Mizunotsuki Shigure's messenger arrived at the frontline camp on a cloudy evening.
The camp of Kirigakure is located deep in a dense forest on the border of Land of Fire, backed by an underground river and flanked by naturally formed sandstone cliffs, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack.
The tents were spread out in a row, and the smoke from the cooking pots hung close to the ground in the humid air, mixed with the smell of sea and rust.
The atmosphere in the campground has been very good lately.
Konoha was retreating steadily on the frontal battlefield, and its supply lines were cut to pieces.
Although Mitokado Homura, that old guy, has good strength, he can only talk about the army on paper. Uchiha Fugaku can actually fight. Unfortunately, the morale of the elite Uchiha under him has collapsed since the last time someone dug out their eyes. They are unable to stand alone.
Kirigakure's offensive came one after another, and Konoha's defense line had retreated thirty miles.
Yagura was sitting in the main seat of the central military tent, holding the letter in his hand.
In front of him stood Yuki Clan's messenger, a young man in his early twenties, wearing Yuki Clan's iconic white robe, with a calm face, neither humble nor overbearing.
There are also several Kirigakure jounin captains in the tent, arranged on both sides.
"Say it again."
Yagura has a loud voice.
"Before the cause of my teacher's death was found out, Mizunotsuki Shigure became Fourth Mizukage?"
"Yes." The messenger's answer was simple and clear.
"Master Fourth Mizukage has officially succeeded three days ago. Council of Elders unanimously approved it. Master Genji personally stamped the official seal. This is the official document of the succession ceremony, with the seal of Mizukage Building and the joint signatures of the heads of the four clans."
Yagura did not take the document. His fingers slowly tightened on the letter paper, and several wrinkles were made on the paper. The Jonin captains in the tent looked at each other, and several of them had unconsciously pressed their hands on the handles of their swords.
Karatachi Yagura, Third Mizukage Kutsuki Baidiao's only direct disciple, Kirigakure's supreme commander of the frontline troops.
Most of the jounin under him were brought out by him single-handedly, and their loyalty to him far exceeds the loyalty to any Kirigakure family.
As long as Yagura says a word, they will turn around and fight back to Kirigakure without hesitation.
Yagura Put the letter paper on the table and smooth out the wrinkles with your fingers.
The clan leader of Mizunotsuki Shigure. Yuki Clan, the holder of the Ice Release blood inheritance, and the best at strategy among the four clans.
The four ethnic groups united, Suikazan Fuguki rebelled, Genji cooperated, and his teacher Kutsuki Baidiao died in Mizukage's residence on the night of his wife's death. "The identity of the murderer is unknown."
It's all so compact, as if someone had sewn it together stitch by stitch.
How long have the four tribes been waiting for this day?
Why would Suikazan Fuguki betray the enemy at this juncture?
Genji Why didn't that old fox resist?
Also, those four Ninja Blades that were thrown on the Konoha battlefield.
How was he accurately retrieved by the four tribes in the chaos of war? He almost has the answers to these questions.
He was silent for a long time, and the Jonin captains who had arrived in the tent began to exchange uneasy glances.
Yagura raised his hand and motioned for everyone to get out.
The Jonin hesitated for a moment, but finally filed out of the tent. Only Yagura and the messenger were left in the tent.
"You have also seen the situation on the battlefield. Konoha is being suppressed by us, and Mitokado Homura cannot hold out for long. Withdrawing troops at this time is equivalent to handing over the victory to others."
The messenger didn't answer. He just stood there quietly. Yagura suddenly realized what he was doing.
He was trying to convince the messenger, or rather, he was trying to convince himself.
"What if I don't go back?" Yagura asked.
"Then you will have no choice but to defect."
The messenger's voice was calm.
"Master Fourth Mizukage said that you are the disciple of Kutsuki Baidiao, but not Kutsuki Baidiao. He has no hostility towards you, and he does not call you back to liquidate you."
"But if you don't go back, you will be Kirigakure's only rebel ninja, because except for you, all Kirigakure Ninja on the front line have received the notification of the new Mizukage's succession."
"They will obey the orders of Mizukage Building. At that time, the troops around you and the jonin you brought out with your own hands will also leave you."
Yagura's pupils shrank slightly.
The order to withdraw the troops was passed on early the next morning.
No one talks nonsense. Kirigakure's ninja obedience is engraved in his bones, and he will retreat when his superiors tell him to.
The tents were dismantled one by one, Kunai Shuriken took back the tool bag, the campfire was extinguished and the smoke stopped.
The superiors gave them ten days to withdraw their troops within ten days.
Someone was scolding in a low voice while closing the tent, saying that Konoha's defense line was fucking torn, and that old guy Mitokado Homura could last for ten more days at most. At this time, his brain was caught in the door when he retreated. But the scolding continued, and his hands were not slow at all.
Obedience is a required course for every ninja.
Yagura stood on the rock wall next to the camp, facing east.
The sea breeze came from that direction, it was salty and familiar.
He held the letter in his hand. The paper was folded and unfolded, unfolded and folded again. The creases had rough edges, and the corners were damp with sweat from his fingertips.
The messenger made his words very clear last night.
Going back to report on your work is not going back to stand trial. The words were polite, but the meaning was not polite at all.
Not going back is a traitor. He, Karatachi Yagura, has lived in Kirigakure for more than 20 years and has fought more battles than some jounin have eaten. The word "rebel" cannot be compared with his 8 Ganzi.
But when it comes to going back, no one can tell what the attitude of that guy Mizunotsuki Shigure is.
He has never seen Mizunotsuki Shigure take action, but he knows that this person can twist the four tribes into a rope under Kutsuki Baidiao's eyes, make Genji the old fox nod and seal his name, and make Suikazan Fuguki betray him.
This kind of person would not just invite him to have a cup of tea and catch up on old times.
"Yagura-sama." The deputy stood behind him at some point. An old jounin in his early forties, with an old scar on his face from his brow bone to his chin, had been with him for almost ten years.
"The troops are ready."
Yagura folded the letter and stuffed it into his arms. "Let's go."
On the same day, in the underground cave along the coast of Land of Water.
When White Zetsu emerged from the rock wall, Obito Uchiha was running circles around the cave.
Every step was taken firmly. Although the steps still had the sluggish feeling of recovering from a serious injury, they were much better than half a month ago when I couldn't even stand firmly.
Tobi ran next to him, shouting in that high-pitched voice as he ran.
"Come on--Obito Uchiha player has overtaken--although he is the only one on the track--"
Obito Uchiha's forehead was throbbing with veins. "Shut up!"
"Go-forward--overtake again--Obito Uchiha player continues to overtake himself--"
"What the hell-"
White Zetsu ignored the commotion over there and went straight through the three secret doors and stopped in front of the stone chair.
"Lord Madara. Kirigakure The newly appointed Fourth Mizukage Mizunotsuki Shigure has issued a recall order to the front line. The troops will be withdrawn back to the village within ten days. Karatachi Yagura did not disobey the order after receiving the order. He led his troops to prepare to withdraw from the front line and is rushing back."