The sky was just beginning to brighten, but the Konoha camp was already mobilizing.
In the faint firelight, Konoha's ninja hurriedly packed their supplies and prepared to depart.
Orochimaru, Tsunade, and the Uchiha stood on a makeshift platform, looking down at the ninja below.
Orochimaru's expression was stern, and Tsunade's brow was furrowed. They were both worried about Iori, but he remained composed, calming everyone's nerves.
Once enough people had gathered, Orochimaru began his pre-battle speech.
"This battle will likely be our decisive one against the Sunagakure Ninja."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over every ninja, then continued:
"If we lose, the Sunagakure Ninja will advance straight into our territory. The Land of Fire will be completely undefended against them."
"They'll rampage through our homeland, destroying and plundering everything in their path. They might even bring the fighting right into our village."
Orochimaru calmly laid out the cost of defeat.
The Konoha ninja below clenched their fists, their eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
"Our families and friends are right behind this defensive line. We have nowhere to retreat. We can only fight with everything we have."
Tsunade stepped forward and declared passionately, "The Senju Clan has always led from the front. I'll fulfill my duty as a member of the Senju Clan and fight to the very end."
Iori was the last to speak. Seeing his scarlet eyes, filled with ominous chakra, gave everyone a measure of reassurance.
"Don't worry. Don't hesitate. Fight with all your strength, and trust me: there will be no enemy before us that we cannot defeat."
He extended a hand and made his promise to the Konoha ninja.
"Yeah!" the Konoha ninja answered in unison, their morale high as they followed their orders to their assigned battlefields.
Orochimaru set off with his unit. Shisui and the others followed close behind, and they quickly disappeared into the dense forest.
Tsunade walked over to Iori with Shizune. The resolve on her face gradually gave way to tenderness.
She stepped forward and hugged Iori tightly, whispering, "You'd better come back alive, you brat. Remember that. Don't leave me behind."
At the thought of what had happened before, her hands trembled slightly, but she said nothing to dissuade him. She simply trusted him.
Iori gently patted her back. "I'll come back, I promise. Don't worry. I won't die in a place like this."
He couldn't explain to the others just how strong he was, so he could only comfort her with words.
After they parted, Iori made no attempt to hide his rush toward Kazekage Rasa's camp. He looked less like someone heading for a battlefield than someone joining a celebration.
"Did Konoha really split into two groups to attack the camps on either flank? Doesn't that leave our side wide open?"
In the Sunagakure camp, Rasa frowned, his voice carrying a trace of confusion and unease.
"What should we do? Send reinforcements to Bunpuku or Advisor Chiyo?"
He turned to Ebizo, hoping he could offer some advice.
Ebizo looked up at the messenger, his brow furrowing slightly. "Has no one attacked us here?"
The Sunagakure Anbu thought it over carefully. "Only one man is running toward us. Judging by his eyes and clothes, he should be a ninja of the Uchiha Clan."
Rasa's instincts sounded the alarm. Something was wrong—very wrong. He asked Ebizo, "Could there be something unusual about that Uchiha ninja?"
Ebizo considered it for a moment, then shook his head. He didn't know what Konoha was planning either, so all he could say was, "We have to proceed with caution. The Uchiha Clan has never been an opponent that's easy to deal with."
Rasa frowned deeply, but he had no way to back out now. They would simply have to meet whatever came their way.
He turned and ordered the Sunagakure Anbu, "Come on. Assemble the troops. Once we defeat the enemy, we'll go support the One-Tail Jinchuriki."
The Sunagakure Anbu quickly acknowledged the order. "Yes, I'll inform the jonin." With that, he hurried off.
Rasa took a deep breath, his voice resolute. "Whoever he is, whatever his plan might be, I swear in the name of the Kazekage that we will not lose."
The Sunagakure ninja swiftly gathered in the camp and streamed out, heading straight for the place where Uchiha Iori was waiting.
Iori stood on a nearby mountaintop, watching the Sunagakure army swarm toward him. He narrowed his eyes slightly, a disdainful look crossing his face.
"Trash, don't get in my way. Get lost. This is the last mercy I'll show you."
Iori spoke calmly. For some reason, though his voice wasn't loud, everyone heard it clearly.
"Are you kidding me? You're the one who's surrounded!"
A Sunagakure ninja roared furiously, gripping the kunai in his hand.
"Damn Konoha ninja! You dare come stop us all by yourself? Die!"
More of the Sunagakure ninja shouted, their emotions running high.
"Don't even think you'll get out of here alive!"
The Sunagakure ninja erupted in fury, driven both by their hatred of Konoha and by the rage of being insulted.
Rasa stared calmly at the enemy before him, his voice as cold as ice. "Since you came alone to stop our troops, I assume you've already made peace with the fact that you're going to die."
He paused, a hint of respect in his gaze. "Tell me your name. After you die, I'll remember it."
"Uchiha Iori. Remember that name. From today on, it'll become a nightmare for Sunagakure."
Iori raised his head with a hint of arrogance, his words full of scorn and provocation. "Then let's start with a greeting."
"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame."
After forming Hand Seals, Iori opened his mouth, and a raging blaze surged out like a violent sea, rushing straight at the enemy.
The flames reddened the sky. Waves of heat washed over them, and the scorching air made it almost impossible to breathe.
"Is that really Fire Release? It's terrifying!" a Sunagakure ninja cried in panic.
"Oh no! How are we supposed to defend against it?" Another Sunagakure ninja stood helplessly, fear filling his eyes.
Rasa's expression changed as he reacted at once. "Magnet Release: Gold Sand Raging Waves!"
He swept his hands out, and the Gold Dust on the ground quickly gathered into a massive barrier that rose to meet the oncoming sea of flames.
The flames collided with the Gold Dust with a shrill roar. The heat melted part of it, but the Gold Dust still stubbornly held back the fire.
"Anyone below jonin rank, fall back. Advisor Ebizo, take all the Chunin and go support Bunpuku. The other jonin and I will deal with him."
Rasa watched Uchiha Iori, his expression grave.
Ebizo nodded and quickly gathered the Chunin. This was no battlefield they could take part in.
Iori stood above them, the breeze brushing his face and his red cloak snapping in the wind.
He snapped his fingers, and golden ripples appeared above his head.
Several weapons shot toward Ebizo, stopping him in his tracks.
Iori coldly surveyed the Sunagakure ninja before him.
"I can't be bothered to chase after the Chunin, but the jonin won't be leaving this battlefield."
"Just die here obediently!"