Defeating Chiyo

Knowing the opponent wouldn't act without purpose, they had reached a point where battle was unavoidable. The Flying Thunder God Technique at the opponent's disposal was nothing short of a devastating blow to the Sand Ninja.

"The natural enemy of puppeteers? Big talk isn't just for show, Uchiha brat. Let's go!"

Clack, clack, clack...

The Chikamatsu Ten Puppets scattered in pairs or trios, instantly surrounding the area. The Binding Puppet spread its arms, unleashing a barrage of cannonballs, only for them to be intercepted by Genbu.

As the billowing smoke and fire dissipated, Chiyo stared intently, noticing the mockery in those deep eyes behind the Three-Eyed Demon Fox mask.

"Nanto Sage, Hokuto Sage, Seal!"

In an instant, an eerie purple beam of light completely locked down the movements of the Chikamatsu Ten Puppets. The Grim Reaper among the Nine-Faced Beasts swung its scythe, ruthlessly severing the chakra threads at their connection points.

Chiyo's expression shifted drastically. She waved her pale blue chakra threads frantically, but the Grim Reaper continued to swing its scythe, completely slicing through the threads she controlled.

"My apologies, Sand Village Advisor Chiyo. The Grim Reaper of the Nine-Faced Svaha can completely drain chakra. To a puppet without a puppeteer's control, they are nothing more than beautifully crafted toys—nothing more. Also..."

A crisp, youthful voice tinged with malice echoed in her ears. Chiyo instinctively turned around, only to see numerous Sand Ninja lying on the ground, unable to move.

"You've lost this battle. With the Yellow Flash on the Mount Kikyo battlefield, your defeat is already sealed. Still, it's a bit worrying..."

The sound of heavy breathing beneath her feet grew more pronounced. Baki struggled to open his eyes, but could only see a fair, smooth chin through the gaps.

Just as Chiyo prepared to move, the other Nine-Faced Beasts instantly surrounded her, pinning her in place. The Nine-Faced Beasts whose abilities had yet to be revealed forced her to pause, the wrinkles on her face deepening.

"Nine-Faced Svaha, the natural enemy of puppeteers? A truly remarkable brat. Why would an Uchiha who doesn't use the Sharingan to fight hide his face?"

"It's never a good thing for a ninja to have too loud a reputation. But since you're curious, I'll make an exception this once. After the war, perhaps we'll cross paths again; after all, we are neighboring countries, and future allies at that."

Beneath the Three-Eyed Demon Fox mask, a fresh, refined, and youthful face left Chiyo silent for a long time, eventually culminating in a heavy sigh.

She was stunned by Uchiha Hanazuki's youth, while also feeling the rapid passage of time—her own aging was starkly reflected in this moment.

"Just how old are you?"

"Ten. I just graduated from the academy and was forced onto the battlefield. The life of a ninja is truly cruel—low pay, too much work, and far from home. What a drag."

Upon receiving the definitive answer, the immobilized Sand Ninja were shocked to the point of numbness. The expressions they directed at that figure were those of people looking at a monster.

"A ten-year-old genius ninja? Konoha is truly overflowing with talent. Lady Slug, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, the Yellow Flash, and now you, Body Flicker Hanazuki."

"Though I hate to boost the morale of others, by comparison, the newcomers of the Sand are..."

"That has nothing to do with me, and I have no desire to evaluate the ninjas of the Land of Wind. You lot, keep an eye on these Sand Ninja. The Nanto Sage, Hokuto Sage, and the Grim Reaper will remain here."

"Don't tell me you can't even handle this small task, you Konoha Chunin and Jonin."

His gaze was sharp, sweeping across the area; no one could meet his eyes. Mimura Hazaki, the frontline commander, endured his discomfort and asked, "The Uchiha crest—are you a member of the Uchiha clan? You've already dealt with the enemy; where are you going?"

"Mount Kikyo. That is the main battlefield. To think the Sand and Cloud could sneak into the heart of the Land of Fire—and you are Chunin and Jonin, yet unexpectedly useless!"

The merciless mockery instantly ignited the anger of the many Konoha ninjas guarding the battlefield. Yet, looking at the numerous fallen Sand Ninja, they could only swallow their pride.

So what if he was a bit young, knew a few more ninjutsu, and had mastered the Flying Thunder God? Was there any need to be this arrogant?

"Forget it. Surely you can manage the simple task of guarding prisoners? My mission is only to suppress the battlefield; other matters are none of my concern. I'm off."

His figure vanished, leaving behind a group of Konoha ninjas looking at each other in shame.

"You two, who exactly is this guy? A master from the Uchiha clan? Who on earth gave the order to send that brat here?"

The barrage of questions left the two Chunin stunned for a moment before they confessed everything they knew.

After hearing it, the group fell into deep self-doubt, feeling as though their lives had been a complete waste.

"A Genin who just graduated this year? Are you kidding me! Is the Flying Thunder God Technique something a Genin can master? There's a limit to jokes."

"Orders from Lord Orochimaru and the Third Hokage? A student of Lord Orochimaru—Orochimaru took on a student?!"

"He retreated unscathed after clashing with the AB combo of the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, and even saved over thirty Genin in the process? Do you think you're writing a novel!"

Facing the accusations of their peers, the two young Chunin were on the verge of tears. They were telling the truth—why were they being blamed? Did they have to jump into the Naka River to prove it?

"A genius seen once in several decades? Uchiha Hanazuki, a truly terrifying genius, a talent that inspires fear. If he were a Sand Ninja, I wouldn't have to drag these old bones out to fight for my life."

"It seems he's heading to the Mount Kikyo battlefield. How will you deal with this Uchiha genius now, Rasa, Pakura..."

Chiyo's expression was grim. If the Sand and Cloud won, Konoha would inevitably pay a heavy price.

Conversely, if Konoha emerged victorious, the Sand and Cloud would surely suffer a devastating blow.

How long are you going to wait before you make your move, Onoki of the Two Scales? You went to such lengths to smooth over the death of the Third Raikage and force the three great nations into a temporary alliance—truly excellent diplomacy.

However, this alliance is merely a stopgap. The moment Konoha is severely weakened, the alliance will collapse. When will you strike at your allies, Onoki?

Her clouded, aged eyes had long since seen through the true face of the allied nations. She instinctively glanced at the eerie purple barrier at her feet, and her brow furrowed with dark lines.

"A troublesome barrier. Nine-Faced Svaha, what a troublesome technique. Does each summoning beast have a different ability? If so..."

Meanwhile, back at the main front.

On Mount Kikyo, flashes of azure and bright yellow clashed repeatedly. The heads of Konoha's various noble clans fought against their respective enemies, and the battle had reached a stalemate.

"Where is that Uchiha bastard brat? Yellow Flash!"