Chapter 295: Victory and Surprise Attack
"Not bad—really not bad!"
The Lightning Release clone—Sakumo —was extremely satisfied with his new Lightning Release jutsu, Decay Lightning. As expected of a single-element chakra technique that had reached the level of Kekkei Tōta, its power was terrifying.
Perhaps due to his pursuit of the extreme path, every single-element technique that reached this level became overwhelmingly powerful:
Wind Release: Slash — a molecular-level cutting force that virtually nothing could withstand.Earth Release: Technique of Mass — granted the user hypothetical mass and density, making the Earth Clone Shiyan's body feel like the steel-like frame of Superman.Fire Release: Amaterasu — a flame that could burn away both matter and energy.
Even in the original timeline, though it didn't kill many, no one could shrug off its damage.Water Release: Permeation Technique — still under development.
But once complete, it would allow him to bypass the structure of all materials, turning them as brittle as tofu.Lightning Release: Decay Lightning — its effect resembled Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's All-Killing Ash Bones, altering the nature of matter and energy, reducing them to decaying gray powder.
The power of the Decay Lightning had just been demonstrated.
Even if he never learned Kekkei Mōra, as long as he could use senjutsu chakra, these single-element techniques enhanced by Sage Mode would be enough to make even Six Paths-level powerhouses wary.
"Now that I think about it… I'm kind of ridiculous."
Sakumo glanced at the sky, where Sasori's massive Puppet Core—once hidden within the Iron Sand Cloud—had also turned to gray powder.
He had previously overestimated Sasori and underestimated himself.
No matter how advanced Sasori's puppet techniques were, he posed no threat to someone like him.
Sakumo had both spiritual and physical means of annihilation—Sasori couldn't resist either.
The one who should worry… was Sasori.
At that moment, far above, Sasori saw the falling gray dust and… fled.
He was scared!
That gray lightning was too overwhelming. If even one bolt struck him, he'd be completely disintegrated.
"…That kid ran."
Below, Orochimaru sensed Sasori's retreat. With the power of the Hashirama cells, his chakra sensory skills had improved greatly.
"Should we pursue him, Sakumo-kun?"
Orochimaru looked at Sakumo . A hint of hunger flashed in his eyes—he was still very interested in Sasori's Puppet Core, the secret behind his ability to absorb natural energy.
After a year of combat, Orochimaru had deduced that Sasori's secret lay in that Puppet Core.
If he could get his hands on it, he could study how to absorb natural energy—and develop his own senjutsu.
With senjutsu chakra added to his Wood Release, he might even grasp a fraction of the First Hokage's godlike power.
Right now, he couldn't even withstand Sasori's combo ninjutsu—let alone Sakumo's Decay Lightning.
Orochimaru craved power. He longed to master every jutsu.
But even with all his ambition, he alone couldn't take down Sasori.
"No need to chase," Sakumo shook his head. "The enemy has chakra sensors. Now that they know about me, they won't land again and give me an opening."
"…Sigh." Orochimaru sighed, then said, "Let's split up and reinforce the other outposts."
"Alright. I'll head this way." Sakumo nodded and dashed left.
He had already memorized the layout of the outposts in this area—now, he just needed to go assist the nearest one.
"We won!"
"Lord Orochimaru and Lord Sakumo won!"
"Sasori of the Red Sand was driven off!"
Soon, the three Konoha shinobi remaining at the base spread the news of the victory.
This was a huge morale boost—a battle that swept away the lingering dread and gloom.
After this, Konoha would launch a counteroffensive. The tides of war were beginning to shift.
…
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
"Kill!"
"Fire Style—!"
The Suna-nin, unaware that Sasori had already been defeated, launched a full assault on Konoha's outposts. Battle broke out everywhere.
In the northern mountains, a key Konoha command center came under attack by Pakura and her elite ten-man team.
It wasn't exactly a sneak attack—this command center housed twenty ninja, including Hyūga and Aburame clan members, renowned for their sensory abilities.
Pakura 's approach had already been detected, and the defenders had set up traps in anticipation.
But Pakura , a seasoned veteran influenced by her brother-in-law's head-on combat philosophy, never expected to succeed with stealth.
She wasn't here to sneak—she was here to overwhelm.
"Scorch Release: Thermal Pressure Explosion!"
From hundreds of meters away, she hurled a compressed, red-hot thermal sphere into the air above the outpost.
BOOM!
It exploded mid-air, releasing a two-thousand-degree heatwave that instantly vaporized moisture and ignited trees in a flash.
Seconds later, the once-wooded command center had become a scorched plain, billowing with black smoke.
CRACK!
Two Konoha shinobi suddenly burst from the ground—they had been lying in wait for a surprise attack.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Before they could act, kunai and shuriken flashed from the trees ahead.
They leapt backward instinctively. One of them formed hand seals mid-air:
"Shadow Sewing Technique!"
Dozens of tendrils shot from his shadow—Nara Yuuzen—deflecting the incoming projectiles.
"Move!"
Before they landed, a Hyūga ally shouted from behind.
Yuuzen's eyes widened. His shadow tendrils instantly grabbed himself and his comrade and yanked them into the air.
Zing—
A narrow red beam swept past.
"Ah!"
Yuuzen groaned as blood spurted from his leg. He hadn't dodged completely.
Thud!
His lower leg was severed at the knee. He collapsed to the ground.
"Insect Jar Technique!"
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
Aburame clan secret techniques and defensive jutsu activated in tandem—disrupting chakra sensors and blocking line of sight.
Using the cover, Aburame Shiguro rushed over, grabbed Yuuzen, and dashed back to friendly lines.
"Seizan, stop the bleeding!"
Seizan, the medic, quickly knelt—but he saw the wound had been carbonized by the intense heat, sealing itself.
Still, he immediately began using Mystic Palm Technique to heal it.
The Scorch Release had left a horrifying injury, but Yuuzen had endured. Aside from that first groan of pain, he hadn't screamed once.
(END CHAPTER)
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