Iwagakure Makes Its Move, Hidden Cloud Sharpens Its Blade

When Uchiha Lan arrived at the largest tent in the center of the camp and lifted the heavy flap, air mixed with the smell of smoke and medicinal herbs rushed over him.

More than a dozen jonin captains had already gathered inside the tent. They were all the backbone of Konoha's Land of Rivers defensive line.

The atmosphere in the tent was even heavier than its smell.

Under the dim yellow light, the dozen or so Konoha jonin captains sat or stood, their faces marked by travel-weariness and killing intent. Their gazes were fixed on Baiyun Zaojian beside the simple sand table in the center.

The temporary commander of Konoha's main camp in the Land of Rivers had his brows tightly furrowed.

Since this was a jonin meeting, Uchiha Lan's arrival caused little stir. Only a few jonin who knew him gave him slight nods.

Without exchanging pleasantries, Baiyun Zaojian went straight to the point. His low voice was clear enough for everyone to hear:

"Everyone, the latest report is in. To the northwest, Iwagakure's main force has been confirmed to have crossed the Land of Grass border and engaged in a small-scale clash with the eight thousand shinobi under Lord Kunugi Mokume!"

The kunai in his hand pointed at the Land of Grass on the sand table.

"The battle has not been large in scale, but it has been exceptionally fierce. Iwagakure has committed more than ten thousand troops, clearly intending to exert immense pressure and tie down our northwestern forces."

A restrained intake of breath went through the tent. A fierce battle involving ten thousand troops meant Konoha's northwestern line would be under enormous pressure.

Fortunately, Kunugi Mokume was an Elite Jonin from the same era as the Three Sannin and had extensive command experience. Holding back Iwagakure's army for a few months should not be a problem.

Baiyun Zaojian's finger did not pause. It moved eastward across the map before stopping heavily on the Land of Fields, his kunai nearly piercing the map.

"But more urgent, and more threatening, intelligence has come from here—Kumogakure!"

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping across every jonin present.

"Hidden Cloud's elite troops have moved in secret with astonishing speed. They have already seized vast areas in the northern and central Land of Fields, effectively controlling half the country! Their strategic intentions are obvious."

"The village has determined that it is only a matter of time before Kumogakure tears up the peace agreement and formally declares war on Konoha. Their seizure of the Land of Fields is meant to give them the best springboard and forward base for attacking the Land of Fire!"

This grim assessment confirmed Uchiha Lan's earlier analysis outside the tent, and it struck everyone's hearts like a massive boulder.

Fighting on two fronts, against the combined pressure of two great shinobi villages—Iwagakure and Hidden Cloud—was practically a repeat of the Second Shinobi World War.

"To address the Hidden Cloud threat," Baiyun Zaojian continued, a trace of resolve in his voice.

"The Third Hokage has issued an emergency order to transfer Lord Jiraiya, along with one thousand shinobi, from the Land of Rain front to the Land of Fields. He will personally organize the defenses there and resist a possible full-scale invasion by Hidden Cloud!"

Jiraiya's name brought a faint measure of reassurance. The title of one of the Three Sannin was still a reliable calming force.

It was a pity that Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha, was no longer around. Otherwise, he alone could have intimidated half of Sunagakure. As for the other half, they definitely would have wanted him dead.

That was the deterrence of a Shadow Level shinobi.

"Then what about the Land of Rain?"

A stern-faced jonin could not help asking. "With Lord Jiraiya transferred away, Amegakure..."

"That is precisely the key to our next mission!"

Baiyun Zaojian immediately picked up the thread, pointing his kunai at the Land of Rain on the sand table.

"Since Hidden Sand's Pakura unit has withdrawn from the Land of Rain and contracted its defenses around Mount Kikyo, the pressure on the Land of Rain front has dropped sharply. But that absolutely does not mean we can rest easy."

"Amegakure, the village ruled by the demigod Hanzo of the Salamander, has never been a compliant player. You should all know that during the Second Shinobi World War, the Land of Rain arrogantly declared war on the three great countries of Fire, Earth, and Wind at the same time."

"Though our three villages later crippled them together, Hanzo's ambitions have not died, and the village still possesses considerable strength."

He looked around at the crowd, his gaze blazing.

"If Amegakure judges that Iwagakure has gained the upper hand, or if Iwagakure recruits or tempts them, they may very well side with Iwagakure and even launch an attack on the Land of Fire themselves, hoping to claim a share of the chaos. The village has already anticipated this risk!"

The tent fell silent, broken only by the crackling of burning torches.

"Therefore, the Third Hokage's orders are extremely clear!"

Baiyun Zaojian declared decisively.

"Our Land of Rivers camp must completely crush the Hidden Sand southern forces entrenched here in the shortest possible time and bring the Land of Rivers conflict to an end!"

"The village's mission for us is this: after Lord Jiraiya leaves, dispatch five hundred shinobi to the Land of Rain to take over and reinforce its defensive line, closely monitor Amegakure's movements, and be ready at any time to support either the Land of Fields or Mount Kikyo battlefield."

It was clear that the Land of Rivers war had to be ended swiftly. They would then have to immediately split off troops and head north to fill a potential powder keg led by the demigod Hanzo.

Hanzo was a smart man, but it was precisely smart men with power like him who had to be guarded against.

Otherwise, Shimura Danzō would not have volunteered to negotiate with Hanzo in Amegakure late in the Third Shinobi World War, offering support for the destruction of Akatsuki in exchange for Amegakure fully siding with Konoha.

Of course, throughout the entire Third Shinobi World War, Amegakure did not actually side with Iwagakure. Compared to the other shinobi villages, Hanzo had been more inclined toward Konoha.

That was because Konoha, under the Third Hokage's leadership, had always favored a defensive, protective policy. As long as no one provoked it, it generally would not take action or stir up trouble.

Hanzo, who had become both a conservative and a dictator, liked that kind of shinobi village.

He had even once used a small elite force to ambush Iwagakure's supply lines, forcing Ōnoki into a temporary ceasefire and shifting his focus toward the Land of Grass.

(The manga mentioned that Iwagakure's attack on Konoha from the Land of Rain was delayed by Amegakure's guerrilla warfare.)

By the end of the Third Shinobi World War, Amegakure's orphans and remnants had formed "Akatsuki."

To reduce military expenses, Hanzo tacitly allowed the civilian organization Akatsuki to maintain public order and even supplied it with weapons (as established in the Book of Formation).

But he had not expected Akatsuki to grow so powerful that even members of his direct forces would defect to it, directly threatening his position.

That was why he eventually joined forces with Shimura Danzō in an attempt to wipe out that peace organization, which also revealed Hanzo's political leanings.

Of course, aside from Uchiha Lan, no one could guarantee that Hanzo would behave himself. Moreover, Iwagakure and Hidden Sand might open a Land of Rain battlefield at any moment, just as they had during the Second Shinobi World War. They had no choice but to stay vigilant.

"Time is running out, everyone!"

Baiyun Zaojian said gravely:

"Iwagakure is attacking fiercely in the northwest, Hidden Cloud is sharpening its blade in the northeast, and there is Hidden Sand to the west..."

"Konoha has reached a critical moment of survival or extinction. We must completely eliminate Hidden Sand in the southern Land of Rivers!"