Jiraiya Departs the Village, Target: Land of Earth

Konoha, Hokage Office!

Tsunade sat behind her desk, her head lowered as she examined the scroll in her hands.

The scroll had been sent by Fugaku. The army under his command was already about to reach the border of the Land of Earth.

Tsunade attached great importance to the Land of Earth and Iwagakure.

The Land of Water and Kirigakure had become their steadfast allies, while the Land of Wind and Sunagakure had now fallen under their control. Three of the Shinobi World's five great nations were already theirs, making the campaign against the Land of Earth the highest priority.

As long as they successfully conquered the Land of Earth this time, the remaining Land of Lightning would be nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

Although she had already sent both Naraku and Shisui to the Land of Earth, Tsunade still felt somewhat uneasy.

The Land of Earth was nothing like the Land of Wind. The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, possessed both strength and experience far beyond what ordinary people could match.

Her elegant brows drew together slightly as a thoughtful look flashed through Tsunade's eyes. She wondered whether she should send reinforcements to Naraku.

Konoha currently had no shortage of elite combatants. There were more than five Kage-level shinobi alone.

Naraku, Kakashi, Shisui, Itachi, and Guy, who had mastered the Eight Inner Gates—these were all Kage-level powerhouses among the younger generation. Of them, Naraku and Kakashi were far stronger than ordinary Kage-level shinobi.

Tsunade estimated that, with her current strength, she would be considered near the bottom among them.

Although there were quite a few Kage-level shinobi, each of them had been dispatched. She had sent Kakashi to assist Mei Terumi.

With Kirigakure's combat strength, if they were not reinforced, Mei Terumi's side would not be