Sand Shinobi Retreat

Chiyo's face was grave. "Born into the Uchiha, how could you understand the suffering of the people of the Land of Wind? Civilians lived from day to day, never knowing if they would survive.

At any moment, they could vanish into the desert. Invading the Land of Fire and claiming a stretch of fertile land was every Sand Shinobi's dream."

Eight puppets surrounded Fugaku once more.

"It's no use. My Sharingan sees through every attack your puppets make. If the Sand Shinobi withdraw from the Land of Rain now, you might still preserve some of your strength."

"In your dreams."

Her ten fingers moved, and three puppets swiftly gathered together.

"Three Treasures Suction Crush!"

The three puppets generated a tremendous suction force, dragging Fugaku toward them. Ahead, two other puppets joined to form a chakra blade fitted with an iron chain, slicing through the air at high speed.

Three Treasures Suction Crush was so powerful that even Fugaku struggled to hold his ground. The chakra blade spun rapidly as it closed in on him.

A faint smile seemed to appear on Chiyo's face.

"You're celebrating too soon, Chiyo."

His hands flew through a series of signs.

"Lava Release: Scorching River Rock Flow Technique!"

Eight lava balls shot from his mouth. The instant they left his body, they accelerated toward the three puppets using Three Treasures Suction Crush.

Chiyo flicked her fingers. The three puppets darted away, and the suction vanished. Fugaku pushed off the ground and retreated, putting distance between them.

Chiyo maneuvered her eight puppets more cautiously, but Fugaku kept pressing her, giving her no chance to disengage.

As she watched Sand Shinobi fall one after another, Chiyo's attacks grew more frantic. An iron chain whipped out from one puppet and lashed at Fugaku again and again, trying to