The battle between the Hidden Leaf Village and Sunagakure forces was still raging fiercely. Neither side showed any sign of stopping.
Clashing blades and dazzling ninjutsu filled the battlefield, making for a spectacular sight.
"Wicked Hatake Sakumo, born evil! I'll kill you with my own hands!" Chiyo gritted her teeth. Blue Chakra Threads connected to her ten nimble fingers as she used the Modern Ten Puppets to guard herself.
Hatake Sakumo's swordsmanship was vicious, putting her under tremendous pressure. More importantly, the Ox-Head Puppet she used for close defense had been damaged. She didn't dare let her puppets stray far from her, lest Hatake Sakumo find an opening.
If he got close, she would have little ability to fight back as a puppeteer.
The Sand Ninja could see Chiyo's predicament, too.
Two Sunagakure Jonin made a decision. They left their subordinates to hold off their own opponents and charged at Hatake Sakumo themselves.
"Wind Release: Great Sickle Weasel!" One of the Jonin swung a massive folding fan, unleashing a gale that swept toward Hatake Sakumo.
Hatake Sakumo remained calm and swiftly formed Hand Seals.
His body had been trained far beyond the norm, but even he couldn't defend against offensive ninjutsu with his flesh alone. Not even against the Great Fireball Technique!
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!" A wall of earth bearing the Hatake Clan's signature dog-head design rose from the ground, blocking the gale.
"If you want to hurt Lady Chiyo, you'll have to get past me first." The other Jonin, a long sword in hand, blocked Hatake Sakumo's retreat.
But Hatake Sakumo was famed on the battlefield for his swordsmanship. Compared to him, this Jonin was a mere novice.
Wielding the White Fang Short Blade, Hatake Sakumo unleashed a series of fierce attacks that forced the Jonin back again and again. Several wounds opened across his body, and he soon became a bloody mess.
Fortunately for the Jonin, Hatake Sakumo didn't like coating his blade with poison. Otherwise, he would already be dead.
When the Jonin could no longer fight back, Hatake Sakumo spotted his chance. Gripping his blade in reverse, he lunged forward, aiming for the Jonin's throat.
Despair filled the Sunagakure Jonin's eyes. Just then, three iron whips lashed past them.
Hatake Sakumo had no choice but to abandon his pursuit and raise his blade to block.
With his attack interrupted, the Jonin who had used Wind Release reached Hatake Sakumo from behind, trapping him between the two of them.
At last, Chiyo could safely send out her puppets, surrounding Hatake Sakumo.
Even Hatake Sakumo struggled to deal with three opponents at once.
After all, he had already been locked in a stalemate with Chiyo for quite some time.
A genius beyond the reach of ordinary people, he had more Chakra than most, but not by much.
The three were just about to attack when a deafening crash rang out, followed by a powerful gust of wind.
"Sakumo, you're looking pretty pathetic!"
Turning toward the voice, they first saw a gigantic wooden man. Then they spotted Senju Genma, clad in red armor and standing atop its head, with an old man in monk's robes lying at his feet.
Senju Genma noticed the astonishment on everyone's faces. Without a word, he folded his arms and stood high above them, looking down on all.
Beneath his cold expression, however, his heart was anything but calm.
There was a reason Sasuke Uchiha liked to show off. Showing off felt so damn good!
As an Elite Jonin who had carried out many important missions, Hatake Sakumo saw straight through Senju Genma's cold exterior to his true state of mind. He could only purse his lips and mutter unhappily, "That brat really loves stealing the spotlight!"
At the sight of the sudden giant wooden man and Bunpuku captured, the Sand Ninja immediately lost their will to fight and began to retreat.
"White Yasha!" Chiyo cried out in shock, gritting her teeth. "Why does Konoha always have so many geniuses?"
First there was Hatake Sakumo, who had left her unable to stand alone against him. Before that, there had been Tsunade, whose toxins had been useless. And now there was Senju Genma, who could defeat Shukaku. How could Chiyo accept this?
Chiyo sighed, realizing the battle was lost, and recalled her puppets.
The main reason she had dared to launch this all-out assault was One-Tail Shukaku. Now that Shukaku had been defeated, her side was already weaker than Konoha. There was no point in continuing to fight.
Only with the strongest of them all, the Third Kazekage, present would they have had even the slightest chance of victory.
Chiyo gave Hatake Sakumo one last resentful look, then turned and walked away without looking back. The two Jonin followed close behind.
Seeing this, Ebizo and the badly wounded Rasa also withdrew under the protection of their trusted men.
Senju Genma jumped down from the wooden man. Once he saw that no one was around, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Fighting Shukaku had taken a lot out of him, too. Without counting Wood Release's ability to absorb Chakra, the wooden man would lose its combat ability after at most half an hour.
"You all right?" Suddenly, a large hand landed on Senju Genma's shoulder.
Senju Genma turned and took two steps back, assuming a fighting stance.
"Why do you always pop up out of nowhere? You scared me half to death!"
"You beat a Tailed Beast. Why are you so tense?" Hatake Sakumo said, spreading his hands.
He had beaten a Tailed Beast, sure—but there were plenty of beings in this world stronger than one!
Senju Genma pursed his lips. "That just proves I'm careful. What would you know?"
"I hope you keep that cautious attitude!" Hatake Sakumo nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly with Senju Genma. "Why isn't Shukaku moving? Is he dead?"
As he spoke, Hatake Sakumo crouched beside Bunpuku and began feeling around his body.
"No. The Jinchūriki ran out of Chakra and passed out. With Shukaku inside him, he should recover before long."
"Good. He's only valuable alive." Hatake Sakumo picked Bunpuku up and slung him over his shoulder. "As an important Jinchūriki, he should fetch a hefty ransom from Sunagakure."
Senju Genma fell silent.
He just wondered whether Hiruzen Sarutobi would send Bunpuku back for free in the name of peace.
Probably not.
After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still the Shinobi Hero.
The two soon rejoined the main force.
Orochimaru and Shimura Danzō both looked at Senju Genma with complicated expressions.
Orochimaru's eyes seemed to say, "I'm very interested in you," while Shimura Danzō's were far more guarded and uncertain.
Shimura Danzō lowered his head. For a moment, he felt powerless.
He thought the gap between himself and Senju Genma was too great. The thought even began to shake his resolve to become Hokage.
Fortunately, Shimura Danzō's will was strong. The Hokage Position had become an obsession, and his doubts soon came and went.
Senju Genma and Hatake Sakumo had no idea what the others were thinking. They led the team back to the Land of River.
Everyone was in high spirits.
They had not only accomplished their strategic goal of stopping Shukaku, but had even captured him. It was a major achievement.
Although only Senju Genma had fought Shukaku, the others had also held back the Sand Ninja's attack, so they would certainly get credit, too.