Dark clouds blanketed the sky as the frigid early-winter wind swept across the vast northern plains, kicking up waves of yellow sand.
Tens of thousands of troops had set up camp on the Gobi Desert. Campfires stretched for miles, while the cold gleam of weapons and fluttering battle flags could be seen from afar.
Inside the command tent at the heart of the Land of Flame's camp, Enkō, dressed in a black robe, read a letter in his hand. After a long while, the corner of his lips curved slightly upward.
"From that expression, it looks like good news."
Inside the tent, Izuna had changed into a blue casual outfit. A faint smile rested on his handsome face as he unceremoniously snatched the letter from Enkō's hand.
"Come on, let me see. Oh?" Izuna raised an eyebrow. "Senju Hashirama really got shut down by Big Brother. Then, while retreating, they ran into an ambush by the Chinoike Clan and lost several hundred men to the Human Bomb corps. We suffered zero casualties in that battle, while they lost over a thousand?"
Unable to contain his joy any longer, Izuna burst into laughter. "Hahaha, serves them right! Wouldn't it have been better to stay quietly in Konoha? Why did they have to wade into this mess?"
Enkō smiled as well. "In that case, Konoha probably won't be making any large-scale moves for a while."
After all, Konoha had only come as reinforcements, not to fight to the death. Once their losses exceeded expectations, they would naturally slow the pace of their offensive.
And that left the Lightning Country, the ally in need of aid, in an uncomfortable position.
Before this, although the Lightning Country had only one last fighting force left, Enkō had not been in a hurry. Instead, he adopted