Chapter 16: The Ino–Shika–Chō Trio
"Tch! You old hag!"
Tsunade directly charged at Chiyo.
Taijutsu users were natural counters to puppet masters —
and especially someone like Tsunade, a woman of unmatched monstrous strength.
"If it weren't for you, this war would've ended long ago!"
Tsunade glared at Chiyo as if staring at a criminal.
"Hmph!"
For the sake of her son and daughter-in-law, this battle could not end so easily.
At the same time, Chiyo pulled out a special storage scroll from her robe.
"White Secret Technique — Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu!"
With several bursts of white smoke, ten puppets of various shapes appeared around her.
These were the masterpieces of the first puppet master —
the pinnacle of the Puppet Technique,
human-shaped but capable of performing ninjutsu.
"Tch! Even if you use your White Secret Technique, so what?"
"Watch me smash every last one of your puppets to pieces!"
"Young people these days… all bark and no bite."
If she could be swayed by a few words, Chiyo wouldn't be Chiyo.
"Heavenly Foot of Pain!"
Without another word, Tsunade's figure vanished from sight.
In the next instant, her raised leg came crashing down toward Chiyo.
–––
On another part of the battlefield, Rasa's gold dust surged in every direction,
sweeping across the sands like a storm.
In this desert terrain, his Gold Dust Release held tremendous advantage —
its power already overwhelming most of his subordinates' techniques.
At this stage, his might could rival many ordinary Kage-level shinobi.
Just as Rasa was manipulating his gold dust to crush the Konoha forces…
"Shadow Possession Jutsu!"
"Hm?"
His body suddenly froze.
Glancing down, Rasa noticed the shadow stretching toward his feet —
a look of realization spread across his face.
"So you think you can defeat me with something like this?"
Despite being immobilized, Rasa's expression remained proud and calm.
He planned to use this war as a stage to display his strength.
"Heh, of course it's not just that!"
Crouched nearby, Nara Shikaku smiled faintly.
"Mind Transfer Jutsu!"
Before Rasa could react, Yamanaka Inoichi had already completed his hand signs.
Rasa's mind wavered for a moment — his focus slipping.
Running in from behind, Akimichi Chōza finished his seals.
One of his arms expanded into a massive giant's limb.
With a single motion, he hurled a colossal punch straight toward Rasa.
Boom!
The secret combination technique of the Ino–Shika–Chō clans —
their powers complementing one another perfectly,
their hearts and breath synchronized as one.
Though Shikaku, Inoichi, and Chōza were merely elite jōnin,
when the three joined forces—
"Retreat!"
Shikaku shouted immediately.
The trio withdrew in perfect unison.
"Be careful, Rasa! They're from Konoha!"
Rasa wanted to snap back, but after being saved by Pakura,
he kept his silence.
"What's wrong?"
Pakura noticed his momentary distraction.
They were in the middle of a battlefield — how could he drift off now?
"Nothing."
Rasa shook his head, pushing away his stray thoughts.
"I am Rasa, inheritor of the power of Gold Dust!
How could I possibly lose here?!"
Rasa would never admit inferiority to anyone —
especially not to someone like Pakura.
"…?"
Seeing Rasa's stubborn expression, Pakura's face twitched.
This guy was hopeless.
"Scorch Release — Steam Kill!"
Moving with perfect coordination, the trio dodged swiftly,
continuing to hold off both Pakura and Rasa.
"What a hassle… our opponents are two Kage-level shinobi!"
Shikaku sighed, feeling the pressure.
Though the three of them weren't exactly Kage-level,
they were still facing two of them at once —
a daunting challenge.
Beside him, Chōza chuckled and patted his belly.
Inoichi laughed as well,
and Shikaku followed with a calm smile.
Their lighthearted attitude, even in the face of two Kage-level foes,
was enough to make both Pakura and Rasa grit their teeth in frustration.
"Damn Konoha ninjas!"
"There's a limit to how much you can look down on people!"
Even in battle, they could still act so casually —
as if victory were already certain.
Infuriating!