Chapter 46: The Unleashed Deadly Blade
"The assault squad is ready."
"The support squad is ready."
"The reconnaissance squad is ready."
"The strike squad is ready."
The forces of Konoha were hidden not far from the Sand Ninja camp, poised to commence their final assault with a surprise attack.
Sakumo raised his right hand high, slowly curling each finger down, initiating the countdown to the attack.
"Move out!"
"Earth Style: Great Moving Earth Core!"
At Sakumo's command, dozens of Konoha ninjas proficient in Earth Style lined up and simultaneously cast their jutsu.
The ground beneath the Konoha assault squad trembled violently as massive earthen pillars erupted from the earth, creating elevated positions.
Each Konoha ninja atop these pillars was a specially trained jonin, adept in Wind Style and Fire Style.
Now, with the advantage of height, the Konoha ninjas unleashed their chakra upon the Sand Ninja camp below.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Bomb!"
Hundreds of Konoha ninjas cast their jutsus together, creating a tempest of ferocious wind and ravenous flames.
On this borderland, where yellow sand and green leaves strangely coexisted, both elements now became fuel for the raging fire.
The entire land was set ablaze, and the main Sand Ninja encampment was instantly consumed by the fierce flames.
"Enemy chakra responses are still normal, be wary of ambushes!"
The Hyuga clan ninjas, with their Byakugan activated, assessed the results of the attack and loudly warned their teammates.
As the flames subsided, rows of solid earth walls were revealed.
Thick earth-style walls had shielded the Sand Ninja forces from the Konoha ninjas' fire.
The Sand Ninjas, with cruel looks in their eyes, charged forward savagely.
Despite it being nighttime, Shikayama Nara could almost see Ebizo's mocking gaze.
"Strike squad, follow me into battle!"
Sakumo, undeterred, let out a low growl, drew his White Fang short blade, and led the charge.
Facing a unit commanded by Chiyo and Ebizo, he hadn't expected to win in a single strike.
These were veterans of the ninja world; they wouldn't make the rookie mistake of being caught off guard by a sneak attack.
Sakumo's main intention with this large-scale jutsu was to clear out the puppet traps the Sand Ninjas had set on the ground, paving the way for his subsequent charge.
"Die!"
Yellow sand surged as several vicious puppets, controlled by puppet masters, rushed at Sakumo.
Sakumo didn't slow down, his breathing steady, as he entered a profound state of focus.
In his mind, there was only the enemy before him and his blade in hand.
With a flash of silver, the Sand Ninjas' prized puppets fell apart like scrap metal.
Sakumo's meticulously executed slashes could easily sever the chakra strings controlling the puppets!
"Splurt—!"
The White Fang short blade, with a mere touch to the throats of the puppet masters, continued its relentless forward thrust.
The Sand Ninjas clutched their throats powerlessly, unable to stem the flow of blood, collapsing onto the ground.
This was Sakumo Hatake's fighting style—swordsmanship honed to perfection, combined with the speed granted by activating his body with Lightning Style chakra.
He was the perfect fusion of a samurai and a ninja!
Sakumo continued his charge, rousing the bloodlust in the remaining Konoha ninjas, who began to engage the Sand Ninjas in fierce combat.
"You're not fit to be arrogant here!"
Just as Sakumo intended to push forward, killing his way through the Sand Ninjas, Chiyo halted his advance.
Unlike typical puppet masters, Chiyo could control ten powerful puppets simultaneously, forming a puppet unit that even he found challenging to handle.
White Secret Technique: Ten Puppet Collection of Chikamatsu!
These puppets, masterpieces passed down from the legendary puppet master Monzaemon, were hailed as capable of defeating a thousand foes.
Not only were they constructed from sturdy materials, but they could also unleash a variety of combination jutsus and sealing techniques of formidable power.
"Puppet Technique: Trinity Suction Crushing!"
Three puppets, resembling sinister white demons, formed a triangular formation, opening their mouths wide. Their masks shifted, unleashing a terrifying tornado that drew in everything around it!
Sakumo didn't retreat; instead, he advanced, using the tornado's pull to gather chakra at his feet, his afterimage swiftly darting across the ground.
Chiyo sneered at Sakumo, confident that the Trinity Suction Crushing's full power would turn him into mincemeat for daring to charge into the formation.
With a flick of her fingers, the three puppets shifted their stance, intensifying the tornado.
In the anime, this move destroyed dozens of Sasori's puppets.
As Sakumo eyed the puppets, his White Fang short blade gathered a long chakra edge, swinging at high speed!
"It's useless. The toughness of the Ten Puppet Collection of Chikamatsu is beyond your Konoha ninjas' imagination!"
Chiyo moved her fingers, only to realize she had lost control of the three puppets.
The White Fang short blade, a treasured heirloom of the Hatake clan, possessed exceptional chakra conductivity, allowing Sakumo's chakra to transform into a fearsome blade edge.
The White Fang in Sakumo's hand shone brightly, emitting fierce slashes that severed the resilient chakra strings of the puppets.
This was the puppet master's fatal flaw—if one could cut through the chakra strings, the puppet master's ability was reduced by ninety percent.
Sakumo's feet pressed firmly against the ground, propelling him swiftly toward Chiyo, his White Fang targeting her throat like a venomous serpent.
The ruthless slash aimed at Chiyo intended to decapitate the old woman in a single strike!
Chiyo calmly observed the incoming slash, never expecting her meticulously refined chakra strings to be severed so easily.
With a light flick of her fingers, the remaining White Secret Technique puppets surged forward, forming a peculiar formation facing the growing slash wave.
"Puppet Technique: Light Shield Sealing!"
The puppets formed a row, emitting lines that coalesced into a massive azure chakra shield under Chiyo's direction.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
As the smoke from the chakra clash dissipated, seven puppets emerged, their bodies protruding with various weapons, guarding Chiyo firmly.
For a puppet master, close combat was the most perilous moment.
Sakumo's sharp and unmatched slashes posed a significant threat to the puppet master's lifeline.
Seeing Chiyo, Sakumo expressionlessly retreated, understanding that he didn't need to entangle with such an enemy.
As long as he killed enough, Chiyo would come to him voluntarily.
After all, although the Sand Ninja's puppet techniques were created and enhanced by the Second Kazekage and formed the foundation of Sand Village's rise, they were not easily mastered.
Each puppet master was akin to a bloodline ninja, ensuring the village's future prosperity.
Sakumo's mind raced as he surveyed the surrounding Sand Ninjas, charging toward a puppet master pursuing a Konoha ninja.
Watching Sakumo retreat, Chiyo frowned, expecting him to attempt a forced kill.
But as the puppets withdrew and she saw Sakumo's direction, Chiyo's eyes widened with fury, screaming madly:
"Shibi! Watch out for the enemy attack!!!"
Unfortunately, with a flash of a clear blade, the young red-haired Sand Ninja fell easily.
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