Night fell, and the Konoha camp gradually grew quiet.
The medical ninja rested in shifts. Only a small number remained on watch.
Chiya stood inside the camp, his brow faintly furrowed. This night seemed far too quiet.
Tsunade walked over not long after.
She handed him a cup of hot tea.
"Anything unusual in the area?"
Chiya took the cup and shook his head, speaking quietly.
"Nothing yet. But I think after taking this many losses, the Suna-nin will not give up so easily."
A serious look entered Tsunade's gaze.
"I have already had the Medical Corps raise their guard level. But."
Before she could finish, Chiya suddenly raised his hand to signal her to be quiet.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Enemy attack!"
A sharp alarm split the night sky.
The Sunagakure people had proven true to form, choosing to launch their assault in the dead of night.
As a series of explosions rang out one after another in the distance, a fierce wind rose. Suna-nin Wind Style ninja appeared and formed seals together.
"Wind Style, Breakthrough!"
"Wind Style, Sandstorm!"
...
The violent current swept forward carrying sand and grit, instantly overturning several tents along the outer edge.
The wind howled. The sand cut like blades. Konoha's watch ninja were thrown off their feet in an instant. The outer defensive fortifications buckled under the assault of the Wind Style.
"Boom!"
The next moment, scorching flames came roaring out of the darkness.
Fire Style and Wind Style intertwined. The wind fed the fire, and the fire rode the wind. Towering flames swallowed an entire corner of the camp in an instant.
"The Suna-nin Wind Style and Fire Style units launched at the same time?"
Commander Hatake Sakumo's eyes went sharp. His silver-white hair shimmered in the firelight. He drew the short blade on his back, "White Fang," in one swift motion, and lightning crackled along the blade.
"All combat units, engage!"
The Konoha ninja quickly assembled. The Medical Corps pulled back under Tsunade's command, while a portion split off to treat the wounded.
Chiya stood at an elevated position. His Sharingan shone crimson in the dark, rapidly scanning the battlefield.
"The Suna-nin main force is pushing in from the east side, suppressing with combined Wind Style and Fire Style. It looks like they mean to break our defensive line in one push."
Tsunade appeared at his side in a flash after finishing her work. Her bright brown eyes reflected the firelight. Her fists cracked as she clenched them.
"These people are asking to die!"
"Tsunade, you protect the Medical Corps. I am going to support Hatake Sakumo."
Chiya finished speaking and vanished from the spot.
At the center of the battlefield, Hatake Sakumo moved like a bolt of silver lightning. The short blade "White Fang" carved through the night with lightning crackling along it. Wherever he passed, Suna-nin fell.
"Konoha's White Fang. The name truly lives up to the legend."
A Suna-nin jonin said through gritted teeth, just about to form seals.
Sakumo's figure was already closing in like a ghost. A flash of lightning, and blood sprayed.
"Don't just stand there! Keep suppressing!"
The Suna-nin commander roared. More Wind Style ninja formed seals, and the fierce wind raged again.
"Fire Style, Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Chiya's figure appeared suddenly on the flank of the battlefield. A scorching fireball crashed into the Suna-nin formation and exploded into a burst of flame.
"It's the Uchiha!"
"Don't let him get close!"
But Chiya gave them no time to react. He activated his Body Flicker, charged straight into the enemy formation, and the kunai in his hand stabbed out like a viper. Every strike cut a life short with precision.
"Damn it!"
The Suna-nin commander gritted his teeth and waved his hand sharply.
"Puppet unit, advance! Prioritize targeting the medical ninja!"
"Clack clack clack!"
From the darkness, dozens of puppets surged out from behind the Suna-nin. Their joints ground with a sharp scraping sound. The poison-coated blades gleamed with a cold blue light in the firelight.
"Puppets?"
Chiya's gaze went cold. He was just about to act.
A golden figure came crashing onto the battlefield like a cannonball.
"Boom!"
Tsunade's fist smashed one puppet apart. The terrifying strength sent another puppet flying dozens of meters, crashing into the Suna-nin formation.
"The medical ninja are not yours to touch!"
She barked coldly. The ground beneath her cracked. She charged into the enemy group like a wild beast.
"Lady Tsunade!"
The Konoha ninja's morale surged. They charged forward together.
The Suna-nin formation began to waver. The puppet unit was broken apart by Tsunade and Chiya together. The Wind Style suppression was broken through by the elite squad led by Hatake Sakumo.
"Retreat! Retreat now!"
The Suna-nin commander's face darkened as he gave the hurried order.
"Trying to leave?"
Chiya's three-tomoe Sharingan turned slightly. He raised his hands and formed seals.
"Fire Style, Great Fireball Jutsu!"
The scorching fireball, guided by the precise control of Chiya's chakra, was considerably larger than an ordinary one.
It roared toward the retreating Suna-nin and swallowed several ninja instantly. Screams echoed through the night sky.
Hatake Sakumo's figure appeared beside Chiya. Blood dripped from his short blade. His gaze was cold and firm.
"The Suna-nin's surprise attack failed this time. Going by their combat approach, they should not dare come again for a while."
Chiya nodded and swept his gaze across the battlefield.
The Konoha ninja had already begun clearing the battlefield. The Medical Corps moved quickly to treat the wounded.
Hatake Sakumo led his men away quickly and began checking on other areas.
Thinking over Sakumo's words from a moment ago, Chiya was suddenly struck by something.
'They won't come again?'
'Tonight's surprise attack felt somewhat rushed and incomplete. Could there be a second move waiting? Hopefully I am overthinking it.'
"I think their goal was to destroy our medical system and weaken our ability to fight a prolonged war."
Tsunade walked up and spoke.
"It seems the Medical Corps will be their main target going forward."
"Alright. I will take watch tonight. You go rest."
"Let's take watch together."
Chiya saw that Tsunade had made up her mind and said nothing more.
Taking the night watch together did not sound bad at all.
An hour slipped by quietly.
The night wind blew through. The battlefield gradually returned to calm.
"Someone is coming."
Chiya paused mid-step during the watch and pulled Tsunade to one side.
Tsunade's eyes went sharp.
A moment later, two dark figures emerged from the distant forest, slipped past the outer guards without a sound, and crept toward the medical ninja's camp.
Their movements were as light as a cat's. They were Chiron and Maya, Sunagakure's elite puppet masters.
"This is the place."
One of them said in a low voice.
"Finish it fast."
Maya nodded, took out a finely made puppet from her jacket, and gave it a light toss.
The puppet unfolded after hitting the ground and began crawling toward the camp under the control of chakra threads.
But just as the puppet was about to slip into the camp, a cold flash of light passed through the air, and the puppet was cut cleanly in two.
"Sneaking around is a bad habit."
Chiya's voice rang out coolly.
The two were stunned. They had not expected their movements to have been seen through already.
"Fall back!"
Chiron made the call without hesitation and pulled Maya back with him.
"Going somewhere?"
Tsunade's figure appeared behind them. She drove her fist into the ground.
The terrifying strength sent both of them stumbling backward.
Chiya seized the moment and struck, his kunai lunging toward Chiron's throat like a bolt of lightning.
Chiron barely managed to block with a puppet, but took Chiya's kick square in the chest and went flying.
Seeing the situation, Maya immediately released the scroll at her waist. A humanoid puppet appeared in front of her at once. It spread the long blades on both arms and launched an attack at Tsunade.
Tsunade turned sideways, grabbed the puppet, seized it by the shoulder and squeezed with full force. The puppet's shoulder was torn off in an instant.
Chakra surged through her legs, and with the strength behind it she kicked the puppet apart entirely.
"You two should just surrender quietly."
Chiya pressed his kunai against each of their throats calmly and spoke in an unhurried tone.
The two went pale. They knew there was no escape.
The medical ninja heard the fighting and came crowding over.
When they learned that Chiya and Tsunade had taken down Sunagakure's elite puppet masters, their eyes filled with reverence.
Having heard the commotion, Hatake Sakumo and Kiki, who had returned to the camp, quickly arrived with a squad of ninja.
He looked at the two who had been subdued.
He quickly understood what had happened. A flicker of surprise passed through his eyes.
Even a battle-hardened ninja like himself had not anticipated that there would still be a moment of oversight.
"These two are highly capable. Their identities are likely not simple either. They are important figures in Sunagakure. Keeping them may prove useful."
Hatake Sakumo gave a serious nod.
"I recognize these two. They are elite trump cards of the Suna-nin puppet unit. Their mother Chiyo holds considerable standing in Sunagakure. They can serve as bargaining chips in negotiations."
"Take them away."
Kiki and several other elite ninja stepped forward and escorted the two away.
Just before leaving, Hatake Sakumo turned and spoke to the two of them.
"Tomorrow at midday, there will be a temporary meeting."
"Tsunade, Chiya, make sure you come."
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