Mizuno Kumo had become much livelier after avenging her great hatred.
Their shared battle had also greatly eased the relationship between Ito Rei and her. However, with the other girl's slightly scheming personality, Ito Rei had never managed to gain the upper hand.
The battlefield changed by the moment. Thanks to intelligence relayed by Jiang Rui's Avatar, the five of them were not particularly cut off from news.
After a day of fermenting, the intelligence quietly spread throughout the ninja world, whether people intended it to or not.
The Water Shadow was like he had swallowed gunpowder. After one fight, he started another, forcing Hiruzen and Jiraiya's forces into steady retreat.
Only thirty years old, Hiruzen Sarutobi already wore a weathered face full of melancholy as he puffed away at his pipe.
He was irritated. He could not understand it. Just a few days ago, the situation had been overwhelmingly favorable. Victory had practically been delivered to their doorstep; losing should have been impossible. So how had everything been overturned overnight?
In just one day, Orochimaru and Danzo had been intercepted by the Kazekage's forces. After a brutal battle that left heavy casualties on both sides, they had no choice but to remain locked in a standoff.
He had still been wondering why the Water Shadow's offensive was so ferocious. The other side had launched straight into an attack without a word. Hiruzen had thought the two villages had their frictions, but no deep-seated grudge... Then the news arrived.
The Konoha White Fang had died, the Sixth Assault Unit had been wiped out, Tyrant Rimuru had appeared behind the southwestern front, and Tsunade had not only lost her younger brother but had also been forced into a full retreat while surrounding and exterminating Mist assassination squads.
Now there was a