Before Chiyo stood three puppets, each having activated the "Buddha," "Dharma," and "Sangha" mechanisms. They unleashed fierce gusts of wind that instantly formed three wide stormfronts towering before Sakumo.
"Hu hu!"
The storm churned the rain, roaring toward Sakumo from the left, central, and right flanks.
Even Sakumo, feared as an elite warrior, couldn't escape the triple vortex encircling him.
"Can puppets actually use ninjutsu?"
Sakumo's heart trembled. Puppet masters were known for physical attacks — which was why their puppets were embedded with so many hidden mechanisms — and most of their weapons were laced with deadly poison.
Yet never had he heard or seen a puppet unleash such large-scale Wind Release techniques.
No wonder the Chikamatsu Collection (the legendary ten-puppet army) was hailed as the magnum opus of Monzayemon, the First Puppet Master.
Indeed, Chiyo truly deserved her reputation as Sunagakure's greatest puppet master!
The violent winds ripped trees and vegetation from the ground across a radius of dozens of meters, reducing everything within that triangular battlefield to mere debris.
"Boom!"
But it wasn't over. In an instant, the three storms crashed into each other, merging and expanding until they became one terrifying vortex of destruction.
This monstrous whirlwind even affected the other ninja locked in battle nearby. Its immense suction force pulled in every weapon that had previously fallen around the area.
At the center, Sakumo struggled to keep his footing steady. He plunged his chakra tanto into the ground to anchor himself as lightning spread along the blade, resisting the storm's fury.
However, the moment the lightning touched the wind, it was sliced apart by countless wind blades and swallowed whole.
Wind Release was the sharpest among the five chakra natures — capable of slicing through Lightning Release like paper.
"What terrifying puppets!"
Minato, locked in battle with Suna ninja, couldn't help turning his head to look. Even in his previous life, he had never seen Chiyo wield the legendary Chikamatsu Collection, only hearing stories of how she once used these ten puppets to conquer an entire fortress.
Now, even Minato — who well understood Sakumo's abilities — felt a surge of concern.
Sakumo was undoubtedly strong, but this era had yet to see him reach his peak; even the Sannin were just beginning to gain fame.
Could he withstand someone as seasoned as Chiyo?
"Hu hu!"
Inside the storm, Sakumo's lightning chakra defense weakened more and more against the raging winds. Even the chakra tanto planted firmly in the earth trembled violently.
Since his debut, this was arguably the gravest danger he had ever faced.
But... it didn't mean he was out of options.
He quickly realized he stood at the epicenter of the storm — where razor-sharp wind blades sliced through steel like paper.
Breaking through the wind barrier by force was utterly impossible.
The only way was to temporarily halt this air pressure, or completely destroy it...
Sakumo formed hand seals with both hands, then tightly gripped the handle of his Chakra Tanto in front of him. A fierce roar tore from his throat.
[Lightning Release · Heavenly Thunder Blade]!
In that instant, the Lightning Release Chakra Blade before Sakumo radiated an incredibly brilliant light. Lightning surged around the chakra blade as it shot straight up into the sky, eventually transforming into a thunder blade ten meters long composed entirely of lightning chakra.
This thunder blade extended from within the storm, seemingly piercing directly into the heavens.
"Hong! Hong!"
Under the influence of the powerful wind force, the thunder blade rapidly spun within the storm, its lightning aura expanding until it resembled a colossal pillar of thunder.
Within the storm, countless flashes of lightning intertwined as these two forces continuously collided.
"Quickly retreat!"
Seeing this, Chiyo immediately roared.
The nearby ninja on the battlefield also sensed the intense danger. Without needing her to say more, they all activated the Body Flicker Technique, desperately trying to escape.
"Peng!"
Finally, the spinning within the storm reached its peak and exploded violently. With howling winds and roaring thunder, it engulfed an area spanning dozens of meters, obliterating everything within.
Even across the mountain peaks, the lightning surged wildly, lighting up the entire range.
In that area, the rain paused midair, as if frozen in place, refusing to fall.
"What terrifying destructive power!"
All the ninja who had fled the combat zone still shivered with fear. Had they been caught in such devastation earlier, they probably would have perished instantly.
The previously fierce battle temporarily ceased.
Ninja from both sides gazed toward that scarred land where their respective leaders stood.
Once the obscuring mist and clouds dispersed, Sakumo's and Chiyo's figures gradually reappeared.
Surrounding the former were the Chikamatsu Collection, arranged like a barrier protecting her at the center.
However, the barrier was now shattered, and each puppet of the Chikamatsu Collection sustained various degrees of damage.
Chiyo's eyes displayed shock as she stared at Sakumo before her.
Likewise, Sakumo wasn't in good condition either—his clothes were torn, and fine cracks seemed to spread along his Chakra Tanto.
[Lightning Release · Heavenly Thunder Blade] alone couldn't achieve such devastation by itself. However, under the rotational force of the Wind Release, part of the lightning energy was dissipated, but the thunder blade's power had actually increased under these conditions.
But the cost was heavy—Sakumo had expended nearly sixty percent of his chakra.
At this rate, he feared he might be defeated by Chiyo. Fortunately, right before arriving at the battlefield, he had sent a distress signal back to Konoha's main camp.
As long as he could hold out a little longer until Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru arrived, those three together could definitely defeat Chiyo in her current state.
However, time was needed...
Just then, beside Nawaki within the crowd, a somewhat familiar figure appeared in view.
He stepped aside a few steps and finally got a good view of the man's face.
Nawaki's face twisted with rage in an instant.
Sensing Nawaki's gaze, what appeared to be a Jonin of Sunagakure also turned his head. When he saw Nawaki, a flicker of surprise crossed his face, then a smile actually spread across his lips.
"Well, if it isn't the brat himself!" he sneered with obvious mockery.
Nawaki gritted his teeth so hard it hurt, his eyes burning with hatred. The battlefield had fallen eerily silent — and in that stillness, he let out a furious roar and charged straight at the Jonin.
"You bastard!" he bellowed. "You shattered my comrade's leg — now I'm coming for your head!"
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