The storm unleashed by Manda arrived in an instant!
A tsunami of sand swept across the battlefield, the hurricane-force winds immediately dispersing the toxic purple mist that had shrouded the Secret Technique: Insect Tornado. Even the spinning vortex of insects was swallowed by this cataclysmic sandstorm.
"What is that?!"
"Could it be Lord Rasa?!"
Several Sand ANBU looked up in bewilderment, their eyes widening with shock. "Wait... there's someone flying in the wind!"
Ebizo, standing behind the squadron, tilted his head slightly toward the sky. When he saw the youth gliding through the air like a kite, a flicker of surprise crossed his face.
"So Orochimaru was actually willing to send his disciple to a place like this... No matter. I'll just kill them both!" Ebizo narrowed his eyes, a surge of killing intent rising. He pulled out a scroll and summoned a white-robed puppet.
Before the other Sand ninjas could react, the youth in mid-air formed a 'Tiger' seal and spat out three successive Great Fireballs! Using the recoil of the flames to stabilize himself, Ren flipped through the air like an acrobat and skidded to a halt on the sand, right in front of Ryuma Aburame.
The fierce wind pulled at his tattered robes, snapping them loudly.
"Cough, cough!" Ryuma crawled out from the sand, spitting out grit. He looked up to see Ren standing before him and felt a momentary daze.
"You—"
"Alright, save the thanks!" Ren grinned, looking sideways. The curse mark patterns on half his face made him look demonic. "Tell me something useful. I can't hold out long."
The Cursed Seal of Heaven was pumping an uncontrollable surge of power through him. This was Ren's first time using it since receiving it from Orochimaru. The power enhanced his physical control to a staggering degree—he could now even perform basic Fire Style with a single hand and a single seal.
However, a chilling energy was also causing small, scale-like bumps to grow on his skin. He felt a throbbing pressure at his temples, as if something were about to sprout.
Ren had a premonition. Unlike Sasuke's wings or Kimimaro's tail, his transformation was leaning toward something serpentine... or draconic. It felt more like the modified Sage Mode of Orochimaru's future "son," Mitsuki. It seemed Orochimaru had injected him with a raw, unrefined version of Ryuchi Cave's Senjutsu chakra.
It was powerful, but terrifyingly hard to control. If he stayed in this state too long, he might genetically mutate into a snake. But facing Ebizo—a man whose floor was at least Kage-level—Ren had to play his final trump card.
Swoosh!
An invisible, razor-sharp blade of wind shot directly for Ren's head! It was so fast it defied description. Before Ren's mind could even register it, his body moved on instinct, tilting his head just enough to evade the strike.
Splat!
The wind blade shattered a cluster of Ryuma's protective insects and bored deep into a distant sand dune.
Ren looked back solemnly. Ebizo, behind his thirty-man squadron, raised an eyebrow. He was impressed the boy had dodged that. Ebizo's fingertip still glowed with the sharp edge of the A-rank Wind Style: Blade of Wind—an invisible, unavoidable technique.
Ryuma Aburame's expression darkened. Seeing Ren's missing arm and cursed state, he didn't waste time with questions. He leaned on Ren's shoulder to stand and took a special kunai from his pouch, pressing it into Ren's hand.
Ren's heart skipped a beat. As a master of shurikenjutsu, he knew the weight and balance of a kunai the moment it touched his palm. This was no ordinary tool.
"Listen, Ren," Ryuma whispered. "This operation is different from what you think. All the sacrifices, all the movements... they were for one goal: To kill the Sand high commander, Ebizo!"
"The time has come! Now, what happens next is clear!"
Ryuma's eyes behind his glasses flashed with a hint of madness. He pulled a signal flare from his pouch and fired it into the sky. In the darkness, a fifth color—distinct from the standard four—exploded.
An orange trail of smoke drifted into the air.
Ren took a sharp breath, his spirit lifting. He shoved the special kunai into his pouch and slapped Ryuma on the shoulder.
"I understand!" Ren's eyes burned with resolve. "Then I'll leave the retreat of my men to you! I'll handle things here!"
Ryuma froze. "Wait, what are you—?!"
Before he could stop him, Ren had already turned and lunged headfirst into the encirclement of thirty Sand ninjas. Ryuma felt his scalp go numb, and it took him several seconds to finish his sentence:
"...Holy crap! I meant for you to stall with me until reinforcements arrive!"