The Sand ninja split into two groups—one heading toward the Jinchuriki, the other charging toward Uchiha Tatsumi.
Seeing this, Hyuga Tenku immediately directed the sealing squad to rush toward Shukaku as well.
His goal was simple: if the Sand wanted to kill Uchiha Tatsumi, they had to be prepared to lose their Tailed Beast. The Sand's numbers were already small, yet they still thought they could go on the offensive against Konoha? Arrogant.
Of course, Hyuga Tenku wasn't actually trying to steal Shukaku. He just couldn't allow so many Sand ninja to overwhelm Tatsumi. No matter how strong the boy was, even he couldn't guarantee an easy escape under such circumstances.
And compared to revenge, the Sand could not afford to lose Shukaku.
Tailed Beasts were the ultimate deterrents that maintained the balance of power between villages. Whether in war or peace, no shinobi village could afford to lose one.
Killing Tatsumi might satisfy their pride, but losing Shukaku would be a catastrophe for the Sand. They had to recognize what truly mattered.
Watching the battlefield unfold, Ebizo suddenly appeared behind Chiyo.
"Sister, Konoha's sealing squad is advancing!"
Ebizo felt a sense of unease. Konoha's forces had become relentless, ignoring battles against the Sand, Rock, and Rain shinobi and focusing entirely on controlling Shukaku.
If Konoha actually managed to take the Tailed Beast, his career—his entire standing in the village—would be finished. He might even be forced out of the shinobi world altogether.
Why hadn't Ebizo personally stepped into the battlefield earlier, despite the overwhelming difference in strength between Konoha and the Sand?
Because his mission wasn't to fight.
It was to watch, control, and, if necessary, retrieve Shukaku at all costs.
That was his sole duty.
The Third Kazekage wasn't a fool. If he had dared to unleash Shukaku on the battlefield, he must have had a way to recover it. That responsibility fell to Ebizo.
The war could be lost. But Shukaku could not be lost.
And now Konoha had set its sights on the Tailed Beast.
The Jinchuriki was barely clinging to life.
Yet Chiyo still insisted on killing Tatsumi? Was she really his sister?!
Ebizo let out a frustrated sigh and warned her.
Chiyo hesitated for a brief moment before making a decision.
"Fine..." she muttered.
"I'll take the ninjas to hold them off. You recover Shukaku immediately. Once you're done, leave the battlefield and return to the village. Don't concern yourself with anything else. Just ensure Shukaku's safety."
Time was running out. If they didn't retrieve Shukaku before Konoha's sealing squad, it would be too late.
Ebizo didn't waste a second. Without another word, he nodded and rushed toward the dying Jinchuriki with a team of Sand ninja.
After an intense struggle, Chiyo managed to establish a temporary defensive line, preventing Konoha from reaching the Jinchuriki.
By the time Ebizo arrived, the boy was barely breathing.
Ebizo sighed. Too late. The Jinchuriki wouldn't survive.
There was no choice but to extract Shukaku and abandon him.
Making his decision, he clapped his hands on the ground.
Summoning Jutsu!
A massive Sand Gourd materialized beside him.
Without hesitation, he ordered his subordinates to prepare the sealing technique.
Twelve Sand ninja formed a circle around the Jinchuriki, quickly arranging the intricate symbols of the jutsu.
They moved in perfect unison, forming hand seals.
A terrifying sight followed.
Shukaku's massive form, still composed of sand, began to pour out of the Jinchuriki's mouth, nose, and eyes—like a flood retreating into the vast desert.
Its body flowed like liquid, pouring directly into the Sand Gourd beside Ebizo.
With the final seal, the Jinchuriki collapsed lifelessly onto the battlefield.
Ebizo swiftly closed the lid, attaching the final sealing paper to secure it.
The moment the paper vanished into the gourd, he turned and fled from the battlefield.
He didn't stop to look back.
But just before disappearing, he stole one final glance at his sister.
Chiyo was still engaged in an intense battle with the Konoha forces.
In the end, the Sand's grand plan to unleash Shukaku had completely failed.
And in truth… perhaps releasing something as powerful and uncontrollable as a Tailed Beast on the frontlines had never been a good idea.
But at least they had managed to retrieve it.
Unlike the Sand, the Rock ninja had suffered the greatest losses in this battle.
As Ebizo vanished into the distance, his eyes flashed with cold determination.
"Konoha… this isn't over. Just wait and see."
---
Ebizo's actions didn't go unnoticed.
The moment he disappeared, dozens of Konoha shinobi pursued him.
If they could recover Shukaku now, it would deal a massive blow to the Sand.
But deep down, even they knew the truth—it was impossible.
Ebizo was no ordinary shinobi. His guards were elite, and even alone, he was powerful enough to wipe out an entire Konoha pursuit force.
With Shukaku gone, the once-scattered Allied Forces managed to regroup and resist Konoha's overwhelming assault.
The Sand ninja, now freed from the burden of the Tailed Beast, fought even more desperately.
Their attacks became crazed, relentless.
---
"Shin'nosuke, Shukaku has disappeared."
While cutting down an enemy, Uchiha Tatsumi called out to Sarutobi Shin'nosuke.
"Yeah," Shin'nosuke sighed, dodging a kunai. "Which means they're all coming for us now."
Uchiha Tatsumi wiped the rain from his face. He was now the primary target.
Without Shukaku in play, the Sand had no one else to focus their rage on.
It wasn't that he or Shin'nosuke couldn't fight. Even if Tatsumi avoided using ninjutsu, he could hold out for a while with pure Taijutsu.
But what was the point?
The Sand ninja kept coming in endless waves. If they killed one, two more would replace them.
This wasn't a battle they needed to win. It was a battle they needed to leave.
Some shinobi could fight fifty enemies at once and instantly kill them.
But that was Minato.
At this moment, Minato was still just a ten-year-old Genin, experiencing his first brush with life and death on the outskirts of the battlefield.
Some shinobi could take on ten thousand enemies and still stand their ground.
But even that man had fought for three days and nights before finally collapsing.
So the best option? Retreat.
"How do we escape?" Shin'nosuke asked.
Somehow, he had gone from being Tsunade's little brother to Tatsumi's little brother.
Uchiha Tatsumi smirked and tilted his chin toward a distant group of approaching Hyuga ninja.
Shin'nosuke blinked in surprise.
"Tatsumi, I didn't know you had connections with the Hyuga Clan."
He patted Tatsumi's shoulder. As an Anbu, he had always been more isolated. He figured the Hyuga weren't here for him.
Hearing that, Tatsumi's mind flashed to Hyuga Himeji's cold, indifferent expression.
He chuckled, shaking off his rain-soaked cloak.
"Do I have to tell you that the Hyuga Young Patriarch is my little brother?"
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