North and South in Motion

The Land of Fire, on the eastern coast.

"Can't those bastards from the Mist Ninja clan just shut up for a couple of days? Has that Shitsukura Shikuro's brain been filled with too much water?"

Standing on the edge of the cliff, gazing at the distant horizon, where the sea and sky meet, the azure sky and the sea blend seamlessly; without careful observation, it's almost impossible to distinguish where the sky ends and the sea begins.

Yuki Hatsuzuki had no interest in the scenery she had seen for over a decade. She bit her fingernails and cursed Shitsukura incessantly.

Life in the village was so comfortable: clocking in at work, disciplining the wayward younger generation, having a couple of drinks with a few close friends at the tavern, and then going home to drink heartily from the bottle...

As a result, that Shitsukura started a war. As an expert who knew the situation in the Land of Water and the Mist Ninja, she was entrusted with an important task: to lead four thousand ninja soldiers to this place to resist the attack of the Mist Ninja.

"... I just want to stay home and drink! You bastard!"

Yuki Hatsuzuki bit her nails, looking utterly hopeless.

Previously, she had to shoulder heavy responsibilities for the survival of her clan, leading them in a struggle for survival. Why, now that her clan has joined Konoha, does she still have to keep toiling away...?

Behind the cliff, on the steep mountain path, a ninja in a green vest came running along the treacherous trail.

"Chief."

The ninja from the Yuki clan slowed their approach and tentatively called out.

They were well aware of their patriarch's alcoholism; once he abstained from alcohol for an extended period, his temper was like a powder keg, ready to explode at the slightest spark.

The ninja delivering the message didn't want to get involved and become a sacrifice.

"Any news?"

Yuki Hatsuzuki asked.

"The Mist Ninja have landed at Xiyu Cape and routed the garrison stationed there."

"Xiyu Cape? Pass on my orders: dispatch two hundred elite troops to Xiyu Cape, with Uchiha No leading the team. If we encounter any Uchiha No Mist Ninja... I only recognize heads, not prisoners." Yuki Hatsuzuki instantly entered command mode, his previous dejection seeming like Utakata illusion.

The qualities forged in the harsh conditions of the Land of Water are not easily erased.

"Xiyu Cape... Tell Hatsuzuki- sama... Hatsuzuki- sama, I understand."

Upon receiving the order, Uchiha No stood on tiptoe and looked at the towering cliffs on the coast. Although the field of vision of his Mitsudomoe Sharingan was not as wide as that of the Byakugan, it was still beyond the reach of the naked eye.

Her graceful figure was faintly visible on the cliff!

My heart skipped a beat!

He cursed inwardly, thinking, "Couldn't that brat Uzumaki Katsuki be a little quicker? He should marry his little niece sooner and break the Uchiha Clan's rule against intermarriage. That way, he can plan for his future happiness. After all, he's not young anymore!"

Uchiha No controlled his agitated emotions, mustered two hundred men, and then surged into the forest like a tide.

Without any baggage, the two hundred people traveled along a straight line, taking the shortest route to Xiyu Cape.

In the north, within the Land of Earth.

A ninja army is rapidly advancing south, traversing valleys and ravines, raising clouds of dust.

Barren mountains, with hardly any weeds, this is a true depiction of most of the Land of Land of Earth. The massive rocky mountains are incredibly sturdy, stubbornly resisting the erosion of the fierce winds.

"Father, do you really believe what that so-called Mist Ninja envoy said?"

Soaring through the sky like a bird, Kitsuchi admired this power, but he didn't forget to express his unease.

"Believe? Hmph! That kind of guy who talks nonsense has absolutely nothing to be trusted about him." Ōnoki spat and sneered repeatedly. "I'd rather believe I'll encounter a ghost at night than believe that kind of nonsense."

"Then why did you... agree to send troops?"

The Kitsuchi seemed somewhat bewildered.

Uchiha Genso, with his silver tongue, rambled on and on in the Tsuchikage's office, trying to incite the Stone Ninja and Konoha to go to war, and his own father readily agreed.

They promised that the Stone Ninja would march south to attack Konoha, and they did just that.

Below, the Stone Ninja army moved swiftly, their swaying figures dense and countless.

"... Can't you use your brain for once?" Ōnoki glared angrily. His second son had decent talent for cultivation. Although he hadn't awakened his Kekkei Genkai and couldn't learn Dust Release, he was extremely talented in Earth Release, so he hadn't completely disappointed him.

However, he was not as quick-witted as his eldest son, and he never expected to succeed him as the Fourth Tsuchikage.

"Our spies in the Land of Fire have sent back news that the Mist Ninja has indeed gone to war with the Konoha. This is the most important point, and the appearance of this Kirigakure envoy has given us a perfect excuse to start the war. There's no reason not to take advantage of it."

Kitsuchi is just slow to react in this regard, but it's not that it's completely clueless.

He understood the meaning behind Ōnoki's words, and his pupils suddenly contracted!

"Are you saying you planned to go to war with Konoha from the very beginning?"

"Certainly."

Ōnoki's eyes were gloomy.

"But do you think we are a match for Konoha right now? Konoha's strength has been increasing year by year in recent years. I'm not saying this to discourage our own morale, but the gap between us and Konoha cannot be bridged by willpower alone. Once a fight breaks out, it will be beyond our control." Kitsuchi Tu said in a deep voice, his words full of disapproval.

Based on his assessment, he was not optimistic about the plan to attack Konoha.

"If we don't fight now, when will we?" Ōnoki didn't scold him; his calm tone made Kitsuchi feel a little uncomfortable. "You said it yourself, Konoha is getting stronger year by year, both in terms of quality and quantity. Tell me, when would be a good time for us to fight Konoha?"

The sharp retort left Kitsuchi speechless; his mouth opened and closed several times, but he didn't know what to say.

That's right. If we don't fight now, when will we?

He hadn't even considered peaceful coexistence. The Land of Land of Earth was too barren, and the annual grain production was limited. Once a disaster struck, it became even more pitiful, unable to support too many idle ninjas. The only way out was to expand outwards, that is, to move south.

Successfully invading the Land of Fire would be ideal, as Land of Fire wealth is the envy of many nations. Even if they fail to invading, they could still reduce the population and alleviate the pressure from domestic population growth.

War is necessary.

Every Stone Ninja knew they had to wage war, either to die on the front lines or to starve to death in the rear.

Konoha is getting stronger every day, so it seems like it might be better to fight sooner rather than later.

Kitsuchi fell silent. He wasn't good at this kind of thing. He sighed deeply, unloading the burden from his heart. Now that the die was cast, all he could do was attack and kill the enemy. Thinking about anything else was useless and would only add to his troubles.

Focus on preparing for battle!

This is what he's best at, and the only thing he can do. (To be continued)