Assassinating the Konoha Strategist!

"Lord Shikaku, the Fifth Hokage has issued an order!"

A Konoha "messenger" quickly approached the Temporary Command Post at the top of the slope and loudly stated his purpose.

The Anbu first carefully inspected his token. Only after confirming there was no problem did they allow him through.

After passing through the outer defensive line, he finally reached Nara Shikaku, who was constantly issuing orders and sending the messenger ninja beside him to carry them out.

"An order from the Hokage?"

Hearing the messenger's words, Nara Shikaku withdrew his gaze, wanting to know what orders the Hokage had.

Although command had fallen into his hands after several powerful fighters entered the battle.

He knew very well that he was merely the executor. The one truly calling the shots was Jiraiya, the Hokage, so he wanted to know what the order was.

There were two options now.

Either they went all in, taking advantage of their remaining strength still holding the advantage despite the heavy losses, and launched a desperate counterattack.

Or they cut off the tail to save the body, abandoning some of the ninja to cover the retreat of the remaining forces.

The defensive line had already been breached anyway. The next target would be the Tenshukaku, and there were no "walls" there. It could be easily broken through.

But the moment his eyes clearly made out the messenger before him, Nara Shikaku's brilliant mind instantly sounded an alarm.

Because... something about him had changed.

Every messenger had been personally selected by him, and he remembered every single one of their faces.

And he had never told anyone about that.

His heart sank into an icy abyss!

The other party's Transformation Technique and disguise had fooled both the Anbu and his two friends. That alone showed how terrifying it