The Puppeteer's Natural Enemy

For a moment, the Konoha ninja remaining on the battlefield sighed in despair, while some even began to curse under their breath.

"Are those parasites who only know how to protect themselves actually sending a kid like this to die in their place?"

"You idiot, he must have offended the higher-ups somewhere; otherwise, why would he be sent to the front lines? The enemy commander is the legendary Chiyo!"

"Shut your mouth! How could you possibly understand the orders of the Third Hokage? Trusting the decisions of the leadership and obeying orders to hold this position—that is what it means to be a ninja!"

Mimura Hazumaki, the Konoha frontline commander assigned to hold this sector, shouted aloud, though his eyes remained fixed on the figure in black robes wearing a three-eyed demon fox mask.

No matter what kind of person he is, he must hold off the enemy's assault. If things continue like this, the morale of the front line will be completely extinguished.

Suddenly, the situation on the field shifted violently. Countless poison needles accompanied by toxic smoke rained down from all directions. Two Chunin were struck with terror, their bodies frozen and unable to move under the weight of the horrific killing intent.

Their vision blurred, and when they opened their eyes again, they found themselves safely tucked away in the forest.

"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame."

The flames surged like a tidal wave, melting the sand into liquid. The roaring sea of fire danced with the morning sun, staining the horizon a deep crimson.

The Konoha ninja hiding in the shadows were left dumbfounded, stunned by the terrifying chakra and Fire Style technique.

"So... so powerful. Even an average Jonin couldn't pull off a Fire Style technique of this scale. Who is that shorty?"

"Is he from the Anbu? He doesn't look like a village Jonin, and his face is hidden by that mask—I can't see a thing."

As the smoke and heat dissipated, countless shimmering crystals refracted the sunlight; the terrifying temperature had actually fused the sand into shards of glass.

The Suna ninja, who had been hiding within the sand to gain the tactical advantage, revealed themselves. A cold gaze swept across the surroundings as a low murmur escaped his lips.

"Only a hundred or so? Aside from Chiyo, who is busy pinning down the Yellow Flash, there are no skilled fighters worth noting. This is the decline of Suna, forced to develop puppet arts just to cope with the war."

"Damn it, even my puppets were... What kind of Fire Style is that? Who exactly is that shorty?!"

Among the Suna ranks, a ninja with his left face covered by a white cloth had veins bulging on his forehead, clearly consumed by rage.

"Baki, stand down. This is not an opponent you can handle. I have rarely seen a Fire Style of this caliber, even in my long life."

"Advisor Chiyo, he is an unknown entity. Please be careful!"

The hundred-plus Suna ninja did not take another step forward; instead, they silently retreated, leaving the battlefield to the true commander.

Among the many Suna ninja, an old woman with purple hair and black eyes, dressed in the signature black robes of the Land of Wind, slowly stepped forward. Kunai hovered in mid-air around her, their tails controlled by nearly invisible chakra threads.

"A face I haven't seen before. A child or an adult? It matters little; this is a battlefield, and even a kunai thrown by a child is lethal. Here I come—Puppet Performance: String Attacking!"

Over a dozen kunai struck out, only to be deflected by a cold snort. The near-tangible chakra caused Chiyo's aged face to tighten with gravity.

"Such astonishing chakra. Boy, state your name."

"Uchiha Hanazuki. Please, treat me well..."

Before the words had even faded, the voice echoed right beside Chiyo's ear. Her pupils shrank to pinpricks. As she tilted her head, all she saw was a pitch-black kunai and a figure that had appeared in an instant.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

In a mere heartbeat, the two had exchanged over a dozen blows in close-quarters combat, the dazzling display of taijutsu drawing gasps from the onlookers.

"Flying Thunder God? It's the Yellow Flash's Flying Thunder God technique! Can this shorty use it too?"

"Thank goodness! If he can use the Flying Thunder God, he can at least stall for time until Lord Minato arrives to support us..."

Amidst the clashing sounds, the figure flickered back to his original position. His crisp, youthful voice left Chiyo momentarily stunned.

"It seems you aren't an opponent I can take down easily. Those guys are truly an eyesore—risking their lives on the battlefield at such an advanced age. It's truly admirable."

"There is no help for it... Among the younger generation, those who could be called geniuses have either gone missing or died. Even the Third Kazekage, hailed as the strongest, has vanished, triggering this war that has engulfed so many nations."

"But enough idle chatter with the younger generation. This next move won't be a test. A genius brat of the Uchiha clan, are you? Someone like you is worthy of experiencing this technique."

Chiyo's tone shifted. She pulled a purple-black scroll from her sleeve and broke the seal.

"White Secret Technique: The Chikamatsu Ten."

As the white mist dispersed, ten puppet dolls dressed in white robes with distinct designs appeared. A cheer erupted from the Suna ranks.

"The Chikamatsu Ten! It's the Chikamatsu Ten! The ten greatest masterpieces of the puppet ancestor, Monzaemon. I never thought Advisor Chiyo would bring these out—isn't that overkill?"

"Don't be a fool. The opponent can use the Flying Thunder God. Whether he's a shorty or not, he is an enemy that cannot be underestimated."

Baki's face was ashen. It was precisely because of this that Advisor Chiyo had brought out the long-unused Chikamatsu Ten to deal with this unknown brat.

"The Chikamatsu Ten, a puppet art that wins through sheer numbers? As it happens, I have a decent technique of my own. I've been looking for a place to test its power. Let's begin."

"Summoning Jutsu: Nine-Faced Svaha!"

Before everyone's eyes, a series of mystical seals glowed into existence: Azure, Crimson, White, Obsidian, Void, South, North, Three, Jade...

Within each floating seal, numerous summoned beasts slowly emerged. Their faces were all concealed by three-eyed demon fox masks. The eerie chakra and their unique appearance instantly silenced the cheering Suna ninja.

"What... is that?"

Mimura Hazumaki stood frozen in place, and the Konoha ninja cowering at the edge of the battlefield were equally bewildered; they had never seen such a strange jutsu.

"Puppet art? That seal just now was a Summoning Jutsu. Are those the strange summoned beasts he has a contract with?"

On the battlefield, facing the Nine-Faced beasts blocking Hanazuki, Chiyo clearly sensed the diverse sources of chakra, each one tethered to the Chikamatsu Ten by threads of chakra.

"Their chakra... it reeks of something eerie and ominous. You are certainly no ordinary brat. I suppose I have no choice but to use these puppets that were meant to gather dust on a pedestal."

Clap, clap, clap...

Crisp, resonant applause echoed across the battlefield, followed by unabashed praise.

"A puppeteer's talent is determined by the number of puppets they can control. Controlling ten special puppets simultaneously—you are truly worthy of being Suna's Kazekage Advisor, Chiyo."

"However, for a puppeteer, the Nine-Faced Svaha is your natural predator. Would you like to test that out?"