Chiyo and Ebizō exchanged grim looks, their doubts swirling in their minds. After a brief moment of contemplation, Chiyo clenched her fists, accepting the harsh reality of the situation.
"No matter how they managed to return here so quickly after causing chaos in our vanguard, their chakra reserves must be severely depleted," she declared, her tone resolute. "This is still Kikyoyama's weakest moment. We must take the fortress today, at all costs."
Ebizō nodded in agreement, his expression equally determined. "Sister, then let us launch a full-scale assault and focus on breaching the fortress tower in one decisive strike."
Chiyo's sharp eyes glinted as she affirmed, "Very well." Turning to an intelligence operative nearby, she instructed, "Relay the message to Bunpuku. Tell him to prepare himself; we will commence the general offensive shortly."
The intelligence operative hesitated, clearly startled by the command. Nevertheless, after regaining his composure, he bowed deeply and departed. A flicker of unease lingered in his eyes as he vanished into the chaos.
Chiyo turned her gaze toward the distant fortress, her expression cold and unwavering. The icy determination in her demeanor spoke volumes of her intent.
At her command, Sand Shinobi forces surged forward with renewed fervor, as though infused with an unyielding determination. On Konoha's side, the alarm was sounded, and defenders quickly manned the fortress walls, their resolve unshaken despite the mounting assault.
Kikyoyama Fortress, a vital military stronghold in the western Fire Country, was well-prepared for such an onslaught. Despite being outmatched in overall quality by Sand Shinobi's forces, the defenders held firm behind their fortified walls, bolstered by abundant supplies. Wave after wave of Sand Shinobi attackers were repelled with disciplined precision.
The battlefield reached a delicate balance, neither side gaining a definitive upper hand. Yet, in battles of this scale, the influence of top-tier powerhouses could tip the scales decisively.
"White Secret Technique: The Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu!"
In this pivotal moment, Chiyo revealed her trump card. She advanced toward the fortress walls, manipulating ten fearsome puppets, each exuding an aura of deadly menace.
Simultaneously, a colossal worm-like puppet burst from beneath the ground, its enormous form surging toward the city tower with destructive intent. Above, a massive eagle-shaped puppet descended from the skies, its sharp talons poised to strike.
The combined assault of Chiyo and Ebizō plunged Konoha's defenders into dire straits. Even the elite shinobi, such as Hoshinohara, found themselves overwhelmed by the relentless onslaught.
Despair began to settle over the defenders. The tide of battle seemed insurmountable, and the once-unyielding resolve of Konoha's forces faltered.
Just as the situation appeared hopeless, two commanding voices rang out across the battlefield:
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
"Water Style: Clear Wave!"
A sudden barrage of glowing trident-shaped kunai streaked toward Chiyo, their luminous blue light cutting through the chaos. Startled, Chiyo swiftly directed three of her puppets to intercept the attack.
But then, flashes of golden light darted through the air with breathtaking speed.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The puppets of the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu, feared even by Kage-level shinobi, shattered into fragments.
In Chiyo's stunned gaze, a young man with golden blond hair, bright blue eyes, and dressed in Konoha's signature green vest and blue tights appeared before her. His serene yet determined demeanor carried an aura of unwavering confidence.
For a brief moment, Chiyo's vision blurred, and her mind drifted back to a figure she had encountered during the Second Ninja World War. That man, Hatake Sakumo, had moved like a flash of white light on the battlefield, annihilating her prized puppets in mere moments. Now, Namikaze Minato's form overlapped with that memory, the resemblance striking enough to send a chill down her spine.
At the same time, a massive wave of water surged forth from the walls of Kikyoyama Fortress, roaring like an unstoppable tide.
The water crashed down with an overwhelming force, sweeping over everything in its path. The giant centipede-like puppet, a monstrosity spanning tens of meters, appeared feeble against the sheer magnitude of the deluge. It was flung away like a rag doll, crashing into the ranks of the Sand Shinobi army.
Screams echoed as hundreds of Sand Shinobi were caught in the torrent, their formations shattered. Yet, the true nature of the Water Style: Clear Wave was not pure destruction. It was an advanced S-rank ninjutsu designed to create a battlefield dominated by water. The wave forced the giant puppet worm into retreat but lacked the raw power to utterly destroy it.
The true threat still loomed in the sky—a colossal bird-shaped puppet gliding toward the fortress with deadly intent.
On the fortress tower, Aizen observed the unfolding chaos with a calm yet calculating gaze. He spared a brief glance at the distant puppet worm before focusing on the soaring bird puppet. His sharp eyes narrowed.
"Water Style: Dragons' Bite," he intoned.
Aizen's hands moved in a flurry, weaving intricate seals with precision. His aura surged, the raw power of his chakra spreading like a tidal wave across the battlefield.
A roar shattered the air as nine immense water dragons erupted from the ground, their bodies shimmering with dense chakra. Each dragon, a pinnacle of A-rank offensive ninjutsu, emanated an almost tangible sense of destruction. Together, their combined strength rivaled, if not surpassed, the might of most S-rank techniques.
The dragons swirled upward with blinding speed, their sinuous forms encircling the massive bird puppet in an aerial ambush. With a synchronized ferocity, the water dragons lunged, their enormous jaws clamping down on the puppet.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Each bite unleashed a series of devastating explosions, their force tearing through the battlefield. Even the water dragons themselves couldn't withstand the sheer power, their bodies disintegrating into cascading torrents after delivering their strikes. The bird puppet, however, fared far worse.
When the mist cleared, the once-mighty puppet was in tatters, its wings shredded and its body barely holding together. It flailed in vain, its mechanisms groaning as it attempted to stay aloft. Finally, with a resounding crash, the mutilated puppet plummeted to the ground, scattering debris among the Sand Shinobi forces.
Ebizō stood frozen, his mouth agape in shock. His pride as a master puppeteer was eclipsed by the staggering sight of his and Chiyo's creations rendered useless in mere moments. His wide eyes darted toward the fortress tower, locking onto the figure of Aizen standing tall, his gaze sharp and unyielding.