Compared to the tense Konoha ninja, Anya remained completely composed inside. She was the only one who truly understood the real strengths and weaknesses of both sides, so it was easy for her to predict the outcome of this battle—Sunagakure was destined to lose.
From the start, Sunagakure had only planned a feint attack, with its best-imagined result being the capture of Mount Hakuto. Yet the unexpected ease of victory made Rasa reckless and eager for more than he could handle. He couldn't resist the lure, falling into the same trap as Tsunade—believing she could recklessly strike at the enemy's stronghold without consequence.
After all, Sunagakure hadn't advanced this far due to its own strength, but because Konoha's interior had been left unguarded. Once the stronghold was destroyed, the many Konoha ninja fighting on the frontlines would certainly retaliate, bringing destruction upon Sunagakure itself. At that point, Sunagakure would also face the threat of total annihilation. This clearly showed that Rasa was solely focused on earning credit in the moment, failing to think like a Kage. He had already lost the favor of Heaven.
Secondly, since Konoha was defending their homeland, they fragmented the overwhelming advantage of the Puppet Army. Familiar with the terrain, they held the advantage of Earth.
Lastly, fighting for their home, the Konoha ninja would give everything they had, even their last breath. This was the element of Man.
The Three Pillars of Victory—heaven, earth, and human will—were all denied to Rasa. Unless he could wield power beyond even the strongest Kage-level warriors, defeat was inevitable.
At the forefront, the Hyuga Clan unleashed their Gentle Fist techniques, supported by surrounding ninja. The so-called Puppet Army could not advance an inch. Kunai, shuriken, throwing stars, poison needles—all were completely blocked without achieving any effect.
This outcome was undoubtedly a cold bucket of water poured over Rasa's rising excitement. Clenching his teeth, he watched bitterly until finally his expression hardened. Coldly, he said, "Lady Chiyo, begin now."
Chiyo hesitated slightly before replying, "Begin now? The puppets haven't reached optimal positions yet."
"I am the Kazekage's appointed commander. Follow orders," Rasa's eyes revealed a trace of bloodshot madness.
Though displeased, Chiyo suppressed her annoyance, driven by the desire for revenge. While White Fang's tomb still stood despite his death, no one had even found the remains of Sasori's parents.
Chiyo's hands moved rapidly through hand seals. As the seals changed, visible chakra threads entered the heads of each puppet, weaving into their bodies.
The puppeteers under Chiyo's command also began their actions. They halted their attacks, completed the seals, then clasped their hands together: "Detonate... initiation."
"Boom! Boom!"
A tremendous roaring sound reverberated through the air, echoing into the skies above.
If seeing countless puppets charging together was shocking and spectacular, witnessing them exploding at the village gates was beyond breathtaking—it was truly tragic. And this was only part of the puppet force.
The frontline of the Hyuga Clan bore the brunt. Their famed Absolute Defense—the Rotation—shattered under sheer explosive force. Though a few quick-witted ones managed to escape, most had already lost their lives. Behind them, the buildings near Konoha's main gate were buried beneath the explosion, utterly annihilated.
A dense cloud of dust enveloped everything, concealing the movements of Sunagakure behind it.
"What?" Tsunade gritted her teeth. "Damn it, they actually used such an extreme method to break through the gates. We don't have time to save anyone."
Anya's voice turned serious. "Their goal isn't just to break through the gates. Destroying so many puppets was merely the setup for their real attack."
Before Tsunade could react, Hiashi Hyuga had already detected something wrong with his Byakugan.
"Watch out—they're using poison."
Under his Byakugan observation, the dust kicked up by the puppets' self-destruction was no longer just an obstacle. Behind this massive cloud, smoke-like substances began seeping from the wreckage. At the rear, numerous Suna ninja started forming seals, preparing to release a technique.
Drawing on years of experience, Hiashi quickly recognized the jutsu they were forming—it was Wind Release.
"There's poison inside the puppets," Hiashi shouted. "The Suna ninja at the back are using Wind Release to blow the toxin into the village. They want to wipe us off the map."
After hearing his explanation, everyone understood. At first glance, the puppets' explosion seemed aimed at breaking Konoha's gates, but in reality, it was meant to release toxins hidden within their bodies. The dust acted as a carrier, dispersing the poison into the air. Once the Wind Release struck, there was no doubt that deadly toxins would flood into Konoha. At that point, Konoha's fate would be clear to all...
Tsunade shivered involuntarily. Suna's cruel plan was truly horrifying.
Anya sighed inwardly. Sasori hadn't hidden anything while crafting these poisoned puppets. He had even said that if she had asked him to, he would have abandoned his revenge against Konoha. But Anya remained silent.
Sasori's parents, after all, had been killed by her Master. Now that the Master was gone, it was understandable from Sasori's perspective that he would blame Konoha. Besides, Sasori never imagined his puppets would be used to this extent—Rasa and Chiyo bringing them directly into Konoha's heartland.
Once the toxin spread, considering Sasori's mastery over poisons, Konoha's future would be overshadowed by this mist. Even if the village was rebuilt, the main battlefield would become a barren wasteland, even a dead zone.
Tsunade trembled with fury, her hands icy cold as she bellowed, "Wind Release specialists, move forward immediately! Stop the poison mist from entering the village at all costs!"
A large group of Konoha ninja rushed ahead, unleashing Wind Release techniques toward the dust. Unfortunately, Konoha had very few shinobi with Wind Nature Chakra, far fewer than the enemy. Meanwhile, the Suna ninja behind the dust had already completed their seals. The Wind Release jutsu struck.
Fueled by the raging wind merging with the dust, the poison transformed into a monstrous beast with a gaping bloodstained maw, covering the sky with a purple haze. In an instant, Konoha was swallowed by a sea of violet mist. Every ninja who witnessed the scene felt a deep sense of despair.
Some whispered in anguish, "We're finished."
Just as despair began spreading among the Konoha ninja, dark clouds suddenly appeared in the sky—thick and dense. More and more swarmed in, blotting out the heavens and sweeping across the battlefield like a rampant force. Moving at incredible speed, they surged toward the area where the toxin was spreading. In an instant, black and purple mists clashed violently.
The swarms of dark clouds quickly blocked the poison mist's advance. Above the battlefield, black and purple torrents intertwined. Where the purple mist raged like frenzied wild beasts, the dark clouds formed a vast, organized net—an impenetrable barrier resisting wave after wave of the purple fog's assault.
"It's insects," Hiashi Hyuga observed, activating his Byakugan. Relief washed over him. "The Aburame Clan has arrived. With them here, we should be fine."
Tsunade, standing behind him, also eased her tension and shouted orders: "All Konoha ninja, reinforce the defenses again. Take your antidote pills in advance."
"Yes!"
Reinvigorated, the Konoha ninja responded in unison, forming hand seals: [Earth Release—Multiple Earthen Ramparts!]
A series of towering earthen walls surged up from the ground, blocking the line of sight between the two sides. Only the swirling black and purple mists remained visible, clashing high above...
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