The Akasuna Couple, Dead!

Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique!

"Ugh..."

Several enormous stakes suddenly pinned the Sunagakure ninja in place. As they drove in tighter and tighter, he cried out in pain.

In the outside world, Uchiha Chonhua strolled up to the stunned Sunagakure ninja and drove a kunai into his neck with a backhand thrust.

Blood gushed out. The Sunagakure ninja came to his senses through the agony, clutching his neck in shock as he tried to stop the blood pouring from the wound. He wanted to say something, but no sound came out.

At last, the Sunagakure ninja crumpled to the ground, his head lolling to one side. He was dead.

Seeing their comrade die only fueled the Sunagakure ninjas' rage. They joined forces and charged at Uchiha Chonhua.

Uchiha Chonhua's Three-Tomoe Sharingan took in every movement the Sunagakure ninjas made.

Lightning crackled around him as Uchiha Chonhua turned into a bolt of lightning and darted among them.

Pfft, pfft, pfft—

In an instant, several of them looked terrified as blood trickled from the corners of their mouths.

Then they fell, one after another.

"Chonhua, we're coming to help!"

Mikoto Uchiha, Hizashi Hyuga, and the other Konoha ninjas rushed over to help.

"Lord Chonhua, leave them to us!"

Makoto Yamagami volunteered, engaging a Sunagakure ninja who had charged at Uchiha Chonhua in a fierce fight.

Uchiha Chonhua nodded. "I'll leave it to you."

Hearing Uchiha Chonhua's words, Makoto Yamagami and the others were fired up. They fought even harder, forcing the Sunagakure ninjas back step by step.

"What are you all still doing here? Retreat, now!"

The Akasuna Couple's angry shouts rang out.

They had naturally seen Rasa die. Shocked, they glared at Uchiha Chonhua with hatred.

—The Third Kazekage's disciple had died here...

The Akasuna Couple looked grim. They would face a difficult time back home, and the Third Kazekage would certainly demand answers.

"Yashamaru, take your sister and retreat at once. Sunagakure has suffered heavy losses this time. Don't get caught up in a fight—leave now!"

Rasa was dead. Losing Sunagakure's remaining strength to avenge him would be a poor trade.

If they didn't retreat quickly and stayed to fight, they might all meet a bad end.

Yashamaru gritted his teeth and glanced at his sister, Karura, apologetically.

"Sorry, Sis."

Yashamaru raised a hand, intending to knock Karura unconscious and carry her away.

But Karura caught his hand. Under his astonished gaze, she composed herself, pushing her grief aside.

She took one last look at Rasa lying on the ground and wiped away her tears.

"Let's go."

"Yes, Sis!"

Yashamaru shouted to the Sunagakure forces, "We'll settle the score later! Our priority now is to retreat!"

"But Lord Rasa..."

Some didn't want to leave. They glared resentfully at Uchiha Chonhua, who stood behind the Konoha ninjas.

Yashamaru frowned. "Then you can stay behind."

With that, Yashamaru and Karura followed the Akasuna Couple's group as they withdrew.

The remaining Sunagakure ninjas exchanged uncertain looks.

Some left immediately, while only the Sunagakure ninjas fiercely loyal to Rasa stayed behind.

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

Soon, the loyalists followed Rasa to their deaths.

"Chonhua, what now?"

Nawaki asked. The other Konoha ninjas looked to Uchiha Chonhua, waiting for him to speak.

Without realizing it, they had all come to regard Uchiha Chonhua as their leader.

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

They knew exactly who Rasa was.

They were proud to have helped kill a disciple of the Third Kazekage!

There were jonin among the Konoha ninjas, too, and they didn't dare underestimate Uchiha Chonhua.

Rasa's strength was undeniable. That meant Uchiha Chonhua, who had killed him, was even stronger.

He deserved their respect!

"Lord Chonhua, please give the order!"

Makoto Yamagami gazed at Uchiha Chonhua with fervent admiration.

Uchiha Chonhua swept his gaze over them, then nodded. "Follow me. We're going after the Sunagakure forces!"

"Yes, sir!"

Everyone answered loudly.

Orochimaru had no intention of letting a fleeing enemy go.

He led everyone into the forest in pursuit of the retreating Sunagakure forces.

The Akasuna Couple looked surprised.

"They actually followed us."

This area was occupied by Sunagakure, and they had already set countless traps and ambushes here.

The man in the Akasuna Couple sneered. "Let them chase us. Come on, we'll head toward the traps we set."

They had dared to pursue them, disregarding the traps and ambushes they had laid.

Sunagakure had suffered heavy losses, but they still had the strength to fight.

Perhaps they could use the traps and mechanisms to find an opening and launch a counterattack!

They couldn't wipe out Konoha, but they could at least make them taste the pain of heavy losses.

With that thought, the Akasuna Couple exchanged a look and headed toward the traps and mechanisms.

Just as they changed direction,

a flash of cold steel came first, streaking across the sky like lightning.

Before the Akasuna Couple could react, pain shot through their necks, followed by a sudden warmth.

The Akasuna Couple were veterans of countless battles. They knew that feeling...

Uneasy, they reached for their necks, their bodies trembling despite themselves. They looked at their palms.

A glaring red filled their vision.

"Ghh..."

Who... who was it?!

The Akasuna Couple turned to look at the figure dressed as an Anbu. He seemed utterly unconcerned about concealing his identity.

The hood fell back, revealing bright silver hair fluttering in the wind. A broad hand lifted the mask, exposing a familiar face.

The Akasuna Couple's pupils constricted.

The commander-in-chief of the Konoha Ninja Force, Hatake Sakumo!

How had he appeared here?!

Chapter 71: The Akasuna Couple, Dead!

Chakra was a combination of physical and spiritual energy, and was closely tied to one's stamina.

The Akasuna Couple had faced Orochimaru and the Konoha Anbu in battle. They had also fed Manda every puppet they had painstakingly raised.

The battle had consumed a great deal of chakra, leaving them utterly exhausted.

They were at their weakest, and their reactions had slowed.

Hatake Sakumo's strike had found its mark. His White Fang Short Blade flashed like lightning, swift as the wind as it slit the Akasuna Couple's throats.

The Akasuna Couple clutched their bleeding necks in utter terror, their faces stricken with horror.

Hatake Sakumo—how had he appeared here?!

Wasn't he supposed to be on the northern battlefield, fighting Salamander Hanzo? How could such an important figure have come here? Had the intelligence division done nothing at all?

Why hadn't they detected Hatake Sakumo?!

Questions flooded the Akasuna Couple's minds until they suddenly recalled the Konoha Anbu who had leaped out of the forest and attacked them.

Like a jolt of electricity, their bodies shuddered as they realized what it meant.

—So this was Konoha's real plan!

They had fallen for it!

The Konoha Anbu's sudden assault had been nothing but a ruse. Their real purpose had been to wear the two of them down.

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

Thud!

It was too late to understand the whole plan now.

The two crumpled to the ground, their eyes vacant as they stared fixedly at Hatake Sakumo.

Fear still showed on their faces. They died with hatred and their eyes open.

It was all too late.

The Sunagakure forces finally came to their senses. Faced with the sudden turn of events, they stared at the Akasuna Couple lying on the ground.

A chill rose from their feet and spread through their bodies, as if they had fallen into an icy abyss.

"C-Captain... Akasuna?"

The Sunagakure forces were stunned, all of them staring in disbelief.

The person lying on the ground was Captain Akasuna, wasn't it? This wasn't a joke, was it?

The two of them... were dead? Could that be true?

The Sunagakure ninjas were still dazed, but Hatake Sakumo wasn't.

Lightning surged along his White Fang Short Blade. His figure blurred, and in an instant he appeared before a Sunagakure ninja, bringing his blade down!

"Ah!!"

Blood sprayed. The Sunagakure ninja was struck by a wave of agony and let out a scream.

Hatake Sakumo casually slapped an Explosive Tag onto him, then kicked him into the middle of the Sunagakure forces.

Boom!

A deafening blast sent flames surging toward the sky, while screams rang out without end.

The Sunagakure ninjas were blown apart, their severed limbs flying everywhere.

One arm landed at Karura's feet, jolting her back to her senses.

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

Karura had no desire to stay and fight Hatake Sakumo.