Naruto: From Kushina Uzumaki onwards, a traitor

but...

When the kunai struck Chiyu, Chiyu's body suddenly became illusory, until it disappeared and reappeared in another location.

The leader of the Tang Ren tribe's expression immediately changed, and he blurted out, "Illusion?!"

Chapter 60 Arrive

The leader of the Tang Ren looked at Qian Yu in disbelief.

He clearly threw the kunai accurately at Chiyu, and it did hit her, but Chiyu's body became illusory and appeared on the other side.

All signs indicate that he has fallen under an illusion.

But... when was the illusion cast?

The leader of the Tang Ninja trembled as he recalled the time when Chiba used the Seventh Form: Fire and Thunder God to unleash a sword-drawing slash on him. He clearly saw Chiba's Sharingan spinning.

The leader of the Tang Ninja clan said with a grim expression, "So that's how it is. I was caught in the Sharingan's genjutsu back then."

Qianyu admitted, "Ah, that's right. It seems you realized when you were under the illusion. I said I couldn't kill you, so naturally I have to leave myself a backup plan."

However, I don't really like using illusions; I prefer direct combat between two people. To be honest, this is the first time I've ever used an illusion on someone.

The leader of the Tang Ninja said with a gloomy face, "You're really impressive. If you had enough chakra, I, an elite Jonin, might have really fallen into your hands. However, you don't have much chakra yourself, so the effect of your genjutsu is greatly reduced."

In theory, genjutsu (illusionary techniques) of the eye type can only be broken by having someone disrupt the flow of chakra. However, there is now another way to break it!

The leader of the Tang ninja clan produced a kunai and plunged it viciously into his own thigh.

The pain allowed the leader of the Tang Ninja to break free from the illusion.

The leader of the Tang ninja clan pulled the kunai from his thigh and looked at Qianyu with icy eyes: "Now, you should be out of options, right?"

Qianyu's smile grew even brighter as she looked at the leader of the Tang Ren and said, "No solution? You're the one who's helpless."

A voice came from behind the leader of the Tang Ninja: "Kuroiwa Tatsuji, you have already lost to my disciple."

The person appearing behind the leader of the hot spring ninja was none other than Orochimaru.

The leader of the Yu Ninja, Kuroiwa Tatsuji, did not attack Orochimaru. He simply sighed heavily. Once Orochimaru appeared, he had no chance of resisting.

Kuroiwa Tatsuji smiled bitterly, "The foundation of a great ninja village is truly profound. The Legendary Sannin of Konoha, the White Fang of Konoha, and various powerful individuals with bloodline limits and secret techniques... now even the new recruits have grown to this level..."

Since you didn't kill me, it seems that child wasn't lying. I had to live according to your plan, but there's nothing I can do to help you. A small ninja village like ours has no say whatsoever.

Orochimaru calmly said, "I don't need you to do anything to make things difficult for me. In fact, as long as you do as I say, even if Konoha and Kumogakure go to war, the flames of war will not reach your Yugakure."

A glint suddenly flashed in Kuroiwa Tatsuji's unfocused eyes: "What do you want us, the Hidden Hot Spring Village, to do?"

Orochimaru replied, "We will retreat immediately. After we retreat, you should have the Cloud Ninja withdraw from Yugakure and restore Yugakure to neutrality."

Kuroiwa Tatsuji frowned and said, "As I just said, our small ninja village has no say. The Cloud Ninja have already moved into Yugakure, and it will be very difficult for me to get them to withdraw."

Orochimaru said coldly, "Our Konoha came here specifically to attack the Cloud Ninja. Your Yugakure is just a side project. That reason should be enough to make the Cloud Ninja withdraw from Yugakure, right? If there are still Cloud Ninja in Yugakure afterward, even just one, our Konoha ninja will continue to attack Yugakure."

Kuroiwa Tatsuji understood Orochimaru's meaning.

This attack by Konoha ninjas on Yugakure caused such great losses to Yugakure that Yugakure could have any reason to claim that Yugakure could no longer afford the losses and that it should return to neutrality, thus forcing the Kumo ninjas to withdraw from Yugakure.

After all, the Cloud Ninja did not fulfill their initial promise to protect the ninjas and villagers of Yugakure.

The truth lies in Tangyin Village.

However, Kuroiwa Tatsuji was still filled with grief and indignation.

Because he had already figured out Konoha's plan.

Konoha's plan this time wasn't aimed at the Cloud Ninja at all, but at their own Yugakure.

The Hidden Hot Springs Village sided with the Hidden Cloud Village, which is why the Leaf Village ninja attacked the Hidden Hot Springs Village.

Judging from Kuroiwa Tatsuji's expression, Orochimaru guessed that Kuroiwa Tatsuji must have misunderstood the purpose of the Konoha ninja's attack on Yugakure.

Orochimaru didn't bother to explain, because he had already achieved his goal.

For the sake of the village, Kuroiwa Tatsuji will definitely restore neutrality and force the Cloud Ninja to withdraw from Yugakure.

Orochimaru has already arrived in the Land of Hot Springs to provide support, and this will soon be known to all the Cloud Ninja in the Land of Hot Springs.

Once we get back, we can immediately begin advancing the front lines.

Having just attacked Yugakure, and now immediately advancing the front lines, the Cloud Ninja will surely assume that Konoha has sent many ninjas to Yugakure with Orochimaru's support, and will not act rashly.

Orochimaru said to the toad on his shoulder, "Pass down the word to have everyone gather at the entrance of Yugakure. The plan has succeeded; prepare to retreat."

Minato Namikaze, who had been standing at a distance, gave Chiba a deep look with complicated emotions before going to support the other ninjas.

Orochimaru walked up to Chiba and extended his hand to her.

Chiba grasped Orochimaru's hand and used it to stand up again.

"Can you still move?"

Qianyu shook her head: "My body is severely overdrawn, and it's difficult for me to move around anymore."

Orochimaru turned his back and squatted down in front of Chiba: "Get on, I'll carry you."

Chiyu looked at Orochimaru's back with some surprise, not expecting Orochimaru to take the initiative to carry him.

Without any hesitation, Chiba climbed onto Orochimaru's back.

After Orochimaru got up, he walked forward while praising, "You performed exceptionally well in this operation, especially in the battle against Kuroiwa Tatsuji. Although he is only the leader of Yugakure, a small ninja village, he is at least an elite Jonin."

"If you hadn't run out of chakra, you might have won this battle. But it's already quite good. The battlefield is the best place to improve your strength; every battle is a fight to the death. And you've already made great progress in just your first battle."

"Thank you, Orochimaru-sensei. Orochimaru-sensei, that Kuroiwa Tatsuji should be considered one of the weaker elite Jonin, right?" Chiyu asked.

Orochimaru nodded and said, "That's right. The main problem is that Yugakure doesn't have much of a foundation. Elite Jonin like me and Jiraiya are completely incomparable to us."

Once we reach our level, the differences between ourselves are not that great. What sets us apart are our powerful ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, secret techniques, bloodline limits, and other abilities.

The ninjutsu used by the Black Rock Society are merely common techniques circulating throughout the ninja world, easily countered, which is why you were able to fight him on equal terms.

Chiyu exclaimed, "I see. But Kuroiwa Tatsuji is indeed an elite Jonin. His combat experience is truly abundant. I was confident that my Fire and Lightning God Technique could kill even a Jonin, but I didn't expect him to come up with that method to dodge."

Orochimaru warned, "Chiba, you must remember that in the ninja world, no one is simple, so you must treat every battle with utmost care!"

"Yes, I'll remember Orochimaru-sensei!"

Chapter 61 The Surprise Attack Ends

Orochimaru announced the order to retreat.

The Konoha ninjas fighting in Yugakure are now retreating as they fight, until they reach the entrance of Yugakure.

Orochimaru glanced around at the remaining Konoha ninja, his brow furrowing slightly.

Before they arrived, there were probably less than a hundred people, maybe ninety-odd.

A quick glance reveals that, including the injured ninjas, there are at most forty people left.

Although the surprise attack on Yugakure is about to succeed, the price they have paid is quite heavy.

This operation is just one step away from success: Kuroiwa Tatsuji's neutrality.

Jiraiya, covered in blood, walked up to Orochimaru and asked, "Orochimaru, how is that old man? Did he agree?"

"I don't know, but no matter what, we should retreat. We can't linger any longer."

Jiraiya nodded seriously; they really couldn't continue fighting.

Orochimaru believed that Kuroiwa Tatsuji would definitely agree to his proposal.

If they disagree, then Yugakure will no longer need to exist.

Orochimaru announced, "Wait here for five minutes, hold this position, and wait for the rest of our comrades to rejoin us. After five minutes, no matter what, we will retreat!"

Time was passing by, second by second.

The ninjas stationed there, including Orochimaru and Jiraiya, unleashed a barrage of ninjutsu into the Hidden Hot Spring Village to prevent the Cloud Ninjas and the Hot Spring Ninjas from getting closer.

Minato Namikaze is currently the most active player here.

Minato Namikaze used his mobility to keep going back and forth, rescuing a Konoha ninja with each trip.

Minato Namikaze is exhausted right now.

But he kept going, thinking he could save as many people as possible.

Just as Minato Namikaze was about to go back in to rescue people, Jiraiya stopped him.

"Alright, Minato, you've done your best. Don't go any further. We're about to retreat. You've reached your limit."

Minato Namikaze pleaded, "Jiraiya-sensei, there's still some time, please let me go again."

Jiraiya shook his head: "You can't go anymore. Haven't you noticed that your speed has slowed down a lot? If you go again, you'll be in danger. Besides, this little bit of time isn't enough for you to save another person. Orochimaru said five minutes, and that's five minutes. He won't stay a second longer for you."

Moreover, by now, those who were supposed to evacuate have already done so, and those who haven't...

Jiraiya didn't continue speaking, but the meaning was clear: things were likely going badly.

Minato Namikaze lowered his head slightly and remained silent.

The time was up, and Orochimaru immediately said, "Retreat now! Place explosive tags along the way! Let's go!"

The Konoha ninjas who had gathered here all retreated.

The retreat went smoothly, with almost no obstruction from the Cloud Ninja.

It was nearly noon when we got back to our base.

Severely exhausted, Chiyu had returned to her tent to rest.

Others should also heal their wounds or rest as needed.

Orochimaru and Jiraiya didn't rest either, because it was a busy time.

Orochimaru asked, "Jiraiya, have you finished counting? How many ninjas do we have left?"

Jiraiya reported, "Currently, there are only 43 ninjas left, and only 32 of them can still fight for a short period of time."