Night in the Land of Iron.
Fourth Raikage A leaned against a rock, his voice hoarse. "Our situation isn't important. We need to find out what's happening with the war first."
C nodded and took a communication scroll from his ninja tool pouch. As he read the battle report that had arrived not long ago, his expression gradually turned grave.
Seeing C's expression, Darui stepped forward to read it as well. Both saw disbelief in each other's eyes.
The Raikage frowned. "What happened?"
C said heavily, "On the night we received your orders, the front lines were attacked by an unidentified aerial force. Our Ninjutsu couldn't hit them at all! Before the first wave of attacks even saw the enemy, they had already... collapsed!"
"What?!" The Raikage abruptly rose to his feet. "Explain it clearly. What aerial force? How heavy were the losses?"
"They were Dawn Shipping ninjas. Behind them were golden flying devices similar to the technology once used by the Sky Ninja, but far more advanced. Less than five kilometers after the vanguard entered the Land of Hot Water's border, they were hit by diving attacks... Countless were injured!"
"Impossible..." the Raikage muttered. "Isn't Dawn Shipping a commercial company? Even if it has armed forces, how could it possibly compare to Kumogakure...?"
"Lord Raikage, I think our top priority should be returning to the front-line camp as quickly as possible. If you remain absent for too long, I'm afraid morale may start to waver..." Darui said worriedly.
The Raikage was silent for a long while before finally making up his mind. "Then we'll take a detour."
"We'll enter the Land of Fire from the south, then turn toward the Land of Hot Water. It'll take an extra day, but...
He did not finish.
Because at that very moment,