With the Konoha ninja forces fully assembled, Uchiha Ying Yue, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya led the elite troops in a vast procession toward the front lines in the Land of Rain.
The four young Konoha powerhouses bore the heavy responsibility of driving back Amegakure and defending Konoha's honor. Behind them lay the hopes and trust of hundreds of elite ninja.
Meanwhile, in Iwagakure, Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki learned from a spy's report who Konoha had appointed to command its forces.
He wasn't particularly worried about these new-generation ninja, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya.
In his eyes, though the young ninja were quite capable, they were still inexperienced and unlikely to pose a genuine threat to Iwagakure.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had sent them into battle, most likely to help his students build up achievements and prestige.
However, when Ōnoki's eyes fell on the name Uchiha Ying Yue, his expression turned grave.
Uchiha Ying Yue, this young ninja, had already attracted considerable attention throughout the Ninja World.
With Wood Release and the Mangekyō Sharingan, Ying Yue was no ordinary genius.
In Ōnoki's view, Uchiha Ying Yue's potential might even rival that of Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama in their prime.
"I absolutely cannot let him grow stronger," Ōnoki resolved inwardly.
Though the joint assassination attempt with Kumogakure had failed last time, he wouldn't let this opportunity slip away so easily.
Uchiha Ying Yue's existence posed a massive threat to Iwagakure's future. He had to eliminate the young genius as soon as possible.
Ōnoki immediately revised Iwagakure's battle plan.
He had originally planned to concentrate his forces against the Land of Rain and seize more resources and territory. Now, however, he decided to turn his attention to Konoha's ninja forces.
Hanzo of the Salamander in the Land of Rain was troublesome, but eliminating Uchiha Ying Yue