Chapter 199 : Internal Strife?

"Report the casualties!" 

In the heart of the forest, numerous Konoha ninjas concealed themselves within the shadows of the trees. Anxious glances were exchanged as they wearily observed the movements around them. The toll of their escape weighed heavily on them, the grass and trees now teeming with exhausted soldiers.

After three hours of evading pursuit, it seemed they had managed to shake off Cloud shinobi's relentless chase. However, the cost had been significant.

"Sir, we have eighty-two survivors," a Ninja Reporter grimly reported.

"Is that so?"

The Jōnin leader furrowed his brow. Observing Orochimaru's maneuvers, he suddenly comprehended why his unit had become the focus of such attention.

"Those three are Sarutobi's disciples, and the other is Princess Tsunade, the granddaughter of the first Hokage."

Though the leader was a seasoned Jōnin, as a Konoha ninja, he maintained distance from his clan connections. Otherwise, Nawaki wouldn't have met such an early demise on the battlefield.

In truth, such assumptions were a bit speculative. In the ninja world, only the strong left their mark, and many geniuses met their end prematurely. Were their adversaries going all out to target them?

Yet Orochimaru had already ascended to formidable heights, surpassing even a Senju Jōnin. The strength he exhibited left the Jōnin secretly astonished.

Running a hand across his forehead, the Jōnin sighed. Though Tsunade and her companions' identities weren't common knowledge, they weren't state secrets either. 

Battles against renowned clans in the ninja world were scarce, and Tsunade lacked the Wood Release technique. The reason behind Cloud shinobi's relentless pursuit remained elusive.

"Tsunade and the others cannot perish here. Blast it, Sarutobi-sama's main force has already mobilized, and we need to find a way to contact them!"

Gritting his teeth, Satoshi produced a note from his pocket, inscribed a secret message, and carefully sealed it in a small bamboo tube.

"Deliver this message. Let Sir Sarutobi know about our situation here!"

Sarutobi-sama might be currently engaged with the second Raikage Ai, but awareness of their predicament would likely divert their attention toward ensuring their safety.

However, the Senju ninjas were not without self-interest. The talents of the Senju clan were dwindling, and Tsunade represented the last hope bestowed upon them by the first Hokage. They couldn't afford to lose her here. Besides, they were all disciples of Sarutobi, weren't they?

Orochimaru, the one responsible for the Jōnin's demise, sat among the leading Jōnin. Observing the actions of Senju Jonin, he could likely surmise the leader's intentions.

"Go, Tracer!"

A ninja poised to launch an eagle-like jutsu suddenly faced an unexpected twist.

"Hush—!"

A streak of blur slashed through the eagle-themed jutsu with lightning speed. The ninja, caught off guard, let out a scream. In an instant, the ninja transformed into smoke, leaving behind a pool of blood.

"Ye-!"

The attacking ninja remained stoic, slashing directly at the Senju jonin.

"Damn! Have you lost your mind?!"

Senju Jonin parried the ninja's attack with a kunai, but the sharp blade left a gash on his cheek. Blood quickly painted half of his face red.

"Tell me, why betray Konoha and us?!"

The enraged ninja demanded an explanation. The captured ninja was their only link at the moment.

Other ninjas, alarmed by the sudden betrayal, brandished their weapons and surrounded the renegade.

Orochimaru observed the traitor with a somber expression.

The supposed traitor facing off with the Senju ninja showed no sign of nervousness. In fact, he displayed no emotion at all. His widened eyes seemed ready to burst.

"Ye-!"

Withdrawing, retreating, and striking again, the relentless attacks targeted the vulnerable spots of the Senju Ninja. It seemed the renegade was determined to end it all.

"Humph!"

Senju Shangren snorted, dismissing the earlier injury as a momentary lapse. Reacting swiftly, he defended against the onslaught and kicked the traitor away.

"Pfft—!"

The kicked ninja collided with a tree trunk, blood spewing from his mouth, staining his chest crimson. Strangely, he showed no signs of response and began performing seals.

"Damn!"

Senju Shangren muttered. This unusual behavior suggested complete control over the renegade, forcing him to intervene with a forceful strike.

"Shh--shh-"

Two ninjas rushed in from behind to restrain the peculiar figure. Another ninja's kunai pierced his heart.

Amidst the chaos, Senju Jonin had sensed that some of his subordinates might be acting strangely. Now, there was no time to investigate further.

"Pfft—"

Blood splattered, and the dying ninja's pupils contracted. In his final moments, confusion marred his face.

Orochimaru squinted, his expression grave. He thought he saw a dark energy emanating from the renegade's head, yet he detected no illusionary spiritual power fluctuations.

"What in the world is happening?!" The Thousand Hands Ninja strode forward, wearing a somber expression, inspecting the fallen body. Surrounding him, Konoha Ninjas looked on with faces etched in panic.

"What's the matter, Orochimaru?" Tsunade and Jiraiya hurried to Orochimaru's side. Tsunade abruptly covered his mouth.

"Pfft—!"

To the disbelief of everyone present, the ninja who had previously unleashed the beast now grinned strangely, driving a kunai through the heart of the Senju Jonin from behind.

"You...!"

Senju Jonin attempted to utter words, but he collapsed to the ground.

"...!"

The assassin froze momentarily, a peculiar smile lingering on his face, before collapsing lifelessly.

"Lord Satoshi!"

Chaos erupted, and many rushed to inspect the bodies, keeping a wary distance from each other. Suspicion filled their eyes.

"This is horrifying. Is it an illusion? No...!" Orochimaru gazed at the corpses of the two individuals involved in the sudden drama. Even with his formidable mental powers, he detected no anomalies between them before this moment. The bizarre expressions unnerved everyone.

This left Orochimaru, accustomed to controlling everything through mental perception, in a state of panic.

"Could this be a manipulation of chakra...!"

A chilling thought crossed Orochimaru's mind, leaving him uneasy.

"Don't go, there's no help!" Orochimaru firmly restrained Tsunade, preventing her from rushing to provide aid.

"Let go, Uncle Satoshi!" Tsunade forcefully broke free from Orochimaru's grip, staring sadly at Senju Jonin's lifeless form, tears welling in her eyes.

"They're no longer trustworthy, and I can't discern who might be compromised."

Orochimaru, usually in control with his mental powers, found himself struggling. The chaotic scene unfolded; the remaining ninjas were without leadership, devolving into arguments and accusations. Panic and anxiety spread like wildfire, infecting the emotions of those present.

Ninjas, despite their skills, were human, and these were just ordinary troops, far from elite and not comparable to the Anbu.

Amidst the chaos, Jiraiya stood silently with Tsunade, observing the turmoil around them. The three of them stood out amidst the confusion.

"Be on guard! They're approaching!" Orochimaru warned in a low voice. A massive wave of pressure descended at a terrifying speed, toppling trees in the distance. Even other Konoha ninjas recognized the imminent threat.

"Cloud shinobi has followed us here?!" Konoha ninjas faced a formidable enemy, and a blazing thunder light shattered several large trees, landing in front of the scattered Konoha ninjas like an elephant trampling grass. Lightning blasted a deep pit into the ground.

Behind him, a few teams of Cloud shinobi arrived.

"Hmph, he managed to keep up quite well." This Cloud shinobi, with dark skin, long light yellow hair, and a lengthy beard, possessed a robust physique, surpassing any Cloud Ninja Orochimaru had encountered. A "Thunder" tattoo on his right shoulder conveyed an overwhelming power.

"Oh? Internal strife, perhaps?" The tyrannical Cloud shinobi observed the corpses of the SenjuNinja with genuine surprise, leaving Orochimaru's already strained expression even more severe.

"Let's go..."

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