To Repay My Debts, I'll Become Hokage!

Did the perception beyond the Byakugan not detect these ambushes?

Before Uchiha Chonhua could say anything, Hyuga Quande spoke up first: "I suspect his perception is primarily focused on the enemy's chakra signatures."

Uchiha Chonhua nodded. Having received confirmation, Hyuga Quande realized: "Indeed, that means we need to work together to eliminate these hidden threats."

In just two short sentences, everyone present understood.

Uchiha Chonhua could perceive the enemy's chakra signatures, but he could not see specific objects like the Byakugan could.

The group looked toward Uchiha Chonhua and Hyuga Quande.

Thinking about it carefully, one had an incredibly vast perception range, while the other could see exactly what the enemies were doing, even spotting inanimate objects like kunai and shuriken.

A thought occurred to them all at the same time.

--The abilities of these two complement each other perfectly.

A union of the strong; this was likely the most powerful reconnaissance technique in the ninja world!

Under their seamless cooperation, Hatake Sakumo and the others bypassed the Sunagakure squads and dodged various ambushes and hidden arrows without incident.

They arrived at the rear of the battlefield where Konoha and Sunagakure were engaged.

Having reached this point, the first step of their classified mission was finally complete.

"I see them, the Akasuna Couple are over there."

With the faint sounds of battle echoing in his ears, Hyuga Quande poked his head out. Veins bulged around his eyes beneath his mask, his Byakugan wide open.

In his field of vision, the Sunagakure squad leaders, the Akasuna Couple, were manipulating puppets to battle Orochimaru.

"What is the situation?"

Hatake Sakumo inquired, and Hyuga Quande reported the situation concisely.

"Good, proceed to the next step!"

As Hatake Sakumo's voice fell, Uchiha Chonhua and the others charged out of the dense forest, rushing toward the Akasuna Couple.

"What!? Captain Akasuna!!!"

Karura's expression shifted. Those were Konoha Anbu; how could they have appeared behind their lines!?

Her exclamation alerted the Akasuna Couple, who quickly turned around and manipulated their puppets, unleashing a barrage of poison-tipped kunai and shuriken.

The group, dressed in Anbu attire, scattered to dodge the projectiles, then pressed their attack against the Akasuna Couple without losing momentum.

Seeing the sudden turn of events, Rasa waved his right hand, using yellow sand to push the enemies back. With a look of anxiety, he rushed toward the Akasuna Couple.

An Anbu operative broke away from the skirmish and appeared before Rasa, blocking his path.

"Get out of my way!"

Rasa manipulated the yellow sand, forming it into a spike that thrust forward.

Facing the incoming spike, Uchiha Chonhua remained unhurried. He raised his right hand, and a long blade of lightning shot out.

With a few flashes of light, the spike of gathered sand was shredded and dispersed.

Seeing this signature lightning blade, Rasa's expression changed.

"Uchiha Chonhua!"

As if responding to Rasa's words, Uchiha Chonhua pulled back his hood and tore off his mask, revealing his refined and elegant face.

Uchiha Chonhua smiled at Rasa: "Let us continue the battle we left unfinished!"

Rasa observed the current situation and found that it was not as critical as he had feared.

The Akasuna Couple were struggling against the siege by Orochimaru and the Anbu, but they were not in immediate mortal danger.

Rasa felt a sense of relief. He waved his hands, causing the yellow sand to spread, and shouted: "How did you appear behind our lines! What is your objective in doing this!"

Were they trying to flank them to assassinate the Akasuna Captain? But the assassination had failed.

Thinking they could change the tide of battle with just a few more people, Rasa sneered.

"If you intended to assassinate Captain Akasuna, then you have thought too highly of yourselves. You few are not qualified."

"Konoha dogs, you underestimate Sunagakure!"

Uchiha Chonhua sighed, sounding somewhat regretful: "Indeed, we failed. I did not expect your captain to be so strong, managing to hold out against the siege of Lord Orochimaru and several seniors."

Chapter 67: Mikoto: Chonhua... is dead?

Orochimaru formed hand seals and bit his thumb, drawing blood.

He slammed his hand onto the ground, and tadpole-like seals spread outward.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

Poof!

A massive cloud of smoke billowed out, and a giant snake as tall as a small mountain lunged forth.

Its snake-like pupils scanned the surroundings. It looked at Orochimaru standing atop its head, its voice filled with a chilling coldness.

"Orochimaru, you haven't forgotten the rules for summoning me, have you? Where is the sacrifice?"

Orochimaru let out a cold laugh, looking down at the Sunagakure ninja who appeared like ants below.

"They are all right there. Manda, go wild to your heart's content!"

"Then I won't stand on ceremony!"

Manda dove down with a fierce lunge; with a body of such immense size, even its casual collisions felt like mountains crashing down.

Several Sunagakure ninja were unable to dodge in time, meeting the full force of Manda's impact head-on; they couldn't even let out a scream before being crushed into meat paste, their deaths gruesome.

The Akasuna Couple saw this and felt their hearts fill with anxiety.

After dodging an attack from a Konoha Anbu, the two exchanged a glance and each manipulated their puppets to press their palms together; the next moment, ten steel wires were drawn out.

The two controlled their puppets to charge toward the massive Manda!

"Performance: One Heart One Body!"

The tough, sharp steel wires coiled around Manda, and then they pulled back with a fierce, coordinated tug.

"Grahhh!"

Manda let out a pained roar; the steel wires were tough, but its serpent hide was even tougher.

A piercing sound rang out, like metal clashing against metal, sending sparks flying in every direction.

Although the steel wires could not cut through Manda's body, they were enough to make the serpent feel pain!

"Damn little insects!"

Manda was enraged, lifting its massive body to slam into the Akasuna Couple.

The Akasuna Couple scrambled to dodge, but Manda's momentum remained unchecked, smashing a massive crater into the ground.

"Wind Release: Wind Cutter!"

The several Konoha Anbu surrounding the Akasuna Couple joined forces to unleash Wind Release ninjutsu, blades of air tearing through the atmosphere as they struck at the pair.

"Puppet Technique: Mechanical Light Shield Seal!"

The Akasuna Couple controlled their puppets, a massive surge of chakra pouring out to manifest as shields around their bodies.

Sssss--

The air blades struck the shields, the chakra flames flickering as if about to extinguish, but they held firm in the end.

"You wretched little insects, stop squirming and let Lord Manda eat you!"

Manda twisted its head and lunged toward the Akasuna Couple; having dared to cause it pain, Manda's fury would not subside until it had devoured these two little insects!

"Don't you dare harm Captain Akasuna!"

Other Sunagakure ninja tried to block Manda, but it was like a mayfly trying to shake a tree; Manda didn't care in the slightest, their attacks landing on its body like nothing more than a light tickle.

On the contrary, Manda could cause massive casualties just by stretching its body at will.

"Wind Release: Great Sickle Weasel!"

Karura brandished her Three-Star Fan, a violent hurricane howling forth, causing Manda's form to sway.

"That feels so good, blow harder! It's not enough, give me more!"

Manda mocked with a laugh. Karura's expression was grave as she waved the Three-Star Fan repeatedly, her summoned Sickle Weasels darting back and forth.

But none of it could stop Manda's advance.

Karura pursed her lips and looked in the direction of Rasa.

If there was anyone who could stop Manda, it could only be Rasa, the disciple of the Third Kazekage!

Rasa was also anxious, but he could not break free.

Uchiha Chonhua was shrouded in lightning, his speed as swift as a thunderbolt, shockingly fast.

Every time Rasa made a move to intercept Manda, Uchiha Chonhua would shadow him, appearing before him to disrupt his actions.

Listening to the incessant screams of his Sunagakure comrades, Rasa was both furious and desperate.

"Bastard!"

Rasa cursed in a rage: "That snake is attacking indiscriminately! It's not just us in Sunagakure who are suffering; your Konoha people are being hit too."

"You are truly cold-blooded and heartless, not even caring about the lives of your own villagers!"

Uchiha Chonhua let out a cold laugh: "Why don't you take a closer look?"

Manda could not even be commanded by Orochimaru, let alone distinguish between friend and foe; its appearance would naturally result in indiscriminate attacks.

They had been prepared long ago. Hearing Uchiha Chonhua's words, Rasa looked closely and discovered that the Konoha ninja who were also being struck were surrounded by... a soft, white slug?

"I... I'm okay!?"

A Konoha ninja felt a bit dizzy; he stood up and looked in surprise at the slug on his body.

The slug emitted a soft, gentle voice: "Please rest assured, I will protect everyone well."

In the rear of the Konoha forces, Tsunade held her hands in a seal, outputting a massive amount of chakra as her summon, Katsuyu, continuously divided and scattered to protect the Konoha ninja on the field.

"My chakra consumption is massive."

Tsunade gritted her teeth, refining the chakra within her body with all her might and releasing every last drop without reservation.

"I can hold on for a little longer, but damn that stinking snake!"

Tsunade glared hatefully at Manda; the foul serpent was even more reckless than she had imagined!

In the midst of this heavy chakra expenditure, Tsunade suddenly recalled a secret family technique that was perfectly suited for the current situation.

"When I get back, I am going to master the Yin Seal!"

Even the chakra reserves of the Senju Clan could not withstand such prolonged depletion!

Rasa watched in stunned silence, realizing that a world where only Sunagakure suffered losses had been achieved.

Sshhh—

Rasa's vision blurred as the bewitching Sharingan of Uchiha Chonhua reflected in his eyes.

Not good, he thought, snapping back to reality as his body moved instinctively to dodge.

"Argh!"

Rasa leaped backward to create distance, his face contorted as he endured the pain and looked down at his right arm.

Blood had soaked through his robes.

He tried to lift his right arm; it could move, but every twitch sent a piercing, agonizing pain through him, leaving Rasa drenched in cold sweat.

Uchiha Chonhua held lightning in his right hand, a gentle smile hanging on his face.

"I've truly been underestimated; to be so distracted while fighting me."

Rasa's eyes shifted, his left hand sweeping through the air as a wall of sand traced a line before him.

Bang!

The Chidori collided with the Yellow Sand Curtain, causing the sand to scatter and spray in all directions.