Early the next morning, the trio, having left the cave, moved cautiously through the forest.
The sound of rapid movement rustled from the ground below. Kin glanced down and spotted a squad of three Sunagakure shinobi darting past. Had they looked up even once, they would have noticed the trio hidden in the trees. Yet, they rushed by without a second glance.
The three lingered in the treetops until the Suna shinobi vanished from sight. Then, Kin and Hatake Sakumo moved swiftly—one using Shave, the other Flash Step—to leap to another tree. Their progress was much slower compared to when they had first entered the Land of Rivers. Now, they advanced inch by inch.
The reason? The sheer density of Sunagakure shinobi in the area.
Hatake Sakumo, leading the way, raised a hand, signaling another halt. A faint tremor echoed from ahead. A single squad wouldn't cause such vibrations—this had to be a large group. The trio pressed themselves against the tree trunks, using concealment techniques to blend into the bark.
Soon, a large contingent of Suna forces swept through the forest. Their eyes barely scanned the area before they moved on. Only after the last shinobi disappeared did the trio reveal themselves and continue their cautious advance.
"They're searching for us," Kin concluded.
Hatake Sakumo nodded, then suddenly asked, "Do you have any jutsu that can boost my combat strength? I'll trade you the Hatake Sword Style for it."
Kin hesitated internally.
Thanks to Sakumo's practice of his Basic Internal Energy Technique, Kin already possessed not only the Hatake clan's sword techniques but also all of Sakumo's theoretical knowledge of swordsmanship.
But survival here hinged on Sakumo's strength.
"Deal," Kin agreed with a nod.
He pondered briefly.
The Six Treasuries Immortal Thief was his core advantage. Sakumo already knew the Six Styles, and the Spirit Bullet was Kin's trump card. Techniques like the Thousand Spider Poison Hand, created specifically for Tsunade, wouldn't suit Sakumo. Steel-Cutting Flash had already been exchanged for merits, so Sakumo likely knew it already.
That left only the Breathing Techniques.
"Sakumo-sama, what's your chakra nature?" Kin asked.
"Primary: Lightning and Wind. Secondary: Earth, Water, and Fire," Sakumo replied.
"I'll skip the specific forms for now," Kin said. Practicing them here wouldn't be wise.
"What I'll teach you is a ninjutsu called Thunder Breathing. On its own, it's only D-rank, but paired with sword techniques, it can reach B or even A-rank."
Kin had long since developed several Breathing Techniques, though he primarily used Flame Breathing due to his affinity for Fire Release.
"Explain it to me," Sakumo said, listening intently while keeping watch. Though Aburame Mushihi's insects provided surveillance, he remained vigilant.
As Kin demonstrated and explained the breathing method, Sakumo's own breathing began to shift. Soon, arcs of electricity flickered across his body.
"Using breath as hand seals… impressive," Sakumo remarked, giving Kin an appreciative glance. The concept was ingenious.
Though Thunder Breathing was technically a D-rank jutsu, its power scaled with the user's strength—much like Kumogakure's Lightning Release Chakra Mode, a B-rank technique that rivaled S-rank in the Raikage's hands.
Pulling a scroll from his robe, Sakumo tossed it to Kin. "This is my clan's legacy. Don't spread it carelessly."
Kin stowed the scroll away, though he hardly needed it.
The trio pressed on, skirting around patrols. Their expertise in concealment kept them undetected. If discovered, Sakumo would eliminate the threat swiftly.
They eventually reached a mountain, leaving the search parties behind. Below, a Sand Fortress stood as part of Suna's defensive line.
"This is another stronghold," Sakumo said. The route had been chosen under his direction, with Aburame Mushihi's insects scouting the path.
"If we crush this point, Suna's defenses will weaken, giving Konoha an opening to attack."
"Stay hidden," Sakumo ordered.
Aburame Mushihi nodded, her body dissolving into a swarm of insects. Kin silently melted into the foliage.
He couldn't help but feel he was the most vulnerable in this squad. Sakumo had power; Mushihi's true body was elusive. Meanwhile, Uchiha Kin was just a lowly jōnin—his actual body right here in the danger zone. Countless Suna jōnin had already passed by on this route.
Sakumo wasted no time. Drawing his sword, his breathing shifted. A spark of lightning danced at his brow. In mere moments, he had mastered Thunder Breathing.
Though he lacked specific sword forms, Hatake Sakumo was a master of the blade.
His body became a streak of white light as he charged the fortress.
Explosions erupted. A hail of kunai and shuriken shot toward him, but he dodged them effortlessly. Suna shinobi poured out—this time, smarter. Melee fighters swarmed Sakumo while puppeteers supported from the flanks.
Their numbers dwarfed those at the previous outpost.
But numbers meant nothing to Sakumo. A crescent of white light swept through the crowd, leaving corpses in its wake.
Shinobi unleashed jutsu—cyclones of wind hurling weapons, flames, and earth spikes—yet not a single attack grazed him. He weaved through the chaos, leaving them choking on his dust.
His speed was overwhelming.
Still, the sheer volume of enemies slowed his slaughter. Unlike last time, when he'd finished before Kin could blink, this battle dragged on.
As Kin observed the fray, a voice hissed in his ear:
"Watch out!"
A metal box erupted from the ground, encasing him.
Bang! White smoke filled the container.
"So there are others," Kin muttered.
Two figures stood on a branch, gazing higher into the trees.
"Found you. How troublesome."
Kin slowly drew his sword.
Two enemy jōnin.
On his side: one ally missing, another busy racking up kills, leaving him—the guy with zero contributions—alone.
The situation was dire.
"Why's Sakumo letting minions through?" Kin grumbled, eyeing the distant battle. Every Suna shinobi seemed focused on Sakumo.
He looked down at the two below.
Are these guys slacking off or what?
In the next instant, Kin appeared beside the female shinobi wearing a half-mask. The chakra strings in her hands marked her as a puppeteer—the deadliest fighters in Suna.
The battle began in earnest.
...
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(End of Chapter)