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Twilight.
The setting sun, red as blood, dyed the entire central fortress a crimson color like fresh blood.
The city walls were covered in scorched marks.
Those were left by fire release.
Ishikawa stood at the highest point of the main fortress, looking at the dense enemy forces in the distance, his throat dry, his hands and feet cold.
People were everywhere.
From the Land of Fire, from the Land of Wind.
Konoha shinobi, Sunagakure shinobi.
They were like ants, packed densely, completely surrounding the main fortress.
"Lord Ishikawa."
The assistant stumbled up, his face pale. "All the outposts have fallen."
"Our people have all retreated."
Ishikawa said nothing.
He had long expected this outcome.
From the moment the allied forces began their assault, he knew that none of the outer outposts could be held.
That's why he actively brought his forces together.
But what good would bringing forces together do?
Now their two thousand men were all squeezed into this central fortress.
Outside were five thousand allied forces.
"Count the casualties," Ishikawa said, his voice hoarse.
"Yes."
The assistant left, and soon returned.
"Reporting, Lord Ishikawa, our side has three hundred twenty-seven killed, one hundred eighty seriously wounded, and five hundred lightly wounded..."
Ishikawa closed his eyes.
One day.
In just one day, a quarter of their fighting strength was lost.
"What about the supplies?"
The assistant's voice was even lower. "Food... can last three days."
"Water, because the main fortress's well is still working, is barely enough."
"But items we use up like explosive tags and military rations are less than thirty percent remaining."
Three days.
Ishikawa opened his eyes, the last bit of red light on the horizon about to sink.
In three days, they would run out of food.
By then, even if the allied forces didn't attack, they would starve to death in this stone city.
"Lord Ishikawa, we..." The assistant's voice trembled without control. "What should we do?"
Ishikawa turned around.
Below the city walls were packed Iwagakure shinobi.
Some were taking care of their comrades' wounds, some leaned against the wall pretending to sleep, and others sat blankly, their eyes hollow, lost in thought.
They were all waiting for his command.
Waiting for him, their commander, to show them a way to live.
But... Ishikawa's clenched fists made a sound.
Where was the way?
What should be done?
Break out?
With what to break out? Five thousand allied forces outside, their two thousand men rushing out would only die faster.
Hold out?
In three days, they would run out of food, and by then, they wouldn't even have the strength to fight.
Surrender?
Even more impossible!
Behind Ishikawa was the glory of Iwagakure, the trust of the Tsuchikage!
Even if he died, he could not surrender.
"Go, prepare paper and pen for me," Ishikawa suddenly said.
"Ah?" The assistant was stunned.
"Hurry!"
"Yes!"
Soon, paper and pen were brought.
Ishikawa spread out the paper, picked up the pen, and the tip of the pen stayed on the paper for a long time.
For a long time.
Then he began to write.
The handwriting was neat, but there were a few drops of water on the paper.
That was sweat.
After writing, Ishikawa carefully folded the letter and placed it into a specially made scroll tube.
"Someone!"
An Iwagakure Anbu appeared before him, kneeling on one knee.
"My lord."
"Take this letter back to Iwagakure," Ishikawa handed him the scroll tube. "You must deliver it into the hands of the Tsuchikage."
"Yes!"
The Anbu took the scroll tube, turned, and disappeared into the night.
The assistant couldn't help but ask, "Lord Ishikawa, what did you write in the letter?"
Ishikawa did not answer.
He just looked into the distance, in the direction of Iwagakure.
After a long while, he said in a low voice, "I told the Tsuchikage that we... won't last much longer."
The assistant's body trembled.
"But," Ishikawa's voice suddenly became firm, "before reinforcements arrive, we will fight with our last breath to defend this main fortress!"
"Even if... we are completely wiped out!"
His words echoed in the night wind.
The Iwagakure shinobi below the city walls couldn't hear the specific content, but they all felt that firm will and looked up one after another.
Outside the main fortress.
In the allied forces' camp, bonfires blazed brightly.
Unlike the despair of Iwagakure, here was filled with the joy of victory.
"Hahaha! What a thrill!"
A Sunagakure jonin laughed loudly, raising his sake flask. "Today, I killed at least five Iwagakure bastards, it was damn thrilling!"
"That's right! Let those stone heads taste some real power!"
"Those Iwagakure scoundrels are getting what they deserve today!"
The surrounding Sunagakure shinobi agreed, their fighting spirit high.
Not far away, Konoha's camp was much quieter.
Although they were also celebrating, it was clearly more held back.
The shinobi also spoke in low voices, but more often they were wiping their weapons, checking their equipment, chillingly calm.
Inside the commander's tent.
Rasa, Orochimaru, and others sat around a map.
"According to scouting reports, Iwagakure has completely retreated to the central fortress," Ibiki Morino pointed to a spot on the map. "They are now like turtles in a jar."
"Hmm," Rasa nodded, a smile on his face. "Tomorrow, we will continue the attack."
"We'll strive to pull out this thorn completely within three days!"
"No rush," Orochimaru licked his lips.
"Hmm?" Rasa looked at him, his eyes questioning.
"We have already completed the surrounding," Orochimaru said slowly. "They can't escape, so why should we rush to attack and needlessly increase casualties?"
"We can also trap them until they die."
Rasa frowned. "You mean?"
"Surround but don't attack," Orochimaru smiled, his smile sending chills down one's spine. "Their supplies are definitely not plenty. We just need to surround them and wait for them to run out of ammunition and food."
"Then send people to harass them daily, so they can't sleep well or eat well."
"By then, they will collapse on their own."
Ibiki Morino's eyes lit up. "That's a good idea!"
"Not only can it reduce our casualties, but it can also completely destroy their fighting spirit."
Rasa thought for a moment.
He admitted that Orochimaru's plan was very sound.
But... "What if Iwagakure sends reinforcements?" Rasa voiced his concern. "If Onoki brings people to rescue them, we will fall into a passive position instead."
Orochimaru's smile deepened. "Wouldn't that be even better?"
"Ah?" Rasa didn't understand.
"If Onoki comes out with all his forces to rescue them," Orochimaru's snake-like eyes gleamed with dangerous light, "then his old nest, Iwagakure, will be empty, and our Fourth Hokage..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but Rasa already understood what he meant.
It had to be said that this was a very good strategy.
"In short, starting tomorrow, we change our tactics," Orochimaru stood up and clapped his hands, ending the meeting.
"Surround but don't attack, guard strictly, and prevent any mouse from slipping out."
"At the same time, send out all scouting units to keep a close watch on Iwagakure's movements."
"Good!"
"Agreed!"
The night deepened, and all was silent.
The day's battle thus ended.