Garou, one of Suna's rare strategic commanders, immediately grasped Umino Yoru's tactical intent the moment explosions echoed through the canyon.
The Konoha Hundred hadn't ambushed them inside the canyon—not just to lull them into complacency, but because the narrow exit was the perfect choke point for poison gas bombs. Now, their retreat was completely cut off.
This miles-long canyon was their only path forward—a bloody gauntlet they had no choice but to run.
---
"Sand Hand!"
As a barrage of explosive kunai rained down, Garou molded flowing sand into a massive shield, blocking the blasts as he and his three subordinates pushed forward.
Seeing that Fūjin and Raijin had already wiped out most of the Suna forces, Yoru held back his Water Style attacks. Instead, he kept hurling explosive kunai to slow Garou's advance, while using Gluttony Technique to rapidly restore his chakra and stamina.
(Just a little longer… Once I hit 70-80%, one Hard Vortex Water Blade will end this.)
But Garou was no ordinary foe. His sheer power and speed made even the collapsing canyon walls and explosions mere minor obstacles. Soon, he and his team neared the exit—
—where Fūjin and Raijin stood guard.
"Rapid-Fire Sand Bullets!"
Garou's hands thrust forward, unleashing a machine-gun barrage of hardened sand rounds.
The twins spun their massive iron staffs like windmills, deflecting some—but Garou's Sand Release was on another level.
CLANG!
Their weapons were knocked away within seconds.
"Tch!"
They dropped to one knee, arms shielding their heads as the remaining bullets pounded their sticky syrup armor—
CRACK!
The protective layer splintered under the assault.
"Sand Coffin!"
Garou clenched his fist, and the scattered bullets melted into streams of sand, surging toward the twins like living shackles.
(Damn it—!)
Fūjin and Raijin roared, muscles bulging as they shattered the crushing grip—
—only for the sand to reform instantly, clinging like glue.
(No time for this.)
Garou flicked his wrists, slamming the twins against the canyon walls with a wave of sand, pinning them like insects before charging past.
---
THOOM!
Two 5-meter-tall armored puppets dropped from above like falling meteors.
"Puppet Technique: Building Crusher!"
The ground quaked as Garou's team scattered—
—just as Fūjin and Raijin ripped free, snatching their staffs and joining the puppets in surrounding Garou.
(Divide and conquer.)
The other three Suna nin were intercepted by Hagane Kotetsu, Uchiha Shun, and Inuzuka Rō.
---
"Chaotic Wind Slash!"
A puppet's massive sword cleaved downward—
"Sand Shield!"
Garou's dome of condensed sand absorbed the blow effortlessly.
"RAAAAH!"
Fūjin and Raijin hammered the shield with their staffs—
—only for the sand to swallow their weapons whole.
(Tch. Adaptive defense.)
The puppets' swords were too fast to trap, but Garou shifted tactics, snaking sand toward their joints—
(Not this time.)
Post-upgrade, the puppets were seamless. A swift slash destroyed Garou's sand eye, blinding his control.
---
NOW.
Yoru dropped from above, a swirling blue sphere in his palm.
"Rasengan!"
BOOM!
The shield splintered—the shockwave piercing through to slam into Garou's ribs.
(Spiral > Chidori for this.)
"Guh—!"
Coughing blood, Garou staggered but kept fighting.
"Sand Spike Barrage!"
The shield erupted in jagged lances—
—Yoru flipped back, hands already weaving—
"Water Style: Heavenly Weeping!"
No hand signs. Just a sharp exhale—
SHINK! SHINK! SHINK!
High-pressure water needles speared through Garou's chest.
(…Just like Tobirama intended.)
The shield collapsed into useless sand.
---
"Hah…" Garou chuckled wetly, clutching his fatal wound. "A sneak attack… worthy of the White Blood Demon."
Yoru didn't press further. Respect was due.
"Your Sand Shield was impressive too."
Garou grinned weakly. "Tell me… where'd a Konoha nin learn such wind techniques?"
---