The Sand Ninja began to retreat while fighting.
However, Sarutobi Asuma continued his slaughter, sensing and targeting those with larger chakra reserves first.
While a larger chakra pool didn't necessarily mean greater strength, it was the quickest way to identify targets.
He would first eliminate those fighting Konoha Jonin, then target those with more chakra.
One by one, Shadow Clones would disappear as their chakra was depleted, while others would collapse under concentrated attacks.
Yet, the battlefield was continuously illuminated by flashes of purple light, and there was never a shortage of Shadow Clones cutting down Sand Ninja.
Sarutobi Asuma now possessed the chakra of the One-Tail, constantly creating Shadow Clones to replenish his reserves.
For him, this was not only about strengthening his own forces but also about having a backup plan.
If his main body were to be endangered, he could use the Substitution Technique to swap positions with a Shadow Clone.
This was the terrifying power of having immense chakra.
For Hatake Sakumo, even with his astonishing destructive power, he absolutely could not sustain such an expenditure of chakra.
But Sarutobi Asuma's chakra seemed inexhaustible. After his previous battle with Shukaku and Bunpuku, he still had so much to spare, striking fear and despair into the hearts of many Sand Ninja.
The battlefield shifted rapidly, soon moving from the plains into the forest.
This undeniably favored the Sand Ninja, allowing them to scatter and retreat.
Sarutobi Asuma and his Shadow Clones moved at incredible speed, keeping close pursuit of the Sand Ninja, picking off small squads one by one.
Behind them, Orochimaru followed closely with his main body, leading two elite squads.
He couldn't allow Sarutobi Asuma to be surrounded.
Chiyo watched as Sarutobi Asuma and Orochimaru relentlessly pursued. The former's destructive power was immense.
The ninja squads behind them had little ability to resist and were easily cut down.
"Nagai, take your people and hold off Orochimaru while I deal with Sarutobi Asuma!"
Chiyo commanded.
"Understood!"
The Sand Ninja Jonin Nagai, with a grave expression, nodded, then immediately rallied three squads and turned back to engage Orochimaru and his group.
Ebizo, however, looked shocked. "Sister!"
Chiyo had already stopped, not looking back, and said calmly, "I am the commander on the front lines. I must stay behind to cover the retreat."
"You take them and fall back. If you can't hold off Sarutobi Asuma, then retreat back to the Land of Wind."
"There, the Fourth's Ninjutsu can be utilized to its fullest potential!"
Ebizo's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he turned and continued his escape.
At this moment, Sarutobi Asuma's main body arrived, landing on a tree branch and observing Chiyo, who was surrounded by five puppets.
She was likely the strongest puppeteer, second only to Monzaemon, the First puppeteer, and Sasori, the future one.
In fact, at this moment, she was probably the strongest puppeteer in the ninja world!
However, the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu were now reduced to half their number.
Sarutobi Asuma glanced at them: a dual-bladed female puppet, a bull-headed puppet, and the remaining three were likely capable of using the "Sanpo Sōkai."
"Capturing Chiyo will increase our leverage!"
With a glint in his eyes, Sarutobi Asuma wasted no time and vanished from his position.
The moment he moved, Chiyo detonated three smoke bombs, enveloping the surroundings in smoke. She used this to track the movements of the incredibly fast Sarutobi Asuma.
Then, she controlled three puppets to intercept.
Sanpo Sōkai!
Chiyo accurately pinpointed Sarutobi Asuma, and the ninjutsu unleashed by the three puppets immediately ensnared him as he moved at high speed.
"Indeed, a formidable puppet user, second only to Sasori who turned himself into a puppet."
Meanwhile, Chiyo's other two puppets dashed forward rapidly from the sides, preparing to finish off Sarutobi Asuma, who was caught by the Sanpo Sōkai.
"Truly impressive puppets!"
Sarutobi Asuma exclaimed, but the next moment, his chakra erupted, and several Adamantine Sealing Chains shot out from his back, forcefully tearing apart the suction power of the Sanpo Sōkai.
A flash of purple lightning struck, severing the chakra threads first, and then Chiyo felt her own chakra being sealed.
Tilting her head slightly, Chiyo looked at Sarutobi Asuma and asked in a deep voice, "You let me capture you on purpose?"
Sarutobi Asuma didn't reply. He wasn't accustomed to deciphering or explaining things for others.
Recalling the five puppets, Sarutobi Asuma then said to Chiyo, "This war benefits neither your village nor Konoha. Continuing it will not bring good fortune to Konoha, nor will your Sand Village gain anything but further loss of elite ninja."
"Moreover, under these circumstances, will the Daimyo of the Land of Wind continue to support your Sunagakure as before?"
Chiyo's expression shifted slightly, her eyes flickering. "Are you trying to use an old woman and the One-Tails Jinchuriki as leverage to force the Fourth to surrender?"
"That is utterly impossible!"
Sarutobi Asuma chuckled lightly, "Peace talks?"
"Sunagakure and Konoha have allied. Now the Stone Ninja are attacking Konoha with full force. You can invade the Land of Earth at a critical moment!"
Chiyo was startled and looked at Sarutobi Asuma, sighing with emotion, "As expected of the son of the Ninja God, not only possessing extraordinary ninja talent but also an astonishing political mind."
Sarutobi Asuma shook his head, "I don't understand politics, I only understand one saying: 'Self-interest moves the heart'."
"We are all smart people. Smart people don't do things that harm themselves or others, nor do they miss opportunities that benefit themselves and others!"
Chiyo's eyes flickered and she said, "But I am not the Kazekage!"
"I know!"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded with a smile, "That's why you are one of Konoha's bargaining chips!"
"I believe the Kazekage will make a wise choice!"
Leaving behind a Shadow Clone to escort the captured Chiyo to the rear, Sarutobi Asuma's main body continued to pursue the Sand Ninja.
Weakening the Sand Ninja's fighting strength was also a way to force their surrender or a bargaining chip for peace talks!
This pursuit continued until sunset.
By this time, the Sand Ninja had already retreated in disarray into the Land of Wind, and Konoha's pursuit stopped at the border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Wind.
Sarutobi Asuma did not continue the pursuit.
The One-Tail's chakra he had deployed was depleted. To continue, he would have to release the Yin Seal again and consume the One-Tail's chakra sealed within it.
However.
Even though he had stopped the pursuit, Sarutobi Asuma could not rest yet.
There were numerous injured individuals waiting for his treatment.
These injured individuals included not only Konoha ninjas but also Sand Ninja.
However, the Sand Ninja could only be treated after the Konoha ninjas had received theirs.
If they could hold on, they would become prisoners and another bargaining chip for Konoha.
"Lord Asuma is truly amazing!"
"Yes, he not only has strength comparable to Lord Sakumo but also masters powerful Medical Ninjutsu!"
"Thanks to Lord Asuma, otherwise my leg would have been crippled. The Sand Ninja's poison is too terrifying!"
"I heard Lord Asuma is not even 11 years old yet. It's truly astonishing. Not only did he develop an S-Rank Wind Style Ninjutsu, but he also mastered the Scorch Release Bloodline Limit. I heard the purple lightning he uses is the same secret technique as the Third Raikage's, Lightning Style Chakra Mode."
"Yes, it's truly an astonishing Lightning Style secret technique. That speed is simply impossible to react to."
"In our Konoha, perhaps only Lord Minato, known as the Yellow Flash, can match Lord Asuma in speed?"
"I think Lord Asuma can be called Konoha's Purple Flash. He is comparable to Konoha's White Fang and the Yellow Flash. He definitely deserves this title!"
"Purple Flash? Amazing, a perfect fit!"
"Indeed!"
...
Watching Sarutobi Asuma work busily, the guards at the medical camp and the injured soldiers began to whisper amongst themselves. Before they knew it, Sarutobi Asuma had gained a new title.
And this title quickly spread among the Konoha ninjas.
-----------
Machine Translation by: beta.randomtranslator.com
Read 1400+ original & fanfic translations and Translate for Free at: www.randomtranslator.com