While battle erupted here, fierce fighting had broken out elsewhere as well.
Led by Rasa, Sunagakure's forces had arrived in the Land of Whirlpools.
They had barely arrived before detecting traces of Kirigakure shinobi.
After a night of brief encounters between the two sides, battle erupted!
"Kazekage, Kirigakure is heading out to attack Konoha too!"
"I think we should stop fighting immediately and join forces with them to march on Konoha!"
"That way, Konoha will be completely destroyed, and we'll gain even more!"
As Chiyo controlled her puppets in battle against Kirigakure's shinobi, she turned toward Rasa nearby and spoke bluntly.
Even now, Chiyo still could not quite understand Rasa's actions.
They had already decided to attack Konoha, yet he had suddenly changed course.
If they stopped fighting now and headed for Konoha together, they could still make it in time.
After all, Konoha was only a day's journey from here.
"Carry out your combat orders, Advisor Chiyo!"
"I've already made my decision."
Rasa stood in place, countless grains of sand swirling around him as he continually directed them at the distant Kirigakure shinobi.
Gaara stood beside Rasa.
He clutched the hem of his clothes tightly without saying a word.
In his eyes, he was nothing more than a war machine now.
When there was nothing for him to do, all he needed to do was stand quietly here.
Even with his father right beside him, Gaara's face remained utterly cold.
"Kazekage, right now we're..."
"Advisor Chiyo, are you going to defy my orders?!"
Rasa turned his head and fixed Chiyo with a stern stare.
Although Chiyo held considerable authority in the village, things were different here.
This was a battlefield.
Only one person could give orders.
Rasa's word was absolute.
Even Chiyo could only follow Rasa's instructions for now.