Chapter 27: Blade Reimbursement
"Hmph!" Kagejirō snorted. He had clearly misinterpreted Ye's kindness, believing that both he and the "damned Uchiha" were conspiring to steal his mission merits.
Though he was fuming internally, he put on a righteous face. "Do you think I'm the type of person to abandon my comrades and flee alone? In my opinion, we should work together to annihilate the remaining enemies. They're poisoned; they won't be able to resist for much longer."
Asuka nearly fainted when she heard his proposal. She herself was poisoned, the venom already spreading to her heart. Her Byakugan was flickering, on the verge of collapse. And this reckless fool, who had just claimed the mission was paramount, was now willing to risk the intelligence for a sliver of personal gain.
The Sand ninja, hearing that the Konoha ninja planned to transfer the intelligence, grew even more anxious.
"Quickly, interrupt his hand seals! Don't let him release the S-rank water style, Hard Whirlpool Water Blade!" the porcupine-headed jōnin roared. Based on Kagejirō's foolish and confident demeanor, he was now utterly convinced that the information leaked during their conversation was true.
At their captain's command, the bald-headed chūnin and the two puppet masters leaped atop the crumbling earth wall and unleashed a barrage of attacks, trying to interrupt Sasuke's jutsu.
"Useless," Kagejirō sneered. "Our team's mission merits..."
"That's enough, Kagejirō!" Ye finally interrupted, his patience gone. "Your constant blustering is only making the situation worse."
"What did you say?" Kagejirō bristled, his face red with anger. "Are you siding with this Umino scum against me, a Sarutobi?"
"Yeshan," Sasuke called out, ignoring the squabbling, "it seems we've been found out. The two of you, take the intelligence and fall back. We will cover you."
"But, Captain..." Yeshan hesitated, but seeing the determined look in Sasuke's eyes, he finally nodded. "Be careful."
"Go!" Sasuke shouted.
As Ye and Asuka began to fall back, Sasuke and his squad turned to face the Sand ninja.
"Come on, you Suna dogs!" Tekudō roared, a wild grin on his face. "Let's see who dies first!"
"Don," Sasuke said, a calm, predatory smile on his face, "don't get too excited. Just remember the plan."
"Of course, Captain," Tekudō replied, his grin widening. "Let's give them hell."