True Colors Exposed

"Yoru, what do we do?"

Sarutobi Kagejiro watched the Sand ninja's movements, his expression growing flustered even as the urge to retreat rose within him.

Just as he was about to suggest taking the intelligence and withdrawing first, Gekko Yoru grabbed him and brought him over to Umino Sasuke. Clearly, he wanted to fight it out first and assess the situation afterward.

"Kagejiro, they've all been poisoned. We might still have a chance of winning."

In Gekko Yoru's eyes, although the Sentry Patrol Unit captain before them was only a Chunin, his combat strength was definitely not as simple as it appeared. The tactical ability he had displayed earlier was proof enough.

These Sand ninja were either poisoned or wounded, and they had expended a great deal of chakra. They now possessed less than thirty percent of their peak strength. Their combat power could be assessed as a rank lower for tactical purposes, while all six on their side remained in fighting condition.

Three against six. The advantage was ours.

"Hmph!" Sarutobi Kagejiro snorted coldly through his nose.

He was clearly unwilling to stay and hold off the enemy. In his view, the other side had a Jonin, a Special Jonin, and two Chunin. Though those Sand ninja appeared to have little strength left, there was still considerable risk.

A gentleman did not stand beneath a crumbling wall. He had no desire to take such a risk.

With that thought, Sarutobi Kagejiro's gaze toward Umino Sasuke unconsciously gained a trace of hostility. If this guy had not transformed into a fake Uchiha earlier, he might already have escaped with the intelligence. It was all this damn fellow's fault that he had missed such a perfect chance to flee this dangerous place.

"Huh? It's actually that poor brat from the Umino Clan!"

Sarutobi Kagejiro carefully looked him over from head to toe and finally recognized Umino Sasuke. Wasn't this the poor brat who used to bring fish to his house?

That stinking fish-selling Umino Clan had produced a ninja too?

Impossible. How could a lowborn family of filthy fish sellers possibly raise such a powerful ninja?

"Damn it!" At that thought, Sarutobi Kagejiro became enraged from shame. He was the second son of an elder of the Sarutobi Clan, yet he had been saved by this lowborn fish seller. Did that not prove his own incompetence?

And this lowborn had transformed into an Uchiha rather than a Jonin from the Sarutobi Clan. Did that mean, in this lowborn's eyes, the Uchiha were stronger than the Sarutobi Clan?

Moreover, if not for this lowborn's misleading Transformation Jutsu, how would he have ended up in such a dangerous situation?

Anyone who had put him in such danger deserved to die!

"Hm?" Umino Sasuke found Sarutobi Kagejiro's increasingly intense hostility utterly baffling. He had just saved this guy.

Besides, although the Umino Clan had long since separated from the Sarutobi Clan, they still belonged to the Third Hokage's faction. They were allies, at the very least. Where was this hostility coming from? Could it be that Kagejiro was too weak and too jealous, thinking Sasuke had stolen his spotlight?

"Kagejiro, look after yourself. Leave this Sand Hidden Jonin to me!"

Gekko Yoru also assumed Sarutobi Kagejiro's jealousy had flared up again, so he voluntarily took on the toughest opponent, leaving the slightly weaker Dark-Faced Special Jonin to Umino Sasuke.

The moment he finished speaking, Gekko Yoru charged at the Hedgehog-Haired Jonin, the strongest of them all, with his long blade in hand.

Umino Sasuke nodded. Gekko Yoru truly was reliable. He quickly assigned their tactical tasks. "Brother, you three hold off that Bald Chunin. Be careful of his Earth Release. I'll handle the Dark-Faced Special Jonin."

Having assigned the tasks, Umino Sasuke glanced at the hostility-filled Sarutobi Kagejiro. The implication was clear: someone would handle the remaining half-crippled Chunin Puppet Master.

Among the Sand ninja, this half-crippled Chunin Puppet Master had the weakest remaining strength. Even his Puppets were half-crippled, so his combat power was likely already below that of an ordinary Chunin. Having Sarutobi Kagejiro, who carried the intelligence, deal with him seemed the most appropriate arrangement.

"Damn it!" Sarutobi Kagejiro immediately felt insulted and humiliated, and the hostility in his heart deepened. He was actually being commanded by a mere family servant. This fool who knew no distinction between superior and inferior had no right to order the main family around.

Furious, Sarutobi Kagejiro had originally wanted to refuse and watch from the sidelines.

Unfortunately, the enemy gave him no such choice. Clearly, the Sand ninja also strongly approved of this evenly matched tactical arrangement.

Thus, whether willingly or unwillingly, the two groups chose their respective opponents and clashed.

Dance of the Crescent Moon!

Gekko Yoru immediately unleashed the Konoha-Style Secret Sword Technique, creating three Shadow Clones that attacked the Hedgehog-Haired Jonin together.

"Amazing!" Seeing such a dazzling sword technique, Umino Sasuke praised Gekko Yoru's reliability.

At the same time, he could not help feeling a little bitter. The moment Gekko Yoru moved, he used a Konoha-Style Secret Sword Technique. Yet Sasuke could only wield a Tanto and fight with some unknown-tier Fish-Slicing Sword Style.

His Fish-Slicing Sword Style was no profound blade art. It was merely an ordinary sword style developed from the basic samurai swordsmanship passed down through his family.

He simply helped his family kill fish often, and after killing enough of them, his killing intent had become somewhat heavy. It had no other strengths worth mentioning.

Seeing the Tanto, brimming with killing intent, slash toward him, the Dark-Faced Special Jonin gripped a Kunai tightly as if facing a formidable enemy and immediately focused with utmost seriousness.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Umino Sasuke used the Fish-Slicing Sword Style and clashed with the Dark-Faced Special Jonin.

The Kunai flashed with cold light, while the Tanto left lightning-like afterimages. Their blades met in midair with ringing metallic cries.

In an instant, blade light whirled wildly and sparks scattered everywhere.

"Hm?" The Dark-Faced Special Jonin was now filled with uncertainty, his eyes showing confusion. This Konoha Jonin, supposedly skilled in Tool Manipulation, seemed rather mediocre at taijutsu. Aside from his great strength and decent fundamentals, he was only at the level of an ordinary Chunin.

Could this be another tactical deception?

No, he could not let his guard down. He needed to probe him a little more.

Thus, the Dark-Faced Special Jonin grew even more cautious, constantly testing his opponent's capabilities.

After several rounds of probing, the Dark-Faced Special Jonin finally grasped Umino Sasuke's true ability. Aside from his exceptional tactical skill and Tool Manipulation, he was a Standard Chunin in every other respect.

Having finished probing, the Dark-Faced Special Jonin decisively seized the opportunity. Using the rebound force from the Kunai in his hand, he flipped backward and pushed off, widening the distance.

The moment he flipped into the air, he threw the Kunai in his hand. His hands then rapidly formed the E and Shin Seals before coming together.

Wind Release: Gale Palm!

At once.

A violent gale wrapped around the Kunai and sent it hurtling toward Umino Sasuke's chest at a speed too fast for the naked eye to follow.

"Not good!"

Fortunately, Umino Sasuke had activated the Sonic Radar Technique and sensed the Dark-Faced Special Jonin's tactical intent.

At a rate of five seals per second, he hurriedly used his lifesaving technique: the Substitution Technique.

Bang!

The violent gale and Kunai struck a section of wooden post directly, blasting it into splinters.

Umino Sasuke, meanwhile, had leaped five meters away and barely avoided the devastating strike of Wind Release: Gale Palm.