Sakumo's army had grown accustomed to this style of fighting. Though few in number, they were highly mobile and skilled at using the mountains and forests of the Land of Rice Fields to conceal their movements and wear down the enemy's stamina and supplies.
Hatake Sakumo and his men knew full well that the battle before them would determine life or death.
Their morale remained high, because they were not fighting for personal glory, but for the oppressed people.
Their conviction was firmer than that of the Five Nations Allied Army.
Meanwhile, Ying Yue's External Incarnation quietly infiltrated the rebel camp. He did not appear as the Hokage, but aided Hatake Sakumo in commanding the battle as a mysterious supporter.
Besides possessing powerful sage arts and lightning techniques, Ying Yue's incarnation also wielded the wind- and rain-summoning arts recorded in the Essential Arts of Peace.
The Five Nations Allied Army began its encirclement. Flags filled the sky as ninjas from every nation gathered on the battlefield of the Land of Rice Fields, advancing menacingly to surround the rebels.
Tens of thousands of troops pressed forward, holding an absolute numerical advantage over the eight thousand rebels.
Sixty thousand soldiers of the Five Nations Allied Army and eight thousand rebels began a decisive battle on the plains of the Land of Rice Fields, one that would determine the future of the Ninja World.
Before the battle, the rebels had used the terrain to build sturdy defensive fortifications. The Five Nations Allied Army, meanwhile, was on the offensive. With their numbers and ninja advantage, the allied forces' morale was sky-high as they prepared to wipe out the rebels in one thunderous strike.
Once the probing clashes ended, both sides swiftly entered a heated battle.
Though the rebels possessed powerful weapons and unwavering resolve,