The defeated Sand ninja army not only failed to strengthen the team, but instead brought panic.
Led by Kawakaze and Tsunade, the highly motivated Konoha ninjas quickly broke through the central line.
The fleeing Sand ninjas no longer retreated to the left flank, but instead rushed toward the heart of the Land of Wind.
"Brother, how have you been lately?"
Kawakaze came to Sakumo's side. Seeing his pale face filled with worry, he felt uneasy.
Chiyo's corpse lay beside me, yet I didn't feel anything strange.
Shouldn't it be like this?
"It shouldn't be a serious problem. He's been poisoned, and Tsunade's antidote pills weren't able to completely eliminate the toxins."
Sakumo sounded weak. Granny Chiyo's mastery of poison techniques was absolutely among the top three of all generations of Kage.
"Let me take a look."
Tsunade crouched down, retracted her wings, and carefully examined Sakumo.
"Well?"
Before Sakumo could speak, Kawakaze impatiently asked.
"Although there are still some stubborn toxins left, his life is not in danger."
"Once we return, I can develop a proper antidote."
Tsunade's brows finally relaxed. This was well within her abilities.
"That's good."
Kawakaze let out a sigh of relief. Kakashi still needed his father.
"Why worry so much? I'm not going to die."
Sakumo even rubbed Kawakaze's head hard, the way he used to when Kawakaze was young.
Now Kawakaze had completely mastered that gesture himself.
"That's good. If you died, who would I blame?"
Kawakaze slapped his brother's hand away. He was already this old—how could such things be allowed?
"You little brat! If you want me dead, just say so!"
Sakumo suddenly flared up, kicking into the air and nearly injuring himself.
"Heh~"
"You did that yourself, don't blame me."
Looking at Sakumo's expression, Kawakaze felt that this wouldn't affect giving Kakashi a younger brother or sister.
"Don't let me catch you."
Sakumo glared at Kawakaze. Where did this idiot brother even come from?
"Alright, big brother, rest here. Kawakaze and I will go support Dai."
Tsunade stabilized Sakumo's injuries and interrupted the childish quarrel.
Another day—how I envy Sister-in-law Nayuki for being able to take care of the children.
I hope that if I have a son in the future, he won't turn out like Kakashi.
Otherwise, the Hatake family might have some genetic brain problems.
"Alright, seize the opportunity. You go ahead."
Sakumo stood up. His movements were not significantly hindered.
"Let's go."
Kawakaze took the lead, gathering the uninjured Konoha ninjas and charging toward the left defense line with Tsunade.
Dai had been locked in prolonged combat against nine elite Jonin of Sunagakure inside the barrier where the Six Gates stood open.
If not for this cursed barrier limiting his movement, the Sand ninjas would never have been able to touch him.
Because his taijutsu was simply too overwhelming, several veteran Sand ninjas began taking drugs to boost themselves.
Even so, their chakra reserves were already running low.
Ebizo's face turned pale. He wasn't sure how much longer he could hold on.
Dai had also suffered light injuries; the Sand ninjas' genjutsu had caused him considerable trouble.
Now both sides had their concerns, and the frequency of attacks had decreased.
Outside the barrier, Konoha and Sand ninjas were engaged in fierce combat, with no clear victor in sight.
"Mr. Dai, even if all nine of us collapse from exhaustion, we can still drag you down with us."
A Sand ninja with a cross-shaped scar at the corner of his eye challenged him. He could already feel Dai's chakra weakening.
I suspect that Dai's forbidden technique cannot last forever.
"Youth never retreats!"
Green light burst forth, raising clouds of dust as the nine Sand ninjas gradually adapted to his speed.
Even if I can't keep up, I still have to fight!
"Escape the earth, return to land!"
"Leaf's Powerful Whirlwind!"
Dai's ultra-high-speed roundhouse kick smashed heavily into an earth wall, shattering it instantly.
One… two… three…
Six earth walls were shattered in succession, yet the final kick was blocked effortlessly.
"Genjutsu: Sand Binding Soul Technique!"
At close range, Dai mistakenly believed he saw the scar-eyed Sand ninja.
This genjutsu, carefully prepared, required close proximity and was extremely powerful.
The victim felt as if their entire body was bound by sand, crushed and suffocated.
Dai stood motionless, as if possessed, his breathing growing increasingly labored.
The chakra within his body was rapidly depleting.
Kill him while he's down.
At this moment, the nine Sand ninjas no longer hesitated. Their previous genjutsu had only barely disrupted Dai's rhythm.
Never had such a powerful Sand Binding Spirit appeared before.
A few kunai each would be enough to turn Dai into a sieve.
Their sense of danger intensified as they drew closer.
"Let the blood of youth burn!"
"The Seventh Gate—Gate of Shock—OPEN!!!"
Dai roared in agony as blue steam erupted from his body, reigniting massive amounts of chakra.
The roaring blue vortex terrified the Sand ninjas.
The surge of chakra shattered the genjutsu that wasn't cast through ocular techniques.
"Continue!"
The Sand ninjas pushed their speed to the absolute limit.
"Daytime Tiger!!!"
Dai roared, launching forward with blindingly fast punches.
The air compressed instantly, then exploded outward, forming a tiger-shaped shockwave that lunged toward the Sand ninjas.
"Ahhh—!"
The nine Sand ninjas couldn't escape in time. They were struck head-on, screaming as they were blasted away.
The front three were completely obliterated, exploding into a rain of blood and flesh.
The fate of the remaining six was unknown.
The residual force smashed through obstacles, blasting a hole taller than a man.
Ebizo spat blood, collapsing to one knee as his nine puppets were blown backward.
The barrier was broken.
After using Daytime Tiger, Dai could no longer maintain the Seventh Gate. If not for his recent increase in resources, he wouldn't have been able to open it again for a long time.
This was his first time opening the Seventh Gate, and now his body was wracked with unbearable pain.
He clenched his teeth, supporting himself with one hand against the ground, glaring fiercely at Ebizo.
Cold sweat drenched his forehead.
"Haha… cough—"
"You can't go on anymore, can you?"
Ebizo stood up, a sinister smile on his face as he coughed up blood.
With his remaining chakra, he controlled a puppet and slowly advanced toward Dai.
The puppet raised its right arm, transforming it into a sharp blade.
Dai tried to move, but his body wouldn't respond. He could only watch as the blade drew closer.
"Die!"
Ebizo roared. The puppet raised its arm high and stabbed downward.
"Pierce."
"Sword Technique — Lightning Speed!"
A bolt of lightning flashed across Ebizo's neck.
He clutched his throat, unwillingly turning his gaze toward Dai's direction.
The puppet's blade had already pierced Dai's chest, stopping less than an inch from his heart.
In his final moments, Ebizo clearly saw the man who killed him.
"Hatake… Kawakaze…"
With that, he collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
Because the blade was still embedded in Dai's body, the puppet remained standing, unable to move.
At the critical moment, Kawakaze's arrival saved Dai's life.
"Kawakaze-kun…"
Seeing the figure beside him, Dai spoke three words before tilting his head and completely passing out.
"Tsunade, go check on him."
Tsunade spread her wings and rushed to Dai's side.