Rasa and Karura

"Th-this... oh, how embarrassing. But Senior Kosuke is being so generous, so all I can do is hope that I won't disgrace the reputation of the ninjutsu Senior Kosuke has taught me in the future!"

Meikyō immediately beamed with delight, rising to his feet and voluntarily helping Maruboshi Kosuke with the cooking.

Watching this scene, Inuzuka Ryo really wanted to make a snarky comment.

He had never seen an Uchiha as shameless as Meikyō.

"Hmph, brat, you should first think about how you're going to survive tomorrow's battlefield. Otherwise, it'll be useless even if this old man teaches you."

Maruboshi Kosuke said stubbornly.

Even so, after they finished the meal, he still taught Meikyō a sword technique combined with genjutsu.

Konoha Style Swordsmanship: Willow.

As an Uchiha with the Sharingan, Meikyō was naturally skilled in genjutsu. This kind of sword technique paired with genjutsu was naturally well suited to him.

When this move was used, his body seemed like a leaf dancing in the wind within the enemy's field of vision. When he swung his sword, it made it appear as though he had thrust several times in an instant, while concealing the true killing blow among them.

Though it was called a move, Konoha Style Swordsmanship: Willow was actually more like a technique that combined swordsmanship and genjutsu, one that could fit almost any sword art and be applied to nearly any sword move.

It had to be said that Maruboshi Kosuke had clearly put a great deal of thought into choosing this technique.

Relying on his solid swordsmanship foundation and the Sharingan, Meikyō mastered the move in just one afternoon, leaving Maruboshi Kosuke clicking his tongue in amazement.

However, how it would specifically be used in actual combat still depended on his proficiency with the move.

After finishing the meal Old Man Kosuke had made and learning this sword technique, the day had already come to an end.

The next day.

The rain still poured down in sheets, the countless streaks of rain lending the coming battle a solemn, desolate air.

On a plain atop a certain highland.

Orochimaru wore a kimono, his tongue sliding over his lips as he gazed at the distant Sunagakure camp ahead.

Beside him stood, in order, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Dan Katō, and Kiyomi Kōtō.

Jiraiya had only been called back yesterday. He had taken three disciples in the Land of Rain and usually did not return to Konoha's camp, using intelligence gathering as his excuse.

It was only because Orochimaru, who had grown up with him, was now in command in the Land of Rain that he had been able to help cover it up.

Behind them stood more than four thousand Konoha Ninja, arranged in neat ranks.

Kato Squad was stationed among the Reserve Force near the rear.

At Sunagakure's camp opposite them, Sunagakure's ninja had likewise gathered under Chiyo's leadership.

At her side stood a young Red-Haired Sand Ninja, as well as a young female ninja with short blond hair and an enormous fan strapped to her back.

Konoha was currently fighting on three fronts, but Sunagakure was likewise fighting on two.

On one front, they had dispatched troops to the northern Land of Rain, under the command of Elder Chiyo, Sunagakure's foremost puppet master. If they could seize this place, it would greatly alleviate Sunagakure's water shortage in the desert.

On the other front, the Third Kazekage personally led troops east into the Land of Fire, attempting to seize a stretch of pleasant-climate land from the wealthiest nation.

Recently, Orochimaru had constantly been mobilizing troops and gathering strength, attempting to launch a decisive battle that would secure Konoha's victory. Naturally, Sunagakure could not possibly have failed to notice, and had made the same move—concentrating their forces while maintaining a careful guard.

But what Chiyo had not expected was that Orochimaru intended to directly lead his troops in an assault on their camp!

Withdraw the troops and deny Orochimaru what he wanted?

No leader with any brains would make such a move.

Leaving aside whether it was even possible to withdraw so many people in such a short time, retreating before a battle had even begun—without even clashing head-on with Konoha—would undoubtedly deal a massive blow to Sunagakure's ninja morale. Chiyo would never agree to it.

What was more, she herself bore a blood-deep grudge against Konoha. Her son and daughter-in-law had both died at the hands of Hatake Sakumo, a Konoha Ninja.

Although Hatake Sakumo was not on the Land of Rain Battlefield now, but was instead leading Konoha Ninja in the Land of Rivers between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind to resist the Third Kazekage, that did not stop her from collecting some interest from Konoha first.

"Prepare to begin. I need to deal with Sunagakure's upper ranks. I'll leave command of the troops to you from here on."

Orochimaru said to the Pineapple-Haired Ninja beside him, who looked even older than Maruboshi Kosuke.

He was the current head of the Nara Family. He had a son who had only recently become a jonin, named Nara Shikaku.

If Konoha's Sannin were Konoha's top-tier enforcers, then he was Konoha's strategist.

In other words, its military advisor.

Meikyō stood among the ranks with his two teammates, quietly observing the changes on the field. Without activating his Sharingan, though, he could not see very clearly amid such a vast sea of people.

Fortunately, both of his teammates were exceptionally skilled Sensor Ninja and could quickly tell Meikyō about the changes occurring on the battlefield.

"It's begun."

Aburame Nami said abruptly, holding a small insect that had just flown back.

Immediately afterward, Meikyō received the order for the Reserve Force to remain in position while the vanguard prepared to attack.

The Nara Elder stood at the center of the Konoha Frontline. Beside him was the elder head of the Yamanaka Clan, who was observing the battlefield through his sensory abilities and relaying the information he gathered directly into the Nara Elder's mind through the Yamanaka Clan's Mind Transmission Secret Technique for him to process.

Naturally, an elite squad whose every member was at least a Special Jonin guarded the area around them.

"Earth Style squad, prepare! Destroy the defensive fortifications in front of Sunagakure's camp!"

The Nara Elder issued the order crisply.

At once, after receiving the news, the Earth Style squad brought by Jiraiya swiftly stepped forward, formed hand seals, and slammed their palms onto the ground.

"Earth Style: Earth River Flow!" ×N

In an instant, the ground before the Earth Style squad rapidly softened, turning into a solid-liquid mixture like a mudslide. It became a vast river that surged mightily toward Sunagakure's camp.

Sunagakure's defensive fortifications were destroyed at once, yet the Earth River Flow continued to charge ferociously toward the Sand Ninjas.

Just then, two solid walls rose before the Sand Ninjas—one made of gold dust, the other of sand and earth—blocking the Earth River Flow.

Within the Sand camp, Rasa and Karura exchanged smiles.

Watching this scene, Chiyo suddenly pictured her son and daughter-in-law.

Before she could dwell on the thought any further, the Konoha Ninjas immediately carried out their next order under the Nara Elder's command.