The group peered down through the opening. Below lay a hall, and a swarm of parasitic insects flew into it.
They soon returned. "Captain, there's no one down there. It looks like the place has been abandoned for some time."
Renzhi nodded. "So this Iwagakure commander, Higashi Shijin, has a few tricks after all. He's planted decoys to keep us guessing."
He glanced at the map. "Ignore the other camps. We're heading straight for Kannabi. Once we cut off Iwagakure's supply route, I don't believe he'll stay hidden.
"And when he shows himself, he dies. We left Kannabi alone until now so we could sweep through southern Grass Country, make Iwagakure bleed, and let them feel some pain."
The others nodded. The group turned and vanished, racing through the forest once more.
Along the way, they encountered two more Iwa ninja squads lying in ambush. Renzhi swiftly killed them all.
By then, fierce fighting had erupted across southern Grass Country. Large numbers of Iwa ninja were discovered and killed.
Several distress signals rose over the region in quick succession.
"What's going on?"
"Captain, those are all our distress signals. Several squads we were in contact with have suddenly gone silent."
At a secluded underground outpost in southern Grass Country, several Iwa ninja stood before their captain.
"It seems Konoha's reinforcements have arrived. Lord Tsuchikage sent word earlier that the war in Moon Country is over.
"Kumogakure and Kirigakure have surrendered, one after the other. Iwagakure is the only village still fighting Konoha. This war is turning against us."
"Captain, what do we do? Are we going to give up the advantage we fought for?"
"What advantage? By the end of today, the Iwa ninja in northern Grass Country may have suffered devastating losses.
"Pass the order. All Iwa ninja are