"Senior Torifu."
Sora looked toward Akimichi Torifu, who had finally arrived.
"Are you alright?"
Akimichi Torifu kept his gaze fixed on the Third Raikage, asking without turning his head, his tone carrying a hint of concern. He could sense Sora's breathing was somewhat heavy.
"I can still hold on."
"Good! Let's join forces, and block him first!"
Akimichi Torifu let out a low shout. His body swelled slightly as he activated the Partial Multi-Size Technique, increasing his strength and defense once again.
The Third Raikage's face was as dark as water as he looked at the two Konoha powerhouses teaming up before him.
One was the leader of the Akimichi clan, known for strength and defense, whose strength definitely reached Kage level. The other was that "Konoha's Azure Dragon", who had bizarre methods, astonishing speed and power, and had even secretly learned his Kumogakure's secret techniques.
In a one on one fight, he was confident he could defeat either one.
But with the two of them teaming up, plus the newly arrived Konoha ninja around them, it was almost impossible to take them down quickly.
Especially that brat. He was slippery, and with that strange form and the Lightning Release Chakra Mode enhancement, killing him instantly would be extremely difficult.
Furious rage burned in his chest. But the Third Raikage, as the leader of his village, was not a complete hothead.
After the initial fury passed, rationality gradually began to return.
He continued to launch fierce attacks. Lightning flashed and crashed as he collided with Akimichi Torifu's enlarged fists and palms, and Sora's swift, strange counterattacks. The center of the battlefield boomed continuously, shrouded in dust.
But it was clear that the Third Raikage's attacks were no longer solely focused on overwhelming force like before. They now carried a bit more caution.
...
Not long after, a Kumogakure intelligence ninja appeared near the Third Raikage using the Lightning Body Flicker Technique.
"Lord Raikage! Urgent intelligence! Orochimaru, one of Konoha's Sannin, known as 'The Cold One', is moving rapidly toward this area from the Iwagakure front! He is expected to reach the battlefield soon!"
"What?! Orochimaru?!"
Hearing this, the Third Raikage's expression changed drastically.
"What is that old fox Ōnoki doing! He can't even hold back an Orochimaru! Useless!"
The Third Raikage couldn't help but curse the incompetence of Iwagakure in his heart.
An Orochimaru, plus Akimichi Torifu and this troublesome "Konoha's Azure Dragon", along with the large number of Konoha ninja surrounding them... The situation was beginning to turn unfavorable for Kumogakure.
If they continued to fight, even if he could protect himself, the elite Kumogakure forces he brought would likely suffer heavy losses.
Considering this, the Third Raikage made a decisive decision.
He threw a heavy punch to force Akimichi Torifu back. Then, his gaze, sharp as a physical object, stabbed toward Sora, who was catching his breath in the distance. His voice thundered across the battlefield.
"Hmph! Akimichi Torifu! And you, Konoha's Azure Dragon! Consider yourselves lucky today!"
"Azure Dragon?"
Akimichi Torifu's blocking arm paused slightly, a flicker of confusion in his eyes.
Under his mask, Sora's brow twitched slightly, but he made no sound.
The Third Raikage hesitated no longer. He waved his hand grandly. "Kumogakure forces, retreat!"
As soon as the order was given, the well-trained Kumogakure ninja immediately began to cover each other in an orderly withdrawal, giving Konoha no chance to pursue.
The Third Raikage himself gave Sora a final, intense stare, as if to deeply imprint this "Konoha's Azure Dragon" who had repeatedly made him suffer setbacks and had stolen Kumogakure's secret techniques into his memory. Then he snorted coldly. Lightning erupted around his body as he transformed into a blue meteor, quickly disappearing at the edge of the battlefield, covering the retreating troops.
Watching the Kumogakure forces retreat like a receding tide, Akimichi Torifu did not order a pursuit.
He deeply understood the principle of not pursuing a desperate enemy. Moreover, the Third Raikage's strength was too great. If pushed to a corner, a counterattack would have unthinkable consequences.
He breathed heavily, releasing the Multi-Size Technique. Clashing head-on with a stamina monster like the Third Raikage had also taken a huge toll on him.
Then he turned his head to look at Sora, who had already released all his states and returned to his ordinary Anbu attire.
"Azure Dragon?"
Akimichi Torifu repeated the title the Third Raikage had used before leaving, his tone carrying obvious doubt. "Why would the Third Raikage call you 'Azure Dragon'? Your Anbu codename is 'Green Snake', isn't it?"
Sora was prepared for this question. His voice was calm as he answered.
"I do not know. Perhaps some of my abilities led the Third Raikage to a misunderstanding. Or perhaps Kumogakure's intelligence is mistaken."
Akimichi Torifu looked deeply at Sora, but did not press further.
It was too normal for Anbu members, especially those in special operations teams, to have secrets. As long as Sora's heart was with Konoha, the stronger he was, the better for the village.
"Enough."
Akimichi Torifu waved his hand. "Regardless, we owe thanks to you and Minato for arriving in time this time. Otherwise, the main defense line would have been in danger. Go rest now and treat your injuries. I will handle the follow-up matters."
"Yes."
Sora nodded and turned to walk toward the interior of the Konoha camp.
As he walked, he recalled the words of the intelligence ninja from earlier.
'Orochimaru... he actually came?'
Under his mask, the corner of Sora's mouth lifted slightly.
'It seems this war is getting more and more interesting.'
...
The Kumogakure forces retreated, leaving only devastation and the bodies of ninja from both sides on the battlefield.
Akimichi Torifu quickly ordered the battlefield cleared, the wounded treated, and the defense line reinforced to guard against a possible return of the Kumogakure forces.
Entering the temporarily built command tent, Akimichi Torifu rubbed his sore arms and called for the head of the intelligence team.
"How is the situation with Minato? Did they hold the western Number Three high ground?"
Namikaze Minato was one of Konoha's most important top-tier combatants now. He could not be lost.
The intelligence team ninja immediately reported.
"Reporting, Commander. Lord Minato arrived in time and successfully repelled the Kumogakure assault force led by Killer B and the Fourth Raikage candidate A. The western defense line has stabilized. Seeing their surprise attack fail, the Kumogakure forces have also retreated."
Hearing this, Akimichi Torifu let out a long sigh of relief. A trace of relief appeared on his tense face. "Good! That's Minato for you! With him there, the flank is secure."
His evaluation of Namikaze Minato rose once again in his heart.
To travel between two major battlefields in such a short time and successfully repel elite forces led by two Kage-level powerholders, this level of strength and efficiency was worthy of the name "Yellow Flash".
Just then, a report came from outside the tent. "Commander, Lord Orochimaru has arrived."
Akimichi Torifu's brow moved slightly as he composed his expression. "Let him in."
The tent flap was lifted, and Orochimaru's somewhat effeminate figure walked in.
His skin was still that pale complexion. His golden serpentine eyes held a trace of a faint smile. Behind him followed several ninja with cold auras, standing quietly at the tent entrance.
"Senior Torifu, it seems I arrived a bit too late?"
Akimichi Torifu looked at Orochimaru, his tone neither warm nor cold.
"Orochimaru, being able to disengage from the Iwagakure front to come here is considered timely enough. The pressure on the front lines is immense. We need power like yours."
But then his tone shifted.
"However, this is wartime. What the village needs is strength united against external enemies. Some... 'hobbies' that are too draining on personal energy are best set aside for now. This is to avoid delaying important matters and to prevent attracting unnecessary trouble."
These words were quite subtle, but everyone in the tent understood. This was a veiled reference to the recent rumors circulating about Orochimaru conducting forbidden experiments.
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