Chiyo's Obsession

The ninja war appeared to have begun, yet when White Fang led his team past the encampments of several major ninja villages, aside from Sunagakure, the other three ninja forces sensibly retreated several miles.

This unusual development was naturally reported by White Fang. Upon receiving the news, the Third Hokage beamed as he repeatedly praised him in his office. Meanwhile, the Third Kazekage, far away in Sunagakure, was nearly losing control.

"Damn it, damn it! No wonder those bastards agreed so readily—they were using us as the cannon fodder!!"

Filled with rage, the Third Kazekage paced back and forth through his office. Ebizo, beside him, was nearly dizzy from watching and could not help saying, "Third Hokage, the most urgent matter now is stopping my sister. If she sees White Fang again, she might truly go to war with Konohagakure."

Reminded by Ebizo, the Third Kazekage hurriedly slapped his forehead and regained some of his composure. "Right, right, right. Chiyo is what matters most right now. If this turns into a conflict, it'll become a one-on-one fight between our village and Konohagakure. We can't possibly win, but if tempers flare, our village will suffer devastating losses."

Based on past experience, the other three ninja villages were hardly benevolent, and Kumogakure in particular loved stabbing others in the back.

They would often agree to join forces against Konohagakure, but if one side suffered severe losses during the conflict, the bandit-like Kumogakure would dare to directly attack the village that had suffered the most.

Now, the three ninja villages were watching from the sidelines. If anything went wrong, Sunagakure would face the threat of being wiped off the map.

Having thought it all through, the Third Kazekage broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly said to Ebizo, "Advisor Ebizo, if we make the wrong move here, our village may be doomed beyond recovery. The only one who can stop Advisor Chiyo is you. I hope you can make the trip personally this time."

Ebizo clasped his hands, his expression solemn. "I guarantee that I will complete the task entrusted to me by the Third Kazekage."

Unlike Chiyo, who had the temper of a child, Ebizo had always considered the bigger picture and was remarkably mature and steady. After taking his leave, he rushed toward Chiyo's location.

Over in Konohagakure, White Fang had frightened off three ninja forces the moment he left the village. Delighted by such an impressive achievement, the Third Hokage ordered the news spread throughout every street and alley of Konohagakure.

Many people had cursed White Fang before, but when they learned that he had rushed to the dangerous battlefield at once and merely made an appearance to force three ninja forces to retreat, they could not help realizing that White Fang was still White Fang. No matter how he was viewed within his own village, he remained the hero the village was proudest of—the village's great guardian.

White Fang repaying resentment with kindness made many people deeply regretful. Some even went directly to Kakashi's home to apologize, while others brought numerous gifts.

Within just a few days, Kakashi's home was piled full of gifts. No matter how he tried to stop them, he could not prevent more gifts from being delivered.

Even if he stopped people openly, someone would still secretly leave gifts at the door in the dead of night. At the most excessive times, he could not even get out the door the next morning.

Although Kakashi found it rather annoying, these gifts represented recognition for his father, so he felt too embarrassed to keep trying to stop them.

After receiving the villagers' sincere apologies for several days in a row, Kakashi's negative opinion of them was swept away.

However, the villagers' tireless gratitude only made him more worried about his father's current situation.

Fortunately, Ebizo arrived at Chiyo's camp in time. After repeatedly explaining the pros and cons to her and even threatening to kneel, he finally convinced Chiyo to abandon her plan to fight White Fang.

Chiyo herself was not foolish. Though she had ordered her subordinates to keep gathering information on White Fang's whereabouts, she had long been wary of the other ninja villages as well.

When the other ninja villages retreated, she had also gnashed her teeth and roared in fury for a long while before choosing to confront White Fang.

Though it was called a confrontation, she had her own principles. If White Fang came to her and let her catch sight of him, she absolutely would not let him leave without a fight.

However, Hatake Sakumo had also noticed the strange movements of the four ninja villages. After considering the matter again and again, he chose not to act rashly for the time being.

Thus, Chiyo remained in confrontation, Sakumo remained in confrontation, and the other ninja villages continued to watch.

This ninja war, which had begun ahead of schedule, ended up going through the motions like some farce.

Naturally, Chiyo was unwilling to retreat just like that. So, on the night before the withdrawal, she went to the front of the Konoha camp and captured two Konoha Ninja who had come out to relieve themselves.

After repeatedly intimidating them, she sent one of them to inform Sakumo while directly abducting the other.

Under the dim yellow light, Hatake Sakumo continuously marked several locations on a map before carefully reviewing the relevant intelligence.

At that moment, a ninja hurriedly knelt outside the tent on one knee, clasped his hands, and called out loudly.

"Report, Lord Sakumo! A Konoha comrade has been taken by someone suspected to be Chiyo. Chiyo has challenged you to fight her alone in the woods one kilometer west of here."

"Chiyo?" Hatake Sakumo frowned, and the image of the middle-aged woman who had glared at him with rage the first time she saw him years ago surfaced in his mind.

"I understand. Pass the order: the main camp is to enter combat readiness."

Though he knew it might be a trap and might place him in another impossible dilemma, that was simply his nature. How could he stand by without saving someone?

Hatake Sakumo adjusted his gear, took up his blade, and prepared to set out.

However, a crowd had gathered outside.

"Everyone, you are...?"

"Lord Sakumo, you are Konohagakure's hero—our hero all along. Now, you are also the chief person in charge of our force. How can we simply watch you go save someone alone?"

"That's right, Lord Sakumo. Even if you're going to save someone, take us with you. Supplies and provisions can be stored in the mobile warehouse. It's common for ninja to travel alone. You can go rescue him by yourself, but we are willing to follow you!"

For a moment, everyone's spirits soared. It was hardly surprising. Perhaps they had once questioned Sakumo's actions, but now, with powerful enemies surrounding them, never mind rescuing someone—even being separated from Sakumo and merely guarding the camp on their own made them deeply uneasy.

The more they faced such a dangerous situation, the more reliable Sakumo seemed to them.

Fearing an enemy attack was one matter, while rescuing someone was another. By now, the ninja in the camp who had confronted ninja from the other four villages so many times had completely come to see Sakumo as their pillar.

Sakumo had not expected Konoha's ninja to still trust him so much after that incident. He did not consider whether they had any private motives; their enthusiasm alone moved him deeply.

"Then... let's all go together. The scouting unit will lead with me, the transport unit will remain in the middle, and the main combat unit will cover the rear. Store all supplies in the mobile warehouse, then assemble!"

More than a hundred people hurriedly packed up the supplies. Before long, they had finished and formed up in front of Hatake Sakumo.

"The scouting unit will leave with me first. The rest will follow at a set distance!"

The moment he finished speaking, Sakumo and several ninja sprinted forward first. Once the units behind judged the optimal distance from those ahead, they followed after them.

They had expected countless ambushes and traps, yet the journey was remarkably smooth. Still, their force was far weaker than the allied forces of the four villages. Even without hidden ambushes, the open threat before them was enough to keep everyone from relaxing in the slightest.

But in truth, there was no scheme at all that night—only Chiyo's rage.

Soon, one kilometer to the west, they saw Chiyo holding a Konoha Ninja in her hand. After the Byakugan ninja confirmed it several times, Sakumo, who understood Chiyo's temperament, ordered everyone to wait in place and stepped forward alone.

"Hehe, so it's the famous Konoha's White Fang~ Just to save one person, you brought so many subordinates. Could it be that you're afraid of a defenseless woman like me!?"

Sakumo had no patience for arguing with Chiyo and spoke bluntly. "Release our Konoha Ninja, or don't even think about leaving!"

Hatake Sakumo drew the White Fang short blade glowing with white light and stared coldly at Chiyo.

"Heh, carrying around such trash is tiring anyway, so I'll give him back to you~"

Chiyo appeared completely unconcerned by Sakumo's threat and casually returned her captive to him.

"What... what did you do to him?"

After catching the captive, White Fang quickly checked him over. The ninja was covered in cold sweat, his lips trembling constantly. No matter how they shook him, he would not wake up.

"Heh, it's nothing much. I heard White Fang cherishes his comrades' lives, so to ensure I can leave even if I fail, I gave him poison. It's quite potent. If he doesn't receive the antidote within two hours, his body will rot away and he'll die."

"You're after me. Why treat an innocent person like this?" While Sakumo confronted Chiyo, a bold Konoha Ninja helped carry the rescued ninja away.

With no more worries behind him, Sakumo seemed like a treasured blade drawn from its sheath as he advanced toward Chiyo step by step.

Countless sharp edges seemed to press toward her, yet Chiyo appeared not to care at all. With her hands on her hips, she shouted angrily, "What a joke! On the battlefield, where are there innocent people? Have you killed too few people from Sunagakure?"

"That was my doing. I will bear full responsibility for it!"

"Hah, then put down your blade and kill yourself here!"

Sakumo knew he could never win an argument with Chiyo, so he stopped speaking and continued forward step by step, his killing intent steadily closing in on her.

Feeling the pressure, Chiyo had no choice but to take out a scroll and instantly summon ten puppets.

White Secret Technique: Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu!

Ten white-robed puppets of different appearances gathered around Chiyo, protecting her completely.

The moment Chiyo brought out her puppets, Sakumo vanished in a flash. When he reappeared, the White Fang short blade was aimed at Chiyo's back, blazing with dazzling white light.

When fighting a Puppet Master, the best method was to directly kill the Puppet Master, whose Taijutsu was comparatively weak.

However, Chiyo seemed to have known that Sakumo would appear behind her. All of the puppets attacked toward her at once.

That suicidal, indiscriminate assault forced Sakumo's fatal strike to lose its effect.

"Hahahaha, come on, kill me! Even if you kill me, you won't have it easy, and your subordinates will have to be buried with me too. Just think—one life can be exchanged for so many things. How exciting~"

Sakumo ignored Chiyo, who seemed mad and delirious, and charged straight ahead, clashing with one of the puppets.

All he could do now was destroy some puppets, draw some away, and then capture Chiyo.

But this White Secret Technique was no ordinary nuisance. Every puppet possessed its own unique function, and when they worked together, they could form new combinations.

Just as Sakumo shattered a puppet skilled in leg techniques, three puppets behind him suddenly stacked themselves into an equilateral triangle.

Three Treasures Absorption!

It suddenly felt a little exaggerated for Konoha to be fighting one against four. It was hard to understand how they were supposed to fight, since Konoha was surrounded in the middle. Without terrain separating them, being attacked from all four directions at once was entirely possible.

If attacked from four directions, Konoha could either concentrate its forces to eliminate the weaker side first, though that clearly was not very realistic...

Or Konoha could divide its forces and resist them separately... which would mean Konoha was fighting on four fronts...

Of course, there was another possibility: Konoha could split into two groups and station forces at the corners between the two countries. The moment one country made a move, they could lead troops out to attack... though that might cause delays, and they could not possibly deploy everyone...