"White Blood Demon! One day, I will tear you to pieces!"
Satetsu Ran's eyes burned with murderous intent, but all he could do was spit out the threat before retreating.
Umino Yoru quickly formed a shadow clone, preparing a combined jutsu.
"Wind Release: Spiraling Sphere!"
A Rasengan swiftly took shape in his palm.
"Water Release: Surging Rapids!"
Meanwhile, his clone molded a water-natured jutsu.
The two techniques merged—
"Typhoon Water Vortex Technique!"
A massive, blade-like whirlwind of water roared forward, tearing through the landscape toward Satetsu Ran and his wife.
"Polarized Light Shield!"
The couple manipulated their puppets, conjuring a prismatic shield of ultra-dense chakra that completely nullified the typhoon's force.
Though Umino's combined technique wasn't as refined as Naruto and Yamato's collaboration against Kakuzu, its power rivaled an S-rank water jutsu.
Yet, it had been blocked effortlessly.
That shield's defensive capability is insane.
Umino refused to relent, launching a barrage of attacks—but none landed effectively.
If not for his Ultrasonic Radar Technique, he might have fallen victim to a counter-ambush, ending up in pieces as Satetsu Ran had promised.
Together, the couple's combat prowess was frightening—perhaps not quite at Ebizō's peak, but close enough that Umino stood no chance of overpowering them.
After pursuing them for several kilometers, Satetsu Ran and his wife finally regrouped with the Suna pursuit force, taking Ebizō with them.
Umino's opportunity to eliminate the elder was gone.
Just as he turned to leave—
"Wait, White Blood Demon."
A sand clone of Ruriyo approached, seeking a private transaction.
---
"Ruriyo, you want Satetsu Ran's severed arm back? Sure."
Umino grinned, then dropped his price.
"Hand over the Magnet Release secrets, and I'll return it intact."
With a quick hand seal, he summoned a preservation jar containing the detached limb.
"Impossible. Name another condition."
Ruriyo's refusal was instant. Even if she had the Kazekage-lineage Magnet Release, she'd never trade it.
"Fine. Then give me your puppet arts instead. You do have those, right?"
"No. Puppetry is Suna's foundation. It's non-negotiable."
Her tone left zero room for compromise.
Umino feigned anger.
"No to this, no to that—are you trying to scam me for free?"
"You—!"
The word "scam" made Ruriyo's face flush with fury. In a burst of embarrassment, she hurled a volley of sand needles at him—all of which harmlessly deflected.
Seeing her noble-born temper, Umino cut the banter and stated his real demand.
Ruriyo listened, then shook her head.
"All of Suna's Wind Release techniques? No. I'll give you some. As for sealing arts—only the basics."
"Ruriyo, I hold the leverage here. You don't get to bargain."
Umino pulled the arm from the jar, twisting it mockingly.
"Look how fresh it is. Any medic-nin could reattach it perfectly."
Then—with a theatrical sigh—he drew a kunai and sliced off a finger.
"Wait! Let's talk!"
Ruriyo's composure cracked.
After intense haggling, a deal was struck.
---
"Ruriyo, fetch me a Suna-custom scroll."
Umino eyed the generic summoning scroll she produced with disdain.
"Ugh. Typical peasant behavior."
She sneered but complied.
She knew why he wanted it—official Suna scrolls would legitimize the techniques as spoils of war, not stolen secrets.
After painstakingly transcribing the Wind and basic sealing arts, Ruriyo tossed the scroll skyward.
Umino, in turn, hurled the preservation jar down.
"Water Release: Sticky Syrup Whip!"
A liquid tendril snatched the scroll midair.
Ruriyo, meanwhile, guided the jar safely with a stream of sand before immediately summoning it away—
Smart. She's preventing me from reclaiming it.
Umino had considered that exact trick.
---
Back with the Suna forces, Ruriyo cradled the jar, presenting it to Satetsu Ran like a trophy.
"Ran, look what I brought back!"
Her voice was soft, almost pleading.
"...My arm?"
Satetsu Ran stared, sensing the familiar chakra within.
But instead of gratitude—
Rage twisted his features.
The limb wasn't a prize.
It was a reminder of his shame.
With a brutal swing, his mechanical claw shattered the jar and crushed the arm into pulp.
"I don't need dead flesh. This steel makes me stronger."
He flung the gory remnants aside, his back radiating ice-cold fury as he walked away.
"Ran…"
Ruriyo gazed at the mangled remains, heart sinking.
She'd hoped this would ease his torment—bring back the man he was before the humiliation.
Satetsu Ran had been Suna's golden prodigy, destined to become the Fourth Kazekage.
Losing his arm to the White Blood Demon had shattered that future.
She'd paid a heavy price to reclaim it, praying it would mend his pride.
But now—
All she'd done was push him further into darkness.