It Was I Who Lost...

The battlefield was eerily quiet.

Purple flames spread like paint across the void, gradually swallowing everything.

They silently erased the cracks and filled the vacuum.

Seeing Chiyo stand frozen before the attack, even her hands controlling the puppets hanging limply at her sides, Rasa and the others cried out in alarm.

"Lady Chiyo!!"

"Mother!!"

"What are you doing?!"

Chiyo turned a deaf ear to their calls as memories resurfaced in her mind...

She remembered that day.

Sunagakure had discovered a new water source. Everyone had been overjoyed, but she had been happier than anyone.

Lord Monzaemon had finally agreed to teach her puppetry.

At the time, she had been a teenage girl who could not hide her emotions. She had smiled so brightly, so happily.

Then came the memories after that...

That rather annoying junior disciple had been far less talented than her, yet because he was Lord Monzaemon's nephew, he received more favoritism.

When had he become less annoying?

She had forgotten. In any case, by the time she looked back on it, Mamoru had already been born.

During that time...

Ah... it was because of Hashirama Senju.

That man had still been alive. Everyone had lived peacefully, missions had been safe, relations between the great nations had been harmonious, and everything had seemed wonderful...

How had it become...

If only...

No...

No!!

What am I thinking?!

I am the strongest puppeteer! I am an important pillar of Sunagakure, meant to help the village win this war!!

I just obtained sealing techniques. I have to bring them back to the village and create the ultimate weapon, Shukaku's jinchuriki!

How could I go soft on some brat from another village?!

Going soft...

No!!!

When those dim eyes lit up once more, the purple flames that had severed the Chakra threads were already right before her!

She had no time to dodge.

Swish—

Boom!

The moment her thoughts returned, a tremendous force shoved her away.

It was Ruri.

She had been closest to Chiyo. At the critical moment, she had taken Sakumo's slash head-on without regard for her own safety, controlling her puppet to push Chiyo aside!

Sizzle—

It was not the crackling sound of flames burning wood. The instant the purple fire touched the puppet, it vanished as though snow had met the blazing sun.

The purple flames did not continue spreading, instead splashing across the ground.

"Ruri!!"

Mamoru leaped forward and caught Ruri. The horrifying amount of blood instantly soaked through his clothes.

A savage slash ran from her shoulder to her abdomen, electric arcs flickering along the wound and causing further damage.

Swish, swish, swish—

Chiyo immediately controlled her puppets to shield Ruri and Mamoru. She steadied her breathing and glared at Kamizuki with furious, bloodshot eyes.

"You... what did you do?! What kind of technique was that?!"

If Ruri had not disregarded her own safety, Chiyo was certain... she would have been burned to ash just like that puppet!

She did not have an indestructible body. She was far more fragile than a puppet!

Kamizuki's aura had visibly weakened, and the flames constantly surrounding him had gone out.

According to his original calculations, with taijutsu combined with simple Fire Style, the Chakra in Earth Grudge Fear could have supported him for several more minutes.

But this was his first time using this "technique" in its complete form, and he could not control its output very well.

The overdrawn Earth Grudge Fear had dimmed, even its black tendrils losing some of their vitality.

He looked at Ruri and smiled faintly.

"You saw the danger of my technique. You're sharp, and decisive enough!"

Having lost the chance to kill Chiyo, Kamizuki was not disappointed in the slightest. Instead, he sincerely praised his opponent.

Ruri, having lost too much blood, could not answer him. Her pupils were beginning to dilate. If she was not treated quickly, only death awaited her.

Unexpected developments were also part of battle. Kamizuki accepted it calmly.

In that case...

Gripping the hilt of the Crimson Blade, he smiled. "Too bad. I probably won't get another chance to kill you, old woman."

The Chakra in Earth Grudge Fear had run out. He still had stamina, but relying on taijutsu alone, it was impossible for him to kill an almost uninjured Chiyo.

Of course, he merely had no chance to kill her. The victor had yet to be decided, and the battle was not over.

Chiyo was silent for several seconds.

She let out a long breath.

"Uchiha Kamizuki... that is your name, correct?"

The corners of Kamizuki's lips lifted slightly. "Don't tell me you're going to say you'll remember my name before killing me?"

"Don't get too arrogant."

"It was I who lost."

Chiyo, a pillar of Sunagakure whose prestige rivaled that of the Third, spoke those words calmly.

"Lady Chiyo! You..."

Rasa wanted to say more, but Chiyo raised a hand to stop him.

She lifted a finger. It was the signal to retreat.

On the battlefield, even though Mamoru was worried sick about his lover, he still had to wait for Chiyo's decision before daring to carry Ruri away.

Rasa cast one unwilling glance back before following them away.

Ruri could still be saved. Chiyo was Sunagakure's finest medical ninja; it would not be an exaggeration to call her the finest medical ninja in the Shinobi World.

But if they continued fighting, Ruri would certainly die without timely treatment.

Chiyo would not make that choice.

Compared to losing a loved one, the outcome of a battle was nothing.

She stared deeply at Kamizuki, as though trying to engrave the appearance of this boy into her memory.

Chiyo smiled.

"You reminded me of some beautiful things. You're clearly such a vicious brat, yet there is a trace of tenderness hidden within that killing technique of yours."

Kamizuki did not quite understand. After all, he was not stupid enough to use those flames on himself.

It was probably because it had triggered Chiyo's life flashing before her eyes, making her mistakenly believe the technique also had the effects of Infinite Tsukuyomi.

She gathered her puppets and tucked the scroll into her sleeve.

Before turning away, she glanced at Sakumo. Her smile was gone.

"I'll remember that slash, Hatake Sakumo... pray that you do not meet me on the battlefield. I will not spare you!"

By her principles, she had approached Kamizuki and attacked first. Whatever counterattack Kamizuki made and whatever consequences resulted were hers to bear; she could not blame him.

But this white-haired bastard...

First, he had disrupted Mamoru and the others' mission. Then he had inflicted grievous injuries on Ruri, forcing her to admit defeat and retreat. It was simply unforgivable!

Swish—

Chiyo vanished, and Kamizuki did not stop her.

A standard Kage Level powerhouse in perfect condition who wanted to leave was beyond his ability to keep. Trying to make a move would have been unnecessary.

"This..."

Sakumo pointed at himself, looking baffled.

"Even if I was the one who injured that woman, wasn't the root cause still you? Why is she only holding a grudge against me?!"

"It was the same last time. You were obviously the one constantly insulting Kakuzu, yet somehow he stopped being angry!"

"What the hell is going on?!"

Kamizuki shook his head. "Who knows what those old geezers are thinking. Maybe it's because I'm more handsome."

"Looks like there's only something wrong with their brains. Their eyes still work fine."

Tap... tap...

Crisp footsteps sounded, and Sakumo, who had only just relaxed slightly, tensed up again.

As the antidote wore off, he staggered when he turned and fell toward the ground.

Smack—

A pale hand caught Sakumo. The faint scent of soapberries from black hair drifted into his nose.

That scent...

Sakumo looked up and saw a familiar face.

Orochimaru.