At the border of the Land of Wind, night lay like black ink, pressing heavily down upon the earth.
The campfires flickered, their light weak, yet they outlined the allied shinobi, silent and grim.
The night breeze swept past, carrying a trace of chill. But no one in the camp noticed—the invisible net was quietly being woven.
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, sat upright on a crude wooden chair. He was short, but his presence was steady and imposing.
His gaze pierced the firelight as he stared at the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, and the Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, across from him.
Mei Terumi had not only sent Kirigakure's elite forces to provide support from the flank; she had also come to the Land of Wind in person, showing Kirigakure's resolve to wage war against Konoha.
Uchiha Yoru had assassinated the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, then swept through the Cloud Village and the Land of Lightning using a clone technique. Such outrageous acts had left the daimyō of every nation feeling unsafe.
So they had spared no expense in allocating resources, all to eliminate the Uchiha heretic who, in their eyes, was practically an "evil god."
As a result, when the Land of Earth, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Water formed their alliance, they had already begun secretly plotting to divide up Konoha's remaining forces and resources once it fell.
In terms of seniority and prestige, Ōnoki was undoubtedly the commander of the allied forces.
Rasa looked at Mei Terumi and couldn't help murmuring, "I never imagined that your Fourth Mizukage... had been under genjutsu all this time."
"Have you found out who was behind it?"
Mei Terumi nodded slightly, unable to hide the hatred in her eyes. "Before Lord Yagura died, he said that before he