Four days had passed since Mori and Tenzo were placed under Jiraiya's command, yet the Kannabi Bridge front remained eerily quiet.
Konoha's defenses were being reinforced daily—traps, barriers, and detection seals layered one over another like a web of steel and chakra.
Shikaku was practically fused to the sand table inside the command center, his eyes never leaving the shifting front lines. Jiraiya remained overall commander, occasionally heading out to inspect the defense sectors himself.
On the second day of the stalemate, Mori accompanied the Barrier Squad to the front lines. They were specialists in sealing—valuable people to observe and learn from.
By the third day, Jiraiya had taken notice. The Anbu operative codenamed Mori seemed particularly intrigued by fuinjutsu, so the Sannin himself had decided to offer some personal guidance.
With such a teacher, Mori's mastery of sealing techniques advanced rapidly—enough for Jiraiya to raise a brow in quiet approval.
Meanwhile, Tenzo was starting to feel trapped. He couldn't rest properly, couldn't train properly, and couldn't figure out where to put his energy.
He had to keep his Wood Release a secret. He lacked aptitude for other fields. And as a key operative, he couldn't just exhaust himself through endless drills.
He had once admired "Mori," but now… he was beginning to miss Kakashi.
The flap of the Anbu tent suddenly lifted.
Jiraiya stepped inside, his usual easygoing smile gone.
"Pack up. Command center. Now," he said, his tone sharp. "Kakashi just returned—with critical intelligence."
When Mori and Tenzo arrived at the command post, the air inside was taut with tension.
Shikaku was still rooted before the sand table, his eyes glinting under the lamplight. Jiraiya stood beside him, arms crossed. Kakashi, still in his Anbu gear, was caked with mud and grass—clearly just back from a long, stealthy run.
"Report," Shikaku said tersely.
Kakashi's voice was low and a bit rough. "As planned, I led my squad to infiltrate Grass Country territory near the old Kannabi Bridge site for deep reconnaissance.
"For the first twenty-four hours, Iwagakure's patrol routes and defense grids remained consistent—nothing unusual. But six hours ago, we began observing multiple Iwa squads moving north."
"Retreating for rest or rotation?" Jiraiya asked.
"Unlikely," Kakashi replied, shaking his head. "We risked getting closer. At least ten full-strength units have systematically withdrawn northward from their defensive line."
He paused, then continued, "Three hours ago, we confirmed three more units disengaging. Hyuga Tsukimi used her Byakugan—she spotted the Five-Tails' Jinchūriki among them."
"And no reinforcements have arrived to replace them."
Shikaku exhaled slowly. "Withdrawing troops, even pulling out the Jinchūriki who anchors their assault formation… Ōnoki's preparing to retreat."
Ever since the news of Homura Mitokado's mission to the Land of Frost, Shikaku had anticipated something like this. It seemed the pieces were finally shifting in Konoha's favor.
"That old fence-sitter," Jiraiya muttered with a half-grin. "He's nothing if not decisive."
Shikaku didn't respond—he was already giving orders. "Dispatch three elite recon teams. Spread them along the Kannabi line. I want confirmation on Iwagakure's troop movements—every gap, every stronghold."
The messenger ninja bowed and vanished in an instant.
Shikaku turned back to Kakashi. "Good work. Get some rest—but stay on standby."
"Yes, sir." Kakashi gave a curt nod and left.
Jiraiya then looked to Mori and Tenzo. "You two as well. If Iwagakure's pulling out, they might leave behind a rearguard or attempt a final strike. Stay sharp."
"Understood," Mori said, and the two Anbu exited the tent.
Hours later, the scouts' reports confirmed everything. Iwagakure's defenses were thinning rapidly—the remaining traps and seals were hasty replacements for actual manpower.
The assessment was sent back to Konoha. The response came swiftly.
When Mori's team was summoned again, the atmosphere in the command center had grown heavier, not lighter.
"The latest orders from the village are in," Jiraiya said, his tone grave. "We're to push forward on the Kannabi front—immediately."
Kakashi frowned. "Why? Iwagakure is already withdrawing. If we just maintain pressure, they'll fall back on their own. Why risk a full offensive now?"
Jiraiya sighed. "Because the Raikage is demanding reparations—and his patience is gone. If we refuse, he'll open another front tomorrow."
Shikaku's expression tightened. "And if Kumogakure attacks, Ōnoki will reconsider his retreat. He might even re-engage before pulling out."
"The Hokage's advisor, Mitokado, is already negotiating," Jiraiya continued. "This is our narrow window. While Ōnoki's will to fight is wavering, we strike—seize Kannabi, drive them all the way back to the Earth Country border if possible."
Silence followed. The unspoken question hung heavy in everyone's minds: What if Ōnoki takes the field himself?
One Dust Release, and the entire offensive could be erased—literally.
Then Mori spoke up. "Captain Kakashi recently conducted deep reconnaissance in Grass Country, correct? What stance has the Grass Village maintained in this conflict?"
Jiraiya arched a brow. "Grass? Their survival strategy is neutrality. As long as Ōnoki's here in person, they won't dare show a real attitude. They've been quietly allowing Iwagakure to move and camp within their territory."
Shikaku nodded. "They play both sides—always have. Even Suna, who's nominally allied with us, won't directly strike Iwagakure. Expecting Grass to take action is unrealistic."
"I'm not asking them to take sides," Mori said evenly. "I just want to confirm something—have they ever openly declared loyalty or cooperation with Iwagakure?"
Shikaku frowned in thought, then shook his head. "No. They've stayed ambiguous—as usual. That way, they can claim helplessness later, whichever side wins."
"Exactly," Mori said. His eyes sharpened. "From Iwagakure's perspective, Grass Village's obedience only lasts as long as they have an overwhelming presence there. But if Ōnoki's army begins to retreat…"
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed with interest.
"…then a sudden shift in Grass's behavior could accelerate their withdrawal," Mori continued. "If a few strong-willed Grass shinobi were to appear behind their lines—harassing supply convoys, striking retreating units, or even just creating the illusion of such attacks…"
He glanced between the two strategists. "The fear of being attacked from both front and rear could make Iwagakure abandon Grass territory faster—maybe even collapse their rear defenses entirely."
Shikaku's brows slowly relaxed, and a small, calculating smile appeared.
"…It's worth trying."
He paused. "But such a mission would be incredibly dangerous—infiltration, disguise, deep behind enemy lines. Only a top-tier squad could pull that off."
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