Yagura confidently began making strategic deployments. Though Yoru had considerable concerns, he said nothing more.
On the battlefield, the commanding general's decisions and orders inherently took the highest priority. It was taboo for subordinates to question their commander's decisions.
The entire Kirigakure army began moving once more.
Meanwhile, on the Iwagakure Battlefield a thousand miles away.
Yagura's proposal for cooperation was delivered to Iwagakure at once, landing in the hands of the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki of the Two Scales.
"I never expected Konohagakure to send even their Jinchuriki to the front lines. It seems they truly don't have many cards left!"
Ōnoki looked over the intelligence report in his hand, skipping straight past the heap of bullshit cooperation rhetoric and focusing on the battlefield information. A moment later, the little old man's expression became remarkably animated.
"What is it, Third?"
"See for yourselves."
Ōnoki handed the scroll to the Advisor Elders beside him. After just one glance, several of them cried out in alarm.
"Jiraiya was killed by Kirigakure?"
"Yuki Yoru, a member of the Yuki Clan?"
"Even in Sage Mode, he was defeated? How is that possible?!"
The elders found it difficult to believe. As one of the main combat forces on the Iwagakure Battlefield, they knew very well just how powerful Jiraiya was.
During the early stages of the war, Iwagakure had been unstoppable when both of their Jinchuriki took the field.
It was only because Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze had intervened that they managed to hold back Iwagakure's Four Tails and Five Tails Jinchuriki, stalling Iwagakure's advance.
Even as an enemy, Ōnoki had no choice but to admit that Jiraiya possessed real skill.
Yet such a top-tier combatant had actually died on the Kirigakure Front, at the hands of an unknown youngster.
How could that be possible?!