These two were Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law.
Although their puppet techniques had not yet reached Chiyo's level, they could still jointly control ten puppets.
All of them were modeled after Chikamatsu Ten Puppets, though the quality was slightly inferior.
Even so, this did not prevent them from becoming elite jōnin.
Ten white puppets lunged forward with a series of sharp clicking sounds, attacking the Konoha ninja.
In just a single exchange, two Konoha shinobi were beheaded, and three others were gravely wounded.
Facing the twin-blade puppet charging toward him, Sakumo did not retreat. Instead, he advanced.
He dodged the strike, circled behind the puppet, and severed its chakra threads with his blade.
The white puppet instantly lost control and crashed to the ground.
"You underestimated me."
Chiyo's son rapidly moved his fingers, and the twin-blade puppet climbed back to its feet.
"This is really troublesome."
Sakumo frowned as he glanced at the Konoha ninja still locked in fierce combat.
More and more Sand shinobi were gathering here. If they delayed any longer, the situation would only worsen.
If they failed to carve out an escape route, everyone here would die today.
With that thought, Sakumo hesitated no longer.
"Gate of Injury — open!"
Green chakra began to seep from his body, enveloping him completely. Even the glow of his short blade turned green.
He felt his muscles tearing and his bones groaning under the tremendous pressure.
"Seize the chance and retreat immediately!"
"Sword Technique: Thunder Dragon!"
With his immense chakra and astonishing speed, Sakumo wielded his short blade as the dragon's head, transforming into a roaring green chakra thunder dragon.
It possessed not only devastating destructive power, but also a powerful paralyzing effect.
The thunder dragon surged forward, sweeping through the Sand shinobi in its path, carving out a clear route for the Konoha forces.
What kind of power was this?!
Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law froze in shock, their puppets slowing for a moment.
Seizing this opportunity, the Konoha ninja swiftly forced back their enemies and retreated.
After only a few leaps, they vanished from Sakumo's sight.
"I'm done playing with you."
Sakumo had not practiced the Eight Gates for a long time. Maintaining this state for extended periods caused severe damage to the body.
Releasing the technique, he activated the Flying Thunder God and disappeared instantly.
"After them!"
With their supplies destroyed and the Konoha ninja escaping once again, no one dared face the fury of Granny Chiyo upon her return.
The young couple fled first, followed closely by the Sand shinobi.
Sakumo caught up with the Konoha squad and reunited with the two injured soldiers.
They sped forward, heading straight toward the Land of Rain.
"Lord Sakumo, Sand shinobi are pursuing us!"
The Hyūga clan ninja had already spotted the enemy vanguard approaching from behind.
Carrying the wounded slowed them down significantly.
"How many?"
"Ten, led by that puppet-controlling couple."
The Hyūga's vision truly lived up to its reputation.
"Leave some men behind. Engage swiftly and decisively."
"The rest, continue retreating with the wounded."
Sakumo gave his orders without hesitation, halting and leaving behind eight uninjured Konoha ninja.
The remaining forces escorted the wounded toward the Land of Rain.
"Leave the puppet masters to me."
"You handle the others."
Sakumo knew that if those two fought together, no one here besides him could stop them.
"Yes, Lord Sakumo!" ×8
The nine of them concealed themselves, lying in wait for the Sand ninja.
Konoha possessed highly perceptive shinobi, but clearly, among the ten Sand ninja, there was also a powerful sensor.
As they approached the forest, the Sand squad slowed their pace, maintaining extreme caution.
The moment the ambush began, Konoha ninja leapt from the trees, their flashing blades blocked by prepared Sand ninjutsu.
Even Sakumo's strike was stopped by the white puppets.
"Only Konoha ninja would resort to such despicable tactics,"
Chiyo's son sneered, his flamboyant crimson hair glinting.
"Are you proud of using poison?" a Konoha ninja retorted angrily.
"Looking for death."
The battle erupted once more.
Sakumo alone faced ten puppets, weaving and dodging without suffering a single wound.
Yet for a time, closing the distance proved difficult.
Elsewhere, the Konoha and Sand ninja clashed fiercely, their strengths nearly matched.
Those who could catch up as the vanguard were no weaklings.
When their puppets were once again forced back by Sakumo, the couple looked embarrassed.
"As expected of Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha."
It sounded like praise, but Sakumo heard only mockery.
Who the hell are you calling a mutt?
Sakumo raised his hand and flung several senbon blades. Some were blocked by puppets, others narrowly missed the couple.
As they twisted to evade, a cold smirk appeared at Sakumo's lips.
When Sakumo vanished from their sight, they suddenly felt a bone-chilling blade at their backs.
Chiyo's son shoved his wife aside, but Sakumo's sword pierced straight through his chest.
"Go… we're no match for him."
Blood poured from his mouth as he used his last strength to push his wife away.
"Live on, Sasori… your father can't go back anymore…"
But how could Sakumo let such a chance slip away?
He drew his blade and lunged again, unaware of the forbidden technique the woman had just activated.
With a heart-rending scream, an immense surge of chakra erupted from her body.
With a single wave of her hand, all ten puppets sprang to life.
In overwhelming grief and fury, she had transformed into a puppet master akin to Chiyo herself.
"I want you buried with my husband!"
One puppet blocked Sakumo's strike as the remaining nine attacked from every direction.
"Die!"
A woman driven mad by grief was terrifying. Even at this distance, Sakumo spotted multiple explosive tags affixed to the puppets.
If they detonated, not even someone like him would survive.
Sakumo instantly activated Flying Thunder God and vanished.
A thunderous explosion shook the battlefield.
When the smoke cleared—
The woman knelt on the ground, cradling her husband's shattered remains.
Her body was riddled with shrapnel, all ten puppets completely destroyed.
Seeing the lifelessness in her eyes, Sakumo knew she had lost all will to fight.
The remaining Sand ninja were quickly wiped out by Konoha forces.
Two Sand ninja attempted to drag her away, but she showed no response.
No matter how hard they pulled, she only sat there crying, her sanity shattered.
In the end, they had no choice but to flee, pursued by Konoha ninja.
"Let me reunite you both."
Sakumo walked slowly toward her, emotion flickering in his eyes.
The blade in his hand hovered steadily at her neck.
She seemed to regain a trace of awareness.
She stopped crying, murmuring softly.
Clutching the broken limbs to her chest, she whispered,
"Wait for me… I'm coming to you."
The blade sliced through her skin. Blood splashed outward.
She closed her eyes and fell backward, a faint smile lingering on her lips.
"Extraction."
Sakumo wiped the corner of his eye with his wrist, then sheathed his blade.
The Konoha ninja successfully withdrew into the Land of Rain, finally safe.
When Sakumo returned to camp with his team, Chiyo had also led her forces back to their defensive line.
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