Rain fell harder than usual over the Land of Rain that night.
The Hokage's Office, however, was dry, its air heavy with the smell of old paper and ink.
A desk lamp lit the map on the table. The border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain wound across it like a scar. A red circle marked a location inside the Land of Rain: Wailing Gorge.
Shikaku Nara stood beside the desk, his expression grave.
"Lord Hokage, an urgent report from the Southern Border joint exercise force."
An ANBU operative knelt on one knee and presented a Chakra-sealed scroll with both hands.
Baishi did not take it immediately.
His gaze remained on the red circle. It marked Orochimaru's underground base, a place official documents had designated a "high-risk biological contamination zone."
Konoha's joint exercise force was stationed just outside that circle, while Amegakure's forces approached it from within. Together, they had the area surrounded.
"Go on," Baishi said calmly.
The ANBU operative kept his head lowered and reported in an even voice. "The frontline commander says we've reached the exercise boundary as planned and completed the cordon around the contamination zone. Amegakure—meaning Akatsuki—has been very eager. They've repeatedly asked through their liaison officers when we'll enter the zone for 'deep coordinated cleanup.'"
Shikaku's brow tightened almost imperceptibly.
Coordinated cleanup. A nice way of putting it. They simply wanted Konoha's troops beside them when they took on Orochimaru.
Whoever went in first would take the first losses.
The ANBU operative continued, "The frontline commander requests confirmation: should we proceed with Plan B as originally arranged, advancing alongside Amegakure's forces while maintaining a safe distance of one kilometer?"
A brief silence settled over the office.
Shikaku looked to Baishi for a decision. Plan B was the safest option the