Western front, Allied camp.
Rasa was reviewing a map inside his tent.
Ōnoki's Dust Release had left a strong impression on the Allied forces during yesterday's battle.
While casualties were minimal, that feeling of being unable to fight back while taking damage left many Suna shinobi unsettled.
A direct assault would only lead to needless sacrifice.
Just then, the tent flap was suddenly thrown open.
"Kazekage-sama!"
A Suna shinobi rushed in, "Urgent intelligence!"
Rasa frowned. "Speak."
"Our reconnaissance unit intercepted an advanced-level encrypted message from Iwa!" The Suna shinobi's voice trembled slightly.
It was excitement.
"The central granary of the Land of Earth was attacked last night!"
Rasa's expression changed. "Attacked? By who?"
"We're not sure yet, but the granary was completely burned down!" The shinobi almost shouted. "All stored grain and supplies were reduced to ashes!"
Hiss—
Rasa sucked in a sharp breath. He stared intently at the messenger and asked slowly, "Are you certain?"
"Absolutely!" The shinobi presented a scroll with both hands.
"This is the letter from Iwagakure to Ōnoki that we intercepted!"
Rasa snatched it and unfolded the scroll.
The handwriting was messy and filled with panic. Every word reeked of despair.
Granary destroyed.
Guards annihilated.
Village plundered.
Losses... immeasurable!
Rasa's body trembled slightly, then a low chuckle escaped his throat.
"Heh..."
"Heh heh heh..."
"Good. Good!"
He burst into laughter, his voice full of glee. "Heaven helps me! Heaven truly helps me!"
The guards outside the tent exchanged glances, confused by their Kazekage's reaction.
"Quick!"
"Go invite Orochimaru from Konoha here immediately!" Rasa's excitement was palpable. "I have something major to discuss with him!"
"Yes!"
Soon after, Orochimaru arrived at Rasa's tent.
He looked at Rasa with a teasing expression. "Kazekage-sama, to be this worked up... has the war taken an interesting turn?"
"More than a turn." Rasa handed him the intercepted message. "This is checkmate."
Orochimaru took the scroll and skimmed through it. His expression didn't change.
"So that's it."
"Pulling the rug out from under them. A brilliant move."
His tone was calm, as if he had known all along.
Rasa couldn't help asking, "...You don't seem surprised at all?"
"Surprised?" Orochimaru licked his lips with his tongue. "Why would I be?"
"Wasn't this outcome inevitable?"
Inevitable?
Rasa was stunned.
How could the destruction of Iwagakure's lifeline be inevitable?
Unless...
A sudden realization struck him. His pupils contracted as he exclaimed, "Could it be... you had a backup plan from the beginning?"
Orochimaru didn't answer, but the cold glint in his snake-like eyes said everything.
A chill rose up Rasa's spine.
In that moment, he understood.
From the very beginning, the Land of Fire never expected the Allied Forces to break through Iwa's defenses head-on.
Their support was merely bait to draw Ōnoki out.
The real killing blow came only after Ōnoki left the Village.
When everyone was focused on the front lines, the rear of Iwagakure became vulnerable.
Cut off supplies. Sever the retreat.
The massive Iwa army had become an isolated force, with no way forward or back.
"Incredible... how did you do it?" Rasa murmured in awe.
"Rōnin."
"Rōnin? How could they..."
"There's nothing that can't be bought with profit. And if there is, just double it. Triple it. That's what our Daimyō-sama told me."
"...Your Daimyō-sama is truly terrifying."
"Terrifying? I'd call it the art of war. True strategists never step onto the battlefield themselves."
"Ōnoki is indeed powerful. But the moment he appeared on the front lines himself, he had already lost."
Rasa fell silent.
He was right.
Shinobi need food too.
Without supplies, even the strongest army is just a pack of starving beasts.
"Then what's our next move?" Rasa asked.
"No need to rush." Orochimaru waved his hand casually, his posture relaxed.
"Ōnoki must have received the news by now. Let's see what that stubborn old man decides."
Just as he finished speaking, Jiraiya strode into the tent.
"Yo, looks like the good news has already arrived?"
Rasa looked at him. "You know too?"
"Just received word from Konoha Intelligence." Jiraiya chuckled.
"Seems our Daimyō-sama's plan is unfolding smoothly."
Rasa's final trace of doubt vanished.
This wasn't a trick by Iwa. It was real.
From the Allied Forces gathering and locking Ōnoki on the western front...
To the burning of the granary...
Every step had been executed with terrifying precision.
"With the granary gone, Iwa is at the end of the line," Jiraiya analyzed. "Ōnoki doesn't have many options left. Surrender or retreat."
"Surrender?" Orochimaru sneered. "You're underestimating that old man's stubbornness. He'd rather drag all of Iwagakure down with him than admit defeat."
"Then retreat is the only option," Jiraiya nodded.
Their gazes met.
A single location appeared in their minds.
"Iwagakure," Rasa said.
"Exactly." Orochimaru's smile turned cold. "His only path is to break through with the forces on the western front."
"And we..." Rasa's breathing grew heavy, ambition flashing in his eyes.
"We?" Orochimaru's grin grew dangerous. "We follow right behind... and send them off."
"If they stop, we stop. If they run, we chase."
"That's also what Daimyō-sama instructed."
Rasa's blood boiled.
As a Kazekage who had participated in countless battles, he understood the meaning of Orochimaru's words all too well.
However...
Jiraiya suddenly asked, "Any new instructions from Daimyō-sama?"
"Daimyō-sama's orders are simple." Orochimaru pulled a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Jiraiya.
Jiraiya unfolded the scroll to read it. Rasa leaned in as well.
The message was short:
Do not rush into a decisive battle.
Iwagakure is a dying tiger. Its counterattack is at its most dangerous.
Maintain pressure. Harass them on the move.
Then, wear them down until they collapse.
"Wear them down to death?" Rasa frowned.
"A bit too cautious, don't you think?" Orochimaru added.
"Without food, Iwa's morale won't last a month. Ōnoki wants to retreat safely? We won't give him that luxury."
"Chase them. Harass them. Exhaust them."
"When he finally stumbles back to Iwagakure, dragging a starving and broken army..."
"...he'll find that the grave's already been dug."
Rasa was silent.
Terrifying.
Too terrifying.
Without even stepping onto the battlefield, Iwagakure had already been reduced to a plaything in someone else's hands.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
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