With the Fourth Raikage and Dodai helping him from within, and Konoha's threat bearing down from without, Blue B's position as acting Raikage remained secure for the moment. He led the remnants of Kumogakure's main force back to the Land of Lightning's border, where they established a final defensive line to halt Konoha's advance.
When the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning learned that the Raikage and Karai had died in battle and the Kumogakure Army had been routed, he panicked and allocated substantial military funding, determined to keep his homeland secure.
Meanwhile, despite suffering some losses, Konoha's army had achieved further victories by pursuing its defeated enemy. But unless Konoha committed every last bit of its strength, the seven or eight thousand troops stationed in the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Frost could, at most, inflict severe damage on Kumogakure as they had now. They could go no further.
For Orochimaru and Uchiha Gen to lead eight thousand Konoha troops to victory over a major ninja village, turning a situation where Danzo had abandoned cities and territory and nearly been driven out of the Land of Hot Water when they first arrived into one where they were almost invading the Land of Lightning itself, was a success that made everyone take notice. But they had already reached the limits of what this force could accomplish.
At the same time.
In a mountain range within the Land of Fire.
The forest stretched like a sea of ink, lush and verdant, while the winding mountains resembled a sleeping dragon.
Four White Zetsu carried a crude palanquin. Seated upon it, Uchiha Madara was encased in a white shell. Though his vitality was
far from vigorous, it remained reasonably calm and stable.
Beside him, Uchiha Fugaku walked ahead, clearing a