From the Western woods, Rasa slowly emerged. He looked toward Shikaku beneath the distant city gates, feeling slightly calmer.
It seemed Hoshino Maki hadn't had time to reach Kikyo Castle yet. But then two streams of Gold Dust appeared around Rasa, and his gaze sharpened.
He couldn't tell whether the situation was good or bad. Hoshino Maki hadn't taken Kikyo Castle, but his exhausted troops would also face a tough battle if they suddenly ran into Konoha's forces.
The Sunagakure Shinobi behind Rasa didn't need to be told. They drew their Kunai and crouched, ready to charge at any moment.
Seeing this, Shikaku's side did the same. Shikaku furrowed his brows. His people had braved the snow and traveled through the night, then stood freezing outside for ages after they arrived. They would likely be at a disadvantage if they fought the Sunagakure Shinobi now. Rasa, at the head of the enemy troops, had such a ferocious look in his eyes that he seemed ready to eat someone.
The two forces stood neither close nor far apart. A charge would bring them together in moments; all it would take was a spark to ignite the situation.
"Hoshino Maki, is this your doing?"
After a brief standoff, Shikaku called out toward the city behind him.
Rasa heard Shikaku's voice too. Startled, he looked up at the city wall and saw that smug, grinning face poking out, waving at him.
"Rasa, don't get the wrong idea. We're all on the same side. The others have had a long, exhausting journey. Come in and have a bowl of hot soup. I've prepared loads of delicious food you can't get in Sunagakure. It's really good!"
After hearing Hoshino Maki's words, both groups fell silent.
News that Rasa and Hoshino Maki were competing for the