Chapter 072: Retreat

"Huh? Distant relative?" Uzumaki Karin couldn't help but burst into laughter after hearing this.

Sarutobi Asuma's expression darkened. He could hear the heavy sarcasm in Uzumaki Karin's laughter, as if she were mocking his ignorance.

Hatake Kakashi said in a low voice, "Hold her off, I'll rescue them."

With that, he was about to use the Body Flicker Technique to leave, but Uzumaki Karin anticipated his move, appearing before him in a flash and forcing him back.

Taking advantage of her engagement with Kakashi, Sarutobi Asuma formed hand seals and spat out a cloud of high-temperature ash toward the front.

Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning!

This jutsu was quite effective; the ash would cause high-temperature damage to the enemy upon landing, and after a while, it would explode—a very practical technique.

But unfortunately, Uzumaki Karin paid it no mind. She let the ash fall on her without taking any damage, instead breaking through the jutsu and appearing before Sarutobi Asuma. In his astonished gaze, she punched him and sent him flying.

Sarutobi Asuma slammed into a large tree with a bang, spat out a mouthful of blood, and loudly warned Hatake Kakashi, "Be careful, this woman's defense is no less than Haku's."

Uzumaki Karin said calmly, "Compared to Haku-sama's Iron Body, my Iron Body is still lacking, but a mere B-rank jutsu can't defeat me."

With that, she shook her body, and the ash on her instantly fell to the ground.

Sarutobi Asuma wiped the blood from his mouth and said slowly, "You haven't answered my question. As a member of the Uzumaki clan, why are you opposing Konoha? Whether it's Uzumaki Mito-sama or Uzumaki Kushina, both were wives of the Hokage. Do you realize that your actions will make your ancestors weep in shame?"

"Ancestors?" Uzumaki Karin sneered. "In that case, let me ask you: when the Uzumaki clan was destroyed, why didn't Konoha, as our distant relative, come to save us?"

Sarutobi Asuma's expression darkened. "We did go, but we were too late. By the time we arrived, the Uzumaki clan had already been wiped out."

Uzumaki Karin sneered again. "What a convenient excuse. Too late? Then why didn't you, as distant relatives, help the Uzumaki clan members scattered abroad? Konoha's strength should have been enough to do that—to bring all the Uzumaki children left outside back to Konoha."

Sarutobi Asuma was taken aback, momentarily at a loss for words.

Uzumaki Karin continued, "I know. Because there was no need, right? After all, you already had one Nine-Tails jinchuriki; you didn't need a second Uzumaki, did you?"

"When I hoped every day that someone would come to rescue me from my suffering, Konoha didn't act. The one who saved me from that hell was my lord. So I only follow my lord's orders. You two will die here."

Uzumaki Karin split into dozens of clones, surrounding Sarutobi Asuma and Hatake Kakashi.

The Uzumaki clan's advantage was their immense chakra, and she was no exception. Splitting into dozens of clones was just standard procedure.

"Lightning Cutter!"

Just then, Hatake Kakashi, who had been lying low, suddenly roared and moved like a bolt of lightning, darting through the crowd. His right hand emitted a dazzling electric light, and wherever he passed, he destroyed everything in his path, killing all of Uzumaki Karin's clones.

In an instant, the dozens of clones vanished, and the memories of their deaths flooded back to Uzumaki Karin, causing her to freeze for a moment.

Seizing this opportunity, Sarutobi Asuma formed a chakra blade in his right hand and charged at Uzumaki Karin.

Chakra Blade: True One Stroke!

This technique infused Wind Release chakra into the chakra blade, generating two high-powered, blue-glowing chakra blades as sharp as any sword. They could easily cut through trees and shatter boulders, and could also deliver a wide-range continuous slashing attack.

To kill Uzumaki Karin, Sarutobi Asuma poured almost all his Wind Release chakra into the chakra blade. The immense blue light swept across Uzumaki Karin's body in an instant.

Supersonic: Cross Slash!

But the next second, Wang Bo burst into the fray, slashing twice to form a massive cross-shaped slash, breaking Sarutobi Asuma's killing move and protecting Uzumaki Karin.

From the start of the battle, Wang Bo had been observing the entire situation, watching everyone's every move.

When he saw Uzumaki Karin in danger, he couldn't stay put and acted decisively.

"Forgive me, my lord." Uzumaki Karin quickly lowered her head, looking ashamed.

Wang Bo waved his hand and said, "For you, holding off Sarutobi Asuma and Hatake Kakashi is indeed a bit difficult."

One was the son of the Third Hokage, the other the Copy Ninja.

Combined, their strength could even match a Kage-level fighter.

They might even win.

And Uzumaki Karin was just a jonin. One-on-one, she might win, but two-on-one was somewhat unfair.

Sarutobi Asuma and Hatake Kakashi saw Wang Bo and tensed up, as if facing a great enemy.

"I never expected the richest merchant in the ninja world to be a master as well." Sarutobi Asuma had met Wang Bo a few times, and in his memory, Wang Bo was just a merchant.

Although he knew Wang Bo might be a ninja, he never expected him to be this powerful.

But from Wang Bo's earlier actions, both his speed and strength were terrifying.

Wang Bo looked at Sarutobi Asuma but did not attack. Instead, he said, "I can give you a chance. If Konoha is willing to submit to me and acknowledge me as its master, I will spare Konoha. You can convey this message to Sarutobi Hiruzen."

Sarutobi Asuma's face darkened. "Konoha will not surrender."

"Is that so?" Wang Bo said noncommittally. "If you refuse to surrender, the result will be death. Are you willing to bear that cost?"

With that, Wang Bo, without waiting for Sarutobi Asuma's response, swung his blade.

But this slash was not aimed at Sarutobi Asuma; it was aimed at the sky.

In an instant, a bright blade light cut through the night sky, as brilliant and fleeting as a shooting star.

Seeing that blade light, Haku flickered out of Uchiha Shisui's attack range and turned to leave without hesitation.

Because that blade light was the signal to retreat.

All of Wang Bo's subordinates would retreat without hesitation upon seeing the signal; anyone who did not would be punished.

Haku was not afraid of punishment, but he did not want to defy Wang Bo's orders.

So he left.