Turmoil in the Shinobi World

Rasa knew that the tide had turned against him.

The reinforcements and precise command Inoichi Yamanaka had brought, the rekindled resistance of Shinku Yuhi's remnants, coupled with his own mental trauma and severe chakra depletion...

Unless Elder Chiyo at the rear headquarters dispatched a thousand-man reinforcement force.

Otherwise, if they continued their assault, they would only bury Hidden Sand's elite in the meat grinder that was Mount Kikyo.

That was impossible when he thought about it. Chiyo's aim was merely to make Sand Village into a powder keg and a spearhead, drawing the other three great shinobi villages into ganging up on Konoha.

She was not stupid. If they truly broke through Mount Kikyo, Konoha would fight them to the death.

If they drew most of Konoha's forces over, would that not be making a wedding dress for someone else and pulling chestnuts from the fire? The leaders of the other three great shinobi villages would laugh themselves silly.

Onoki: "Ack, ah, my back!"

Of course, they still had to fight for Mount Kikyo.

They simply could not go all out now. They had to wait until the other three great shinobi villages drew away all of Konoha's firepower.

Having reached that conclusion, Rasa no longer hesitated and immediately gave the order:

"Hidden Sand! Retreat!"

He gave the command through gritted teeth, using every bit of strength he had.

Then he slapped both hands against the ground, manipulating countless grains of gold dust into a massive golden barrier that split the battlefield apart.

It temporarily halted Konoha's pursuit as well, shielding the Hidden Sand forces as they withdrew like a receding tide.

As the golden waves of sand carried the Hidden Sand shinobi away in disarray, across the devastated Mount Kikyo position—

Konoha's shinobi erupted in earth-shaking cheers, though they were mixed with endless exhaustion and grief for their fallen comrades.

Shinku Yuhi watched the retreating Hidden Sand shinobi, then Inoichi Yamanaka, whose forehead was beaded with sweat but whose gaze remained resolute, and let out a long breath.

The Mount Kikyo defensive line had held.

At least it had not fallen under his command. Even before the Hokage, he could say that he had not failed Konoha!

But this prolonged and brutal tug-of-war was far from over.

The thunderous cheers across Konoha's position gradually died down, replaced by the suppressed groans of the wounded, the sobs for fallen comrades, and the heavy breathing of those who had survived the disaster.

Leaning on a broken kunai, Shinku Yuhi looked over the ravaged battlefield and his utterly exhausted subordinates. His eyes held both relief that the line had been defended and a grief too deep to fathom.

Inoichi Yamanaka directed the medical and intelligence units into swift action—saving the wounded, tallying losses, and, most importantly, sending news of this bloody victory back to Leaf Village as quickly as possible.

It would also serve as an indirect reminder to Orochimaru to hurry over with the five-thousand-strong main shinobi force.

All manner of information regarding this Konoha–Sand War spread from Mount Kikyo and swept across the entire shinobi world in an instant.

"Hidden Sand committed an unprecedented force of elite troops, with Rasa himself—who possessed the potential to become Kazekage—personally taking the field, only to be driven back by two of Konoha's Jonin."

"Hidden Sand's offensive was exceptionally fierce, nearly tearing through the Mount Kikyo defensive line and threatening the heartland of the Land of Fire."

"Konoha's defenders suffered grievous losses. Shinku Yuhi's forces were nearly crippled, but with reinforcements and tenacious resistance, they ultimately repelled Hidden Sand's onslaught."

Report after report, stained with blood and fire, contained enough information to make the leaders and decision-makers of every major power in the shinobi world breathe faster, ambition gleaming in their eyes.

Hidden Stone Village, the Tsuchikage Building.

Onoki floated in midair, clutching a freshly deciphered Konoha intelligence scroll. A cold smile appeared on his shrewd old face.

"Heh heh heh... Hidden Sand really went all in this time. That kid Rasa is still too green, letting that old fox Chiyo use him as a gun. But..."

A sharp glint flashed through his clouded eyes.

"The results are even better than expected. Konoha's weakness has been laid bare."

He turned toward an elite Jonin seated below him.

"Todokoro, you will lead the demolition corps and ninjutsu units toward the Land of Grass border! Make it look as though we are ready to attack at any moment! Also, put some pressure on the Land of Rain..."

"Tell Hanzo that the time for watching is over. He needs to choose a side. Either open up Amegakure and cooperate with our forces in driving straight into the Land of Fire, or stay put and behave!"

"Konoha's wound has already been torn open. Now is the time to rip off a huge chunk of flesh!"

It was as though he could already see Konoha running itself ragged beneath assaults from every direction, just like during the First Shinobi World War and the Second Shinobi World War.

Hidden Cloud Village, the Raikage's Office.

The Third Raikage slammed a fist onto the desk. The sturdy Raikage's desk let out a groan under the strain as lightning danced over his muscular body.

"Excellent! Heaven has eyes!"

"That brat Rasa from Hidden Sand nearly succeeded? It looks like this lion called Konoha really does have loose teeth!"

Battle intent blazed in his eyes.

"Dodai, assemble the troops immediately! Reinforce the Land of Hot Water border! Put pressure on Konoha! At the same time, dispatch elite squads to thoroughly scout for weaknesses in Konoha's border defenses! The opportunity... has arrived!"

"Yes, Lord Raikage!"

Dodai, the Third Raikage's assistant, calmly recorded the orders, though a sharp glint also flashed in his eyes.

"Shing—"

Kirigakure, the Mizukage's Office.

"Hidden Sand... actually nearly broke through Mount Kikyo... How did Konoha become so weak?"

The Third Mizukage looked at the intelligence in his hand, his voice carrying a trace of surprise.

Before him stood Suikazan Fuguki, the sycophantic-looking head of the ANBU, and Hozuki Mugetsu, the Hozuki Clan head, whose gaze was as sharp as a blade.

"Konoha's losses appear to be far greater than we estimated. I hear that the Third Hokage's disciples, Orochimaru and Lady Tsunade, have both rushed over to provide support."

"Tell me, is this not an opportunity for Hidden Mist?"

Hozuki Mugetsu raised an eyebrow and asked doubtfully:

"Does Lord Mizukage mean... we should seize this chance to reclaim the trading rights of the Land of Waves?"

The Third Mizukage glanced at Genji, who sat quietly beside him as if he had fallen asleep, and inwardly called him an old fox.

"Mm... it is time for Konoha to feel the chill of Hidden Mist."

"The Land of Waves was originally a vassal of the Land of Water, yet most of its trade profits are controlled by nobles from the Land of Fire. Our daimyo has long been dissatisfied, and this year he even cut our funding by twenty percent."

"If we still do nothing, our daimyo will likely find another excuse to reduce our funding."

"Clan Head Mugetsu, I will trouble you to lead a thousand Hidden Mist shinobi in strengthening control over the islands near the former site of Whirlpool Country and establishing a forward base."

"Suikazan, lead the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and prepare to create friction along the Land of Waves and Land of Tea border, probing Konoha's eastern coastal defenses."

"It is time for the shinobi world to witness the renown of the Bloody Mist Village!"

"Yes, Lord Mizukage!"

A cold, murderous air filled the room.

Not long afterward, a delegation of Hidden Mist envoys quietly set out, their destination unmistakably—Sand Village.