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Swish—

A single slash.

A powerful blade of wind shot forward, heading straight for Gaara.

Gaara had always been extremely confident—

Arrogant, even.

But in that moment—

Facing that blade—

He felt it.

A chill in his spine.

The sharp, suffocating pressure of death.

How… is this possible?!

Boom!

At the last second, the yellow sand surrounding Gaara surged back and automatically formed a shield in front of him—

Blocking the slash from Yoruha.

"Hmph. As expected—

My absolute defense, Sand Shield, never fails—"

Gaara sneered wildly, but before he could even finish his sentence—

Swish!

Yoruha's figure flashed in front of him.

Another slash.

Simple. Direct. Unfancy.

And yet—

Gaara had no way to dodge it.

Boom!

The sand scrambled to defend again, forming another wall to block the attack—

But it was too slow.

Yoruha's blade tore through it with ease.

Bang!

Gaara was sent flying, crashing through seven or eight thick trees before finally coming to a stop.

"Sand Armor?" Yoruha narrowed his eyes.

"Kid, if you want to act tough, why are you hiding in a turtle shell like a coward?"

His voice was mocking. Cold.

If it weren't for the fact that the chakra-infused sand had blunted his ninja blade—

If the weapon wasn't already nearly destroyed by Wind Release and abrasion—

That last strike would've completely shattered Gaara's Sand Armor.

In the distance, Temari and Kankuro rushed forward to help Gaara to his feet.

Blood spilled from Gaara's mouth, and his body was covered in cracks—

Like a patch of dried, crumbling earth.

"W-What kind of monster is this guy…?"

Kankuro's voice trembled.

"He actually managed to hurt Gaara!"

"Kankuro, take Gaara and get out of here!"

Temari barked.

"I'll stop him! Worst case, I'll die with him!

But Gaara must not be allowed to fall here!"

Temari's brows were furrowed in grim resolve.

She was ready to throw everything on the line.

Yoruha looked at her—

And smirked coldly.

"Die with me?

You think you're strong enough for that?"

At that moment—

Gaara suddenly burst out laughing.

Wild. Unhinged.

He shoved Temari and Kankuro away.

"Hahahaha!"

"What an interesting guy!"

"You've actually managed to awaken my real killing intent!"

"Today… I will kill you!"

Gaara's eyes turned a deep crimson, filled with madness and murderous thirst.

At the same time—

His right arm transformed—

The sand molding into a monstrous claw—

A grotesque version of a crane's limb, mouth stretched open like a beast.

Swish!

The sand surged toward Yoruha with terrifying chakra.

A massive, monstrous hand slammed down from above.

But it didn't matter what came his way.

Yoruha had only one answer:

A single slash.

Boom!

Golden sand and howling wind collided—

Force against force.

Blade against claw.

Grain against steel.

Countless razor-like wind blades exploded outward, shredding the sand as they collided.

Sparks. Screams. Pressure.

In the end—

Gaara's monstrous sand arm shattered under the weight of that single cut.

He was blasted away once again.

"This… can't be…"

"Even that attack—"

"It couldn't match him at all…"

"I thought I could at least take him down with me…"

"How arrogant…"

But Kankuro and Temari had already noticed something worse.

"Gaara's condition—it's getting unstable!"

"If he passes out completely… that thing inside him will come out!"

Temari's voice shook with panic.

Kankuro clenched his fists, looking ready to bolt at any moment.

Despite their concern, neither dared go help him—

They knew what would happen if the Shukaku was released.

Yoruha stood tall, staring at the broken, struggling figure on the ground.

His gaze was full of contempt.

"A so-called Jinchūriki?"

"That's all you've got?"