Otherworld-Konoha Year 53
In the waters of the Land of Water, near the Western Four Islands.
Sunlight spread across the sea like golden silk. A gentle sea breeze carried a salty scent, and the cries of gulls echoed through the air, as though speaking of the sea's peace and harmony.
A procession of enormous warships rose and fell on these waters, their unfurled sails billowing in the ocean currents and monsoon winds.
The warships were scattered across the sea. At a glance, there were over thirty vessels, each capable of holding hundreds of people.
Flags of different nations flew from their masts, with slightly smaller triangular pennants beneath them bearing the symbols of their shinobi villages.
Konoha's ships took the lead, sailing at the very front.
Sunagakure's warships looked as though they had been forcibly cobbled together from battered materials salvaged from a rubbish heap, and followed behind Konoha's ships.
The ships of Kumogakure and Iwagakure trailed far behind, four or five nautical miles away.
"Lord Third Hokage, a message from the Raikage and Tsuchikage!"
Inside the cabin of the ship at the head of the fleet, a Konoha ninja knocked and entered, dropped to one knee, and reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi at his desk.
"Speak!"
Without raising his head, Sarutobi puffed away on his little, well-seasoned tobacco pipe.
"Yes, sir!"
"The Raikage and Tsuchikage wish to break away from the fleet, bypass the Western Four Islands, and approach the Land of Water's Main Island from the north."
"They will form a two-pronged attack with our Konoha-led Konoha and Sand Shinobi Allied Forces!"
"And catch that fiend Shimura off guard!"
The Konoha ninja remained on one knee as he relayed the message without omitting a single word.
After only a brief moment of consideration, Hiruzen Sarutobi made his decision and