Advantage is Mine

Umino Sasuke's expression remained unchanged as he continued his arrogant, domineering output, clearly having cultivated this Deception Jutsu to the thickness of an Earth Flow Fortress Wall.

Admittedly, even the Three Basic Jutsu, if trained to a high level and used appropriately, could yield surprising results.

The Sand Ninja before him lacked any Dojutsu Bloodline Limit, so naturally they couldn't see through his Transformation Jutsu.

Not to mention these Sand Ninja—even the two Konoha Chunin not far away, who had some understanding of the Uchiha, showed no suspicion at all. Only the Cat Mask Chunin, with a pair of Byakugan, saw straight through his Deception Jutsu.

"Haha! It's our village's Uchiha Jonin."

"We're saved. That was too dangerous—we almost got caught by these Sand Ninja."

The two Chunin wearing Monkey and Eagle Masks, seeing this, finally relaxed as if a heavy burden had been lifted from their hearts.

But the Cat Mask Chunin from the Hyuga Clan rolled his Byakugan over and over, his heart a mix of emotions. The one who came was no Uchiha Jonin at all—judging by his chakra reserves and the outfit under the Transformation Jutsu, he was clearly just an ordinary Chunin from the Sentry Patrol Unit.

The Hyuga Chunin seemed to make a decision. Gritting his teeth, he raised a Kunai and sliced at the wound on his waist, apparently trying to physically remove the poison from the injury.

"Hmph!" The Monkey Mask Konoha Chunin, watching the [Uchiha Jonin]'s arrogant display, saw the joy in his eyes gradually fade, replaced by a cold glint. He muttered a quiet sneer: "Evil Uchiha!"

If not for the Sonic Radar Technique's strong auditory enhancement, this barely audible voice would have gone unheard.

"Oh, all three of you are Konoha Ninja from ninja clans."

Umino Sasuke swept his gaze over the three, confirming their origins based on their outfits and clan emblems.

The Monkey Mask Chunin was likely from the Sarutobi Clan. Saying something like "Evil Uchiha" suggested he held a high position in the clan and had a close relationship with the Third Hokage.

The Eagle Mask Chunin came from the Gekko Clan, masters of Konoha-Style Kenjutsu. Judging by his coughing and Kidney Deficiency look, he was probably genuine.

And the Cat Mask Chunin, currently physically removing poison from his wound, was undoubtedly a Hyuga Clan ninja. No one could fake the Hyuga's Byakugan—after all, not everyone had his level of Transformation Jutsu.

Given the headband tied around his forehead, he was likely from the Hyuga Branch Family.

Since they were all Chunin from Konoha Ninja Clans, their combat strength should be reliable. If they worked together, they could probably hold out until the Mobile Patrol Unit arrived.

But just then, a certain Pig Teammate started causing trouble again.

"Hahaha!"

The Sarutobi Chunin, shedding his earlier dejection, burst into an extremely arrogant laugh. "Damn Sand Ninja, look at you now!"

His arrogance was almost a match for that bluffing [Uchiha Jonin].

"You little Sand Ninja rats, the intel is right here. Don't you want to take it back? If you've got the guts, come and get it."

The Sarutobi Chunin's words dripped with mockery, as if the advantage was entirely on their side.

He seemed ready to wipe out this group of Sand Ninja.

There was none of the caution expected from Intelligence Team elites focused on the mission—instead, he acted more like an Uchiha.

"Kagejiro, the mission comes first. We just need to bring the intel back. Don't take risks."

The Hyuga Chunin's eyes held a barely visible urgency, his heart churning. He feared Sarutobi Kagejiro would keep provoking these Sand Ninja, causing them to see through the [Uchiha Jonin]'s bluff.

His mind raced with anxiety, but to avoid revealing his true thoughts, he couldn't directly explain to Sarutobi Kagejiro. He could only use the mission as an excuse, hoping things wouldn't get worse.

Umino Sasuke, watching this Pig Teammate Kagejiro's antics, felt like tearing off the fool's stinky socks and stuffing them into his shit-spewing mouth.

Can't you just stay quiet? Haven't you noticed how subdued that Hyuga Branch kid is right now?

In this situation, where was the advantage? Both sides were evenly matched.

Forget wiping out these Sand Ninja—whether they could hold out until the Mobile Patrol Unit arrived was uncertain.

His three subordinate Genin were average in strength, at best able to tie up that Bald Chunin.

That meant their three Chunin were about to face three ninjas too: a One-Finger Sword Jonin, a Special Jonin skilled in Wind Release whose spare puppet was already destroyed, and a Chunin controlling a half-crippled puppet.

Where was the advantage? This was digging their own graves, wasn't it?

If not for the fact that aside from that Special Jonin Puppet Master, all the Sand Ninja were poisoned and Seriously Injured, he would have already made a strategic retreat.

Sarutobi Kagejiro's barrage of cold taunts had excellent effect—the Sand Ninja's anger meter maxed out.

"Aaaah! Even if we die, you won't get off easy!"

The Sand Hidden Jonin's entire body surged with Wind and Fire Chakra, his eyes burning with rage. His hair stood on end, white spikes as glaring as a hedgehog's quills.

Splash!

The Sand Hidden Jonin ripped off his tattered shirt, revealing a bare chest with three parallel scars running diagonally from his left shoulder to his right abdomen—honor marks left from a battle with the Darkness of the Ninja World, Shimura Danzō.

The Will of Wind erupted once more, vowing to fight to the death.

Umino Sasuke, seeing this, felt a strange sense of déjà vu.

A hedgehog head's fate of death, plus the rule that taking off your shirt means certain doom—it seemed this hedgehog-headed, shirtless Sand Ninja had already sealed his fate.

Predicting the Sand Ninja's imminent death charge, Umino Sasuke retreated to avoid the edge, leaping backward, landing gracefully with his back to the river.

Tejudo also jumped to his side with perfect默契.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

Umino Sasuke shouted, his hands forming seals rapidly: Boar—Monkey—Ram—Rat—Ox—Bird...

"Not good! It's a high-level Water Release."

The Spiky-Haired Sand Jonin took the bait and quickly warned his teammates.

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"

The Bald Chunin clasped his hands together, smoothly releasing an earth-style defensive jutsu. This was already the third time he had used this technique on this battlefield.

With his chunin-level chakra reserves, three B-rank earth techniques had left him nearly drained.

Even the precious Soldier Pill he had just taken would likely be of little help.

But the anticipated Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet never came.

The battlefield fell silent, broken only by the rapid, continuous sound of hand seals.

Sand Ninja: ???

What's going on?

Where did the Water Dragon Bullet go?

Did it miss?

"Everyone, be careful—it's not the Water Dragon Bullet. He's still forming seals!"

The Spiky-Haired Sand Jonin issued a tactical warning to his teammates behind the Earth Flow Wall.

Umino Sasuke, however, continued weaving seals at a blistering pace, his hands nearly a blur, as if preparing to unleash a Water Release secret technique.

"Mmph mmph..."

Beside him, Tejudo puffed out his cheeks, barely stifling a laugh so as not to ruin his captain's Deception Jutsu, but inside he was howling with glee.

His captain's latest Deception Jutsu—a masterful piece of Tactical Deception—had not only bought at least half a minute of time, accelerating the poison's effect on these Sand Ninja, but also drained the Bald Chunin's chakra to nothing. A single move, multiple gains.