A few seconds later, the Third Kazekage arrived overhead, but the area had already fallen into complete silence, leaving only blood and fire to fuel the rage burning in his heart.
Fortunately, Rasa was still alive.
However.
With just a brief sensory check, he could tell Rasa's current condition was extremely dire.
Poison, burns, severe dehydration, external and internal injuries, with one arm bleeding profusely — while not dead yet, he was teetering on the edge.
It was hard to imagine what kind of battle he had endured.
Moreover, the scene didn't appear to show signs of an extremely intense fight.
The Third Kazekage felt frantic with worry, desperate to understand what had transpired, but he knew he couldn't afford to lose composure now.
Stay calm!
He took several deep breaths, gradually clearing his thoughts.
Bang!
Bang bang!
Three signal flares exploded consecutively in the sky, visible across great distances in the open borderlands.
Soon.
More answering signals flared in response.
"Full retreat?"
Pakura turned to look at the signals behind her.
How could this be?
What had happened?
She had no way of knowing, but for now could only follow the general withdrawal.
"Retreat! I'll cover the rear."
She shouted loudly, then became surrounded by swirling flames as superheated fireballs materialized around her.
The dancing flames created a hellish high-temperature zone, withering nearby trees to husks.
On Kikyō Mountain, Orochimaru frowned slightly.
"This isn't right."
"Why would they flee? What's making them run?"
He realized something beyond his plans must have occurred, making it impossible to continue the original strategy.
Orochimaru felt irritated.
He had gone to such lengths laying the bait, waiting for the enemy to take it, only to have his plans disrupted by unexpected interference.
However.
There was no point dwelling on it now.
"Pursue them!"
Orochimaru issued the order without hesitation.
Then he opened his mouth, allowing snakes to crawl forth in endless streams toward all directions.
Many Snakes Murderous Formation.
Originally, Orochimaru had intended to let Sunagakure taste some early success, luring them to commit more forces into the Land of Rivers before springing the trap to annihilate them completely.
But now, there was no time for gradual schemes.
[Personally forcing Sunagakure's retreat to minimize frontline losses.]
[Reward: Water Release: Water Wall proficiency increased.]
Kyohiko felt mild surprise, then acceptance.
His Water Release: Water Wall technique was already highly developed through his own training. By his estimation, he wasn't far from reaching master level — perhaps just one step away.
However.
That final step was often the hardest.
So he wasn't particularly discouraged, focusing more on analyzing Orochimaru's situation.
Without their intervention, Orochimaru would certainly have lured the enemy deeper, drawing in more troops before encircling and crushing them.
Snakes were inherently patient creatures.
However.
Kyohiko fundamentally disagreed with this approach.
While it might have severely crippled Sunagakure, leaving them unable to threaten Konoha for years or even decades, it would also have incurred significant losses on their own side.
Tsunade had likely anticipated this, hence sending them as reinforcements.
He reflected briefly.
As Kyohiko expected, the new memories weren't extensive but still valuable —
Previously, he could already perform the technique with just two hand seals.
At master level, he could now generate massive amounts of water for the Water Wall even in arid environments while reducing chakra consumption.
Most importantly —
Linked hand seals.
He could now coordinate with another individual to jointly perform water release techniques, though this only worked for simpler jutsu.
Or when the other party shared his chakra —
Such as shadow clones.
Additionally, the technique's range, defensive strength, and casting speed could now be adjusted more precisely.
The master level upgrade was substantial indeed!
As he ran, Kyohiko contemplated how to maximize their gains.
Next, they should aim for frontline strategic authority — or at least decisive influence over Orochimaru's decisions.
His gaze shifted to Minato.
"Minato, we should prepare ourselves for a scolding later."
Kyohiko moved closer.
Minato forced a faint smile but didn't respond.
Before entering the battlefield, he might not have understood Orochimaru's thinking. But now, after engaging Suna's ninja, how could he not see through the Sannin's schemes?
Even without many jōnin, if Orochimaru had truly committed to defense, Sunagakure would never have penetrated this far.
Therefore.
Orochimaru must have been planning something.
Perhaps sacrificing some chūnin and genin to create better tactical conditions.
However.
He couldn't condone this approach.
"Let's go, we'll focus on hunting their puppet masters and jōnin first."
"Jōnin are hard to identify..."
Kakashi interjected.
"Then look for visually distinctive targets."
Kyohiko had barely finished speaking when towering flames erupted in the distance.
His eyes narrowed.
Unique chakra fluctuations.
"Does Sunagakure have a fire-based kekkei genkai user?"
"Pakura of the Scorch Release?"
Minato's eyes lit up.
Pakura of the Scorch Release.
This was one of Sunagakure's most famous jōnin, with numerous achievements in past missions and wars, always serving as their vanguard.
"Move out!"
His spirits lifted.
Killing Pakura would be a significant accomplishment — capturing her alive even more so.
"Kakashi, stay back to protect Kurenai. Don't charge forward."
Kyohiko looked at Kakashi.
The boy had already used his Lightning Release: Rasengan once and killed several enemies since, leaving him too drained for intense combat.
Kakashi nodded silently.
The scorching fireballs emitted waves of heat, desiccating the surrounding snakes into brittle husks.
"Sensei, we should retreat too!"
"Leave first, Matsuri. Staying here will only hold me back. After I escort one more group, I'll follow. We'll regroup in the Land of Rivers."
Pakura panted slightly.
There were still people left behind.
Matsuri hesitated, then nodded. "Sensei, you must come!"
"Don't worry."
Pakura smiled.
Then she sensed the surrounding movements and quickly headed toward the next location.
In the direction she moved, countless snakes swarmed over four figures.
Soon, the serpent tide overwhelmed them.
The next instant —
Ssss!
All four transformed into puppets as the real operators emerged underground, two of them controlling crude puppet constructs to continue battling the snakes.
However.
Soon, one let out a bloodcurdling scream.
Inside his body, insects gnawed through his flesh until the swarm burst forth from his skin.
His three surviving teammates recoiled in horror.
Parasitic Destruction Insects.
The Aburame clan.
This sinister secret technique was particularly terrifying for puppet masters.
Once infested, there was no escape.
"Help me, please..."
He released various poisons.
Some insects died, but most continued devouring his body relentlessly.
Within moments, the puppet master collapsed lifelessly.
The insect tide spread outward in all directions.
Aburame Shibi controlled the swarm from the shadows, preparing to eliminate the remaining three when fireballs came streaking from afar.
The scorching flames superheated the air.
The intense heat instantly annihilated large swaths of insects.
Aburame Shibi's expression darkened.
Scorch Release.
It was Pakura.
His insects feared neither puppetry nor poison or wind techniques, but these high-temperature fire techniques were their bane.
"Tatekawa, coordinate with me."
"Yes!"
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
Scorch Release: Overwhelming Heat Kill.
One used wind techniques, the other scorch release.
Working in tandem, a scorching gale swept through, instantly withering trees and insects to husks.
"Move out!"
She prepared to lead her team away.
Thud thud thud!
Kunai shot out from the shadows, embedding chaotically in the trees behind her.
"Stay alert!"
Pakura's instincts flared.
Though unsure of the kunai's purpose, even basic explosive tags among them could prove disastrous.
Never walk into an enemy's trap!
"Follow me!"
She retreated toward their original path—
Only for a shadow to flicker through the darkened woods ahead.
More kunai rained down, encircling their forward route.
Pakura didn't understand their function, but such deliberate placement couldn't be meaningless.
So—
Channeling chakra, she formed hand seals.
Fireballs buoyed by wind levitated, incinerating the surrounding area as she charged forward.
No explosions came.
Instead, two figures emerged.
Konoha ninja!
In the next heartbeat—
Whoosh!
Both vanished.
Too fast!
Pakura surged her chakra, but the enemies had already closed the distance.
Fireballs flared to life.
Scorch Release: Overwhelming Heat Kill!
Yet—
A water wall erupted skyward.
Swirling currents engulfed three Suna ninja, while the second Konoha shinobi spewed torrents to suppress the flames.
One maintained the water barrier; the other drowned the fireballs into sizzling steam.
The Suna trio gaped.
They'd never seen Scorch Release countered like this—
Overpowered by sheer water volume...
But where had he sourced this much water when the environment was desiccated?
Pakura's brow furrowed.
This was that prodigy.
These techniques rivaled Senju Tobirama's legacy.
Wait—
"Wind techniques! Now!"
Too late.
Minato leapt, hands flashing—
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
A hurricane-force gust swept the superheated steam toward them.
Pakura endured, but her subordinates screamed as scalding vapor seared their lungs and skin.
Worse—
Amid the maelstrom, a paper tag fluttered silently into their midst.
Pakura's pupils contracted.
No—!
Hand seals formed desperately—
Fireballs reignited—
But Kyohiko was already upon her.
His clone clasped hands with the original, three seals syncing instantly—
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!
This time, the aquatic serpent coiled around both attackers, propelling them forward before lunging at Pakura.
Flames vaporized the assault—
Yet behind her, three agonized shrieks echoed.
"R-run...!"
A choking voice pleaded.
Pakura bit her lip, whirling to flee—
Snap!
Vines erupted from the earth, ensnaring her ankles.
What?!
Disbelief twisted her features.
Wood Release?!
Impossible!
She scorched the bindings—
Only for Kyohiko's fist to descend like a thunderbolt.
CRACK!
The earth split under monstrous strength. Pakura's shoulder crumpled, blood gushing from her lips.
Helpless.
Hopeless.
This boy — who'd been no threat a year prior — now eclipsed her entirely.
Such monstrous growth!
If she must die, she'd drag him—
Chakra detonated within her.
Fireballs bloomed from her pores—
Then Kyohiko's palm pressed against her forehead.
Thud.
Memories flooded her vision—
Matsuri practicing seals in Suna's sunlight.
So... peaceful...
A hallucination?
Reality snapped back to darkened woods.
"Forgive me, Matsuri. I've broken my promise."
Darkness swallowed her consciousness.
"You alright?"
"Fine."
Kyohiko flexed his seared arm—
The pain feedback from his incinerated clone was brutal.
"No kill?"
"Scorch Release has research value."
A fusion of fire and wind, resisting even water through sheer intensity—
Worth studying.
A chuckle slithered from the shadows.
"Kyohiko-kun, we think alike."
Orochimaru emerged, gaze lingering on the wooden vines.
Wood Release...
This child wields it?!
His eyes burned with avarice.
"Post-war, we must discuss Scorch Release... and wood techniques. Agreed?"
"Certainly. I'd value your insights."
Kyohiko remained courteous.
Given his ties to Tsunade, outright hostility from Orochimaru seemed unlikely.
The Sannin's tongue flicked excitedly before he surveyed the corpses.
"Pursuit is pointless now. Withdraw and regroup — we have much to discuss."
The figure dissolved—
Just a shadow clone.
Kyohiko turned to Minato.
"Back me up later."
"Orochimaru-sama seems... taken with you. Doubt he'll object."
Minato's smile faded.
"But you must stop his current strategy."
"Naturally."
Kakashi and Kurenai arrived, surveying the devastation—
Charred remains.
Steam-scorched earth.
The visceral horror of Scorch Release's aftermath.
Yet its master now lay captive.
"Was that... Orochimaru-sama?"
"Yes. We return to Kikyō Mountain."
The retreat was methodical—
Searching for survivors, treating wounds, though none touched by Scorch Release could be saved.
Their footsteps grew heavier with each desiccated corpse passed.
This was war's true face—
And their first glimpse of its abyss.