The battlefield, shrouded in purple poison mist, had transformed into a hell on earth.
Under Hatake Sakumo's command, and seeing the fallen bodies of their comrades in the center, the Leaf ninjas could no longer engage in combat. They fled for their lives, desperate to escape the heart of the battlefield.
However, human strength had its limits. While the ninjas of the speed-oriented or stronger clans managed better, the remaining ordinary ninjas had no means to escape the encroaching poison mist.
These ordinary ninjas were mostly Chūnin and Genin. It was already a stroke of luck for them to have learned a few offensive or defensive ninjutsu, let alone possess the ability to escape the poison mist spread by the Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
"Ninja-sama, don't look back. I will do my best to shield you from the poison mist's attacks."
"Please run with all your might!"
The small slugs hanging from the Leaf ninjas' bodies, in unison, uttered the most heartfelt declarations of protection to the Leaf ninjas below them. Then, silently, they expanded their bodies to their limits, enveloping all the Leaf ninjas beneath them.
Orochimaru's expression was as dark as if water could drip from it.
He had analyzed so much, even guessing with considerable accuracy about Chiyo possibly possessing the Salamander Poison. Yet, Orochimaru never expected that Chiyo, to protect her son, would hand over the container holding the sealed poison to him.
This was almost an explicit admission to Orochimaru that all his efforts, even the severe injury to Manda's tail, had been in vain.
Orochimaru felt a burning pain on his face.
With his memories of the future, this was the first time he had been so brutally slapped by raw reality.
"Manda, you're not needed here for now. Return!"
"Yes! Lord, take care!"
Manda, also sensing the threat of the poison mist, nodded somewhat timidly and immediately dispelled the summoning jutsu.
"Everyone, come to me!"
Orochimaru, with Tsunade and Uchiha Fugaku, shunshined to the front of the Leaf ninjas fleeing under the protection of the slugs, and grimly issued the order to gather.
The Leaf ninjas were startled. Upon seeing an unfamiliar person issuing orders, they were almost driven to curse.
Who the hell are you? What are you shouting about? Can't you see we're busy escaping for our lives?
The Uchiha clan members, however, were quick-witted. Seeing their clan head nod in their direction, the thirty-odd surviving clan members immediately ran towards Orochimaru.
Hatake Sakumo, seeing the Leaf ninjas scattering like headless flies, roared in anger.
"Listen to him!"
"Everyone, assemble!"
When the commander gave the order, these ninjas, who had the iron rule of obeying orders deeply ingrained in their bones, immediately turned around and shamelessly crowded around Orochimaru.
Orochimaru did not dwell on these ordinary fellow villagers. In a life-or-death situation, everyone was inherently selfish.
"All ninjas proficient in Wind Release, immediately unleash your strongest ninjutsu to buy me some time!"
This time, no one questioned Orochimaru's orders. The Leaf ninjas skilled in Wind Release immediately sprang into action, unleashing their strongest Wind Release ninjutsu towards the encroaching poison mist.
Their combined efforts did indeed slightly slow the surge of the Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Orochimaru rapidly formed hand seals, creating four shadow clones and immediately positioning them on the outer perimeter of the Leaf ninjas.
The four shadow clones stood in a square formation. With their minds connected, they simultaneously slapped their lower abdomens, slightly releasing the Eight Trigrams Seal containing dark chakra.
Dark chakra immediately enveloped the bodies of the four shadow clones, forming a pure dark shield.
After completing the unsealing, the four shadow clones simultaneously formed hand seals and placed their hands on the ground.
"Ninjutsu – Four Violet Flames Formation!"
A cubic barrier, burning with a transparent purple flame, erupted from the ground, enveloping all the Leaf ninjas. In the next moment, the rolling poison mist crashed against the outer perimeter of the Four Violet Flames Formation, emitting sizzling sounds under the scorching of the transparent purple flame.
"How is it? Can it hold?"
Tsunade watched the poison mist corroding the barrier with worry, and whispered to Orochimaru.
"Uncertain!"
"The Four Violet Flames Formation can resist any invasion of force. If it can be maintained, it will naturally be able to withstand the poison mist."
"But the shadow clones may not be able to..."
Orochimaru looked at the four shadow clones outside the barrier, covered in dark chakra shields, and gently shook his head.
"It depends on how strong the dark power's resistance to the poison mist is!"
"If the shadow clones shatter, and I want to save these ninjas..."
"I might die here!"
Even though she knew this was merely a clone of Orochimaru, Tsunade's worry did not diminish. Instead, it grew heavier.
Death!
Even a clone must be experiencing great pain, mustn't it?
Compared to the Leaf ninjas within the Four Violet Flames Formation, silently praying that the barrier would not break, the Sand ninjas who had escaped to the upwind side were filled with fear and anger.
The fear stemmed from the poison mist.
The anger stemmed from Takuma, who had initiated this indiscriminate poison mist attack.
As the commander, he had disregarded the lives of his own ninjas on the battlefield and released such potent poison...
This was a naked betrayal!
Because of his actions, the Sand ninjas, who numbered nearly five hundred, were now less than two hundred.
A full three hundred people!
"Lord Takuma, why?"
"As the commander, why would you do something like this?"
Some impetuous Sand ninjas, filled with a mixture of shock and anger, could not help but question him.
"We all know Elder Chiyo's relationship with you. You would be sad and angry if Elder Chiyo was in trouble."
"But those who died were our comrades, and they too had families!"
"They were willing to risk their lives, fighting for the village..."
"Who would have thought that they would die not at the hands of the Leaf ninjas, but due to their commander's selfish desires!"
"What's the difference between this act and betraying the village?"
Takuma remained silent, staring blankly at the sand pit ahead, which was almost filled with sand.
Miyeko stood beside her husband, facing the hostile and questioning gazes of the Sand ninjas, unsure of how to comfort them. She simply held her husband's trembling hand tightly, hoping to offer him some solace.
Takuma gently pulled his hand away from his wife's, pushed aside the Sand ninjas blocking his path without a word, and slowly walked towards the place where Chiyo was buried.
"Mother..."
Miyeko followed with a worried expression. Seeing her husband's blank look, she pondered for a moment, then crouched down and placed her hands on the ground.
"Sand Manipulation: Flowing Sand!"
The sand in the pit churned and surged, lifting Chiyo's puppet-enveloped body slowly.
Miyeko beckoned, and Chiyo's body was slowly lifted by the yellow sand and brought before her.
"Mother, I've seen through your trick!"
"Get up quickly!"
Miyeko gently shook Chiyo's body and, just like when she used to play with Sasori, spoke the incantation that could awaken Chiyo from her feigned death.
"Cough..."
"Good girl, you could never fool me and my little grandson."
Chiyo coughed, winked playfully at Miyeko, and slowly sat up from the ground.
Just as she was about to exchange a few playful words with Miyeko, Chiyo saw the purple mist covering the battlefield. Her body stiffened, and she stiffly turned her gaze to the silent Takuma.
"Takuma, why did you..."
Takuma offered his mother a forced smile and shook his head as if relieved.
"Mother, it's good that you're alright..."
A stream of black blood trickled from the corner of Takuma's mouth as he spoke. His body swayed, and under Miyeko's horrified gaze, Takuma collapsed to his knees with a thud.
"Mother, please tell those who once trusted me..."
"That I was incompetent..."
"My mistakes can only be repaid with this life."
Chiyo's trembling hand reached out and pressed onto Takuma's shoulder. Chakra flowed rapidly within him.
His heart had shattered!
Chiyo felt darkness descend upon her vision, her body staggered, and she almost fainted.
Miyeko was immediately alarmed. With one hand supporting Takuma's swaying body, she reached out to pull Chiyo.
Chiyo slapped away Miyeko's assisting hand, digging her fingertips into the flesh of her palm. Her voice trembling, she cursed,
"Coward!"
Takuma looked at his mother, whose eyes were filled with tears, and gave a wry smile, nodding forcefully.
"I have never met your expectations. I'm sorry..."
"So..."
"Please train Sasori to be a worthy successor! Don't be like me..."
Takuma cast one last look at his wife with his remaining strength, and slowly lowered his head.
"Miyeko, I'm sorry!"
"Tell Sasori I'm sorry, I... I beg you..."