Night fell.
In a dense forest along the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass.
"Fire Release — One-Sword Style: Torch Flame!"
"AHHH!!"
Uchiha Ren swung his blade.
A massive tornado of flames roared outward. The last three Iwagakure shinobi on the battlefield let out miserable screams before collapsing into the raging sea of fire.
"Which group was that?"
Uchiha Ren sheathed his sword and turned to Hizashi Hyūga, who was breathing heavily beside him.
"The fifth group," Hizashi replied after a moment of calculation.
"We eliminated roughly one hundred and fifty enemies this time."
"Adding the earlier engagements—twenty-four in the first, nineteen in the second, thirty-three in the third, and eighty-seven in the fourth—we've already taken out over three hundred Iwa shinobi."
After a brief pause, he added,
"The other pursuit squads should have achieved similar results. However, judging from the movement patterns of the Iwagakure forces, their remaining troops have probably regrouped."
"It will likely be impossible to continue picking them off in small groups."
After the Battle of Kikyō Mountain Fortress, Shikaku Nara immediately organized four pursuit units led respectively by:
Uchiha RenObito Uchiha OrochimaruMinato Namikaze
Each unit commanded roughly three hundred shinobi, pursuing the retreating Iwagakure army. Their objective was to intercept isolated groups of enemy shinobi and drive the main Iwa forces toward the Land of Grass border.
Meanwhile, the main Konoha army remained at Kikyō Mountain Fortress to clean the battlefield, stabilize the defensive line, and arrange treatment for the wounded before reinforcing the pursuit later.
Upon hearing the report, Uchiha Ren immediately issued orders.
"Leave ten men behind to clean the battlefield and care for the wounded while awaiting reinforcements."
"The rest will continue pursuing the remaining Iwagakure forces."
Hizashi nodded and immediately left to carry out the order.
After a moment, Ren spoke again.
"Contact Minato's team and the others. Confirm their positions and whether they can reach their designated locations on schedule."
According to Shikaku Nara 's plan, the four pursuit squads were acting like a giant net, herding the remnants of the Iwagakure army from four directions toward the Land of Grass.
Once the enemy reached Tenchi Bridge, Konoha's border forces stationed nearby would cut off their retreat.
At that moment, Ren's four squads would close in from all sides and launch a full assault, wiping out the remaining Iwagakure forces in one decisive strike.
Because Konoha's pursuit squads held a clear numerical advantage, were led by Kage-level fighters, and carried the momentum of victory, these engagements against scattered Iwa units were essentially one-sided battles.
Heavy casualties were unlikely.
Ren then asked,
"How many casualties did we suffer this time?"
Hizashi replied,
"In the first three engagements we had no casualties."
"In the fourth battle we lost four shinobi, with another four seriously injured—but the injured were still able to move."
"This time the enemy force was much larger. We lost eleven shinobi, and twenty-six were seriously wounded and unable to continue fighting."
"A total of thirty-seven casualties."
"Three hundred enemies eliminated…"
Ren muttered thoughtfully.
"With four pursuit squads, that's roughly twelve hundred Konoha shinobi in total. The remaining Iwagakure army should be about the same size."
From the earliest scattered survivors to the more organized Iwagakure units appearing now, it was clear that the retreating forces were regrouping.
Finding isolated enemy squads again would likely be impossible.
"Don't push them too hard," Ren added calmly.
"As long as we keep driving them toward Tenchi Bridge, that's enough."
Ren's gaze flickered slightly as he looked toward a nearby tree.
"Any new developments elsewhere?"
A figure slowly emerged halfway out of the tree trunk.
It was Guruguru .
With an exaggeratedly serious tone, he said,
"The situation isn't looking too good."
"Two hours ago, Kumogakure shinobi escorted the Fourth Raikage out of the Land of Fire."
"They've already entered the Land of Taki, and they're almost at the Land of Iron by now."
The Land of Iron was something of an anomaly in the shinobi world.
Although its people practiced chakra cultivation, their application of chakra differed greatly from that of other nations.
Instead of training shinobi, they cultivated samurai.
In terms of national strength, the Land of Iron was considered the strongest country outside the Five Great Nations.
However, it remained strictly neutral and refused to participate in the conflicts of other nations. The other countries also avoided bringing their wars into its territory due to its formidable military power.
Once the Kumogakure shinobi escorted the Raikage into the Land of Iron, pursuit would essentially become impossible.
They could calmly treat his injuries there.
So it was unlikely the Raikage would die anytime soon.
Guruguru , however, seemed rather gleeful.
"At this rate," he snickered, "Kumogakure might soon have to choose a Fifth Raikage."
Ren shook his head.
"It won't be that simple."
"They couldn't stop in the Land of Taki, but once they reach the Land of Iron, the situation changes."
After a moment, Ren asked again,
"What about Sunagakure and Kirigakure? What's happening on their fronts?"
Guruguru answered,
"The remnants of the Sand forces have already withdrawn to the Land of Rivers under the protection of Suna reinforcements."
"The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, has regained consciousness after Elder Chiyo treated him, but he's still weak and won't be able to engage in intense combat for a while."
"As for Kirigakure…"
"They already withdrew after the fighting at Kikyō Mountain Fortress ended."
"The Fourth Mizukage is busy dealing with the mess that Madara left behind."
"They only sent small Mist units to harass the southern coast of the Land of Fire, pretending to prepare an invasion in order to distract Konoha."
"But…" Guruguru said mysteriously.
Ren raised an eyebrow.
"But what?"
Guruguru grinned.
"While the other villages are quiet…"
"Iwagakure is making a big move."
"According to the latest intelligence, Iwa has assembled another two-thousand-man force that's marching rapidly toward the Land of Grass."
"They're expected to cross Kannabi Bridge and enter the Land of Grass in about four hours."
"And the commander of that army…"
"…is the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure—Ōnoki."
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