Chapter 86

Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Uchiha Yosuke vs. Rasa

**Outside the Valley**

"Captain Yosuke, we’ve spotted fifteen ninjas ahead. They’re wearing Sand Village forehead protectors, and within the valley, there are..."

The team of Konoha ninjas dashed through the rain, their expressions serious as they all prepared their kunai and shurikens, ready for battle.

Their commander, Uchiha Yosuke, didn't hesitate for a moment, giving a cold order:

"Fire the signal flare. Let our allies in the valley know reinforcements have arrived."

As soon as Yosuke's voice fell, Uchiha Hachidai fired a brilliant signal flare into the sky.

In the gloomy, rainy sky, the Konoha reinforcement signal was unmistakable.

At that same moment, the Konoha ninjas in the valley, upon seeing the flare, shouted excitedly.

"Haha, reinforcements are here! Hold back these rogue ninjas!"

"Charge!"

The flare in the sky boosted the morale of the Konoha ninjas, causing the leader of the hired rogue ninjas to scowl and mutter in disgust:

"Ugh, I really can’t stand you big-country ninjas."

This is the difference between having a Hidden Village backing you and being a rogue ninja. When rogue ninjas are surrounded, they never expect reinforcements.

On the hill, Rasa smirked as he saw the flare and the approaching Konoha ninjas. He began weaving hand signs immediately.

**Magnet Release: Gold Dust Tidal Wave**

In an instant, waves of golden sand surged down the muddy slope. Simultaneously, a dozen Sand ninjas hurled poisoned mist and mixed it with the Gold Dust, while others launched Wind Release attacks.

"Though rain increases the weight of the sand, this terrain will only amplify its power!"

As Rasa watched his technique's strength multiply in the valley, his smile grew smug.

Suddenly, a massive explosion resounded, as if something heavy had struck from afar. A giant wave of mud rose like a waterfall, blocking their view.

**Slugs: Tongue Tooth Sticky Acid**

In the cover of the rain, a corrosive liquid sprayed upward toward them, revealing a massive creature.

"A slug this large! It’s Tsunade-sama’s summoning animal, Katsuyu!"

Rasa's smile froze. The Sand ninjas looked at the huge creature with alarm.

**Wind Release: Great Breakthrough**

In the next moment, numerous Konoha ninjas exhaled Wind Release techniques, directing the corrosive liquid towards the Sand ninjas.

"Defend!"

Seeing this, Rasa manipulated his Gold Dust to form a defensive wall in front of the Sand ninjas.

In the following instant, the acidic liquid splattered down, hissing as it hit the Gold Dust and water.

Katsuyu's appearance made the Sand ninjas believe that Tsunade herself had arrived. Known as the princess of the Land of Fire and a frontline commander, Tsunade’s reputation was thunderous, especially among the Sand Village.

Her mastery in countering poisons developed by Elder Chiyo had earned her a fearful reputation in the Land of Wind.

In the rain, Uchiha Yosuke, who had summoned Katsuyu, delivered a blow to the enemy’s morale. As the waves of Gold Dust surged forward, all the Konoha ninjas remained safe on Katsuyu’s back, avoiding the technique.

"Yosuke, this is the first time you’ve summoned me for a battle," said Katsuyu in a gentle voice.

Yosuke nodded calmly. "I know that Lady Katsuyu isn’t just skilled in medical techniques."

The three Summoning Animals—Toads, Snakes, and Slugs—are often specialized. However, the corrosive acid from Katsuyu could even make Manda, the giant snake, avoid a direct hit.

Boom! Waves of Gold Dust surged forward like a flood, but Katsuyu clung to the mountainside, only wobbling slightly.

"Don’t let the Konoha ninjas get up here!" A sensing ninja among the Sand shouted in panic, “Captain Rasa, look out above!”

Alerted, Rasa looked up and saw a hawk flying rapidly towards them through the rainy sky.

With a piercing cry, the hawk’s three riders unleashed jutsu simultaneously.

**Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu**

**Wind Release: Vacuum Waves**

**Lightning Release: False Darkness**

The combined techniques erupted above the Sand ninjas, leaving Rasa visibly shocked.

The three ninjas were Uchiha Yosuke, Uzumaki Kushina, and Uchiha Mikoto.

Kushina, though not a Wind Release expert, unleashed a terrifying volume of chakra. Her wind blades sliced through the Gold Dust barrier. Mikoto followed up with Fire Release, launching a barrage of fireballs toward the breaches in the sand defense.

Yosuke completed the attack with a B-rank Lightning Release technique, sending a powerful lightning spear that sliced through the rain, aiming straight at Rasa.

This coordinated attack of three different elements left Rasa shouting to his team:

"Be careful, this time the enemy—"

Before he could finish, a flash of lightning appeared in front of him. He reflexively summoned more Gold Dust, but the blade pierced through, barely missing his shoulder.

The wound bled as Rasa stumbled back. The Gold Dust wall collapsed under the Lightning chakra, revealing a cold, stern face shining with lightning.

"So, you’re Jounin Rasa of the Sand Village?"

Yosuke glanced at the blood on his Kusanagi blade and flashed a look of disappointment. In an instant, he dashed towards Rasa.

Boom! A series of exploding tags ignited in mid-air as Mikoto threw kunai embedded with tags, forcing the Sand ninjas to take a defensive stance.

Taking advantage of the explosions, the Konoha ninjas leaped onto the hill and engaged the Sand ninjas in close combat.

"Kill them all!"

"Destroy the Sand ninjas!"

Following their strategy from the beginning, Konoha had baited the Sand to attack from a fortified position while Yosuke summoned both Katsuyu and the hawk.

Under cover of the summoning smoke, the hawk had flown into position. Katsuyu’s entrance created the perfect distraction, allowing the hawk team to attack from above and Yosuke to strike Rasa with Lightning Release.

Mikoto’s kunai with explosive tags provided a diversion, giving Konoha ninjas enough time to scale the hill and counter-attack.

The attack had completely reversed the roles, forcing the Sand ninjas from offense to defense, and even destroying most of the traps set around the valley with the tag explosions.

As for the flying animal, after the Grass Country incident, Mikoto used clan resources to acquire a flying summoning animal.

By chance, she ended up finding the same species Sasuke would later find.

Though not particularly powerful, its rarity as a flying creature was invaluable in the shinobi world.

[End of Chapter]