Natsume Yō didn't believe for a second that Shiyō's warning—"Don't die"—came out of genuine concern. More likely, the hawk-eyed shinobi just didn't want the intel in Yō's head falling into Suna's hands.
"Wind Release: Slicing Gale!"
The Sand ANBU moved as one, seals flashing. In the blink of an eye, blades of cutting wind screamed in from every direction, slicing toward Yō's team.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Slamming his palms into the ground, Shiyō poured chakra into the earth. With a roar, a massive lion-headed wall of stone surged upward, wrapping into a circular barrier that enclosed them all.
BOOM!
The wind blades slammed into the barrier, detonating with explosive force. The air itself shuddered; cracks spidered across the earthen wall. It wouldn't hold for long.
"Break through!"
Shiyō's voice echoed from inside the barrier. The circular wall suddenly shifted, fragmenting into a storm of boulder-sized stone bullets that tore through the air toward the surrounding Sand operatives.
"Move!"
Taking the opening, Yō's group bolted as one, charging for an exit.
"Die!"
But the instant they burst from the alley, steel flashed. A storm of blades greeted them head-on, forcing everyone to suck in a sharp breath.
Splurt!
Akao, already wounded, couldn't react in time. A sword pierced straight through his chest, dropping him to the ground in a spray of blood.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The others managed to parry, steel ringing against steel—but Yō was blasted backward. His arms went numb; the sheer weight of that strike was monstrous, utterly beyond what he could withstand.
Akao rolled and regrouped with the team despite his wound, but his face twisted with fury."Natsume Yō—you'll drag us all to our graves!" he spat, as if their whole disaster was Yō's fault.
Behind them, more Sand ANBU closed in, forming a deadly pincer. The situation was spiraling into pure despair.
"Both sides at once!"
Shiyō shouted, flying through hand seals toward their pursuers."Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Another heavy wall slammed down across the alley, blocking off the Sand ANBU from the rear.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball!""Wind Release: Gale Burst!"
Tanki and Kikumaru combined their jutsu, wind feeding flame. In an instant, a fireball the size of a small house roared forward, scorching the alley as it blasted toward the enemy.
The Sand ANBU scattered, buying Yō's group just enough space to surge toward the gate.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A figure flickered behind them—their commander. He dodged the fireball, then unleashed a monstrous gust that exploded outward.
"Gwahhh!"
Yō and the others had no time to counter. The wind hit like a sledgehammer, sending them tumbling through the air. Yō felt his chest cave from the impact; blood burst from his lips.
"Wind Release: Thousand Blades!"
One ANBU streaked straight at Yō, eyes sharp. He'd already seen it: Yō was the weakest link. Take him out, and the battle tilted instantly.
"Damn it!"
Yō staggered to his feet just in time to face a storm of wind blades rushing down on him like a thousand razors. His whole body went cold, scalp tingling, death pressing down like a mountain.