Two Rasengan slammed into the Sand Shield Wall, blasting massive holes through its defenses. The sheer force of the impact nearly shattered the entire barrier.
Already weakened, the Sand Shield Wall finally collapsed under a follow-up Vacuum Great Sphere, dissolving into uncontrolled dust that blanketed the Suna forces below.
Seizing the moment, Umino Yoru inhaled deeply, then unleashed a Wind Release technique—
"Wind Release: Infinite Dust Storm!"
Every grain of sand in the air transformed into countless needle-like projectiles, raining down on the Suna battalion.
While these dust needles weren't instantly lethal, they were laced with poison—the same toxin from the poison gas bombs. Even a whiff of the gas could paralyze a shinobi; a direct hit from these poisoned needles was far worse.
Against such a dense, unavoidable assault, only puppet users or elite defenders like Garo could withstand it. The average Suna chunin and genin? They were doomed.
Garo, hailing from the Kazekage's lineage, had prioritized protecting the puppeteers—but even they were few in number. Not that it mattered. Under the Infinite Dust Storm, the poison gas had already saturated the battlefield.
Worse, the Suna forces had positioned themselves at the exit of a canyon—a funnel-shaped trap. The wind carried the toxins straight into their ranks, with only a fraction dissipating through the narrow pass.
"Too conservative. Wasted too many poison bombs."
Yoru frowned. Half the gas bombs had been used, but a third would've been enough in this terrain.
---
"Attack!"
The Konoha Hundred-Man Unit didn't advance—instead, they hurled explosive-tagged kunai from a safe distance.
To ensure they weren't caught in the gas, they stood far back. The kunai alone wouldn't reach deep into the Suna formation—
Until several Wind Release users stepped forward.
"Wind Release: Turbulent Dance!"
A defensive Suna technique, now repurposed for offense. The winds scooped up sand and dust, propelling the explosive kunai like a scatter-shot bombardment.
The result?
A pseudo-S-rank explosion, ripping through the Suna ranks.
Garo, shielded by his Sand Armor, survived unscathed—but his forces were obliterated. Desperate, he channeled his chakra into a last-ditch defense.
"Sand Waterfall Flow!"
The ground liquefied into a tsunami of sand, surging toward Konoha's forces.
But Yoru was already weaving hand signs in midair.
"Water Release: Water Pillar!"
A spinning column of water erupted, crashing down like a waterfall and drowning the sand wave.
This was Tobirama Senju's signature technique—offense, defense, and perfect counter to earth-based jutsu. The water neutralized the sand's chakra, rendering it useless.
Then came the final blow.
A dozen shadow clones—hidden among Konoha's ranks—unleashed simultaneous Wind Release techniques.
"Great Sickle Weasel Technique!"
The combined force mimicked an S-rank windstorm, shredding the remaining Suna defenses.
Garo couldn't react in time.
By the time the dust settled, only a handful of puppeteers and elite jonin remained—those who'd injected antidotes in time.
---
"Retreat!"
Garo covered the withdrawal, letting his survivors flee into the canyon.
Konoha's forces held back, wary of lingering poison—but the shadow clones pursued relentlessly.
Garo snarled and slammed his palms onto the ground.
"Sand Burial!"
A tidal wave of sand swallowed the clones, popping them into smoke.
For a moment, it seemed like the remaining twenty Suna shinobi might escape—
Until explosive kunai rained from above, blasting the canyon walls. Falling rubble split the retreating forces, slowing them to a crawl.
And at the canyon's exit?
The Fuujin and Raijin brothers, clad in golden syrup armor, stood like demonic gatekeepers.
Behind them?
Shirakumo Yamanaka. Uchiha Shun. Sokoku Raidou. Yamashiro Midori.
And rising stars like Inuzuka Ryou, Shiranui Shinma, and Anma Keion.
In this chokepoint battle, the armored Fuujin and Raijin fought like jonin-tier juggernauts—especially against puppeteers.
Their giant iron clubs crushed any Suna shinobi who dared approach.
Those who slipped past?
Met a swift end at the hands of Konoha's elites.
---
With Garo pinned down by Konoha's forces, explosives sealing the canyon, and elite killers guarding the exit—
The Suna battalion had no way out.
Their total annihilation was now inevitable.
---