At the border of the Land of Rain, Konoha Camp.
Swish, swish, swish!
The air seemed to ripple as a sudden surge of energy filled the camp. In the blink of an eye, 1,500 Konoha ninjas materialized within the tent, their arrival compressing the once-spacious area into a tightly packed assembly. The startled expressions on the faces of the Konoha soldiers already stationed there reflected their amazement at the abrupt change.
At the forefront of the group stood Minato Namikaze, his iconic blond hair disheveled and his breaths labored. His brow glistened with sweat as he struggled to steady himself. Transporting an entire battalion using the Flying Thunder God Technique was no small feat, even for the Yellow Flash. Despite the toll it took on his chakra reserves, Minato had made his decision. In war, the one who strikes first gains the advantage.
Nearby, Jiraiya observed his student with a mix of pride and concern. Minato's resolve had proven crucial in ensuring they arrived ahead of the enemy forces.
The commotion had not gone unnoticed. Within moments, several Konoha sentinels on duty appeared before the pair, their movements swift and precise.
"Lord Minato, Lord Jiraiya!" they greeted in unison, bowing respectfully.
"Do we have any information about the enemy?" Jiraiya asked, waving for them to stand at ease.
"Not yet, sir," one of the ninjas replied, his voice tinged with regret.
Minato nodded thoughtfully. The Land of Rain's terrain was treacherous, and its leader, Hanzo of the Salamander, was no novice when it came to defending his domain. It was no surprise that intelligence-gathering efforts had met with limited success.
Jiraiya frowned, scratching his chin. "We need more eyes in the field. Shibi, I'm counting on you," he said, turning to Aburame Shibi, who stood nearby.
The stoic shinobi adjusted his glasses, nodding silently before vanishing into the shadows. He excelled at reconnaissance, and Jiraiya trusted him implicitly.
"Now, we wait," Jiraiya said, his gaze meeting Minato's. Despite the looming threat, the two shared a brief, reassuring smile.
Moments later, a figure darted into the tent. Hyuga Tenki, the commander overseeing the border defense, arrived with a grim expression etched across his face. However, his demeanor lightened slightly upon noticing the reinforcements.
"Lord Jiraiya, Lord Minato," Tenki began, his tone urgent, "the Rain Ninja, led by Hanzo, have joined forces with the armies of the Rock and Sand. They're moving through the Valley of Tears and are headed directly for the Land of Fire border."
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit cave within the Land of Rain, a tense conversation unfolded.
"Hanzo must have lost his mind," Yahiko growled, his fist slamming against the rocky wall. His orange hair, damp from the rain, framed his determined expression. "If he drags the Land of Rain into this war, it will become a target for all five great nations!"
Konan, standing nearby with her arms crossed, frowned. "Even if he hadn't allied with the other nations, it's unlikely he could have stopped the Rock and Sand Ninjas from marching through our territory."
Yahiko exhaled sharply, conceding her point. Yet, the frustration gnawed at him. This war will tear apart everything we've worked so hard to build.
Nagato, who had been silent until now, spoke up, his voice calm but tinged with sadness. "Perhaps we could reason with them. If Jiraiya-sensei and Minato are leading Konoha's forces, there may still be a chance for diplomacy."
Yahiko shook his head. "It's not that simple. Even if Jiraiya and Minato were willing to listen, Hanzo and the other nations won't back down. The wounds inflicted by the Yellow Flash run deep."
Back at the Konoha camp, Shibi returned with his report.
"We've confirmed the enemy's numbers. The combined forces of the Sand, Rock, and Rain Ninjas total approximately 4,500," he stated.
A heavy silence fell over the tent. The Konoha forces, including those already stationed at the border, numbered only 2,500. The odds were daunting.
"They're less than fifty miles away and advancing rapidly," Shibi continued.
Minato's eyes narrowed. "Fifty miles… that gives us some time to prepare."
Jiraiya smirked. "What's running through that sharp mind of yours, Minato?"
…
Outside the camp, the enemy forces pressed onward. A massive sea of 4,500 ninjas moved in unison, their formation as intimidating as a swarm of locusts.
At the head of the army, Hanzo raised his hand, signaling the troops to halt.
"Now," he commanded.
Hundreds of Rock Ninjas stepped forward, their hands flying through a series of seals. With a resounding boom, they pressed their palms to the ground.
The earth trembled violently, splitting apart in jagged lines that surged forward like waves. The cracks tore through the terrain, destroying everything in their path.
Hanzo sneered. "Such petty tricks won't stop us."
As the ground upheaved, hidden explosive tags were unearthed, glinting in the sunlight. Hanzo tossed a kunai bearing an explosive tag into the chaos.
BOOM!
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