"It appears that I've undergone a significant transformation. The ninja world is now within my grasp and I can travel freely!"
With the Kusanagi sword in hand, Takeshi soared hundreds of meters into the sky, his figure becoming a luminous streak as he peered down from above the clouds.
The battlefield below was still alive with the clash of ninja forces. However, due to the Sand Ninja's frequent setbacks, they were forced to retreat, struggling against the onslaught of Konoha's shinobi.
Takeshi caught a glimpse of Senju Fumio fighting valiantly and Homura, mounted on his summoning beast, issuing commands.
"Hmph, relying on Tobirama's techniques is merely a facade!"
Takeshi extended his mental reach for several kilometers, swiftly detecting the chakra fluctuations of Tsushima, Nightingale, and the others. With a graceful maneuver of his sword, he set his course towards the Konoha encampment.
"From now on, I am not just a prodigy. I've become a force to be reckoned with in the ninja world."
The revitalization of his true essence surged within him, filling Takeshi with exhilaration. On a whim, he found himself standing atop the sword's blade, arms raised to the sky, akin to a colossal serpent poised to engulf the world.
"From now on, in this ninja world, I shall be the wind, and the world shall be my stage.
I shall remain concealed in the shadows, emerging at the opportune moment!
I shall claim it all for myself!
I shall—bang!"
A brilliant azure light erupted, disentangling Takeshi from Orochimaru. Their shared realm shattered, and like broken-winged birds, they plummeted earthward along with the Kusanagi sword!
"You talk far too much."
Orochimaru's descent was headfirst, his raven hair ruffled by the wind, but he remained composed. With a casual wave of his hand, he dissipated into smoke, vanishing back into Konoha.
"Damn it, I believed that so long as my reserves of true essence remained sufficient, I could have..."
"Boom!"
In the distance, the sand dunes erupted, a snakeskin melding with the earth.
Takeshi had decisively triumphed over Chiyo and Ebizō, and in spectacular fashion, retreated from the battlefield. Yet, he had almost fallen victim to his own overconfidence.
"Huh? What was that sound just now?"
In the midst of a throng of Konoha ninjas, Homura pressed forward with zeal.
The collapse of the Sand Ninjas Headquarters was an ideal moment to push forward, seeking to earn glory on the battlefield.
Unaware of the failed assassination attempt and Tsushima and his subsequent return, Homura only knew that Chiyo had yet to emerge and that turmoil raged behind the Sand Shinobi, indicating Tsushima's efforts had struck a chord.
Without delay, Homura fixed his gaze skyward, missing the graceful landing of Takeshi's "Falling Wild Goose." Instead, he fell into a trap set by the Sand Ninja!
"Swish—"
The very ground trembled as a multitude of Sand Ninja burst forth, converging upon Homura. A profusion of puppets emerged simultaneously, showering the skies with hidden projectiles.
"Protect Homura-sama!"
Konoha's ninjas were taken aback but rallied to fend off the attacks, deploying their bodies to shield Homura from the onslaught of sand-dwelling adversaries.
"Take down that mounted ninja!"
A Sand Ninja commanded, all eyes fixed upon Homura and his fearsome steed.
"Damn, you blind fool, witness the might of my summoning beast!"
Homura seethed with anger, and his noble steed felt affronted as well. A ghostly wail resonated from the beast, its horn radiating a chain of lightning bolts that struck down their adversaries!
"Ah, stop him!"
Sand Ninja were battered and dispersed, their retreat accompanied by a cacophony of clamor.
"I, disciple of Hokage-sama, shall make the unscrupulous Sunagakure pay with their lives!"
Homura brandished his sword, carving a path through the sand ninja beneath his steed. His formidable strength shone brightly, impressively captivating all witnesses.
Nevertheless, the sight of him astride a horse in battle presented a peculiar sight, a mélange of incongruity that perplexed onlookers on both sides.
"Die quickly, you unjust Konoha!"
A Sand Ninja lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air. Unperturbed, Homura maneuvered, sidestepping the menacing blow, before reciprocating with a thrust that impaled the Sand Ninja's chest.
"Heh, imbecile."
Homura smirked, but the Sand Shinobi offered a sinister grin and transformed into a puppet!
"What?!"
"Look out—!"
Caught off guard, Homura watched as the puppet's maw opened, unleashing a barrage of venomous arrows at point-blank range!
"Well...!"
Homura desperately discarded his sword and retreated, though one of the arrows found its mark in his knee.
"Protect Homura-sama!"
"Medics!"
Konoha's ninja rallied to shatter the puppet, while Senju Fumio rushed to Homura's side.
With the puppet dismantled, the Sand Shinobi controlling it resurfaced nearby, swiftly bounding away to create distance.
"Damn rat!"
Gritting his teeth, Homura clutched the arrow embedded in his knee, enduring the searing pain.
"Heh heh heh, Homura, dare to dismount and face me?"
A Sand Ninja jeered from a distance, yet remained motionless, making it clear that he had no intention of drawing closer.
The assassination attempt foiled, he was merely biding time for the Sand Ninja's retreat.
"Oops, this arrow is poisoned!"
Homura's realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. His leg had grown numb, cold sweat beading upon his brow.
"Homura-sama, are you all right?"
Senju Fumio approached, his gaze fixed coldly upon the distant Sand Ninja.
"My knee... struck by an arrow!"
Homura's regret was palpable. In his haste, he had erred grievously, leaping headlong into battle without due consideration.
"Disperse!"
The Sand Ninja signalled to his comrades with a throat-slashing gesture before fading into the horizon.
The battle reached its conclusion, the Sand Village forces retreating ten kilometers in disarray.
Several fallen ninja continued to wail, jabbed by personnel clearing the field on both sides.
Konoha had emerged victorious, but their leader was incapacitated by poison. He would need time to recover. Despite Homura's insistence, pursuit was deemed unfeasible, resulting in missed opportunities.
Likewise, the Sand Ninja quieted, showing no intent to engage further with Konoha. Chiyo and Ebizō, presumably reeling from some setback, refrained from deploying harassment troops, focusing instead on reinforcing their defenses, eschewing negotiations.
With no immediate resolution in sight with the Land of Wind's conflict, time ticked down to the impending war declaration by the Land of Thunder. Tobirama was unable to dispatch more powerful shinobi.
Should Tsushima attempt another covert infiltration, the window for success would have closed.
"Captain, you're alive!"
Nightingale and her companions rushed to the signal from Takeshi's white snake, exuding unrestrained elation. Eagerly bounding from the encampment, they found a worn but lively Takeshi.
"Captain, I knew you'd pull through!"
Disregarding Takeshi's icy demeanor, Tiger embraced him tightly, to Takeshi's chagrin.
Falcon remained reticent, yet his respectful nod spoke volumes.
Nightingale's emotions were a whirlwind, elation and ambition intertwining in her heart.
"Black Snake, you've saved me once more."
The two survivors from the Shadow Squad patted Takeshi on the back, commending the young powerhouse.
"You're welcome."
"Black Snake, you performed admirably, but I miscalculated. Had I known sooner, ah..."
Tsushima's self-reproach was evident. His erroneous intelligence had precipitated disaster. Takeshi's remarkable might, Homura's timely intervention, and Konoha's effort had turned the tide.
Nonetheless, Takeshi didn't dwell on it, his smile placid.
However, Tsushima was more intrigued by Nightingale's evolution, her growth in wood-style jutsu resonating deeply with the Senju Clan. Her enhanced Wood Release would undoubtedly attract Tobirama's attention, and reshape her status in the clan.
Though the mission's outcome was unfavorable, the conclusion was far from catastrophic.