Chapter 14: I Want to Make a Quick Pull
Looking at the Sand ninja charging up, howling with enthusiasm despite their scrapes and bruises…
Rasa really had something to say!
[Which idiot led this team?!]
When he needed backup, they were nowhere to be found. Now that he was ready to bail, they showed up all hyped?
And…
They'd even brought the Rock ninja along?!
[Do I still run or what?!]
His heart was full of exasperation. Seeing things going south, with the Grass ninja even trying to kill the red-haired Uzumaki girl, he'd decided on a strategic retreat. Not because he was scared—he was that brave, so how could he fear a mere… horde of Grass ninja?
Really!
But who could've predicted…
These sand-brained Sand ninja would show up now, with a pack of Rock ninja trailing them.
[They're trying to get me killed!]
As for escaping again… Rasa worried he'd just attract another wave of Rock ninja, and then… get chased by another wave.
His face darkened as he glared at the approaching Sand ninja. "Who? Who the hell told you to come?"
Not earlier, not later, but now? What moron made that call?!
"Lord Rasa, no need to thank me—it was me!" Momu stepped forward, covered in dust, grinning as he brandished a kunai. His tone was resolute. "As ninja of the Hidden Sand Village, how could we let Lord Rasa face danger alone?"
"…"
Thanks a lot, pal.
Rasa stared speechlessly at the earnest, serious, and slightly excited Sand ninja, sighing wistfully. He didn't bother scolding this sand-brained guy, especially seeing the others—covered in dust, bandaged, and battle-worn—following behind.
Then he looked at the Rock and Grass ninja encircling them.
[Bunch of idiots!]
Now…
What could he do?
Ditch them and let them die? Run and let a horde of ninja chase him? Or stay… and fight their way out together.
Rasa suddenly realized… he didn't have much of a choice~
Glancing at his two remaining system cards: one was a ninjutsu—Flying Thunder God Technique, usable once, but the teleportation range depended on his control. Problem was, he hadn't set any markers, so he had no idea where it'd take him.
The other…
[OK Bandages x6: Strong hemostasis, antibacterial, itch relief, greatly aids wound recovery~]
"…"
No clue how effective they were, but… they were trash.
Rasa fell silent for a moment, then sighed faintly, looking at the Sand ninja around him, ready for war, staring down the enemy.
"Do you guys have any money?" he asked.
I want to make a quick pull~
"?!"
Though puzzled why Lord Rasa would say this at such a tense moment, the Sand ninja soon dug into their pockets.
One silver tael, three silver taels, ten silver taels, three silver taels… the biggest bill was just a hundred silver taels, and most ninja had empty pockets.
"…"
Only six thousand taels~
Rasa sighed in frustration, shaking his head. [This… won't even cover much!] Moments later, with a disappointed look, he stuffed the taels into his ninja pouch.
[Guess everyone's really broke!]
At that moment…
"Surrender, Sand ninja!" the Rock ninja commander, a slightly stocky man with a red headband, stepped forward, his voice booming with authority. "You've already lost!"
"Bullshit!" Momu shot back, cursing before Rasa could respond.
"We've lost plenty of times, but have you ever seen the Hidden Sand Village surrender?"
If they gave up… the blow to the Hidden Sand Village would be catastrophic. It'd be the end.
How could they surrender?!
The other Sand ninja didn't back down either, hurling defiance at the enemy.
They…
Were the Sand ninja—always bouncing around, never afraid to lose face or fail!
"Very well…" Loess frowned, shaking his head helplessly and waving a hand.
"Attack!"
The outcome… wasn't bad. At least this Rasa wasn't escaping tonight. Any useful intel could be extracted from him later!
As Loess gave the order…
The Grass Village commander, gnashing his teeth, also waved his hand. "Kill them all!"
"Earth Release: River of Earth Flow!"
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
"Earth Release: Tearing Earth Turning Palm!"
Countless ninja began forming seals and unleashing ninjutsu, while the Sand ninja reacted swiftly.
"Wind Release: Blade of Wind!"
"Wind Release: Great Vacuum Sphere!"
"Wind Release: Wind Slaughter Formation!"
The battlefield erupted with dust and sand, fierce winds whipping up debris, shrouding the fight. Ninja squinted in the dark, dueling under the night sky.
But…
This was almost an advantage for the Sand ninja.
After all, raised in the desert, living in the desert, they were used to this.
So…
"Magnet Release: Gold Dust Stealth Technique."
This was a ninjutsu Rasa developed while panning gold, refining his control over gold dust and studying the Mist Hiding Technique. It used surrounding sand to cloak his body, making him nearly invisible.
Now…
Was the perfect time for an assassination technique.
Weaving through the swirling sand, aided by his gold dust, as long as there were no sensory ninja in this chaotic battlefield…
"Behind! A chakra signature—it's heading that way!" a Rock ninja suddenly shouted, pointing at Rasa. "Everyone, watch out!"
"Earth Release…"
"…"
Rasa stared, dumbfounded, as the other ninja bombarded his direction with random ninjutsu.
Sighing inwardly, [Of course… no village goes to war without sensory ninja, unless they really have none!]
But… it was a bit late now.
The desert was his home turf. Even without a system pull, he could go toe-to-toe with the One-Tail, who also used the desert as its domain—though it'd cost him everything.
Grabbing the bewildered red-haired Uzumaki girl, who looked panicked and uneasy, he revealed himself.
Though…
Maybe he'd grabbed too hard, hurting her.
Seeing the clear teeth marks on her arm…
[Already playing the healing pack?]
Ignoring her cries for help, Rasa stood atop a towering wave of gold dust, staring down at the Grass ninja, their faces paling, and the wary Rock ninja.
"I'm taking her today. Let's see who dares stop me!" he declared.
Oh~ sorry, got carried away. Seeing the confused ninja below, he coughed twice to cover it.
"Can we sit down and talk? Otherwise, I'll…"
But before he could finish…
"Kill her!" a cold voice rang out in the night.
(End of Chapter)