Traversing the Battlefield (2)

After receiving a small slug, Hyuga Ao was led along to retrieve the slugs one by one, like collecting quest items. All the masterless slugs along her line converged toward her.

"Ao-sama, ahead there are three enemy jonin and nine chunin, half of them puppeteers. Our side has ten people, barely holding on."

Hyuga Ao was puzzled. "Didn't they say we had the numbers advantage? Why have we been at a disadvantage all the way here?"

"The Sand Ninja on this line are all heading for Tsunade-sama, so naturally they're stronger. Our advantage is mainly on the flanks. The side lanes are about to break free and will soon flood back into the center of the battlefield."

The slug explained.

"Oh." Hyuga Ao nodded, crossed her fingers in a hand seal, and split off another clone.

She had to admit, having the full map open was comfortable.

With the full map active, the clone drew attention up front while the main body circled around to find a breakthrough. This trick never got old.

Hyuga Ao's clone charged at the Sand Ninja, wrapped in a gale and carrying a massive roar.

It was like when people break up a fight—they always grab the loudest one first, even if someone else is sneaking in cheap shots while you hold him back.

Because subconsciously, you think the loudest one is the biggest threat and needs to be restrained.

Hyuga Ao's clone rushed in with tremendous momentum, drawing everyone's eyes. The Sand Ninja and Konoha forces quickly separated, eyeing the newcomer warily.

Using the camp tents as cover, Hyuga Ao quietly crept up to the Sand Ninja's flank.

The clone stopped and stood still as the dust settled. When they saw it was just a little girl, both sides wore different expressions.

The Sand Ninja leader, Mikami Nokatsu, pointed at Hyuga Ao and laughed:

"Hahahaha, is Konoha that desperate? After all this fighting, all they send is a little girl? Hilarious, hahahaha!"

The Konoha leader, Sarutobi jonin Sarutobi Hiro, sighed inwardly. Still, support was better than no support.

"You're Orochimaru-sama's disciple, right? Come over here, watch out for the Sand Ninja."

Sarutobi Hiro waved.

The clone ignored him. At that moment, the clone's delicate face was taut. She waved her hand, sending a barrage of wind blades with the gale toward the Sand Ninja, then followed close behind, charging with a blade in hand.

Sarutobi Hiro's face darkened. He ordered his men to follow. No choice—after all, she was Orochimaru's disciple.

The Sand Ninja scattered to dodge the wind blades. Mikami Nokatsu quickly made a few hand signals, indicating they should temporarily block the Konoha ninja and take out Hyuga Ao first.

At the command, the Sand Ninja puppeteers released all their puppets to intercept the Konoha ninja. Even though the Sarutobi clan's Fire Release was sharp, it couldn't destroy the specially reinforced puppets.

"Damn it. If Orochimaru-sama's disciple gets hurt on my watch, I don't know how I'll explain it to him." Sarutobi Hiro watched Hyuga Ao surrounded and cursed in frustration.

Hyuga Ao's clone didn't care about any of that. She hypnotized herself internally: I'm a heartless ADC—no feelings, no damage, no survivability. My only purpose is to bait them in the flesh.

The Sand Ninja split into two groups. All the puppeteers and one jonin temporarily held off Sarutobi Hiro and his team.

The commander, Mikami Nokatsu, plus the remaining six chunin, surrounded Hyuga Ao.

Seven Sand Ninja formed hand seals in unison.

"Earth Style: Earth Tremor." "Earth Style: Sharp Rock Spikes." "Earth Style: Earth Wall." ×2

"Lightning Release: Falling Lightning." "Wind Style: Net." ×2

Two earth walls rose up, cutting off the bewildered clone.

Meanwhile, Hyuga Ao, hidden behind the camp tents, found the ground beneath her feet rapidly rising.

She knew she'd been discovered. Just as she tried to jump down, sharp rock spikes thrust up from all sides, forcing her back. The moment she hesitated, a reinforced wind net closed in around her. At the same time, lightning gathered in the sky above, ready to strike at any moment.

"Damn it!" In an instant, she was trapped in this predicament. Hyuga Ao realized the Sand Ninja leader was a sensory ninja—those hand signals earlier were meant to take her out first.

"Hmph." Watching Hyuga Ao caught in the net, Mikami Nokatsu smirked. He wasn't stupid. Anyone who could make such a commotion while moving, even a little girl, deserved caution.

Besides, a ninja's strength was never tied to age.

Sensing a figure with the same chakra behind him, he knew the one in front was just a decoy.

The clone broke through the earth wall, knowing only she could help the main body. But with so little chakra left, she couldn't break through the wall of enemies immediately.

Hyuga Ao's instincts screamed warnings. The hairs on her body stood on end. The lightning in the sky was about to strike.

Even though the Wind Style: Net was cast by two chunin, they had deliberately reduced its lethality, pouring all the skill points into binding and durability. Hyuga Ao couldn't break free anytime soon.

The falling lightning descended. Hyuga Ao forcibly compressed her body to gain a sliver of space, then burst her chakra again, expanding her Wind Cloak and spinning into a Rotation within the cramped confines of the net.

The Yin Seal released, Hyuga Ao poured out her chakra at full power. A blue orb of light blazed atop the high stone platform.

The falling lightning collided with the top of the orb, producing a dazzling flash.

Seeing that even the A-rank Lightning Release: Falling Lightning couldn't finish Hyuga Ao, Mikami Nokatsu ordered the Sand Ninja to destroy the stone platform beneath her feet. Let's see how she spins without a foothold.

Mikami Nokatsu increased his chakra output.

On the other side, Hyuga Ao felt the ground suddenly shake beneath her. The stable Rotation instantly developed a gap.

Threads of lightning struck Hyuga Ao, making the slugs on her shriek in agony.

Hearing the slugs scream, Hyuga Ao actually smiled. So you finally get a taste of your own medicine.

Seizing the last moments the Rotation bought her, she clasped her hands together and formed a wind blade, while simultaneously boosting her Wind Cloak output to wrap her entire body, intending to endure the falling lightning head-on.

Hyuga Ao's wind blades split the falling lightning apart. The lightning traveled from her hands across her whole body, raging over the surface of her Wind Cloak.

Fortunately, lightning was countered by wind. The Wind Cloak's defense didn't let too much lightning through, but Hyuga Ao was still electrocuted—her hair standing on end, limbs stiff, temporarily unable to move.

The stone platform beneath her feet retracted, and Hyuga Ao crashed heavily to the ground.

Mikami Nokatsu watched the immobilized Hyuga Ao with a satisfied nod, gesturing for two people to tie her up while he turned to join the other fight.

His clone had already dissipated the moment Hyuga Ao was struck.

Two Sand Chunin approached Hyuga Ao. One looped a rope around her, while the other found a drug that would restrict a ninja's ability to gather Chakra and brought it to her lips.

Hyuga Ao watched the Sand ninjas' movements coldly. The moment Mikami Nokatsu joined the other battle, she immediately manipulated Shikotsumyaku to sever the rope.

The Sand ninja binding her was cut by a bone blade that appeared in an instant, stumbling back in shock.

Hyuga Ao rose, swaying like a marionette, and charged at the two Sand ninjas.

These two have seen Shikotsumyaku—they absolutely cannot be left alive! she thought fiercely.

She pulled out a Kunai she hadn't used in ages, gripping it in a reverse hold, and rushed at the Sand ninjas.

Both Sand ninjas had wounded hands, and Hyuga Ao's control of her body through her bones was clumsy. The two sides ended up deadlocked.

Dragging things out favored Hyuga Ao, but the variables were too great. She decided to trade wounds for kills.

Recklessly, Hyuga Ao thrust her Kunai at one of the Sand ninjas.

The Sand ninja sneered. With your short arms and legs, even if we stab each other, I'll hit you first.

The two Sand ninjas' Kunai stabbed at Hyuga Ao from front and back. But the moment they pierced in, they felt blocked by something. Hyuga Ao pushed forward through the Kunai, driving her own into the Sand ninja's heart.

She turned.

A Sand ninja's Kunai slashed across her back. Seeing Hyuga Ao turn, he instinctively thrust his Kunai at her.

Another exchange.

The Sand ninja fell, disbelief in his eyes, still wondering why his Kunai hadn't pierced through.

Meanwhile, two long bloody gashes ran across Hyuga Ao's chest and neck, revealing the white bone beneath.

Mikami Nokatsu sensed the Chakra signatures of his two Chunin vanish. He turned back and found Hyuga Ao slumped in a pool of blood, staring straight at him.

Hyuga Ao's white robe beneath her was stained red with blood. A long gash ran down her fair jade-like neck from the right side, across her collarbone, and stopped on her smooth shoulder.

Another gash ran from her left chest down to her navel, her delicate skin faintly visible through the torn fabric.

A slash across her back traced down her flawless spine to her waist, leaving a long bloody trail.

Hyuga Ao's throat moved as she spat out the pill she'd held in place with Shikotsumyaku. Her black hair fell, covering her white eyes, and she flashed a chilling smile at Mikami Nokatsu.

Hyuga Ao had truly been caught off guard this time. First, she hadn't expected a Sensory Ninja to turn her own trick against her. Second, she hadn't anticipated their communication to be so covert. Finally, she realized her reaction hadn't been quick enough when she was trapped.

Hyuga Ao sat slumped in place, the thick smell of blood surrounding her. Every breath carried the metallic sweetness of blood.

Her skirt was soaked through with blood, the warm liquid tickling her legs, but Hyuga Ao was now too weak to move. Forcing her body to move with Shikotsumyaku had caused multiple muscle strains.

To keep things from getting worse, her best bet was to wait for the lightning paralysis to fade.

The gashes on her chest, shoulder, neck, and back stung. Hyuga Ao felt a faint itch on her back—she knew the Slug that had been electrocuted earlier was waking up. She said coldly:

"Awake? Then treat me!"