At the border of the Land of the Moon, within the Konoha camp, tension filled the air.
"The war in the Land of Rain has reached a stalemate," Tsunade murmured as she studied the latest battle report sent from the village. Her brows knitted in a mixture of solemnity and disbelief. "Over the past two months, neither side has managed to secure a decisive victory despite multiple clashes."
Orochimaru, standing beside her, wore a similarly contemplative expression. As two of the legendary Sannin, they understood the gravity of the situation better than most.
The report detailed Minato Namikaze's ongoing efforts on the battlefield. Not only had he managed to fight Hanzo the Salamander—a man whose strength they both knew well—but he had also held his ground against the combined might of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa and the Four-Tails' Jinchuriki, Roshi.
"If Minato didn't possess such extraordinary strength, Konoha's defenses in the Land of Rain would have been overrun by the coalition forces of the three nations long ago," Tsunade said, her voice tinged with gratitude.
Orochimaru nodded. "And if that had happened, the entire Land of Fire would be engulfed in the flames of war."
Konoha's forces were stretched thin. The village, once a dominant power, no longer had the resources or manpower to resist a three-nation alliance.
"The key moving forward lies in the reserves each side has accumulated over the years," Hatake Sakumo interjected. His sharp gaze scanned the report, and a faint sense of relief crossed his face. "For now, the balance holds."
Sakumo's thoughts drifted to his son, Kakashi, and their comrade Jun Watanabe, both of whom were stationed on the Rain Country battlefield. The knowledge that neither side had gained a decisive advantage eased some of the tension weighing on him.
The battles across the Land of Rain, the Land of Fire's coastline, and other critical fronts had devolved into grueling wars of attrition. The once-clear lines of victory had blurred as both sides suffered heavy losses.
"Ending this war will take far more than sheer strength," Tsunade admitted.
Her thoughts were interrupted as a scout burst into the tent, his face marked with urgency.
"Leaders, we've received word from the sentries—Cloud Ninja troops are regrouping and preparing to advance!"
Tsunade's expression hardened immediately. "Alert the camp and prepare for battle!" she commanded.
"Yes!" The scout rushed out, leaving the leaders to ready themselves for the coming conflict.
Meanwhile, in the depths of a dark forest, the ground rippled unnaturally. White Zetsu emerged from the shadows, his pale figure blending with the eerie surroundings.
"As expected," he said, his tone tinged with satisfaction. "The Red Sand Scorpion has begun moving toward the coastline of the Land of Fire. He's heading straight for the battlefield where 'that guy' is stationed."
Madara Uchiha, shrouded in the shadows, chuckled softly at the report.
White Zetsu tilted his head, curiosity evident. "Why were you so certain that Sasori would head for the battlefield between Konoha and Kirigakure, rather than the Land of Rain?"
Madara's voice carried an air of amusement as he replied, "It's simple. The boy fears Minato Namikaze. He knows he's no match for the Yellow Flash, and his poison techniques are useless against Tsunade, who can neutralize them with her medical ninjutsu. It's only logical he would avoid direct confrontation."
Zetsu nodded slowly. "And by targeting the Konoha forces stationed against Kirigakure, he avoids his biggest obstacles while still having a chance to weaken Konoha's defenses. Clever."
Madara's smirk widened. "He understands that defeating Minato head-on is unnecessary. If he can contribute to Konoha's downfall on another front, opportunities for revenge will follow naturally."
Madara's eyes gleamed with calculated intent. "Follow him closely. Learn his plans. And when the time comes, use your influence as the Third Mizukage to ensure Kirigakure supports his efforts."
Zetsu hesitated briefly. "Do you think he's already contacted Kirigakure?"
Madara shrugged, unconcerned. "Perhaps. But whether they officially ally with him or not, they'll use him to their advantage. It's only natural."
On the coastline of the Land of Fire, the air was thick with the salt of the sea. A dense fog rolled in as the night deepened, shrouding the landscape in a ghostly veil.
Near a low hill several miles from the Konoha camp, a lone figure crouched in the shadows. His crimson hair, tied neatly behind him, fluttered slightly in the cool breeze.
Sasori of the Red Sand gazed toward the distant lights of the Konoha encampment. A faint smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.
"If they think their sentries can stop me, they're gravely mistaken," he muttered.
As an S-rank criminal of the Sand Village, Sasori knew better than to approach Konoha's camp openly. The alliance between Kirigakure and Sunagakure made his position precarious—Kirigakure wouldn't risk exposing their ties to a wanted man, no matter how useful he might be.
But Sasori didn't need their overt support.
Over the next few days, he moved like a shadow along the camp's perimeter, evading detection with ease. Konoha's Byakugan users might have been able to spot him under normal circumstances, but Sasori had prepared for this. His puppets scattered around the area acted as decoys, drawing attention away from his true position.
At sunset on the third day, Sasori stood atop a cliff overlooking the camp. The setting sun bathed his delicate, youthful face in a warm, golden glow.
"Almost time," he murmured.
His plan was simple yet devastating: weaken Konoha's forces through sabotage and misinformation, then signal Kirigakure to launch a full-scale assault. Even if he couldn't directly participate, his actions would pave the way for Kirigakure's victory—and Konoha's downfall.
Satisfied, Sasori disappeared into the gathering dusk.
In the Hidden Mist camp along the coast of the Land of Waves, the atmosphere was tense.
Clang!
A kunai, its blade glinting ominously in the moonlight, struck the ground near the camp's gate.
The guards reacted instantly, deflecting the weapon and searching the area. Finding nothing, one of them retrieved the kunai, discovering a small scroll tied to its handle.
Inside the command tent, Terumi Mei, the future Mizukage, examined the scroll. Her brow furrowed as she read its contents, her lips forming a single name.
"Sasori of the Red Sand," she murmured. "He wants to use Kirigakure to take revenge on Konoha."
The message was clear. Sasori was offering his skills in exchange for support against Konoha, but his true intentions were far more complex. Terumi knew better than to trust someone of Sasori's reputation, especially considering his status as a wanted criminal.
As she deliberated, another figure entered the tent—a messenger carrying an urgent scroll.
Terumi's eyes narrowed as she unrolled it. "An order from the Third Mizukage?"
...
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