy was powerful enough to instantly defeat her.
"Just the air vibration alone has such power... if that kick had landed..." Rasa was sweating profusely. He quickly manipulated sand to form clouds, lifting himself into the air, and rapidly created three more sand clouds, actively placing them under the feet of Chiyo and the other two.
After doing this, Rasa didn't forget to remind them, "Sasori, you control Kazekage-sama's body to use Iron Sand Armor. I'll condense Gold Sand Armor. Let's layer both defenses on everyone. Tsuchikage-sama, use your Super Light-Weight Rock Technique to reduce our weight."
Since they were all fighting at range anyway, wearing armor wouldn't hinder them.
"Not bad reaction." Setsuna was somewhat surprised. He had somewhat underestimated this 'weakest Kazekage', who in the future would be killed by Orochimaru.
Rasa felt unnerved under Setsuna's gaze and couldn't help but ask, "Why are you looking at me?"
Setsuna said sincerely, "It's nothing. I just didn't expect your skills to be quite good."
If anyone else had said this, Rasa would have taken it as an insult. But coming from Setsuna's mouth, he almost hummed proudly.
"Even if you say that, we won't forgive you! Now we have the high ground. Let's see how you fight us!" Rasa boasted, sounding a bit like a petty man who had gained power.
"Really now, I never said I couldn't fly." Setsuna sighed. Using Sky Dancing Art would still somewhat affect the efficiency of gathering his energy ball, probably delaying it by two or three minutes.
They watched as Setsuna flew up without any support, just like the Tsuchikage, and even more smoothly than the Tsuchikage.
"How can you do everything? Aren't you a Taijutsu specialist?" Rasa demanded angrily. This was just too unfair.
"You don't understand. This is just how we Taijutsu specialists are." Setsuna's tone was indifferent. He had given up all those flashy Ninjutsu. Wasn't it only natural that his strength was greater and his flight smoother?
While Setsuna fought the five, Shukaku did not join.
"I knew that guy was a monster among monsters. Good thing you didn't make me join the fight." Shukaku felt somewhat guilty, suspecting that if it went up, it might be killed on the spot.
Bunpuku smiled wryly again, feeling he had experienced more bitterness today than in his entire life.
"I roughly understand the situation now. This was originally Sunagakure's fault. Moreover, that person clearly intends to spare Sunagakure. How could I have the nerve to ask you to join the attack on him?"
Shukaku curled its lip. "I get the feeling he'd be even more excited if I joined the fight. It's just that my outcome probably wouldn't be good."
Bunpuku pressed his palms together. "Shukaku, given Sunagakure's evacuation capacity, it will likely be very difficult to move everyone within twenty minutes. I'd like to ask for your help."
"That's easy. As long as I don't have to fight that monster." Shukaku patted its chest.
On the other side, Yahiko said to Nagato and Konan, "Let's help too."
Both nodded. Although they had suffered greatly from war, during this period, they didn't harbor thoughts of making people from the great nations experience their pain.
"Summoning Technique!" Nagato bit his finger and summoned the Hellhound.
"Amplification Summoning Technique!" After performing the Summoning Technique, Nagato, under the Hellhound's bewildered gaze, stabbed it dozens of times with a kunai.
After the Hellhound split into nearly a thousand clones, Nagato immediately issued the order for the Hellhounds to carry the villagers out of the village.
Then, Nagato didn't forget to add, "You must be very careful. You absolutely cannot harm them."
The Hellhound looked down at its sharp claws, bared its fangs, then looked at the fragile bodies of the people, let out a whimper, and hugged its head.
'With my size, even a little too much force would crush a person to death. How was I supposed to rescue them? This was clearly making things difficult for me.'
Konan saw the Hellhound's dilemma and formed hand seals. "Don't worry. I'll use 'Dance of the Shikigami' to coat your fangs and claws with a protective layer."
With the protective coating, the Hellhounds quickly sprang into action. Although they were extremely careful and moved slowly when picking up villagers, their sheer numbers meant the rescue speed increased dramatically.