A message hawk soared into the sky, carrying a letter to the Iwagakure Forces. They had already reached the Land of Earth.
Only after making contact with the Iwagakure Forces could they put the next phase of their plan into action.
Four hours passed in a blink. The group set off again, but this time they did not advance at full speed. Instead, they sent out several teams of Scout Ninja.
Kumogakure had already occupied northern Land of Earth. If Kumogakure's Scout Ninja spotted them first,
they could be surrounded before they even made a move. Kumogakure reportedly had seven thousand troops, while Konoha and Sunagakure had only three thousand.
Team after team of Scout Ninja vanished across the Land of Earth, while the main force advanced at an unhurried pace behind them.
At the same time, a Hyuga Ninja led a reconnaissance team straight into the north to see Kumogakure's and Iwagakure's current positions for himself.
Kumogakure and Iwagakure were said to be locked in a standoff, but the commanders would not rest easy until they saw the situation with their own eyes.
In the north, the killing never stopped. Though Iwagakure and Kumogakure had not launched a large-scale battle, their squads clashed constantly.
With Ōnoki gravely wounded, Shiye commanded the Iwagakure Forces. He was in the command headquarters, studying a piece of intelligence.
It had come from Fugaku's force.
"Konoha and Sunagakure's Allied Forces have reached the Land of Earth."
Shiye walked over to the map, followed closely by several senior officers of the Iwagakure Forces.
Pointing to a spot on the map, Shiye said, "This isn't far from the Iwagakure Forces. At Konoha's speed, they can reach it today.
"At eight tomorrow morning, we'll send out our entire force and engage Kumogakure in a large-scale battle.
"If