Mikoto: Chonhua... Is he dead?

Had his perception, which surpassed the Byakugan, failed to detect these ambushes?

Before Uchiha Chonhua could say anything, Hyuga Quande spoke first. "I think his perception is mainly focused on the chakra signatures of others."

Uchiha Chonhua nodded. Hyuga Quande understood and said, "I see. Then the two of us will need to work together to eliminate any hidden threats."

In just two short sentences, everyone present understood.

Uchiha Chonhua could sense other people's chakra signatures, but he couldn't see specific things the way the Byakugan could.

Everyone looked at Uchiha Chonhua and Hyuga Quande.

Thinking it over, one had an enormous range of perception, while the other could see exactly what the enemy was doing, as well as inanimate objects like Kunai and shuriken.

A thought occurred to them all at once.

—Their abilities complemented each other.

Together, they made a formidable pair. This might be the strongest reconnaissance technique in the Ninja World!

With the two of them working together, Hatake Sakumo and the others avoided the Sunagakure squad and all manner of hidden traps and ambushes without incident.

They reached the rear of the battlefield between Konoha and Sunagakure.

Now that they were here, they had completed the first stage of their confidential mission.

"I see them. The Akasuna Couple are over there."

The faint sounds of battle cries reached their ears. Hyuga Quande peered out, veins bulging around his eyes beneath his mask as his Byakugan opened wide.

In his field of vision, the Akasuna Couple, captains of the Sunagakure unit, were controlling their puppets as they fought Orochimaru.

"How's the situation?"

Hatake Sakumo asked. Hyuga Quande gave a concise report.

"Good. Move on to the next step!"

As soon as Hatake Sakumo finished speaking, Uchiha Chonhua and the others charged out of the woods toward the Akasuna Couple.

"What!? Captain Akasuna!!!"

Karura's expression changed. Those were Konoha's Anbu. How had they appeared behind them!?

Her cry alerted the Akasuna Couple. They hurriedly turned around and controlled their puppets, sending a barrage of poison-coated Kunai and shuriken flying.

The Anbu-clad group scattered, dodging the Kunai and shuriken, then pressed forward without slowing and engaged the Akasuna Couple.

Seeing the sudden turn of events, Rasa swept his right hand, sending sand to shove the enemies back. With a worried look, he hurried toward the Akasuna Couple.

An Anbu member broke away from the fight and appeared in front of Rasa, blocking his path.

"Get out of my way!"

Rasa controlled the sand, turning it into a cone that shot straight at him.

Uchiha Chonhua remained unhurried in the face of the incoming cone. He raised his right hand, and a blade of lightning shot out.

Several flashes of light streaked through the air, and the cone of sand was sliced apart and scattered.

Rasa's expression changed when he saw that unmistakable blade of lightning.

"Uchiha Chonhua!"

As if in response to Rasa's words, Uchiha Chonhua took off his hood and removed his mask, revealing his refined, elegant features.

Uchiha Chonhua smiled at Rasa. "Let's continue the fight we left unfinished."

Rasa surveyed the situation and realized it wasn't as dire as it seemed.

The Akasuna Couple were struggling against Orochimaru and the Anbu, but their lives weren't in danger.

Rasa felt a wave of relief. He swept his hands, spreading sand, and shouted, "How did you get behind us? What are you trying to accomplish?"

Had they gone around behind the lines to assassinate Captain Akasuna? But their assassination attempt had failed.

Did they think a few extra people could turn the tide? Rasa sneered.

"If you're trying to assassinate Captain Akasuna, you're dreaming. You few aren't even qualified."

"Konoha, you've underestimated Sunagakure!"

Uchiha Chonhua sighed, sounding a little regretful. "Yes, we failed. I didn't expect your captain to be so strong. He's still holding on against Lord Orochimaru and several of his seniors."

Chapter 67: Mikoto: Chonhua... Is he dead?

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

He slapped his hand against the ground, and tadpole-like markings spread outward.

"Summoning Technique!"

Boom!

A vast cloud of smoke billowed as a giant snake as tall as a mountain burst out.

Its slit pupils swept over the surroundings. It looked down at Orochimaru, standing atop its head, and spoke in a voice dripping with menace.

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

Orochimaru sneered as he looked down at the Sunagakure shinobi, tiny as ants.

"They're all right there, Manda. Go wild!"

"Then I won't hold back!"

Manda plunged down. With a body as enormous as his, even a casual charge was like a mountain crashing down.

Several Sunagakure shinobi failed to dodge in time and were struck head-on by Manda. They couldn't even scream before they were crushed into a bloody pulp, dying horribly.

The Akasuna Couple grew anxious at the sight.

After dodging an attack from a Konoha Anbu, the two exchanged a glance and brought their puppets' hands together. In the next instant, ten steel wires shot out.

They controlled their puppets and sent them toward the enormous Manda!

"Performance: One Heart One Body!"

The hard, sharp wires wrapped around Manda. Then they pulled with all their strength.

"Gaaaah!"

Manda cried out in pain. The wires were hard, but his body was harder.

A shrill metallic clanging rang out as sparks flew from the impact.

The wires couldn't cut through Manda's body, but they still hurt!

"Damn little bugs!"

Enraged, Manda raised his massive body and slammed it toward the Akasuna Couple.

They hurriedly dodged, but Manda's momentum carried him onward, and he crashed into the ground, leaving a huge crater.

"Wind Release: Wind Cutter!"

Several Konoha Anbu surrounding the Akasuna Couple joined forces to unleash Wind Release Ninjutsu. Blades of air tore through the air and streaked toward the pair.

"Puppet Technique: Mechanical Light Shield Seal!"

The Akasuna Couple controlled their puppets, pouring out a tremendous amount of chakra that transformed into a shield around them.

Hiss, hiss—

The blades of air struck the shield. The chakra flames flickered as if they might go out, but the shield held.

"Damn little bugs, quit wriggling around and let Lord Manda eat you!"

Manda turned toward the Akasuna Couple. They had dared to hurt him, and his fury wouldn't subside until he ate those two little bugs!

The other Sunagakure shinobi tried to stop Manda, but it was like ants trying to topple a tree. He didn't care in the slightest. Their attacks felt no different from a tickle against his body.

By contrast, a casual sweep of Manda's body could kill many of them.

"Wind Release: Great Sickle Weasel!"

Karura swung the Three-Star Fan, sending a fierce gale howling toward Manda. His body swayed.

"That feels great! Not enough, not enough! Blow harder!"

Manda sneered. Karura looked grim and swung the Three-Star Fan again and again as her summoned beast, Kamaitachi, darted back and forth.

But they couldn't stop Manda from advancing.

Karura pressed her lips together and looked toward Rasa.

If anyone could stop Manda, it was Rasa, the Third Kazekage's apprentice!

Rasa was anxious too, but he couldn't break away.

Lightning coiled around Uchiha Chonhua, and he moved with astonishing speed, as swift as the wind.

Whenever Rasa made a move to stop Manda, Uchiha Chonhua was right there, appearing in front of him and interrupting him.

Hearing the screams of his Sunagakure comrades one after another, Rasa was both furious and frantic.

"Damn it!"

Rasa cursed. "That snake attacks indiscriminately! It's not just Sunagakure taking a beating—your Konoha shinobi are getting hit too!"

"You're truly cold-blooded, not even caring about the lives of your own village!"

Uchiha Chonhua sneered. "Why don't you take another look?"

Even Orochimaru couldn't control Manda, much less make him distinguish friend from foe. His appearance was bound to result in indiscriminate attacks.

They had prepared for this in advance. At Uchiha Chonhua's words, Rasa took a closer look and saw that the Konoha shinobi who'd been hit were also wrapped in... a white slug?

"I... I'm all right!?"

A Konoha shinobi stood up, his head still spinning, and looked at the Katsuyu on his body in surprise.

Katsuyu spoke in a soft, gentle voice. "Please don't worry. I'll protect everyone."

Behind the Konoha lines, Tsunade held her hands in a seal and poured out chakra. Her summoned beast, Katsuyu, split into countless smaller slugs that scattered to protect the Konoha shinobi present.

"I'm using up so much chakra."

Tsunade gritted her teeth and drew on every last bit of chakra she could, releasing it all.

"I can keep this up a little longer. Damn that stinking snake!"

Tsunade glared at Manda. He was even more reckless than she'd imagined!

As she continued to burn through chakra, Tsunade suddenly remembered a family secret technique that was perfect for this situation.

"Once I get back, I'm learning the Yin Seal!"

Even the Senju Clan's chakra reserves couldn't withstand prolonged depletion!

Rasa stared, dumbfounded. It was as if they'd reached a world where only Sunagakure was getting hurt.

Hiss—

Rasa's vision blurred, and Uchiha Chonhua's mesmerizing Sharingan filled his view.

Rasa realized something was wrong and instinctively moved to dodge.

"Gah!"

Rasa leaped backward to put some distance between them. His face twisted as he fought through the pain and looked at his right arm.

Blood stained his sleeve.

He tried to raise his right arm. He could move it, but the slightest motion sent stabbing pain through him, leaving Rasa drenched in cold sweat.

Uchiha Chonhua held lightning in his right hand, wearing a genial smile.

"You're really underestimating me, aren't you? You're so distracted while fighting me."

Rasa's eyes shifted. He swept his left hand, sending a stream of sand across his front.

Bang!

The Chidori collided with the Yellow Sand Curtain, scattering sand in every direction.