As the white chakra mist dissipated, ten puppets dressed in white and each with a different appearance appeared around Chiyo.
"W-what's going on? Who are those ten people?"
Namiashi Raidō's eyes widened as he asked in disbelief.
"Those ten aren't people. They're puppets!"
Aoba Yamashiro adjusted his sunglasses. He had just happened to read some information about Chiyo.
"She can control ten puppets at once?!"
Namiashi Raidō was stunned. He had heard of puppet masters, but this was the first time he had seen one capable of controlling ten puppets at the same time!
"That's right. This is Chiyo's signature technique."
"The Chikamatsu Ten Puppets were supposedly created by Monzaemon, the founder of puppetry. They say each one is worth a thousand men!
"Chiyo once even used these ten puppets to capture a city!"
As information about Chiyo surfaced in his mind, Aoba Yamashiro's expression grew even more serious.
"What?! She captured a city?!"
Namiashi Raidō and the Konoha Ninja around him all drew in sharp breaths.
What were they supposed to do? Their opponent was terrifying!
Chiyo let out a cold shout. Three of the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets suddenly sprang forward, one of them stepping onto the shoulders of the other two.
The three puppets formed Hand Seals in unison. As they opened their mouths, each revealed a mechanism marked with one of the words "Buddha," "Dharma," and "Monk"!
"Puppet Technique—Three Treasures Suction Crush!"
At Chiyo's command, the three mechanisms—"Buddha," "Dharma," and "Monk"—immediately unleashed a powerful suction force!
"What's happening? That suction is so strong!"
On the wall, Aoba Yamashiro and Namiashi Raidō's expressions changed. They almost got sucked right off it.
Fortunately, they reacted quickly and ducked behind the wall.
Even so, plenty of Konoha Ninja were pulled off the wall, only to be cut down by the other Chikamatsu Ten Puppets as they swarmed in.
The Sunagakure Ninja attacking the fortress were even more excited at the sight. One by one, they charged toward the wall without fear of death.
But all they got in return was a counterattack from the Konoha Ninja. The few Sunagakure Ninja who managed to reach the wall were immediately dealt with by Konoha's Anbu.
"Hahaha! You've still got it, old Chiyo! Your Puppet Technique is just as powerful as ever!"
Watching Chiyo display her strength, Ya felt his long-dormant fighting spirit stirring.
"Hmph. The White Fang of the Leaf killed my son and daughter-in-law. Today, I'll have my revenge!"
Chiyo expressionlessly controlled the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets as they fought the Konoha Ninja leaping off the wall to rescue their comrades. She spoke coldly as she did.
What she didn't know was that Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of the Leaf, had already taken his own life.
"Old woman, you can't have all the glory to yourself. I've been in seclusion for so many years; I bet most people have forgotten the name Ya!"
"Scorch Release: Extreme Steam Killing!"
Ya roared. Four blazing-red fireballs quickly merged into one enormous sphere, which shot straight toward the wall.
"Boom!"
A hole several meters across appeared in the wall. The scorching heat kept the Konoha Ninja from getting close.
Of course, the Sunagakure Ninja didn't dare charge through the hole either.
The temperature was simply too high. They might be roasted alive before they even made it through.
The Konoha Ninja on the wall were caught in a dilemma. The flames produced by Scorch Release were steadily eating away at the wall. If they didn't cool it with Water Release or put out the fire, the hole would only grow larger.
But if they extinguished the flames and lowered the temperature, the Sunagakure Ninja would seize the chance to attack through the hole.
Just as the Konoha Ninja were at an impasse, a shout suddenly rang out from above.
"Water Release: Water Formation Pillar!"
A waterfall immediately plunged from the sky, landing squarely on the lingering Scorch Release flames Ya had unleashed. Before long, the fire was out.
Just then, a gigantic red toad dropped from the sky!
"Boom!"
The toad's enormous body sent wave after wave of powerful gusts rippling outward. The force nearly kept the shinobi on both sides from opening their eyes.
The Konoha Ninja sheltered behind the wall were all right, but the main force of the Sunagakure Ninja, caught directly in the gusts, had a much rougher time. Many of them were blown off their feet.
"What's going on? That chakra is incredibly powerful!"
Chiyo hurriedly pulled the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets back to her side, where they formed a protective circle around her.
"Heh. At last, a worthy shinobi has shown up. I wonder who it is, and whether they can give this old man a proper fight..."
Ya stared straight ahead, licking his lips with an excited look.
The smoke cleared.
"Yo—Toad Spirit Sage of Mount Myoboku, commonly known as the Toad Sage, reporting for duty!"
Jiraiya stood on one leg atop the enormous toad, striking his signature pose with a wicked smile on his face.
"The Toad Sage? Jiraiya? One of the Konoha Sannin? What's he doing here?"
Seeing Jiraiya appear out of nowhere, Chiyo furrowed her brow, a faint unease rising in her heart.
"Lord Jiraiya!"
"Hahaha! I can't believe Lord Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, has come to support us!"
The Konoha Ninja on the wall immediately cheered. Jiraiya's arrival was like a shot in the arm.
"Hey, who's that beside Lord Jiraiya?"
"Huh? I think I know him. Isn't that Uchiha Chen of the Uchiha Clan?"
"Uchiha Chen? He's with Lord Jiraiya. Could it be that Lord Jiraiya has already taken him on as a student?"
While Jiraiya smiled and greeted the Konoha Ninja on the wall, Uchiha Chen stood beside him with an expressionless face.
"One of the Konoha Sannin? I can use you for practice today and make the world remember the name Ya!"
"Scorch Release: Flame Bullet!"
Two fireballs appeared in Ya's palms. He blurred into motion and charged straight at Jiraiya and Chen.
"Chen, how about you take care of this old man?"
Seeing Ya charge, Jiraiya merely turned to Uchiha Chen and asked with a pout.
In Jiraiya's view, Uchiha Chen had learned the Rasengan and mastered nature transformation. Even if he couldn't beat the old man, he should still be able to get away unharmed.
"Sure."
Uchiha Chen was a little surprised to see Ya use Scorch Release. The original story had never mentioned him.
But Uchiha Chen wasn't afraid. He jumped straight down from the toad.
"What's going on? Why is Lord Jiraiya sending Uchiha Chen to fight Ya?!"
"Doesn't that mean Uchiha Chen is done for?"
Aoba Yamashiro and Namiashi Raidō blurted out their disbelief almost at the same time.