A week passed.
News that the Third Raikage had stayed behind to cover the retreat, fought for three days and three nights, inflicted devastating losses on Iwagakure's ten-thousand-strong ninja force, and ultimately died of exhaustion finally spread throughout the ninja world.
Following Hyuga Wuye's interception of the Raikage father and son, which had severely wounded the Eight-Tails jinchuriki, another bombshell dropped.
The situation between the Land of Fire, Land of Earth, and Land of Lightning was instantly reversed, falling into a strategic stalemate.
If two other battlefields had not still tied them down, Wuye would have even wanted to fight all the way to Kumogakure Village.
Only by baring their fangs could they intimidate the other ninja villages. Under the Third Hokage's leadership, Konoha had been far too mild these past years...
Just as Konoha had secured half the battlefields, a targeted conspiracy gradually surfaced.
The Land of Fire and the Land of Water did not share a border, separated by a vast ocean.
The fighting along the coastline had lasted for several months, with thousands of ninja locked in relentless slaughter.
Just as Konoha's ninja received news of victories on other battlefields and celebrated, Kirigakure Village unexpectedly committed most of its forces.
Led by the Third Mizukage, ninja from numerous bloodline-limit clans mobilized and launched a decisive battle against the Land of Fire's coastline.
Konoha's forces, meanwhile, were led by the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan, with many clan ninja gathered under them. By all rights, their combat strength should not have been low...
"Elder! Clan Head!"
Uchiha Mikoto rushed anxiously into the Uchiha Clan's encampment, running toward the largest tent in the center.
Even on the front lines, the area occupied by the Uchiha Clan was set slightly apart from the other Konoha ninja.
"Mikoto?"
Uchiha Fugaku