The carnage on Kikyo Mountain's main battlefield far exceeded Lin Ze's imagination.
In just two days, Squad B-5, serving as reserves for the assault force, had already been sent into action three times.
Each time had been a bloody struggle against Sunagakure ninja.
Fourth Kazekage Rasa had not personally entered the fray, but his vast gold dust ninjutsu hung over the Konoha ninja like the sword of Damocles, descending from the sky every so often to change the situation on parts of the battlefield, bringing immense pressure and casualties to Konoha's defensive lines.
On Konoha's side, Orochimaru used swarms of summoned snakes and all manner of bizarre ninjutsu to stubbornly resist Sunagakure's offensive, locking both sides in a brutal war of attrition.
Human lives had become the cheapest numbers here.
On the evening of Lin Ze's third day at Kikyo Mountain, just after Squad B-5 had completed a harassment mission, Orochimaru's messenger ninja found them.
"Squad B-5, Lord Orochimaru has new orders!"
Fox immediately brought Lin Ze and the other two to headquarters.
Orochimaru looked as cold and sinister as ever. A huge military map lay spread before him, marked with the positions of both sides, with the Kikyo Mountain region prominently highlighted.
A dotted line extending from the direction of the Land of Wind pointed toward the rear of Konoha's defensive lines.
Orochimaru spoke in a hoarse voice:
"Sunagakure's offensive is even fiercer than anticipated. Rasa's Magnet Release has put us under considerable pressure on the main battlefield. Our defensive lines need time to adjust, and we need to weaken their ability to sustain their offensive."
His finger touched a point along the dotted line on the map.
"According to our intelligence, an important Sunagakure supply line passes through this area. It is the lifeline sustaining their high-intensity offensive."