"Konoha has always touted itself as a righteous force. What if they simply failed to pass the message along?"
One of Kumogakure's senior officials spoke sheepishly.
The looks A and Dodai gave him, as though he were an idiot, left him mortified.
"We have to show it to Konoha's troops, at least so they can't act so self-righteous!"
Dodai snatched the letter from the official's hands and muttered to himself.
A heard Dodai's words too and was indignant as well. Only the few of them in Kumogakure had read the declaration of war. If the rank-and-file Cloud Shinobi saw it, the consequences would be unthinkable.
After all, they could refute none of it. Those were all acts of banditry Kumogakure had committed.
"Assemble the remaining ninja, right outside the village gates!"
Takahashi Yū led the charge at the very front of the troops, with Sakumo and the Undying Squad beside him.
At the collective insistence of the Konoha Ninja, Danzo stayed in the middle of the main force, with Yamanaka Arashi and Aburame Hideki keeping watch beside him.
"Slow down, Takahashi, my friend. Spare a thought for the main force behind us."
Sakumo followed behind Takahashi Yū like a shadow.
Only an "assassin" like Sakumo, who combined mastery of Wind Release with expertise in the Body Flicker Technique, could follow him so closely.
He was like a hidden blade behind Takahashi Yū, ready to deal the enemy a fatal blow at any moment.
"Sure! Sakumo, does it look like Kumogakure is assembling its troops?"
Takahashi Yū narrowed his eyes and looked into the distance. He could now see "little ants" constantly gathering at Kumogakure's gates.
Sakumo noticed it too.
"Oh? They may be the enemy, but they're not bad!"
Sakumo's short sword was already drawn, and its cold gleam