Uchiha Chen and Jiraiya!

As the white mist of chakra dissipated, ten puppets of various forms, all clad in white, appeared around Chiyo.

"W-what is this? What are those ten things?" Raido Namiashi's eyes widened as he asked in disbelief.

"Those aren't people; they're puppets!" Aoba Yamashiro adjusted his sunglasses, having just reviewed the intelligence on Chiyo.

"Controlling ten puppets at once?!" Raido Namiashi was stunned. He had heard of puppeteers, but this was his first time seeing one capable of manipulating ten simultaneously.

"That's right. This is Chiyo's signature technique."

"The Chikamatsu Ten Puppets. It is said they were created by the progenitor of puppetry, Monzaemon. Legend has it that each one of these puppets is worth a thousand men! Chiyo once used these ten puppets to conquer an entire city!"

As the information on Chiyo surfaced in his mind, Aoba Yamashiro's expression grew even graver.

"What?! Conquered a city?!" Raido Namiashi and the surrounding Konoha ninja couldn't help but gasp.

What were they to do? With an opponent this terrifying, what could they possibly do?

Chiyo let out a cold command, and three of the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets leaped forward, one of them stepping onto the shoulders of the other two.

The three puppets performed hand seals in unison, and as they opened their mouths, the mechanisms for "Buddha," "Dharma," and "Sangha" were revealed!

"Puppet Technique—Three Treasures Suction Crush!!"

At Chiyo's order, a powerful suction force erupted from the "Buddha," "Dharma," and "Sangha" mechanisms!

"What is happening? Such powerful suction!" On the ramparts, Aoba Yamashiro and Raido Namiashi's expressions shifted as they were nearly dragged off the wall by the intense force.

Fortunately, their reflexes were sharp, and they quickly ducked behind the wall.

However, many Konoha ninja were still pulled down, only to be cut down by the rest of the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets swarming in.

Seeing this, the Sunagakure Village ninja attacking the city grew excited, charging forward with reckless abandon.

But they were met only with the counterattacks of the Konoha ninja; on the rare occasion a Sunagakure ninja managed to scale the wall, they were instantly dispatched by the Anbu.

"Hahaha, old woman Chiyo, your puppetry has lost none of its power over the years!"

Nearby, Pakura watched Chiyo's display of might, her long-dormant heart beginning to stir.

"Hmph, the White Fang of the Leaf killed my son and daughter-in-law. Today, I will have my revenge for them!" Chiyo said coldly, her expression blank as she manipulated the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets to slaughter the Konoha ninja who had leaped from the walls to rescue their comrades.

Little did she know that Sakumo Hatake, the White Fang of the Leaf, had already taken his own life.

"Old woman, you can't take all the glory for yourself. After so many years in seclusion, I fear many have forgotten the name of Pakura!"

"Scorch Release—Extreme Steam Killing!!"

With a fierce shout from Pakura, four crimson fireballs rapidly merged into one massive sphere, hurtling straight toward the city wall.

"BOOM!!"

A hole several meters in diameter instantly appeared in the wall, the scorching heat keeping the Konoha ninja at bay.

Of course, the Sunagakure ninja dared not charge through the hole either. The temperature was simply too high; they would likely be roasted alive before they even made it through.

The Konoha ninja on the wall were now in a dilemma. The flames from the Scorch Release were slowly eating away at the wall; if they didn't use Water Release to cool it down or extinguish the fire, the hole would only grow larger.

But if they extinguished the flames and lowered the temperature, the Sunagakure ninja would seize the opportunity to storm through the breach.

Just as the Konoha ninja were caught in this impasse, a thunderous roar echoed from the sky.

"Water Release—Water Formation Pillar!"

A waterfall descended from the heavens, landing precisely on the residual flames of Pakura's Scorch Release, extinguishing them in moments.

At that very instant, a massive red toad plummeted from the sky!

"BOOM!!"

The toad's immense bulk kicked up wave after wave of air pressure, the force so violent that the ninja on both sides could barely keep their eyes open.

The Konoha ninja hiding behind the wall were fine, but the main force of Sunagakure ninja, facing the blast head-on, suffered greatly, with many being blown away.

"What is this? Such overwhelming chakra!" Chiyo hurriedly pulled the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets back to her side, shielding herself within their formation.

"Heh, finally, a decent ninja has arrived. I wonder who it is, and if they can give me a good fight..." Pakura stared ahead, licking her lips with excitement.

As the thick smoke cleared, "Yo—the Toad Spirit Sage of Mount Myoboku, commonly known as the Toad Sage, has arrived!!"

Standing on one leg atop the giant toad, Jiraiya struck his classic pose, a wicked grin playing on his lips.

"The Toad Sage? Jiraiya? One of the Legendary Sannin? How could he possibly be here?"

Seeing Jiraiya's sudden appearance, Chiyo couldn't help but knit her brows, a faint sense of unease rising in her heart.

"Lord Jiraiya!!"

"Hahaha, who would have thought that Lord Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin, would come to support us!"

On the ramparts, the Konoha ninja were instantly stirred into excitement; Jiraiya's arrival was undoubtedly a shot in the arm for them.

"Huh, who is that person next to Lord Jiraiya?"

"Eh? I think I recognize him. Isn't that Uchiha Chen of the Uchiha Clan?"

"Uchiha Chen? Being with Lord Jiraiya, could it be that he has already become Lord Jiraiya's apprentice?"

While Jiraiya laughed and greeted the Konoha ninja on the wall, Uchiha Chen stood beside him, his expression impassive.

"The Legendary Sannin? It just so happens that I shall use you to warm up today, and let the world hear the name of Pakura once again!"

"Scorch Release—Flame Bullet!"

Two fireballs manifested in Pakura's palms as she transformed into a blur, charging straight toward the pair.

"Little Chen, I'll leave this old woman to you. How about it?"

Seeing Pakura charging toward them, Jiraiya merely glanced sideways at Uchiha Chen and curled his lip.

In Jiraiya's view, since Uchiha Chen had learned the Rasengan and mastered nature transformation, even if he couldn't defeat the old woman, he would have no trouble retreating unscathed.

"Fine."

Uchiha Chen was somewhat surprised by Pakura's use of Scorch Release, as the original story had never mentioned this person.

However, Uchiha Chen felt no fear and leaped directly off the toad.

"What is going on? Why would Lord Jiraiya let Uchiha Chen face Pakura?!"

"Isn't Uchiha Chen done for?"

Aoba Yamashiro and Raido Namiashi spoke almost in unison, their faces filled with disbelief.