Konoha's front line in the Land of Rivers, Tsunade stood atop the massive Katsuyu, her hands resting on her hips, exuding an imposing aura. As one of Konoha's elite Jonin, she was by no means inferior to Orochimaru.
She wasn't just a medical ninja—her combat prowess was on par with both Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
In front of her, Konoha's forces were locked in battle with the Suna-nin. The entire mountain range had transformed into a warzone. Fire, water, wind, lightning, and earth jutsu collided with incredible force, reshaping the landscape.
The very mountains were crumbling, unable to withstand the onslaught of powerful jutsu unleashed by the shinobi.
Explosions echoed in the distance, their deafening roar reverberating across the battlefield.
Tsunade's gaze was fixed on a lone figure standing atop a rocky outcrop in the distance—a woman still exuding a timeless grace.
It was Chiyo of the Sand.
This was no ordinary foe; Chiyo was a kunoichi from the same era as the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. A key pillar of Sunagakure, Tsunade could not afford to underestimate this elderly woman.
According to reports, Chiyo possessed puppets capable of devastating an entire nation.
The two faced off, and Tsunade knew the tide of the battle was in her favor. Under the onslaught of Konoha's forces, Suna was being pushed back. After all, Sunagakure couldn't hope to match Konoha when it came to jutsu proficiency, especially with Tsunade's Katsuyu healing Konoha's forces.
But then, a thought struck her.
Where are the puppeteers? Tsunade's eyes widened as she surveyed the battlefield more closely. Much of the battle was dominated by ninjutsu clashes, but there was only a small contingent of Suna puppeteers.
There should be more. Suna's puppet brigade was well-known, and it was unusual that they weren't present in greater numbers.
Her gaze shifted back to the woman standing across from her.
Without hesitation, Tsunade's foot slammed into the ground, propelling her forward with blinding speed.
The 'Chiyo' in front of her calmly performed hand seals. "Wind Style: Wind Killing Array!"
A vacuum of air manifested, attempting to suck Tsunade into its deadly vortex. But Tsunade powered through the jutsu, charging head-on without flinching.
Her leg swung high, aiming for her target.
"Painful Sky Leg!"
The sheer force of Tsunade's kick was astounding, and 'Chiyo' barely managed to dodge it.
Boom!
The ground exploded beneath Tsunade's heel, creating a massive crater. Though 'Chiyo' evaded the strike, she couldn't avoid the debris that followed.
"Chiyo wouldn't rely on ninjutsu to fight me," Tsunade muttered as she crouched, pulling her fist back to her side.
"Who are you!?" she demanded, throwing a powerful punch.
Her fist collided with the imposter, whose body shattered under the sheer force, bones breaking and organs pulverized. The dying figure reverted to the form of an unfamiliar kunoichi.
"Retreat!!"
A shout rose from the remaining Suna forces as they witnessed 'Chiyo' being exposed as a decoy. Immediately, they began to retreat.
Tsunade's brow furrowed. Around her, Konoha shinobi gathered, kneeling before her and calling out in unison.
"Tsunade-sama!"
Their victory had been decisive, thanks in large part to Tsunade's presence. The mood was jubilant among the Konoha forces, but Tsunade felt none of it.
Chiyo, who should have been defending this position, was nowhere to be seen.
Something was wrong.
Where was the rest of the puppet brigade? Why had Chiyo left a decoy in her place?
Narrowing her eyes, Tsunade glanced toward the distant horizon.
"All units, follow me!" she ordered, leading her forces toward the land of rivers.
She had a growing suspicion that Suna's true target was Hatake Sakumo.
Meanwhile...
Chiyo's fingers danced as she controlled ten human-shaped white puppets, relentlessly attacking Sakumo. Her bloodshot eyes burned with fury—she had just witnessed her son and daughter-in-law die by Sakumo's blade. Half of her puppet brigade had been decimated as well.
Hatake Sakumo had single-handedly crippled much of Sunagakure's forces.
Sakumo's figure flickered as he evaded the attacks, but the fight had shifted. What had once been an easy slaughter had now become far more difficult.
The ten white puppets coordinated seamlessly, preventing him from getting close to Chiyo. Their bodies were remarkably durable, not easy to cut through.
These were not ordinary puppets.
The Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu, crafted by the puppet master Monzaemon, were legendary for their strength and coordination in battle.
Each puppet was physically stronger than most taijutsu-specialized Jonin, and their combined power could unleash devastating jutsu.
Even with Sakumo's incredible speed, the puppets kept pace with him, thanks to Chiyo's exceptional control.
As Sakumo continued to engage, Chiyo marveled at his strength. He was pushing the Chikamatsu Collection to their limits, and if it weren't for her vast experience, she would have already lost the upper hand.
Her hands moved faster than the eye could see, sending commands to her puppets. Three of the puppets converged on Sakumo.
"Puppet Technique: Three Treasures Suction Crush!"
A powerful vacuum began pulling Sakumo toward the center of the three puppets. He drove his sword into the ground to resist the pull, but the force continued dragging him closer.
The other puppets seized the opportunity to attack.
If this continued, he would be overwhelmed.
Sakumo quickly formed a single hand sign.
"Lightning Style: Sixteen Pillar Binding!"
The earth around the three puppets rose and formed a large box, trapping them within. Lightning surged through the box, disabling the puppets inside.
Freed from the suction, Sakumo swung his sword.
A powerful chakra-infused slash in the shape of a blue crescent erupted from his blade, pushing back the remaining puppets.
"Tempest Kick Advanced Form: Tempest Slash!"
With three puppets neutralized and the others temporarily pushed back, Sakumo's breathing changed. Electricity crackled around him as he prepared for his next move.
Like a white blur, he charged toward Chiyo.
His blade, now crackling with lightning, carved through the air.
Wind howled in response to his immense speed.
But Chiyo wasn't idle. Her hands formed seals in a flash.
"Puppet Technique: Light Shield Seal!"
One of her puppets had moved to block Sakumo's path, deploying a transparent blue shield.
Sakumo's sword collided with the shield, releasing a brilliant flash of light.
Behind him, the remaining puppets closed in, and the ones that had been trapped began to break free.
Chakra threads burst from Chiyo's hands, wrapping around Sakumo, attempting to immobilize him.
But instead of retreating, Sakumo pushed forward, veins bulging on his exposed face as he channeled every ounce of his strength.
The white light surrounding his sword grew even brighter.
Crack!
A small fracture appeared in the blue shield.
"No way!" Chiyo gasped in disbelief.
But the crack continued to spread.
Crack... crack...
In an instant, the shield shattered completely.
Sakumo was now only a single body length away.
His sword flashed, moving faster than even the puppets could react.
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