The Eastern Front Campaign had fallen into an eerie calm. After the Land of Lightning formally declared its entry into the war, the Land of Water's forces began to fall silent. Everyone knew that the Land of Water was bound to make a major move next, and they watched its every action closely.
However, the Land of Water's sphere of influence encompassed islands large and small throughout its rear territories. Apart from its bases within the Land of Fire, its holdings at sea were not places Konoha Ninja could easily investigate. That was precisely why the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were so elusive.
Although the temporary halt in fighting allowed the combat ninja to catch their breath, the Intelligence Ninja faced an ever-heavier workload. Large numbers of reports arrived on Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk every day. Intelligence work was not his responsibility, but as the commander of the position, he still had to review them daily.
"How do you think Kirigakure Ninja Village is going to fight this war next?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked, holding a scroll as he turned toward the silent Shimura Danzō beside him.
"I don't know. That's why we have to find clues in these reports," Shimura Danzō said quietly.
"But these reports are too vague. We have no idea what they're planning. At most, we can tell that they're preparing a large-scale operation, but common sense alone would tell us that. Don't we have any clearer intelligence?" Hiruzen Sarutobi tossed the scroll onto the desk and shook his head.
Everyone knew that the Land of Water could not abandon the war. To break out of the pressure exerted jointly by the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire, it would inevitably have to launch a large-scale operation. But determining exactly what that operation would