The front lines were locked in a stalemate. The fighting had started in spring, and now it was already late autumn.
The border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire had expanded by more than a hundred miles. The stench of blood hung thick in the air across those miles, and the birds and flowers had vanished. The once-shady forests had become a wasteland of blowing sand.
While taking stock of the supplies, Bing San discovered that the provisions for the outer front had been cut in half. In other words, more than half the troops on the front lines had become casualties.
Of course, the Land of Wind had it even worse.
The war had dragged on for a long time, and both sides had suffered heavy losses. Their food and supplies had also begun to run short.
To make matters worse, elite Sand Ninja squads had been sabotaging things in the rear.
And the one leading them was Ebizo, that old schemer. The front lines were getting tighter by the day, and wave after wave of Ninja and supplies were being sent from Konoha to reinforce them.
Konoha had only fourteen or fifteen thousand registered Ninja in total, and its territory was vast, with enemies on all sides. Its defensive lines were too long, and every stretch needed to be guarded.
Konoha shared a full border with the Land of Fields, the Land of Rivers, and the Land of Hot Water. Beyond those three small countries lay the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth. It wasn't realistic to station troops in the small countries, so they had no choice but to deploy large forces along the long front lines.
The command center at Kikyo Mountain was especially lively that day. It wasn't just the Jonin who were "arguing"—their leaders were there too.
Danzō sat there, covered in dust, drinking tea. Orochimaru propped his left cheek on one hand, lost in thought. Bing San sat awkwardly in the middle, in the "commander's" seat, watching the crowd below as they bickered.
"Enough. We're short on supplies everywhere, and short on people everywhere. I know all that.
Can you stop arguing here? I said I'd do it as soon as possible. I said we don't have any right now, and we don't."
Shin'nosuke Sarutobi, the old soft-hearted man, had been driven to the brink by all the arguing and finally lost his temper.
Orochimaru rested his face on his left hand and watched with an amused smile. Danzō, too, slowly sipped his tea. The two of them acted as if none of it had anything to do with them.
But the Jonin below weren't about to back down from Shin'nosuke this time. Their own leader was watching, after all. There was no way they could show weakness. If they did, they'd be in for a beating.
Suddenly, Bing San shouted, "Silence! Emergency orders from Konoha!"
Then he quickly bit his finger and began forming Hand Seals.
Bing San was now the ideal courier. His clone could carry items back and forth through summoning without any risk.
With a bang, Bing San's Strength Clone appeared, holding two scrolls.
The Strength Clone handed the scrolls straight to Danzō. Orochimaru saw them and clicked his tongue, but said nothing more. Clearly, even he had nothing to say about this situation.
Danzō frowned as he read the first scroll. After opening and reading the second, he let out a deep breath and said, "Monkey, I told you long ago that you'd regret this. Now it's too late for regrets. What a pity, what a pity." Then he passed it to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru read the first scroll, which said: September 21 (three days ago). Cloud Ninja from the Land of Lightning launched a surprise attack on a Konoha camp. More than thirty Jonin defending the line were killed; casualties among the Chunin and Genin have not yet been tallied. Respectfully submitted by Tsuchi Rou, Team 9 of the Anbu.
The second scroll read: As the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning have declared war on Konoha, the front lines are under severe pressure. Order the Land of Wind forces to abandon the first and second lines of defense and hold Kikyo Mountain's main camp at all costs. In addition, Elder Shimura Danzō is ordered to return to the village immediately with his unit of Ninja.
Shimura Bing San, Peerless of the West of the Land of Wind, will command the Land of Wind front. Orochimaru will oversee all military operations.
Just then, three Anbu appeared with blood still running down their bodies.
The three Anbu reported urgently, "Dispatch from the front! Chiyo, Ebizo, Pakura, and Rasa have gathered a force of roughly seven thousand and launched an assault on the main camp.
Lord Shikano Nara requests that the main camp send full reinforcements immediately. Otherwise, the front will be lost within three days."
Orochimaru flicked his hand. "It seems fate has decided. Everyone, leave us. We need to discuss this."
Danzō also waved them away. Only Danzō, Orochimaru, Shin'nosuke Sarutobi, Jiraiya, Aburame Torune, Torifu Akimichi, and a few others remained in the tent. Nara Shikaku was there too. Danzō had specifically assigned him to Bing San as his "brains."
Danzō spoke first. "You've all seen the orders. I'll soon be taking my subordinates back to Konoha."
Orochimaru understood at once. Danzō didn't want to lose his own loyal forces. He was going to make a run for it.
Orochimaru's eyes shifted as he said, "There's nothing wrong with Elder Danzō leaving. But without his Ninja forces, we won't have enough strength here. So I'll have to ask Lord Bing San to cover our retreat."
Danzō's expression changed, and he snapped, "Orochimaru, have you no shame? You'd send a child to his death?"
Orochimaru replied coldly, "If the front is defeated, it's only natural for Peerless of the West, the commander, to cover the retreat."
Danzō cursed inwardly, but said aloud, "Of course. A general in the field need not obey every order from above. We'll certainly retreat, but first we'll wait for the troops on the first line to pull back.
Everything is for Konoha."
Orochimaru said slyly, "Of course. Everything is for Konoha."
The others were speechless at the pair's shameless remarks.
Jiraiya spoke up. "According to Shikano's message, three days really is the limit. We need to set out right away. If we arrive too late, it'll be a disaster."
Aburame Torune looked displeased. "Don't be so hasty. What are you rushing for?
We need time to gather reinforcements, lay traps, and prepare medical supplies, among other things.
What kind of commander are you, 'sneaking off' like this? Did you get the position through the Third Hokage's connections?"
Jiraiya's face turned bright red. He had left the front line to the ailing Yukiya Nara and gone off to find Tsunade.
He really wasn't suited to being commander. Then again, he and Bing San were "colleagues" to begin with; they'd only needed his reputation as one of the Sannin.
Nara Shikaku cut in. "From what my father said, he can hold out for two more days. That means we have one day to prepare."
Shikaku bit his nail and continued, "There's plenty of water at Wind Ravine Valley, and it lies between two mountains. The passage is only a little over two hundred meters wide.
I see. Elder Danzō, Lord Orochimaru, please look here."
Shikaku pointed to a spot on the large map in the middle of the tent and said, "Since my father says he can hold out for three days, then he'll hold out for three days.
So if we retreat, this must be the route."
Danzō and Orochimaru exchanged a glance, then nodded. Bing San asked curiously, "Why take this route? Wouldn't the main road be faster?"
Shikaku explained, "The Land of Wind produces many puppeteers. Puppeteers excel at traps and poison.
If we retreat along the main road and the Wind Ninja pursue us, we'll be the ones to collapse.
Puppets only need to spend a little Chakra to run. Our Ninja forces, on the other hand, will have to expend their stamina."
Then he pointed at the map again. "Bing San, look. This area is lush with vegetation, but it's all low trees and shrubs.
It won't slow our Ninja forces down much. But the puppets won't be able to pursue us at full speed.
Between the two mountains, there's only this natural bridge, over a thousand meters long and about two hundred meters wide. Waterfalls lie on either side."
Shikaku then pointed to another spot on the map. "This is the highest point in all of Wind Ravine Valley. It's over thirty meters long and about a hundred meters wide.
If you gentlemen block this spot, you can not only cover the front line's retreat, but might even score a great victory if the enemy pursues too aggressively."
Before you continue