"Come out and die?"
Sasuke tossed the reins to the Uchiha ninja behind him, his gaze settling on the towering figure wreathed in lightning in the water mirror. He pressed the Communication Talisman beside his ear. "Neji, bring the false witness back first. Don't dismantle all the bridge pilings. Leave three for Kumogakure to cross the river."
Neji's hurried reply came from the other end of the water mirror. "Leave the bridge?"
Shikaku stopped spreading out the map and looked up at Sasuke. "Letting them cross will double the pressure on the front line."
Sasuke offered little explanation, merely securing his scabbard. "If we don't let them cross the border, how do we establish Kumogakure's invasion as fact?"
Kakashi pushed up his Forehead Protector. Lightning circled his palm before he drew it back in. "You want to fight in front of the entire Shinobi World?"
"Not fight."
Sasuke climbed onto the command wagon and pointed at the Water Mirror Formation Disc. "Hold a trial."
Yamada Naoto immediately brought up the spare Array Disc, his forehead covered in sweat. "Chief, the main formation at the Border is connected, and the village water mirrors are still running. Should we also link the external black-market channels?"
"Connect them all."
Sasuke straightened his wind-tossed collar. "Let the Raikage sign his own war charges."
The image of the Northeastern Grand Canyon expanded, displaying both banks of the boundary river in the water mirror.
Neji led the Hyuga Reconnaissance Team back from the riverbank, dragging the false witness over the jagged rocks with steel wire. Kumogakure jonin pursued for two steps before the Sealing Ballistas forced them back.
The false witness landed in front of Konoha's formation. His Forehead Protector had already fallen off, and the recording squad clearly captured the altered remnants of the Caged