"Little brother, do you think this news is true?"
Chiyo looked at Ebizo, who was deep in thought.
"Chiyo, Konoha hasn't tried to suppress this news, so it's hard to tell whether Konoha spread a false rumor or whether it's real."
"But either way, it doesn't make much difference to us."
"If it's true and Root is gone, Konoha's strength has taken a serious blow. That's excellent news for us."
"If it's false, that doesn't matter either. We'll attack Konoha all the same."
"As long as no one can counter your poison, we'll keep the upper hand until we win!"
Ebizo spoke with conviction.
A faint smile appeared on Chiyo's face.
"In that case, launch a full-scale attack!"
Though they did not know whether the news was true, the Sand Ninja continued their assault.
Everyone wanted to believe it, and the Sand Ninja attacked with even greater ferocity.
Konoha's defenses, by contrast, began to show signs of crumbling.
Fortunately, Hatake Sakumo stepped forward at that moment.
Alone with his blade, he cut down dozens of puppeteers without taking a single wound.
That briefly eased the pressure on Konoha's defenses and rallied its troops.
It also earned Hatake Sakumo the title of Konoha's White Fang.
But among the puppeteers Hatake Sakumo killed were Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law.
Chiyo flew into a rage, and the Sand Ninja's attacks grew fiercer still.
Unlike the Sand Ninja Village, the Iwagakure Ninja Village was different.
Ōnoki had been delighted to hear of Root's destruction, but the news about Madara Uchiha wiped the smile from his face.
"Madara Uchiha is still alive? How is that possible?"
Ōnoki gripped the intelligence report, his body trembling slightly.
He remembered going to Konoha with his master to request an alliance, only to be turned away.
Ōnoki had not been