The chaos within Konoha's army didn't last long.
The earlier chain of explosive tags, while large in scale, had caused only four to five hundred casualties — the real damage was to their formation and morale.
And that horrifying wave of miniature salamanders afterward? It hadn't killed many either. But it had completely shattered the soldiers' ntal state.
These were hardened veterans who had survived countless wars — yet none had ever seen anything like this.
Several ninja who'd had salamanders crawl into their clothes simply sat staring blankly at the sky, feeling as though life no longer held aning.
Others had developed a sudden, incurable case of trypophobia.
Even the legendary Sannin — Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru — were seething, faces pale with fury.
Jiraiya's hands trembled uncontrollably, his blood pressure soaring as anger choked his throat.
Tsunade summoned Katsuyu once more to report the situation back to the command headquarters.
---
Konoha Command Headquarters — Land of Rain Frontline
"I have never seen a man that shaless!"
Even the usually composed Nara Rokujin couldn't help but curse as he read the latest intelligence.
"What's wrong, Rokujin?" asked Akimichi Torifu, his long-ti comrade, standing beside him.
Rokujin tossed him a scroll. Torifu read for a — then grimaced.
"This is… disgusting."
"Do you have a counterasure?" Torifu asked.
If anyone could think of one, it would be Rokujin — the sa man who, with minimal intel, had previously deduced that Sunagakure and Agakure had ford an alliance and that a coordinated decapitation strike was in motion.
Two days ago, headquarters had confird his deduction: in the Land of Rivers, Konoha's special operations squad had clashed with Suna assassins led by Chiyo herself.
And now, they would once again need his intellect to turn the tide.
Rokujin stroked his chin, frowning deeply.
"My earlier analysis that Sunagakure and Agakure were in league is now confird. Salamander Hanzō is clearly buying ti for the Suna. We're facing a joint front — A and Suna united.
"Iwagakure, for so reason, has stalled at the border — no movent at all. That gives us a window.
"Sunagakure's main camp defenses are still incomplete. This may be our only chance to strike — to destroy their headquarters, kill their command, and cut off supplies. If we can seize the A battlefield, the Suna will be forced to retreat into their own territory, and Konoha will regain the initiative."
He paused, exhaled slowly.
"I expected Hanzō to intervene and stall us, but with the three restraining him, Agakure would have to mobilize at least two thousand shinobi to delay our five-thousand-strong army. That's nearly seventy percent of their total strength.
"If we pivot imdiately and counterattack the A forces instead, our nurical advantage will be overwhelming. Even if they fight to the death, they'll be annihilated — and with that, Agakure will be crippled, effectively removed from the war.
"And if, by luck, Orochimaru and the others manage to keep Hanzō occupied long enough, then Konoha's main army could actually finish him off.
"Without Hanzō, Agakure would lose both its leadership and its deterrent power. At that point, we could ignore Sunagakure entirely and occupy the entire Land of Rain. Victory here would be a certainty."
He sighed heavily.
"But I never expected Hanzō to resort to such revolting tactics. Those stunts have broken my troops' morale, and the army's formation is in complete disarray. It'll take ti to reorganize and calm the soldiers down.
"Even so, we still have ti. What worries is whether Hanzō has other disgusting tricks up his sleeve.
"And honestly, who was the idiot that wrote in our intel files that he was a man of 'Honor'?!"
Rokujin pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'll need to think carefully. This shouldn't turn into a total disaster… not with the kind of thods he's using."
Before he could finish, a scout burst into the tent, panting.
"Lord Nara! Urgent report! Intelligence confirms Salamander Hanzō himself is leading a force toward our location! You must evacuate imdiately!"
Rokujin and Torifu froze. Their camp's defense numbered barely five hundred n. If Hanzō ca personally—
Torifu clenched his fists. "Nothing in this country escapes his eyes. It was only a matter of ti before we were found. We've already been exposed. He'll need so ti to get here, though. Start evacuating supplies now!"
Rokujin nodded sharply. "We'll withdraw so distance — not too far. If we can stall Hanzō here, even briefly, it'll ease the pressure on our front-line troops imnsely. That alone is worth the risk."
---
anwhile — In a Stone Cavern Sowhere in the Land of Rain
Hanzō sat cross-legged, breathing steadily, restoring his chakra reserves.
"Heh… That shadow clone and illusion projection should've fooled their scouts nicely. Judging from their reaction, they didn't realize it was fake. The clone's chakra should last about an hour…"
He closed his eyes.
"Ti to recharge. I used up quite a bit earlier."
---
Konoha Village — Hokage Building
At the sa ti, back in the Leaf Village—
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, slamd a hand on his desk, fury erupting across his face.
"Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, killed by Salamander Hanzō — and this intel arrives only now?! How could such a critical report be delayed?"
Though the ssage was only two days late, in warti, that was unacceptable.
"There was an incident during transmission," Danzō Shimura replied in his low, cold voice.
"Our A-based informant was caught in a genjutsu. They didn't kill him — they just tampered with the timing. Whoever did it wanted us to learn late."
"Then this changes everything." Koharu Utatane frowned deeply.
"Hanzō's strength must be re-evaluated imdiately. The A front could turn unstable fast. We need to dispatch additional elites. Your three students alone are no match for him. If the Rain battlefield falls, Fire Country itself will be endangered."
Hiruzen rubbed his temples. "Impossible. We're already stretched thin.
"Hatake Sakumo and Uchiha Furuta are in the Land of Fields countering Kumogakure.
The Kumo just launched a full invasion yesterday — even their Two-Tails Jinchūriki has entered the battlefield.
"Our troops there have already clashed with them — I can't pull any reinforcents from that front.
"As for the Hyūga and Inuzuka clans, I've stationed them on the coast to guard against Kirigakure's sea raids. The Kiri has started crossing the ocean."
A knock interrupted them.
"Report! A ssenger from the Land of Rain has arrived for the Hokage and the Fire Daimyō. He left this letter and departed imdiately."
"A ssage from the A at this mont?" Hiruzen frowned, accepting the envelope.
He broke the seal, scanned it—
Then his palm slamd down again.
"Salamander Hanzō… that arrogant fool! Does he think he's untouchable?! Have these small nations forgotten who we are?!"
Koharu, Homura, and Danzō looked up, startled. Hiruzen rarely lost his temper.
"What happened?" Homura asked.
Wordlessly, Hiruzen handed them the letter.
All three read it—then their faces turned livid.
"This bastard actually declared war on the Land of Fire?!" Danzō spat. "A minor nation challenges us?"
"This is an insult to our honor," Homura said coldly. "Never before has anyone declared war on the Fire Country. We've always been the ones dictating war — not the other way around."
Koharu snorted. "The Land of Rain only survived because we tolerated it out of respect for Hanzō's na. Now that sa man spat on our faces."
In the shinobi world, formal declarations of war ant little — most wars began without them. Like the current battle between Suna and Konoha in the Land of Rain, no one had bothered with ceremony.
But this — this was about dignity.
If soone declared war on you and you didn't retaliate, it ant cowardice.
If you fought back and lost, it ant weakness.
Either way, your reputation was on the line.
And now, in the middle of a World War, being challenged by a small country like A was ridiculous and humiliating.
You're already fighting us, and now you're declaring war? What, are you mocking us for not hitting you hard enough?
Hiruzen's jaw tightened.
"Danzō — I know you still have forces hidden under your command. You're not keeping them back this ti. Deploy them to the Land of Rain. Imdiately."
Danzō's single visible eye narrowed, his pride wounded. "Understood. This ti, I'll make sure to put the Land of Rain in their rightful place."
Before the Hokage could speak further, another ssenger burst in.
"Report! Urgent intelligence from Sunagakure!"
The barrage of ssages today made Hiruzen's head pound. He took the scroll, broke the seal, and read aloud.
"The Third Kazekage has gone missing — believed to be en route to the Land of Rain battlefield."
The room fell silent.
Then four hearts dropped in unison.
Hiruzen's face drained of color as he shot to his feet.
"This is bad!"
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