To Repay My Debts, I'll Become Hokage!

Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique!

"Ugh..."

The Sunagakure ninja was instantly pinned in place by several massive stakes, the tightening pressure of which forced a pained cry from his throat.

Outside the illusion, Uchiha Chonhua strolled leisurely up to the stunned Sunagakure ninja and backhanded a kunai directly into the man's neck.

Blood gushed out, and the Sunagakure ninja, jolted back to reality by the searing pain, clutched his neck in shock, trying to stem the steady flow of blood; he wanted to say something, but no sound would come out.

Finally, the Sunagakure ninja collapsed to the ground, his head lolling to the side as he died.

Seeing their comrade perish, the remaining Sunagakure ninjas grew even more enraged and charged at Uchiha Chonhua in unison.

Uchiha Chonhua's Three-Tomoe Sharingan took in every movement of the Sunagakure ninjas with absolute clarity.

With lightning crackling around his body, Uchiha Chonhua transformed into a bolt of electricity, weaving between them.

Pfft, pfft, pfft—

In an instant, the expressions of the men turned to terror as streaks of blood spilled from the corners of their mouths.

Then, one after another, they fell.

"Chonhua, we're here to help!"

Mikoto Uchiha, Hizashi Hyuga, and other Konoha ninjas arrived to provide support.

"Lord Chonhua, leave them to us!"

Makoto Yamagami volunteered, engaging a Sunagakure ninja who was rushing toward Uchiha Chonhua in a fierce struggle!

Uchiha Chonhua nodded. "I leave them to you."

Hearing Uchiha Chonhua's words, Makoto Yamagami and the others felt their spirits soar, fighting with even greater intensity and forcing the Sunagakure ninjas into a steady retreat.

"What are you all still standing there for! Everyone, retreat!"

The angry shouts of the Akasuna Couple rang out.

They had naturally witnessed the death of Rasa, and their hearts were filled with shock, their eyes glaring at Uchiha Chonhua with hatred.

The disciple of the Third Kazekage has died here...

The Akasuna Couple's faces were grim; they would face significant trouble upon returning, and the interrogation by the Third Kazekage would be inevitable.

"Yashamaru, take your sister and retreat at once! Sunagakure has suffered heavy losses this time; do not linger, leave quickly!"

Rasa was already dead, and continuing to waste Sunagakure's vital strength on his account was not worth the cost.

If they did not retreat immediately and continued to fight here, they likely wouldn't survive the day.

Yashamaru gritted his teeth, casting an apologetic glance at his sister, Karura.

"Forgive me, sister."

Yashamaru raised his palm, intending to knock Karura unconscious so he could carry her away.

But Karura caught his hand, and under his surprised gaze, she reined in her grief.

She took one last look at the fallen Rasa and wiped away her tears.

"Let's go."

"Yes, sister!"

Yashamaru shouted to the Sunagakure group: "Revenge can wait for another day! Our priority right now is to retreat!"

"But, Lord Rasa..."

Some were unwilling to leave, glaring hatefully at Uchiha Chonhua, who stood behind the Konoha ninjas.

Yashamaru frowned. "Then stay behind."

As the words fell, Yashamaru and Karura followed the Akasuna Couple's team in their retreat.

The remaining Sunagakure ninjas looked at one another in dismay.

Some left immediately, leaving only those who were fiercely loyal to Rasa behind.

But there were only a few of them, and they were naturally no match for the Konoha ninjas.

Soon, these loyalists followed Rasa to the grave.

"Chonhua, what now?"

Nawaki asked, while the other Konoha ninjas looked toward Uchiha Chonhua, waiting for his command.

Subconsciously, they had all come to regard Uchiha Chonhua as their leader.

Even though Uchiha Chonhua was but a child, his strength had won them all over.

They were well aware of who Rasa was.

Being able to kill a high-ranking disciple of the Third Kazekage was a feat they shared in, and they felt immense pride!

There were Jonin among the Konoha ninjas, yet they dared not look down on Uchiha Chonhua in the slightest.

There was no denying Rasa's power, and thus, Uchiha Chonhua, who had been able to kill him, was a figure of even greater might.

They are worthy of their attention!

"Lord Chonhua, please give the order!"

Makoto Yamagami looked at Uchiha Chonhua with fanatical eyes.

Uchiha Chonhua swept his gaze over them, then nodded and said, "Follow me, we are going to hunt down Sunagakure!"

"Yes!"

The group shouted in unison!

Orochimaru had absolutely no intention of following the rule of not pursuing a desperate foe this time.

He led the group as they charged into the dense forest, hunting down the retreating Sunagakure forces.

The Akasuna Couple looked surprised.

"They actually pursued us."

This was territory occupied by Sunagakure, where they had long since set up a large number of traps and ambushes.

The man of the Akasuna Couple sneered, "Let them chase us. Come, let's head toward the traps we set."

Since they dared to pursue them, they would ignore the traps and ambushes they had laid.

Sunagakure had suffered heavy losses, but they were not yet without the strength to fight back.

Perhaps, by coordinating with these traps and mechanisms, they could wait for an opportunity to launch a counterattack!

Annihilating Konoha was impossible, but they would make them taste the bitterness of heavy losses as well.

Thinking this, the Akasuna Couple exchanged a glance and began to head in the direction of their prepared traps and mechanisms.

Just as they changed direction.

A point of cold light arrived first, cutting through the sky like a bolt of lightning.

Before the Akasuna Couple could react, they felt a pain in their necks, followed immediately by a sudden sensation of warmth.

The Akasuna Couple were battle-hardened; this feeling...

Filled with trepidation, they touched their necks, their bodies trembling uncontrollably as they looked at their palms.

A blinding red filled their eyes.

"Hrk... hrrk..."

Who... who is it!?

The Akasuna Couple looked at the person dressed in Anbu attire; the newcomer seemed to make no effort to hide their identity.

The hood was pulled back, revealing flowing, striking silver hair, and a large hand removed the mask to reveal a familiar face.

The Akasuna Couple's pupils constricted.

Konoha Ninja Force Commander, Hatake Sakumo!

How could he be here!?

Chapter 71: The Akasuna Couple, Dead!

Chakra is the combination of physical energy and spiritual energy, and it is closely related to stamina.

The Akasuna Couple had faced the siege of Orochimaru and the Konoha Anbu, and they had also fed all the puppets they had painstakingly cultivated to Manda.

After a great battle, they had consumed a massive amount of chakra and were already exhausted.

It was at this moment of weakness, when their reaction times had dulled, that Hatake Sakumo struck. His White Fang Short Blade, swift as lightning and fierce as a gale, had slit the throats of the Akasuna Couple.

The Akasuna Couple were terrified, clutching their necks as blood gushed out in torrents.

Hatake Sakumo, how could he be here!?

Shouldn't he be on the northern front dealing with Salamander Hanzo? Such an important figure had arrived here—was the intelligence department useless?

Why had they not detected any trace of Hatake Sakumo!?

A myriad of questions flooded the hearts of the Akasuna Couple, until they suddenly thought of the Konoha Anbu who had jumped out of the dense forest to surround them.

Struck as if by an electric current, their bodies trembled as they realized the truth.

--This was Konoha's true plan!

They had fallen for a trap!

The sudden ambush and siege by the Konoha Anbu were merely a ruse; they were only there to drain their stamina.

The true killing blow was Hatake Sakumo, who had been lying in wait along their retreat route!

Thud!

It was too late to understand the full picture now.

The two collapsed to the ground, their eyes vacant, staring fixedly at Hatake Sakumo.

Terror still lingered on their faces; they had died with their eyes wide open, filled with resentment to the very end.

It was all too late.

The Sunagakure shinobi, finally reacting to the sudden turn of events, looked at the Akasuna Couple lying on the ground.

A chill rose from the soles of their feet, surging through their entire bodies as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.

"A... Akasuna... Captain?"

The Sunagakure group was stunned, each one of them gaping in disbelief.

That person lying on the ground was... Captain Akasuna, right? This wasn't some kind of joke, was it?

The two of them... were dead? Was this for real...

The Sunagakure shinobi were dazed, but Hatake Sakumo was not.

Lightning crackled across the White Fang Short Blade as Hatake Sakumo's figure flickered, instantly appearing before a Sunagakure shinobi and slashing down!

"Ah!!"

Blood sprayed as the Sunagakure shinobi felt a sudden, intense pain, letting out a shrill scream.

Hatake Sakumo casually slapped an Explosive Tag onto him and kicked him into the midst of the Sunagakure group.

Bang!

With a roar, surging flames billowed into the sky, and screams echoed incessantly.

The Sunagakure shinobi were blown to pieces, severed limbs flying everywhere.

One arm landed at the feet of Karura, which jolted her back to her senses.

She hurriedly shouted, "Run! We have to run!!"

Karura had no desire to stay and fight Hatake Sakumo.