The rain outside the medical tent had stopped for a brief moment, leaving an eerie, heavy silence over the camp of 1,500 shinobi.
Inside, Ren was holding a brush, staring at a small square of paper. He had just figured out the binding script for the Yang Chakra.
If I loop the seal script twice at the hex-point...
Suddenly, the brush snapped in his hand.
Ren stood up, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. The ink spilled across the table, but he didn't notice.
His Quincy Soul screamed.
It wasn't a sound. It was a pressure. It felt like two massive tectonic plates were grinding against the camp from opposite directions.
"Ren?" Kaori looked up from a bandage she was wrapping. "What is it?"
"We're under attack," Ren said, his voice low but cutting through the noise of the tent.
"The sentries haven't signaled anything," a Medic Jōnin frowned, checking the sensor globe. "The perimeter is clear for two kilometers."
"Not two kilometers," Ren walked to the exit, ripping off his medical apron. "Ten."
The Command Tent.
Fugaku, Sakumo Hatake (The White Fang), and the Three Sannin were discussing supply lines over a large map.
The flap flew open. Ren marched in, ignoring the guards.
"You need to sound the alarm," Ren stated without preamble. "Level Red."
Fugaku glared at him. "Ren! You are assigned to the Medical Corps. You do not barge in here unless—"
"Enemy forces approaching," Ren interrupted, his eyes intensely focused. "Two armies. Pincer movement."
"Range?" Sakumo asked immediately, stepping forward, his hand drifting to his saber.
"Ten kilometers," Ren answered. "Closing fast."
Silence filled the tent. Even Orochimaru looked skeptical.
"Ten kilometers?" Jiraiya scoffed. "Kid, not even a Hyūga can see that far in this weather. The rain disrupts sensory chakra."
"But I can sense them," Ren insisted, his voice cold and absolute.
He pointed to the East.
"Iwagakure forces. Approximately 800. They are heavy. Slow moving, but immense power. Leading them is a chakra superior to all of us. It's a Tailed Beast. The Five-Tails Jinchūriki, Han."
He pointed to the West.
"Sunagakure forces. Approximately 700. They are faster. Leading them are two massive signatures. One feels like a thousand strings... a lady. The other... a male."
Sakumo's expression darkened. "The lady is Chiyo. And the male... that must be the Third Kazekage."
The room went deadly still.
An alliance between Earth and Wind. A pincer attack led by a Jinchūriki, a legendary Puppeteer, and the strongest Kazekage in history.
"If you're right," Tsunade whispered, "we are about to be crushed between a hammer and an anvil."
"He's right," Sakumo Hatake said, grabbing his white chakra blade. "I can feel the faint tremors in the earth now. They moved fast to catch us off guard."
Fugaku looked at the map, his face pale. "Hanzō isn't with them?"
"We have to split the forces," Sakumo commanded, taking charge instantly. The White Fang was the ranking officer in terms of pure combat experience.
He pointed to the East (Iwa).
"Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru. You three take the Senju battalion and the heavy infantry. You handle Iwagakure. You have the summons to match the Tailed Beast's size."
"Understood," Orochimaru licked his lips. "A Jinchūriki specimen. Delightful."
Sakumo pointed to the West (Suna).
"I will take the West. I need speed and precision to counter the puppets and the Iron Sand."
He looked at Fugaku.
"Fugaku, rally the Uchiha. Fire Release is the natural counter to Wind Release. And your Sharingan is the only thing that can see Chiyo's chakra threads."
Fugaku straightened up, realizing this was his moment. "The Uchiha will hold the line."
"Ren," Sakumo added, looking at the teenager. "Get your gear. You're with me. I need that sensing range on the field."
Five Minutes Later.
The camp was a hive of panicked activity. 1,500 shinobi scrambled into formation.
Ren stood with Squad Satoshi. His father checked his sword; his mother checked her tags. Mikoto stood beside Ren, looking nervous but determined.
"Ten kilometers..." Mikoto whispered. "Ren, can you really sense that far?"
"I can sense a flea sneezing in the next country," Ren deadpanned, checking his own pouches. "But right now, I'm sensing a lot of magnetic sand. That's going to be a problem."
"Squad Satoshi!" Fugaku barked, appearing in his combat armor. "We are the vanguard for the White Fang. Our objective is to burn the puppet corps to ash before they get in range."
"Yes, Sir!" Satoshi shouted.
Ren looked to the East, where the Sannin were leading their forces toward the steam rising in the distance. Then he looked West.
The sky was darkening. A cloud of black sand was blocking out the weak light.
"Here they come," Ren muttered.
Sakumo Hatake appeared at the front of the formation. The White Fang didn't give a speech. He simply drew his short white blade, which hummed with white chakra.
"Konoha!" Sakumo's voice carried over the wind. "Engage!"
The army surged forward.
Ren ran alongside Mikoto, his mind racing as he watched the black cloud of Iron Sand approaching.
Ren grinned.
Wait a minute. I have Chidori (Lightning). And the Kazekage uses Iron Sand.
Iron conducts electricity.
"Hey, Dad," Ren yelled over the rushing wind. "Do you trust me?"
Satoshi looked at his son without hesitation. "Always."
"Good," Ren's eyes shifted to the three-tomoe pattern. "Because I have a plan to roast a Kage."