After the right flank of the defensive line collapsed, the battle at the center remained brutally intense.
Sakumo and Chiyo had already clashed several times.
The area where they fought had been completely cleared, forming an empty battlefield where no other ninja dared to interfere.
This was a duel solely between Sakumo and Chiyo—along with her ten puppets.
Although the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu were no longer complete, Chiyo still possessed formidable combat strength.
She was extremely wary of the Flying Thunder God technique, always dodging the kunai Sakumo threw toward her.
As a result, Sakumo struggled to find a good opening.
The only chance he had managed resulted in a non-fatal wound.
A deep gash had been carved into her waist, and if not for her superb medical ninjutsu, she would have already lost her ability to fight.
After being injured, she regained her composure and recalled three puppets for protection. After all, the strongest puppet—the Ox-Head—had already become Chuanfeng's trophy.
With a flick of her fingers, the seven remaining puppets charged at Sakumo again.
The dual-blade puppet struck down with a sharp clang, aiming for his head.
Another puppet wielding an iron whip attacked from behind.
Sakumo lunged forward, slashing the twin-blade puppet back while evading the remaining attacks in a flash.
Then he charged straight at Chiyo.
As long as she fell, the puppets would become useless.
"Stop these meaningless attacks."
Chiyo remained motionless, her voice low, eyes glittering sharply.
With a light twitch of her fingers, three puppets surrounded her.
Sakumo repositioned several times, but each assault was blocked.
After dodging the poisoned needles shot by the puppets, he reappeared several meters away.
"You're even worse than your brother."
Chiyo spoke casually, as if stating a trivial fact.
Though true, did she really have to say it out loud?
"Old hag, go to hell."
Sakumo's expression darkened. "If you know it yourself, why say it?"
"Just like your dead son—he was nothing."
"Sword Art: Sky-Shattering Strike!"
A dazzling white flash erupted from Sakumo's short blade as lightning crackled beneath his feet, scorching two blackened footprints into the ground.
"Heh!"
With unstoppable momentum, Sakumo launched forward once more.
"Again."
"Ninja Art: Triangular Shield!"
Chiyo's face turned solemn.
She manipulated one puppet to step atop the shoulders of the other two, forming a triangular formation as she formed hand seals.
A massive translucent triangular shield materialized before her.
Sakumo's thrust slammed into it with a metallic clang, and the violent recoil sent both of them sliding back several meters.
They paused briefly.
Sakumo scanned the battlefield.
The Sand Village's central line remained the strongest, and Konoha was clearly at a disadvantage.
Konoha ninja continued to fall before his eyes, yet Chiyo still had him tied down.
"I don't have time to waste on you anymore."
"Gate of Injury—Open!"
Sakumo could only open up to the Fourth Gate for now. His solid foundation allowed him to reach this level, but going further would require far more training.
Even Might Dai had taken five years to open four gates.
Before Chiyo's eyes, Sakumo's face flushed red as monstrous chakra erupted from his body, emerald energy enveloping him completely.
"What terrifying chakra…"
Chiyo murmured, her expression darkening as a sense of mortal danger crept over her.
She launched a probing attack, still underestimating Sakumo's current strength.
"Leaf Shadow Dance!"
Sakumo sheathed his blade.
In an instant, a green blur appeared before the twin-blade puppet, kicking it skyward.
Chiyo's chakra control faltered.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
An upward kick followed by a downward smash sent the puppet flying.
Against puppets, raw power was far more effective than blades.
"Damn it!"
Every loss of a Chikamatsu puppet tore painfully at Chiyo's heart.
"Ninja Art: Three Sacred Treasures—Absorb!"
She rapidly formed seals.
Three puppets arranged themselves into a triangle, opening mechanisms labeled Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
A violent tornado erupted.
Debris, shattered wood, and rubble were sucked in, crushed, and blasted out from the rear of the formation.
Even Sakumo was dragged by the immense suction.
Then Chiyo hurled a fist-sized mask toward him.
"Seal him—Lion Roar!"
The mask expanded mid-air, revealing jagged fangs and blood-red eyes, transforming into a ferocious lion face.
Anyone struck would have their chakra completely sealed.
Her plan was to immobilize Sakumo—then finish him.
Sakumo instinctively sensed the danger.
Though his movement was restricted by the tornado, Flying Thunder God remained unhindered.
His figure vanished instantly.
Chiyo had underestimated the technique—it wasn't teleportation, but true spatial ninjutsu.
Before she could react, Sakumo's attack was already upon her.
"Sword Art: Lightning Fang!"
A green arc ripped across the ground, unstoppable.
His short blade, wrapped in crackling chakra, smashed into the three puppets guarding Chiyo.
A thunderous explosion shook the battlefield.
When the smoke cleared, only a Sand Clone had saved her.
Even so, the puppets were shattered beyond repair.
Chiyo realized she was losing.
Her remaining puppets could no longer withstand him.
She began to retreat.
"Detonate."
Her final puppet flew toward Sakumo and self-destructed.
A storm of poisoned needles rained down like pear blossoms.
Though Sakumo escaped the blast with Flying Thunder God, several needles still pierced him.
He ripped them out and swallowed Tsunade's antidote pills.
Cold light flashed in his eyes.
He vanished.
Chiyo turned while fleeing—
—and impaled herself on Sakumo's blade.
She stepped onto a kunai marked with the Flying Thunder God seal, sealing her fate.
"Go reunite with your son."
Sakumo withdrew his blade expressionlessly.
Blood sprayed.
Chiyo stared at him, lips trembling, yet no words came.
She weakly reached out, but couldn't touch his face.
Hatred frozen in her eyes, she collapsed forward.
Sakumo stepped back.
Her body hit the ground heavily, blood pooling beneath her.
"Cough—"
Sakumo spat blood.
Her poison had grown stronger; Tsunade's antidote hadn't fully neutralized it.
With the Eight Gates released, his limbs trembled and his face turned pale.
This fight had not been easy.
He swallowed another military ration pill and sat cross-legged to recover.
"I may not be as strong as Chuanfeng… but I still killed you."
"Old hag, watch your mouth in your next life."
He swallowed the Ice Pill, still brooding over her words.
Then, shouts and the clash of steel echoed from the right.
Looking up, he saw Chuanfeng and Tsunade charging in.
They had broken through the right flank.
The outcome of the battle was decided.
A warm smile spread across Sakumo's face.
"Chuanfeng! Over here!"
Finally—someone who could detoxify him.