There Was Another Lurker

The moment the two Sand Hidden Village Jonin recognized Orochimaru, their hearts sank.

The Cold Lord had made a name for himself during the Second Shinobi World War. They had only been ordered to investigate a new toxin in the Land of Rivers. They had neither the confidence nor the strength to face Orochimaru head-on.

But retreat was no longer their decision to make.

"We've barely found a lead, and here you are. Your timing is impeccable."

Orochimaru walked slowly toward them, his golden, slit-pupiled eyes fixed on the two Jonin. The killing intent in his gaze sent chills down their spines.

The lead Jonin forced down his panic and fear, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes. Orochimaru meant to kill them. He knew that if they dragged this out, they would all die. Their only chance was to strike fast, seize the lead, and scatter in retreat.

"Prepare for battle!"

At his sharp command, the coordination their squad had built over years showed at once. The six moved without hesitation, quickly taking their assigned roles.

"Shali, Shuofeng, Caotai, help me hold Orochimaru off! You two, take out those three brats. Once you have the fragment, retreat immediately!"

As soon as the order left his mouth, both Jonin advanced, with two Chunin close behind. The four formed a ring around Orochimaru, while the remaining two Chunin charged straight at Tsukimi and the others.

To the lead Jonin, Tsukimi and the others were just three kids—elite Genin at best. Sending two Chunin after them could hardly go wrong.

With the orders given, he put them out of his mind and focused on Orochimaru. His hands flashed through signs as Wind Release Chakra surged violently within his chest.

"Wind Release: Great Sickle Weasel!"

Sheets of air became a storm that swept through the entire valley. The gale drove forward, grinding weeds and gravel alike to powder in an instant.

The other Jonin pulled a scroll from his Ninja Tool Pouch and spread it open before him. He formed hand signs, and after a puff of white smoke, two silver-gray puppets landed on the ground.

The puppets' joints were riddled with mechanism ports. They landed with a clacking of interlocking parts, slender blades springing from their hands. The blades were coated in deadly poison, while rows of openings on their backs slid open to reveal countless hidden needles.

The Sand Village Jonin kept his hands moving, controlling the two puppets with Chakra threads from his fingertips. They skimmed along the ground on either side and attacked from the left. One lunged at Orochimaru's face while the other swept at his legs.

Orochimaru remained composed within the encirclement. Faced with wind blades filling the air, he finished his hand signs in an instant.

"Fire Release: Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

Orochimaru spat out a massive fireball. Scorching flames rolled forward, swallowing and breaking apart countless wind blades.

Clack, clack, clack!

A puppet's poisoned blade had come within inches of his throat. The flesh of Orochimaru's neck rippled, and his modified, pliant body let him slip past the lethal thrust by a hair. At the same time, a dark shape shot from his sleeve and bit into the puppet's joint.

Crack!

The joint snapped, and half the puppet collapsed to the ground.

The Chunin on the right rushed in under cover of the turbulent wind, bringing down a blade infused with Wind Release Chakra. At the same time, the ports on the other puppet's back fired, sending countless poisoned needles toward Orochimaru's legs.

Caught between attacks from above and below, Orochimaru's eyes flashed with disdain. He leaned lightly back to evade the slash, then drove a powerful kick into the Chunin's chest.

Thud!

The Chunin went flying from the force of the blow.

At the same moment, the ground beneath Orochimaru burst open. A giant snake surged up and intercepted every poisoned needle, its massive body blocking the puppet's remaining attacks.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Orochimaru turned and raised an arm. It became a swarm of small snakes that smashed the last Chunin's small puppet to pieces.

In just a few breaths, the four Sand Village Ninja had attacked relentlessly, throwing everything they had into their encirclement. It looked as though their unbroken assault had Orochimaru pinned down. In truth, every attack had missed, and he had toyed with them the entire time.

Meanwhile, the two remaining Chunin came at Tsukimi and the others from either side.

"Finally, a fight!"

Asuma burned with fighting spirit. Being cowed by the two Jonin's killing intent earlier had cost him face. Now he intended to win it back against these Chunin.

Flying Swallow in hand, he stepped forward to meet one Chunin's attack.

"Kurenai, let's take this one together!"

Asuma might usually act like a fool, but when it mattered, he did not fall apart like Obito. Nor was he stupid enough to challenge a Chunin alone.

That put Idiot Four above Idiot Two. Sound logic!

"Okay!"

Kurenai Yuhi answered and moved lightly forward. She and Asuma worked together from either side, keeping the Chunin tied down.

The last Chunin looked at Tsukimi, who still stood in place, and a trace of contempt flashed in his eyes. Of the four facing them, Tsukimi had the weakest presence. He ought to be the easiest one to break through.

He hesitated no longer. His hands flew through signs. "Wind Release: Sickle Weasel!"

A howling gale swept straight at Tsukimi. He meant to kill his opponent as quickly as possible, then support his teammates.

Tsukimi looked no less relaxed as the Wind Release attack bore down on him. Shadow Energy gathered beneath his feet. In the next instant, he used the Mantis Squad's Flash Step. Moving at Jonin-level speed, he vanished completely from the Chunin's sight.

"What? Where did he go?"

The Chunin's pupils contracted. He had never expected the kid in front of him to move so fast. He frantically searched for Tsukimi, but saw nothing.

"What are you looking at?"

The question came from behind him. His body stiffened, and cold sweat soaked his back.

Pfft—

A dark blade pierced his chest. Tsukimi gave him no chance. The moment he finished speaking, he drove the long blade formed from shadow into him. The Chunin lost consciousness before he could even scream. The whole thing took less than two seconds.

To lower- and mid-ranking Ninja, an opponent with overwhelming speed was impossible to counter. They simply could not react in time, much less fight back.

Minato Namikaze in the Third Shinobi World War was proof enough. With his Flying Thunder God Technique, anyone below Kage Level could only run when they encountered him. He was practically a Jonin-reaping machine.

On the other side, the Sand Village Chunin fighting Asuma and Kurenai caught sight of Tsukimi killing his teammate in an instant. Every hair on his body stood on end, and a chill ran through him. Even his once-fierce attacks faltered.

A Genin just killed a genuine Sand Village Chunin in one move?!

How did that make any sense?

Kurenai seized the opening created by his shock. She formed hand signs and caught him in a Genjutsu. Asuma struck at once, his Wind Release Chakra-infused Flying Swallow flashing across the Chunin's throat.

The second Sand Village Chunin was dead!

On the main battlefield, the four Sand Village elites were still locked in combat with Orochimaru. With his own fight over, Tsukimi quietly circled behind them, ready to take advantage of the chaos and strike from the shadows.

But just as he moved, one of the Shadowkhan he had scattered around the valley—and had not yet recalled—sent him its vision. In the dense woods, a Sand Village Ninja was lying perfectly still, his presence suppressed.

Tsukimi stopped short.

Huh? Someone's lurking even harder than I am?!