The female knight was dead...
When she still refused to provide information about the Western Continent even after being pierced through the heart by over a dozen lightning senbon, Ryuji simply and decisively killed her.
When people encounter problems where compromise is possible, they make concessions depending on the conditions.
If it's a problem where compromise is impossible, no amount of temptation or threat is useful.
If the female knight was willing to talk, the pain of over a dozen lightning senbon piercing her heart would have made her speak. But she didn't, so continuing would be a waste of time.
Her homeland was her bottom line.
"It doesn't matter. I got all the information I wanted."
Ryuji returned the female knight's heart to the corpse, then dragged it into his Personal Space for preservation.
This was his first sample capable of using Senjutsu Chakra, which might yield gains in his Sage Mode research.
No, not just Sage Mode.
Based on current research into Chakra's Nature, there exists a strong connection between Chakra and Natural Energy. If he could discover clues from this, perhaps he could thoroughly research Chakra's essence, thereby gaining control over the power of all creation.
But those are matters for later.
For now...
"Let's go find that group!"
Ryuji looked at the Sunagakure's Shinobi who arrived later, a smile appearing on his face.
…
The border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rivers was easily recognizable.
A one-meter distance apart: stepping out meant an endless sea of sand; stepping in meant a forest of green trees. This almost impossible natural wonder clearly separated the two countries.
At the boundary, a fairy tale forest had appeared at some unknown time.
Fairies, sprites, butterflies...
Many creatures existing only in Western fantasy novels drifted within the forest.
Outside a small wooden cabin, a bonfire was lit.
Five people sat around it.
They were: a middle-aged man with a thick beard and shoulder-length curly hair; a young man with blond hair combed into a slicked-back style; a middle-aged woman with wine-red long hair; a young woman with black long hair; and a young girl with shoulder-length silver-white hair.
They were the remaining five of the Western Continent group of six: Gareth, Smith, Dolores, Triss, and Anya.
"Why hasn't Dante returned yet?"
Dolores, with wine-red long hair, frowned slightly, her expression somewhat worried.
As the eldest woman and deputy leader of this team, she had a strong sense of responsibility and highly valued the members' safety.
"No need to worry."
Gareth added a log to the fire, calmly saying, "After engaging with the Shinobi for so long, don't you know their methods by now? They simply haven't discovered our ability."
"Yes, big sis." The blond young man, Smith also comforted, "Although it's past the scheduled reporting time, if unexpected intel was discovered, delays happen. It's happened before."
"I'm just a bit concerned." Dolores's worried expression didn't lessen; instead, it deepened. "The opponent is a major power. Given enough time, they might find a way to sense us."
"I don't deny they might have such capability." The black-haired young woman Triss interjected, "But to solve a problem, one must first understand it. They don't know why they can't sense us, so they can't possibly find a way to sense us, unless they get incredibly lucky and happen to find a method."
"Since we decided to stay and seize the ancient empire's ruins, we shouldn't regret it. Sacrifices were anticipated long ago."
The silver-haired girl raised her head, her delicate face expressionless, unusually cold.
"Perhaps."
Dolores sighed.
She actually opposed staying to confront Sunagakure.
Although they were knights from an empire on the Western Continent, the two continents were so far apart the empire couldn't provide aid, while Sunagakure was a military Shinobi Village of one of this continent's five great powers.
Although burdened by the Shinobi World War, expecting six people to exhaust the opponent, making them give up continuing the search for the ancient empire's ruins, was incredibly difficult.
But regardless, she wasn't the leader; she couldn't make the final decision.
Crack~
Suddenly, the sound of glass breaking echoed.
Everyone looked toward the sound, seeing the distant space cracking, spreading continuously outward.
"This is...?"
Dolores was startled, about to speak when an explosion thundered violently. Furious impacts shattered the space, along with the entire fairy tale forest disintegrating into fragments vanishing in space.
The real world… one side yellow sand, one side forest.
Nearly a hundred Sunagakure's Shinobi tightly surrounded this place.
"I never imagined their hiding place was near the Great Rift Canyon." Looking at the surrounded five, Pakura's expression was dark.
She had searched everywhere, never expecting the enemy was hiding right under their noses.
"Can't blame you. Their barrier was set up using ancient empire technology." Ryuji consoled, "That ancient empire from who knows how many years ago... People of our era have never even heard of it. Not understanding is normal."
Hearing this, Pakura's dark expression eased a bit.
But the Western Continent five's expressions sank upon hearing this.
'If they've never heard of it, how do they know so much?'
'Only if Dante, sent out to gather intel, met with misfortune could explain it.'
Dolores glared furiously, her greatsword bursting into flames, threateningly demanding, "What did you do to Dante?"
"Who Dante is, I don't know. But a woman dressed similarly to you was killed by us."
"Bastards!"
The black-haired young woman charged out furiously.
Midway, her body underwent changes.
Her body swelled, forehead growing antelope horns, wrists and ankles growing animal hair, knees bending backward, a slender tail growing from her behind… resembling a demon from Western fantasy novels.
The moment the transformation completed, her speed surged, disappearing from her spot.
"Give Dante back!"
Triss suddenly appeared before Ryuji, her wind-blade-wrapped greatsword violently slashing down.
Thud!
Her movement abruptly stopped.
Triss looked incredulously at the blade piercing her heart, her greatsword falling silently.
Ryuji expressionlessly withdrew his arm-blade, kicking her back before her body fell.
"Triss!"
Smith roared angrily, lifting his greatsword to charge, but Gareth grabbed him, coldly ordering, "Scatter and flee."
As he spoke, he and the two other female knights scattered and fled.
Smith paused, also a beat slower fleeing in another direction.
Though they all wanted to avenge their comrade, judging from Triss being instantly killed, this newcomer possessed a dimensional difference in strength.
If they didn't break through early, they'd all die here.
"Kill them all!"
Ryuji issued the extermination order.
The information he wanted was already obtained; the gains they could offer, they couldn't give.
This group merely happened to obtain treasures left behind by descendants of the ancient empire who fled to the Western Continent with wealth and technology when the empire perished.
Whether it was the barrier shielding perception, weapons with innate Nature Transformation, armor with built-in Chakra Shields enabling Sage Transformation... all were Gelel Stone technology left by the ancient empire.
These people fundamentally didn't understand the principles, lacked the technology, simply using them as is.
"Get out of my way!"
Gareth roared loudly, his body swelling and beastifying, turning into a half-man, half-beast golden lion. His broad hands swung the greatsword, high-speed water blades wrapped around it, swiftly sweeping; Sunagakure's Shinobi blocking the front were instantly cut in two.
He didn't pause at all, fleeing through the opening.
Elsewhere, Dolores wasn't far behind.
She grew fiery red feathers, even sprouting a pair of wings taking flight.
No one could stop them.
Sunagakure's Shinobi using Ninjutsu would be blocked by the Chakra Shield; throwing shuriken and kunai would be dodged by the opponent's agile movements.
Smith transformed into a leopard-man.
His mastery of Senjutsu Chakra was lowest, beastification most severe. Aside from facial features and hands showing human traces, he was completely a leopard.
Although severely beastified, his strength was not weak.
He carried the greatsword on his back, moved on all fours, running like a beast.
His speed was so fast only a gold streak was visible.
Any Sunagakure's Shinobi blocking along the way were torn to shreds by his claws and teeth.
Anya showed no beastification signs externally, merely her pupils turning vertical, her silver-white hair becoming paler.
But her displayed speed and strength were not inferior to her three companions. A lightning greatsword swung powerfully; no one dared block her path.
"To have someone suitable for Sage Mode!"
Ryuji's eyes lit up, using the Body Flicker Technique to block the silver-haired girl's path.
He changed his mind, resolved to spare her.
Possessing natural talent for training Sage Mode wasn't something everyone had. If he could research its mysteries, he could create artificial humans born with Sage Power, like Orochimaru creating Mitsuki.
Anya also saw Ryuji blocking her path.
Facing this enemy who instantly killed Triss, she felt deep anger along with a thread of fear.
But she didn't retreat.
Because there was no way back.
"Get out of my way!"
Anya shouted loudly, her lightning greatsword slashing through the air, dazzling lightning shooting out from the blade.
Ryuji's expression remained indifferent, not dodging or avoiding.
The moment before the lightning struck, he raised his left hand blocking in front, then grabbed the lightning, tearing it into fragments dissipating into the air.
Her charging steps halted.
Anya stared dumbly at the enemy's left hand sparking with electricity, her mind blank.
'Tearing lightning with his hand, looking utterly effortless… could such a person truly be defeated?'
"To lose fighting spirit on your own, saving me effort."
The enemy's indifferent voice startled Anya. She suddenly regained focus, her vision obscured by a palm.
Slap!
The girl's face was grabbed by Ryuji's hand. He lifted her, then forcefully pressed her toward the ground.
Boom!
The back of her head hit the ground, the earth cracking open.
Anya's consciousness faded away.