It was nearly noon.
Yechen turned to look behind him. The battle over there should have started by now.
Unfortunately, they were too far away to hear anything, even if fighting had broken out.
Just then, word came from the squad leader, telling everyone to stay sharp and be ready to engage the enemy at any moment.
Hidden in the woods on either side, Yechen and Ito Miyuki held kunai like everyone else, keeping their breathing as steady as possible. Their eyes remained fixed on the river channel as they quietly waited for the enemy Rock Ninja forces to arrive.
Time ticked by. A full hour passed without any sign of the Rock Ninja forces. Yechen clearly sensed a few people in their ranks growing restless, but they soon reined it in.
Another hour slipped by. Everyone began to think the Rock Ninja might not come after all, and just as they were starting to feel relieved-
A figure suddenly appeared up ahead, then quickly slipped back into the mountain woods.
Soon afterward, the squad leader sent word that the enemy would reach the battlefield in ten minutes. Everyone was to prepare.
Sure enough, roughly ten minutes later, a large force appeared ahead. They were the reinforcements sent by the Rock Ninja.
As they drew closer, Yechen estimated their numbers at around two hundred. He let out a relieved breath, thinking that Orochimaru's plan must have worked.
After such a long wait, this was all the Rock Ninja had sent. Three hundred against two hundred-no matter how he looked at it, their side had the better odds.
The Rock Ninja forces drew closer and closer. Yechen and the others stood ready, waiting only for the squad leader's command to launch their first wave of attacks.
Just then, the Jonin leading