Revolving Water Prison

"Your subordinates or yourself—I'd like to see what you choose."

The Dark-Faced Special Jonin wore an expression of triumph, chuckling sinisterly to himself. Even if Umino Sasuke tried to use his subordinate's body to block those senbon, it would be useless.

These were mechanical senbon capable of easily piercing even the Crow Puppet. How could mere flesh withstand them?

After plotting for so long, he had finally waited for this opportunity. Even sacrificing one subordinate in exchange for this ambush would be worth it.

The Dark-Faced Special Jonin's eyes were filled with vicious malice. To achieve the best ambush effect, he had exploited the blind spot in Umino Sasuke's vision and covered even his own subordinate in the attack.

Rock Wolf's death was worthwhile. Everything was for Sunagakure!

"Captain, you actually—ah!"

Before he could finish, a scream rang out.

Pfft, pfft, pfft...

The Rain of Senbon shot from Umino Sasuke's blind spot, piercing through the Bald Chunin without losing momentum as it blanketed Umino Sasuke and the other three.

"How vicious."

Umino Sasuke's eyes brimmed with killing intent. To ambush him, the man had actually used his own subordinate as bait. He was utterly despicable.

Willing to resort to anything to achieve his goal—he truly deserved to be called a Sand ninja born in the cruel desert. His methods were every bit as ruthless as the Blood Mist.

"What a pity. Did you really think I didn't know an ambush was coming?"

Umino Sasuke sneered disdainfully to himself. Under the perception of the Sonic Radar Technique, every covert move was nothing but futile.

When the Dark-Faced Special Jonin released Chakra Threads and secretly took control of his dead subordinate's Puppet, how could Umino Sasuke not have known? If he had not been wary of that Black Ant Puppet, why would he have ordered a retreat? Why would he have moved the battle to Tejudo and the others' side?

The only thing he had not anticipated was that this Dark-Faced Special Jonin would be so vicious as to use his own subordinate as bait and attack him along with them.

"Captain, don't worry about us! Run!"

Tejudo's face was filled with despair. Countless reflected senbon seemed to fill his eyes, leaving nowhere to flee. How could they possibly evade such a dense Rain of Senbon? Their Captain was powerful, so perhaps he still had a sliver of hope.

If he chose to save the three of them, they would only drag him down and get him killed alongside them. Captain, don't be foolish—run!

"Ah..."

Faced with such a terrifying ambush, Xiao Xiao stood frozen in terror, clearly too frightened to know what to do.

"Xiao Xiao, I like you!"

Seeing Xiao Xiao facing an inescapable fatal danger, Inuzuka Ryo instinctively stepped forward, spread his arms, and stood in front of her, directly facing the incoming Rain of Senbon.

Unfortunately, with Inuzuka Ryo's build, how could he completely shield Xiao Xiao's enormous, ball-like body? At most, he could probably protect her vital areas.

But with the penetrating power of the Rain of Senbon, such a sacrifice would likely be futile.

Still, being able to confess the feelings he had never dared speak aloud before dying meant Inuzuka Ryo could die without regrets.

"Running away alone isn't my style."

Umino Sasuke had moved to the Three Youngsters' side precisely to guard against the Black Ant Puppet. Now that danger had indeed arrived, how could he possibly abandon them and flee alone?

Besides, the Puppet Mechanism Technique: Rain of Senbon had an attack range exceeding ten meters, already beyond the maximum displacement range of the Substitution Technique.

Using the Substitution Technique would be useless as well.

Only the Advanced Body Flicker Technique might allow him to evade it.

Unfortunately, he only knew the most basic Body Flicker Technique, which was not even as practical as the Substitution Technique.

The Mission Merit Points needed to exchange for the Advanced Body Flicker Technique were no less than those needed for a C-rank Ninjutsu. After exchanging for a C-rank Water Release technique and a beginner summoning scroll, his Mission Merit Points had long since been nearly exhausted. Naturally, he had no way to obtain the Advanced Body Flicker Technique for training.

Yet he was not panicked at all. Clearly, he had another countermeasure prepared.

"Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"

Umino Sasuke's ten fingers flew. Five seals per second—amid flashing afterimages, he formed the seven seals: Snake—Ram—Horse—Rabbit—Ram—Horse—Rabbit.

At once.

Splash, splash...

A Water Dragon surged into the air, transforming into a hollow sphere of water that enveloped Umino Sasuke and the other three.

"Watch out!"

Gekko Yoru swung his blade and forced back the Hedgehog-Haired Jonin. Seeing Umino Sasuke's group use Water Release: Water Prison Technique to defend against the sudden ambush, his expression changed drastically.

He knew perfectly well that the C-rank Water Release: Water Prison Technique was merely a low-level Water Prison Restraint Technique. How could it possibly withstand the terrifying penetration of the Rain of Senbon?

Shouldn't he have used Water Release: Water Wall Technique for defense?

Could this patrol squad Chunin have panicked and used the wrong Ninjutsu in his haste? Or did he simply not know any other defensive Water Release Ninjutsu?

It was over. Completely over.

Once no one held back that Special Jonin Puppet Master, how could he alone possibly defeat these Sand ninja?

"Using such a trivial Water Prison Restraint Technique to block the Rain of Senbon? What wishful thinking!"

The Dark-Faced Special Jonin was brimming with satisfaction and ridicule. This Puppet Mechanism Technique had been personally designed by Elder Chiyo. At close range, it was practically equivalent to a B-rank offensive Ninjutsu. Both its coverage and its ambush piercing power were exceptionally terrifying.

Trying to block it with a mere restraining C-rank Water Release? Did he think he was Senju Tobirama, Konoha's God of Water?

Though this restraining Water Prison before him looked somewhat large, how much could its defensive power possibly increase?

It could block ordinary kunai and shuriken, perhaps, but there was absolutely no way it could withstand a Puppet Mechanism Technique personally designed by Elder Chiyo!

Just as the Rain of Senbon passed through the Bald Chunin without slowing and was about to slam into the restraining Water Prison.

"Rotate!"

"Revolving Water Prison!"

Umino Sasuke suddenly clasped his hands in the Tiger Hand Seal. Chakra surged through his body, accelerating the rotation of the restraining Water Prison. Using centrifugal force, he spun the vast flow of water that had been spreading inward toward the hollow center out toward the surrounding outskirts, preventing suffocation inside while increasing the Water Prison's rotational force.

Splash, splash...

The restraining Water Prison spun faster and faster, even stirring the surrounding air into a small tornado.

"What? Advanced Water Release Nature Transformation!"

The Dark-Faced Special Jonin's heart tightened sharply at the sight. Someone had actually cultivated a C-rank Water Prison Technique to such a level?

Judging by this display, could it have been modified from the Water Release: Water Wall Technique?

No, how was this Water Release: Water Prison Technique? This was clearly a perfectly weakened version of Water Release: Water Wall Technique, and it had even reduced the number of hand seals to only three. This man was undoubtedly proficient in Water Release.

"Despicable! Tactical deception again!"

After analyzing the situation, the Dark-Faced Special Jonin once again realized just how despicable the ninja before him was. He was engaging in tactical deception at every moment—nothing about him was genuine.

If not for the tiny clues exposed during the battle just now, perhaps every piece of information visible on the surface would have been fake, all tactical deception meant to mislead him.