"With so many people, we can still overwhelm him even if it costs us everything! I'll command the nearby Sand Ninjas. You lead the attack! We must stop this arrogant man here today!"

Seeing Chiyo's fierce resolve, Ebizo could only whisper, "I know, sister."

In truth, he didn't want to face the man standing before them. The intel had been vague, but one fact stood out clearly—he had defeated the Four-Tails, Five-Tails, and even the Third Tsuchikage Onoki by himself!

That alone spoke volumes.

The fact he had just obliterated Chiyo's most prized puppets with a single punch only confirmed his terrifying strength.

Unfortunately, Chiyo's fury over her destroyed puppet had clouded her reason—she wasn't going to listen to anyone now.

Ebizo sighed quietly and pushed aside his doubts. He stepped forward and formed a rapid series of hand seals. Two miniature cyclones, shaped like shurikens, spun into life in his palms.

"Wind Style: Wind Blade!"

He hurled the twin wind blades toward Kaito.

As they flew, the wind blades expanded rapidly, soon reaching the size of Fuma shuriken. The sharp rotational force on them could cut through steel with ease.

Ebizo had personally developed this upgraded version of Wind Blade—its destructive power far exceeded the standard technique.

Kaito's expression remained calm. Lightning sparked across his body as he raised his hand, conjuring a barrier of crackling electricity before him.

Chiyo barked from behind, "All Sand Ninjas, ready your Wind Style! Fire on my command!"

A chorus of voices rang out:

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

"Wind Style: Wind Cutting Technique!"

"Wind Style: Kamaitachi!"

One after another, Sand Ninjas launched their wind-based attacks toward Kaito, filling the battlefield with deafening howls and gales.

Meanwhile, Ebizo's wind blades reached their target.

Buzz! Crackle!

Despite their strength, the blades slammed uselessly against Kaito's lightning barrier, like steel against diamond. Then—

Crack!

A lightning tendril burst from the barrier, lashing out like a serpent and shattering the blades into pieces.

"W-What?!" Ebizo recoiled in disbelief. He had spent years refining that technique—yet it had been dismantled in an instant!

Before he could recover, the barrage from the Sand Village forces reached Kaito.

Kaito raised his hand again. The lightning shield pulsed and expanded into a glowing cylinder that completely surrounded him.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz! BOOM!

The combined might of countless Wind Style attacks struck the barrier. The ground quaked, sand and earth exploded into the air, and a cloud of dust rose like a sandstorm.

No one could see what was happening inside.

A few moments later, the dust settled.

Fear etched itself onto every Sand Ninja's face. Some trembled, others cried out in disbelief.

"No way…"

"I must be dreaming…"

"This can't be happening...!"

As the smoke cleared, Kaito stood tall and unharmed. A dazzling pillar of lightning cocooned his body, untouched.

Chiyo's heart sank.

This wasn't just a minor setback. This was a full assault by half of the Sand Village's forces. Even a Kage would have evaded—no one would stand and take it head-on.

Yet this man had.

Even half our village can't put a scratch on him...

Regret slowly crept into Chiyo's chest. Perhaps provoking Kaito had been a terrible mistake.

But it was too late to back down now.

Her face hardened. "Pull yourselves together! I don't believe one man can defeat our entire force!"

She tried to rally her shinobi. "He must've used up a lot of chakra just now. Hit him again—we'll wear him down!"

Some of the Sand Ninjas brightened at her words.

"He's bluffing! Trying to scare us!"

Chiyo gave the next command. "Ready!"

Dozens of Sand Ninja formed hand seals again.

"Fire!"

Hurricane-like gales blasted forward again, forming hundreds of wind blades flying toward Kaito. This time, they aimed directly at him.

Buzz! Buzz!

The scene that followed stunned everyone.

The razor-sharp wind blades collided with Kaito's lightning barrier and were swallowed like pebbles dropped in water—ripples, and then nothing.

Chiyo's face darkened.

Once could be luck... but twice?

Still, the bitterness of defeat burned in her chest. Not even half our forces can harm him…? Her pride as a shinobi of the Sand was in ruins.

"Ready! Fire!"

Again, the barrage began.

Kaito didn't move. His lightning armor stood resolute, impenetrable. He watched the Sand Ninjas calmly—as if observing children at play.

After the third assault ended, Kaito stretched and took a step forward. In the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of Chiyo.

His voice was ice. "It's time to end this. Let me show you the technique I used to annihilate tens of thousands of Rock Ninja."

As soon as Kaito finished speaking, Chiyo and Ebizo's faces changed drastically!

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Thank you all for the constant motivation, it really means a lot, and we've come such a long way together. 💙

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