South Gate
Chiyo was a middle-aged woman now, and her gaze was cold. Sunagakure's finances were already in the red, putting them in a precarious position. Salamander Hanzo's declaration of war had successfully diverted their internal conflicts.
To repay Amegakure for its kindness, I'll put in a little extra effort and drive you lot of scum back!
At the thought, Chiyo stretched out both hands. Ten Chakra Threads shot from her fingers and attached themselves to Chikamatsu Ten Puppets.
Then she raised both hands and moved her fingers slightly. Chikamatsu Ten Puppets all sprang into action, moving as nimbly as real people as they charged at Salamander Hanzo, who was rushing toward them.
Salamander Hanzo roared and spun past the first of Chikamatsu Ten Puppets. Then he raised his right hand and brought it down in a slash. Whoosh!
His long blade turned, knocking down the second puppet. As he pulled back his sword, the third puppet raised the spike in its hand and thrust it at Salamander Hanzo.
Just as he was about to strike back, the first puppet—the one he'd knocked down earlier—grabbed his long blade with its right hand and held on tight. Salamander Hanzo's expression changed. He released his grip and used the momentum of the draw to leap backward, dodging the third puppet's attack.
Then he spun around and cut off the third puppet's head. Before he could catch his breath, the first puppet flung poisoned Senbon at him!
Salamander Hanzo instinctively used the Substitution Technique. Thud! A series of clattering sounds followed. The spot where Salamander Hanzo had been standing was now occupied by a wooden post, and the poisoned Senbon struck it.
The poison was potent. In the blink of an eye, the brown wooden post turned purplish black. Salamander Hanzo's gaze turned cold. "You old hag, you fight dirty!"
Old hag? Chiyo had only meant to hold him off; she hadn't intended to get serious. And what did he just call her? An old hag!
Boom! A huge surge of Chakra burst forth, making the Chakra Threads in Chiyo's hands thicken considerably. Chikamatsu Ten Puppets, meanwhile, drew all their weapons.
They came in every shape and form: blades, swords, forks, spears, cannons, thunder, saws, and hooks. Salamander Hanzo narrowed his eyes, tossed aside his samurai sword, then reached behind his back with both hands and pulled out a sickle and chain.
Any ninja who knew of his reputation knew this meant he was getting serious. After all, this was his signature weapon—not something a samurai sword or a long blade could replace!
"Bastard! Has no one ever told you that you're not supposed to ask a woman her age?!" Chiyo roared. Her powerful Chakra blew her hair straight up.
Chikamatsu Ten Puppets charged at Salamander Hanzo at twice their previous speed.
Salamander Hanzo retreated, but Chikamatsu Ten Puppets pursued him relentlessly. Then Salamander Hanzo formed Hand Seals, the corners of his mouth curling upward. "Fire Style: Exploding Flame Formation!"
Chiyo raised an eyebrow and pulled back four of the puppets. The remaining six stayed within the Exploding Flame Formation.
In an instant, numerous Explosive Tags buried underground shot out and stuck to the six puppets. Then Salamander Hanzo let out a roar.
The Explosive Tags detonated! Boom!
The six puppets were blasted away and wrecked. Chiyo tried to control them, but found they could no longer move. She withdrew her threads, her expression grave.
She had no idea when Salamander Hanzo had planted the Explosive Tags, or why he hadn't used them when Jiraiya attacked the South Gate earlier!
It wasn't surprising that Chiyo had her doubts. Explosive Flame Formation was an A-rank Ninjutsu, meaning it required at least a true Jonin—one with a large Chakra reserve—to use. And in Amegakure, besides Salamander Hanzo, who else qualified?
That was why Jiraiya and his troops had escaped injury from the Explosive Flame Formation.
Salamander Hanzo snorted. This old woman was making a fuss over nothing. He swung the sickle and chain at Chiyo, but just then, one of the Ten-Puppet Collection—a bull-headed puppet—appeared and blocked his path.
Puppet Technique: Guard!
With a clang, the sickle and chain were knocked aside. Salamander Hanzo's eyes lit up, and he swung again, using the force of the rebound!
Sickle and Chain Double Strike! The tip of the sickle pierced the bull puppet's back, running it through. Salamander Hanzo then grabbed the base of the chain with his right hand and yanked hard!
The metal torso was torn from the bull puppet. Chikamatsu Ten Puppets had lost another one!
Salamander Hanzo licked his lips and gave Chiyo a mocking look. Seven of the ten puppets were gone, leaving only three that didn't look like much. He didn't think he could lose.
Chiyo's expression was grave. She'd thought Amegakure was just a small ninja village and that Hanzo's strength was all hype. Who could have guessed that the real Hanzo was this powerful?
Salamander Hanzo prepared to deliver the old woman's final blow, then shouted, "Ibuse!"
Ibuse answered at once. It first vanished in a puff of white smoke, then reappeared beside Salamander Hanzo. With the two's tacit understanding—
Ibuse immediately spewed purple poisonous mist. The mist was not only highly toxic, but spread over an extremely wide area. In an instant, it enveloped Chiyo!
Salamander Hanzo sneered. "Ninja Art: Sickle Fog Technique!" Then his figure suddenly vanished into the poisonous mist. He crept toward Chiyo, looking for an opportunity to attack.
Chiyo snorted and moved only her right hand. The remaining Chikamatsu Ten Puppets arranged themselves in a triangle. At a tug from Chiyo's right hand—
The three puppets opened their mouths wide. "Three Treasures Suction Crush!" In an instant, the puppets sucked up a huge amount of poisonous mist. Even Salamander Hanzo was struggling to withstand Chiyo's Ninjutsu.
Damn, this technique is his natural enemy! This is so annoying!
Once the poisonous mist had been cleared away, Chiyo smiled and first ordered, "Everyone, get over here!"
The Sunagakure ninja immediately stopped fighting and took cover behind Chiyo. Salamander Hanzo seemed to realize what was happening. "This is bad!" He was just about to hurl his sickle and chain at Chikamatsu Ten Puppets—
But a shield of Iron Sand formed and blocked the weapon. Clang! The sickle and chain were knocked aside. Salamander Hanzo's expression changed this time. Magnet Release, and Iron Sand at that. Could it be—
Then he saw a man with spiky hair and long blue hair appear, arms folded across his chest as he looked down at him!
The Third Kazekage! He was here! The strongest Kazekage in history! Salamander Hanzo had just fought a major battle. He wasn't confident he could take on two Kage Level opponents!
The Third Kazekage raised an eyebrow, tilted his head, and pointed toward the Rain Ninja forces.
Chiyo's lips curved upward. "As Lord Kazekage commands!" Then the three puppets opened their mouths and sprayed Ibuse's potent poisonous mist at the Rain Ninja.
Ibuse roared, "Run!" Then it charged toward Yuji at top speed. The Rain Ninja forces, however, were in trouble. They had just tried to flee when an Iron Sand wall shot up from the ground and blocked their way.
Once the poisonous mist enveloped them, their bodies lost the strength to hold them up. Purple blotches spread across their skin, and they collapsed to the ground. Only then did the Third Kazekage signal Chiyo to stop.
Chiyo obediently followed his instructions, using Chikamatsu Ten Puppets to suck the poisonous mist back in. She could study it properly later; perhaps it would prove useful someday.