Naruto: Wooing Tsunade from Day One!

These two were Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law.

Although their puppet skills had not yet reached Chiyo's level, together they commanded ten puppets. These were all modeled after The Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets but were of lower quality. However, this did not prevent them from being elite Jōnin.

The ten white puppets advanced on the Konoha ninja with a "clickety-click" sound. In just one round, two Konoha ninja were beheaded, and three others were seriously injured.

Facing the double-bladed puppet attacking him, Sakumo didn't retreat. Instead, he advanced. Dodging the strike, he moved behind the puppet and severed its chakra line with a single slash. The white puppet lost control and crashed to the ground.

"You underestimate me too."

Chiyo's son's fingers danced, and the double-bladed puppet crawled back up.

"Really tough," Sakumo muttered, frowning as he glanced at the Konoha ninja still fighting desperately. More and more Suna ninja were gathering, and the longer the battle dragged on, the more unfavorable their situation would become. If they didn't carve out a path, none of them would make it out alive.

Thinking of this, Sakumo no longer hesitated.

"Gate of Pain, open."

Green chakra began to leak from Sakumo's body, enveloping him entirely. Even the light on his short sword turned green. He felt the pain of his muscles tearing and the pressure on his bones intensifying.

"Take this opportunity and hurry up and go!"

"Kenjutsu: Thunder Dragon!"

With immense chakra and blistering speed, Sakumo charged forward. Short sword in hand, he transformed into a green chakra Thunder Dragon. The attack was not only devastatingly lethal but also carried an additional paralyzing effect.

The Thunder Dragon roared through the battlefield, sweeping away every Suna ninja in its path and clearing a route for the Konoha ninja.

"What kind of power is this?"

Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law froze in shock. Their puppets faltered, slowing by several beats. The Konoha ninja seized the opportunity to push back the Suna ninja in front of them and quickly retreat.

In just a few leaps, they disappeared from Sakumo's sight.

"No more playing with you guys."

Sakumo had not trained the Eight Inner Gates for long, and sustaining them for extended periods severely harmed his body. He released the Gate of Pain and activated the Flying Thunder God Technique, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

"Chase after him!"

The supplies had been destroyed, and if the Konoha ninja escaped again, no one would dare face Chiyo's wrath upon her return. The young couple took the lead in pursuit, with the Suna ninja close behind.

Sakumo caught up with the Konoha team and rejoined the two wounded men. Without stopping, they pressed on toward the Land of Rain.

"Lord Sakumo, the Suna ninja are catching up," reported a Hyūga Clan ninja.

Carrying the wounded had slowed their pace, and the Hyūga's Byakugan already detected the Suna advance guard approaching from behind.

"How many are there?"

"Ten, led by the puppet master couple from earlier."

The Hyūga's eyes were sharp, able to discern details even at such a distance.

"Leave some people behind and finish this quickly. The rest will continue the retreat with the wounded," Sakumo ordered decisively, coming to a stop.

Eight uninjured Konoha ninja remained with Sakumo while the others continued their retreat toward the Land of Rain, carrying the wounded.

"I'll take care of the puppet masters. You deal with the others."

Sakumo knew that if the puppet master couple fought together, no one else could stop them.

"Yes, Lord Sakumo," the eight Konoha ninja responded in unison.

The nine of them concealed themselves, quietly waiting for the Suna ninja to arrive.

The Suna team also had a skilled sensor ninja. As they neared the forest, their pace slowed significantly, and their vigilance increased.

The moment the ambush began, the Konoha ninja leapt from the trees. However, their blades were thwarted by defensive Ninjutsu the Suna ninja had prepared in advance. Even Sakumo's sword strike was blocked by a white puppet.

"Is this the best you Konoha ninjas can do?" Chiyo's son said with disdain, his short, flamboyant red hair gleaming in the light.

"You're proud of using poison?" a Konoha ninja sneered in reply.

"You're looking for death."

The battle resumed.

Sakumo faced ten puppets alone, dodging their attacks flawlessly but struggling to get close for the time being. The other Konoha ninja clashed fiercely with the Suna ninja, their strength appearing evenly matched.

As the advance guard, the Suna ninja who managed to catch up were no weaklings. Once again, Sakumo drove their puppets back, leaving the puppet master couple embarrassed.

"Kawakaze Hatake's brother is truly as good as his reputation," Chiyo's son remarked.

It was intended as a compliment, but it didn't sound that way to Sakumo's ears. Brat, why aren't you calling my name instead?

Raising his hand, Sakumo unleashed a barrage of blades. Some were blocked by the puppets, but a few slipped through, forcing the couple to twist and dodge. Sakumo's mouth curled into a sneer—that was his moment.

Just as Sakumo disappeared from their sight, they felt a bone-chilling blade at their backs. Chiyo's son reacted quickly, pulling his wife toward him as Sakumo's blade pierced through his chest.

"Go, we're no match for him…"

Blood stained every word he spoke as he used the last of his strength to push his wife away.

With eyes full of anguish he thought: Sasori, your father can't come back to be with you anymore.

But Sakumo wasn't about to let this opportunity slip. Drawing his sword, he charged forward again.

The woman, however, unleashed something unexpected. A chilling scream of grief erupted from her, and an astonishing surge of chakra exploded outward.

Ten puppets rose, moving with deadly precision.

In her extreme sorrow and rage, she had managed to mimic Chiyo's legendary technique—controlling each puppet with a single chakra thread.

"I will make you die with my husband!"

One puppet shielded her from Sakumo's attack, while the remaining nine swarmed him from all sides.

When a woman goes mad, it's truly terrifying. At such close range Sakumo's sharp eyes immediately spotted the Explosive Tags attached to several of the puppets. Judging by the number, the blast would leave no escape.

Without hesitation, Sakumo activated the Flying Thunder God Technique and leapt away.

A thunderous explosion followed.

"Ahhh…"

As the smoke cleared, the woman sat kneeling on the ground, cradling the torn body of her husband. Blood poured from her, and her puppets had been utterly destroyed. Her blank, hollow eyes told Sakumo that she was no longer able to fight.

The remaining Konoha ninja quickly eliminated the remaining Suna forces. Two of the Suna ninja tried to pull the woman to safety, but she did not react. She simply sat there, crying softly, seemingly broken.

Unable to persuade her, the two Suna ninja turned and fled under the relentless pursuit of the Konoha troops.

"I'll send you to join your husband," Sakumo said softly, stepping toward the woman. His eyes betrayed a trace of emotion, but his arm, steady and resolute, brought the blade to her neck.

At that moment, her expression cleared. The sobbing ceased, and she murmured quietly, clutching a severed limb in her arms.

"Wait for me. I'll be with you soon."

The blade flashed. Blood spattered as her body fell back, her eyes closed, a faint smile on her lips.

"Retreat," Sakumo ordered.

He wiped the corner of his eye with his arm, sheathed his blade, and led the Konoha forces away to the now-secured Land of Rain.

Meanwhile, Chiyo returned with her troops to their defensive line.