Chiyo, I'll Show You the Will of Fire Too!

Meanwhile, at the First Shinobi Army's camp on Konoha's western front, in the Land of Fire.

Tents stretched across the camp, with shinobi hurrying between them and sentries posted throughout. The camp stood not far from the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. Hiruzen Sarutobi commanded the army, with Hatake Sakumo as his deputy. Together, they kept watch for any move from the Land of Wind.

In the central command tent, dim yellow lamplight flickered. Hiruzen Sarutobi stood before the entrance with his hands behind his back, gazing into the gathering dusk. Hatake Sakumo stood quietly beside him, wearing a standard Konoha Jonin vest with a short blade strapped to his back.

"Sakumo, can you see where things stand?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked calmly. "According to our intelligence, Shamon, the Second Kazekage, has personally led a large army straight into the Land of Rain. Since Sunagakure's move is aimed at Amegakure, I doubt they'll have time to deal with Konoha next."

Hatake Sakumo nodded slightly. "Amegakure declared war on all Five Great Nations, but Sunagakure was its first target. That forced Shamon to lead his troops in person. Whatever else Sunagakure plans, it has to subdue Amegakure first. It won't have the strength to turn east right now. Even if it sends shinobi our way, they'll be there mainly to guard the border."

"Heh... Would Konoha even want a barren place like the Land of Wind? They're worrying over nothing."

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to Sakumo, his expression serious. "Don't be careless. I don't know when it started, but Konoha's shinobi have begun looking down on the other nations of the Shinobi World."

"That's a bad habit. Even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit. Never underestimate a great nation. If they've established themselves