Chapter 66 – A Temporary Conclusion

"Heh… Kid, you're still too green."

At some point, Chiyo had already switched places with one of her puppets. Pulling back the hood of her cloak to reveal her true face, she said calmly,

"This is what you lack—battle experience. A real puppeteer never lets their opponent get close. If they do, it's only to lure the enemy into a trap."

The moment Kiyosuke was captured, Shinnosuke didn't hesitate. He immediately unleashed a jutsu.

"Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld!"

The ground beneath them turned into a deadly mire. Kiyosuke's legs sank deep, just barely allowing him to avoid the long blade aimed at his head. Chiyo also leapt back with her puppet, narrowly escaping the attack—but she lost the one that had been using the sealing jutsu.

Kiyosuke silently thanked the gods. Being short had its advantages, and having Shinnosuke nearby was a literal lifesaver. If not for him, he'd be dead by now.

This old hag Chiyo was seriously dangerous. She had completely tricked him without either of them noticing—even Shinnosuke hadn't caught on.

Shinnosuke used his staff to hook Kiyosuke's clothes and pull him out of the sealing field. Once outside, the jutsu's effect disappeared and Kiyosuke's body regained mobility. He let out a long breath and said, "Thanks, Captain Shinnosuke. I let my guard down… I nearly got taken out."

"Stay sharp. Chiyo's not like those Sunagakure grunts we've fought before. She's not easy to handle." Shinnosuke warned him, not wanting Kiyosuke to fall for another trap.

Anyone who survived two ninja world wars was no pushover—especially someone who'd risen to the top of their village. Their strength alone was intimidating enough, but coupled with decades of accumulated battle experience? Taking one down was never easy.

"I know. There's too many people around here. Otherwise, I'd just level the whole place with a giant jutsu." Kiyosuke muttered something horrifyingly casual.

Shinnosuke: "…"

Can you not?

Having done countless missions together, Shinnosuke knew well how Kiyosuke operated—burn everything in sight. And when things got rough, he'd drop a huge technique to wipe the field.

"Forget that. Focus on dealing with this old witch. That's what matters now."

This wasn't the time for chit-chat.

Chiyo was surrounded by nine puppets acting as her personal guard. In this state, even Hiruzen Sarutobi himself would need time to take her down—let alone just Kiyosuke and Shinnosuke.

"Go!"

One of her puppets launched a barrage of poison needles. Shinnosuke quickly spun his Staff, forming a solid barrier—so dense that even water wouldn't seep through.

Unlike Kiyosuke, who could ignore physical damage, Shinnosuke had a regular body. Getting hit was not an option.

Sharp stone spikes suddenly rose from the ground. Chiyo's puppets moved instantly, breaking them apart with mechanical precision.

Chiyo scoffed, "If you think sneak attacks will work on me, you've got a long way to go. You two brats have some skills, I'll admit—but this is your limit."

"Yeah. It is."

Kiyosuke and Shinnosuke both exhaled in unison, smiling faintly.

"You've already lost."

"What? You think I'd fall for that? You Konoha brats!"

"No," Kiyosuke said, staring past her, "Orochimaru-sensei has already won."

He looked toward the battlefield behind Chiyo—Orochimaru, sword in hand, had pierced through Rasa's golden sand armor.

Rasa winced as pain shot through his shoulder.

"Orochimaru… Sunagakure will never lose to the likes of you!"

"No. You've already lost."

Orochimaru licked the blood from the corner of his mouth and said coolly,

"Chiyo is being stalled by my student and Shinnosuke. Ebizō flanked Konoha from the rear, only to end up pinned himself. And you? You're stuck with me. You think I'm Konoha's only commander?"

Rasa's expression darkened. A tide of gold sand surged up between him and Orochimaru, blocking the view. When the sand fell, Rasa had vanished.

Orochimaru's snake-like eyes swept coldly in Chiyo's direction.

Sensing his gaze, Chiyo turned—and their eyes met.

It was clear.

Rasa had failed.

Too young… still too young…

This battle was over.

Sunagakure had lost.

...

Boom! Boom! Boom!

One after another, signal flares shot into the sky—marking the retreat.

The Sunagakure forces, already on the verge of collapse, began to fall back in an organized retreat.

Chiyo let out a long sigh.

Compared to the might of Konoha, Sunagakure was still too weak. Their foundation was thin. These barren lands produced few quality ninja.

There was no way Sunagakure could keep pressing the attack.

Damn it… If only their logistics had been double, she could've held Konoha back at the River Country border.

But reality was cruel.

She was frustrated—but powerless to change anything. She glanced at Kiyosuke. There was no more chance to kill him now. In another ten years, Konoha would have yet another powerhouse on par with White Fang.

Originally… Sasori could have led the village to prosperity. But now…

Thinking of this, her anger flared again.

Damn you, White Fang—you bastard with no balls!

"…"

[Kakashi silently endured the insult.]

...

The Sunagakure forces retreated. Chiyo followed.

Orochimaru approached Kiyosuke and Shinnosuke.

"Well done. You stalled a former elder and kept her from commanding the battlefield. Good work. When we get back, report the full details of this fight."

He turned to Shinnosuke. "Have your men stand down. Don't chase them."

"Yes, sir."

"Count the casualties."

"Yes, sir."

This battle came and went quickly—but the losses were heavy. Both sides had fought to the death.

Konoha's forces withdrew back to their camp. They'd lost about fifteen percent of their troops—acceptable by Orochimaru's standards, given that this was a head-on clash.

"Send a team to monitor the Sunagakure forces from a distance," he ordered. "If we confirm their next move early, we can strike first—maybe even rout them completely."

Only by hitting Sunagakure where it hurt would they stay down. Orochimaru knew the reprieve wouldn't last forever, but as long as they stayed quiet for the rest of this war, that was enough.

"Bring me the three members of Shinku's squad."

Not long after, Kiyosuke and his teammates arrived at the command tent.

Orochimaru got straight to the point.

"Kirigakure has launched a surprise attack. The battle in the Land of Water is escalating. Konoha needs reinforcements. Kiyosuke—your abilities have been exposed. You're going to the Land of Water."

"…" Kiyosuke blinked.

"But that place is full of Water Style ninja! My biggest advantage won't work there!"

"Then you're no different from any ordinary ninja," Orochimaru replied coldly. "Stop relying so much on your special ability. Go. I'll assign a reliable temporary leader to take care of your squad."

He'd made up his mind. His student needed this trial by fire.

Kiyosuke's elementalization would be severely restricted by Water Style jutsu—but it wouldn't kill him.

And besides, Orochimaru didn't believe someone like Kiyosuke would die so easily.

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