Orochimaru: "The varieties of these Honkai Beasts are quite complete. It doesn't seem like natural evolution, does it?"
Uchiha Madara: "They should consider themselves lucky that the number of Honkai Beasts arriving at Sunagakure isn't large."
Uchiha Izuna: "True. If the number of Honkai Beasts were even a dozen higher, the people of Sunagakure definitely wouldn't be able to hold!"
[Rumble~
The sturdy stone wall trembled under the impact of the Knight-class Honkai Beasts, causing the tall structure to shudder slightly.
Temari, who spared a fraction of her focus to look behind her, let out a small sigh of relief upon seeing the Knight-class Honkai Beasts remaining motionless after the collision.
Whether those Honkai Beasts were stunned or not, as long as they didn't immediately pursue, it was good news!
Thus, Temari and her group successfully reached the vicinity of the Ballista-class Honkai Beasts.
By this time, these Ballista-class Honkai Beasts had already prepared their "ammunition." Upon discovering Temari and the others, they immediately shifted targets, aiming their fronts directly at them. The shells converted from yellow sand in their chests were primed and ready to fire.
"Now's our chance! Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!"
Temari immediately launched a continuous, dense barrage of bullet-like attacks at one of the Ballista-class Honkai Beasts.
Not just her, but the ninja from the other two squads who followed along also used long-range Ninjutsu to attack in unison.
Instantly, the shells on the targeted Ballista-class Honkai Beasts began to glow red and flicker incessantly.
"Retreat, now!"
Seeing this, Temari and her group immediately backed away.
Not long after they retreated...
A violent explosion erupted from the bodies of the Ballista-class Honkai Beasts.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The firelight from the unceasing explosions reflected brightly on the faces of Temari and the others.
By the light of the flames, one could see that the Erosion on some of the Sand Ninja had already reached their faces.
This was a highly dangerous signal; it meant those ninja had reached their absolute limits!
Pfft~
Just then, a long spear suddenly transfixed the chest of a ninja whose face showed signs of Erosion, hoisting his body high into the air.
This sudden turn of events caught everyone off guard.
In the firelight, the shock in Temari's eyes was clearly visible.
Unnoticed, the Knight-class Honkai Beasts that had crashed into the wall had returned and already killed one of their comrades.
"Don't just stand there! Get out of here immediately! Avoid a direct confrontation with these Honkai Beasts!"
"These beasts can't leap over the wall, so they aren't a massive threat. Once we've confirmed the long-range Honkai Beasts are neutralized, return to the top of the wall immediately!"
"Yes."
"Understood!"
The remaining ninja forced themselves to stay alert, using their agile evasion skills to circle around the Honkai Beasts.
They didn't have to wait long. A few seconds later, when the firelight dissipated, the mangled remains of the Ballista-class Honkai Beasts were revealed.
Temari scanned all the Ballista-class Honkai Beasts and found that the explosion's radius was extremely wide. Even the beasts that hadn't been directly attacked suffered a Sympathetic Detonation due to the intensity, magnifying the power of the blast.
"Quick, back to the wall!" Temari barked.
Hearing the order, the other ninja immediately moved toward the wall.
Fortunately, the speed of Knight-class Honkai Beasts in their normal state wasn't fast. While their charge speed was incredible, they couldn't turn. Utilizing this trait, Temari led the group to the edge of the wall.
But at that moment, several Templar-class Honkai Beasts charged toward them.
"This... Does this mean they've already..."
Seeing this, Temari knew that the Sand Ninja who had stayed to distract these beasts were likely in dire straits.
"Damn it! Engage the enemy!"
Beneath the wall, Temari and her group could only face the enemy in a hurried defensive stance.
However, the frontal defense of a Templar-class Honkai Beast was peerless. Their attacks hit the shields like minor irritants.
If they wanted to circle behind to attack, their current condition seemingly wouldn't allow it!
"Agh!!!"
"Damn it, is this the end?"
"My Chakra... is drained..."
The screams of one Sand Ninja after another rang out as they fell beneath the spears of the Templar-class Honkai Beasts.
Although the Templar-class Honkai Beast only had a spear as an offensive tool, its agility far exceeded all other Lower-class Honkai Beasts.
The Sand Ninja, who were already nearing exhaustion, were simply no match for them.
Watching her comrades fall one by one, Temari gritted her teeth and squeezed every last drop of Chakra from her body.
She ran quickly onto the wall, using Chakra to adhere her feet to the stone, and sprinted along the vertical surface to rapidly circle behind one of the Templar-class Honkai Beasts.
"Wind Release: Great Sickle Weasel Technique!"
Instantly, countless invisible blades enveloped the beast, subjecting it to a continuous, shredding gale!
Unlike their heavily armored fronts, the defense of a Templar-class Honkai Beast's other parts was merely average.
Under the shredding of the Great Sickle Weasel Technique, wounds finally appeared, and the Vacuum Blades continued to carve deeper into the flesh.
Crack~
However, just as Temari was preparing her second strike, another Templar-class Honkai Beast flew over, thrusting its spear toward her.
Temari dodged the strike in the nick of time, but she lost the opportunity to deliver the finishing blow to the wounded beast.
From the corner of her eye, she saw the few surviving Sand Ninja struggling with a third Templar-class Honkai Beast; they clearly wouldn't be able to reinforce her.
"Wind Release: Great Net!"
Temari swung her fan violently at the two beasts. A gale shaped like a massive net snared them, the net itself possessing cutting properties.
However, the net's cuts failed to leave any deep wounds on the beasts' bodies!
But she hadn't expected this move to deal significant damage; her goal was merely to bind them.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!"
Temari once again circled behind the more heavily wounded Templar-class Honkai Beast and attacked with a Vacuum Sphere.
In an instant, the dense barrage enveloped the beast.
Its already battered carapace shattered rapidly until Temari's attack struck the beast's Core!
Crack~
With a faint, almost imperceptible sound—perhaps even a trick of the ear—the Honkai Beast, its Core shattered, died completely.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
Temari took several deep breaths to recover her state before looking toward the other Templar-class Honkai Beast.
The good news was that she had been fast enough; the beast hadn't yet broken free from the binding of her Ninjutsu.
The bad news was that the duration of her Jutsu was nearly up.
"Wind Release: Wind Blade!"
Temari quickly threw a Wind Blade, leaving a deep gash on the beast's back.
However, the wound wasn't deep enough; it had failed to shatter the Core.]