"Change targets—attack someone else. We’re not taking down Pakura today."
Kiyosuke frowned, glancing across the chaotic battlefield where Konoha and Sunagakure forces were tangled together. He couldn’t unleash any large-scale techniques like this—he’d hit his own allies.
Asuma gave a quick nod, retreating with Kiyosuke and Kurenai.
Pakura looked after them, clearly unwilling to let them go. She wanted to give chase but knew all too well that Kiyosuke, like her, could attack without weaving hand signs. Even injured, he wouldn’t be easy to deal with.
"I’ll find my chance to kill you. Eventually."
With her comrades covering her, she hastily patched up her wounds and rushed toward another battlefield.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A massive snake appeared—slightly smaller than Manda. Standing atop its head, Kiyosuke ordered,
"Charge straight in. Keep Chiyo busy. Don’t let that old hag take command."
The reason he’d been outmaneuvered earlier was mostly because Chiyo had seen through his abilities. An experienced veteran like her had to be locked down from the start, or she’d wreak havoc on Konoha’s lines.
"But all of Konoha’s jōnin are tied up," Kurenai pointed out. "Even Lord Orochimaru and Captain Shinnosuke are held down. My father’s fighting too."
"Then I’ll go." Gritting his teeth, Kiyosuke said, "We’re being attacked from both fronts. Ebizō is right behind us. As long as I stay away from water, I can hold off Chiyo until I run out of chakra."
Konoha held the advantage for now, but if the squad sent to intercept Ebizō lost, then it would all fall apart.
This battle was critical. Orochimaru was currently entangled with Rasa’s gold dust, surrounded by multiple Sunagakure jōnin. He wouldn’t be able to break free anytime soon. The strategists like Shikaku were doing their best, but things were stretched thin.
"But..."
"I have to go," Kiyosuke said through gritted teeth. "Asuma, look after Kurenai."
"Go—but don’t die out there."
Hearing that, Kiyosuke chuckled.
"Can’t you wish me something nicer? I’m not dying that easily—don’t underestimate me!"
"Just be careful." Asuma gave him a final nod before leaping off the snake with Kurenai.
"Why did he have to go? It’s too dangerous!" Kurenai asked anxiously.
Asuma’s voice was calm but serious.
"Most of Konoha’s fighters are pinned down. If we don’t shake up the battle somehow, it’ll just end in mutual destruction. Trust Kiyosuke. He’s not going down that easily."
He looked back at the shrinking silhouette.
"He won’t die."
...
"You brats from Konoha—prepare to die!"
Chiyo, still as fierce as ever, commanded her puppets across the battlefield with terrifying ease. As a puppet master of legendary skill, controlling four puppets was nowhere near her limit, but on this battlefield, four were more than enough.
Konoha’s jōnin couldn’t get close—sneaking up on her was out of the question.
Then, she saw a massive snake charging straight toward her.
A slow, knowing smile curled on Chiyo’s face.
"One of that brat Orochimaru’s disciples? Bold of him to come charging right at me."
"Old hag! Prepare to die!" Kiyosuke roared.
Chiyo’s face darkened. "Such a foul mouth for someone so young. Konoha’s education system must be slipping. I guess I’ll have to discipline you myself."
One of her puppets flew forward. A compartment in its belly opened, spraying a large volume of black liquid.
Thinking it was water, Kiyosuke jumped aside immediately—but the liquid splashed onto the snake’s head.
Then, a pipe extended from the puppet’s hand, releasing a burst of searing flame—igniting the black liquid.
"Oil?"
Kiyosuke realized instantly—it wasn’t water, but oil.
Flames erupted, and the snake thrashed wildly, rolling on the ground in pain, crushing several unlucky shinobi beneath it—Konoha and Sunagakure alike.
Neither side paid it much mind.
Chiyo’s fingers moved rapidly. Two puppets shot forward. Metal wires extended from their hands and wrapped around Kiyosuke, binding him.
"This is..."
As his body slammed into the ground, Kiyosuke prepared to break free—only to see Chiyo weave hand signs.
Not good.
"Lightning Style: Ground Surge!"
Electricity surged through the wires, shooting into his body.
"Aaaaagh!"
His whole body went numb with pain.
"Damn it... I still can’t fully resist Lightning Style?"
Pure elemental attacks, lacking a physical form, seemed to bypass his body’s transformation. While he could withstand some damage, it still hurt like hell—and it wasn’t fatal, but full-body paralysis was no joke.
"Konoha brat, this is the difference experience makes. Your body’s unusual—similar to the Hōzuki Clan. They can’t resist Lightning Style. You can’t resist Water Style. But pure chakra-based attacks can still hurt you."
Chiyo stepped closer, her four puppets forming a protective barrier around her. She looked down at the collapsed Kiyosuke and spoke in a low voice.
"Is that so? Orochimaru-sensei mentioned that once... Damn, I should’ve paid more attention in class." He winced. "But listen, you’re a fine commander, but you’re a terrible grandmother. Part of the reason Sasori turned out the way he did is because of you."
At the mention of her grandson, Chiyo’s face stiffened. Guilt flashed across her expression. She’d hated Konoha’s White Fang for killing her son and daughter-in-law, but she couldn’t refute Kiyosuke’s words.
Her negligence—Sunagakure’s failure to guide Sasori—had pushed him onto the wrong path.
The Third Kazekage had been a close friend of her son. He had felt responsible for the deaths and took special care of Sasori. He trusted him—too much. That trust was what let Sasori kill him.
The Third Kazekage, master of Iron Sand, had been the natural enemy of puppeteers. Most of Sasori’s power came from puppets. If the Kazekage hadn’t trusted him, he likely wouldn’t have died.
Chiyo mulled over these thoughts as she looked at the boy—one even younger than her grandson.
"So, what you’re saying is... you’ve met Sasori?"
"Where do you think those rumors in Sunagakure came from? I saw him myself—he attacked using the Third Kazekage’s puppet."
Human puppets—Sasori’s invention. He transformed corpses into puppets, preserving their abilities from life. Chiyo had known that ever since the rumors began. She knew they were true.
"So, you know where my precious grandson is. Lucky you—I won’t kill you. But I won’t let you go either."
"That’s only if you can catch me, you failed grandmother."
Suddenly, fire erupted around Kiyosuke—gathering rapidly as chakra condensed in his body.
Chiyo’s eyes widened. She felt the massive surge of chakra compressing tightly inside him.
"You maniac!"
No time to retreat—she immediately summoned her puppets to shield herself.
"Art is an explosion! Ultra Bomb!"
BOOM!!!
A massive mushroom cloud slowly rose over the battlefield.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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