Sunagakure Frontline Base—Command Headquarters.
Most of the Sand Village's frontline command staff had gathered here.
Ebizo looked at Chiyo, who sat at the head seat, with concern.
At this moment, Chiyo clutched the report in her hands tightly. Her eyes were bloodshot, and faint tear marks still lingered on her face—she had clearly just been crying.
There was only a single line written in the report:
The Sand elite squad led by Morita Hideki and Ikeda Ryo encountered the Konoha Crimson Demon Yoru—annihilated.
Chiyo's mind was filled with memories of Ikeda Ryo.
That puppet prodigy who admired her so deeply…
Whenever he stood before her, his face always carried that slightly fanatical smile.
She still remembered the first time she met him—
That boy, whose face was filled with unmistakable talent, had immediately caught her attention.
And afterward, the astonishing puppet mastery talent Ikeda Ryo displayed had delighted her even more.
Chiyo had always believed—
He was a genius no less than herself!
Given enough time, he might have even become a white-level puppet master like her!
That was why she had always taken care of him.
Whenever she had the time, she would personally guide him in puppet techniques.
And Ikeda Ryo had never let her down.
At such a young age, he had already reached the level of a puppet master.
Every time Chiyo looked at him—so full of spirit and confidence—she felt a sense of pride.
Even after becoming a renowned powerhouse—
His respect for her had not diminished in the slightest.
If anything, it had only grown deeper.
Every time she guided him, Ikeda Ryo would be overjoyed.
And every time she left—
There would always be a trace of reluctance on his face.
Though he had never formally become her disciple—
In Chiyo's heart—
He had long since been her student.
Their bond ran deep.
To her—
He was no different from a son!
And now—
That child—
Had been killed by that bastard!
Even his body had been completely destroyed!
Yes—
Although Yoru had brought back the heads of Morita Hideki and Ikeda Ryo—
Their bodies had been shattered by the explosive force of the Crimson Heaven Sword, reduced to fragments and scattered across the battlefield.
Chiyo's eyes filled with intense hatred and killing intent!
"Konoha Crimson Demon… Yoru!"
She spoke his name word by word.
A terrifying killing aura erupted from her body!
"I will kill you!"
Driven by hatred, her voice even carried a sharp, piercing shriek.
As she spoke, she suddenly stood up, attempting to rush out of the tent—
She no longer cared about her position as commander!
She wanted to personally seek revenge against Yoru!
"Sister! Calm down!"
"Chiyo-sama! You mustn't!"
"Commander-sama! Please, you must remain calm!"
The Sand ninjas around her immediately panicked.
Ebizo rushed forward and grabbed Chiyo tightly, preventing her from charging out.
"Let go! That bastard killed Ikeda Ryo! I'm going to tear him to pieces!"
Chiyo struggled fiercely.
Though she was a puppet master, as a white-level puppet master, even Ebizo alone couldn't restrain her.
Ebizo quickly signaled to the others.
Several peak Jonin-level Sand ninjas stepped forward to help—
Only then were they able to hold her back.
After being restrained like this for a moment, Chiyo gradually regained some clarity.
Panting heavily, she forcefully shook off those restraining her.
Seeing that her eyes had regained their clarity, everyone finally let out a sigh of relief.
They had truly been frightened just now.
If Chiyo, as the supreme commander, had gone alone to seek revenge against Yoru—
The entire Sand base would have fallen into chaos!
And if the Kazekage and the elders held them accountable—
None of them could bear the responsibility!
More importantly—
None of them could guarantee that even Chiyo—
A white-level puppet master—
Would be able to defeat that terrifying Konoha killing god—
The Crimson Demon Yoru!
If even Chiyo were to fall to him—
Then the situation would be beyond salvage.
The war would effectively be over.
With the commander slain—
What was left to fight for?
Deep down, most of the Sand ninjas already believed—
Even their commander might not be a match for that monster.
Chiyo stood there, breathing heavily, her eyes still filled with savage fury.
But the Sand ninjas in the tent all relaxed slightly.
It didn't matter how angry she got—
As long as she didn't go looking for that monster.
That was their only thought.
After a long silence, Chiyo finally spoke in a cold voice:
"Go… bring Asakura Kira here."
The moment those words were spoken—
The expressions of everyone in the tent changed drastically.
Sunagakure, though one of the Five Great Ninja Villages—
Aside from the Third Kazekage and the Jinchuriki—
Only had two true top-tier powerhouses.
One was Chiyo—
The only white-level puppet master of the Sand Village.
The other—
Was Asakura Kira.
A terrifying ninja proficient in both Wind Release and Earth Release chakra nature transformations.
However—
Chiyo and Asakura Kira had never gotten along.
He had arrived with the recent reinforcements.
The Sand Village had already realized—
On the battlefield, their peak combat strength was far inferior to Konoha's.
Thus, they had dispatched Asakura Kira—
Along with two other near-Kage-level experts—
To reinforce the frontlines!
The confidence Chiyo had in forming the elite squad and unleashing them to massacre Konoha teams—
Had come precisely from these reinforcements.
The current Sand Village—
Was no longer afraid of a full-scale confrontation with Konoha!
The messenger ninja froze in place after hearing the order, unsure of what to do.
"Go. Now!"
Chiyo shouted angrily.
The poor ninja trembled violently and rushed out of the tent in panic.
…
Footsteps soon echoed.
A middle-aged man wearing the Sand Village headscarf entered the tent.
He appeared to be around forty years old, with a strong build, a hooked nose, and a pair of cold, sinister eyes that made one feel as if they were being stared down by a demon.
A super powerhouse of the Sand Village—
Asakura Kira.
Known throughout the ninja world as—
"The Sand Execution Demon."
"You called for me, Chiyo?"
His voice was hoarse, sending chills down one's spine.
If the Sand ninjas felt reverence toward Chiyo—
Then toward this man—
They felt only fear.
Deep, instinctive fear.
To everyone in the ninja world—
This man was a demon.
"Take a look."
Chiyo cast him a look of disdain.
She had always despised this ghost-like man.
She threw the report in her hand toward him.
Asakura Kira casually caught it and read through it—
Then let out a chilling laugh.
"Heh… heh… heh…"
His laughter sounded like that of a ghoul.
Several Sand ninjas felt as though they had been plunged into an ice cave, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
"No wonder you called me here… So that idiot Ikeda Ryo is dead."
Asakura Kira said dismissively.
"Bastard!"
Chiyo slammed her hand on the table and stood up, fury blazing in her eyes as she glared at him.
"Asakura Kira! Watch your tone! The person before you is the Sand Village's commander!"
Ebizo roared angrily from the side.
Asakura Kira glanced at him coldly—
Then suddenly burst into laughter.
"Heh… heh… heh… Fine."
"Konoha Crimson Demon, is it?"
"I'll go bring back his head."
He spoke casually, as if it were nothing.
As an old-generation Kage-level powerhouse—
He had no regard for someone like Yoru.
A mere brat—
Was not worth his attention.
Konoha Crimson Demon?
Asakura Kira sneered inwardly.
He despised that title.
"Demon"—
Was a title above "Execution Demon."
Chiyo watched his departing figure with an ugly expression.
The Sand ninjas in the tent finally let out a breath of relief.
That man—
Was simply too terrifying.
However—
Many of them couldn't help but feel a hint of excitement.
That Konoha Crimson Demon—
Was definitely going to die now!
After all—
Compared to him—
The Sand Execution Demon—
Was far more terrifying.
At least—
That's what they believed.
And Chiyo and Ebizo—
Thought the same.
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