Chiyo soon caught up with Pakura's retreating unit. When Ebizo saw that his sister had returned safely—or, well, not exactly safely, since the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets were all gone—
Pakura smiled. "Granny Chiyo..." Before she could finish, a figure darted past her. Pakura took a closer look. Wasn't that Ebizo?
When Ebizo saw his sister, it was as if he'd seen a beacon of light. He threw his arms around her. "Sis, I thought you..." His voice choked with emotion.
Chiyo shot him a look. "Thought I what? That I'd been captured? Or killed?" Despite her words, she patted Ebizo on the back.
Then Chiyo turned to Pakura and gave her a nod, forcing a smile. Pakura nodded back. After all, they were a defeated army. This battle had cost Sunagakure nearly a third of its strength.
They both knew that the Third Kazekage would be furious when they returned, so Chiyo immediately took command. She became the overall commander of the battered remnants.
She intended to shoulder all the blame herself, but Ebizo immediately objected. He was the one who'd underestimated the enemy and caused this disaster. Why should his sister take the blame?
Chiyo gave him a cold look. "Ebizo, do you think I've been too soft on you? I'm taking responsibility so I can step back from the front lines. Someone in the village wants to target your nephew, and this is my chance to protect our family!"
"You're a grown man, yet you're sniveling like a child! Besides, we only need one of us to be an elder and keep tabs on the higher-ups. You really think it's a good thing for both of us to be among them?" Chiyo snorted. Her younger brother sometimes came up with clever plans, but he had little political sense.