"Hiruzen, this intelligence came directly from the Land of Wind. Your disciples know nothing about it. Even if we send messenger hawks now, it's too late."
Danzō's voice was grim.
"They've likely already suffered heavy losses in the Land of Rain. If they encountered only the Kazekage or Hanzō, they might still have a chance. But if both of them engage together, your disciples may never make it back."
Hiruzen frowned deeply. "Jiraiya's unit has over five thousand troops. Even if they're up against both the Suna and the Ame, they shouldn't be annihilated in one blow."
Danzō nodded slightly. "According to our information, unless the Kazekage and Hanzō combine their strength, your three students should still be able to hold their ground against one of them."
Koharu Utatane, ever cautious, interjected.
"Sunagakure's forces number around three thousand. Amegakure's army is roughly the same, but they still have to keep a garrison behind. They can't commit everyone. So while Konoha's forces are outnumbered, the gap isn't overwhelming."
Homura Mitokado added, frowning, "But the issue lies with Kage-level combatants. Especially the Third Kazekage — his large-scale magnetic techniques can devastate entire battlefields. There's no one on our front who can restrain him. If Jiraiya's forces engage Ame's army head-on, the casualties could be disastrous."
He paused.
"Even if they manage to retreat, we'll still have at least two thousand survivors. But if we don't send reinforcements quickly, and the Suna and Ame pursue them, they'll be wiped out before they reach the border. Konoha can't afford that kind of loss."
Hiruzen exhaled a long breath, expression dark.
"Excluding the Rain battlefield — we've deployed five thousand shinobi to the Land of Fields to counter Kumogakure. On the coastal front defending against Kirigakure, we've stationed another three thousand. That leaves less than four thousand shinobi to defend the village itself."
His gaze hardened.
"It seems I'll have to go to the battlefield personally. If the Kazekage himself has appeared, I can't just sit here and do nothing."
He removed the Hokage hat and said solemnly:
"While I'm gone, the three of you will oversee daily administration."
"Absolutely not!"
Koharu, Homura, and Danzō spoke in unison.
"If you go to the front lines, the village will be without a Kage to guard it," Homura said firmly.
"The moment Kumo or Kiri learns that you've left, they'll seize the opportunity to strike the village directly."
Koharu added sharply, "If their Kage personally leads the attack, there will be no one here who can stop them. Even if you rush back, they could withdraw before you arrive — and Konoha would still be humiliated."
Danzō crossed his arms.
"And if they send a Jinchūriki, it'll be far worse. Lady Mito's chakra control has weakened with age — forcing her to act could risk a Nine-Tails rampage. If the enemy captures our Jinchūriki, our deterrent against the other villages will vanish entirely."
Hiruzen closed his eyes for a moment before answering.
"Sunagakure still has the Third Kazekage. Iwagakure, on the other hand, has lost Ōnoki — they'll be too busy managing internal chaos to intervene.
"Kirigakure is closed off as always; their only Kage-level force is the Third Mizukage, and crossing the sea will take them time. That leaves Kumogakure as our only immediate threat — and we can defend against them.
"So the only front that truly needs me is Ame."
Hearing this, the others gradually fell silent, their earlier protests fading.
"But you alone can't handle both Hanzō and the Kazekage," Homura cautioned. "Even with Jiraiya's team, it's too dangerous."
Hiruzen shook his head.
"No — by the time I arrive, they'll already be engaged. I'll focus on covering their retreat and establishing a second defensive line along the Fire Country border. We won't be fighting to the death — only stabilizing the situation. Ame already holds a quarter of our deployed forces. If I move now, I can still save lives."
He stood, tying his battle cloak around his shoulders.
"The village is in your hands for now. Prepare the border defenses — I'll depart for the Land of Rain immediately."
---
Outside the Hokage Building, Hiruzen stepped into the downpour, his ceremonial robe fluttering behind him.
"Wind. Wood."
Two masked Anbu appeared at his back, kneeling.
"Summon the Shadow Guard. Assemble within thirty minutes. We're heading to the Ame front."
"Yes, Lord Hokage!"
The two Anbu vanished instantly.
This mission required elite precision and speed — not a large force. Against enemies like Hanzō of the Salamander and the Third Kazekage, quality outweighed quantity.
Danzō would dispatch additional reinforcements to the Fire Country border later; Hiruzen needed to move now.
By the time he returned in full combat gear, the Shadow Guard was already assembled and awaiting orders.
Hiruzen's eyes sharpened.
"Move out!"
Several figures blurred into motion, vanishing from the village in a flash of leaves.
---
Land of Rain Battlefield
The rain poured relentlessly.
At the Suna's main encampment, the Third Kazekage and Chiyo stood glaring at the Amegakure troops gathered before them.
The Kazekage's face twitched.
"This performance is far too sloppy. He didn't even pretend to fight Konoha before returning?!"
Chiyo crossed her arms. "Tsk! The Kazekage hasn't even finished setting up his magnetic barrier yet, and that bastard Hanzō has already sent his men back after laying a few explosive tags. Does he think Konoha won't just go around them? How much time does that even buy?"
Hours passed, yet Hanzō never appeared.
The battlefield remained eerily silent.
Finally, they demanded answers.
"Where's Lord Hanzō?"
One of the Ame shinobi bowed.
"Lord Hanzō ordered us to withdraw first. He stayed behind alone to cover the retreat."
The Kazekage frowned in confusion; Chiyo's expression darkened into fury.
"That masked freak — is he playing us? Covering the rear? He's probably run off! Don't tell me he's secretly made a deal with Konoha behind our backs?"
The Kazekage considered this for a moment before replying calmly,
"No… if that were true, he wouldn't have sent a thousand of his men to reinforce us. If he planned to betray us, he'd have kept them home. He must have his own strategy."
Even so, unease flickered in his eyes.
Chiyo's voice rose, sharp and sarcastic.
"And what exactly can he do alone? What's he going to do, stall five thousand shinobi with that gas mask of his? Maybe he should have a medic check his head!"
The Kazekage ignored her outburst and focused his chakra, accelerating his preparations.
"Whatever he's planning, I can't wait around. We'll finalize the defensive array before Konoha arrives."
...
Hours later, the Suna troops were soaked to the bone in the endless rain, while the Ame shinobi — long accustomed to the climate — remained calm beneath their cloaks.
Still, Konoha's army had yet to appear.
Both Chiyo and the Kazekage exchanged uncertain glances.
Just what was Hanzō doing to delay them this long?
"Report!" a Suna ninja called, hurrying forward with a sealed scroll. "Information from our scouts regarding Konoha's army."
The Kazekage snatched the scroll, unrolled it — and froze.
For a long moment, he said nothing. His hand trembled slightly. Then he passed the scroll to Chiyo.
She raised an eyebrow, puzzled — until she read the contents.
Within seconds, goosebumps prickled down her arms.
She couldn't even imagine it: thousands of tiny salamanders crawling into armor and clothing, biting indiscriminately, releasing toxins, while Konoha's shinobi panicked and screamed.
As a woman, she thought bitterly, If that happened to me, I'd rather die on the spot.
The men probably didn't fare much better. And according to the report, the three leading ninja — the Third Hokage's own students — had nearly broken down in the chaos.
Chiyo and the Kazekage exchanged long, silent looks.
At last, the Kazekage managed to mutter a single, strangled line:
"Salamander Hanzō's… strength is utterly revolting."
Now, they weren't worried about whether Konoha would give them enough time to prepare — but whether Konoha would even dare to come anymore.
Who knew what other disgusting tactics Hanzō still had waiting?
If Konoha turned back, all the Kazekage's elaborate preparations would be for nothing.
He clenched his fists in frustration.
"Tell the men to strike lightly when they arrive. I'm almost finished with the jutsu seals. Just make sure Hanzō doesn't gross them out so much that they quit before we even fight!"
Chiyo rolled her eyes. "And where is Hanzō now?"
A Rain shinobi stepped forward.
"Report, Elder Chiyo — intelligence indicates that Lord Hanzō has led a small squad toward what appears to be Konoha's command base."
Chiyo and the Kazekage both widened their eyes.
An error? Impossible.
Information in the Land of Rain never escaped Hanzō's grasp.
The Kazekage let out a low whistle, smirking at last.
"Well," he said to Chiyo, "it seems our money was well spent after all."
--------------------------///
150 P.S Milestone Reached. As Promised, Here's the D*mn Item!✨
150 Powerstones - Bonus Chap
300 Powerstones - Bonus Chap
500 Powerstones - Bonus Chap
700 Powerstones - Bonus Chap