Chapter 46: The Unsheathed Dread Blade

"Support Squad, ready."

"Sensory Squad, ready."

"Assault Squad, ready."

The Konoha forces were concealed not far from the Sand Ninja encampment, poised to launch a blitz attack to commence their final offensive.

With his right hand held high, Sakumo Hatake slowly curled each of his five fingers, initiating the countdown to attack.

"Action!"

"Earth Release: Great Moving Earth Core!"

At Sakumo's command, dozens of Konoha ninjas proficient in Earth Release stood in a line and cast their jutsu simultaneously.

The ground beneath the Konoha assault unit quaked violently as massive earth pillars erupted from it, creating vantage points through Earth Release.

Atop these earth pillars were special jonin skilled in Wind Release and Fire Release.

At this moment, the Konoha ninjas, having gained the high ground, unleashed their chakra upon the Sand Ninja encampment from above.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

Hundreds of Konoha ninjas cast their jutsu simultaneously, as raging winds and devouring flames intertwined with immense power.

In this borderland, yellow sand and green leaves coexisted in a miraculous blend, yet in an instant, they both became fodder for the flames.

The entire ground ignited, with the Sand Ninja's main position instantly consumed by the raging fire.

"Enemy chakra reactions still normal. Watch out for enemy ambushes!"

Hyuga clan ninjas activated their Byakugan, assessing the attack's effectiveness and loudly reminding their comrades.

As the flames dissipated, rows of solid earth walls were revealed.

Sturdy Earth Release barriers withstood the Konoha ninjas' flames.

With cruel glints in their eyes, the Sand Ninjas charged fiercely forward.

Although it was night, Shikayama Nara could almost see the mocking eyes of Ebizō.

"Assault Squad, follow me to kill!"

Sakumo Hatake ignored all this, let out a low roar, drew his White Fang short sword, and led the charge.

Facing a unit commanded by Chiyo and Ebizō, he never expected a one-hit victory.

These were veterans of the ninja world; how could they make such a rookie mistake as falling for a sneak attack?

Sakumo's use of large-scale jutsu by the Konoha forces was mainly to clear the puppet traps placed by the Sand Ninjas on the ground, paving the way for his subsequent charge.

"Die!"

Yellow sand surged, and several vicious puppets, manipulated by puppet masters, swiftly attacked Sakumo.

Instead of slowing down, Sakumo's breathing became steadier. At this moment, he entered a mystical state, with only the enemies before him and his sword in mind.

A silver flash, and the Sand Ninjas' proud puppets halted like scrap metal.

Sakumo's precise sword waves easily severed the chakra threads controlling the puppets!

"Thud—!"

The white short sword barely paused at the throats of these puppet masters before continuing forward without hesitation.

The Sand Ninjas clutched their throats in vain, blood gushing out uncontrollably, as they fell lifelessly to the ground.

Such was Sakumo Hatake's combat style—a sharp, ruthless swordsmanship combined with the speed granted by Lightning Release chakra activation.

"You're not the one to act recklessly here!"

As Sakumo aimed to continue his charge, intending to carve through the Sand Ninjas, Chiyo intercepted him.

Unlike typical puppet masters, Chiyo could simultaneously control ten powerful puppets, making her puppet unit a formidable challenge.

White Secret Technique: The Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu!

A masterpiece inherited from the puppet master ancestor Monzaemon, revered as a one-man army!

Not only were they made of durable materials, but they could also unleash various combination techniques and sealing jutsu, with formidable power.

"Puppet Technique: Three Treasures Crushing!"

Three white demon-like puppets formed a triangle, opened their mouths, and the characters on their masks shifted, pulling in everything around with a terrifying tornado!

Rather than retreating, Sakumo advanced, using the tornado's suction to gather chakra at his feet, streaking across the ground with swift after-images.

Chiyo watched Sakumo with a cold smile; the true power of the Three Treasures Crushing was far beyond this. Charging headlong into the formation would result in being crushed to pulp!

With a flick of her fingers, the three puppets adjusted their stance, continuously gathering wind.

In the original story, this move directly destroyed dozens of "Scorpion" puppets.

Seeing these puppets, Sakumo's White Fang short sword gathered a long, chakra-infused blade and swung rapidly!

"It's useless! You can't fathom the durability of the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu!"

Chiyo moved her fingers but found she had lost control of the three puppets.

The White Fang short sword, a treasured heirloom of the Hatake clan, had immense chakra conductivity, turning Sakumo's chakra into a fierce blade.

The White Fang in Sakumo's hand emitted a brilliant glow, and menacing sword waves severed the sturdy chakra threads on the puppets.

This was the puppet masters' Achilles' heel; if you could sever the chakra threads, their abilities would be crippled by ninety percent.

With a powerful push of his feet, Sakumo dashed towards Chiyo, his White Fang aimed at her throat like a venomous snake.

A vicious strike slashed towards Chiyo, intending to decapitate the old woman in one swift move!

Chiyo calmly watched the oncoming sword, never expecting her arduously honed chakra threads to be cut so easily.

With a slight flick of her fingers, the remaining White Secret puppets surged forward, forming a peculiar formation to face the growing sword waves.

"Puppet Technique: Mechanical Light Shield Seal!"

The puppets lined up, spitting out thin strings, and Chiyo wielded her chakra to form a massive azure chakra shield.

"Boom boom boom!"

As the collision of chakra dissipated, seven puppets emerged with various weapons, fiercely guarding Chiyo.

For a puppet master, close combat was the most dangerous moment.

Sakumo's deadly strikes deeply threatened these puppet masters' lives.

Sakumo looked at Chiyo, expressionlessly retreating. Against such an opponent, he didn't need to tangle.

As long as Sakumo killed enough, Chiyo would come to him willingly.

After all, although the puppet technique was created and glorified by the Second Kazekage, making it the foundation of Suna's rise, it had a high entry threshold.

Every puppet master was akin to a bloodline ninja, crucial to the village's future prosperity.

Quick-wittedly, Sakumo scanned the surrounding Sand Ninjas and dashed towards a puppet master chasing a Konoha ninja.

Seeing Sakumo retreat, Chiyo frowned; she had expected him to attempt to kill her.

When the puppets were withdrawn and she saw the direction Sakumo charged, Chiyo's eyes widened with fury, shouting frantically:

"Sasori! Watch out for the attack!!!"

Alas, a cold sword flash passed, and the young red-haired Sand Ninja fell simply.

(The chapter ends here)