Jiraiya dropped his usual playful grin and hurried after Tekka toward the Command Tent, his brow deeply furrowed.
Though he usually acted flippant, as one of the Sannin, he was exceptionally sensitive to changes on the battlefield.
As soon as he entered the tent, he spread out the Military Map. "Tekka, what's Kirigakure's exact route?"
Tekka pointed to a winding line marked on the map.
"They've bypassed our main defensive line and are moving in this direction."
His fingertip finally stopped at the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. "Their target seems to be Sunagakure."
Jiraiya rubbed his chin and muttered, "Strange. Didn't Sunagakure and Kirigakure sign a peace agreement?"
What exactly were those Kirigakure bastards plotting?
Were they planning to tear up the agreement?
Tekka shook his head.
"We can't let our guard down. The terrain along the border is complicated. If they launch a surprise attack on Sunagakure, then turn on the Land of Fire, we'll be caught off guard."
Jiraiya stared at the map, his temples throbbing.
Troops were thin along the edges of their defensive line. If the enemy broke through, the consequences would be unthinkable.
He scratched his hair in frustration.
"We still have to guard the coastline against Kirigakure's main force. Where are we supposed to find the men to plug this hole?"
Tekka suddenly suggested, "What about sending Might Duy and his son?"
"If they use the Eight Gates, they can suppress large numbers of enemies for a short time."
Jiraiya immediately shook his head.
"No! The Eight Gates don't last long enough. There are at least several dozen Kirigakure ANBU. They could wear those two down until they died."
*Duy could take plenty of enemies down with him by opening the Gate of Death, but I can't