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Just as Chiyo was about to meet her demise, black iron sand appeared.
Countless grains of black iron sand extended from behind Chiyo, quickly enveloping her in a triangular prism.
As the black iron sand closed in completely, Chiyo glared at Hatake Sakumo with intense hatred.
"Jiton: Satetsu Kōgeki!" (Magnet Release: Iron Sand Defense)
Sakumo's blade struck the triangular prism of black iron sand, causing a shower of sparks.
The iron sand defense was incredibly strong.
At that moment, a black-haired man wearing a white cloak stood in the air, his arms crossed, standing atop a circular platform made of black iron sand. He looked down at Sakumo with a calm expression.
Sakumo's figure blurred as he darted back, avoiding the approaching puppets and creating distance between himself and the newcomer.
His face remained expressionless, but internally, he was shaken.
This man was the Kazekage of Sunagakure.
The appearance of the Kazekage on the battlefield changed everything.
The war had only just begun, so why was the Kazekage here?
The presence of a Kage on the battlefield signified something entirely different.
Up until now, the war had been about territorial control and fortification.
But when a Kage appears, it signals the beginning of total war.
This isn't just about territory anymore; it's about annihilating the enemy's forces.
Sakumo crouched slightly, holding his sword horizontally in front of his chest.
This battle was going to be much harder than he had anticipated.
"White Fang, Hatake Sakumo."
The Kazekage's gaze fell on him, surrounded by floating black iron sand.
The name White Fang was something he had heard from the mouths of the Sunagakure ninjas on his way here.
"Kazekage-sama, are you planning to escalate this into a full-scale war with Konoha?"
Despite being on opposite sides, Sakumo still held a degree of respect for the Kazekage.
After all, the Kage were the five individuals who stood at the pinnacle of the shinobi world.
Their every action, their every decision, shaped the course of the entire shinobi world.
The only reason the shinobi world still acknowledged the authority of the Daimyōs was because of the influence of the five Kage.
There were many ambitious individuals in the shinobi world, people who would love to usurp the Daimyōs' power.
But the will of the five Kage determined the continued existence of the Daimyōs.
Few in the shinobi world understood this dynamic.
The five Kage, always vigilant against each other, never had the time or inclination to challenge the weaker Daimyōs.
The Kazekage's brow furrowed, his expression one of perpetual sorrow, as if his face had been carved with the weight of his responsibilities.
"Once war begins, there's no turning back."
The Kazekage had no desire to be the first Kage to enter the fray; doing so would be a tacit admission of his village's inferiority.
But Konoha had become far too powerful.
In the Land of Rain, Orochimaru alone had managed to suppress both Sunagakure and Iwagakure, gaining the upper hand.
Strong shinobi under Orochimaru's command were gradually emerging as well.
Sunagakure and Iwagakure were both feeling the pressure.
Originally, Sunagakure held the advantage on the battlefield in the Land of Rivers, and the Kazekage had been waiting to mock the diminutive Ōnoki.
But unexpectedly, the situation on the Iwagakure front remained stable, while things were deteriorating here.
Sakumo had destroyed the defensive lines that Sunagakure had painstakingly established.
And they couldn't even find any trace of him.
So, the Kazekage had decided to take action himself.
If they allowed Sakumo to continue wreaking havoc in their rear, the defense line in the Land of Rivers would collapse entirely.
If he could kill Sakumo, it would at least mitigate their disadvantage.
But on his way here, he had seen the defeated puppet corps, and he knew that stabilizing the situation was now their best possible outcome.
In the end, it all came down to one goal.
Kill Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo!
"Enough talk! Kill him!" Chiyo shouted, her voice filled with intense hatred.
Her desire to kill Sakumo was overwhelming.
Words were pointless. The battle was about to begin.
The iron sand in the sky began to coalesce.
"Jiton: Satetsu Shigure!" (Magnet Release: Iron Sand Drizzle)
In an instant, the sea of iron sand behind the Kazekage transformed into countless needles.
Under his control, the iron sand needles surged toward Sakumo like a black rainstorm.
The iron sand rained down, leaving no gaps, as if the sky itself was falling.
Sakumo quickly formed hand seals.
He pressed his hands to the ground.
"Doton: Doryūheki!" (Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall)
Multiple earth walls quickly rose, enclosing Sakumo completely.
But the earth walls were useless against the iron sand needles, which pierced through them instantly.
By the time the iron sand reached the enclosed space, Sakumo had vanished.
"He's coming for me."
Chiyo immediately noticed the change and leaped into the air.
Sakumo emerged from the ground but missed his target.
The ten white puppets quickly turned and launched an attack on Sakumo, while the most dangerous threat, the ever-encroaching sea of iron sand, continued to advance.
"Truly deserving of the title of the strongest Kazekage."
Sakumo rapidly retreated, the ten puppets in relentless pursuit.
Chiyo stood amidst the sea of iron sand, controlling her puppets.
"Jiton: Satetsu Kesshū!" (Magnet Release: Iron Sand Gathering Assault)
A massive amount of iron sand gathered and compressed, forming a gigantic weapon that hurtled down toward Sakumo from the sky.
A shadow cast by the massive iron weapon loomed over Sakumo.
The gigantic black weapon covered the entire sky.
At this point, not even the Shave technique could cover the distance fast enough.
Sakumo quickly leaped off the ground, landing on the massive iron weapon and sprinting upward.
The Kazekage smirked, and under his command, the entire iron weapon transformed into a black tornado.
Sakumo couldn't maintain his footing, but already high up, he kicked off the iron sand and propelled himself further into the distance.
"He's trying to escape!" Chiyo shouted.
"I know," the Kazekage replied, his voice cold. The iron sand beneath him and Chiyo carried them as they pursued Sakumo.
They kept a close watch on Sakumo, knowing that if they lost sight of him, he would surely vanish.
As long as they kept him in their sights, Sakumo couldn't easily escape.
Seeing the two of them flying after him, along with the ten puppets in pursuit, Sakumo understood that escaping from them would be nearly impossible.
However.
Who said he was trying to escape?
Just as the two were closing in, Sakumo's feet hit the ground, shattering it, and his body shot forward like a bullet.
His target was Chiyo!
The white blade streaked toward Chiyo, but the iron sand wasn't slow either. The ground beneath Chiyo collapsed as she dove headfirst into the earth.
The price was the ten puppets, which seemed to lose power and dropped to the ground.
Sakumo didn't stop. With even more speed and force, he stepped on the iron sand and charged toward the Kazekage.
The white blade streaked forward.
The Kazekage never expected a second attack and was a split second too slow in his defense.
Sakumo's figure closed in on the Kazekage.
The iron sand exploded outward.
"Jiton: Satetsu Kekkai!" (Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method)
(End of Chapter)