At a stretch of the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Rivers.
Amid yellow sand that filled the sky, Sunagakure's army stood ready for battle.
Kazekage Rasa stood at the very front, with Chiyo, Ebizo, and the other Sunagakure leaders behind him, followed by two thousand Sunagakure ninja.
Their current position was less than a hundred li from the Land of Fire Border.
"Lord Kazekage, the reconnaissance unit reports that Konoha has fewer than a thousand troops guarding the border, mostly chunin and genin."
A Sunagakure jōnin delivered the report.
Rasa nodded, a gleam flashing through his eyes.
They had long known that Kumogakure and Konoha had gone to war. Over the past few days, Kumogakure had swept forward unstoppably while Konoha retreated again and again, seemingly on the verge of collapse.
If Sunagakure seized this opportunity to strike, attacking the Land of Fire from the southwest, they could certainly reap considerable benefits.
Although Sunagakure and Konoha were currently allies, what alliance in the shinobi world lasted forever?
When interests were at stake, allies were merely pawns that could be discarded at any moment.
Chiyo said quietly from beside him:
"Kazekage, the time is ripe."
"Kumogakure has drawn away Konoha's main forces, leaving the defenses on our side weak. If we attack now, we can break through the border in one stroke and push deep into the Land of Fire."
Ebizo also nodded and said:
"We must not let this opportunity slip."
Rasa took a deep breath and was about to give the order.
Just then-
"Report!"
A Sunagakure ANBU appeared with the Body Flicker Technique and knelt on one knee, holding an urgent intelligence scroll in both hands.
"Lord Kazekage, the latest battle report on Konoha and Kumogakure!"
Rasa frowned and took the scroll.
He