The Hokage's movements were classified information available only to senior shinobi. Only Inuzuka Shigeru and a handful of others knew about the trip. Upon learning that the Hokage would personally visit the front, they straightened up and resolved to prepare an outstanding gift for his arrival—in wartime, that naturally meant a splendid victory.
The day before Kazemori Masaki arrived, the Konoha Fourth Shinobi Unit launched another attack on the enemy under Inuzuka Shigeru's personal command. Though the new tactics remained the foundation of their approach, they introduced more variations, fully exploiting the versatility of Konoha's shinobi. The already outmatched Sunagakure Ninja Forces suffered one defeat after another.
They recovered all the territory they had lost and drove the Sunagakure Ninja Forces a considerable distance back, nearly severing their connection with the Iwagakure forces. Their best option now was naturally to gather their troops and retreat to the Land of Rain, but the Sunagakure Ninja Forces apparently had other ideas and remained reluctant to leave.
Inuzuka Shigeru merely scoffed at their response. In his view, the Sunagakure Ninja Forces could accomplish little by remaining within the Land of Grass Territory. Without linking up with the Iwagakure forces, they could not inflict any significant damage on Konoha Ninja Village.
Naturally, Inuzuka Shigeru kept a close eye on any contact between Iwagakure Ninja Village and the Sunagakure Ninja Forces. With Kumogakure Ninja Village's assistance, most of Iwagakure's attention had been diverted elsewhere, leaving it no time to support the precariously situated Sunagakure Ninja Forces here. Iwagakure Ninja Village excelled at defense, not offensive operations. To break through the blockade and unite with the Sunagakure Ninja Forces, it would need those forces to make a corresponding effort.
Inuzuka Shigeru had no objection whatsoever to fresh reinforcements entering the Land of Grass Territory. In fact,