146-150

Chapter 146: Chiyo's Poison and the Hidden Techniques of Sunagakure  

Under the night sky, 

on the vast Gobi Desert, swirling sandstorms rose high into the air.  

The colossal body of Manda, resembling a towering building, swiftly carried the members of the surprise attack squad toward the red smoke drifting near the border of the Land of Wind.  

“We’re nearing the battlefield. Shinji, how much longer do you need to refine your chakra?”  

Standing atop Manda’s head, 

Uchiha Shinichi struggled to control the giant serpent, sweat streaming down the side of his forehead. He couldn’t help but glance back.  

There, a young man sat quietly in meditation, 

his body bathed in moonlight and starlight, as if covered in a sheer veil.  

“If it’s just enough to sustain movement, I already have enough,” 

Shinji replied with urgency in his voice, his eyes remaining shut as he seized every moment to refine chakra. 

“But for battle readiness, I’m far from prepared.”  

His forbidden technique, Corporeal Rebirth, was incomplete and far from perfected. Unlike Orochimaru’s future effortless regeneration through the Rebirth Technique, Shinji could not instantly regrow an arm.  

For now, achieving such regeneration would either require an enormous amount of chakra or waiting for his semi-immortal body to heal at a sluggish pace.  

Thus, he abandoned repairing his right arm altogether, focusing instead on absorbing the unease emanating from his comrades’ hearts. He converted this dark energy into Dark Chakra, using it to fuel his Corporeal Rebirth technique.  

This continuous process of high-intensity work had already pushed the miniature Zero-Tails within his abdomen to its limits, prompting frequent warnings of exhaustion.  

The Zero-Tails was no miraculous tool for sustaining combat. As a deeply flawed “Tailed Beast,” its capabilities were riddled with shortcomings—including its ability to convert Dark Chakra, which appeared promising but was shockingly inefficient.  

Its inefficiency was so severe that, in the future, the Sky Ninja had to retrofit Angkor Wat with a specialized environment to mitigate this flaw. 

(Note: The Zero-Tails could only absorb chakra in specialized chambers, and even then, absorbing a small amount of Nine-Tails’ chakra caused it to explode.)  

Under Shinji’s relentless exploitation, 

he had only just regained about the chakra reserves of a mid-level Chūnin.  

This amount was barely sufficient for a single Fire Style: Chakra Blade Transformation, provided he didn’t risk activating his Corporeal Rebirth.  

Uchiha Shinichi furrowed his brow and gritted his teeth. “My ocular power is nearly exhausted from controlling Manda. What are you even thinking?!  

“I could carry you instead—there’s no need to control such a massive creature!”  

“This is consuming way too much of my Sharingan’s power. And there’s still a battle ahead. I—”  

Shinichi struggled to express his frustration.  

To the surprise attack squad, Manda was a wild card—an unstable factor that could turn against them at any moment.  

But Shinji insisted on keeping Manda under control, refusing to release the summoning no matter how Shinichi objected.  

To justify his decision, Shinji had declared, 

“In strategy, I trust you unconditionally. But in battle, trust my judgment!”  

Left with no choice, Shinichi gritted his teeth and continued casting genjutsu on the giant summoned beast through his Sharingan.  

“Wait! Just wait a little longer!” Shinji said, still meditating with closed eyes, his voice strained.  

“Trust me! I have a hunch that Manda will be crucial for the upcoming mission!”  

Aburame Ryoma’s task was to destroy supplies. For someone skilled in deploying parasitic insects, assassination, infiltration, and intelligence gathering, 

he had numerous methods to complete the mission through indirect means.  

But now, he had launched a red signal flare into the sky. 

This could only mean one thing:  

He had encountered an extreme anomaly— 

a variable far beyond what the team was equipped to handle!  

At that moment, 

“Look over there!”  

From atop Manda, Uchiha Shisui opened his Sharingan and peered into the distance, suddenly exclaiming,  

“In that desert—there’s a purple mist!”  

Shinji’s eyes snapped open.  

He saw, beneath the starlight and moonlight, 

a vast expanse of desert blanketed by a swirling vortex of purple mist that covered a large area.  

At its center, a black tornado spun continuously at high speed.  

Above the purple mist, red smoke spiraled into the air—the same signal flare launched by the Konoha team.  

Beside them, Inuzuka Mei’s companion, Akamaru, suddenly barked furiously. 

“Woof! Woof! Woof!!!”  

Startled, Mei’s eyes widened as she translated in a tense voice:  

“It’s poison mist!”  

“It’s the poison of Chiyo, the elder of Sunagakure!”  

The eye of a tornado is a region of relative calm.  

However, this does not mean it is without danger.  

The center of the tornado is not a true vacuum with zero atmospheric pressure; rather, it is a funnel-shaped air column with lower pressure than the surrounding environment.  

And now— Yōnuyashiro Ryūma stood at the center of the secret technique Insect Tornado that he himself had created, his face looking grim. 

As the air pressure continued to drop, his complexion worsened even further. 

He felt dizzy, had a headache, felt nauseous, and was starting to feel like he might throw up. His limbs were weak. 

However, this condition was nothing compared to the purple toxic fog outside. 

That was the poison of the elder Chiyo from Sunagakure. In all of Konoha, only one of the Sannin, Tsunade, could neutralize such toxins. 

Even a slight inhalation could quickly incapacitate someone, causing their body to disintegrate into a pile of brittle bones. 

Even Orochimaru could only offer him a vial of adrenaline, telling him that if he ever encountered such a thing, he should try to endure and escape. 

“The insects are continuously dying from the poison.” 

“Maintaining the chakra for the Insect Tornado is also very exhausting.” 

“The most crucial part is… I don’t even know who my opponent is!” 

Yōnuyashiro Ryūma’s expression darkened as he squatted on the ground, his hand pressed into the sand, sending out his parasitic bugs to sense the external situation. 

However, as soon as the bugs crawled out of the poisonous fog, before they could even relay any information, they were immediately killed by something sharp—none were left. 

What was outside? How many people were there? Who exactly had set up this trap against him? 

He knew nothing. 

The secret technique Insect Tornado had become his only barrier, forcing him to survive in this narrow, unbearable space. 

He had once tried to release a large number of parasitic mother insects at once, using the secret technique Insect Cocoon to rapidly hatch a massive swarm of parasitic insects, thereby forming the secret technique Insect Swamp, a full-map AoE attack, attempting to turn the situation around. 

But as soon as the unremarkable and easily overlooked mother insect was released, it hadn’t even started to hatch any bugs when a calm, elderly voice coldly declared: 

“Sealing Technique: Lion's Roar.” 

In the next instant, the mother insects lost contact. 

Hearing that vague, deliberately crafted tone and this unheard-of ability, Yōnuyashiro Ryūma couldn’t help but feel a chill in his heart. 

He couldn’t tell who the enemy was, nor what kind of abilities they possessed. All he knew was that, as the Deputy Commander of the Root, someone who usually operated alone, his intelligence had been completely compromised by the enemy, who had designed and targeted him so deliberately. 

So when was it? When exactly had his intelligence been leaked? 

Yōnuyashiro Ryūma’s face grew darker as dizziness, a lack of oxygen, and chakra exhaustion began to take their toll. His mind replayed moments in a rapid, disorienting flash, until— 

It all stopped on the mission he had undertaken in the capital city of the Land of Hot Water, Tōyō City. 

Before that day, 

Orochimaru, who had returned to the Root to take on the responsibilities of the Sannin and participate in the strategic planning of the Third Great Ninja War, had suddenly earnestly requested that Ryūma, who was about to carry out a mission in the Land of Hot Water, help him bring back his disciple along the way. 

The usually unflappable Ryūma had been utterly surprised that day. 

Afterward, he and his team headed to Tōyō City, fought fiercely with Kōjiya Ichikura, blocked the Mist Village’s offensive, manipulated information to influence the nations, and then— 

He met his idiotic subordinate, the bright young man, shining like the sun. 

"Heh." 

"So it was that day. The intelligence was gathered then." 

"Then, my opponent—someone from Sunagakure, with such potent toxins and such intricate, interconnected strategic designs and intelligence-gathering abilities—" 

"Should be you!" 

Yōnuyashiro Ryūma’s eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses, suddenly sharpened. 

He raised his head, piercing through the Insect Tornado, looking outward, searching for the frail, elderly figure hiding somewhere. 

"An old powerhouse who perfectly blends poison, puppet techniques, and wind-style ninjutsu!" 

"Even now, still maintaining numerous secret operatives across the nations, manipulating countless ninjas like puppets!" 

"The former king of espionage, now a senior elder of Sunagakure—" 

"Sun’s Hidden Hand!" 

"Kaibōzo!" 

Chapter 147: Curse Seal of Heaven! The Great Sand Burial!

After realizing that he was being targeted by none other than the legendary Sunagakure intelligence agent Ebizō, Aburame Ryōma felt a chill run down his spine.

With this, everything made perfect sense.

The sudden emergence of intelligence, the secret transport of supplies, and what appeared to be a Konoha raid on Sunagakure—it was all part of a meticulously orchestrated trap.

Sunagakure had baited Konoha into attacking, carefully laying the groundwork like using liver to catch a snapping turtle, patiently waiting for it to bite and fall into the trap.

Now, he was the turtle in the pot.

“It looks like this is the end for me,” Ryōma muttered, gazing at the vortex of poisonous purple mist surrounding the tornado of his insect swarm. His body felt drained of strength as if it had been sucked dry.

Even though he had figured out the truth, he was helpless.

No matter how much he struggled, as long as he couldn’t escape the poison mist’s range, death was inevitable. With this grim realization, he turned his head eastward, his expression dark.

“Damn it!”

“If the intel can’t get out, the assault team must also be struggling. I just hope that kid realizes it in time.”

“And then...”

“Run. Just run.”

He sighed again, watching as the swirling tornado of his insects thinned out in the poisonous mist, his swarm falling lifelessly in waves.

The toxic vapor had nearly infiltrated their formation.

Ryōma slowly closed his eyes, resigned to his fate.

But then—

A clear, youthful shout pierced through the raging winds and poisonous mist.

“Aburame Ryōma, get down!”

*Boom!!!*

The roar of an explosion and a sandstorm swept across the sky, blotting out the sun.

The tide of battle had turned in an instant.

---

“The ones standing at the edge of the purple mist—those are Sunagakure’s Anbu!”

Standing atop Manda’s massive head, Uchiha Shisui spoke gravely.

“There are thirty of them—a full Sunagakure squad!”

“And their leader...” His eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the elderly man clad in a black robe, wrapped in a thick white scarf, and hooded with a white mantle. “Judging by his attire and appearance, he’s Ebizō, the younger brother of Elder Chiyo!”

Hearing this, Inuzuka Akira cursed loudly, “What the hell?!”

“Why would the commander of Sunagakure’s frontlines be here?!”

“Woof!” Akamaru barked in alarm, his body trembling slightly.

The four Konoha shinobi present were all visibly shaken.

Ebizō was a figure on par with the Sannin—Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade.

Uchiha Tsuyu activated his Sharingan, focusing intently on the Sunagakure elites near the purple mist, his gaze locking onto the white-haired old man. A glimmer of understanding flashed in his eyes.

He had long suspected that something was amiss.

Now it was clear: their entire assault was a trap set by Sunagakure.

Using Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, as bait, Sunagakure planned to sacrifice him to gain an advantage on other battlefields, thereby weakening Konoha’s forces further.

From the perspective of Sunagakure’s leadership, Rasa’s survival was irrelevant.

It was not surprising. If they could sell out Pakura, they could sell out Rasa—especially when they had no better option.

As the newly appointed Fourth Kazekage, Rasa had no choice but to take on such a high-risk role to prove himself.

Diplomatic missions didn’t require the presence of a Kazekage.

What Sunagakure truly sought was victory—victory at any cost.

The core reason behind Sunagakure’s declaration of war against Konoha, igniting the Third Great Ninja War, wasn’t the disappearance of the Third Kazekage or a genuine desire to invade Konoha, which was far beyond their capacity to defeat.

It was the feudal lord.

Sunagakure desperately needed a victory to overturn the feudal lord’s foolish plan to slash military funding.

Backed into a corner, Sunagakure had become a cornered, feral beast.

Faced with such madness, Uchiha Tsuyu understood—

The only way to counter such desperation was to be even more ruthless.

Only by driving a spike through their metaphorical fingernails, making them feel excruciating pain, could they be subdued.

With that resolve, Tsuyu made his decision.

He pulled a kunai from his waist and plunged it into the gap between Manda’s scales, driving it deep into the serpent’s flesh. Then, he tugged on the wire tied to the kunai to ensure it was secure.

Tsuyu stood tall and turned to Uchiha Shinichi, who was controlling Manda. His voice was calm yet commanding.

“Now’s the time, Shinichi!”

“Undo the genjutsu!”

Shinichi looked up, startled. “What are you planning?!”

Tsuyu didn’t answer directly but met Shinichi’s gaze with unwavering resolve.

“Do you trust me?”

Shinichi shot a deep glance at Shinji, gritted his teeth slightly, and then turned his back to him. Facing the other three, he spoke in a low, commanding voice:

*“We’re going down!”*

Shisui and Inuzuka Akio exchanged a quick glance and nodded in agreement. The Root ninja, Otsu, followed after Shinji gave him a subtle signal with his eyes. Together, the group leapt down.

Shinji stepped forward and walked to the tip of Manda's massive snout.

He turned around, activating his Sharingan, and stood there silently, waiting.

The genjutsu that had controlled Manda for so long was quietly released the moment Shinichi and the others landed.

Manda’s deep, rumbling breaths suddenly grew sharp and rapid.

The three-tomoe Sharingan pattern faded from his serpentine eyes, revealing a pair of cold, merciless golden pupils.

*“Hissss!!!”*

The instant Manda regained his senses, his fury erupted like a storm.

Glaring at Shinji standing before him, his pupils narrowed to needle-thin slits.

*“You foolish brat! I’ll devour you!”*

Shinji calmly raised his eyes and suddenly widened them.

The whites of his eyes, bloodshot and veined, contrasted starkly with the eerie crimson glow of the Sharingan, which burned its image deep into Manda’s gaze.

*Genjutsu: Sharingan!*

In the next instant, deep within the desert—

A colossal purple serpent rose abruptly, its immense body towering skyward, as though a skyscraper had erupted from the sands.

And then—

Shinji’s expression turned ferocious. He leaped from the serpent’s head with incredible force, launching himself high into the air.

A moment later, the towering serpent collapsed violently.

Manda’s enormous purple tail whipped downward with destructive force, sweeping across the desert like the whip of a vengeful god, slicing through two towering sand dunes!

The resulting windstorm howled like blades through the air, ripping at Shinji’s hair and the tattered edges of his robe, which flapped wildly in the storm.

The wind was so intense that it pulled his lips apart, exposing his teeth down to their roots, his face stretched taut by the gale.

In an instant—

The sand dunes erupted in a deafening explosion!

The storm of wind and sand surged high into the sky,

as Shinji strained to keep his Sharingan open, furiously calculating his trajectory.

With his left hand, he pulled on his fingers to fine-tune his midair position.

Then, suddenly, he let go!

Like a cannonball, his entire body shot forward, riding the wave of the storm.

He hurtled toward the purple-hazed heart of the Hidden Sand Village!

*“I’m coming to save you, Aburame Ryoma!”*

Soaring through the air, Shinji watched as the figures below—tiny as ants at first—grew rapidly larger in his vision.

A wicked grin spread across his face as he gripped his left hand tightly against his neck.

*“Curse Mark of Heaven!”*

In the next moment, dense black tomoe patterns spread across his body,

turning Shinji’s delicate, handsome features into the visage of a demon!

Gliding through the air, roaring against the storm,

amid the deafening howls of wind and sandstorms—

He formed a single *"tiger"* hand seal,

raising his fingers like a blade and pointing them downward!

The boy’s clear, resounding voice pierced through the poisonous haze, the howling winds, and the raging tornado:

*“Aburame Ryoma, get down!”*

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 148: The Fierce Winds Strike – Confrontation with Ebizō!

The storm unleashed by Manda swept through like a raging hurricane!

A sandstorm, resembling a tsunami, engulfed everything in its path. The violent gale instantly dissipated the purple poisonous mist shrouding the secret technique, Insect Tornado, and even the spinning tornado itself was devoured by the sandstorm!

“What is that?!”

“Could it be Lord Rasa?”

Several Sand Village ANBU looked up in shock, their eyes widening further as they exchanged glances.

“Wait, what’s that?”

“There’s someone flying through the wind!”

Even Ebizō, who stood at the rear of the squad, raised his head slightly at these words. When his gaze landed on the figure leaping through the air like a kite, a faint trace of surprise appeared on his face.

“Orochimaru actually sent his disciple to a place like this?”

“No matter. I’ll take them both down at once!”

Ebizō’s eyes narrowed as a gleam of murderous intent flickered within. He raised his hand, producing a scroll and summoning a puppet cloaked in white robes.

Before the other Sand ninja could react, Shinji formed the In seal mid-air, brought it to his mouth, and spewed out three massive Fireballs aimed at the Sand shinobi!

Using the recoil from the fireballs, Shinji adjusted his position mid-air, flipping and rolling acrobatically like a performer. He landed with finesse, driving his hand into the sand to slow his momentum, stopping right in front of Aburame Ryōma. The fierce winds roared past, making his tattered robes flutter violently.

“Cough, cough!” Aburame Ryōma emerged from a pile of sand, spitting out grains as he climbed to his feet. Looking up, he saw Shinji standing before him, momentarily dazed by the sight.

Quickly regaining his senses, he frowned.

“You—”

“Enough. No need to thank me!” Shinji smirked, glancing sideways. The cursed seal markings on one side of his face gave him a menacing appearance. He curtly added:

“Say something useful.”

“I won’t last long.”

A surge of uncontrollable power emanated from the Heaven’s Curse Mark embedded within him.

This was the first time he’d used this power since obtaining the mark from Orochimaru.

It was clear that the cursed seal greatly enhanced his physical capabilities, elevating his control over his body to a whole new level. He could now perform basic Fire Release techniques with single-handed seals.

However, along with this newfound strength came an unsettling energy—a chilling force altering his body. Tiny scales began to form on his skin, and he felt something pressing to emerge from both sides of his forehead.

A foreboding realization struck him: his transformation differed from Sasuke’s eventual Cursed Seal Second State or Kimimaro’s lizard-like tail mutation. Instead, his evolution leaned towards something serpentine—or perhaps, draconic.

It resembled the modified Sage Mode of Mitsuki, Orochimaru’s future son. The curse mark appeared to contain unrefined chakra from the Dragon Earth Cave’s Sage Art, unaltered and immensely potent.

While this power was undoubtedly superior, it came with significant drawbacks. The energy was nearly impossible to control and couldn’t be used to amplify his techniques into Sage Arts.

For now, the only visible benefit was an explosive increase in physical strength and control during the first stage of the cursed seal.

The downside, however, was that this suspected natural energy was rapidly mutating his body. If left unchecked, he might soon transform into a snake—or worse.

This was a phenomenon Orochimaru himself hadn’t fully understood, but Shinji had no choice. Facing a veteran Sand shinobi like Ebizō—likely at Kage-level strength—he had to gamble everything.

Otherwise, he doubted he could last even thirty seconds.

At that moment—

Whoosh!  

A sharp, invisible wind blade shot straight at Shinji’s head!

The wind blade was impossibly fast, beyond comprehension. Before he could even react, his body instinctively moved, tilting his head just enough to evade the strike.

Meanwhile—

Thud!  

A piercing sound echoed as the wind blade shattered the protective insect swarm surrounding Aburame Ryōma. In horror, he watched the blade shoot past and embed itself deep into a sand dune, leaving a gaping hole.

Shinji turned his head, his expression tense as he stared ahead.

There, standing behind a squad of thirty Sand shinobi, was Ebizō. Clad in a black robe and wearing a white face covering, he raised his hand slightly. A faint look of surprise crossed his face as he noted Shinji’s ability to dodge.

On Ebizō’s fingertip gleamed a razor-sharp blade of wind chakra.

Wind Release: Wind Blade!  

This A-rank Wind Release technique transformed chakra into a sharp, blade-like extension. Guided by the wind, it attacked enemies with unparalleled precision and speed—a near-inescapable strike.

Intangible and colorless, difficult to detect—this technique was used by Sand Village Jonin Baki during the future "Destruction of Konoha Plan" to ruthlessly kill Konoha's Special Jonin, Gekko Hayate.

At this moment, however, in the hands of Ebizo during this era, the technique could only be stronger!

Shinji’s gaze sharpened slightly, leaving him no time to consider the damage the Heaven Curse Mark was wreaking on his body. His attention was fixed on the thirty-member squad from the Sand Village surrounding him. Behind them stood the sinister old man, Ebizo, calmly observing the situation and ready to launch a sneak attack at any moment.

Behind him, faced with such a perilous situation, Aburame Ryoma's expression suddenly darkened. He refrained from questioning how Shinji had ended up here.

One look at Shinji's severed arm was enough to tell him the situation was dire.

Ryoma shook his head, exhaling heavily as his sharp gaze locked onto Ebizo.

“Then let’s skip to something useful!”

Supporting himself on Shinji's shoulder, Ryoma stood up with effort, scanning their surroundings with a grave expression.

Then, without a word, he quietly drew a kunai from his tool pouch, pressed his shoulder against Shinji's, and placed the kunai in his hand.

Shinji remained expressionless, but inwardly, he was startled.

For someone like him, who had mastered shuriken techniques to an extraordinary level, he could immediately tell the weight and craftsmanship of any kunai by touch.

The kunai Ryoma discreetly handed him was a specially crafted one.

“Listen,” Ryoma said in a low voice as he handed over the special kunai.

“Ci, this mission is far more different than you imagined.”

“Every action, every sacrifice, has been for one purpose.”

Ryoma’s expression turned solemn as he continued,

“That is to eliminate the Sand Village’s top commander in this war—Ebizo!”

“Now, the time has come!”

“What we need to do next is crystal clear!”

A flash of madness appeared in Ryoma’s eyes behind his sunglasses. Without hesitation, he pulled out a signal flare from his pouch and launched it into the sky!

Under the night sky, a fifth orange flare—distinct from the usual red, yellow, blue, and green signals—erupted in the air.

An orange smoke trail rose into the sky, swaying faintly.

Shinji blinked his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling his spirit rejuvenated. He immediately stashed the kunai into his tool pouch and turned around to slap Ryoma heavily on the shoulder.

“I understand!” Shinji’s gaze burned with determination.

“Then I’ll leave my men in your hands!”

“This place—I’ll handle it myself!”

Ryoma froze, “Wait, what are you planning to do?!”

Just as he raised his hand to stop him, he saw Shinji already leaning forward, sprinting, and diving straight into the thirty-man encirclement.

Ryoma felt a chill run down his spine, momentarily stunned, before blurting out the second half of his sentence.

“What the hell!”

“I meant for you to stall with me and wait for reinforcements!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 149: Charge the Formation! Elder Ebizo's Long-Distance Run for Survival*

Boom!  

A thunderous explosion ripped through the sky.

An orange smoke trail spiraled upward like an arrow piercing the long, dark night. In an instant, the roles of hunter and prey reversed!

Miles away—ten, twenty, thirty miles—countless orange-yellow signal flares shot into the air almost simultaneously.

What followed was a streak of golden light racing across the battlefield!

Shinji gripped his kunai, his gaze fixed on the words "Blade of Shinobi Love" etched above him. He took a deep breath, his eyes turning sharp before leaping into action.

He understood now. He understood everything!

This ambush wasn't meant to target the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, from the beginning!

At the very moment when Sunagakure thought victory was within reach, Konoha—having endured three waves of attacks, standing at attention, and being suppressed for so long—was equally in need of a decisive victory!

Sunagakure lured Konoha’s forces into action by baiting them with intelligence and the Fourth Kazekage’s life, aiming to secure victory across multiple fronts using their superior information.

Konoha, however, played along, planting irresistible bait for Sunagakure’s commander on every front.

The life of the Fourth Kazekage,

an easily achievable triumph on the main battlefield,

and here—a chance to obliterate Konoha’s intelligence hub and eliminate Aburame Ryoma, the Root Division’s deputy commander operating behind enemy lines.

Elder Ebizo, astutely aware of this ploy, chose the safest, most cautious option:

He set up an array of traps against Aburame Ryoma to ensure his defeat and make it impossible for him to transmit any intelligence.

But now, all of that had been shattered by Shinji, who Orochimaru had secretly embedded within the ambush unit!

The tide of battle turned instantly!

Ebizo had taken the bait, and Konoha’s plan had succeeded.

Killing Ebizo would deal a far heavier blow to Sunagakure than assassinating the Fourth Kazekage!

Ebizo was a legendary master of intelligence and battlefield strategy, the very brain of Sunagakure’s frontline operations.

Rasa, on the other hand, was merely a young pawn hastily placed in a leadership role.

The choice was obvious.

Everything Aburame Ryoma had said—all the sacrifices and actions—had led to this moment. It was no exaggeration.

The moment Shinji laid eyes on the Blade of Shinobi Love, a weapon once wielded by Minato Namikaze, everything became clear.

But—

He couldn’t accept it!

He refused to accept it!

Orochimaru’s calculations were eerily precise. With Shinji’s abilities and the support of Manda, he could barely break through the formation of 300 Sunagakure shinobi.

If not for the unexpected grenade explosion, he would’ve collapsed from exhaustion and been rescued by Root ninjas.

In that case, it would’ve been the Konoha ambush unit charging into the fray.

Before Minato Namikaze could arrive,

Aburame Ryoma and this entire unit would have been sacrificial pawns to buy time.

The casualties would have been his people.

“Orochimaru!!!”

“You son of a—! How despicable can you be!?”

With a roar, Shinji leapt into the enemy ranks, crouching low like an arrow on a taut bowstring. He skidded forward with explosive speed, kicking up a cloud of sand as he formed the Tiger Seal and launched a volley of fireballs resembling phoenix seeds.

“Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!”

Enhanced by the Curse Mark of Heaven, the fireballs erupted from a single-handed seal with startling speed.

The Sunagakure shinobi blocking his path were stunned.

Why’s this guy cursing Orochimaru while attacking us?  

Before they could react, they were sent flying by the barrage of fiery explosions!

Shinji flipped midair, grabbing the sword of a fallen shinobi. He formed the Snake Seal with his fingers, coating the blade with Water Release: Water Fang Blade.

With a high-pitched screech, the blade gleamed as Shinji hurled it with force, skewering another Sunagakure shinobi blocking his path.

His feet hit the ground, twisting sharply as he charged forward again.

He felt the invasive energy of the Curse Mark intensify with every surge of chakra, gnawing away at his body.

His vision shifted drastically, like gaining a 360-degree infrared scanner.

He clearly saw a group of Sunagakure Anbu carrying puppets rushing toward him under Ebizo’s command.

Their formation was flawless, leaving him with no escape routes.

The Sunagakure shinobi smirked sinisterly.

“Puppet Technique: Poison Fog Spray!”

With deft finger movements, they controlled their puppets to release a thick green fog from their gaping mouths.

Shinji’s Sharingan flickered, realizing the vast range of the attack made it inescapable. He immediately held his breath and formed a single-hand seal to unleash Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere.

But the Sunagakure puppeteers seemed prepared for this. They activated a mechanism on their puppets, revealing a ballista-like weapon aimed directly at Shinji.

The oversized arrow hurtled forward, intending to pierce through his jutsu and pin him down on the spot.

Just then—

A tall figure in the standard Uchiha cloak and a jonin vest leapt into the fray.

“Fire Release: Dragon Flame Song Technique!”

Four fiery dragons charged down from the front, back, left, and right with relentless precision, their hit rate a perfect 100%, making them unavoidable. In an instant, they blasted away a Sand Village Anbu in front of Shinji, opening a path for him!

“Ci,”

“Go on—whatever you plan to do, just do it!”

Uchiha Shinichi’s three-tomoe Sharingan flared to life as he stared down the nine Sand Village puppet masters ahead. With his back against Shinji’s, he declared in a low, commanding voice:

“I’ll handle things here!”

Shinji gritted his teeth, understanding this was a fleeting chance. His gaze hardened, and without hesitation, he broke into a full sprint out of the formation, charging straight toward Ebizō behind enemy lines.

At that moment, Ebizō glanced at the orange smoke erupting in the sky. His brows furrowed as he realized the situation had taken a turn for the worse.

He let out a sigh, knowing the mission had failed. It was time to retreat.

If the only opponents were Aburame Ryoma and the surprise attack unit, he might have considered killing them all before leaving.

However—

Looking at Shinji rushing toward him, clearly intent on stalling his escape, Ebizō shook his head.

He had gathered plenty of intel on this troublesome brat—a persistent one who simply wouldn’t die, no matter what. Dragging this out wouldn’t lead to a favorable outcome.

And so—

Ebizō cast a calm glance at the charging Shinji and let out a faint chuckle before speaking:

“Child, stop struggling.”

“I’ve already grasped all of your intel. There’s no way you can stop me.”

“So, this ends here.”

With those words, Ebizō waved his hand calmly.

Immediately, a group of Sand ninjas surged forward, standing firmly in front of him.

Meanwhile, behind the formation, Ebizō—

The old man astonishingly assumed the posture of a marathon runner, turning around to flee, much like Danzo during the future Five Kage Summit!

Seeing this, Shinji’s pupils constricted sharply. While charging forward, he shouted in both anger and disbelief:

“Damn it! You bastard, you’re really running away?!”

“Coward! Old dog!”

“Kill me before you leave!”

In front of Shinji, a group of Sand ninjas stood with cold expressions.

Three of them sneered as they waved massive fabric scrolls, deploying their sealing technique, Cloth Binding Jutsu, to entrap him.

“You’re quite the anomaly, kid. For an Uchiha, you can’t even use genjutsu.”

“That seals your fate. You’ll die here.”

As this declaration was made, two other Sand ninjas silently began weaving hand signs. One cast a genjutsu on Shinji, while the other summoned their puppet and manipulated it to use Puppet Technique: Blade Strike to finish him off on the spot.

The rest of the Sand ninjas unleashed their own signature techniques: ninjutsu, genjutsu, and puppet techniques all targeted Shinji!

In an instant, a kaleidoscope of techniques illuminated the desert night as if it were daylight!

Shinji’s pupils shrank rapidly. These Sand Anbu were indeed worthy subordinates of Ebizō—the crafty old fox. Each one was an elite, and judging by their sheer aura, they were likely at least on the level of special jonin.

Every technique they deployed carried lethal intent and was meticulously designed to exploit Shinji’s weaknesses.

Poison, genjutsu, sealing techniques, puppet-binding techniques—they all seemed tailor-made to suppress him!

To Shinji, it felt as if the battlefield before him was covered with nothing but traps and pitfalls.

The sheer combination of their skills made him feel utterly disgusted, sick to his stomach!

Suddenly, his vision twisted. The battlefield, brimming with killing intent just moments ago, morphed into a serene, picturesque meadow filled with birdsong and flowers.

It was the Illusion Technique: False Paradise!

A Sand ninja had cast a genjutsu on him!

“Damn it! Sure, I’m weak against genjutsu, but I’m not blind!”

Grinding his teeth, Shinji glared furiously at the seemingly tranquil yet perilous scene.

His Sharingan’s tomoe began to spin.

Illusion Reversal: Mirror Heaven and Earth Transformation!  

In an instant, he utilized the eye technique Shinichi had taught him, countering the illusion with brute force through his ocular power. The fabricated meadow crumbled to pieces before him in the blink of an eye.

(To be continued...)  

Chapter 150: Serpent Eyes, Cursed Sharingan! A Thrilling Chase!

*Illusion Technique: Mirror Heaven and Earth Reversal* was unleashed. The scene before his eyes shattered like glass struck by a bullet, forming countless cracks in an instant.

Then, with a loud crash, it completely broke apart!

The illusion dissolved, and the ninja who had cast it spat out a mouthful of blood, staring at Shinji in shock and shouting:

“This is crazy! This doesn’t match the intel!”

“This brat... he knows illusions!”

The Sand Shinobi around him were startled. Upon learning this new piece of information, they averted their gazes immediately, avoiding direct eye contact with Shinji.

These elite members of the Sand Village’s Anbu knew full well how dangerous the Uchiha’s Sharingan could be.

Shinji tilted his head slightly, his crimson eyes fixed on the ninja who had cast the illusion.

Under the influence of the Heaven’s Curse Mark, the black pupils in his scarlet eyes began to contract and narrow, transforming into vertical, snake-like slits!

The two black tomoe stopped spinning and locked themselves on either side of the vertical pupil.

This peculiar mutation gave his eyes an eerie yet strangely mesmerizing appearance, as if they belonged to a divine entity stepping out of legend.

A primal instinct surged within him. Shinji suddenly realized that he could not only reflect the illusion back to its caster, but he could also counterattack using the Sharingan to cast a *Magical Illusion: Shackles of Binding*!

Through his serpent-like vision, which felt akin to a 360-degree infrared sensor, he noticed something astonishing: even though the Sand Shinobi had realized something was amiss and turned their eyes away, avoiding direct contact with his gaze, it felt as if they had already “locked eyes” with him.

It seemed as though they were all within the range of his ocular jutsu!

But just as Shinji tried to put this thought into action, a chilling sensation crawled up from his bloodline. It was as if using these eyes would lead to an irreversible transformation.

This momentary hesitation was interrupted by a sharp command from the front:

“Kill him!”

“Wind Release: Blade of Wind!”

“Puppet Technique: Thousand Needle Rain!”

In an instant, the Sand Anbu unleashed their techniques.

Faced with the onslaught, Shinji’s serpent pupils contracted sharply. Ignoring the ominous feeling of side effects or potential consequences, he realized that in his current weakened state, the only way to fight was to rely on the power granted by the Heaven’s Curse Mark.

He had no choice but to trust it.

Opening his eyes wide, crimson blood vessels spread across the whites of his eyes, linking to the scarlet pupils.

An icy, natural energy from Ryūchi Cave surged through his blood vessels and into the Sharingan.

A trail of blood tears trickled down from his eyes as an invisible force erupted, and within the range of his serpent Sharingan, it lunged toward all the enemies before him like a predator.

*Magical Illusion: Shackles of Binding!*

The Sand Shinobi felt a sudden chill envelop their bodies, as if they had been thrown into an icy abyss. Before they could process what had happened, the chilling sensation abruptly vanished.

“Ci! What are you doing spacing out?!”

A hand suddenly grabbed Shinji, pulling him backward and interrupting the activation of his ocular jutsu.

Uchiha Shisui, Inuzuka Akira, and a Root Ninja named Oto appeared, leaping into the center of the battlefield. They formed a triangular defensive formation to shield Shinji.

Shisui’s young face was tense with determination. Drawing his tantō, he gripped the hilt with one hand and pressed his fingertip against the blade’s edge with the other.

“We’ll handle this. Akira-nii-san, take the left. Oto-san, handle the right.”

“As for the ones in the center—they’re mine!”

Biting his lip, Shisui’s scarlet Sharingan glimmered with resolve and unyielding will as he turned to Shinji.

“Shinji,”

“Go, become the bridge between the clan and the village, in your own way!”

“We’ll guard your back!”

The abrupt interruption of his jutsu left Shinji momentarily dazed. Then, as his vision cleared, he saw Shisui’s form suddenly split into numerous identical clones.

Before him stood over a dozen Shisuis, each one seemingly tangible and indistinguishable, even to the Sharingan.

The army of Shisuis charged forward, unleashing a *Dragon Fire Jutsu*, carving a fiery path through the enemy ranks.

On the left flank, Inuzuka Akira and his twin-headed wolf ravaged their way through the opposition.

On the right, Oto used his exceptional swordsmanship and Earth Release techniques to fend off attacks with great difficulty.

As Shinji gazed at the gap his teammates had opened for him and spotted Elder Chiyo fleeing in the distance, his serpent pupils narrowed once more.

Clenching his jaw, he muttered angrily:

“Again... again!”

“Every time it counts, all they do is run away!”

“Cowards! A bunch of cowards!”

Chakra surged throughout his body, mixing with the cold energy as it concentrated in his legs.

The Heaven’s Curse Mark deepened its influence, further altering his physiology.

The muscles in his thighs and calves twisted and reformed at a genetic level, becoming stronger and more defined.

Dark, intricate patterns from the Curse Mark crept across his legs, forming dense markings.

Shinji’s gaze turned fierce. His foot twisted against the ground, and in an instant, the world before him blurred into imperceptible streaks.

He darted through the gap, sprinting like a black mamba on the hunt, his sights locked firmly on Chiyo’s fleeing figure.

His serpent-like crimson eyes brimmed with killing intent.

“Damn it! If I don’t kill you today…”

“None of you will leave alive!”

He clasped his hands behind his back and charged through the desert like a madman, resembling an arrow shot into the night at twilight. The fierce wind surged ahead of him, piling up, distorting, and creating sonic booms.

A tsunami of sand rose in his wake.

He was locked in a relentless chase with Haizo, who fled desperately ahead. The distance between them narrowed rapidly under the explosive power of the Heavenly Curse Seal.

At that moment,

Haizo ripped off his black robe and wind-shielding scarf with a single motion, revealing a muscular, chiseled physique hidden beneath the cloak.

Straightening his posture, he moved his arms rhythmically, his wrinkled, weathered face curving into a smug grin.

"In the Land of Wind, no one knows how to run better than me!"

As a master of Wind Release, Haizo had instinctively developed a scientifically efficient running technique, seamlessly integrating Wind Release to drastically enhance speed in sandy, turbulent environments.

"At this speed, kid, you won’t even see the sand I kick up!"

Haizo grinned wider, his mouth curling with satisfaction. His arms swung faster, propelling his legs to an even greater speed. A towering wave of sand billowed behind him as he surged forward.

He tilted his head slightly to glance back, eager to catch the despairing expression of the young brat falling helplessly behind.

But he probably wouldn’t see it.

After all, he had started running well ahead. By now, even the sounds of his elite Sand Ninja guards escorting his escape were out of earshot.

That brat was probably squatting on the ground in utter despair, crying out for his mother.

Thinking this,

Haizo’s lips curled into a grin, an old man’s particular delight. He turned his head ever so slightly, his white eyebrows arching as he peeked back.

In the next instant,

His smile froze on his face.

Less than a hundred meters behind him,

That Uchiha kid was barreling toward him, kicking up a tsunami of sand in his wake!

What the hell?!

Haizo’s heart seized painfully, his eyes widening in disbelief.

What on earth is this?!

How is he so fast?!

With a face twisted in frenzied determination, the crazed Uchiha Tsugi raised his head, his crimson snake-like eyes locking onto Haizo with an unyielding glare.

A wicked grin spread across his face.

"Old man, where do you think you're going?!"

"Stop right there!"

Uchiha Tsugi took a deep breath, crouched low, and lunged forward, his speed surging once again. In the blink of an eye, he closed the gap, moving shoulder to shoulder, then overtaking him entirely!

His feet dug into the cool desert sand, carving a trench nearly a hundred meters long. As he came to a stop,

He raised his left hand,

And slammed it into the desert floor!

"It's time for the big payout!"

"Super Deadly Battle Barrier!"

(End of Chapter)