Muster the Troops! Muster the Troops!

The orders went out. One hour later...

Low horns sounded across the camp, and urgent assembly whistles rang through the entire Northwest Military Camp.

Countless ninja emerged from their tents in armor, blades at their sides. Their footsteps rang as they hurried into formation and stood at attention.

Within moments, more than two thousand Konoha Ninja of the Second Legion stood in tight ranks across the vast Drill Ground.

The entire field fell silent.

Every back was straight, every shoulder tense, every face stern.

The fierce resolve stirred by the Hokage's proclamation had settled into quiet killing intent and unwavering morale.

Sword sheaths rested against hips. Two thousand pairs of eyes fixed on the entrance to the command tent.

A moment later—

The tent flap was thrown open.

Shimura Danzō stepped out in dark combat gear, his face hard and his posture straight. With Torifu Akimichi and the other senior Jonin behind him, he walked onto the platform.

A cold wind swept across the Drill Ground, stirring the hem of his clothes.

Not one of the two thousand ninja moved or whispered.

Silence. Killing intent. The will to fight held in check, awaiting only their commander's order.

Danzo stood at the center of the platform and looked down at the army arrayed before him. He remained silent for two seconds.

The entire camp was so quiet a falling needle could have been heard.

Danzo looked over Konoha's ranks, and a trace of satisfaction crossed his eyes. He stepped forward, his voice carrying across the Drill Ground.

"Everyone! I trust you've read the Proclamation Against Iwagakure, written by Lord Hokage himself."

"Tell me—what do you think?"

"Destroy Iwagakure! Defend our homeland!"

Two thousand ninja shouted as one. Their voices rolled across the field like thunder, setting the air humming.

Danzo nodded slightly and raised a hand to quiet them. "Good. I can see your anger!"

"Since the Third Hokage took office, how much has Konoha changed? How many beneficial policies have your families enjoyed?"

"And how much support and better treatment have you yourselves received?"

"Now Ōnoki, a fool with no sense of self-preservation, has dared to openly provoke Lord Hokage. Tell me, what should we do?"

The ranks erupted in furious cries.

"Kill him!"

"Ōnoki thinks he can challenge Lord Hokage? He's asking for death!"

"Lord Danzo, we read the proclamation! Lord Hokage was merciful enough to give him a chance to repent!"

"Why should someone as merciful as Lord Hokage have to endure their insults?"

"We should crush them outright!"

"I can't wait to get out there and kill the enemy!"

"Give the order, Lord Danzo!"

The shouts rose wave upon wave. The fighting spirit of two thousand ninja burned like a raging fire, and killing intent filled the Drill Ground as they waited for their commander's final order.

Danzo stood atop the platform, swept his gaze over the two thousand soldiers standing at attention, and announced the battle plan.

"Everyone, our scouts have sent back their report. Jianyan, a veteran Jonin, commands fifteen hundred Iwagakure elites. They occupy three mutually supporting positions along the northern border of the Land of Grass: Broken Cloud Gorge, Blackstone Fortress, and Layered Rock Mountain Pass. Using Earth Release, they've built extensive fortifications and underground tunnels and are holding their ground."

His voice turned stern as he issued his orders, one deliberate word at a time.

"Hatake Sakumo, receive your orders!"

Hatake Sakumo strode out of formation in his silver-gray ninja gear. His expression was solemn as he bowed.

"I'm here!"

"You will command four hundred advance troops. Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru will all serve under you," Danzo declared. "Travel light and move quickly to the approaches of Broken Cloud Gorge. Eliminate the enemy's outer Hidden Sentry Posts, clear their traps, and keep up feints and raids to make them think we're launching a full-scale assault. Keep the Iwagakure defenders' eyes fixed on the front of the gorge so Jianyan won't dare redeploy his forces. Remember, do not rush into a decisive fight. Your main task is to pin them down and probe their defenses!"

"Yes, sir!" Sakumo answered, then returned to the ranks.

Danzo turned his gaze to the other side.

"Torifu Akimichi, receive your orders!"

Torifu Akimichi stepped forward, broad-shouldered and resolute.

"I'm here!"

"You will lead eight hundred troops in the main frontal force, drawn from the legion's Jonin and veteran Chunin. Follow close behind the vanguard and take position before Broken Cloud Gorge. Form ranks and bombard their earth-and-stone defenses with large-scale ninjutsu. Make it look as though you intend to storm Blackstone Fortress with everything you have. Hold down Iwagakure's main force and buy time for the flanking unit."

"Understood!" Torifu Akimichi saluted and accepted his orders.

Danzo continued. "Jonin Iwami, receive your orders!"

A steady-faced Jonin stepped out of formation.

"You will lead five hundred elite infiltrators around the frontal battlefield. Take the concealed route through Layered Rock Mountain Pass and circle behind Blackstone Fortress. Cut off the enemy's supply route and destroy the troop hideouts in their underground tunnels. Once the frontal battle begins and all their forces are tied down, attack from the rear and catch them between your force and ours!"

"Yes, sir!"

Finally, Danzo raised a hand and looked behind him. "I will personally lead three hundred reserves and command the battle from the rear heights. I'll reinforce whichever front comes under pressure, block the enemy's escape routes, and hold our last line of defense!"

"Our four forces will work together. The vanguard will harass the enemy, the main force will press them from the front, the flanking unit will circle around, and the reserves will cover any gaps. We will not charge blindly. We will defeat them with tactics!"

"In this battle, we will show them Konoha's might!"

Below the platform, two thousand ninja thrust their arms into the air and roared across the open land.

"We will show them Konoha's might!!"

The two thousand Konoha Ninja stood tall, their fighting spirit blazing. Killing intent filled the Drill Ground, and their ranks stood firm as a mountain.

Danzo looked down over the army, his eyes cold, and finally gave the order.

"Dismissed!"

The tightly packed formation broke apart at once.

Each unit set to its duties, assembling, checking equipment, and preparing to depart.

Hatake Sakumo's vanguard had already set out for the Land of Grass.

Torifu Akimichi's main force and Iwami's infiltration unit marshaled their troops and advanced toward the border of the Land of Grass.

Danzo remained on the platform and watched them go. He waited for battle to begin, ready to lead the reserves into the field wherever they were needed.

Across the northwestern wilderness, the wind howled!

Hatake Sakumo ran at the head of the column in neat combat gear, his short silver-white hair whipped by the gale, his posture straight as a spear.

Behind him ran Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru, three young geniuses whose talents were only beginning to shine.

Four hundred vanguard ninja followed close behind, their footsteps striking the ground in unison as they marched at full speed toward Broken Cloud Gorge in the Land of Grass!

The column of four hundred stretched along the mountain roads. They moved swiftly without falling into disorder.

The four young ninja had different thoughts on their minds, but all had sharp eyes and a hunger for battle.

Jiraiya seemed relaxed as ever, though he watched the surrounding woods closely. He muttered under his breath:

"That old bastard from Iwagakure gathered troops to provoke us. Finally, we get a proper fight."

"The name Jiraiya will finally ring across the Shinobi World! Hahaha!"

Orochimaru silently studied the terrain, soil, and sweep of the wooded hills, working out where Iwagakure might have placed traps and tunnels. He spoke coldly:

"Idiot Jiraiya, stop getting carried away. This is a real war, not a game."

"Don't make us visit you at the Memorial Stone before you've earned any fame."

"Hey! You damn snake! You dare put a curse on me?!" Jiraiya shot back, glaring at him.

"That's enough."

Tsunade kept a steady pace, her expression stern and composed. Her hands tightened slightly, anger plain on her face.

"Orochimaru's right. There's no such thing as being too careful on a battlefield. Jiraiya, take this seriously."

She paused, and her eyes sharpened with fierce resolve.

"But those arrogant Iwagakure ninja dared to openly provoke Big Brother Kagami. Today, I'll make them pay in blood!"

"Hey, Tsunade, you—"

Jiraiya started to argue, but one icy glare from Tsunade shut him up.

At the head of the column, Hatake Sakumo heard the exchange without breaking stride. His expression remained steady as he spoke over his shoulder.

"No talking on the march. Focus on the road!"

Then he turned his head and raised his voice so the entire vanguard could hear:

He called to the ninja behind him:

"Everyone, pick up the pace!"

"We are the tip of the army's spear, the first Konoha unit to enter the battlefield!"

"Remember, our mission is not to fight to the death. We're there to scout, harass, and pin down the enemy!"

"Keep all of Iwagakure's attention fixed on the front of Broken Cloud Gorge!"

The four hundred vanguard soldiers answered in crisp unison:

"We obey your orders, Lord Sakumo!"

The wind roared, and their footsteps thundered.

Konoha's elite vanguard raced into the Land of Grass!

Beyond the distant mountains, the rugged outline of Broken Cloud Gorge came into view. Iwagakure's heavily defended positions were close at hand!