Mount Kikyo Battlefield

But in truth, the little man inside Uchiha Ran's heart was already setting off firecrackers in celebration:

Wonderful! His teammates were practically divine support! This excuse was flawless! Not only did he not have to become cannon fodder on the main battlefield, he could also slack off openly and legitimately.

After all, he was recovering from injuries. It was normal for him to be in poor condition and less efficient at killing enemies, right?

And go "avenge" himself against that puppeteer?

Heh heh, that guy had nearly gotten him killed and certainly deserved to die—but that was only if he did not have hundreds of Hidden Sand comrades.

He could let him live a little longer. There was nothing he could do; Uchiha Ran was magnanimous and would not hold a grudge over those past few days.

He fell silent for several seconds, as though waging an intense internal struggle. Finally, he let out a heavy sigh, his voice carrying the complicated tone of someone who had "accepted his fate" while finding a "new goal."

"You... are right."

He raised his head, sweeping his gaze over his three teammates. His eyes became "resolute," and he even deliberately circulated chakra to make his complexion appear a little paler and weaker.

"I can't go to the main battlefield... but this grudge must be settled! That poisonous bastard... I, Uchiha Ran, will personally send him to the underworld!"

"Don't worry, Captain Ran!"

Tekka forcefully slapped him on the shoulder.

"Once Jonin Baiyun Zaojian's orders come down, we'll uproot those Hidden Sand scum—especially that puppeteer!"

Inasui and Daotian also rubbed their fists together, brimming with fighting spirit.

"Cough, cough, cough. Uchiha Tetsuka, if you dare slap me that hard again, once I recover, I'll smack you into the ground and let you experience what suffering feels like."

"Uh, sorry, Captain. I got a little excited."

"Hahaha~"

Cheerful laughter immediately rang out inside the tent.

They did not notice at all that while they were filled with lofty ambition, a feeling called relief flickered deep in Uchiha Ran's eyes.

The battlefield? Whoever wanted to go could go. It looked glorious, but in reality, it was a death trap.

Right now, he actually wished he could place a Zhaleme Delivery order and have it delivered straight to Hidden Sand's command headquarters, ending this war.

Before long, Jonin Baiyun Zaojian's orders reached Uchiha Ran's team.

The mission was clear: cooperate with the main force of the troops left behind to eliminate Hidden Sand's southern forces, who were harassing supply lines in the rear and attempting to tie down Konoha's main army, ensuring stability behind the front.

"Move out!"

Following Orochimaru's deep command, which nevertheless spread throughout the camp, five thousand Konoha ninja formed a silent black flood.

Under the cold moonlight, they silently departed the temporary camp and plunged into the mountain forests leading to Mount Kikyo.

They sped toward the hellish battlefield that would determine the fate of two villages and two nations.

Mount Kikyo Battlefield.

After Hidden Sand tasted the fruits of war, gaining money and supplies while successfully diverting the village's internal conflicts, it committed even more troops to the battlefield.

Even Chiyo and Ebizo personally entered the fray, and the war between Konoha and Hidden Sand grew increasingly brutal, with mounting casualties on the front lines.

Rasa of Hidden Sand in particular rose to fame in a single battle after launching a surprise attack with Magnet Release: Gold Dust Technique, wiping out more than five hundred Konoha ninja at Mount Kikyo.

If he had not accidentally fallen unconscious after being caught in the genjutsu of an illusion ninja named Shinku Yuhi, he would have led his troops through Mount Kikyo long ago.

Most absurdly, it was only after the war situation had become overwhelmingly favorable for Hidden Sand that they finally formally declared war on Konoha and the Land of Fire.

Though the Land of Wind's daimyo was deeply displeased and had a poor relationship with Sunagakure, under these circumstances, he could only grit his teeth and accept it, likewise issuing a declaration of war.

Mount Kikyo, Hidden Sand Command Headquarters.

The night was as black as ink, oppressive enough to suffocate. Only the dim yellow light swaying within the command tent barely dispelled the chill and bloody stench carried by the mountain wind.

Rasa sat in a side seat, studying the intelligence report in his hands, a faint and barely perceptible irritation on his young face.

On the battle map spread before him, yellow arrows representing Hidden Sand had achieved a huge breakthrough around Mount Kikyo.

But every other direction was covered in red markers symbolizing danger.

Granny Chiyo sat in the seat of honor, her slightly aged features appearing even more deeply lined under the lamplight.

Her younger brother Ebizo stood opposite Rasa, his eyes habitually narrowed and his hands tucked into his broad sleeves. He resembled a silent stone statue, with only the occasional gleam in his eyes revealing how quickly his mind was working.

He was Hidden Sand's most outstanding intelligence and strategy master. Even Rasa placed enormous importance on his opinions.

"Lord Ebizo, what is the latest situation?"

Rasa's voice broke the silence, carrying a note of respect.

Ebizo bowed slightly, his voice low and steady.

"Southern front intelligence has confirmed that Konoha's reinforcements number approximately one thousand. Led by Inoichi Yamanaka, they are marching day and night and are expected to reach the outskirts of Mount Kikyo by tomorrow morning at the latest."

Ebizo continued.

"In the direction of the Land of Rain, the thousand elite troops led by Pakura encountered the interception of Jiraiya, one of Konoha's Three Ninja. Pakura's unit has fallen into a hard battle, their advance has been stalled, and there is even... a risk of being pushed back."

A wave of suppressed gasps rose within the tent.

Pakura's Scorch Release was renowned throughout the ninja world, yet Jiraiya had suppressed her to such an extent?

Ebizo's finger continued sliding toward the southern portion of the map.

"On the southern front, the harassment force led by Baki pretended to be the main force, intending to pin down Konoha's reinforcements."

"But... they encountered Orochimaru's personal surprise attack. Baki's unit was caught completely off guard and suffered... significant losses. They were forced to withdraw and regroup, and will be unable to effectively restrain the enemy again in the short term."

One piece of bad news followed another, and the air in the tent seemed to freeze solid.

The fingers Rasa had been tapping against the table stopped, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

The temporary advantage brought by the surprise attack that had wiped out five hundred Konoha ninja—the battle that had made his name—seemed to be rapidly erased by Konoha's powerful foundation and top-tier fighters.

"Hmph!"

Rasa could not help snorting coldly, his voice full of a young man's unwillingness. "Jiraiya... Orochimaru..." As he spoke those names, wariness and fury intertwined in his eyes.

"Of Konoha's Three Ninja, aside from that medical ninja Tsunade, the other two have both emerged. Konoha has truly mobilized everything. Fortunately, that Hatake Sakumo... uh... my apologies, Elder Chiyo!"

As a newly risen powerhouse and important commander, he possessed status, but before the two highly respected elders in the tent, he still maintained the necessary deference.

He did not know why he had let those words—words that rubbed salt into her wound—slip out.

Granny Chiyo's fingers imperceptibly stroked the cold puppet joints hidden within her sleeve. In a hoarse voice, she murmured words that only Ebizo beside her could barely make out.

"It is nothing... Hatake Sakumo... what a pity... in the end, I never settled that debt with my own hands..."

Seeing that Elder Chiyo had not flown into a rage, Rasa secretly let out a breath of relief before continuing.

"We have committed so many troops, far more than before, and were preparing to win this war in one stroke. Are we really going to be stopped by a single mountain?"