The Allied Shinobi Forces entered the desert region from the direction of the Land of Lightning, while the Akatsuki advanced from the direction of the Fire Country.
At this point, raiding the major hidden villages was meaningless. Aside from Kumogakure, the other villages had already evacuated their civilians, leaving behind nothing but empty shells.
It could be said that the major hidden villages had committed all their forces this time. The reason they were so united was that the Akatsuki possessed the ability to destroy any one of the hidden villages on its own.
Although both armies were huge, they marched at incredible speed. Leaving aside the Allied Shinobi Forces, the hundred thousand White Zetsu controlled by Kabuto reached the vicinity of the battlefield in just over ten hours.
The main battlefield was a vast expanse of desert and wasteland. It lay on the border between the Land of Lightning and the Fire Country. If Kumogakure and Konoha went to war, this would be the buffer zone.
On both sides of the desert and wasteland were large forests. Entering either forest was equivalent to entering the territory of the Land of Lightning or the Fire Country.
Before reaching the desert that served as the main battlefield, the two armies had already clashed in the forests on either side. Some White Zetsu had crossed the desert and reached the forests on the outskirts of the Land of Lightning.
White Zetsu could disguise themselves as other people. Naturally, this advantage would manifest itself in war.
Whoosh, whoosh...
Dozens of figures flashed through the forest. They were shinobi from the Allied Shinobi Forces, belonging to the vanguard.
Hundreds of White Zetsu emerged from the ground. They all looked exactly alike, with short, pale-green hair, pallid skin, and faintly visible spines on their bodies.