Orochimaru's Confidence

The series of unexpected events had left the ninjas from both Konoha and the Sand Hidden completely caught off guard.

Especially that enormous monster, covered in purple markings and towering in the forest like a tanuki!

The Konoha ninjas couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness for Lord Orochimaru. Otherwise, we'd have suffered the same fate as the Sand Ninja."

They couldn't help feeling schadenfreude.

After all, the Sand Ninja had just taken a direct hit from that monster, and many had been killed or injured.

Over on the Sand Hidden side, Chiyo's face burned with anger. She took a deep breath, then demanded, "Rasa, what are you doing?!"

Only then did many people notice the man floating beside the monster. The Sand Ninja, in particular, were all stunned.

"That's... Lord Kazekage?!"

Rasa couldn't help but press a hand to his forehead. "What an idiot!"

He was already regretting bringing the Jinchuriki along.

There had already been plenty of opposition in the village to his becoming Kazekage. Now, because of his repeated mistakes, the village had lost a good number of ninjas. If his opponents seized this opportunity, they would absolutely use this incident against him!

The mistake had been caused by the Tailed Beast, but he was the one who had brought the Jinchuriki along. He would have to take responsibility for everything.

At the thought, he glanced down at Chiyo.

He had worked hard to win that old woman over. He couldn't let this incident drive a wedge between them.

I have to make up for this as much as possible. The best way is...

Rasa ignored Chiyo's demand and turned his gaze toward the Konoha ninjas.

The best way to make up for everything was to win the war!

He silently compared the strength of the two sides.

Konoha had Orochimaru and a brat who had thrown his plans into disarray. Neither would be easy to deal with.

But the Sand Hidden had him, Chiyo, and One-Tail Shukaku!

Three against two. The advantage was ours!

"We'll deal with everything else later. For now, we need to win this battle."

Deliberately avoiding Chiyo's fiery glare, Rasa replied, then turned to Bunpuku on Shukaku's head and said sternly, "This time, don't get the enemy mixed up again!"

Bunpuku said nothing, only lowering his head a little further.

Shukaku, however, looked completely unconcerned. "I know, I know. I told you, don't order me around!"

In Shukaku's eyes, all humans were the same, except for the Sage of Six Paths and Bunpuku. If they died, then they died.

But seeing how much Bunpuku seemed to care, it decided to pay a little more attention.

Shukaku lowered its body and sprawled on the ground, sand constantly spilling from its arms.

In the next moment, the ground before them turned into a sea of sand.

The yellow sand surged like a sandstorm, rushing toward the Konoha ninjas.

Seeing this, Rasa brought his hands together. "Magnet Release: Gold Sand Cube!"

The gold sand churned, then gathered in the air into an enormous cube that flew toward the Konoha ninjas.

Having lived through the reigns of four Kazekage, Chiyo understood what Rasa was thinking. But for now, she had no choice but to cooperate.

With a sigh, she leapt into the air. A cushion of sand gathered beneath her and caught her.

She moved her ten fingers, and the puppets behind her immediately followed.

The Sand Hidden launched another attack, this time led by the three strongest fighters it had!

A commotion broke out among the Konoha ninjas.

Many began to panic. After all, they were facing the Fourth Kazekage and a monster working together, and that old woman was powerful too.

"Lord Orochimaru..." Someone turned to look at him, only to see him staring intently at the monster.

"One-Tail Shukaku, is it? As expected of a Tailed Beast. What a fascinating power." Orochimaru praised it, undisguised greed in his eyes. He couldn't help licking his lips.

He knew of Tailed Beasts, of course.

In fact, he had once secretly infiltrated Kumogakure and attacked the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. While the Eight-Tails was rampaging, he had obtained some of its cells.

He could ignore the immense chakra within a Tailed Beast, but he couldn't overlook its near-immortal nature.

Immortality had always been his greatest pursuit.

The Konoha ninjas tensed, sweat beading on their foreheads.

The ninja who had spoken earlier hadn't received a reply and was about to ask again.

At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared.

Sen Chisato used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside Orochimaru. "Sensei, aren't we leaving yet?"

"Don't worry. Tailed Beasts are terrifying, but they can be dealt with." Orochimaru's voice was hoarse, his tone brimming with confidence.

"However..." He glanced at the Konoha ninjas behind him, then continued, "Ordinary ninjas have no place in a battle like this. Have them withdraw."

Sen Chisato nodded, then turned to the ninja beside him. "Why aren't you leaving? Didn't you hear Sensei?"

"Yes! Understood!" The ninja froze for a moment, then nodded at once.

"Retreat!"

At the command, the Konoha ninjas withdrew quickly.

Seeing them from the air, Rasa hesitated for a second, then set his sights on the retreating Konoha forces.

"You're not getting away!"

He waved his hand, and the enormous gold sand cube immediately changed direction, flying toward the Konoha forces.

"Sensei, what do we do now?" Sen Chisato assumed a fighting stance and asked, feigning anxiety.

"Heh heh, it's fine. An attack like this is easy to deal with." Orochimaru remained confident and rapidly formed Hand Seals.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

The summoning formula spread across the ground, and a huge cloud of smoke billowed up. A massive shadow writhed within it.

"Orochimaru, what trouble have you gotten into now? Have you prepared a hundred living sacrifices?" As soon as Manda appeared, he began demanding sacrifices.

But Orochimaru froze. "What's going on?"

Manda was covered in wounds, many of them deep enough to expose bone. He was nearly severed into several pieces.

But there was no time to dwell on it. Orochimaru pointed and said, "Manda, stop that gold sand cube!"

"Heh heh, remember to prepare the sacrifices next time. And your..." Before he could finish, Manda, whose body had begun to unfurl, froze.

He turned his head and saw the man who toyed with gold sand.

Without a word, Manda immediately canceled the Summoning Technique and returned to Ryūchi Cave.

Orochimaru, who had suddenly dropped from the sky, adjusted his body and landed steadily on the ground. His brows furrowed slightly. "What's going on?"

Orochimaru couldn't make sense of it.

Manda being so badly injured was one thing, but why had he looked like he'd seen a ghost when he saw Rasa?

At that moment, Sen Chisato sheepishly raised a hand beside him. "Um, Sensei, I summoned Manda earlier."

"I see." Orochimaru nodded slowly, his expression darkening.

This was troublesome!

He had originally planned to have Manda cover the Konoha forces' retreat, then summon Rashomon to defend against One-Tail's attack.

But now Manda had fled, throwing the whole plan into disarray.

With the sandstorm almost upon them and the gold sand cube already crashing down under Rasa's control, Orochimaru made a quick decision. "I'll deal with the threat in the sky."

Sen Chisato grew serious too. "Leave the front to me!"