At this thought, the dark-faced Special Jonin panicked.
He quickly scanned his surroundings, searching for any trace of Sasuke Umino, but found absolutely nothing.
This only deepened his suspicions.
This had to be an Elite Jonin using a high-level Body Flicker Jutsu.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible to miss even the faintest trace of his movements.
A standard Substitution Jutsu couldn’t teleport someone very far, so if Sasuke was completely nowhere to be found, it had to be a high-level Body Flicker Jutsu.
“Sakiya, watch out for the leaves!
It’s the Transformation Jutsu!” From a distance, the spiky-haired Jonin shouted a warning to his teammate, but it was already too late.
Behind the Special Jonin Sakiya, a few fallen leaves lay scattered on the ground.
One seemingly ordinary leaf among them was actually Sasuke Umino in disguise.
Thanks to his Acoustic Radar Jutsu, Sasuke Umino had anticipated Special Jonin Sakiya’s move in advance, pulling off a reverse tactical play.
With a soft *poof*, Sasuke canceled his Transformation Jutsu.
Holding a kunai tightly in both hands as if forming the Tiger seal, he crouched directly behind Special Jonin Sakiya’s rear.
“Leaf Secret Taijutsu: True One Thousand Years of Death!” Sasuke Umino gripped the kunai and thrust it violently straight into the dark-faced Sakiya’s backside.
“Itami o kanjiro—Feel the pain!” With a squelch, the kunai struck its target with pinpoint accuracy, sinking so deep that even the entire hilt vanished inside.
It went all the way in.
“AAAAAAHHHHHH—!” A soul-shattering, voice-cracking shriek tore through the sky.
*Hiss…* The spiky-haired Jonin, who was just about to deliver a finishing blow to Yoru Gekko, suddenly clenched his own cheeks and gasped, cold sweat breaking out.
The spiky-haired Jonin was nearly scared out of his wits, filled with lingering dread.
It was simply too terrifying.
If that Konoha ninja had used the same tactic against him, he would have ended up just like Sakiya.
Who could have imagined that someone would use a Substitution Jutsu, immediately follow it with a Transformation Jutsu to turn into an inconspicuous leaf, hide in plain sight, and then launch a sneak attack?
Only a tactical mastermind could dream up such a terrifying strategy!
Moreover, it is rare enough for ordinary shinobi to transform into a kunai, yet this man can transform into a single leaf!
To what absurd level has he mastered the Transformation Jutsu?
And that Leaf Secret Taijutsu: True One Thousand Years of Death is also incredibly devious.
Even with absolute defense, how could anyone guard that vulnerable spot?
Fortunately, Sakiya’s sacrifice was not entirely in vain; it had exposed this horrific tactic.
It wouldn’t work easily a second time.
Otherwise, anyone facing this strategy for the first time would surely suffer the same fate.
To be violated in such a manner and die in agony…
getting one’s head cleanly severed would be infinitely preferable.
“Gekko, you retreat first.
I’ll cover the rear.” Sasuke Umino pulled out his Fish-Cleaving Wakizashi and shielded Yoru Gekko, his eyes locked onto the spiky-haired Jonin.
“Gale Slash!” Realizing once more how terrifying Sasuke Umino’s tactical brilliance was, the spiky-haired Jonin refused to give him any time to cook up another strategy.
He unleashed a full-power strike immediately.
With a sharp *clang*, a flash of sword light swept past, shearing off a lock of hair by Sasuke’s temple.
He was nearly decapitated on the spot.
Sasuke Umino gripped his Fish-Cleaving Knife, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
A wave of dread washed over him.
*As expected of a Jonin.
So strong!* Even though the enemy’s left fingers were injured, preventing him from weaving hand seals for ninjutsu, his swordsmanship alone was far beyond anything an ordinary Chunin could withstand.
“You’re no match for him.
I’ll hold him off.
Take the others and retreat.” Yoru Gekko retrieved his long sword with his left hand and stepped in front of Sasuke, radiating a resilient Shinobi Will.
Clearly, while Yoru Gekko lacked the true Will of Fire unlike his teammate Kagejiro Sarutobi, he chose to stand his ground.
Knowing full well that even together they were no match for the spiky-haired Jonin, he still chose to cover the retreat alone, ready to sacrifice himself.
*This is a man worth befriending,* Sasuke thought.
“Then let’s fight!” Sasuke Umino shook his head.
His mind was a whirlpool of emotions.
He couldn’t possibly run away now.
Kosuke Maruboshi’s patrol was about to arrive.
If he fled, the Will of Fire persona he had carefully cultivated for over half a year would be completely ruined.
*Just hold on a little longer.
Just a little longer, and Kosuke and the others will reach the opposite bank.* Thus, at Sasuke Umino’s stubborn insistence, the two worked in tandem, fighting as they retreated across the river, treading on the water’s surface.
Another sharp *clang* echoed.
A flash of sword light swept across Sasuke’s chest, nearly cutting him in half at the waist.
If his Water Bat hadn’t intervened at the critical moment, that slash would have taken his head instead of hitting his chest.
The spiky-haired Jonin’s swordsmanship was truly superb, far beyond anything a Genin-level Water Bat could challenge.
The bat had barely caused a momentary distraction before it was sliced in two, without even a chance to flee.
“You actually have a steel plate hidden in your flak jacket?
Hmph!
Let’s see how much longer you can hold out!” The spiky-haired Jonin began gathering his strength, preparing an ultimate strike to finish both of them off.
But at that exact moment, Sasuke Umino’s racing heart finally settled.
Through his Acoustic Radar Jutsu, he sensed that Kosuke Maruboshi and the reinforcements had arrived.
Sasuke was overjoyed.
*It’s time to put on a show of my Will of Fire.
Hopefully, this outstanding display will reach the ears of the Leaf’s higher-ups.* *Kosuke Maruboshi is an unofficial disciple of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, and is on close terms with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
The news will almost certainly reach them.* *With the Will of Fire as my shield, life will be much easier in the future.* *At the very least, when they need cannon fodder to sacrifice, a loyal shinobi with the Will of Fire like me will surely be placed further down the list, right?* “Yoru Gekko, fall back!
I’ll cover you!” Facing this mortal danger, Sasuke Umino stopped running.
With a look of absolute resolve that showed he had accepted death, he pulled seven or eight Explosive Tags from his pouch and plastered them all over his body.
“Wherever the leaves flutter, the fire shall burn!” Sasuke’s voice cracked as he roared, his Will of Fire dialed up to eleven.
He charged at the spiky-haired Jonin with a heroic, suicidal resolve.
“Senpai!” Yoru Gekko’s eyes welled with tears, deeply moved.
“You want to drag me down with you?
In your dreams!” With victory in his grasp, the spiky-haired Jonin had no intention of letting Sasuke get close.
He flicked his long blade, launching two kunai with deadly force to drive him back.
“Let’s die together!” Sasuke Umino ignored them entirely.
Paying no mind to the incoming kunai, he charged on, looking every bit the martyr determined to take his enemy with him.
“Captain!
No!” On the opposite bank, Tekudo and the other two wept as they watched this play out, filled with intense self-reproach.
In their eyes, their captain had chosen to hold the line and sacrifice his life just to protect them.
Just as the kunai were about to pierce Sasuke Umino— Suddenly— “Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!” A massive water dragon erupted from the river behind Sasuke, easily intercepting the two kunai.
Without losing momentum, it surged forward to engulf the spiky-haired Jonin.