Handing the Ama No Murakumo, the Kizaru swung towards the battlefield where the Iwagakure and Sunagakure were fighting.
A huge golden slash tore through the sky, ripping apart the desert, creating a massive fissure in the sand.
The fissure, of unknown length, divided the battlefield, separating the ninja forces of Iwagakure and Sunagakure.
A few lucky ones, charging too far ahead, found themselves divided into enemy camps by the fissure cleaved by the Kizaru.
"Cross this line and die!" Maintaining a smirk, the Kizaru proclaimed loudly.
With kunai in hand, a few individuals surrounded a group of lucky ninja from both Iwagakure and Sunagakure, their foreheads beaded with sweat, unsure whether to retreat or stand their ground.
"Kizaru, this is a war between Iwagakure and Sunagakure, unrelated to Konoha." Finally standing up again, Onoki flew back up, staring directly at the Kizaru.
"Konoha is an ally of Sunagakure, and Kizaru is here to support us as per our request." Before Kizaru could speak, Chiyo interjected.
Watching Kizaru standing between himself and Onoki, Chiyo's tense heart relaxed slightly.
Kizaru had arrived, Sunagakure was saved; Kizaru had arrived, and peace was within reach.
Though Konoha's support, for now, was only Kizaru, in Chiyo's eyes, Kizaru alone was worth a thousand troops.
"Ho ho! It would be troublesome if I let you continue fighting, old man!" Dissipating the light sword in his hand, Kizaru tucked his hands into his pockets, looking at Onoki ahead.
"Iwagakure is also an ally of Konoha. Do you intend to meddle in the private grudges between two allied villages?"
Listening to the conversation between the two, Chiyo felt immensely relieved, a slight smirk forming at the corners of her mouth.
Onoki, experiencing this today? He deserved it!
Because of Kizaru's intervention, Chiyo, instantly feeling relieved, also spoke up.
"Onoki, you shameless bastard! Sunagakure will never forget this invasion."
Watching Chiyo displaying false bravado, Onoki felt furious, wanting to order her subordinates to continue the attack.
But looking at Kizaru ahead, Onoki hesitated, fearing the consequences.
"Damn Konoha! Damn bastards! Today's grudge, I'll remember!"
Fuming with impotent rage, unable to stop Kizaru, let alone defeat him, Onoki reluctantly accepted reality.
"Kizaru, for your sake, I'll spare Sunagakure today."
With that, after glaring at Chiyo, Onoki turned and flew towards the camp where most of Iwagakure's forces were stationed.
"Take the wounded, retreat!" Under the gaze of numerous Iwagakure ninja, Onoki suppressed his anger and commanded.
His long-standing rule had granted Onoki immense control over the village. Though many ninja were discontented, none dared to question Tsuchikage's orders.
Watching the orderly retreat of Iwagakure ninja under Onoki's command, the Sunagakure ninja couldn't help but cheer.
While the Sunagakure ninja celebrated, Chiyo's pressure didn't diminish.
Iwagakure had withdrawn, but Kumogakure was still struggling, and Konoha's rescue this time would come at a great cost to Sunagakure.
Understanding this, Chiyo looked towards Kizaru ahead, feeling complex emotions.
Kizaru could single-handedly repel Iwagakure and suppress Sunagakure!
Driving away the dragon might repel the tigers and wolves, but the village would pay a heavy price to feed that dragon.
Yet now, how much could the village offer?
Thinking this, a sense of desolation crept into Chiyo's heart.
Sunagakure had fallen to such a state, truly lamentable!
Unable and unwilling to feel uncomfortable for too long, Chiyo, burdened with the hopes of the village, could only force a smile and walk towards Kizaru.
"Thank you for Konoha's assistance. Sunagakure will remember this." Looking up at Kizaru, Chiyo expressed gratitude.
"In which direction did the invasion from Kumogakure come?" Without preamble, Kizaru asked directly.
"Follow me."
Seeing Kizaru being so straightforward, Chiyo didn't beat around the bush either. She took the initiative to lead Kizaru into the Sunagakure's camp.
Having her subordinates bring out a map of the Land of Wind, Chiyo squatted down and spread out the map.
"Kumogakure invaded us from the coastline. The last information I received indicated thatEbizowas located here, and they found traces of Kumogakure." Pointing to the map while narrating the intelligence, Chiyo explained.
"Konoha's main forces can arrive by tomorrow at the latest. You should return to the village and rest for now!"
Taking note of the location on the map and after giving instructions, Kizaru, his body turning into light, instantly disappeared from the spot.
Because of Kizaru's rescue and his impressive performance just now, many Sunagakure ninjas looked at him with gratitude and admiration.
Facing Kizaru's sudden disappearance, many Sunagakure ninjas who were looking at him showed shock and astonishment.
Noticing the reactions of the Sunagakure ninjas around him, Chiyo couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
"How long has it been since you all forgot about the Third Kazekage and over a thousand elite ninjas from the village, all dying at the hands of Kizaru!"
"Search for the wounded, prepare to retreat!" His expression turning cold, Chiyo issued the order sternly.
"Yes!"
Answering not too coherently, the Sunagakure ninjas around began to disperse, relaying orders to their companions in other directions while searching for the wounded on the battlefield.
Turning into light, Kizaru flew rapidly in the air, quickly crossing the entire Land of Wind and arriving at the location indicated by Chiyo.
Returning to his physical form in the air for a brief moment, Kizaru, using his Observation Haki, locked onto the location of the battlefield.
With an interested smile on his face, Kizaru didn't fly directly to the center of the battlefield but disappeared at the edge instead.
Compared to the front line where Chiyo was, the situation was even worse here in Sunagakure.
Though Ebizo also possessed the strength of elite jounin, his expertise lay in strategy rather than combat.
In this battlefield of Sunagakure, the only Kage-level ninja present was the Jinchuuriki of Shukaku, Bunpuku.
Though Bunpuku got along well with Shukaku, he himself had no ninjutsu skills.
More importantly, Bunpuku, who had been imprisoned by Sunagakure for a long time, had pitifully little combat experience.
Rather than being a Jinchuuriki, Bunpuku was more like a human cage for Shukaku.
Facing the Third Raikage who could go head-to-head with the Eight-Tails and could only use a portion of Shukaku's power, Bunpuku was completely outmatched.
Beaten back by the Third Raikage, Bunpuku was severely injured and almost died, causing Shukaku within Bunpuku to completely lose control.
Though not fully recognizing Bunpuku as a Jinchuuriki as in the original storyline and not yet praising him as resembling the Sage of Six Paths, Shukaku's perception of Bunpuku at this moment was still quite positive.
Sunagakure's sealing technique was mediocre at best. Taking advantage of Bunpuku's loss of consciousness, the rampaging Shukaku directly broke through the seal and unleashed its true form.
Angry at the Third Raikage for severely injuring his Jinchuuriki and at Sunagakure's ninja for forcibly sending Bunpuku onto the battlefield, the rampaging Shukaku launched a indiscriminate attack.
In the desert, Shukaku, occupying advantageous terrain, unleashed its firepower, becoming a merciless reaper of life.
"Damn humans, let this great Shukaku kill all of you! Hahaha!"
Continuously spewing Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet filled with a large amount of chakra, Shukaku waved its claws around, leaving no ninja besides the Third Raikage able to approach the gigantic creature.
Enveloped in Lightning Release chakra, the enraged Third Raikage leaped into the air and charged towards Shukaku.
His right fist hammered down viciously on Shukaku's head, smashing a part of its head into sand. Before the Third Raikage could rejoice, he found the scattered sand converging towards him.
As his head began to reform, Shukaku laughed triumphantly.
"Know the might of Shukaku-sama! Hahaha!" Watching the Third Raikage, whose hands and feet were bound by sand, Shukaku taunted loudly.
"Open up!" Roaring, the Third Raikage, using his immense strength, forcefully broke free from the sand's grip.
Launching himself into the air and jumping backward, the experienced Third Raikage immediately created distance between himself and Shukaku.
For this bastard who injured his Jinchuuriki, Shukaku naturally wouldn't let him go. Opening its mouth, Shukaku unleashed Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet towards the Third Raikage.
Unable to dodge, the Third Raikage was struck by the incredibly fast and powerful Drilling Air Bullet and was sent flying far away, crashing heavily onto the ground.
Kizaru, who had been watching all along, saw this scene and his smile intensified.
How interesting!
He praised silently in his heart, watching the distant Shukaku, when suddenly, a mischievous idea popped into Kizaru's mind.
Biting his thumb, forming hand seals, Kizaru used the Summoning Jutsu to summon Matatabi, who had a summoning contract with him.
With a grilled fish in its mouth, Matatabi, who was having dinner, looked a bit puzzled at Kizaru.
Tilting his head back, it threw the grilled fish into the air, then grew slightly in size, opened its mouth, and swallowed the fish in one gulp.
After doing all this, Matatabi looked back at Kizaru and asked grumpily, "What's up? I was eating!"
Smiling, Kizaru didn't say anything but pointed ahead at Shukaku with his finger.
Following Kizaru's gesture, Matatabi also noticed Shukaku's presence.
"Shukaku!" Seeing his tailed beast companion, Matatabi instinctively became excited. "Is that your enemy?"
Kizaru shook his head and said, "No, I just wanted you to come out and meet your relative."
Knowing this was another of Kizaru's mischievous ideas, Matatabi turned his head and gave him a disdainful look.
"Do you want me to calm it down?" Looking at Kizaru, Matatabi kindly offered.
"If you could, that would be great!" With a cat able to handle his troubles, Kizaru was certainly willing.
Hearing Kizaru's words, Matatabi instantly reverted to his true form, leaped forward, and entered the battlefield.
Following Matatabi, Kizaru's body turned into light and landed on Matatabi's head.
How annoying!
Feeling Kizaru standing on his head, Matatabi complained silently in his mind.
"Roar!" Transferring his discontent to the battlefield, Matatabi roared towards the front.
Seeing the sudden appearance of the new tailed beast, the ninjas on the battlefield who were trying to escape looked even more despairing.
"Everyone, listen to me and stop!" With his hands in his pockets, Kizaru, standing on Matatabi's head, looked down at the ground and spoke out.
With the help of chakra, Kizaru's voice spread far and wide, almost covering the entire battlefield.
The ninjas who heard the voice looked up towards Matatabi's direction and spotted Kizaru's presence.
Konoha's reinforcements have arrived!
Seeing the Third Hokage stabilizing the morale and commanding the retreat, Ei, who was standing on Matatabi's head, felt delighted.
Damn it! Konoha's golden flash has come!
This is the sentiment from the ninjas on the side of Kumogakure who recognized Kizaru, muttered in their hearts.
"Hahaha! Listen to you? Shukaku-sama will kill you!" Having not had any dealings with Kizaru, Shukaku looked towards Matatabi and Kizaru on his head.
"Humans, don't think that I and this stinky..." Before Shukaku could finish his sentence, he felt a sharp pain in his chin.
Immediately after, under immense force, the unstable Shukaku fell backward to the ground.
Kicking Shukaku down, Kizaru, temporarily floating in the air, turned his body into elemental form and flashed to a position above Shukaku's fallen head.
"Terrifying!" Looking down at Shukaku below, Kizaru, rubbing his chin, gave his evaluation.
"Dare... dare to ambush me, Shukaku-sama will kill you!" Filled with anger, Shukaku directly raised his claws and grabbed towards Kizaru in the sky.
Twisting his body and using force, with his right foot glowing, Kizaru kicked Shukaku's lifted claw into a pile of loose sand.
"Kizaru, watch out for its sand!" Hearing Kizaru attacking himself because of Shukaku's scolding, Matatabi felt a little touched and quickly reminded.
"Stinky cat! Traitor!" Similarly hearing Matatabi's reminder, Shukaku angrily cursed.
While scolding Matatabi, Shukaku used Magnet Release to control the sand, grabbing towards Kizaru in the sky. The Second Kazekage created Magnet Release by studying Shukaku.
The sand controlled by Shukaku was numerous and fast, almost instantly enveloping Kizaru.
Seeing this scene,Ebizoshowed a worried expression. If Kizaru were to be killed by Shukaku, Sunagakure would have a hard time explaining to Konoha!
Compared to Ebizo's worries, the ninjas from Kumogakure showed joy and anticipation. If Konoha's golden flash fell here, that would be great.
The Third Raikage, who had already stood up with just a few minor injuries, had a grim expression. He knew that Kizaru had the ability to turn into light and wouldn't be taken out by Shukaku's sand.
Kizaru's arrival meant that Konoha's reinforcements were on their way, and Kumogakure's plan to ambush Sunagakure was on the verge of failure!
That was why the Third Raikage wore such a grim expression.
Controlling the sand to instantly converge, Shukaku, seeing that Kizaru hadn't dodged, laughed triumphantly.
"Hahaha! Die! Die! Damn humans!"
"Oh ho ho! Truly worthy of a tailed beast, as strong as a monster!" Kizaru's voice sounded behind Shukaku, who had just stood up.
The laughter abruptly stopped, and Shukaku quickly looked back.
Just as Shukaku's head had turned halfway back, what awaited him was a foot emitting a golden glow.
Under immense force, Shukaku's head turned back to the front at an even faster speed.
With his massive body carried by his head, Shukaku was kicked over again.
After kicking Shukaku over, Kizaru didn't stop his attack. His right foot shot out a thick laser, accurately hitting Shukaku's chest.
Boom!
A scorching explosion sent shockwaves mixed with sand flying in all directions.
The ninjas around Shukaku could only raise their hands to block their faces, barely defending against the flying sand attacks.
"Pain... so much pain!" Rolling on the ground, Shukaku cried out in pain.
"Shukaku, give up! You're no match for Kizaru!" Seizing the opportunity, Matatabi took a few steps forward, walking to Shukaku's side, and tried to persuade him.
Sitting up from the ground, Shukaku looked at Matatabi, feeling both angry and pained. "Why are you associating with this human? You jerk! We're supposed to be a team!"
"Kizaru is my acknowledged partner!" Looking at Shukaku, Matatabi said very seriously, "If you don't surrender, I'll have to step in too!"
"You..." Shukaku looked at Matatabi in frustration.
Perched on Matatabi's head, Kizaru, with his hands in his pockets, looked at Shukaku and smirked.
"Cough cough!" Putting his hand on his chin, Kizaru cleared his throat and said, "Don't want to continue being sealed? Shukaku! If you haven't had enough trouble yet, become my partner and carry my name, continuing to roam the ninja world!"
This jerk invited me as a summoning beast when it was my turn, but invited Shukaku directly as a partner? And he didn't even change his lines much! This is too much!
Hearing Kizaru's words, Matatabi, feeling a bit jealous, shook its head disapprovingly, almost rolling his eyes.
Facing Kizaru's invitation, Shukaku was clearly stunned for a moment, staring blankly at Matatabi and Kizaru.
Not only Shukaku was stunned, but also the ninjas present. They never expected that someone would invite a fearsome tailed beast to be their partner.
If the other ninjas were just stunned,Ebizo was anxious.
We asked you to help, not to come and snatch the tailed beast!
Who's the real robber here, you or Kumogakure?
Kumogakure isn't as ruthless as you are!