Chapter 69: Hatake Sakumo!!

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Hatake Sakumo!!

Such a terrifying ninja tool, if used elsewhere... like assassination...

For a moment, numerous terrifying applications of this tool flashed through Tsunade’s mind.

"Hiss... this is incredible."

Just from a casual thought, Tsunade couldn’t help but gasp in shock. This ninja tool was far too terrifying. The only question was whether it had limitations like the Flying Thunder God Technique.

"What do we do next? Should we regroup with Orochimaru and the others first?"

After watching all the Uchiha ninja take their positions, Tsunade reached out and tapped Uchiha Xuan on the back, asking in a low voice. ℴ

"Next... naturally, we announce the arrival of my Uchiha clan."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Xuan smiled faintly, his gaze seeming to pierce through hundreds of miles, landing directly on the location of the Hidden Sand forces.

....

The scent of blood permeated the air, with scattered ninja tools littering the entire battlefield.

Corpse after corpse lay fallen on the sandy ground, while a giant serpent flicked its tongue, its icy eyes fixed on several puppets ahead.

Perched atop the serpent’s head, Orochimaru—his waist wrapped in bandages, his face dark and bruised—stared intently at an elderly woman radiating murderous intent before him.

"Orochimaru, give up. In your current state, you stand no chance against me. The poison in your body has already seeped deep into your organs. If you don’t receive treatment soon, you’ll be crippled for life.

Orochimaru, with your abilities, it would be a shame for you to die by my poison. Face reality, Orochimaru—Konohagakure has lost."

Chiyo extended her hand, several chakra threads connecting her fingers to a few puppets.

With just a slight flick of her finger, one puppet’s arm transformed into a blade, spinning like a fan and shredding the approaching swarm of snakes.

"Hah, whether Konohagakure has lost or not isn’t for an old hag like you to decide."

Orochimaru bit his thumb, his expression cold as he glared at Chiyo.

"Ninja Art: Myriad Snake Array!"

"Hmph, such a technique is useless against me. Since you remain so stubborn, I’ll have no choice but to deliver your corpse to Sarutobi Hiruzen. Ninja Art: Three Treasures Suction Collapse!"

Seeing Orochimaru attack again, Chiyo snorted and flicked her fingers, sending three puppets shooting forward to form a triangular formation.

In an instant, a violent whirlwind erupted from the three puppets, sucking in all the snakes Orochimaru had summoned.

As the wind blades swirled, the entire snake swarm was instantly sliced into pieces of varying sizes, scattering across the ground.

"Orochimaru, it seems you’ll have to fend for yourself."

With the emergence of the storm, the giant serpent beneath Orochimaru’s feet narrowed its eyes and promptly dispelled the summoning on its own.

A puff of white smoke dissipated, leaving Orochimaru standing on the ground, his expression grim.

"Cough!"

A light cough, and a pool of black blood was spat onto the ground before him.

"Tsk, what a pathetic sight. Still, at least that fool didn’t get to see me like this."

Wiping the black blood from the corner of his mouth, Orochimaru stood up and calmly faced the raging tornado bearing down on him. In his current state, it would be difficult for him to perform any defensive ninjutsu capable of withstanding this storm.

"Rest in peace, Orochimaru."

Chiyo’s expression remained icy as she continued to control her puppets.

"Hatake Style: Falling Cherry Blossom Snow."

However, at that moment, a detached voice suddenly rang in the ears of both. In the next instant, a flash of blade light flickered, and the chakra threads connecting Chiyo’s fingertips to her puppets were instantly severed.

With the threads cut, the raging tornado they maintained instantly dissipated, sending the three puppets flying.

As the storm cleared, a white-haired figure stood tall, holding a short blade, blocking the way in front of Hatake Sakumo.

"You arrived just in time, Sakumo-senpai."

Looking at the figure shielding him, Orochimaru curled the corner of his lips and spoke in a hoarse voice.

But the next moment, Orochimaru’s pupils abruptly contracted because...

『The Uchiha clan emblem??!! Sakumo-senpai?? Joined the Uchiha clan?! How could the old man allow such a thing to happen!?』

Since Hatake Sakumo had his back to Orochimaru, Orochimaru could clearly see the clan emblem on Sakumo’s back. That emblem was unmistakable to anyone from Konohagakure.

Immediately, Orochimaru disrupted the chakra within his body, but the surroundings remained unchanged.

『Not a Genjutsu...』

"Orochimaru, it seems you’re in quite a sorry state."

While confirming whether he was under a Genjutsu, a familiar voice sounded from the sky behind him. Orochimaru looked up to see a massive, entirely orange-red dragon circling above his head.

And the source of that familiar voice came from atop the dragon’s head.

"Tsunade.... and this... dragon.."

Orochimaru’s pupils trembled. As a summoner of the Ryūchi Cave, he knew very well what a dragon was. Without a doubt, this enormous Summoning Beast before him bore an extremely close resemblance to the legendary wyvern.

For a moment, Orochimaru felt his worldview violently shaken, followed by intense excitement.

『A dragon..』

Whoosh!

Tsunade appeared beside Orochimaru. Seeing her friend’s face, filled with excitement yet darkened and pale, Tsunade frowned deeply and immediately pressed her hand against Orochimaru’s chest.

"The poison has already seeped into your organs! Immediate surgery is needed to extract the venom. Orochimaru, it seems you’ll have to leave this battle early. Gardevoir, please take him and me to the nearest medical tent in Konohagakure."

With just a simple examination, Tsunade quickly confirmed Orochimaru’s condition, then looked up and called out to the dragon in the sky.

On Charizard’s back, Gardevoir nodded gently. A flash of blue light appeared before her eyes, and she vanished from Charizard’s back, reappearing beside Tsunade and Orochimaru.

Psychic energy enveloped the two, and they instantly disappeared from the battlefield.

Meanwhile.

Chiyo stared at the suddenly appearing Hatake Sakumo, her face twisted with ferocity and agony.

Her aged eyes were now blood-red, her terrifying killing intent almost materializing into substance.

It was this person before her... who had killed her son and daughter-in-law, leaving her poor grandson to lose his parents’ companionship at such a young age!!

"Hatake..... Sakumo!!"

Chiyo let out a furious roar, flicking her arm to unfurl a scroll. In the next moment, ten puppets clad in white robes were instantly Summoned forth by Chiyo.

White Secret Technique: Chikamatsu Ten-Man Group!!