Moonlight Dancer

"Whew..."

Cold sweat streamed down Umino Sasuke's forehead, and relief filled his heart. He had nearly been done for.

If he had not developed the Sonic Radar Technique and gained such powerful perception, then with reaction speed only at the Chunin level, he would never have been able to effectively use the Substitution Technique against a Special Jonin's Fatal Ambush.

"Hm?" The Dark-Faced Special Jonin's gaze sharpened, shock surging through him. An attack he had thought would certainly hit had actually been evaded so easily.

It seemed that this Konoha Jonin before him was not only exceptionally skilled in the Transformation Jutsu, but also highly proficient in the Substitution Technique.

His fundamentals were unbelievably solid. As expected of a Konoha Jonin.

"Come again. Let's see how many times you can dodge."

After his sneak attack with Gale Palm failed, the Dark-Faced Special Jonin drew another kunai and charged straight at Umino Sasuke.

"Hmph!" Umino Sasuke smiled disdainfully. Since this man had pulled back, seized control of the battlefield's tempo, yet had not taken the opportunity to unleash Wind Release for long-range attacks, he must have little chakra left after repeatedly using several Wind Release Ninjutsu and suppressing the poison in his body.

Without Wind Release and Puppets, this so-called Special Jonin was merely a somewhat stronger elite Chunin. What was there to fear?

With the pressure greatly reduced, Umino Sasuke expanded the sensing range of his Sonic Radar Technique and checked on the other battles.

Overall, the two sides were fairly evenly matched.

Konoha's side was somewhat weaker, but they were in good condition and well-equipped. The Sand ninjas were stronger, but they had all been poisoned. They were only suppressing Konoha for the moment; the situation would likely reverse soon.

The scales of victory had already begun to tilt toward Konoha.

The only ones in some danger were Tejudo's group of three. They were fighting the Bald Chunin, who was proficient in Earth Release. After using three consecutive B-rank Earth Release: Earth Flow Walls, the Bald Chunin had exhausted his chakra. If not for the Soldier Pills sustaining him, he would likely have already been defeated by Inuzuka Ryo's Fang Over Fang.

It had to be said that the Sand ninjas' elite-focused policy had its unique aspect.

Even with his chakra exhausted and poison in his body, the Bald Chunin had endured the encirclement of Tejudo's group of three. It was clear just how formidable his fighting spirit was.

Tejudo's group holding the advantage was something he had expected, so it was not surprising. What truly impressed him was Gekko Yoru. Facing the Hedgehog-Haired Jonin, he had actually managed to fight him evenly.

The Hedgehog-Haired Jonin had merely lost the five fingers of his left hand and could no longer form hand seals to use ninjutsu. His swordsmanship had not been greatly affected.

That swordsmanship alone was unquestionably at Jonin level.

If he had not been poisoned and drained of so much chakra and stamina, he could likely have easily dealt with all six of them by himself.

Fortunately, Gekko Yoru was no weakling either. His Konoha-Style Secret Sword Technique made him seem like a dancer beneath the moon, fluid and graceful.

Those hazy crescent afterimages were pleasing to the eye, yet concealed an extreme, chilling killing intent.

As for Sarutobi Kagejiro, he was fighting a half-crippled Chunin. He would likely win soon.

"What a Moonlight Dancer. This round is secured!"

The tension in Umino Sasuke's heart finally eased, and dealing with the Dark-Faced Special Jonin became even more effortless.

Besides, Maruboshi Kosuke's Mobile Patrol Unit was already less than half a li away. Reinforcements would arrive at any moment, and victory was right before them.

But at that moment, trouble arose on Sarutobi Kagejiro's side again.

"Yoru, the mission comes first. You hold them off while I take the intelligence and withdraw."

Sarutobi Kagejiro forced back that half-crippled Chunin Puppet Master, then immediately turned around and ran off without looking back.

The Chunin Puppet Master simply stood there in a daze, not even reacting in time to give chase. At that moment, he likely had nothing left in his heart but the joy of surviving. He had thought the Monkey-Faced Konoha Ninja was about to kill him, only to suddenly escape with his life. It was no wonder he had not thought to pursue.

Umino Sasuke: ???

Don't leave! Reinforcements will be here soon. Just hold on a little longer!

For a moment.

The balance of power between the two sides was broken and began tilting in the opposite direction.

At that moment, the Sand ninjas had a free half-crippled Chunin Puppet Master who could break the deadlock.

Although this half-crippled Chunin Puppet Master was now deeply poisoned, with barely any chakra left and a body that looked ready to collapse.

His unyielding fighting spirit could not be ignored.

"You three little brats, you're dead!"

Under the joint assault of two Sand Chunin who were nearing their limits, Tejudo's group of three was in grave danger. If Inuzuka Ryo and the Ninja Hound Akitaru had not used Human-Beast Transformation: Twin-Headed Wolf, they would likely have already lost.

"Inuzuka Ryo, hold on."

Umino Sasuke swung his blade and forced back the Dark-Faced Special Jonin, then looked worriedly toward Inuzuka Ryo's battle.

"At a time like this, you still have the mind to worry about others? Aren't you afraid that one moment of distraction will have my Wind Release tear you to pieces?"

The Dark-Faced Special Jonin kept trying to disrupt him verbally, hoping Umino Sasuke's concern would cloud his judgment and expose an opening.

Umino Sasuke remained unmoved and immediately retaliated with his own taunt. "Mr. Charcoal, how much chakra do you still have? Enough to release even one C-rank Wind Release? I'd like to have a taste of it."

"Hmph!" The Dark-Faced Special Jonin snorted and stopped trying to distract him with words. Clearly, Umino Sasuke had struck at his weakness. He truly had little chakra left; now it would depend on who could endure until the end.

"Hall, retreat to the other side of the river!"

Umino Sasuke drove back the Dark-Faced Special Jonin in one stroke, joined Tejudo's group of three to relieve their pressure, and prepared to lead them across the river, using it as a barrier.

If this continued, they could probably hold out until Maruboshi Kosuke's reinforcements arrived. But there was no need to keep taking risks. It was better to play it safe—withdraw first, then pursue later. Those Sand ninjas would not be able to escape anyway.

"I knew I was right. You care deeply about the safety of those three subordinates."

The Dark-Faced Special Jonin sneered repeatedly, as though he had finally grasped Umino Sasuke's fatal weakness.

From then on, the Dark-Faced Special Jonin targeted the three youngsters specifically, forcing Umino Sasuke to defend head-on. Fortunately, the other two Sand Chunin were nearly at their limit due to the poison, and Tejudo's group of three could handle them. Otherwise, things really would have become dangerous.

Just as Umino Sasuke forced back the Dark-Faced Special Jonin once more and was about to lead Tejudo's group of three across the river in retreat.

"Ha ha ha! Die!"

The Dark-Faced Special Jonin suddenly erupted, launching a tactical sneak attack he had plotted for a long time.

"Puppet Mechanism Technique: Rain of Senbon!"

At once.

A dense rain of senbon blanketed Umino Sasuke and Tejudo's group of three.

"Didn't expect that, did you? Even you can fall into a trap."

The Dark-Faced Special Jonin wore a triumphant expression, looking as though his scheme had succeeded, while inwardly laughing wildly. Who said one could not use Puppet Mechanism Techniques without one's own Puppet? Without his own Puppet, could he not use someone else's?

He had long since sent Chakra Threads into the ground and taken control of Sunajiro's Black Ant Puppet.

When Sunajiro had been ambushed by steel wire, only his legs had been severed. His Black Ant Puppet had remained almost completely intact.

Although this Black Ant Puppet was far less convenient than his own Puppet, it was still a standard Puppet used by a Sand Chunin, and he could still wield it smoothly.

With such a large-scale Rain of Senbon, how could he possibly evade it?

Even if you have heaven-defying means and can dodge it yourself, can you take all three of your subordinates with you?