Ino's eyes flashed with panic.
Both girls gripped each other's shoulders, mirroring the fearful and wary expressions of their opponents.
"H-How was I supposed to know we'd run into enemies before even meeting up with Choji and the others?
"I'm a member of Natsuki's Dimensional End's Congregation. Everyone's fighting bravely; I can't just run off to the shelter by myself!
"Don't worry, when they come at us, I... I'll protect you."
Ino reassured her best friend while recalling Natsuki's perpetually calm and collected demeanor.
It gave her a surge of courage and renewed her confidence.
"Those two brats seem to have their eyes on us as well."
"What should we do, Lord Kazeno? Fight or flee? Should we strike first?" A scar-faced Sand ninja asked in a low voice, his forehead beaded with sweat.
The successive encounters with three freaks had put immense pressure on him.
"You idiot! Fight? None of Konoha's kids are normal!
"Strike first? Every time we've struck first, we've ended up kicking a steel plate!
"Let's not provoke them. We'll wait for an opportunity to scatter and escape. Getting the intel back is all that matters.
"I get it now. Konoha's strongest fighters are these brats.
"If you're so eager to sacrifice yourself, then you can handle these two. We'll provide moral support from behind." Ikawa Kazeno's face stiffened as he heard his subordinate's idiotic question, and he erupted in a furious scolding.
They had been deceived three times.
Three times, Konoha's kids had appeared harmless, only to unleash power surpassing even Jonin, reaching near Kage level.
Over a hundred of them couldn't handle a single one.
How could they, with their current numbers, take down the two monsters in front of them?
Survival and delivering the intel were paramount now.
The Sand ninjas had automatically categorized Sakura and the other girl as Konoha's little freaks as well.
"N-No, I was just making a suggestion, haha.
"Brilliant, Captain! We'll do as you say." The scar-faced ninja waved his hands repeatedly, quickly flattering his leader.
Inwardly, he scoffed: The Captain's always boasting. Saying things like 'support from behind.' The cannon fodder who believed that are still out there, six feet under, no the last five were reduce to meat pancakes.
So, the group stood still, observing the two girls for any movements.
After a long while... neither side moved a muscle.
Neither dared to make the first move.
"This... This isn't right.
"Captain, I think those two brats are scared of us too.
"Maybe they're actually paper tigers?" The scar-faced ninja felt the urge to act again.
"Shut up! I won't be fooled again.
"This time, we wait for them to strike first." Kazeno adopted the most cautious approach, preparing for the worst-case scenario.
"But what if they don't? We can't just stay here. Konoha's reinforcements will arrive soon.
"Besides, these are two girls. The powerful ones we faced before were all boys.
"Perhaps... these two really don't have any strange abilities. We can capture them easily." The scar-faced ninja's keen observation provided a tempting rationale.
Kazeno nodded.
They couldn't afford to linger; this wasn't their territory. The longer they waited, the more dangerous it became.
And what was with the starstruck expressions on those two girls' faces? Sure, they were somewhat attractive, but this was a battlefield where lives hung by a thread. What kind of idiot would harbor such thoughts at a time like this?
Maintaining his cautious stance, Kazeno still didn't order an immediate attack.
Instead, he said, "Hey...little ladies, we mean you no harm."
"The Sand and Leaf have always been the best of allies. We were deceived by schemers, which led to this war.
"We're going back to tell Lord Kazekage to stop this farce."
Whether it's true or not doesn't matter. The Sand can't keep fighting the Leaf. We'll just pin everything on the Sound later.
"Oh? Ha... Is that so?
"We mean no harm either. You should hurry back to the Kazekage." Ino relaxed slightly but remained combat-ready.
After all, how could she trust the enemy's words? Still, it was best if they left quickly, so she and Sakura could escape the danger.
"Ino, they're lying! Their Kazekage kidnapped our Lord Hokage during the Chunin Exams!" Sakura angrily pointed at the Sand ninjas, completely shutting down their excuse.
Instantly, sharp gazes shot towards Sakura, the air thick with killing intent.
No more pretense, time to drop the act!We were trying to find a way out, to let everyone go in peace.
But you dared to say that the Hokage fell into our Kazekage's hands? That means we've already won!Time to collect some trophies.
"Heh, since your Hokage has been defeated, there's no reason for us to spare you." Kazeno revealed a sinister grin and signaled his subordinates to surround the girls.
"Sakura, you fucking idiot!"
"Was this really the time to open your trap?" Ino rolled her eyes and elbowed Sakura's side.
Only then did Sakura realize her mistake... They were the weaker side; avoiding a fight was their best option.
It made no sense to corner a stronger opponent by removing their excuse to retreat.
"Waaah... Ino, I was wrong."
"What do we do now?" Sakura asked anxiously, tears welling up, as she pulled out a kunai, ready to fight alongside her best friend.
"What else can we do?
"Fight with everything we've got!
"Luckily, Natsuki left me a trick up my sleeve." Ino tightly tied her ponytail and stepped forward, shielding Sakura.
Her posture was heroic, brimming with fighting spirit.
"I, a member of the Dimensional End's Congregation, the Second Mage under the Dimensional Lord Natsuki Yuhi,
"Request the profound Light for your guidance." Ino clasped her hands as if praying, her clear and resonant voice echoing throughout the area.
Sakura's eyes sparkled.
She never knew Ino had such a reliable side, although she didn't know how the strage words were going ot help them, Ino had to be doing somehtng that could help them evade the crisis, right? She had to be!
"Na-Natsuki?" The scar-faced ninja stopped in his tracks and turned to ask, "Captain, the freakiest brat we encountered earlier was called Natsuki.
"D-Did we kick another steel plate?"
Kazeno cut off the scar-faced ninja's inquiry and shouted, "Don't be afraid! They're just bluffing."
"Konoha can't possibly have so many geniuses.
"We've decided to take down these two, so focus on the fight! Show them what ninjas are made of!"
"Hai!" The remaining six Sand ninjas responded in unison.
When the decision to fight was made, they were more ferocious than anyone.
The seven ninjas formed a tight encirclement, closing in.
"Gate of Babylon!"
Her voice seemd to overlap with the dimension, her eyes exuding an etherial golden light, she unclasped her hand and aved it over her shoulder as if beckoning something from behind her.
Her face betrayed neigh the hint of emotion, her posture and face radiating calmness unbefititng of a 12 year old.
In the blink of an eye, countless golden ripples spread in the air.
Exquisite weapons emerged from the ripples, aimed at all the Sand ninjas, turning the encirclement on its head.
"Th-This... Ino, how do you know this kind of jutsu?
"And why didn't you use it during the Chunin Exams?" Sakura was dumbfounded.
"Idiot, this technique is for dealing with enemies.
"Once it's unleashed, even I can't control its power." Ino tilted her head slightly, a gentle smile on her face.
'We've been tricked! Konoha's strongest fighters are these brats!'
The dazzling golden light filled the Sand ninjas' faces with a deathly pallor.
Yet another bizarre ability they had never seen or heard of before.
The scar-faced ninja asked with a mournful face, "Is it too late to surrender now?"
join my patreon for advanced chapters: patreon.com/HyppoTL