Several days passed peacefully like that. Early one morning, after a simple breakfast, Sōkyū Hatake arrived at Orochimaru's command center.
"Today, according to the report from our undercover agent in Sunagakure, the fighting between Iwagakure and Sunagakure ended two days ago. We have two pieces of news." Standing at the head of the room, Orochimaru took out a scroll.
"What news?" Seeing that Orochimaru's expression was grim, Hyuga Hiashi asked directly.
"The fighting between Sunagakure and Iwagakure ended because Kumogakure increased its commitment to the war against Iwagakure. With Iwagakure clearly struggling to fight on three fronts, Sunagakure and Iwagakure signed a Non-Aggression Pact two days ago, valid for two years."
Orochimaru stated it bluntly.
This was hardly good news for Konoha.
Iwagakure's involvement had tied down Sunagakure's forces, making the situation on their front less tense.
Now, if Iwagakure withdrew, the Third Kazekage, Rasa, and Bunpuku would inevitably be able to return to this battlefield, leaving Konoha in a less comfortable position.
Besides, the war was already putting a strain on Konoha, and now they had to face this as well.
"What's the other piece of news?" Sōkyū Hatake asked directly. If things had really reached this point, Konoha would definitely have to send reinforcements.
"The other news is that after the fighting on that front ended, Bunpuku returned to Sunagakure to defend it, while Rasa headed straight toward our front," Orochimaru said.
"Shouldn't that count as the same piece of news? Still, if only Rasa is coming, the pressure on us won't be that great." Tsunade frowned. From what she knew of Orochimaru, if that were all, he would not have split it into two pieces of news.
"Yes. The other piece of news is that Rasa has gone missing." Orochimaru frowned. This was the strangest part of