After Nakano Daisuke's departure, Iwagakure Ninja repeatedly clashed with Cloud Ninja under Ōnoki's leadership.
With neither side gaining a decisive advantage, Third Raikage A grew more frustrated than ever, yet felt powerless.
After all, Land of Earth was the home ground for Iwagakure. The sheer number of booby traps alone was already causing the Cloud forces major headaches.
Although everything Ōnoki did significantly slowed the Cloud advancement, he knew it wouldn't change the ultimate outcome of this war.
"Haven't the Akatsuki won yet?"
Third Raikage A impatiently asked Tudai after eliminating a few small squads of Iwagakure Ninja.
Right now, he longed for the day when Akatsuki and Cloud forces would finally surround Iwagakure together.
In that case, this campaign would have become much easier.
"The fight against Akatsuki is fierce."
"Though Nagato has them pressing forward at the moment, they haven't completely crushed the Iwagakure forces yet."
Tudai reported the message from their ally in a calm voice, showing no signs of doubt.
"I guess I expected too much from them."
"That sly old fox, Ōnoki..."
Third Raikage sighed, not even considering the possibility of Nagato betraying them.
Perhaps, deep down, he thought, Akatsuki Village—a tiny ninja faction—had already exceeded expectations to get this far.
"The supplies keep arriving steadily."
"We're not the ones who should be worried."
Tudai hit the nail on the head. As long as they kept advancing steadily, conquering the Land of Earth was only a matter of time.
Right now, Ōnoki was a thousand times more anxious than they were.
"Heh… you're right,"
Third Raikage chuckled slightly, relaxing his furrowed brows.
"Father, we've completed the interrogations."
"And the positions of the earlier traps have been marked."
At this moment, Fourth Raikage A approached carrying a small-scale map.
After days of continuous battles, fatigue was clearly etched on his face.
"Good, keep moving forward."
Third Raikage didn't even glance at the map. Such matters were beneath his direct oversight.
"Yes sir."
"Departure."
Fourth Raikage carefully stored the map away and, joined by B, led the way at the front of the formation.
As time passed, the Cloud forces continued their steady advance, gradually squeezing the Iwagakure Ninja into tighter survival space.
But none of this concerned Nakano Daisuke anymore. After many days of travel, he finally arrived at the gates of Konoha Village.
Knock knock knock~
He took a deep breath before pounding on the gate.
"Who are you?"
The gates of Konoha creaked open, and the guard eyed him warily.
"I am Jonin Nakano Daisuke from Iwagakure, here by orders from Tsuchikage Ōnoki to meet Hokage-sama."
Nakano introduced himself respectfully with a humble attitude.
"A Ninja from Iwagakure?"
Upon hearing those words, the Konoha Ninja's expression turned even colder. He had personally lost comrades to Iwagakure in the past.
"Yes, I beg you to send word ahead."
"This really is an urgent matter."
Recognizing that look in the guard's eyes, Nakano could only steel himself and keep pleading.
"Hokage-sama has important duties to attend to. You think you can just walk in whenever you please?"
The Konoha Ninja was practically saying "go back where you came from." At least, he had no intention of letting an Iwagakure Ninja step foot inside Konoha.
"In the past, our two villages experienced conflict, and I deeply apologize for that."
"As long as you allow me to meet the Hokage, I'll accept whatever judgment you make."
Nakano Daisuke's heart sank immediately. If he couldn't even step through Konoha's gates, how could he hope to request aid?
"If apologies were enough, why would we even need an army?"
The Konoha ninja scoffed. Could a mere apology truly mend their blood feud?
"Then I'll have to offend."
A fierce gleam flickered in Nakano Daisuke's eyes. Before his words had even faded, he had already struck.
With one punch and kick, he sent two Konoha shinobi crashing to the ground. What chance did these Chunin guards have against him?
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