Fuguki Suikazan spared a moment to glance over, letting out a harrumph in his heart.
"He's just relying on someone else's Byakugan. If it were just the Byakugan, he wouldn't have been able to get close so smoothly. It was more because I utilized my connections within the Hidden Sand."
"Without an insider, what good is your Byakugan?"
"A mere brat, don't get too cocky."
Fuguki Suikazan was quite dissatisfied with Ao's attitude yesterday.
Relying on possessing a Byakugan and being valued by the village higher-ups, Ao showed no respect to a senior like him with distinguished service. If Genji hadn't been present, Fuguki would definitely have taught him a lesson.
"After today, with Elder Genji's guarantee, I should be able to return to the position of army commander."
"When the Sand Village is thoroughly crushed, the primary credit will still be mine."
"Given the current situation of the Mist Village, the Third Mizukage is already old. For the position of Fourth Mizukage, there is no one more suitable than me. Only I have the ability."
Being demoted several times in a row made Fuguki Suikazan crave power and status even more.
"I am determined to be the Fourth Mizukage!"
"It's time for Lord Third to step down."
"The Cloud Village and the Sand Village have long since switched to their Fourth Kages, and Konoha seems to have thoughts of replacement as well."
Juzo Biwa also saw the departing Mist ninja carrying the order and couldn't help but reveal a smile.
All the nearby Mist ninja became excited, anticipation showing in their eyes.
"It should have been like this long ago!"
"The Sand Village is simply no match for us!"
"Before, we were always hesitant, afraid of this and that, which only gave the Sand Village opportunities."
"Exactly. If you want to gain something, how can you not pay a price?"
"Take down the Sand Village without a single ninja dying? Impossible."
These voices sounded somewhat grating to Fuguki Suikazan.
Even now, Fuguki Suikazan still didn't think there was anything wrong with his decisions.
Why didn't he attack with full force before?
First, Konoha's ninja were stationed on the border of the Wind Country. Who could be sure that Konoha would definitely attack the Sand Village and not take the opportunity to strike the Mist army from behind?
Second, achieving victory with minimal losses was the unified opinion of the entire Mist Village high command before.
Blaming it all on him now was unreasonable.
Moreover, where was his strategy wrong?
Ambushing Pakura—was that wrong?
Of course it was right.
It was just bad luck that he encountered Gengetsu Hozuki and failed.
As for the last incident, could he be blamed?
Certainly not.
If anyone was to blame, it was Jinin Akebino.
He was wholeheartedly leading the ninja army to fight the Sand army for the village, while that animal Jinin Akebino was thinking about stabbing him in the back and killing him.
Compared to the Mist ninja, the mood of the Sand ninja at this moment was much worse.
Suddenly, Mist ninja appeared.
Completely bypassing the Sand army's scout ninja, they came directly to the rear of the Sand army.
It would be difficult for the main Sand army ahead to send support in a short time.
Could they hold out until then?
These Sand ninja were filled with fear.
But Pakura saw some things that these Sand ninja didn't see.
Both Fuguki Suikazan and Juzo Biwa fought her with the intention of pinning her down.
They had no intention of attacking fiercely to take her life.
Especially Juzo Biwa.
His fighting style was even more conservative than usual.
Why?
Could it be that they didn't want to kill her? They only wanted to kill those ordinary Sand ninja?
Impossible.
Pakura knew very well how much the Mist Village hated her.
Otherwise, those rumors about her wouldn't have appeared before.
The Sand Village selling her out was false.
But the Mist Village threatening her life for a ceasefire was true.
Pakura narrowed her eyes, thinking of a possibility.
"This only proves that these people have other, bigger schemes!"
"And Jinin Akebino is not here!"
"Where did he go?"
A Mist ninja sped toward the army led by Hozuki Mangetsu at extremely high speed.
Hozuki Mangetsu hugged the Hiramekarei, eyes closed, resting his mind.
As if he didn't care about anything in the outside world.
Jinin Akebino revealed an anxious expression.
"Why hasn't the order come yet?"
"Calculating the time, it should have arrived."
"Is the progress over there not going smoothly?"
Jinin Akebino frowned.
"Or did Fuguki mess something up again?"
Fuguki Suikazan was dissatisfied with Jinin Akebino.
Similarly, Jinin Akebino was extremely dissatisfied with Fuguki Suikazan.
Aside from the fact that the two had always been at odds.
Regarding the last incident, it was clearly Fuguki Suikazan who made the mistake, yet it implicated him to be punished as well.
Moreover, with Fuguki Suikazan's track record, Jinin Akebino felt it was very likely that Fuguki would do something like that again.
"How about we don't wait?"
Jinin Akebino's eyes flickered.
"With our Mist Village's strength, fighting the Sand Village actually doesn't need to be that troublesome."
"It's nothing more than a few more sacrifices."
"The past was the past, now is now."
"Lord Mizukage's orders have come down."
"Maybe something really went wrong on Fuguki's side. If I lead the army to attack in advance, maybe I can even relieve them."
Jinin Akebino looked at Hozuki Mangetsu.
"Hozuki Mangetsu, things might have changed over there. The time has come, let's move."
Hozuki Mangetsu opened his eyes, glanced at Jinin Akebino, his expression unchanged.
"No orders."
Jinin Akebino frowned.
"There might really be a problem over there. The time has come, there's no need to be obsessed with orders."
Hozuki Mangetsu closed his eyes directly.
Jinin Akebino: "..."
Jinin Akebino turned his back, cursing Hozuki Mangetsu inwardly.
"What a piece of work!"
"No wonder the Hozuki clan is declining."
"He has no brain at all, doesn't know how to think."
"Yesterday, Elder Genji said to follow the plan. The time has come, but the order hasn't arrived. That means something might have gone wrong over there, making it even more necessary for us to act here."
"If we don't move, they will face the pressure of the entire Sand army."
"Even if their personal strength is strong, it's useless."
"Giving such a person the position of commander... he's unworthy."
Just then.
Jinin Akebino saw a Mist ninja approaching quickly.
"It's here! It's here!"
"Hozuki Mangetsu, Elder Genji's order is here!"
"Quickly order the attack!"
"Don't delay any longer."
Hozuki Mangetsu opened his eyes and stood up.
All the nearby Mist ninja looked over.
What they didn't notice was that high above them at this moment, a huge shadow was rapidly approaching directly overhead. On top of the shadow stood a human figure.