Konoha's command structure had fallen into partial disarray.
Nara Shikagawa's expression was grave. The sudden appearance of an unexpected powerhouse on the northern battlefield had completely disrupted his judgment.
Yet no one noticed that while Shiraishi was making his move, the Scarlet Control Mirror had quietly activated, controlling dozens of puppets in the shadows.
The Earth Release expert who clashed head-on with Hyūga Tenmon was in fact one of Sasori of the Red Sand's leftover human puppets—a former Iwagakure Earth Release jōnin, killed by Sasori years ago and turned into a human puppet afterward.
As for the other "Iwagakure" chakra signatures sensed on the battlefield, they were nothing more than temporary regeneration cores fabricated by Shiraishi using his glasses system, installed into ordinary puppets and concealed under Black Mist, achieving a level of deception indistinguishable from the real thing.
Once Konoha made the wrong judgment, Shiraishi gained far more room to maneuver.
As he withdrew smoothly, Nara Shikaku no longer dared to issue decisive orders.
If Shiraishi had truly been acting alone, even with a wolf pack, he would have been little more than a battlefield nuisance.
But if Iwagakure reinforcements truly existed, the situation became fatal—Konoha's main camp defenses were dangerously thin.
Soon after, Shikagawa received reports of Iwagakure-like chakra fluctuations near headquarters, and his gaze darkened.
There were now only two possibilities.
First: Sunagakure was deliberately fabricating the illusion of Iwagakure's involvement to conceal its own weakness.
Second: Sunagakure could no longer withstand Konoha's advance and had genuinely sought aid from Iwagakure.
Either way, Sunagakure was clearly at its limit.
Shikagawa tapped the table lightly.
"Black Mist Shiraishi's actions are nothing more than a warning—forcing us to worry about headquarters and divert our offensive forces."
"Proceed with full force. We take Kikyo Mountain tonight."
If Shikagawa was right, Black Mist Shiraishi would soon launch further harassment against headquarters, reinforcing the illusion of Iwagakure's presence.
As if to confirm this judgment—
Shiraishi suddenly appeared on the outskirts of Konoha's main camp.
Black Mist spread, and the wolf pack surged forward once more.
Konoha's response was immediate.
After the annihilation of the sensory division, the village had become hypersensitive. ANBU units and multiple squads deployed at once—but Black Mist cut off the pursuit, and Shiraishi vanished without a trace.
"No need to chase…"
After several mobile engagements, Konoha had already concluded that Sunagakure's internal strength was extremely depleted, hence these disruptive tactics.
That conclusion would only accelerate Konoha's offensive on Kikyo Mountain.
In truth, Konoha's steady advance was the real source of Sunagakure's pressure.
Minato Namikaze's mobility, the Hyūga clan's taijutsu and perception, and the combined strength of elite clans—
A prolonged war would bleed Sunagakure dry no matter how large its numbers were.
But forcing Konoha into a decisive battle, right here and now, actually increased Sunagakure's odds.
Ebizō had reached the same conclusion and was already making preparations.
Just as Shiraishi finished regulating his breathing, a teasing voice suddenly rang out behind him:
"So that's how it works. Using regeneration-core human puppets together with Black Mist… truly a brilliant idea."
The voice exploded like a thunderclap.
Shiraishi sprang into action instantly. His silver blade flashed, unleashing a devastating Cyclone Blade.
The attack tore forward—yet an equally powerful chakra storm rose around the figure behind him, neutralizing the strike completely.
When Shiraishi saw the man's face, his pupils shrank violently.
Orochimaru.
The legendary Sannin of Konoha stepped out from the cold shadows, and in that instant, Shiraishi felt as if he had entered a world saturated with killing intent.
Bone-chilling pressure crushed down on him. Sweat dripped from his forehead.
He had miscalculated.
Worse—he had completely forgotten about this unstable variable.
And now Orochimaru had appeared on the battlefield.
"So this is our first meeting, Black Mist Shiraishi."
The moment Orochimaru spoke, Shiraishi's blade was already moving—yet the target dissolved into a flowing mass of earth.
Orochimaru reappeared behind him, forming seals with one hand.
Countless venomous snakes erupted from the ground, surging forward like a tide.
Earth Release!
The Desert Blood Wolf's eyes gleamed coldly. The ground convulsed, forming razor-like slabs that devoured the snakes.
Orochimaru flashed to the side.
"Impressive. Truly impressive."
Though he had not formally joined the battle, Orochimaru understood the battlefield far better than most.
Shiraishi killing Kurama Arashiyama—nearly exterminating the Kurama clan—had already shaken the entire Konoha camp. The news would soon reach the village itself.
Orochimaru had been observing from the shadows all along.
Seeing Shiraishi summon massive wolf packs and deploy human puppets, he could not help but admire the boy's ingenuity.
Though he didn't yet understand Shiraishi's ultimate goal, that didn't stop Orochimaru from appreciating him.
They were, in essence, the same kind of shinobi.
For the first time, a genuine desire to recruit talent stirred in Orochimaru's heart.
Shiraishi, however, was painfully aware of the truth.
He was no match for Orochimaru.
He began calculating his escape.
Black Mist erupted outward—but unlike ordinary shinobi, Orochimaru ignored the obscured vision and locked his gaze on the ground itself.
"Interesting."
In an instant, the earth turned muddy and chaotic. The terrain beneath Shiraishi shifted violently—and Sand-Gathering Technique abruptly failed.
"Enhancing chakra through desert terrain… fascinating. What's the principle behind this?"
Orochimaru didn't know the technique's mechanics, but his insight was razor-sharp. A single probe confirmed his suspicions.
"Join me. Your talent shouldn't be wasted in Sunagakure."
"You want me to defect to Konoha?" Shiraishi frowned. He hadn't expected Orochimaru to use such a line at this moment.
"Konoha?" Orochimaru paused briefly. "That's no longer what I seek."
The hesitation was real.
Shiraishi seized the opening.
Dragon Fire Technique!
Flames erupted as countless Cyclone Blades surged forward.
Wind and fire combined—slamming directly into Orochimaru!
Knowing how dangerous this battle was, Shiraishi activated his psychic power to its limit. His body lifted into the air as Cyclone Blades gathered around him, forming a terrifying storm.
Though Cyclone Blade originated from another world, years of refinement and adaptation had turned it into a technique uniquely his own.
Under intense heat, the Cyclone Blades fused into a spiraling inferno, condensing into a true combat form.
The cutting winds tore at his body. Pain flashed across Shiraishi's face—but he did not retreat.
Grinding his teeth, he forced the blazing vortex to compress further.
A crimson storm blade took shape in his grasp.
"Wind Release: Explosive Cyclone Blade!"
As the two chakra natures fused, violent wind currents erupted outward. The backlash scorched Shiraishi's palm, carving burning cuts into his skin. Some cells were outright destroyed—the instability was eerily similar to the old Blaze Powder explosions.
Even Orochimaru felt the terrifying, destructive force hidden within this strike.
His eyes narrowed.
In the next instant, the explosive Cyclone Blade roared forward—
Straight toward Orochimaru.
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