Konoha’s White Fang Shines

Chapter 18: A Narrow Escape

The battle raged on as three puppets formed a triangular formation, generating immense suction that momentarily slowed Sakumo Hatake's movements. This brief pause allowed Chiyo to seize an opportunity—a thin iron wire swept low toward Sakumo's legs.

Sakumo leaped high, avoiding both the vacuum and the encroaching wire. However, no sooner had he evaded than a puppet wielding dual blades rushed in, slashing at him with relentless speed. Each missed strike was followed by another, each attack as swift and sharp as the last.

While Sakumo fended off the puppet, another with crushing fists joined the fray, forcing him to dodge its heavy strikes. The three vacuum-generating puppets soon reentered the fight, closing in to form a suffocating encirclement.

Realizing the danger of being surrounded, Sakumo flashed toward the three vacuum puppets, his gleaming blade slicing through the air. In an instant, the three were reduced to a heap of shattered wood and broken mechanisms.

"That blade is just as terrifying as ever," Chiyo muttered, her chest tightening as she watched Sakumo's devastating strikes.

But Sakumo's skillful maneuvers only fueled Chiyo's determination. Her hands moved with greater urgency, directing her remaining puppets to extend sharp, needle-like appendages that swarmed toward Sakumo like a dense thicket of brambles. His movement space shrank as he dodged their assault, each step becoming more precarious.

Chiyo's puppets launched explosives, and the battlefield erupted in flashes of light and bursts of flame. Sakumo, however, disappeared underground, evading the explosions and waiting for an opportunity to destroy another puppet. Yet Chiyo was one step ahead—each time Sakumo approached, her puppets disassembled and scattered, only to reassemble a safe distance away.

The battle was a grueling stalemate until an unexpected voice broke the tension.

"Sister, you really came to face the White Fang?"

It was Ebizō, head wrapped in bandages and bearing a weary expression, who arrived on the scene.

"You're just in time, little brother," Chiyo called out. "Help me finish him off once and for all!"

"Is this backup?" Sakumo's eyes narrowed. "It seems the Sand Village has decided to make their intentions clear."

The arrival of an old rival only sharpened Sakumo's resolve. His blade slashed with renewed speed and power.

"Go home, sister!" Ebizō pleaded, moving to restrain Chiyo. "You've fought the White Fang so many times before. Why resort to such underhanded methods now?"

As Sakumo's strikes grew more intense, Ebizō grabbed hold of Chiyo, attempting to drag her away.

"Let go of me, you fool! I've worked too hard for this! If I don't take revenge now, then when?" Chiyo shouted, her face flushed with rage as she struggled against her brother's grip.

Ebizō clung tighter, reinforcing his hold with chakra to prevent her from breaking free. He turned toward Sakumo and called out, "White Fang, she'll retreat! Just give us a moment!"

"She can leave," Sakumo said coldly, "but only after handing over the antidote."

"The antidote? What antidote? Sister, what have you done?" Ebizō demanded, his face etched with confusion.

Chiyo's brief distraction gave her just enough leverage to elbow Ebizō in the ribs, causing him to stagger back.

"You're such a foolish little brother," she sneered. "Do you think any of Konoha's medics can counter my poisons? Not even Tsunade could neutralize this one! Without the antidote, your men will rot to death in two hours."

"Sister! Do you realize what you've done?" Ebizō shouted, clutching his ribs.

Before Chiyo could retort, the arrival of Sand Village reinforcements complicated matters. Dozens of ninja swarmed the area, surrounding Sakumo.

"Why are you all here?" Chiyo barked, visibly annoyed. "I told you to stay at camp!"

"Ebizō-sama told us to come," one of the reinforcements explained sheepishly.

"I'm teaching him a lesson! Now leave before you make things worse!" Chiyo roared, raising a fist as if to strike Ebizō again.

Ebizō quickly intervened, his voice trembling with urgency. "Sister, enough! If we don't wrap this up now, the other villages will notice. Do you want this to spiral into chaos?"

Chiyo's fury simmered, but her resolve remained firm. "I'll give him the antidote—but this isn't over!"

Chiyo threw a small vial toward Sakumo, who caught it deftly.

"This will save your man," Chiyo said tersely. "Believe it or don't—it's up to you. Sand forces, withdraw!"

Sakumo's sharp eyes scanned the vial before pocketing it. He watched silently as the Sand forces retreated, Chiyo muttering venomously under her breath while Ebizō tried to placate her.

Back at the Konoha camp, Sakumo handed the antidote to the poisoned ninja, who ingested it without hesitation. The team observed closely, relieved to see the symptoms gradually recede.

Satisfied with the outcome, Sakumo dismissed his team to rest while he returned to his tent. There, a small letter awaited him, delivered by Pakkun, the trusted ninja hound.

Opening it, Sakumo found a note from his son, Kakashi.

"So, he wants to graduate early?" Sakumo murmured with a fond smile. "If that's his wish, I won't stop him."

Sakumo penned a reply, sealed the letter, and handed it back to Pakkun. "Take this to Kakashi. If you're tired, you can rest here for the night."

Pakkun wagged his short tail. "No need, I can make it back by morning. Kakashi will summon me as soon as he receives it."

Sakumo nodded in appreciation as Pakkun vanished in a puff of smoke. Alone once more, he reflected on the night's events and the many battles still to come. The war had only just begun, but for now, the Hatake family remained steadfast, their resolve unshaken.

End of Chapter 18