That single, thunderous explosion shattered the fragile stillness of Kikyo Castle, sending ripples of unrest through every street and corridor. Konoha's shinobi—already poised on the edge of battle—sprang into motion at once, assembling with practiced urgency.
In one of the outer camps, the first fully equipped Konoha unit stood ready, prepared to march toward the city center and uncover the truth behind the sudden upheaval.
"Commander Arai!"
A wounded, middle-aged shinobi appeared before them without warning, his breath uneven, his body marked by fresh injuries.
"Captain Ikegami... what happened to you?!" Arai stepped forward, alarm flashing across his face.
"I'm here to warn you," Ikegami said, forcing steadiness into his voice despite his condition. "The central district of Kikyo Castle has already been struck—and occupied—by Sunagakure."
"What?!" Arai's expression froze in disbelief. "That's impossible!"
There had been no reports—none—of Suna breaching their defensive lines. When had they entered? From where?
"It's the truth," Ikegami insisted. "When the explosion occurred, I wasn't far from the center. I gathered a dozen men and moved to investigate immediately."
His jaw tightened.
"We were ambushed halfway there. We engaged them, but… they had strong interception forces already in place."
A shadow passed through his eyes. "We were forced to retreat."
Arai's gaze sharpened. "How strong were they? Can you estimate their numbers?"
"At least a full battalion intercepted us—and every one of them was at least chūnin-level," Ikegami replied. "This was no ordinary force. These were elite troops."
He paused briefly, recalling what he had seen.
"During the retreat, I observed the surrounding area. Every major route into the central district was under Suna control. There must be hundreds of them… perhaps more. I believe the entire center has already fallen."
His voice lowered, heavy with urgency.
"They came prepared… Lady Tsunade and the others are in grave danger."
Arai clenched his fist.
"Thank you for the information," he said firmly. "We'll break through their blockade."
He turned at once, his voice ringing out with command.
"Konoha's Thirty-Fifth Corps—move out! We advance to the central district!"
But before the force could fully mobilize—
A far greater explosion erupted from the outskirts of Kikyo Castle.
"BOOM—!!"
The sound tore through the heavens themselves, dwarfing the earlier blast.
"The Sunagakure are storming the walls!" a shinobi shouted as the report spread like wildfire.
…
Even in the central district, the echo of that overwhelming detonation reached them.
Tsunade and Maruboshi Kōsuke exchanged a glance mid-sprint, each seeing the same shock mirrored in the other's eyes.
They, along with two corps commanders, were racing at full speed toward Konoha's main encampment.
"…They've launched their full assault," Tsunade said, her voice edged with fatigue. "At this rate… Kikyo Castle may not hold."
"The situation is still unclear," Kōsuke replied steadily. "We must stay focused and reach the camp. Only then can we turn this around."
Tsunade's gaze flickered, unease tightening in her chest. "I wonder how the others are faring…"
"Oh?" A voice, calm yet piercing, cut through the air ahead of them.
A middle-aged woman stood in their path, flanked by dozens of Suna shinobi who emerged like shadows taking form.
"Still finding time to worry about others?" she said lightly. "Perhaps you should concern yourself with your own predicament first."
"Chiyo…?!" Tsunade's eyes narrowed.
"There are enemies behind us as well..."Kōsuke added quietly. "We're surrounded."
Tsunade's breath caught for a moment. "…When did this—?"
They had deliberately taken winding routes, using their familiarity with the terrain to shake off pursuit. By all logic, they should have lost their pursuers long ago.
And yet—
Why was Chiyo standing before them?
Why were enemies already closing in from behind?
"Lady Tsunade," Chiyo said with a faint, knowing smile, "the entirety of Kikyo Castle now belongs to Sunagakure. We know exactly where you would go—what's so surprising about that?"
Tsunade opened her mouth to respond, but Kōsuke raised a hand, stopping her.
"There's no need," he said quietly. "She's trying to unsettle us."
Chiyo's smile deepened, cold and thin.
"Kimura… Ueno Takumi… and the Ino–Shika–Chō trio…" she said slowly, as though savoring each name. "All have already fallen beneath Sunagakure's blades."
Her hands rose gently, ten fingers spreading.
From each fingertip extended nearly invisible threads of chakra, glinting faintly in the dim light.
"Now," she murmured, her voice turning icy, "it is your turn… granddaughter of the First Hokage—Tsunade."
Tsunade drew in a slow, steady breath, the tension in her chest settling into something harder—something resolute.
"Konoha's shinobi are not as fragile as you imagine," she said, her voice firm with conviction. "Each of them is exceptional, each possesses strength hard-won through battle. The forces you've sent… may not be enough to defeat them."
"Oh?" Chiyo let out a dry, mocking laugh. "Even when they were caught in an ambush? Were you so busy fleeing just now that you failed to notice Kimura's corpse?"
But this time, Tsunade did not allow herself to be led by the nose. Her gaze sharpened instead.
"And what gives you the confidence to defeat us?" she shot back. "Aren't you afraid of being buried here in Kikyo Castle forever?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly, calculating. "Or perhaps… since you dared to show yourself so openly, Ebizō must be here as well?"
"There's no need for Lord Ebizō to deal with the likes of you…" A young man's voice emerged from the shadows behind them, calm and assured.
"I alone am enough."
Moonlight spilled once more across the war-torn city, illuminating the battlefield—and the man who stepped forward into its pale glow.
He was young, with short brown hair and a composed, disciplined bearing, clad in a dark shinobi outfit with mesh armor beneath. There was something unmistakably sharp about him, like a blade kept perpetually honed.
"Rasa?!" Maruboshi Kōsuke recognized him at once.
"I didn't expect you to remember me, Maruboshi Kōsuke."
During the Second Great Ninja War, Kōsuke had left a deep impression on Sunagakure with his mastery of Water Release—taught directly by the Second Hokage—and his refined Konoha-style kenjutsu. Back then, a younger Rasa had nearly lost his life at Kōsuke's hands.
"Be careful," Kōsuke warned gravely. "He possesses a kekkei genkai—Magnet Release."
Magnet Release… the power to manipulate metallic substances at will, even extracting and controlling gold dust hidden within sand itself. Rasa's unique physiology allowed him to convert highly refined chakra into magnetic force, shaping that gold-laced sand into weapons or shields with terrifying versatility.
And once that sand infiltrated the body—be it flesh or puppet—it could paralyze completely, robbing its victim of all ability to fight.
"This is only the beginning," Rasa said coolly. "Kikyo Castle will fall to us—and Konoha… will be no exception."
He remained where he stood, yet the ground itself seemed to stir in response. Sand began to gather in increasing amounts—but this was no ordinary sand. It shimmered faintly, imbued with dense magnetic chakra, forming streams of golden particles that glinted ominously in the firelit night.
Without warning, the gold sand churned violently, surging forward like a rising tide—
A devouring wave aimed straight at the four Konoha shinobi.
Magnet Release: Gold Dust Imperial Wave!
"Tsunade… it seems I still hold the upper hand," Chiyo said calmly, as though passing judgment.
With a subtle motion, she summoned her ultimate puppets—the masterpieces of the legendary puppeteer Monzaemon: the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu.
In an instant, ten distinct puppets materialized upon the battlefield, each exuding an oppressive, battle-hardened presence.
White Secret Technique: Chikamatsu Ten Puppets!
True to the name of the technique, Chiyo controlled each puppet with a single finger—ten fingers, ten puppets—her precision so refined it was said she could match an army alone. In the past, she had used this very technique to defeat eight elite Konoha shinobi in rapid succession.
"They're going straight for killing blows," Kōsuke assessed instantly, his hands already weaving through seals with practiced speed. "They want to end this quickly!"
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
From the dry, barren ground, a towering wall of water surged upward as if summoned from nothing, crashing into existence between the two sides. It rose in a sweeping arc, intercepting the incoming attacks and shielding the four Konoha shinobi within its surging barrier.
Even in a place devoid of water, such mastery could conjure an entire defensive stronghold in the blink of an eye.
Inside the shelter of the water wall, Tsunade raised her hands slowly, her expression grave.
A soft blue glow began to gather around her palms, coalescing into a sharp, almost invisible edge.
Chakra Scalpel.
A technique that transformed chakra into a blade—capable of cutting within the body without leaving a single external wound, extendable and lethal in ways that defied conventional defense.
Her eyes lifted, unwavering.
"Then let's find out," she said, her voice steady as steel, "which of us truly stands above the other."
...
"Shikaku… can you still hold on?" Yamanaka Inoichi asked between ragged breaths, his voice strained from both exhaustion and urgency.
Nara Shikaku glanced down at the wound in his abdomen, where blood had long since soaked through his clothing. "It's nothing fatal," he replied, forcing calm into his tone. "But my chakra… it's running out faster than I expected."
His eyes shifted toward their third companion.
Akimichi Choza looked far worse—his injuries were severe, his chakra reserves nearly depleted. He was standing on sheer will alone, like a bow drawn to its breaking point.
Without reinforcements… the three of them truly might not survive this night.
"Impressive," Ishikawa said, his voice low, edged with reluctant respect. His gaze swept across the battlefield, now littered with the fallen—nearly twenty elite Suna shinobi lay dead.
To bring down the Ino–Shika–Chō formation as quickly as possible, they had paid a heavy price.
But it had been worth it.
Because the enemy… had finally reached their limit.
"Konoha truly is a land of talent," he continued. "If the three of you were allowed to grow any further, you would become a grave threat to Sunagakure."
His expression hardened.
"So we'll end it here."
"Kill them!"
Seven remaining Suna shinobi surged forward once more, their assault swift and coordinated—kunai flashing in tandem with slicing gusts of Wind Release. In the blink of an eye, the attack bore down upon the three.
Then—
"BOOM!"
The ground itself shuddered violently, as though struck by something immense, and a cloud of dust erupted into the air, swallowing the battlefield whole.
"What—?!" The sudden upheaval startled both sides.
From within the swirling dust, a venomous snake shot forth like a bolt of black lightning, lunging straight at Ishikawa.
There was no time to evade.
Acting on instinct, Ishikawa raised his kunai to block—
But something faster, sharper, more lethal followed in its wake.
A streak of blue lightning pierced clean through his chest.
His body froze.
A thin line of blood slipped from the corner of his mouth as disbelief filled his eyes. "A… sword? Lightning Release…?"
"The sharpness of the Kusanagi blade is not something you can hope to stop," came a cold, mocking voice.
The lightning flared brighter—
And in the next instant, Ishikawa's head was severed, sent spinning into the air, his wide, uncomprehending eyes never closing.
As the dust gradually settled, a towering black serpent revealed itself, coiled like a living fortress upon the battlefield. Its massive body had intercepted every attack, shielding the three Konoha shinobi completely.
"Orochimaru-sama!"
"Why are you standing there?" Orochimaru said coolly. "Finish them."
Though his tone remained composed, another thought passed quietly through his mind.
I forgot to mention it to Ichikishimahime…
When Uzuki-kun first used reverse summoning, the destination was the southwestern mountain range…
When a contractor wished to return to the human world, the summoner performing the reverse summoning could choose any of the previously recorded coordinates tied to that contract.
In this case, Ichikishimahime had first reverse-summoned Orochimaru from Kikyo Castle to Ryūchi Cave, and then brought Shimizu there as well. When it came time to return, they could have chosen either location.
Naturally, Orochimaru had returned to Kikyo Castle—precisely where he had left.
But Shimizu…
Ichikishimahime had not realized that his original reverse summoning point lay high within the southwestern mountains. She had adjusted only his horizontal position—leaving his vertical coordinates unchanged.
And if memory served, the Suna tunnel's elevation was close to a thousand meters…
Which meant that Shimizu should now be—
Orochimaru's gaze lifted slowly toward the distant night sky.
Under the pale wash of moonlight, a tiny black speck seemed to hang far above.
Well… knowing Uzuki-kun, he should be fine…
…probably.
…
Elsewhere—
"Tsunade, watch out!" Maruboshi Kōsuke's voice rang out sharply.
"Maruboshi Kōsuke… are you underestimating me?" Rasa replied coldly as he unleashed another technique.
Magnet Release: Lapis Glaze Shatter!
Golden sand surged once more, coiling and constricting around Kōsuke like a living tide, its magnetic force tightening with lethal intent.
At the same time, Chiyo directed two of her Chikamatsu puppets forward in a swift, deadly ambush, their movements precise and merciless as they closed in on Tsunade.
But just as Tsunade prepared to move—
She froze.
Her legs… would not respond.
A flicker of shock crossed her face.
Chiyo's ten puppets—masterpieces of the legendary Monzaemon—were not mere constructs. Each one possessed its own unique weaponry, hidden mechanisms, and methods of attack. And now, somewhere unseen within their intricate coordination…
A trap had already been sprung.
Through the coordinated movements of several puppets, Chiyo unleashed her technique—Puppet Art: Manipulating Attack Blades.
In the blink of an eye, multiple weapons gleaming with a deadly chill shot forward, piercing straight through Tsunade's torso.
Blood burst outward, scattering across the battlefield.
"How unfortunate…" Chiyo's voice carried not the slightest trace of regret. "I had hoped that strike would take your head."
She gazed upon Tsunade's grievously wounded form, a victorious smile slowly spreading across her face. "At last… there is an end between us."
A low laugh escaped her, growing louder, sharper.
"Hahahaha… in the end, I am the one who stands above!"
During the Second Great Ninja War, every poison she had painstakingly crafted had been countered by Tsunade, forcing Sunagakure into a perpetual strategic disadvantage and ultimately leading to their defeat. The frustration, the resentment, the festering bitterness—those emotions had clung to her for years, unresolved, unrelenting.
But now… at this very moment—
They were finally released.
Because Tsunade… was going to die.
The puppet blades had pierced her lungs, severed her arteries. Blood poured from her wounds, and with it, the strength to resist. Her body collapsed heavily onto the ground, limbs refusing to obey.
And then there was her hemophobia.
The sight, the smell, the suffocating presence of blood—
Her consciousness began to slip away.
Her vision dimmed as she stared blankly at the sky above.
Nawaki…
Dan…
I'm coming…
At the very edge of oblivion, as her awareness teetered on the brink of darkness—
A violent gust of wind tore through the battlefield.
And in the next instant, a figure descended from the heavens, wreathed in a faint blue glow.
…
Elsewhere—
Reverse Summoning Jutsu!
A brief wave of dizziness washed over him.
When Shimizu opened his eyes again, something immediately felt wrong—there was no familiar solidity beneath his feet, no reassuring sense of ground.
Instead, a howling wind roared past his ears.
And then it struck him.
He was suspended hundreds of meters in the air.
Kikyo Castle lay far below.
A heartbeat later—
"Son of a—!"
Shimizu couldn't help but curse out loud..
Is Ichikishimahime trying to kill me?!
Did Orochimaru just set me up to die?!
The crushing sensation of weightlessness flooded his body, a cold spike of fear shooting straight through his mind. If he kept falling like this—
Even a shadow would be smashed flat upon impact.
He had only seconds. A handful of breaths.
"…Think."
Wind Release!
The idea came to him in a flash.
Not long ago, Orochimaru had taught him a C-rank wind technique—Great Breakthrough. Normally, it was used to expel a violent gust from the mouth to strike enemies.
But now—
He would use it to slow his fall.
Even though he had never once successfully cast it.
His hands moved instantly, forming seals.
Nothing.
Again!
Still nothing—
The ground below rushed closer, the figures upon it growing clearer by the second.
And yet, at the edge of life and death, his mind grew unnaturally calm.
Once more—
Hand seals.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
This time—
Success.
Wind chakra surged from every part of his body, gathering violently in his chest before erupting from his mouth in a roaring torrent. The blast of air slammed downward, and his plummeting body jolted, the speed of his fall abruptly checked.
Even as he stabilized, his sharp eyes had already caught sight of the scene below—
Two puppets were closing in, poised to deliver the final strike to the blood-soaked figure lying on the ground.
In that razor-thin instant between life and death—
Two streaks of lightning tore through the air, crossing dozens of meters in the blink of an eye.
...
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