The Stone Shinobi Mobilized

"Konoha shinobi, listen up! The first through fourth battalions, attack the Sand Shinobi with me. Fifth and sixth battalions, watch the Stone shinobi and stop any surprise attack!" Orochimaru shouted.

Several figures charged straight at the Sand Shinobi. Fugaku flicked both hands, sending a volley of shuriken along strange arcs toward Chiyo.

Sensing movement behind her, Chiyo spun around and swept her kunai through the air. Sparks flashed in rapid succession.

Chiyo frowned at the approaching Konoha shinobi. She had already guessed what Konoha intended.

"Chiyo," Fugaku said calmly, "Konoha Camp isn't somewhere you can come and go as you please."

Chiyo scanned the battlefield. Konoha forces had plunged into the Sand Shinobi's ranks, and the fighting had become a chaotic melee.

Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and the others charged toward the Sand Shinobi at the rear. Among them, only Chiyo could stop the group.

It was just like Konoha's earlier attack on the Sand Shinobi. The only difference was that the Stone shinobi force was much stronger than it had been then.

Zebon and Furukawa saw Konoha's sudden attack.

"Zebon, should we step in and help the Sand Shinobi through this? The Tsuchikage only just reached an agreement with the Wind Shadow.

"If Sunagakure is destroyed before our eyes, our plan to invade the Land of Fire will become even less likely to succeed."

"The situation is complicated," Zebon said. "The shinobi on both sides have built up plenty of hatred during the fighting. If we intervene now, many of ours might attack the Sand Shinobi outright.

"We wouldn't help them. We might make things worse. Our best option is to wait until the battle reaches its fiercest point, then lead the Stone shinobi against Konoha Camp.

"Few shinobi remain to guard the camp. There's no defensive line behind it, so