Makima descended silently, moving toward a junction where four Suna sensor ninja were attempting to regroup. She wasn't interested in a quick kill; she was interested in psychological demoralization.
She allowed one of them to spot her.
"There! A Konoha scout! Get her!" the sensor ninja yelled.
Makima didn't move. She merely smiled, a cold, empty expression.
"A scout?" Makima questioned, her voice carrying a deep, authoritative quality. "No. I am the one who plays with the mice before the trap closes."
She decided to have some fun with the desperate enemy. She aimed two quick, non-lethal jutsu.
SUITON: MIZUAME NADESHI (Water Release: Sticking Water Field).
She expelled a small amount of high-density water onto the rock, turning the ground into a thin, sticky morass. The leader tried to pivot and found his feet glued fast. He looked down in confusion.
Next, she used a minor wind jutsu.
FŪTON: KAZETAMA (Wind Release: Air Spheres).
Makima created two small, powerful gusts of wind that didn't slice, but simply buffeted the two flanking ninja, causing them to spin in place like confused tops. They flailed wildly, unable to maintain balance or aim their weapons. Makima watched their undignified struggle with the detached fascination of a child studying insects.
"Such inefficient movements," she commented, before dismissing the wind. The two dizzy ninja stumbled into the one stuck to the floor.
Makima leaned in, her smile a chilling sliver of menace. "You are now all trapped. Do you feel the oppression? It is merely a fraction of the control I command."
She began her lie. "You will tell your superiors that the Konoha counter-force is two battalions strong and is setting up explosive-tag traps every twenty feet. And that your strategist was vaporized by a new type of Senjutsu."
The ninja, dizzy, sticky, and terrified, could only stare at her cold, golden eyes, their minds already broken by the combination of physical humiliation and psychological dread. Makima struck the leader with a precise chakra punch, knocking him out, leaving him alive to carry her lies.
....
The battle had shattered the Suna column, but a strong opponent remained: Suna Jōnin Commander Kaito.
Kaito emerged, furious, realizing his entire command was defeated by a handful of Konoha Genin. He channeled wind chakra into his saber, turning it into a shimmering green blade. He spotted Minato trying to take out the last medic team.
"FŪTON: KAZENOKO (Wind Release: Air Cutter!)"
Kaito unleashed a massive blast of wind, slowing Minato and forcing him to land heavily.
"Minato-kun is pinned! Kushina-san, full support!" Makima's voice commanded.
Kushina responded instantly, sending her clumsy but powerful Chakra Chains sweeping out defensively. Minato, recovering, threw two regular kunai past Kaito's shoulders, creating momentary distractions and forcing Kaito to defend multiple angles.
Kaito leaped over Kushina's chains, dismissing the distraction.
SHUNSHIN!
Minato vanished and reappeared behind Kaito using pure speed, striking fast and hard with a kick. Kaito, a veteran, quickly turned and met the attack with his wind-saber. CLANG! Minato bounced off, but immediately used his immense speed to circle Kaito, creating multiple after-images—a dangerous illusion that forced Kaito to defend every direction simultaneously.
Kaito was struggling against the sheer speed. Then, Makima appeared quietly on a high ledge.
SUITON: SUIRO NO JUTSU (Water Prison Jutsu).
She condensed residual moisture into a small, spherical prison of water around Kaito's legs, immobilizing him.
"The window is two seconds, Minato-kun," Makima commanded, her voice like a steel lash.
Minato didn't hesitate. He surged forward with a final burst of Shunshin. His regular kunai, moving with the finality of a serious executioner, was aimed for the junction of the neck and shoulder. The strike was definitive and final.
Jiraiya, his Sage Mode fading, recalled Gamabunta and descended into the canyon.
Makima stepped forward immediately. "Report: Objective achieved: Decapitation and Disruption. Suna command structure 100% neutralized. Remaining forces routed with disinformation. Konoha casualties: Zero. Minimum Viable Force achieved maximum efficiency. The mission was a success."
Minato walked over to Kushina, helping her up. "We did it," Minato whispered, holding her hand, his face etched with the gravity of his actions.
Kushina squeezed his arm. "Yeah, but next time I'm aiming away from my own ankle. And Minato, I told that guy I was going to be the First Female Hokage!"
Minato managed a tired but genuine smile. "I heard. We have to make sure the village elders agree."
Makima watched the exchange, her expression unchanged. "Your chain usage remains highly unstable, Kushina-san, leading to self-incapacitation. Your use of Shunshin overextension to escape the wind saber was technically proficient, Minato-kun, but you expended unnecessary chakra by moving three times when a single, precise feint would have sufficed."
Jiraiya put a hand on her shoulder. "They adapted, Makima. They won. That's what matters."
"No, Sensei," Makima replied, her gaze fixed on the body of Commander Kaito. "I devised the plan. You provided the distraction. They executed the required violence. I am simply analyzing the flaws in the execution to ensure future operations are conducted with greater control."