The main camp of the Three Nations Allied Forces was located in the temple atop the highest Mist Mountain, a mountain shrouded in mist on the border between the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Fire. Outside the temple, the mountain wind howled, and silvery lightning bolts lashed the Purple Gold Hall of the temple like iron chains through the dark clouds, crackling loudly; inside, however, the temple was brightly lit, with dozens of tallow candles on the dragon-carved golden pillars burning brightly, illuminating the eyes of the three army leaders, each with their own thoughts.
The high-ranking nobleman of the Land of Lightning, Mikado Lightning Armor, and the Third Raikage A, sat firmly in the two main seats. The scales on the Raikage's dark purple heavy armor gleamed coldly in the candlelight; each armor plate was as large as a palm, causing the Kusunoki chair to groan slightly. He slammed his knuckles heavily on the table in front of him, the dull sound like distant rumbling thunder, "The Azure Dragon Corps of the Land of Fire, relying on Azure Dragon City as a military fortress, has blocked the road for our three kingdoms to enter the Land of Fire for years!"
Mikado Lightning Armor clenched his fist tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, the black armor clanging with a crisp "crack": "Now that our three nations have combined forces, we have fifteen million men. Let's first crush Konoha's most elite 100,000-strong Azure Dragon Ninja Legion, completely opening the gates of the Land of Fire. Konoha will then be a toothless tiger, and the entire Land of Fire can be pacified with a mere proclamation. The Land of Fire's wealth will be at our disposal!"
To the left of the lower seat, Tsukisuke Chitose of the Land of the Moon, dressed in a long, moon-white robe embroidered with delicate silver moonlight patterns that shimmered in the candlelight, slowly waved a sandalwood folding fan. The four characters "Moonlight Illuminates Mountains and Rivers" on the fan were elegant and flowing, yet his voice was as cold as a mountain stream. " Lightning Armor Kai is right, but the Azure Dragon Corps's ninjas are terrifyingly strong and not so easy to defeat. It's still unknown how many soldiers will be sacrificed to conquer the Azure Dragon Underground Cave. Who will lead the charge needs to be clarified."
Raikage pointed solemnly at the continuous mountain range outside the hall and said, "If our three kingdoms go their separate ways, they will surely drag us into the forest and defeat us one by one. Only by putting our armies together and piling them up like eggs in the city, leaving them no room to maneuver, can we annihilate them in one battle. Our strategy is to outnumber them and wear them down."
The daimyo of the Land of Hot Water, Yu Mumin, was over sixty years old. His face was deeply lined with wrinkles, yet he had a ruddy complexion. He slowly rose, holding a celadon teacup, the rising steam from the hot soup blurring half of his face. The old man gently stroked the rim of the cup, his voice hoarse with the characteristic huskiness of an old smoker. "My Land of Hot Water has dispatched a navy of 300,000 men, including 20,000 ninja from the Immortal Corps. They have already sailed south along the White Whirlpool Strait, and in three days they will surely reach the undefended southern border of the Land of Fire, delivering a crushing blow to the Land of Fire."
The Raikage slammed his teacup down on the table, spilling a few drops of tea onto his clothes without a care. "Haha, not bad! When the time comes, my Land of Lightning's elite ninja army will lead the charge, followed by the Land of the Land of the Moon's army, with the Land of Hot Water bringing up the rear. Banners will fill the sky, and with an army of fifteen million, even a single spit from each of them could drown them! This momentum is guaranteed to make the heavens and earth pale in comparison!"
The high-ranking officials of the three kingdoms exchanged glances, then simultaneously raised their wine cups, the liquid rippling with golden light. Mikado Lightning Armor tilted his head back and downed the wine, some trickling down his chin and into the seams of his armor as he roared, "I'll take on this vanguard role!"
Tsukisuke Chitose took a small sip, tapping his folding fan lightly on his palm, and said, "Then I will personally be the second general to lead the team and follow along."
Yu Mujiu smacked his lips, downed the remaining wine in one gulp, and said, "I will also send out the Immortal Corps to assist you two."
The Land of Lightning's forces were the first to set up camp at the border. An advance vanguard of 800,000 samurai led the way, followed by 200,000 ninja troops. Close behind, an even more intimidating legion of 1.2 million noble armored warriors followed, their black armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight, each soldier's hands bound with chains crackling with lightning, their every step sending smoke through the air. Two hundred thousand ninja guards protected the central army, their ninja vests edged with gold. The mere sight of this 2.4 million-strong army, the sound of the wind whistling through their armor, carried an air of chilling menace.
The Land of the Moon's army followed closely behind. A million Moonlit Archers rode white horses, their silver armor gleaming like a layer of snow in the moonlight, the longbows hanging beside their saddles gleaming with a warm, jade-like light. Five hundred thousand ninjas wore plain white ninja robes, each carrying various weapons, their steps light as if floating. Three hundred thousand Tsukisuke Guards each wore short swords at their waists and carried various scrolls on their backs, their silver armor engraved with intricate moon totems. The 1.8 million-strong army was arranged in a goose formation, resembling a flowing Milky Way from afar, the venom on their arrowheads gleaming coldly even in the daytime.
The army of the Land of Hot Water brought up the rear. Their 30,000- Jashin Legion frequently sacrificed living people to their Jashin, causing a great commotion. A million warriors of the Land of Hot Water followed; 700,000 artillerymen pushed their cannons forward, their gleaming barrels and dark muzzles resembling the mouths of giant beasts; 500,000 Hot Spring ninjas were divided into ten-man assault teams, carrying water bags, food, and various weapons. Each of them had dark skin, and their hands were calloused from years of wielding swords. The 2.2 million-strong army spread out along the forest, marching without regard for terrain, leaping through the woods like a swarm of bees.
In addition to the supply trains, siege battalions, medical teams, and messengers of the Three Nations Allied Forces, wagons and carts stretched for hundreds of miles, with provisions piled up like small mountains. Civilian auxiliary troops pushed catapults, carried ladders, and carried medicine chests, following behind the main battle force. And these civilian cannon fodder were not counted in the army. In the misty Yamanaka of the Land of Hot Water, there were also 8.8 million troops of the Three Nations Allied Forces in the rear. The vanguard of 6.4 million regular troops was divided into three routes, carrying large banners by day and torches by night. All the banners were embroidered with two large characters in black cloth—"Fire Suppression"—which rustled in the wind and spread out in a black wave across the valleys and plains, officially crossing the border of the Land of Fire.
The army of the Land of Lightning was the first to storm into the Land of Fire from the Land of Hot Water. On the Fiery Hot Water Road, the army of the Land of Lightning advanced in formation without any hesitation, but the iron-clad cavalry of the Mars pounded the stones with their hooves, sending sparks flying like fireworks, and turning the mountain road into a cloud of dust. The cavalrymen roared the war song of the Land of Lightning, their black armor forming a continuous line in the sunlight. The clanging of their heavy armor mingled with the Kazuma, shaking the water in the mountain stream.
As the western army of the Land of the Moon passed through the Moon Canyon, cherry blossoms were falling in the valley. The silver armor of a million Moonbeam Archers reflected the beautiful cherry blossoms, turning the valley pink and white. The horses' hooves creaked on the ground, and the column stretched for a hundred miles, looking like a silver ribbon winding through the valley from afar. Ninjas leaped through the mountains and forests.
The army of the Land of Hot Water traveled through the Godfall Mountains. The roads were wide and advantageous for artillery movement, and this was also an important trade route between the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water.
The ultimate goal of the three armies from three different kingdoms was Azure Dragon City, a fortified pass on the border of the Land of Fire. Azure Dragon City was perched on a mountain ridge at the end of the Godfall Mountains, its battlements winding along the mountainside, truly resembling a giant azure dragon lying there. The 100,000 Azure Dragon Corps ninjas were all clad in rune-embroidered light armor, the armor plates gleaming blue in the sunlight, the Konoha insignia on their Forehead Protector shining brightly. They stood in formation in the square, their palms sweating profusely; they had never fought such a large battle before.
On the high platform, Azure Dragon Corps Commander Tenmei delivered his final war declaration using a rune megaphone, and the 100,000 ninjas were filled with high morale.
Inside the military conference room of Azure Dragon City, the commanders of various military units of the Azure Dragon Corps were making final strategic arrangements for the army. The hundred-mile stretch of mountains and forests from Azure Dragon City to the Land of Hot Water would be the best burial ground for the Three Nations Allied Forces.