Ichikawa Zo watched the Konoha ninja disappear into his Poison Mist and laughed with delight. Even some of the Sunagakure ninja behind him were smiling.
But it seemed there was a sensory ninja among the Sunagakure. Just as Ichikawa Zo was celebrating, someone poured a bucket of cold water over his excitement.
"Lady Pakura, the Konoha ninja haven't lost their ability to fight."
"They've hidden in the forest."
A young man standing beside Pakura reported.
Pakura gave a slight nod at his subordinate's report. Ichikawa Zo, standing beside her, abruptly stopped laughing. He glanced at the reporting ninja in surprise, then turned his attention to the opposite bank.
"Lady Pakura, look out!"
The young man seemed to have spotted something and suddenly shoved Pakura aside. The next moment, a purple Thunder Sword plunged from the sky and pierced his chest. Blood sprayed everywhere, spattering the face of Pakura, who had been pushed some distance away. Ichikawa Zo was startled by the sudden turn of events, too. His giant Puppet Snake, which had charged forward, quickly retreated to guard him.
None of the Sunagakure ninja had expected Konoha's counterattack to come so quickly—or so fiercely. By the time they recovered, a red-haired young man was standing in the middle of their ranks, a black longblade in his right hand. Beside him lay the lifeless body of a Sunagakure ninja.
"A sensory ninja?"
"So he spotted us!"
Uzumaki Kuming's expression was cool as he pulled the Heavenly Feather Blade from the corpse and flicked the blood from its blade. His gaze settled on Pakura.
"That was an incredibly fast counterattack. And that last strike was well concealed."
"This guy's no ordinary ninja. Does Konoha have someone like him?"
Pakura gripped a Kunai and warily watched Uzumaki Kuming, who had appeared in the