Three days later, near noon, at the border of the Land of Rain.
The sky remained overcast as always, and the arid desert landscape of the Land of Wind was faintly visible in the distance.
Meanwhile, from the direction of the Land of Rain, thousands of weary Sand Ninja were rushing towards the Land of Wind.
At the forefront of this group of Sand Ninja, a Sand Sunagakure named Sakura Jonin as he looked at Chiyo in front of him.
" Lady Chiyo, I understand why you turned around and attacked the Konoha team that was blocking our way."
"But... our chances of winning were already slim, so why are you dividing your forces?"
"Moreover, our team only has a thousand people."
Ahead, Chiyo was running wildly, heard the question Jonin the Sakura behind her and turned around helplessly.
"How long do you think the Sand Ninja can hold out in the Land of Rain?"
Upon suddenly hearing Chiyo mention this, the Sakura Jonin, pondered for a moment, and tentatively said:
"I think it shouldn't be a problem to hold on for at least two more months."
"Heh~"
Upon hearing the answer Jonin Sakura, Chiyo burst out laughing.
You're still too idealistic.
"Our funding dried up six months ago, if it weren't for the Third Kazekage..."
At this point, Chiyo suddenly fell silent, only continuing after several seconds:
"In short, it is impossible for us to win this war."
"Furthermore, I received intelligence yesterday that the Stone Ninja on the other side of the Land of Rain are also considering withdrawing from the battlefield in the Land of Rain."
"Once they leave, how many more days do you think we can hold out?"
"Our only problem now is no longer how to achieve victory, but how to preserve our existing fighting strength to the greatest extent possible and retreat to Sunagakure."
"In this way, at least we can end up like the Stone Ninja, and we won't have to pay Konoha any extra war reparations."
"The reason I divided our forces was to allow Sunagakure to preserve more of its fighting strength."
Upon hearing Chiyo's words, the Sakura Jonin silent for a moment, then said with a puzzled expression:
"If that's the case, then what was the purpose of your attack on Nara Shikahito in the rear this time...?"
Turning her head, Chiyo saw the confusion Jonin Sakura Jonin's eyes, sighed helplessly, and could only explain again:
"Since that's the case, let me explain it more clearly."
"Did you think that my attack on Nara Shikahito in the rear was an attempt to reopen the supply lines?"
Upon hearing this, Sakura Jonin.
Chiyo Sakura nodded and said:
Wake up.
"Even if the supply lines are reopened, what then? It just means we can hold out in the Land of Rain for a few more days."
"The only reason our thousand-strong force exists is to draw Konoha's attention to the Land of Rain, so that our two thousand-plus comrades remaining Land of Rain can evacuate."
Upon hearing Chiyo's words, Sakura Jonin understood, and his expression immediately became complicated.
"So, in reality, our team is just serving as cannon fodder to attract attention... and be sent to our deaths?"
Upon hearing this, Chiyo couldn't help but turn around and glance Jonin the Sakura behind her.
"Of course not, how could you think that?"
"If this team were really just cannon fodder sent to their deaths, would I even be here?"
"Don't worry, I already made an appointment with the Third Kazekage using Ninja Hawk."
"After we launch our attack on Nara Shikahito, the Third Kazekage will simultaneously lead an attack from the other side."
"Although our mission is to draw the attention of the Konoha Ninja from the Land of Rain, it doesn't mean we have to stay put and fight Konoha Ninja head-on."
"At that time, we only need to cooperate with the Third Kazekage on the other side to tear a gap in Konoha's blockade and retreat back to the Land of Wind."
"As long as we can successfully retreat to the Land of Wind, we won't have to worry about the remaining two thousand companions in the Land of Rain."
At this point, Chiyo narrowed her eyes slightly.
"I've already made arrangements."
"The remaining two thousand ninja from the Land of Rain will depart at noon today, detouring through the border of the Land of Rivers and retreating at full speed back into the Land of Land of Wind..."
At this point, the Sakura behind Chiyo finally Jonin relieved, nodded, and stopped talking, focusing on continuing their journey.
Gazing at the familiar yellow desert stretching to the horizon, Chiyo thought about Jonin conversation with Sakura, a hint of worry appearing on her face as she pondered silently.
"This is the safest plan I can think of, preserving our fighting strength to the greatest extent possible while allowing us to retreat back to the Land of Land of Wind."
"However... this plan is based on the premise that no one in Konoha can predict my actions."
"It's alright that they guessed I was leading the attack on Nara Shikahito."
"Once they anticipate that I might divide my forces and retreat back to the Land of Wind, and take precautions in advance, the two thousand ninjas from the Land of Rain could very well..."
Shaking her head, Chiyo looked at the distant border of the Land of Wind, dispelling her worries.
"What's the point of thinking about these things now? Let's focus on the present."
With a furrowed brow, Chiyo began to focus on her journey.
Just a few minutes later, as Chiyo led the Sand Ninja to the border of the Land of Wind, a Sunagakure Jonin her seemed to sense something and suddenly spoke:
" Lady Chiyo, there's a dense Chakra reaction ahead."
After speaking, the Sunagakure Jonin Hand Seals, and Chakra fluctuations appeared, seemingly indicating that he had activated some kind of unique Sensory Ninjutsu.
As a clearer understanding of the situation came to him, the Sunagakure Jonin said with a grave expression:
" Lady Chiyo is a Konoha ninja; there are approximately two thousand of them."
"Wait, there seem to be two very unique Chakra in the crowd... It should be Orochimaru the Cold-Blooded and Konoha White Fang of Konoha."
Upon hearing the words of this sensory Jonin, Chiyo remained expressionless and waited quietly.
Sure enough, after the group advanced another hundred meters, the sensory Jonin behind Chiyo suddenly became excited.
" Lady Chiyo, I detected a familiar Chakra at the other end of the Konoha Ninja's territory. It seems to be... no, it's the Lord Kazekage's Chakra reaction!"
"Besides that, there are hundreds of Chakra reactions around the Lord Kazekage; those are our Sunagakure ninjas!"
Upon hearing that the Third Kazekage had led a team to the other side of the Konoha Ninja, Chiyo's expressionless face finally changed.
Slightly relieved, Chiyo turned around and called out seriously:
Attention everyone!
"After colliding with the Konoha Ninja ahead, try not to linger. Prioritize moving towards the Land of Wind. The Lord Kazekage will meet us on the other side!"
"Do you understand?"
Behind her, hundreds of ninjas quickly relayed Chiyo's orders by word of mouth.
Seeing this, Chiyo nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look at the Konoha Ninja figures that had already appeared in her field of vision, secretly gathering Chakra within her to prepare for battle.
Suddenly, the sensory Jonin behind Chiyo seemed to sense something again, and the joy she felt from sensing the Third Kazekage Chakra's chakra vanished abruptly.
"Wait a minute, Lady Chiyo!"
"We've detected a dense Chakra reaction behind us!"
Upon hearing this, Chiyo's face darkened, and she vaguely guessed who was behind her.
As expected, the sensory Jonin's expression suddenly turned to utter astonishment, and he quickly said:
" Lady Chiyo, there's a violent surge of Lightning Release Chakra behind us."
"It seems the caster is the same Konoha Lightning Lord you mentioned."