Sunagakure Village's Main Force Attacks!

"That's right, it was indeed Uchiha Chen. This battle was witnessed personally by myself and the entire village of Hot Spring Village!"

At the mention of Uchiha Chen, a smile that could not be suppressed appeared on Izumitani Yoju's face.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade looked at each other in shock, the same question forming in their minds.

Since when did Uchiha Chen possess such ability?

To take on a hundred enemies alone, and not only kill three jonin but also severely wound another!

Wasn't this progress a bit too extreme?

Aoba Yamashiro, who had accompanied Izumitani Yoju inside, was also completely stunned.

Uchiha Chen was a celebrity who had suddenly "risen to fame" in the Leaf Village not long ago. He never expected to hear his name here, let alone such shocking news.

"By the way, I wonder if Brother Chen has returned to the Leaf yet? I still want to express my formal gratitude to him on behalf of the villagers."

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Izumitani Yoju stepped forward and said to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, with an expectant look.

"Uchiha Chen has not returned yet."

Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could speak, Tsunade frowned and replied.

"What? Brother Chen hasn't returned? At his speed, he should have been much faster than us, right?"

Hearing that Uchiha Chen had not returned to the Leaf, Izumitani Yoju felt a jolt of alarm, his face showing signs of worry.

"Hehe, there is no need for everyone to worry. Uchiha Chen is on a mission, so he won't be back quite so soon."

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, explained with a chuckle from his seat at the head of the table.

Suddenly, a dark shadow leaped in quickly through the window and knelt before the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. This shadow was an Anbu of the Leaf.

"Lord Third, a large force from Sunagakure Village has been discovered one hundred miles outside Mount Kikyo, and they are heading straight for the mountain!"

"What?! Does Sunagakure Village really dare to do this? How many of them are there?"

Tsunade clenched her fists tightly and asked through gritted teeth.

"Lord Third, Lady Tsunade, the Sunagakure force is no less than five thousand strong, and they are being led by the siblings of Chiyo!"

"Fine, fine, fine. To dare to mobilize so many ninja—is Sunagakure intent on fighting us to the death?"

A cold glint flashed in the eyes of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. He held his pipe in his hand, leaving it unlit for a long time, letting the wisps of smoke rise before him.

"Lord Third, what should we do?"

"Pass the order: assemble all of the Leaf's combat forces. Defend Mount Kikyo at all costs; do not engage without orders. Furthermore, notify Namikaze Minato and the jonin on other fronts to accelerate their return for reinforcements!"

After a moment of contemplation, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked at the Anbu member and issued his orders.

"Yes!"

With that, the Anbu member vanished from the window with a swish.

"Aoba Yamashiro, take Village Chief Izumitani and the villagers of Hot Spring Village to the old Chunin Exam venue to get settled!"

Immediately after, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked at Aoba Yamashiro and instructed him.

"Thank you, Lord Third. Although the ninja of Hot Spring Village are not strong, we will do what we can. We await your orders."

Having received the shelter of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Izumitani Yoju could not hide his excitement and stepped forward with a serious expression to express his gratitude.

After Aoba Yamashiro left with Izumitani Yoju, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked back at Tsunade.

"Tsunade, you are not to go to Mount Kikyo!"

"No... I must go to Mount Kikyo."

Unexpectedly, Tsunade suddenly looked up and refused.

"But, your hemophobia... you know as well as I do that this is no time to be headstrong."

Watching the stubbornness on Tsunade's face, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, could not help but hesitate, but his expression quickly turned firm.

"I..."

Tsunade gritted her teeth, wanting to retort but unable to find the words, because the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was not wrong. Suffering from hemophobia, even if she went to Mount Kikyo, she would be of no use!

"Enough, say no more. You are to stay here!"

Having said that, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, stopped speaking and began to study the various files on his desk intently. His brow was furrowed, and the frequency with which he puffed on his pipe grew faster and faster.

"Quick, the medical team!!"

"Everyone, do not go out! Hold your positions here!"

On the newly built defensive walls of Mount Kikyo, the Leaf ninja stared intently at the massive Sunagakure force below the wall.

The two sides had already clashed for several rounds. Although Sunagakure had the advantage in numbers, the Leaf side was using the terrain to their advantage, trading blows evenly with the enemy.

Both sides had suffered casualties.

"That is... the elite jonin of Sunagakure, Chiyo, but who is the other one?"

On the city wall, Aoba Yamashiro watched as two white-haired elders slowly emerged from the Sunagakure Village ninja ranks.

He recognized Chiyo, as she was a veteran powerhouse of Sunagakure, but he could not identify the old man beside her.

"I don't recognize the one next to her either. Could it be Chiyo's younger brother, Ebizo?"

Raido Namiashi wore a look of confusion as well.

"No, that is not Ebizo. That is Ya, a user of the Scorch Release bloodline limit from Sunagakure Village!"

Just then, a Konoha Anbu wearing a cat-faced mask suddenly appeared beside Aoba Yamashiro and Raido Namiashi, speaking in a grave tone.

"What? A Scorch Release bloodline limit user?!"

"Cat, are you serious? Isn't the Scorch Release user named Pakura? This old man...?"

Aoba Yamashiro and Raido Namiashi were both shocked, asking in disbelief.

"Pakura is indeed a Scorch Release user, but this Ya is Pakura's teacher. You are both so young, so naturally, you wouldn't know of such a figure. Because Ya hasn't appeared on the battlefield for many years, people in the ninja world assumed he was dead. I never expected to see him here today!"

The Konoha Anbu codenamed Cat stared fixedly at Chiyo and Ya, slowly explaining.

"But, Cat... you're about the same age as us. How do you know this?"

"Because... I have this, and it happens to be recorded right here."

As he spoke, Cat held up the thick roster in his hand, which contained records of famous ninjas from all the major nations.

Aoba Yamashiro and Raido Namiashi: ...

"Oh no, they're starting to lead the charge!!"

Someone shouted, and the three of them quickly looked over, only to see Chiyo pull a scroll from her robes.

Chiyo tossed the scroll into the air, and it unfurled mid-flight.

Supported by Chiyo's chakra, the scroll remained suspended in the air.

As chakra continued to flow into the scroll, a cold sneer appeared on Chiyo's face.

"Chikamatsu Ten Puppets!!"

With a wave of her hand, plumes of white chakra smoke began to rise all around her.