Naruto: Hyuga Warlord

The two noble-born Sunagakure ninja had already accepted death.

That's why they willingly used their precious puppets as expendables to counter Konoha ninja attacks.

Of course, using explosive puppets was their last resort. Facing Konoha's overwhelming Cleanup squad, all they could do was delay their inevitable end and try to take a few enemies down with them.

As for escape? They knew without even trying it was impossible.

The merciless Konoha Cleanup squad and Yechame Hamako's attitude left no room for doubt. Combined with the bloodstained hands they already possessed, even surrendering as prisoners was out of the question—not that their pride would allow such an option anyway.

Thus, this pair of Red-Haired Sand Ninja understood full well that tomorrow would be the day they met their fate. With the mindset "Kill one, you break even; kill two, you make a profit," the two Sand ninja disregarded all side effects from secret elixirs and poisons, frantically unleashing every trick at their disposal!

Even when using toxic substances in such confined combat space might endanger themselves—they didn't care one bit!

[Lightning Release: Falling Thunder!]

[Puppet Technique: Mechanical Shield Formation!]

Crackling chakra lightning struck against erected mechanical shields, shattering the protective barriers into pieces, though dissipating the technique's power accordingly.

Although another wave of Konoha ninja techniques had been blocked once more, the absolute reality of their disadvantage remained unchanged—no matter how desperately these two Sand ninja struggled, nothing could be changed.

Especially under continued bombardment from Konoha ninjas' techniques, the two Sand ninja were nearly drained of chakra. Even consuming more secret medicinal elixirs wouldn't help—they needed time both to squeeze out every last drop of their remaining potential and wait for the medicine to kick in—but time was exactly what they were running out of!

All stored puppet components, whether finished products or half-finished, were about to be completely exhausted. Then they really would be powerless!

After all, would puppet masters really rush into battle armed only with kunai?

[Wind Release: Decapitating Airwave!]

The Female Red-Haired Sand Ninja squeezed out the last shred of chakra within her body, barely managing to release this low-tier wind technique that disrupted part of the incoming projectile assault.

However, considering the short distance between both sides, this C-rank technique couldn't completely intercept the numerous thrown weapons launched by the cleanup squad.

So the Male Red-Haired Sand Ninja stepped forward and used his own body to block the storm of kunai and shuriken!

Fortunately, since Konoha ninja worried about collateral damage, they hadn't attached explosive tags onto kunai handles. Otherwise, both might've already exploded into death.

This incident also exposed their weakness to all Konoha ninjas present—who immediately realized it was time to claim their kills!

[Shadow Imitation Technique!]

Once again, a Nara clan ninja successfully pulled off an ambush—the black shadow emerging from snow crevices behind successfully controlled both targets!

Immediately afterward, a Taijutsu Chunin executed a Body Flicker maneuver, instantly closing in—

[Konoha-Style Swordsmanship: Willow Slice!]

A flash of blade light shot forth. Though the Male Red-haired Sand ninja barely dodged, he chose to block with his arm to protect his helpless wife behind him, simultaneously spitting a jet of black mist straight into the Taijutsu Chunin's face!

The male Red-haired Sand ninja's arm immediately fell to the ground. However, the Taijutsu Jonin hit by the black mist staggered slightly after failing to kill with the first strike, then collapsed lifelessly behind the Ninja Force formation!

"Just how much deadly poison have these Sand bastards been hiding?!"

Yechame Hamako slowly unsheathed her ninja blade, preparing to finish things herself.

[Counter Storm!]

[Jumping Slash!]

But before the Cleanup squad could unleash another round of fire, a figure wrapped in powerful wind pressure suddenly appeared like a teleportation above the male Red-haired Sand ninja—it was Hyuga Soushu wielding his torch pole weapon!

"Die!"

With a furious shout, Hyuga Soushu swung his torch pole downward toward the male Red-haired Sand ninja's head!

"Thud!"

A dull sound rang out, like an overripe pumpkin exploding on impact—brains scattered skyward.

Though the male Red-haired Sand ninja had sensed the approaching wind pressure from behind, Soushu had precisely chosen the moment when his enemy's previous strength had faded and new energy hadn't yet formed. Even though he noticed, there was nothing he could do about it.

Thus, this direct bloodline descendant of Chiyo—who stood above ten thousand Sunagakure ninjas and beneath only a few—had his skull crushed as though effortlessly!

His wife stood frozen, one hand on her husband's shoulder, the other desperately trying to plug the geyser of blood erupting from his severed neck.

Three sharp dings rang out within Hyuga Soushu's mind!

Yet he didn't have time to check them—there was still a gift waiting to be claimed for his beloved Mahiru-chan!

He still clearly remembered—when Uchiha Mahiru handed him her personal tanto, she expressly wished for him to use it himself to behead this very Female Red-haired Sand ninja!

"Clang!"

A flash of steel passed—the frantic hand trying to stop the bleeding froze instantly.

Even the Konoha ninja watching were left reeling in disbelief.

Dead?

Just like that?

This Sand ninja who brought endless trouble to the Western front forces—just died like this?

Then, blood erupted from the completely severed neck like a fountain, pushing away the remaining head at the base of the neck, transforming the site into a crimson geyser!

Three clear dings echoed in Hyuga Soushu's mind again!

Still, he ignored them. Instead, he casually grabbed the wide-eyed female Red-haired Sand ninja's severed head, activated Body Flicker technique to return beside Mahiru Uchiha, then cheerfully presented both the blood-soaked tanto and the still-dumbfounded-looking severed head before Mahiru Uchiha.

"My dear Mahiru-chan, mission accomplished successfully!"

"This is truly the best present I've ever received in my entire life!"

Mahiru Uchiha, her cheeks flushed red, gave him a gaze so loving it could've melted into liquid.

She took the tanto from Hyuga Soushu's hand and used the blade to lift the severed head of the red-haired Sand kunoichi, whose eyes were still wide open in death. Holding it up to her face, she studied its expression closely, as if searching for something amusing in the last seconds of her enemy's life.

This sight sent a chill down the spines of the Konoha cleanup squad.

They'd always heard Uchiha shinobi were a bit off in the head, but they never imagined just how unhinged they could be! And what really shocked them was that Soushu Jonin—a member of the Hyuga Clan—was somehow even more unhinged!

"That's great!"

Mahiru Uchiha, her eyes glowing crimson, let out a cheer and flicked her wrist, sending the severed head soaring into the air.

The Konoha ninjas' gazes immediately followed the flying head.

"Boom!"

A stream of fire erupted from Mahiru's mouth, directly hitting the airborne head!

Under Mahiru's precise control, the flames burned away the hair and flesh—but left the skull perfectly intact, [refined like jade] through the flames.

The flames vanished as quickly as they had appeared, and the beautifully polished skull fell gently back into Mahiru's waiting hands.

"This is a perfect gift."

Her voice was quiet and eerie, her Sharingan flickering wildly behind crimson eyes as she fought the urge to fully activate it.

"Hmm~!"

She threw herself into Soushu's arms, pressing her hot red lips against his chest, feeling his powerful, rhythmic heartbeat.

At this moment, a deep calm and happiness settled over her unlike anything she'd ever felt before.

However, much to their own surprise—and despite Yechame Hamako watching as well—not one Konoha ninja felt even the tiniest pang of jealousy or awkwardness at being force-fed romance. They just exchanged uneasy looks, completely unsure how to react.

This whole thing went way beyond anything they'd ever seen—or could even begin to comprehend.

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