On the official road leading to Land of Fire, a team of eight thousand people marched forward in a mighty manner.
The flag was flapping in the wind, with the logo of Kumogakure embroidered on it, and a bolt of lightning sandwiched between two clouds.
Each performs his or her duties and is arranged neatly.
The sound of footsteps shook the ground slightly and raised dust that could be seen from miles away.
Can't cover it.
I didn't even want to cover it up.
Shaoyu rode at the front of the team, his red armor looking like a burning flame in the sun. Fangtian Halberd stood beside him, his halberd blade shining coldly.
Shisui followed half a step behind him, looking back at the team behind him from time to time, with uncontrollable excitement on his face.
Lianhuo walked on the side of the team, his eyes scanning the terrain along the way, and his mind went through various possible situations.
This road leads to the Land of Fire border. According to the plan, they will meet Iwagakure's troops at the border, and then launch an attack on Konoha from two directions at the same time.
The news has already spread.
Kumogakure Eight thousand people went out to fight. Such a huge movement cannot be hidden even if you want.
In the small villages and towns along the way, those who saw this team from afar would stay away. Occasionally, a few brave ones would stand on the roadside and look around, but were driven away by Kumogakure's scouts.
A large-scale battle is not a mission carried out by a ninja team. It is too difficult to hide the whereabouts of eight thousand people.
"Sir Shaoyu," a scout galloped back from the front and knelt on one knee in front of the horse.
"Thirty miles ahead is the Land of Fire border. There has been movement on the Konoha side. All border posts have been withdrawn and people have withdrawn."
Shaoyu nodded.
"Keep exploring."
The scout took the order and left.
Shisui came up and said, "Brother, are Konoha's people scared?"
Shaoyu glanced at him.
In the original book, this guy is the most loyal to Konoha. Now seeing how impatient he is to attack Konoha, Shaoyu wants to laugh.
"It's not that I'm afraid. I'm just waiting."
Shisui was stunned for a moment. "What are you waiting for?"
"Wait for the information." Shaoyu said, "Wait until we find out how many people there are, where we come from, and where we are going. Then we can decide how to deal with it."
Shisui nodded thoughtfully.
Lianhuo leaned over from the side. "Sir Shaoyu, according to the current marching speed, we will reach the border tomorrow evening. Iwagakure Is there any news over there?"
"Not yet." Shaoyu said, "But they won't be late. Ōnoki is more anxious than anyone else."
Lianhuo nodded and said no more.
The team continues to move forward.
Konohagakure.
Hokage The atmosphere in the office was as depressing as dripping water.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was sitting on a chair, the tobacco in his pipe was half-burned, but he had forgotten to smoke. Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were sitting opposite him, both looking ugly.
There is a large map hanging on the wall, with the location of Land of Fire clearly marked. Two red arrows point to Konoha from the north and east, like two knives on the neck.
There was a person standing at the door.
Shimura Danzō.
His grounding was lifted.
Three days ago, he was locked up in the Root base and was not allowed to go out, see anyone, or interfere in any affairs.
Now, he is standing in the Hokage office. The bandage on his face is still the same, and his right eye is still empty, but he looks more energetic than before.
There is no way. The situation is critical and Sarutobi Hiruzen needs him.
"How is the intelligence collection going?" Sarutobi Hiruzen said, his voice a little hoarse.
Mitokado Homura stood up and walked to the map.
"Iwagakure, there are ten thousand people over there. The leader is Five-Tails Jinchuriki, Han."
He clicked on the map with his finger.
"They came from the direction of Land of Grass and have already crossed the border. At the current speed, they can enter the hinterland of Land of Fire within three days."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and said nothing.
Mitokado Homura paused and continued, "Kumogakure over there..."
He did not continue immediately.
Sarutobi Hiruzen raised his head and looked at him.
"Kumogakure What's going on over there?"
Mitokado Homura's Adam's apple rolled.
"Eight thousand people. The leader is..."
He paused again.
Utatane Koharu was anxious. "Who is it? You should tell me! Don't do everything one by one."
Mitokado Homura Take a deep breath.
"Uchiha Shaoyu."
The office was quiet for a moment.
It was so quiet that you could hear the crackling of candles burning and the rustling of leaves in the wind outside the window.
Then the voice of Utatane Koharu broke the silence.
"Who?!"
"Uchiha Shaoyu." Mitokado Homura said again, "The Uchiha Hawk Faction who defected a few years ago. Over the years, I only know that he joined Kumogakure and became the elder of Kumogakure, but what he did specifically is unclear. I didn't expect... I didn't expect that he would lead the attack on Konoha this time."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand tightened on the pipe.
Uchiha Shaoyu.
He remembered that face. Young, sharp, with the unique pride and disdain of Uchiha.
At that time, he was still a Jonin, very close to Uchiha Setsuna, and was one of the representatives of Hawk Faction.
Later, he defected. He took a dozen Uchiha elites with him and disappeared overnight in Konoha.
Later, I heard that he prospered in Kumogakure. He became an elder and a popular person in front of Third Raikage.
Unexpectedly, now he brings eight thousand people to fight Konoha.
Danzo's face turned ugly.
His one eye stared at Mitokado Homura, and his voice was very low. "Uchiha Shaoyu?"
"Yes."
Danzo's hands were clenched tightly. His knuckles turned white and blue veins popped out.
"You shouldn't have let him go then!" His voice came out from between his teeth.
"I have long said that there is no good thing in Uchiha! If we had killed them all earlier, why would these things happen today!"
Utatane Koharu glanced at him and wanted to say something, but swallowed it back.
Sarutobi Hiruzen said nothing.
He took a puff of cigarette and slowly exhaled it. The smoke dispersed in the air, blurring his expression.
"What's the use of talking about this now."
His voice was very calm, a little abnormally calm.
"Everyone has come. Eight thousand people, plus Iwagakure's ten thousand, a total of eighteen thousand. You told me that he should not have been let go at that time - Danzo, can you let these eighteen thousand people go back now?"
Danzo said nothing.
Sarutobi Hiruzen knocked the pipe on the edge of the table and knocked out a small amount of ash.
"You should think about what to do now." He said.
Mitokado Homura walked back to his seat and sat down.
"The number of ninjas that Konoha can mobilize now is about 15,000, but they don't count as ninjas."
He paused.
"Uchiha over there..."
He didn't say anything, but everyone knew what he was going to say.
Uchiha How many people can be sent out? How many people are willing to send out? After Danzo's incident, how much trust does Uchiha still have in the village? Fugaku How long can that weakling Fugaku suppress the clan members?
Utatane Koharu said.
"I have contacted Hyuga. Hiashi said that Hyuga will contribute, but they are responsible for guarding Main Family, and the number of Jonin they can send is limited."