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No one was surprised that Ishigami Hara could sense something from such a long distance. After all, the extraordinary events involving Ishigami Hara were not numerous, but they weren't exactly rare either.
Nawaki, in particular, cried out in shock: "Have you really mastered the Mind's Eye of the Kagura? Isn't it said that only those with Uzumaki blood can perform it, and it also requires a unique Chakra Nature Transformation?"
Ishigami Hara glanced at him with a peculiar expression.
Nawaki clicked his tongue: "Oh right, you do have the Uzumaki clan's bloodline, and mastering Chakra Nature Transformation is as easy for you as eating or drinking. I almost forgot."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Ishigami Hara shook his head slightly.
At this point, Orochimaru's expression softened a bit, and he didn't waste words. He simply waved his hand and said, "Let's move."
"Yes!"
Everyone responded, and Nawaki immediately straightened his expression, becoming serious.
Swish!
In an instant, the entire group disappeared, heading northwest.
Meanwhile, four kilometers away, a team of four was retreating quickly.
These four were dressed as Iwagakure ninjas from the Land of Earth, each with a composed demeanor and steady breaths.
"Damn it, if it weren't for that kid, we would have completed our mission by now."
One of them couldn't help but voice their frustration.
"Shut up. Failure is failure. We'll find another opportunity later. Don't forget, the one leading the enemy is Orochimaru. We must not let them detect us."
The team leader immediately scolded, though it was clear he was equally displeased with the failed mission.
After all, gathering such valuable information only to let it slip through their fingers left a lingering sense of dissatisfaction, no matter how they tried to rationalize it.
"It's a shame there won't be another chance like this. That's the grandson of Senju Hashirama. If we managed to kill him, it would deal a massive blow to Konoha's morale."
Another person spoke up at just the right moment, echoing the same sentiment as the rest of the group.
"Captain, we should have acted directly back there," one of them suggested.
The team leader's expression was hard to read, but his voice turned cold. "This mission is top secret. Our conflict with Konoha hasn't officially started yet. We shouldn't make any major moves right now. Let Konoha and the Sunagakure Shinobi tear each other apart first, then draw in the Kumogakure Shinobi and those lunatics from the end. It'll be the perfect time for us to strike afterward."
At that moment, the face of the ninja at the rear of the team changed.
"Not good, someone is catching up from behind!"
His startled cry revealed that he had sensed their pursuers, showcasing the advantages of a sensory ninja in times like these.
"Damn it, speed up!"
Without hesitation, the team leader gave the order, and his speed surged.
The others also wore grim expressions, fully aware that being caught would spell disaster. After all, their pursuer was none other than Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, named as such after facing Hanzō of the Salamander, the legendary demigod of the ninja world. Even though they were a team of Jōnin, their chances of survival were slim if they encountered him.
Unfortunately for them, their worst fears were coming true. The speed of those chasing them was far beyond their expectations.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several sharp whistling sounds filled the air, mingled with an eerie hissing. The four Iwagakure ninjas' expressions darkened, and without hesitation, they scattered.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of explosions rang out, flames erupting in the area where the team had just been standing.
Swoosh!
A sound sliced through the air, and in an instant, Orochimaru, Hyuga Toru, and three other Konoha ninjas appeared on the scene. Far behind them, Ishigami Hara and Nawaki were still catching up.
The group of five had been chasing with full speed, but Ishigami Hara had been holding back to protect Nawaki from potential threats, causing the two to lag behind.
The battle began swiftly. Orochimaru licked his lips, his cold expression matching the hoarseness in his voice as he spoke.
"Iwagakure shinobi, so that's how it is."
With just a glance at the four enemy ninjas, Orochimaru confirmed his suspicions.
Someone high up in Konoha had leaked their mission details. Whether it was intentional or accidental no longer mattered to him. What mattered now was that someone in the village had malicious intentions toward Nawaki.
Whether or not he could capture the four enemy shinobi and extract specific information didn't concern Orochimaru much. These individuals had likely come prepared, and even if captured alive, it was doubtful they'd reveal anything useful.
"Interesting."
Despite his words, Orochimaru showed no mercy.
His unique ninjutsu, heavily snake-based, was already in full display. These techniques had a surprising impact against this particular group of opponents. The Iwagakure Shinobi might have anticipated Orochimaru being a difficult adversary, but the serpents and his summon were overwhelming. Soon, the four found themselves at a disadvantage.
"Damn it, you hold them off, I'll go kill that kid."
The Iwagakure Shinobi acted decisively. Realizing the tide of battle was turning against them, three of them launched into a desperate all-out attack, managing to momentarily hold off Orochimaru and the others with sheer ferocity.
On the battlefield, Hyuga Toru's Gentle Fist technique kept him engaged in close combat, while Nara Shikashun's Shadow Imitation Technique ensnared enemies in a tricky bind. Meanwhile, Akimichi Tetsu used the clan's signature Expansion Jutsu, and Yamanaka Yonjiro supported with the Yamanaka clan's mind-based techniques.
Their combined efforts formed a strong offensive, but it was clear that the three remaining Iwagakure Shinobi, highly skilled in their own right, wouldn't be defeated easily. They managed to endure for a few critical moments—just long enough to give one of their comrades the chance to break away and charge in the direction from which Orochimaru's team had originally come.
Seeing this, Orochimaru's expression instantly darkened.
"Ninjutsu: Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes!"
Puff, puff, puff...
Suddenly, several holes burst open in the ground. Massive pythons shot out, their jaws wide, attacking from all angles. The serpents devoured their targets, overwhelming the Iwagakure Shinobi who had been fighting Orochimaru and his team.
Though the enemy managed to kill a few of the snakes, in the end, they couldn't escape. The entire scene was swift and decisive, giving the Iwagakure Shinobi little time to mount any meaningful resistance.
With the battlefield now cleared, Orochimaru immediately turned and dashed off in pursuit of the lone shinobi who had slipped away, his speed so fast it left an afterimage.
However, the delay had cost him. By the time he resumed his chase, the fleeing Iwagakure Shinobi had already crossed paths with Ishigami Hara and Nawaki.
Facing the Iwagakure Shinobi, whose expression was filled with fury, Ishigami Hara remained emotionless, while Nawaki beside him grew visibly nervous.
But the next moment, Nawaki's eyes widened in astonishment.
In a blur of motion, Ishigami Hara formed hand seals, completing a jutsu almost instantaneously.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Water materialized beneath Ishigami Hara's feet, rapidly forming into a swirling curtain that twisted into the shape of a water dragon, surging toward the enemy.
To Nawaki's surprise, Ishigami Hara seemed to vanish from sight. If one could track his movements, they would have seen him reappear behind the head of the water dragon, swiftly launching kunai in a wide arc. Each kunai spread out in a fan-like formation.
Upon closer inspection, one would notice thin, nearly invisible threads trailing behind each kunai.
Without hesitation, Ishigami Hara's hands moved once again, completing another jutsu in an instant.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
He exhaled a stream of fire, which clung to the threads attached to the kunai, sending fiery streaks shooting forward.
By this time, the Iwagakure Shinobi had recovered and swiftly formed hand seals, his chakra flaring. With a powerful surge, he smashed through the head of the water dragon, causing the jutsu to collapse. Though his momentum slowed slightly, he still pressed forward, advancing toward Ishigami Hara and Nawaki.
"What?!"
As he pushed through the watery barrier, the Iwagakure Shinobi's eyes widened in shock. His pupils contracted as he caught sight of the burning flames, like arrows, hurtling toward him.
"Heh."
Ishigami Hara smirked, pulling sharply on the threads in his hand. In an instant, the flames attached to the silk threads transformed into fiery lines, slicing through the air with precision, converging on the Iwagakure Shinobi with lethal intent.