Uzumaki Kuming's return and his departure for the Land of Fire's front lines had sent shockwaves through the Shinobi World. The Land of Earth, which had hoped to profit from the conflict between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire, had suddenly slowed all its military operations.
The Cloud Ninja in the border region had also grown more cautious. Though they had already taken effective control of the Land of Moon, they didn't press on to seize the Land of Rivers. Instead, they began pulling back their forces, as if waiting for something.
The orders transferring Uzumaki Kuming had already reached the troops stationed along the border.
At that moment, Nara Lukin, the commander of Konoha's border forces stationed in the Land of Rivers, was anxiously waiting for Uzumaki Kuming to arrive.
According to the village's original orders, the man in command of the northeastern border forces was Nara Lukin, the previous head of the Nara Clan. He was also the father of Nara Shikaku, the current Hokage's aide.
"Father, have you received any news about the Fourth Hokage's whereabouts?"
"Father, do you think this could be Lord Hokage's strategy—to intimidate the Land of Lightning and keep them from acting rashly?"
"The Cloud Ninja in the Land of Moon have indeed settled down lately."
In the tent, Nara Shikaichi looked over the scrolls his subordinates had brought in. He couldn't find the news he cared about most—not a word about where Uzumaki Kuming and his party were!
Nara Shikaichi had been Uzumaki Kuming's classmate at the Ninja Academy. Now a Jonin, he held no particularly high rank among the front-line forces, but he was responsible for relaying messages to their commander, Nara Lukin. Though he had no real authority, the position gave him access to many military secrets