Immortality begins with the ninjas of Konoha.

In late June of Konoha 48, on the front lines of the Land of Rain, the morale of the Sand Village ninja plummeted, and their losses in the past week had intensified once again.

While Sunagakure Jonin Rasa returned to the rear to recuperate, most of the ninja were still comforting themselves, unconditionally believing the reasons given by their superiors:

"The evil Konoha ninjas only achieved local victories through breach of contract and sneak attacks!"

"Rasa, who was able to suppress the tailed beasts, returned to the rear to visit his wife who was hospitalized."

As long as the Sand Village ninjas who participated in that battle don't reveal the truth, then Rasa's injuries will only be "external wounds".

The so-called retreat can also be called a tactical withdrawal. Not losing is winning, and the Sand Village ninja desperately need such a victory!

Luo Sha did go to the hospital, but not to visit his pregnant wife.

His lung was pierced by Furukawa Osamu's Chidori Spear, and his injuries were extremely severe. The medical ninjas on the front lines were unable to treat him, so they had to return to the village and seek help from the high-ranking advisor, Chiyo.

In the intensive care unit of Sunagakure Hospital, Karura, heavily pregnant, looked at her husband with a worried expression, hesitating to speak. Finally, she mustered her courage and asked in a low voice:

"Do you really have to go to the front lines? Granny Chiyo told me that the lightning release technique that injured you is very troublesome."

Luo Sha knew his wife was due to give birth in a little over a month, but the situation at the front was deteriorating, and as the village's young leader, he had to step forward at this critical moment.

"The village needs me, and Sunagakure needs a victory to stabilize morale."

Karura didn't know how to respond. Thinking of Chiyo's words about "lightning release with life force," he could only clasp his hands together and pray silently.

-

Under the gloomy sky, the fleeing Sand Village ninja, exhausted, ran away in a panic, eventually collapsing on the muddy ground.

"Well..."

Rasa, who was on the back of the Sand Village ninja, was also thrown off. Rasa rolled in the mud, groaned in pain, and coughed up blood again.

He didn't even have the strength to stand up. Luo Sha involuntarily recalled his wife's prayers before her departure, and for a moment he murmured to himself:

"Galuro".

"Lord Rasa, hold on! Reinforcements are on their way!"

A Sand Village ninja hurriedly carried Rasa on his back and loudly comforted him, but seeing that his leader was charred all over and bleeding from his waist, the others all lowered their heads and remained silent.

"Woof!"

The faint barking of dogs indicated that they were surrounded by Konoha ninjas. Without rain, the enemy was pursuing them at an extremely fast pace, and the Sand Village ninjas were utterly desperate.

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

The sounds produced by the Body Flicker Technique continued to emerge. The Konoha ninja stopped atop the earthen slope, all looking down at the Sand Village ninja with bloodthirsty eyes.

Under the pressure of death, the two young men from Sunagakure completely broke down, letting out meaningless shouts as they accelerated toward the crowd.

Before they could even get close to the earthen slope, two Sand Village ninjas suddenly developed huge wounds on their chests, blood splattered everywhere, and they fell silently to the ground.

The azure blade of light attached to the short sword in Furukawa Osamu's hand was shortening. He looked expressionlessly at Rasa, who was being protected by the Sand Village ninja, and his lightning chakra erupted once more.

"A pointless struggle!"

As soon as Furukawa Osamu finished speaking, the Sand Village ninja at the front felt a sharp pain in his chest, followed by screams from the people behind him as the light blades swiftly pierced through their bodies.

Perhaps it was the human wall that played a role; just as the light blade was about to pierce through Rasa's body, a chakra shield glowing with blue light successfully intercepted Furukawa Osamu's Chidori Sharp Spear.

"Sizzle!"

The ninjutsu clashed, and sharp screeching sounds rang out continuously. Rasa saw the two puppets in front of him, let out a long breath, and then could no longer maintain his dignity, immediately kneeling on the ground.

"Kid, you can't break through the supreme defense of the mechanical shield!"

Chiyo, short in stature and with an aged face, appeared from behind, and then the Sand Village ninja who came to support her protected Rasa.

"Old man, you were here a long time ago! You just watched them get shot."

Furukawa Osamu maintained his Chidori Sharp Spear and responded calmly. The Sand Village ninja remained unmoved upon hearing this and continued to stare intently at the Konoha ninja.

Chiyo's aged face showed regret. She hadn't expected the young Furukawa Osamu to be so cautious, never actually stepping into the encirclement.

"It's amazing that the Slug Woman could train a disciple like you. I wonder how good your medical ninjutsu is."

As soon as Chiyo finished speaking, the puppet squads behind her immediately took action. The two puppets at the front also transformed, and countless senbon needles burst forth.

"Earth Release·Earth Style Wall!"

The Konoha ninjas provided immediate support, blocking the attack of the thousand shojin. Then, long-range fire-style ninjutsu erupted, and without Furukawa Osamu's command, everyone charged forward.

Chiyo's puppets are completely different from those of ordinary puppeteers; they are not only more flexible, but also have more complex mechanisms.

Two puppets hurtled towards her, attacking Furukawa Osamu relentlessly from tricky angles. Chiyo frantically swung her arms, and the puppets' long swords and kunai whips slashed continuously at inhuman speed.

"Ding ding..."

Sparks flew around Furukawa Osamu as he transformed into a "dragon," parrying precisely while attempting to accelerate his advance.

The Sand Village ninja in front of Chiyo desperately tried to block her, while the Konoha ninja seized the opportunity to get close and interfere.

Seeing that Furukawa Osamu had suddenly increased the distance, Rasa, who was behind him, hurriedly shouted a warning:

"Watch out for his lightning technique!"

Chiyo's two puppets charged forward immediately, and black arcs of electricity suddenly erupted from Furukawa Osamu's body. The power of Chidori Stream increased dramatically, and the puppet in front of him shattered on the spot.

"boom!"

Cracks appeared in the earth, and Furukawa Osamu vanished instantly. Chiyo, with agility beyond her years, raised her arm, and a mechanical shield immediately appeared in front of her.

"impossible!"

Chiyo screamed as she watched as her strongest defense was pierced by Furukawa Osamu's chakra dagger crackling with black lightning. The immense impact shattered her modified arm instantly.

"Chiyo-sama..."

The nearby Sand Village ninjas instinctively shouted loudly, and many of them even abandoned their defenses and rushed straight at Furukawa Osamu.

Chiyo barely avoided a fatal blow, but her shoulder was pierced by a short sword, leaving her paralyzed. She could only watch helplessly as the Sand Village ninja who came to her rescue was swiftly killed by Osamu Furukawa.

Under layers of protection, Chiyo let out a painful growl:

"Use poison!"

The poisonous smoke and poisonous senbon exploded simultaneously, and the Konoha ninja and Sunagakure ninja at the forefront fell to the ground one after another. Furukawa Osamu did not expect the antidote to fail and immediately reminded his companions to retreat.

"Master Xiu!"

"This is a new poison. Pull your poisoned companions back. I'll help everyone control the toxins first."

Furukawa Osamu did not order a pursuit, which secretly pleased the Inuzuka clan ninjas. The Aburame clan ninjas immediately directed the parasitic insects to move the wounded, and the Konoha ninjas present all breathed a sigh of relief.

"Damn Sunagakure, all they know are these petty tricks!"

"Thanks to Lord Xiu's care."

"Even Chiyo of Sunagakure is nothing special..."

The Konoha ninjas, resting on the spot, discussed excitedly, while the White Zetsu, hidden underground not far away, secretly peeked out to observe, muttering to himself:

"The black lightning release must be reported to Lord Madara."