Just as Chiyo was about to meet her end, black iron sand emerged.
Countless particles of black iron sand stretched out from behind Chiyo, swiftly enveloping her entire body and forming a triangular prism. At the moment the iron sand sealed shut, Chiyo glared at Hatake Sakumo with eyes full of hatred.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Defense!"
Hatake Sakumo's blade struck the triangular prism of iron sand, sending sparks flying. The defensive power of this iron sand construct was astonishing.
At that moment, a black-haired man in a white cloak stood mid-air, arms crossed, his feet resting on a circular platform of black iron sand. His gaze was calm as he observed the scene below.
Hatake Sakumo's figure flickered, weaving past the puppets behind him as he quickly created distance. Though his expression remained unchanged, his heart was in turmoil.
That man was from Sunagakure.
The Kazekage!
The war had only just begun—why would the Kazekage appear here? His presence on the battlefield carried a far greater significance.
At this stage, the conflict was still confined to skirmishes over territory and defensive lines. But if a Kage took the field, it would signal all-out war. No longer would it be about claiming land; it would become a fight to annihilate the enemy's forces entirely.
Hatake Sakumo crouched low, his blade held horizontally before him. This battle would be far more difficult than anticipated.
"White Fang, Hatake Sakumo."
The Kazekage's gaze settled on him, surrounded by floating black iron sand. He had heard of the "White Fang" from Suna shinobi on his way here.
"Lord Kazekage, does your presence mean Sunagakure intends to escalate this into total war with Konoha?"
Hatake Sakumo spoke with respect for the enemy Kage. After all, the Five Kage stood at the pinnacle of the shinobi world. Their actions, whether in status or power, dictated the course of the entire ninja world.
The shinobi world still bowed to the daimyo largely because of the example set by these five. The world was never short of ambitious figures who sought to overthrow the daimyo, but the will of the Five Kage ensured their survival. Few in the shinobi world understood this truth.
Yet the Five Kage themselves were locked in mutual distrust, paying little heed to the "weak" daimyo.
The Kazekage's brow remained furrowed, his face etched with a perpetual grimness.
"Once war has begun, is there any room for reversal?"
He had not wanted to be the first Kage to take the field—it would be an admission that his village lacked the strength to prevail otherwise. But Konoha's momentum was overwhelming, even terrifying.
In the Land of Rain, Orochimaru alone had suppressed Suna and Iwa, seizing the advantage. More of Konoha's elite shinobi were emerging, leaving Suna and Iwa struggling.
Originally, Suna held the upper hand in the Land of Rivers, and the Kazekage had looked forward to mocking the short-statured Ōnoki. But while Iwa's front remained stable, Suna's situation had deteriorated.
Hatake Sakumo had shattered their carefully constructed defenses, evading capture all the while.
Thus, the Kazekage had chosen to intervene. If Sakumo continued unchecked, the Land of Rivers front would collapse entirely. Killing him might at least mitigate their losses.
But on his way here, he had seen the routed puppet corps. Stabilizing the front was now the best they could hope for.
That left only one option:
Kill Konoha's White Fang!
Kill Hatake Sakumo!
"Enough talk!" Chiyo roared. "Kill him!"
Her hatred for Sakumo burned fiercely.
Words were pointless now.
The battle began in earnest.
The sky filled with swirling iron sand.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Drizzle!"
In an instant, the iron sand gathered like a tidal wave behind the Kazekage, morphing into countless needle-like projectiles. With a flick of his hand, they rained down on Hatake Sakumo like a black storm, leaving no room to evade.
Sakumo's hands flew through seals before slamming onto the ground.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Multiple earthen barriers erupted, encasing him completely. But the iron sand needles pierced through them effortlessly. By the time the dust settled, Sakumo had vanished.
"He's coming for me!"
Chiyo leaped aside just as Sakumo burst from the ground, narrowly missing her. Ten white puppets turned to attack him, but the true threat was the ocean of iron sand surging toward him.
"As expected of the strongest Third Kazekage."
Sakumo retreated at high speed, the puppets in relentless pursuit. Chiyo stood amidst the iron sand, manipulating her puppets with precision.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Gathering Assault!"
The iron sand compressed into a massive weapon, crashing down from above like a black meteor. The shadow of the colossal construct engulfed Sakumo.
This was no distance to cross in a single step.
Sakumo sprang upward, scaling the falling weapon with rapid footwork. The Kazekage smirked, and with a gesture, the iron sand shifted again, morphing into a swirling black tornado that destabilized Sakumo's footing.
But Sakumo had already reached the apex. With a powerful kick-off, he launched himself into the distance.
"He's trying to escape!" Chiyo snarled.
"Understood."
The Kazekage propelled himself and Chiyo forward on a wave of iron sand, closing the gap swiftly. Both kept their eyes locked on Sakumo—they knew if they lost sight of him even for a moment, he would disappear.
Under their watch, escape was nearly impossible.
As the two closed in, along with the ten airborne puppets, Sakumo knew fleeing was futile.
But—
Who said he was running?
The moment they neared, the ground beneath Sakumo shattered as he exploded into motion.
His target:
Chiyo!
A white flash of steel shot toward her. But the iron sand reacted just as quickly, collapsing the ground beneath Chiyo and swallowing her whole. The puppets mid-attack froze and dropped like dead weights.
Sakumo didn't relent. With even greater speed, he pivoted, charging straight at the Kazekage.
The white blade gleamed.
The Kazekage hadn't expected a second strike. His defense was a fraction too slow.
By the time the iron sand erupted in retaliation, Sakumo was already upon him.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Boundary Method!"
...
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(End of Chapter)