"Everyone, no talking. Rest quietly. We'll move out in thirty minutes."
The Uchiha were known for being fierce and battle-hungry, but that didn't mean they were foolish. It was clear from their expressions that they found Takuya's command reckless.
However, Takuya couldn't care less about their opinions.
It didn't matter what they thought. This was his way: direct, no-nonsense, and ready to take action. Either they followed his orders and fought alongside him, or they could choose insubordination—and face the consequences with Orochimaru later.
Time passed quickly, and soon the thirty minutes were up.
The Uchiha warriors gathered, exchanging glances with Takuya that suggested they thought he was out of his mind. The sensation of being scrutinized as if he were crazy didn't sit well with Takuya.
Being stared at by a bunch of supposed lunatics as if he were the insane one would unsettle anyone.
He wasn't one for motivational speeches. Takuya didn't see the need for them. Even if the entire Uchiha contingent decided not to follow him and chose insubordination instead, he would still go alone and charge ahead.
Under dozens of watchful eyes, Takuya bit down on his finger, drawing blood. His hands moved swiftly through the summoning seals, and he pressed his palm to the ground.
Boom!
With a surge of white smoke, Manda's massive body materialized in the forest.
"Manda, charge ahead."
Takuya wouldn't waste the opportunity to use this perfect tool snake. With its sheer size, whatever traps or defensive measures the Hidden Mist might have set up would be rendered useless once Manda bulldozed through them.
Explosive tags and deadly traps might as well be insect bites to Manda's enormous form.
"Yes, master," Manda hissed.
Manda, more obedient than the skeptical Uchiha warriors, raised its colossal body—taller than the surrounding ancient trees—and let out a fierce roar before charging in the direction Takuya had indicated.
Rumble!
The forest trembled as Manda surged forward, triggering every trap and defensive mechanism in its path. To the great serpent, they were mere nuisances.
"Advance!"
There was no turning back now. Seeing no other choice, Uchiha Fugaku led the clan members to follow Takuya and Manda into the fray.
Rumble!
Manda's rapid movement left a deep trench in the forest floor, as if a giant plow had been driven through. The ground shook, and the noise was deafening—enough to alert the Hidden Mist ninja.
"What's happening?"
"What is that thing? That's a huge snake!"
"No, it's Manda! Report this to Jiro-sama immediately!"
Word of the attack had already spread in the Mist Village. Knowing that their home had been infiltrated and heavily damaged, the Hidden Mist ninja harbored a deep hatred for Takuya—and by extension, Manda.
Manda and Takuya's profiles were well-known to the Hidden Mist. The mere sight of the giant snake signaled Takuya's presence.
"What?"
Jiro of the Hōzuki clan initially thought he'd misheard. How could Manda have appeared in the Land of Bears? Could it really be Takuya?
Although Manda had originally been Orochimaru's summoned beast, Orochimaru hadn't called upon it since the end of the Second Shinobi War. By contrast, Takuya frequently summoned Manda, making its association with him stronger.
"Damn it! We've been discovered by Konoha," Jiro's expression darkened as he shouted, "Prepare for battle!"
Rumble!
The thunderous sound grew louder. Manda was already storming through their lines, with Takuya right behind. He chose not to stand on Manda's head to avoid being targeted by concentrated enemy attacks.
And sure enough, before Manda even got close, ninjutsu rained down upon it, making the massive snake screech in pain.
It thrashed about, its long tail whipping across the ground and sending a group of Mist shinobi flying with cries of agony.
Manda's power was such that a single tail swipe could flatten a swath of forest. Anyone caught in that would be lucky to survive with only a few broken bones.
With Manda drawing all the attention, the Uchiha followed Takuya's lead and charged in.
The Hidden Mist ninja quickly noticed their advance.
"It's Konoha's ninja! The Uchiha!"
This was unprecedented. The veteran Uchiha, who had survived the Second Shinobi War, activated their Sharingan and pushed forward, albeit with a tinge of trepidation.
Despite their battle experience, Takuya's straightforward, head-on approach made even them uneasy. No recon, no sneaking past patrols—just an outright assault.
"Kill it!"
Jiro's face twisted with rage as he ordered, "Mist Concealment Jutsu, prepare!"
"Ninja Art: Hidden Mist Technique!"
Following Jiro's command, numerous Mist ninja cast the jutsu, spewing out thick fog that enveloped the entire mountainside.
With vision and senses impaired, Manda grew restless, lashing out with its tail as it fended off unseen attackers. Meanwhile, the Mist ninja bombarded it with various jutsu, drawing pained cries from the snake.
Poor creature.
Even as Manda's master, Takuya couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy. The tool snake played its role well, though at a high price—being targeted by hundreds of ninjas and pummeled with jutsu was bound to hurt.
Manda was an odd one. Strong and durable with fearsome physical power, but that was about it. Unlike the toads of Mount Myōboku, which could spit oil, or the giant slug that secreted acid, Manda lacked any long-range abilities.
It relied on sheer size and brute force, a strategy that worked against small groups but became a liability when faced with large numbers.
If only Snowy wasn't in hibernation. A single-tailed Beast Bomb from that serpent could have ended this skirmish.