Chapter 148: Gale Force - Confrontation with Ebizō!
A storm stirred up by Manda instantly swept in!
A sandstorm like a tsunami engulfed everything. The hurricane instantly dispersed the purple poisonous mist that had enveloped the Secret Technique: Insect Tornado—even the spinning insect barrier was swallowed up by the sandstorm!
"What is that?!"
"Could it be Lord Rasa?"
Several Sunagakure ANBU members looked up in astonishment, their eyes filled with surprise.
"Wait, what is that?"
"Someone is flying through the wind!"
Hearing this, even Ebizō, who was standing at the back of the squadron, looked up slightly at the sky.
When he saw the boy gliding through the air like a hawk, a hint of surprise appeared on Ebizō's face.
"Orochimaru actually sent his disciple to a place like this."
"But it doesn't matter—I can eliminate him as well!"
Ebizō narrowed his eyes, murderous intent suddenly rising in his gaze. With a wave of his hand, he took out a scroll and summoned a puppet wearing a white robe.
Before the other Sunagakure shinobi could react, Tsukasa raised the Tiger seal in mid-air, placed it near his mouth, and unleashed three powerful fireballs at the Sunagakure forces!
Using the recoil from the fireballs, Tsukasa regained his footing in mid-air, spun and rolled several times, sliding to the ground like an acrobat. His hand dug into the sand to arrest his momentum, stopping right in front of Aburame Ryoma.
A strong wind blew past, making his tattered clothes flutter dramatically.
"Cough, cough, cough!" Aburame Ryoma crawled out of the sand, coughing up mouthfuls of grit. When he looked up and saw Tsukasa standing in front of him, his vision blurred for a moment.
He quickly regained his senses, immediately frowning.
"You—"
"Alright, no need to thank me!" Tsukasa grinned, glancing sideways at him. The curse mark patterns on half of his face made him look somewhat ferocious. He succinctly said:
"Say something useful."
"I can't hold this form much longer."
An uncontrollable power surged continuously from the curse mark.
This was the first time he had activated this power since obtaining the curse mark from Orochimaru.
Now it seemed that the curse mark's power had enhanced his body, raising his physical control by more than one level. He could even release basic Fire Release techniques with a single hand seal.
At the same time, a chilling energy also flowed through him. Under the influence of this energy, his skin was constantly developing small bumps.
Upon closer inspection, they were tiny scales.
On both sides of his forehead, there was a sensation that something was about to emerge.
This gave Tsukasa a premonition. His curse mark was completely different from Sasuke's future state, which would grow wings, or Kimimaro's, which grew a tail.
His mutation was more serpentine—or rather, draconic.
It was closer to the modified Sage Mode form of Orochimaru's future son, Mitsuki. The curse mark Orochimaru had implanted in him seemed to contain pure, unmodified Ryūchi Cave Sage Chakra.
This was obviously more powerful, but the corresponding problem was that this energy was extremely difficult to control and couldn't be used to amplify ninjutsu into Sage Techniques.
The only visible advantage was that this first stage of the curse mark greatly increased his physical strength and bodily control.
The disadvantage was that the power within him—which seemed to be natural energy—was rapidly mutating his body. If this continued, it might not be long before he transformed into something inhuman.
This was something that even Orochimaru hadn't fully mastered, but Tsukasa had no choice. Facing a veteran Sunagakure shinobi like Ebizō, whose minimum strength was at least Kage-level, he had to bite the bullet and reveal his last trump card.
Otherwise, he was unsure if he could even last half a minute in his current physical condition.
Just like now—
Whoosh!
A sharp, invisible wind blade hurtled straight toward Tsukasa's head!
This wind blade was incredibly fast—beyond description!
Before Tsukasa could consciously react, his body moved on its own, instinctively turning his head to avoid the attack.
Meanwhile, a soft pfft sound rang out from behind.
The wind blade shattered the cluster of parasitic insects surrounding Aburame Ryoma, sending them scattering before his horrified gaze, the blade piercing deep into a sand dune.
Tsukasa turned his head, his expression grave, and saw Ebizō—dressed in a black robe and wearing a white mask—standing behind the thirty-person Sunagakure squadron. Ebizō raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised that Tsukasa had dodged the attack.
At that moment, Ebizō raised one hand, a razor-sharp wind blade gleaming from his fingertip.
Wind Release: Wind Cutter!
This A-rank Wind Release ninjutsu uses chakra emanating from the fingertip like a sharp blade, attacking the enemy with concentrated wind pressure! Using chakra to transform wind into a cutting edge, it was an unavoidable and deadly technique.
Invisible and colorless, difficult to detect—this technique had been used by Sunagakure jonin Baki during the future Konoha Crush, ruthlessly killing Konoha Special Jonin Gekko Hayate.
And now, in the hands of Ebizō at this stage, this technique was only stronger!
Tsukasa's gaze narrowed. He had no time to dwell on the damage the curse mark was inflicting on his body. He cautiously observed the thirty-person squad that had surrounded him, and beyond them, the calculating old man who calmly observed the situation, ready to strike at any moment.
Behind him, facing this tense and murderous situation, Aburame Ryoma's expression suddenly darkened. He no longer questioned how Tsukasa had arrived.
Just looking at his current state—missing an arm, covered in injuries—his condition was clearly critical.
He shook his head, exhaled heavily, and glared sharply at Ebizō.
"Then say something useful!"
He helped Tsukasa to his feet, supporting his shoulder, and solemnly surveyed their surroundings.
Then, he quietly pulled a kunai from his ninja pouch and, shoulder to shoulder with Tsukasa, discreetly pressed it into his hand.
Tsukasa remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was startled.
With his exceptional skill in shurikenjutsu, he could instantly gauge the style and weight of various kunai with a single touch.
At that moment, Aburame Ryoma had quietly placed a specially crafted kunai in his hand.
"Listen," Aburame Ryoma said in a deep voice as he handed over the kunai.
"This operation is very different from what you imagine."
"All the actions, all the sacrifices—are for only one purpose."
Aburame Ryoma's expression darkened, and he said solemnly:
"That is, to assassinate Ebizō, the high-ranking commander of Sunagakure in this war!"
"Now, the time has come!"
"What needs to be done next is obvious!"
A fierce glint appeared in Aburame Ryoma's eyes behind his sunglasses, and he immediately pulled a signal flare from his ninja pouch and launched it into the sky!
In the night, a fifth type of signal flare—distinct from the red, yellow, blue, and green ones—exploded with a bang!
A streak of orange smoke rose into the sky.
Tsukasa blinked, took a deep breath, and instantly understood.
He stuffed the kunai into his ninja pouch, turned around, and slapped Aburame Ryoma hard on the shoulder.
"I understand!"
Tsukasa's eyes were resolute.
"Then I'll leave the retreat to you and my team!"
"Leave this to me!"
Aburame Ryoma was stunned. "Wait, what are you doing?!"
He was about to raise his hand to stop him when he saw Tsukasa turn around, lower his stance, and dash into the encirclement of thirty shinobi.
He felt a chill run down his spine and, after a moment of stunned silence, managed to finish his sentence:
"Damn it!"
"I'm asking you to help me stall for time and wait for reinforcements!"
End of Chapter 148
[Power Stone Goal: 500 = +1 Chapter]
[Review Goal: 10 = +1 Chapter]
If you liked it, feel free to leave a review.
80+chapters ahead on P1treon Soulforger