Tsunade's strategy was a masterstroke of psychological warfare. By ordering the Sealing Team to target the Shukaku, she wasn't necessarily expecting to capture the beast—she was forcing the Sand to split their focus.
The equation was simple: as much as the Sand wanted to kill the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, they absolutely could not afford to lose the Shukaku. Killing the Nine-Tails weakens Konoha; losing the Shukaku destroys the Sand's status as a Great Power.
"Sister, the Konoha sealing squad is moving in!" Ebizo shouted, appearing suddenly behind Chiyo.
The Sand's high-level command was now strained. On Konoha's side, Tsunade held Chiyo at bay while Kushina dealt with the aftermath of the Tailed Beast. On the Sand's side, they had Chiyo and Ebizo. Usually, Ebizo would be free to wreak havoc, but the Fourth Kazekage had given him one non-negotiable mission: control and recover the Shukaku.
Chiyo didn't hesitate. "I'll handle Tsunade. Ebizo, recover the Shukaku immediately and retreat! Once the beast is secure, get back to the village. Do not worry about anything else."
Ebizo nodded and blurred toward the pile of sand with a squad of elites. Despite his age, his speed was blistering. He slapped his hands onto the scorched earth.
Summoning Jutsu!
A massive, ornate sand urn appeared. Under Ebizo's direction, twelve Sand ninjas formed a perimeter, weaving signs in unison. Without the Shukaku's conscious resistance, the process was disturbingly smooth. The scattered sand swirled like a desert vortex, pouring into the mouth of the urn. Ebizo slammed the lid shut, applied a final sealing tag, and hoisted the heavy vessel onto his withered shoulders.
He spared one last look at his sister, locked in combat with Tsunade, before vanishing into the night. Dozens of Konoha ninjas gave chase, but with Ebizo's personal guard and his own formidable skills, the chances of reclaiming the Shukaku were slim.
Back at the heart of the storm, the departure of the Shukaku had a terrifying side effect: the Sand ninjas were no longer worried about "friendly fire" from their own beast. Their assault on Kushina became truly fanatical.
"Kushina-sensei, the Shukaku's gone," Hagoromo noted, parrying a blade and counter-attacking in one fluid motion.
"I noticed," Kushina replied grimly. Her orange chakra cloak was now manifesting six tails. She was reaching the absolute limit of her conscious control. Any further, and the Nine-Tails might take the wheel. "Now these lunatics have nothing left to lose. They're all coming for us."
"I think it's time to bail," Hagoromo suggested.
With the Shukaku removed, Kushina's presence on the front line was more of a liability than an asset. Her safety was the priority, and her presence was forcing Konoha ninjas to play defensively to protect her. If she retreated, the Leaf's forces could finally cut loose.
"Bail? Easier said than done," Kushina muttered, looking at the tightening circle of enemies. In the dark of night, her glowing dark-red chakra cloak was a beacon for every Sand ninja's hatred.
In this world, there are ninjas who can take on 50 men and win. There are even legends who can face 10,000—like a certain Third Raikage who would eventually fight for three days and nights until he died a hero's death. But Hagoromo and Kushina weren't built for that kind of meat-grinder attrition. They could hold out, but the math wasn't in their favor.
Unless, of course, they let the Nine-Tails run wild... but that was a "victory" no one wanted.
Current Battlefield Tensions
The "Center" has become a pressure cooker. The Sand is "All-In" on killing Kushina.