Chapter 154: Decapitation Operation, Part 1
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh! Orochimaru, leading twenty Konoha elites, was sprinting through the dense forest at high speed. Their black cloak-style trench coats trailed behind them like ghostly shadows as they ran.
They were getting closer and closer to the Sand Ninja's front line.
Suddenly, Orochimaru, running at the very front, noticed a wary Sand Ninja perched on the branches ahead.
As Orochimaru was about to enter his safe distance, the ninja shouted sharply: "Stop! Who are you?"
Orochimaru waved his right hand backward, and the group halted in unison.
Orochimaru pulled back his hood, revealing Takayama Haruno's face. His powerful mental strength suddenly surged, instantly simulating a Semi-Kage level aura similar to Takayama Haruno's. Although it was merely an empty shell generated by mental energy, it was enough to fool the wary sentinel.
As expected, the Sand Ninja, who had been highly alert just moments before, immediately knelt down on one knee with a respectful look, bowing and saying: "Please forgive me, Lord Takayama Haruno! I did not realize it was you!"
Orochimaru waved his hand, saying calmly: "You did well. Maintain your vigilance."
The Sand Ninja nodded repeatedly in excitement.
Orochimaru knew that someone of Takayama Haruno's Semi-Kage status wouldn't pay much attention to a minor sentinel ninja, so he kept his words brief. He coldly swept past with Jiraiya and the others in tow.
On the Sand Ninja front, perhaps due to the absence of a Semi-Kage level fighter, the security and defense measures were exceptionally strict. The group had to pass through five separate sentry lines before finally seeing the Sand Ninja camp in the Third Battle Sector in the distance.
Orochimaru smiled coldly, his gaze on the Sand Ninja camp quickly filling with a faint killing intent.
After memorizing the layout of the Sand Ninja camp, Orochimaru led the Konoha ninja to a hidden spot and settled down to wait.
The sun gradually climbed. When the fierce midday sun poured its golden rays onto the earth, Orochimaru suddenly heard a fierce explosion from the sentry line they had just passed. Waves of clashing Chakra of varying strengths were rising and colliding.
Orochimaru's heart tensed. He looked back at the Sand Ninja camp, where the ninja were buzzing like ants in a hot pan. The entire camp was in an uproar.
Columns of Sand Ninja quickly organized and headed toward the front line.
Orochimaru knew that Nara Shikahira had finally launched the counter-offensive.
Just as Orochimaru was preparing to make a move, a surprised shout suddenly came to his ears: "Lord Takayama Haruno, you're finally back!"
Orochimaru's body instantly froze. He turned around to see a Sand Ninja with an elite Chūnin level Chakra aura leap down from a hidden towering tree, shouting to Orochimaru in surprise.
Seeing this sudden turn of events, Orochimaru's heart sank slightly, but he kept a straight face. He hadn't expected the Sand Ninja to have strict hidden sentries deployed even around the camp perimeter.
The Sand Ninja, whose face was full of excitement, walked up, bowed to Orochimaru, and respectfully said: "Lord Takayama Haruno, please come this way. Konoha's counter-offensive momentum is very fierce this time. Lord Itō will be very pleased to see you return!"
Orochimaru looked at the ninja, countless thoughts flashing through his mind like lightning. He knew that the Semi-Kage level Chakra fluctuation he simulated with his powerful mental energy was sufficient to fool these elite Chūnin. However, if he followed this ninja into the camp, there was a high probability of exposure if an elite Jōnin level Sand Ninja saw him.
With this realization, Orochimaru didn't bother greeting the others. His gaze turned cold.
His body shot forward like a line of black lightning, instantly reaching the Sand Ninja. His right hand opened and closed, clamping down on the ninja's vulnerable throat in the blink of an eye. He lifted the ninja up and twisted violently. The poor Sand Ninja was instantly killed by Orochimaru before he could even scream.
There was no time to bury the body. Orochimaru coldly tossed the corpse into a dense patch of shrubs and waved his hand to the Konoha ninja behind him. The group immediately shot out, following the traces left by the large body of Sand Ninja who had left the camp, staying far behind the main force.
The Target is Exposed
The sounds of boom, boom, boom and explosions constantly echoed throughout the vast forest.
The originally dense forest, with its rich vegetation, shrubs, and flowers, was utterly destroyed by countless Jutsu, carving out a large clearing where hundreds of ninja of various ranks were engaged in a fierce slaughter. Hot blood was spilled and lives were lost every moment—this was the brutal reality of war.
Itō Heijō watched the scene emotionlessly from the deep rear of the Sand Ninja forces. After a while, he turned to his confidant and said with a sinister laugh: "Although no word has come through, judging by Konoha's actions, it seems Takayama's operation was successful. Nara Shikahira opposite us appears to be panicking and has committed the entirety of Konoha's forces. It's quite a spectacle!"
The confidant dutifully nodded, offering a well-placed, fawning look of adoration: "You are truly brilliant, Lord!"
Although Itō Heijō was secretly delighted, he remained composed: "Good. Send up the reserve units. Let us cement our victory in the Third Battle Sector in one fell swoop!"
The confidant excitedly nodded and rushed off to relay the order.
What Itō Heijō failed to realize was that his actions were being clearly watched by a pair of piercing eyes not far away.
Seeing all the reserve units rush forward, Orochimaru, who had been lying prostrate behind a small hill, licked his lips and gave a cold, sinister smile. He placed his right hand over his face, clenched his fingers, and fiercely ripped. The false skin shattered, revealing his pale, handsome cheeks and dark-golden eyes. Orochimaru had finally restored his true appearance.
He turned to the group behind him. One by one, the "masks" were ripped away. Everyone's eyes, filled with excitement, were fixed on Orochimaru.
Orochimaru stood on the crest of the small hill, his dark-golden snake eyes, now filled with boundless killing intent, fixed on the completely unaware Itō Heijō in the distance.
The twenty-one ninja, dressed in tight Konoha Anbu gear, stood neatly on the hilltop. Their ink-black trench coats billowed in the strong winds, making them look like twenty-one reapers from hell. A substantial, astonishing killing intent coalesced entirely upon their leader, surging skyward in an instant.
Itō Heijō suddenly felt the terrifying killing intent coming from the rear. His heart instantly seized with alarm, and he turned around in terror to look behind him.
Orochimaru flung off the ink-black trench coat that had concealed his figure. He looked toward Itō Heijō in the distance, licked his lips, gave a wicked smile, made a throat-slitting gesture at his own neck, and slowly drew the demonic sword Muramasa from behind his back.
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