**Chapter 20: Attack on the Kazekage, Hatake Sakumo’s Decisive Strike!**

On the front lines, Tsunade led ninjas from several prominent clans, quickly reversing the situation. Although the four allied clans suffered some losses, victory on the battlefield seemed assured.

Meanwhile, in the Sunagakure camp, tensions ran high.

"Sister, why don't we retreat?" Ebizo asked, concerned. "If this continues, our forces will be wiped out."

He understood why Chiyo was so determined. She was grieving for her nephew, who had died on the battlefield, and the pain weighed heavily on her heart. But war couldn't be fought based on emotions.

"It's impossible. Until Konoha hands over Hatake Sakumo, I won't withdraw," Chiyo replied fiercely. "If you want to leave, then go!"

Her grief had overtaken her reason. The loss of her son had driven her to an extreme.

"Elder sister…" Ebizo began, but Chiyo cut him off.

"There's no need to say more. Tonight, we attack Konoha!" She left immediately to perfect her poison, determined to make Konoha pay a heavy price.

Meanwhile, outside Sunagakure, Hatake Sakumo and his team had arrived.

"As expected, Sunagakure's defenses are stronger this time," Sakumo muttered. Their previous surprise attack had failed due to Sarutobi Shinnosuke's mistake, which still irritated him.

"Hatake Sakumo, we're not entering Sunagakure directly this time," Shinnosuke said. "Rie and I will distract the guards. If you still fail, don't blame us." With that, Shinnosuke and Rie slipped ahead quietly, leaving Sakumo shaking his head in frustration. Did they think Sunagakure lacked strong defenses now?

Just as Sakumo had feared, the two were soon spotted.

"It's Konoha's ninjas! Sound the alarm and alert Kazekage-sama!" one guard shouted.

"There are only two of them! Capture them alive," another added. "The Hokage's son is among them; he'll be a valuable bargaining chip against Konoha!"

The guards' excitement was palpable. Over twenty Jonin from Sunagakure quickly converged on the two intruders. Sakumo used the diversion to slip into the village unnoticed, taking advantage of the commotion to find a weak point in the defenses.

In the Kazekage's office, word quickly reached the leader.

"Kazekage-sama, we've surrounded Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Sarutobi Rie. With these two as bargaining chips, we can demand resources from Konoha and give Chiyo-sama a reason to withdraw," reported a guard, clearly pleased with the turn of events.

"Excellent. Capture them alive," Kazekage ordered, but before he could finish, he saw his guard collapse.

"It's you?" Kazekage muttered as Hatake Sakumo stepped into view. But he remained calm; he doubted Sakumo could rescue both captives and escape the village.

"You're no match for me. I'm sorry," Sakumo said, his short sword glowing white in the dim light. Chakra gathered intensely around the blade as Sand Ninja guards rushed in, bringing along the captured Shinnosuke and Rie.

"Surrender, Hatake Sakumo. There's no way you'll escape from here," one of the Jonin called out. But before Kazekage could issue another command, Sakumo struck, his chakra-infused blade piercing the Kazekage's shoulder.

"Let the Kazekage go and surrender, or we'll kill these two!" shouted a Sand Ninja. He assumed that threatening the Hokage's son would force Sakumo into submission.

But Sakumo's voice was cold. "As the Hokage's son, it's an honor to die for the village," he replied firmly, keeping his blade against the Kazekage. Sakumo was focused on finding a way to escape, knowing that reinforcements would only increase with each passing second.

"Hatake Sakumo! Let him go and save me!" Shinnosuke cried out desperately. Regret washed over him; he wished he hadn't volunteered for this mission. 

But it was too late.

Just as Kazekage began to speak again, Sakumo acted decisively, driving his chakra-laden blade into Kazekage's heart. Then, in a blur, he attacked the surrounding guards, wounding several Sand Ninjas and breaking through the lines. Passing Shinnosuke and Rie, he picked up a fallen kunai and delivered a swift, fatal blow to each of them, shocking the Sand Ninjas momentarily.

"The Kazekage has been attacked! Lock down the village! Search for Hatake Sakumo!" an urgent cry spread across Sunagakure as Sakumo disappeared through a gap in the village defenses.

Back on the front lines, a Sand Ninja rushed to Chiyo's side. 

"Chiyo-sama, there's grave news," he reported. "The Kazekage has been killed. Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Sarutobi Rie have also fallen. The attacker was Hatake Sakumo."

>>>>>

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