Chapter 21: Moonlight Dancer
"Whew..."
Sasuke's forehead was covered in cold sweat. That was too close for comfort. If he hadn't developed his sonar radar and gained its superhuman perception, a chūnin-level reaction speed would never have been enough to execute a Substitution Technique in time to dodge that special jōnin's fatal sneak attack.
Huh? The black-faced special jōnin was shocked. He had been certain the attack would land. It seemed this Konoha ninja wasn't just a master of transformation, but of substitution as well.
"Come on," he snarled, "let's see how many times you can dodge." He drew another kunai and charged.
"Hmph," Sasuke scoffed. The man's decision to engage in close combat told him everything he needed to know. His opponent was running on fumes, his chakra depleted from using multiple Wind Style jutsus and suppressing the poison. Without ninjutsu or puppets, a special jōnin was just a glorified chūnin. What was there to be afraid of?
With the pressure greatly reduced, Sasuke expanded his sonar's perception range to check on his allies. The battles were still evenly matched, but the scales were beginning to tip. The Sand ninja were strong, but they were all poisoned. Konoha's forces, though weaker, were in good condition and well-equipped.
The only real danger was with Tekudō's group. They were fighting the bald-headed chūnin, who, despite being out of chakra, was fighting with ferocious determination. It was a testament to the elite training of the Sand.
Ye's fight against the porcupine-headed jōnin was the most impressive. The Sand jōnin was a pure kenjutsu master, but Ye's own secret Konoha-style swordsmanship was like a dance under the moon, a flowing, graceful whirlwind of hazy afterimages that hid a deadly killing intent.
As for Kagejirō, he was easily winning against the half-crippled chūnin puppeteer.
What a magnificent Moonlight Dancer, Sasuke thought. This wave is stable. His heart finally relaxed. With Maru's support team less than a kilometer away, victory was within their grasp.
But at that moment, Kagejirō created another problem.
"Yes, the mission is more important," he suddenly shouted. "You guys cover the rear! I'll take the intelligence and retreat first!" He forced the puppeteer back, then turned and fled without a second glance.
The puppeteer just stood there, stunned, likely just happy to have escaped death.
You're leaving? Sasuke thought, bewildered. Support is almost here!
In an instant, the balance of power on the battlefield was shattered. The half-crippled puppeteer was now free to tip the scales in another fight.
"You three, hold on!" Sasuke shouted, brandishing his blade to force the special jōnin back as he watched Tekudō's team with concern. With the addition of the second puppeteer, they were now in grave danger.
"Still have time to worry about others?" the black-faced jōnin sneered, trying to exploit Sasuke's distraction.
"Lord Black-face," Sasuke taunted back, "how much chakra do you have left? Can you even release a C-rank Wind Style? Let me test it."
"Humph!" The special jōnin fell silent, his vital flaw having been hit.
"Tekudō, retreat to the other side of the river!" Sasuke shouted, joining the fight to share the pressure. He planned to use the river as a barrier to make a safe retreat.
"I was right," the special jōnin sneered, realizing Sasuke's fatal flaw. "You care about the safety of these three subordinates." He began to specifically target the three genin, forcing Sasuke into a head-on confrontation.
Just as Sasuke pushed him back again and was about to lead his team across the river, the special jōnin sprang his long-planned trap.
"Puppet Mechanism Technique: Rain of a Thousand Needles!"
Suddenly, a dense rain of senbon erupted from the ground, blanketing Sasuke and his three subordinates.
He was a puppeteer all along, Sasuke realized with a jolt. The man had used chakra threads to burrow underground and seize control of the puppet belonging to the Sand chūnin whose legs had been severed earlier. With such a wide-area attack, how could they possibly escape?