Chapter 142: Rushing to the Front Line
Orochimaru abruptly stopped his sprint.
An intensely condensed Chakra signal flashed across his mind. It was a clear distress signal coming from the direction of the Third War Zone on the Western Front!
He immediately pulled out the updated front-line intelligence map that Hiruzen had given him. After a quick analysis, he realized the location of the distress signal coincided exactly with the command post of the Third War Zone, currently guarded by the Uchiha brothers.
The distress signal meant that the Sand Ninja army had launched a large-scale, coordinated offensive against the Third War Zone, likely aiming for a swift, decisive breakthrough!
The timing was impeccable. Just as the supply forces were arriving, the attack came.
"Chi!" Orochimaru's cold voice cut through the air.
Chi, who had been quietly trailing behind Orochimaru, immediately materialized, his entire body poised for action.
"Leave the medical corps to Yakushi Tenshu. You, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, follow me at full speed!" Orochimaru barked the order.
"Understood, Lord Orochimaru!" The four responded in unison.
Orochimaru spared no further words. He instantly gathered his Chakra, activated his highest-level enhanced movement, and shot off toward the Western Front like a thunderbolt.
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Chi—with their combined Elite Chūnin and Jōnin strength—followed closely behind, maintaining a triangle formation around Orochimaru.
"Tenshu-sensei, the Third War Zone is in danger. We must move ahead to support!" Tsunade yelled back to Yakushi Tenshu before disappearing into the distance.
Yakushi Tenshu stared at the five vanishing figures. The crisis in the Third War Zone had now become abundantly clear to everyone. He immediately turned to Aokita and Aokiya.
"Aokita, Aokiya, lead your two Anbu squads to protect the medical corps! Do not take any detours. We will follow the original route!"
"Understood!" The two brothers shouted their assent.
In an instant, the main force of the escort mission split into two. The medical corps, protected by the two Anbu squads, continued along the original route, while Orochimaru's advance support team raced ahead.
On the Way
The five figures flashed rapidly across the treetops and mountain ridges, turning the entire landscape into a blurry streak beneath their feet.
Despite the urgent situation, Jiraiya couldn't resist calling out to his friend: "Hey, Orochimaru! What's with the rush? We haven't even had time to swap any new information yet, and you're already dragging us into battle! You're really living up to your reputation as the 'Serpent Lord,' aren't you?"
Tsunade glanced at the map in her hand. The crisis point was still at least four hours away, even at their current extreme speed. She frowned and scolded Jiraiya: "Jiraiya, shut up! This is the most critical time for the front line. The Uchiha brothers are in danger!"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly. His voice, now completely devoid of emotion, carried a chilling edge: "No talking. Conserve your energy!"
His powerful presence instantly silenced Jiraiya and Tsunade.
Chi maintained a deep focus, his black mask covering his expression, matching Orochimaru's deadly pace without any sign of faltering.
Orochimaru continued to analyze the intelligence data and the current situation in his mind.
The three columns of the Sand Ninja army, led by Semi-Kage level powerhouses, had been at a stalemate with Konoha's forces for weeks. The decision to break the stalemate by launching a massive offensive against the Third War Zone clearly indicated that the enemy had discovered a weakness or vulnerability in that specific location.
The Uchiha brothers... one is strong in combat, the other is a strategy expert. They shouldn't be careless enough to leave an obvious vulnerability...
A sudden, terrifying thought flashed through Orochimaru's mind, causing his already sharp eyes to narrow further.
Is it possible that the Uchiha Clan has been betrayed?
Orochimaru discarded the idea as soon as it appeared. The Uchiha were fiercely loyal to Konoha, especially the leaders of the clan.
Wait... could the Sand Ninja have specifically targeted a weakness in their Dōjutsu (eye technique)?
If the Sand Ninja truly managed to strike at the Sharingan, the defense of the entire Third War Zone would crumble instantly.
He immediately sent a rapid message to the three ninja following him: "Be careful of the enemy's long-range support and possible Genjutsu attacks! Jiraiya, you take the right flank; Tsunade, the left; Chi, protect the center. If there's any fighting, avoid needless damage! We need to maintain our pace!"
With the imminent danger looming, every second was critical. Orochimaru pushed his speed to its absolute limit, a terrifying black shadow cutting through the rising sun.
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