She knew the other side wouldn't make empty threats, but they had already reached the point where they had no choice but to fight. The Flying Thunder God Technique her opponent had mastered was a devastating threat to the Sand Ninja.
"The natural enemy of puppet masters, is it? Big talk is easy. Let's see you back it up, Uchiha brat. Get him!"
Clack, clack, clack...
The Chikamatsu Ten Puppets spread out around them in groups of two and three. The Binding Puppet spread its arms, launching one cannonball after another, but Genbu blocked them.
As the billowing smoke and flames dissipated, Chiyo kept her eyes fixed on the masked figure. The Three-Eyed Demon Fox mask revealed only a pair of eyes, and she could see the mockery in their depths.
"Nanto Sage, Hokuto Sage, seal!"
In an instant, eerie purple pillars of light completely immobilized the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets. The Grim Reaper among the Nine Masked Beasts swung its scythe, ruthlessly severing the Chakra Threads connecting them.
Chiyo's expression changed dramatically. She frantically manipulated the pale blue Chakra Threads, but the Grim Reaper kept swinging its scythe, completely severing every thread she controlled.
"Sorry, Chiyo, advisor to the Kazekage. The Grim Reaper of Nine Mask Svāhā can completely drain chakra. Puppets without a puppet master controlling them are nothing more than beautifully crafted toys. That's all. Also..."
A crisp, childish voice laced with malice rang in her ear. Chiyo instinctively turned, only to find a large number of Sand Ninja lying motionless on the ground.
"You've lost this battle. With the Yellow Flash on the battlefield at Mount Kikyo, your defeat is already certain. Still, I can't let my guard down..."
The labored breathing beneath her grew increasingly audible. Baki struggled to open his eyes, but through the narrow gap, all he could see was a fair, smooth chin.
Chiyo was about to move, but the other Nine Masked Beasts instantly surrounded her, keeping her in place. The beasts whose abilities she had yet to see forced her to stop, deepening the furrows in her brow.
"Nine Mask Svāhā, the natural enemy of puppet masters, is it? You're quite a remarkable brat. Why hide your face when you're an Uchiha who fights without using the Sharingan?"
"Being too famous as a ninja is never a good thing. But since you're curious, I'll make an exception. We may cross paths again after the war. We're neighbors, after all, and future allies."
Beneath the Three-Eyed Demon Fox mask was a fresh-faced, youthful visage. Chiyo fell silent for a long moment, then finally let out a sigh.
She was shocked by how young Uchiha Hanazuki was, and felt the passage of time all the more keenly. Her own age showed more clearly than ever.
"How old are you, exactly?"
"Ten. I'd just graduated from the Academy when they sent me off to the battlefield. A ninja's life really is cruel: low pay, lots of work, and far from home. What a pain."
The Sand Ninja who were unable to move were so shocked by his answer that they went numb. They stared at his figure as if he were a monster.
"A ten-year-old genius ninja. Konoha really is full of talent: Lady Slug, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya among the Sannin; the Yellow Flash; and now you, Body Flicker Hanazuki."
"I hate to give the other side credit, but compared to us, the Sand Ninja rookies are..."
"That has nothing to do with me, and I don't want to pass judgment on the ninjas of the Land of Wind. You lot, keep an eye on the Sand Ninja. Nanto Sage, Hokuto Sage, and the Grim Reaper will stay here."
"Don't tell me you can't handle even this little task, Konoha's Chunin and Jonin."
His sharp gaze swept over them, and no one dared meet his eyes. Mimura Hamaki, the frontline commander, fought through his unease and pressed him for an answer.
"The Uchiha crest. Are you a member of the Uchiha Clan? You've already dealt with the enemy, so where are you going?"
"Mount Kikyo. That's where the main battlefield is. The Sand Ninja and Cloud Hidden have actually made it into the heart of the Land of Fire, and you're Chunin and Jonin. You're surprisingly useless!"
His merciless taunt instantly enraged the Konoha Ninja stationed on the battlefield. But when they looked at the many Sand Ninja sprawled on the ground, they could only swallow their anger.
So what if he was young, knew a few more jutsu, and had even learned the Flying Thunder God? Did he really have to be so arrogant?
"Forget it. You can at least manage the simple task of guarding the prisoners, right? My only mission is to suppress the battlefield. Everything else has nothing to do with me. I'm off."
He vanished, leaving the Konoha Ninja staring at one another, ashamed.
"You two, who exactly is this guy? Is he some Uchiha Clan expert? Who gave the order to send that brat here?"
The barrage of questions left the two Chunin stunned for a moment before they told everyone everything they knew.
After hearing them out, the others fell into deep self-doubt, feeling as if they'd wasted their lives.
"A newly graduated Genin? This year? What kind of joke is that? Is the Flying Thunder God Technique something a Genin can master? There's a limit to how ridiculous a joke can be."
"Lord Orochimaru and the Third Hokage gave the order? Lord Orochimaru's student? Orochimaru took on a student?!"
"He fought the AB Duo—the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki—and made it out unscathed, then went on to save more than thirty Genin? Do you think you're writing a novel?!"
Under everyone's accusations, the two young Chunin were close to tears. Everything they'd said was true. Why were their comrades blaming them? Did they have to jump into the Naka River to prove it?
"A once-in-decades genius? Uchiha Hanazuki really is a terrifying talent, the kind that inspires fear. If he were a Sand Ninja, I wouldn't have to drag my old bones out here to fight for my life."
"Looks like he's heading for the battlefield at Mount Kikyo. So how will you deal with this Uchiha prodigy, Rasa, Pakura...?"
Chiyo's face was grave. If the Sand Ninja and Cloud Hidden won, Konoha would have to pay a terrible price.
By contrast, if Konoha won, it would be a complete victory, and the Sand Ninja and Cloud Hidden would have to pay dearly.
How long are you going to wait before you make your move, Ōnoki of Both Scales? You went to great lengths to smooth things over after the Third Raikage's death and temporarily unite the three great nations. What impressive diplomacy.
But this alliance is only a temporary measure. The moment Konoha is severely weakened, the alliance will collapse. When will you turn against your allies, Ōnoki?
Her clouded old eyes had long since seen through the faces of the allied nations. She glanced down at the eerie purple barrier, and black lines appeared on her forehead.
"What a troublesome barrier. Nine Mask Svāhā, what a troublesome jutsu. Does each summoning beast have a different ability? Then..."
Meanwhile, elsewhere...
On Mount Kikyo, azure and golden flashes clashed again and again. The heads of Konoha's great clans were locked in battle with enemies of all kinds, and the fighting had reached a stalemate.
"Where's that Uchiha brat? Yellow Flash!"