As the Konoha ninja exercise troops moved towards the border, the Ninja World, after a decade of peace, once again became boisterous.
At the Konoha Command Center, Hiruzen had already been waiting there for a long time, and the ninjas of the Yamanaka clan and the intelligence department were all bustling about.
After watching the busy ninjas for a while, Hiruzen turned to Shikaku beside him and asked, "Shikaku, what is the situation now?"
Upon hearing the question, Shikaku put down the intel he had just received and stood up.
After coming before Hiruzen and bowing slightly, he then turned and pointed to a location on the map placed in front of Hiruzen, saying, "Hokage-sama, the main exercise unit is almost at the designated location."
As Shikaku spoke, he drew a line across the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Frost.
This line's location was the Moon Ring Gorge, a canyon area located in the eastern part of the Land of Fire, bordering the Land of Frost. This place was less than two hundred kilometers in a straight line from Kumogakure, and it was the Land of Fire's strategic stronghold closest to the Land of Lightning.
Hiruzen nodded.
Why was this location chosen?
It's because the canyon terrain was easy to defend and difficult to attack, allowing Konoha's exercise troops to occupy the high ground. Moreover, it could also exert a condescending pressure on the Land of Frost, a neutral buffer country.
This would prevent Kumogakure from advancing through the Land of Frost, and even if Kumogakure did advance through the Land of Frost, they would be able to detect it immediately.
Most importantly, it did not directly touch the Land of Lightning's territory, thus avoiding giving others an excuse.
Seeing that Hiruzen understood, Shikaku raised his hand again and pointed to another location, saying, "As for the flanking support unit, the news just came that Asuma has already led the Inuzuka clan and the Hyuga clan to their positions."
"Once the main exercise unit begins, they will immediately start anti-infiltration operations."
Hiruzen, with a pipe in his mouth, looked through the narrow pass at the border between the northern part of the Land of Fire and the Land of Rice Fields, which Shikaku was pointing to, towards another location in the Land of Rice Fields.
Orochimaru...
I hope you understand why I had Asuma lead the team to this location.
It's not just to warn Kumogakure's eastern outposts and stationed troops, but also to warn you.
Hiruzen slowly exhaled a puff of smoke and no longer paid attention. Je had already given Asuma his instructions. Moreover, Shisui had led his Anbu squad to guard in the shadows.
He asked, "What about the reserve unit?"
Shikaku nodded and said, "Choza has already finished setting up his camp in the plains north of Kikyo Castle."
"Once there is a rallying signal from Moon Ring Gorge, he will be able to provide support immediately."
At this point, Shikaku tapped on a plain on the map and said, "I think Kumogakure's reconnaissance team should have already noticed the tents of the supply unit spread out on the Tanzaku Plains."
Upon hearing this, Hiruzen chuckled. "Shikaku, you are becoming more and more seasoned."
Shikaku, however, shook his head and said, "It's all thanks to Hokage-sama's guidance."
Hiruzen waved his hand, turned around and sat down in his seat, then slowly said, "Have the main unit arrive as soon as possible, and also notify Fugaku that if there are any situations on the border lines of each country, notify the village immediately."
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Shikaku stood up straight and nodded in response.
— — —
Moon Ring Gorge.
Shinji, dressed in a haori outer robe, stood at the very top of the gorge, looking at the plain below.
Swish!
Kakashi and Guy instantly appeared at Shinji's location.
"Is there any news from the village?" Shinji turned his head curiously and asked.
This time, Kakashi was the captain, and he and Guy only needed to obey him.
Kakashi said with a lazy expression, "News just came that the other two locations are in place, and only we are left."
This exercise, for him who had participated in battles, was a bit childish.
Shinji nodded, their position was the foremost, so being a little slower was normal. However, they were ready now, and it all depended on Hiruzen's notification.
Guy, who was standing balanced on a sharp rock nearby, then asked, "Kakashi, when do we start?"
His tone carried an eager excitement that made Shinji, beside him, turn his head.
"No rush, a deterrent cannot be without an audience."
As Kakashi spoke, he looked at the people coming from below, and then instantly leftm
The reconnaissance team had returned.
— — —
Boom!
From the towering mountains shrouded in mist, deafening thunder echoed, but it was suppressed by a loud bang.
At the top of the Raikage Building in Kumogakure, which had a circular outer outline and a glass wall design.
The Fourth Raikage, A, smashed his desk with a punch, and his massive body erupted with a huge Lightning Chakra that instantly went out of control, shattering the office windows.
His roar echoed throughout the entire Kumogakure building, causing the bustling personnel inside the building to stop in their tracks.
"I have to get a new desk again."
A fair-skinned woman, noticeably different from the darker skin of others, pushed back her short hair and muttered helplessly.
Then, while rubbing her shoulders, she walked towards the Raikage's office. "Ah... my shoulder is so sore."
...
"Damn old monkey!"
"Notify Darui, tell him to take the exercise unit and head to the Land of Frost border right now! I'm going to blast their exercise unit back with a lightning storm!"
Inside the office, A roared furiously at his secretary, Mabui, beside him.
Outside the office, Samui, who was rubbing her shoulder as she approached, saw that the door had been smashed by the desk and took a deep breath.
With a shrug, she stepped over the shattered remains of the desk and entered the office.
"Raikage-sama, Konoha's exercises are all within the Land of Fire's borders. If we cross the border to counterattack... morally, we would be considered the aggressor."
"Tsk..."
A, sneered, pointing to the shattered map on the floor, and clenched his fist, saying, "Morality? Fists are morality!"
"This old monkey from Konoha! He has already put the tip of his knife at my vital spot!"
Samui, who had stepped in, took out a document while shrugging, and said, "Raikage-sama, intel reports that in the plains of Kikyo Castle, Konoha has already stationed no fewer troops than our current exercise unit."
"Moreover, supplies are continuously being transported. Intel personnel estimate that these supplies are enough to support a war for half a year."
"There are also troops stationed at the Broken Cloud Pass, and it is said that the person leading the team is the son of the Hokage, a former member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja of the Land of Fire, Asuma ."
"Combining the above intel, my judgment is..."
"If a conflict truly happens, our outposts and stationed troops in the east will be dragged to their deaths by Asuma in the mountain path."
After speaking a string of words, Samui handed the document in her hand to Mabui, and then reached out to rub her shoulder again.
So sore.