Civilian battle strategies were not what was taught to shinobi of any rank, but it hadn't taken long to work out that the best way for the civilians to proceed was to form walls out of their shields and try to use their long-ranged weaponry against the creature. It was still moving with less agility and speed than Sasuke had expected -- biding its time, or simply not graceful in the air?

He'd have to find out from closer up, he realised, watching as several of the better civilian archers chanced standing and firing off a volley. Wind swept through the clearing as the creature beat upward, the arrows falling just short.

"Reload and keep firing, keep it from heading for the buildings!" He shouted at the mercenaries, glancing over to see Sakura sheltering the non-fighting civilians with rock jutsu that would hopefully divert attention to those who could fight. If those people stayed put and Sakura could command the three bunched groups of shields and arrows he'd managed to force the mercenaries into, there was a way to get closer.

There was no point in insulting Konohana by asking the summons if she could avoid fire and arrows, Sasuke thought with some ruefulness, before he took advantage of one group's reload to leap onto a shield and then higher, biting his thumb midair. The enormous goshawk grabbed him by the shoulders in the next moment, sweeping upwards as Sasuke kept a hand on his weapons pouch in case any arrows did come too close for comfort.

Sakura would get the gist of the manouevre, he hoped, and spread them out if the flying fire-breathing lizard tried another tack.