At the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.
Densely packed Konoha ninja gathered there, a dark mass stretching as far as the eye could see.
At the very front stood the heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans, along with Uchiha Fugaku, head of the Uchiha Clan.
Behind them were the elite forces of Konoha and its major ninja clans.
Everyone was fully armed, their kunai drawn and explosive tags placed within easy reach.
Under strict orders from the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Gengetsu, they had assembled there, ready to invade the Land of Lightning at any moment.
Occupying the Land of Lightning's territory and towns would be an extraordinary achievement, one that drove people mad with envy.
Yet at that moment, the atmosphere throughout the army was suffocatingly oppressive.
Everyone's heart was in turmoil, their anxiety at its peak.
Their massive invasion hinged on Gengetsu being able to withstand the Kumogakure ninja army's frenzied assault alone.
If Gengetsu failed to hold them off, the moment they led their troops into the Land of Lightning, their home base in Konoha would face a devastating attack by five thousand Kumogakure ninja.
Then, not only would their home be attacked behind their backs, but their isolated army would also be trapped between enemies on both sides.
"Shikaku, do you think the Fifth Hokage can really succeed?!"
Chōza Akimichi gripped his enormous iron staff, his palms slick with cold sweat, and asked in a hushed voice.
"Exactly! Those are over five thousand elite Kumogakure ninja! And they're led by that battle maniac, the Fourth Raikage, with the Eight-Tails and Two-Tails jinchūriki alongside him! The Fifth Hokage is all alone!"
Inoichi Yamanaka also wore a troubled expression, his voice filled with undisguised concern.
"If anything goes wrong, Konoha will be completely finished!"