"After using the Earth Escape Technique, no trace will remain," Yitsu said proudly as he sealed the hole.
Before he could finish, Rock Lee descended like a green whirlwind, forcing the three enemies to retreat. Sakura slammed the earth barriers trapping Naruto into pieces. "Ridiculous!"
"Konoha Whirlwind!" Lee shouted, charging through the smoke and dust. Sakura, having freed Naruto, leapt in beside him.
Elsewhere, Neji intercepted the leader of the Four, just as he was about to strike Shion. The blocked leader muttered with a hint of irritation, "Is this the companion of that fool from before?"
By this point, the temporary enhancements the Four had received began to fade. Realizing they were at a disadvantage, they pulled back carefully from the fight.
"Yitsu, find Brother Kusu!" Setsuna ordered. Using Yoitsu's keen senses, the three rushed toward the other battlefield.
"Has the chakra they received from their brother run out?""A little, maybe? They only used it for those jutsu.""Most of it went into enhancing their bodies. Didn't you notice how their appearances changed?""Maybe they didn't expect resistance. Their goal was just to eliminate the Demon Country's witch—they weren't prepared for a fight."
The leader of the Four recovered and, propelled by Neji's Eight Trigrams Palm, leapt into the fray, joining his allies.
The three urged Kusu to replenish chakra, but Sakura and Lee, pressing from behind, wouldn't allow it.
"Annoying pests!""No way they'll resupply like this!""Without chakra, they've got no chance!""Retreat for now," the leader ordered.
Assessing the situation, they reported back, then abandoned the mission risk, leaping over the mountainside to escape.
"They're cautious and calculating… but trying to conquer the world? Something's off about them," one observer commented."Their actual combat power isn't remarkable—they're relying entirely on that Dark Medical Ninjutsu," Kakashi noted, pointing at the sky. "Don't trust appearances or speeches; judge for yourself."
Kai nodded. "Neji, Lee, and Sakura performed far better than these enemies."
Xiao Li clenched her fists, tears welling up. "I'm so moved!"
Sakura, however, only considered it a glimpse of her future self. 'Doesn't matter. Work hard now, and one day, I'll be that impressive,' she thought.
"What about me?! What about me?!" Naruto demanded, pointing at himself.
Kai laughed, giving him a thumbs up. "Naruto, you're full of energy! Very youthful!"
"Eh… that's all?" Naruto grumbled.
After the fight, Neji approached Ashio and Shion, offering reassurance. "Don't worry. I'm a Konoha ninja."
"Konoha…", Ashio murmured, relief washing over her.
Shion's pupils swirled with purple, kaleidoscopic patterns again. This time, she saw herself as a child.
"That…"
"What is it, Lady Shion?" Ashio asked, noticing her unease.
"An attempt to awaken again…" Shion murmured, cryptic. Though unclear to them, everyone watching the sky screen knew she meant the monster.
"Why does her foresight seem fragmented and reactive?""Limited abilities reduce her value…""She's just a miko from a small country. This is considered strong.""But that monster… it looks like it could crush the Five Great Nations. A sealing miko should be just as powerful."
"Tch! Everyone boasts. I said I'm evenly matched with the Hokage. What's so impressive about being sealed by a small-country miko?!"
Despite hating her own limitations, Shion bristled at being looked down on. Glancing at the sky screen, she muttered, "These people are so annoying..."
Back at the temple, the Konoha team finally reunited with Shion in the main hall. Naruto appeared, surprisingly intact.
"This is the Demon Country's miko, Shion-sama," Ashio introduced.
The Konoha team returned introductions in turn:"I am Hyuga Neji, captain of Konoha's seventh team.""Rock Lee.""Haruno Sakura.""Uzumaki Naruto—pleased to meet you," Naruto added casually.
Sakura elbowed him in the stomach immediately, stopping him from adding something foolish.
"Hahaha, these two are hilarious. They seem close!" a comment floated from the sky screen.
Sakura scowled, Naruto wisely keeping quiet this time.
Neji took the moment to explain their mission: "We will protect Lady Shion all the way to the Sealed Shrine."
Ashio reported casualties from last night, emphasizing Suzuki, whose death had been predicted.
Shion's response was flat, even disdainful: "Humph. I knew I would be safe. They should be relieved."
Naruto snapped, outraged: "Wait! Everyone died for you, and you're acting like this?!"
He grabbed her collar, glaring.
"Hiss! He just grabbed the princess…""Does this count as hostage-taking?""Not really. The Demon Country is different; it's considered holding the daimyo hostage.""Isn't that worse?""Is he even a ninja? He hasn't even learned basic emotional control!"