Umino Sasuke's expression did not change. He continued his arrogant, domineering performance, having clearly cultivated this Deception Jutsu to the thickness of an Earth Flow Fortress Wall.
It had to be said that even the Three Basic Jutsu could produce remarkable effects if mastered to a profound level and used properly.
None of these Sand ninja possessed a Dojutsu Bloodline Limit, so naturally, they could not see through his Transformation Jutsu.
Not to mention these Sand ninja—even the two Konoha Chunin in the distance, who knew something about the Uchiha, harbored no suspicion whatsoever. Only the Cat Mask Chunin saw through his Deception Jutsu with a single glance from his Byakugan.
"HAHAHA! It's an Uchiha Jonin from our village!"
"We're saved! That was dangerous—we almost got caught by those Sand ninja!"
Seeing this, the two Chunin wearing Eagle and Monkey Masks finally relaxed, as if a great weight had been lifted from their hearts.
The Hyuga Clan Chunin in the Cat Mask rolled his Byakugan again and again, his feelings indescribably complicated. What Uchiha Jonin? Judging from his chakra reserves and the outfit beneath his Transformation Jutsu, he was clearly just an ordinary Chunin from the Sentry Patrol Unit.
As if reaching some decision, the Hyuga Chunin gritted his teeth, raised his kunai, and sliced at the wound on his waist. He clearly intended to physically remove the poison from the wound.
"Hmph!" The Konoha Chunin in the Monkey Face Mask watched the wildly posturing "Uchiha Jonin." The delight in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a chill, and he muttered coldly, "Evil Uchiha."
If not for the immense enhancement to hearing granted by the Sonic Radar Technique, that nearly inaudible remark would have been impossible to catch.
"Oh? All three of you are Konoha Ninja from ninja clans."
Umino Sasuke swept his gaze over the three of them. Based on their clothing and the clan emblems they wore, he had roughly identified their backgrounds.
The Chunin in the Monkey Face Mask was presumably from the Sarutobi Clan. Since he could say something like "Evil Uchiha," he likely held no low position in the Sarutobi Clan and had close ties to the Third Hokage.
The Chunin in the Eagle Mask came from the Gekko Clan, which excelled in Konoha-Style Kenjutsu. Judging by his coughing and kidney deficiency-ridden appearance, he was probably the real deal.
As for the Cat Mask Chunin physically removing poison from his wound, he was undoubtedly a Hyuga Clan ninja. No one could fake the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan—not everyone possessed a Transformation Jutsu as accomplished as Umino Sasuke's.
The ribbon tied around his forehead suggested that he was from the Hyuga Branch Family.
Since they were all Chunin from Konoha Ninja Clans, their combat ability should be guaranteed. If they worked together, they ought to be able to hold out until the Mobile Patrol Unit arrived.
But at that moment, a certain pig teammate started causing trouble again.
"HAHAHA!"
The Sarutobi Chunin abruptly shed his earlier dejection and laughed with the utmost arrogance. "Damn Sand ninja, so this is your day!"
His level of brazen posturing was almost on par with that bluffing "Uchiha Jonin."
"You little Sand ninja rats, the intelligence is right here. Didn't you want to take it back? Come and get it if you have the guts!"
The Sarutobi Chunin's words dripped with mockery, as if the advantage were entirely his.
He looked ready to wipe out this entire group of Sand ninja.
He displayed none of the task-first caution expected of an Intelligence Team elite. Instead, he acted more like an Uchiha.
"Kagejiro, the mission comes first. We only need to bring the intelligence back. Don't take risks."
A hidden urgency flashed in the Hyuga Chunin's eyes, while his heart churned like a stormy sea. He was terrified that Sarutobi Kagejiro would continue provoking the Sand ninja and cause them to discover the truth behind that "Uchiha Jonin."
He was frantic inside, but to avoid exposing his true thoughts, he could not explain things directly to Sarutobi Kagejiro. He could only use the mission as an excuse, hoping the situation would not worsen.
Seeing pig teammate Kagejiro's ridiculous stunt, Umino Sasuke was driven mad as well. He truly wanted to take off that idiot's stinking sock and stuff it into that foul mouth spewing filth.
Can't you just behave yourself for once? Haven't you idiot noticed how obedient that Hyuga Branch Family brat is right now?
What advantage do we have in this situation? We're evenly matched at best.
Forget wiping out these Sand ninja. Whether we can even last until the Mobile Patrol Unit arrives is still unknown.
His three Genin subordinates were average in strength. At most, they could hold back the Bald Chunin.
That meant their three Chunin would soon have to face three opponents as well: a One-Finger Sword Jonin, a Special Jonin skilled in Wind Release whose spare Puppet had already been destroyed, and a Chunin controlling a half-crippled Puppet.
What advantage is this? We're digging our own graves!
If the other Sand ninja had not already been poisoned and seriously injured, aside from that Special Jonin Puppet Master, he would have already made a strategic retreat.
Sarutobi Kagejiro's round of taunts worked extremely well. The Sand ninja's rage meter instantly maxed out.
"AAAAARGH! Even if we die, we won't let you have it easy!"
The Sand Hidden Jonin's entire body surged with Wind and Fire Chakra. Flames of fury seemed to burn in his eyes as his anger soared, his head of white hair standing out like hedgehog spines.
Rip!
The Sand Hidden Jonin tore off his tattered shirt in one motion. Three parallel scars slashed diagonally across his bare chest, from his left shoulder to his right abdomen. They were marks of honor left behind after his battle with Shimura Danzō, the Darkness of the Ninja World.
The Will of Wind erupted once more. He swore to fight to the death.
Seeing this, Umino Sasuke felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.
A spiky-haired man destined to die, plus the rule that taking off your shirt means certain death... This shirtless spiky-haired Sand ninja has clearly found his path to death.
Predicting that the Sand ninja were about to launch a suicidal charge, Umino Sasuke retreated before their momentum could peak. He flipped backward, landed gracefully, and placed the river at his back.
Tejudo leaped to his side with perfect coordination.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Umino Sasuke shouted, his hands flying through seals: Ox—Monkey—Rabbit—Rat—Boar—Rooster...
"Not good! It's a high-level Water Release!"
The Spiky-Haired Sand Jonin believed him completely and hurriedly warned his teammates.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
The Bald Chunin formed seals with both hands and smoothly unleashed a defensive Earth Release ninjutsu. This was already the third time he had used this Earth Release technique on this battlefield.
With only Chunin-level chakra reserves, three B-rank Earth Release techniques had already drained him dry.
Even though he had just swallowed a precious Soldier Pill, it would likely do little to help.
But the expected Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique never appeared.
The battlefield fell silent, broken only by the rapid clatter of hand seals.
The Sand ninja: ???
What was going on?
Where had the Water Dragon Bullet Technique gone?
Had it missed?
"Everyone, be careful! It's not the Water Dragon Bullet Technique! He's still forming seals!"
The Spiky-Haired Sand Jonin issued a tactical warning to his teammates behind the Earth Flow Wall.
Yet Umino Sasuke was still forming seals at high speed. His hands were almost a blur, as though he were about to unleash a Water Release Secret Technique.
"Pfft..."
Beside him, Tejudo puffed out his cheeks and struggled not to laugh, lest he ruin the Captain's Deception Jutsu. Inside, though, he was laughing wildly.
The Captain's Deception Jutsu had just pulled off tactical deception. It had not only bought them at least half a minute and worsened the Sand ninja's poisoning, but also completely exhausted the Bald Chunin's chakra. It was a win on several fronts.
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