While the battle raged here, things were far from peaceful at the Konoha camp.
Not long after the clash with the Iwa Ninjas, Sunagakure received word that Pakura was leading an attack on the Konoha camp. The intent was clear—wipe out Konoha's remaining forces. Sunagakure feared that if Konoha solidified its advantage, they would be unable to withstand the coming onslaught.
With the Iwa Ninjas at the front keeping Konoha occupied, the Sunagakure forces seized the opportunity to strike.
From the very beginning, Sakumo and Duy had taken command, leading the Konoha Ninjas in defense. As they left the camp, a massive tanuki appeared in the forest ahead—Shukaku.
The colossal beast advanced, toppling trees in its path, while the faint silhouettes of Iwa Ninjas trailed behind it.
Sakumo stared intently, noticing someone standing atop Shukaku's shoulders. Before he could call for someone from the Hyūga Clan to confirm, Shukaku opened its enormous mouth, and an immense amount of Chakra began to gather.
"It's a Tailed Beast Ball! Run!" Sakumo's expression darkened as he shouted the warning.
Hearing this, the Konoha Ninjas scattered, knowing they couldn't withstand the devastating attack.
"I'll handle it!"
Duy, who had experience deflecting a Tailed Beast Ball before, stepped forward confidently, positioning himself in front of Sakumo.
"What are you doing?! Still trying to act tough?" Sakumo impatiently grabbed Duy by the shoulder and yanked him behind.
Duy had used the Daytime Tiger to smash Tailed Beast Balls multiple times before, and he had boasted about it to Sakumo on many occasions. There was no reason why others could do it, but he couldn't.
"Well, then... be careful," Duy said after a moment of hesitation. If he got injured again, it would be the third time. The thought of enduring those long days of limited mobility made his heart sink. With a heavy sigh, he reluctantly stepped back, allowing his good friend to take the chance instead.
"Don't worry," Sakumo replied, drawing his short sword from his back. His entire demeanor shifted.
In the previous moment, he had been concealing his sharpness like a blade in its sheath. Now, it was fully exposed—sharp and focused. His eyes hardened, and the white light on his short sword glowed brilliantly.
Duy was momentarily startled by Sakumo's fierce presence. It was the first time he had seen him so serious.
Meanwhile, Shukaku's Chakra had fully condensed. The beast retracted its neck, releasing the Tailed Beast Ball, which flew directly toward the Konoha camp, destroying everything in its path.
"Gate of Pain, open!" Sakumo roared, unleashing a surge of violent Chakra. Green energy swirled around him as his power erupted.
"Is Lord Sakumo really going to resist the Tailed Beast Ball head-on?"
The commotion drew the attention of the Konoha Ninjas.
"That's unlikely," one Ninja muttered, his voice filled with doubt. He had never seen a Tailed Beast before and couldn't comprehend its destructive power. A beast like Shukaku could kill him with a single blow.
"Why not? You've never seen how strong Lord Sakumo is," another Ninja replied confidently. He had fought alongside Sakumo during a night raid on the Suna camp, and his certainty carried more conviction than even Sakumo's own words.
...
Whoosh!
In an instant, Sakumo vanished, leaving only two deep footprints in the ground to prove he had been there.
"Kenjutsu, Ultimate Sword Shadow."
Sakumo transformed into a green blade of light, slicing through the open area in front of him and disappearing into the forest. Wherever the blade passed, trees were severed cleanly in half.
All eyes were on the green light as it collided directly with the Tailed Beast Ball.
"Lord Sakumo!" Some Konoha ninja cried out in alarm.
In full view of everyone, the green blade of light pierced through the Tailed Beast Ball, splitting it from top to bottom.
Boom!
A deafening explosion followed. Thick smoke billowed, obscuring the area, and for a moment, no one could see what had happened to Sakumo.
When the smoke cleared, a green figure stood unwavering in the same spot.
"How is this possible?!"
The Suna ninja stared in disbelief. That was a Tailed Beast Ball! Yet here was Sakumo, completely unharmed, ready to strike again.
Realizing the threat, they braced themselves to face this terrifying opponent.
"Go," Sakumo commanded, his voice brimming with energy.
"Yes!" The Konoha ninja responded with enthusiasm. Sakumo had done the impossible, cleaving the Tailed Beast Ball in half with a single strike. His immense power inspired them all.
Sakumo moved again, flashing toward the Suna ninja camp. He became a streak of cold light, like the arc of a crescent moon. Wherever he passed, the bodies of Suna ninja froze in place before thin blood lines appeared, splitting them in two as they collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
"Haha, this is great!"
"Gate of Joy, open!"
Duy's maniacal laughter rang out as he unleashed a green whirlwind into the Suna ninja ranks. With a single strike, countless enemies were sent flying.
"Damn it, stop them." A flash of annoyance crossed Pakura's eyes as she leapt down from Shukaku's shoulders.
Duy and Sakumo moved through the crowd like tigers unleashed from their cage. If they were not stopped quickly, the Suna ninja would face inevitable defeat.
Shukaku's wide-area attacks couldn't be used; the Konoha ninja had intermixed with the Suna ninja. If such an attack were unleashed, it would fatally injure their own forces as well.
Sakumo and Duy's objective wasn't simply to slaughter enemies on the battlefield—it was to pull the battle lines apart. Reducing the number of Suna ninja in the immediate area would eventually force Shukaku to use wide-range attacks, even if it meant harming the Suna ninja. Victory in this battle could only be achieved by neutralizing Shukaku.
As for Pakura and Rasa, Sakumo and Duy didn't consider them a significant threat. If circumstances had allowed, those two would have been dealt with during the previous confrontation.
The pair moved swiftly, breaking through the Suna ranks and reaching the far edge of the battlefield. Though it wasn't far, this new position was out of the immediate range of the main skirmish.
Shukaku noticed their maneuver and didn't hesitate. He surged forward, forcing his massive legs to carry him quickly to the opposite side of the two men.
Pakura followed, bringing several shadow guards with her. She didn't feel comfortable relying on Shukaku alone, knowing he was currently the Sunagakure's most vital combat asset. If they lost Shukaku, she had no idea how they could hold out against Konoha.
Rasa refrained from participating. He still needed time to develop, and a battle of this scale was far beyond his ability to influence. Despite being surrounded by Konoha ninja, he remained calm and composed.
"I heard you became the Kazekage?"
Sakumo looked toward Pakura, standing not far away, doubt evident in his eyes. Could someone of her level truly become the Kazekage?
"Thanks to you Konoha people," Pakura replied, her expression darkening as she gritted her teeth.
Though furious, she didn't act rashly. She knew Sakumo's strength all too well from their many encounters. If not for her allies, she would have died several times over. It was admirable, even reckless, that she dared to face him again.
"You're welcome," Sakumo said simply.
The purpose of dividing the battlefield had been achieved, and Sakumo moved forward. His focus was on Shukaku—Pakura no longer held his interest.
"Your opponent is me." Duy's figure flashed as he blocked Pakura's path, preventing her from providing support.
"Green-skinned monster," Pakura muttered, her eyes narrowing. She didn't underestimate him.
"What do you know? This is the color of youth. Eat my kick!"
Duy charged headlong, refusing to engage in a war of words. Pakura and her shadow guards met his attack, and they clashed in an instant.
Meanwhile, Sakumo faced Shukaku. His blade sliced across the beast's neck, raising a cloud of sand. Shukaku swiped at him with a massive hand, but Sakumo narrowly evaded the attack. The slash had little effect on the hulking Tailed Beast.