In April of Konoha Year 38, after Hayashi and Sakumo led several large scale offensives, Kirigakure finally reached its limit. Unable to withstand the continued pressure from Konoha's forces, they were forced to withdraw from the Land of Waves.
The Land of Waves was a poor and underdeveloped island nation, but its strategic value was extremely important. It was one of the few island territories located along the coastline of the Land of Fire. Because of its location, controlling it meant controlling a key maritime route.
Once Konoha secured the Land of Waves, the strategic flexibility of the entire front line improved dramatically.
With both the Land of Waves and the Land of Bears acting as forward positions, Konoha could expand its military operations in multiple directions. To the west, they could cut off Kirigakure's influence over the Land of Hot Water. To the east, the islands belonging to the Land of Water would become vulnerable to invasion.
In short, the balance of the coastal battlefield had begun to shift.
At this moment, several kilometers away from Konoha's newly established base in the Land of Waves, a dense forest stretched across the island.
Hayashi stood quietly among the trees, carefully observing his surroundings.
After confirming the area, he quickly moved deeper into the forest until he reached the center of the entire woodland. With a powerful leap, he jumped onto the massive crown of a towering ancient tree.
Standing on the thick branches, Hayashi stretched out his arms. His index fingers met, forming a triangular hand sign. He then placed both hands firmly against the trunk of the giant tree.
Instantly, intricate sealing patterns spread across the bark like living vines.
From the center of the tree, the patterns expanded outward in all directions. Invisible waves of chakra radiated through the forest, forming a massive sensory barrier that resembled a giant inverted bowl covering the entire area.
Once the barrier was completed, Hayashi disappeared from the treetop in a flash, moving away at full speed.
Over the next two days, he repeated this process again and again across the island.
By the time he finished, more than a dozen similar barriers had been established throughout the Land of Waves.
These were sensory barriers designed to detect the presence of nearby shinobi. The central control point of the entire barrier network was located inside the Konoha base, where ten members of the sealing team were assigned to monitor the system constantly.
If Kirigakure shinobi entered the area, their presence would immediately trigger the detection network.
If someone attempted to destroy one of the barriers deliberately, Hayashi himself would also sense the disturbance.
Although this system could not completely stop enemy infiltration, it solved the biggest problem Konoha had previously faced. In the past, Kirigakure shinobi had slipped past the defensive line and infiltrated the area without anyone noticing.
That would no longer happen so easily.
After completing the final barrier, Hayashi returned to the Konoha camp.
Inside the command tent, Sakumo was already holding a meeting with the Jonin.
After the two divisions of Konoha forces merged together, the number of shinobi stationed on this front line increased once again. Now that the Land of Waves had been secured, the conditions were finally right to launch a new phase of the war.
When Hayashi entered the tent, he immediately walked to the empty seat beside Sakumo and sat down.
Most of the shinobi attending the meeting were clan members.
Unlike the Second Shinobi World War, this conflict had placed Konoha in a dangerous position. The village was facing pressure from four of the Five Great Nations simultaneously. Under such circumstances, even the conservative clan elders had no choice but to commit their full strength to the battlefield.
The Uchiha clan, who had long served as Konoha's security force, had deployed a significant number of elite shinobi.
Even the Hyuga clan had sent many members of their main family to the front line.
At the front of the tent, Nara Shikaku stood beside a massive map of the ninja world.
As Konoha's acting strategist for this battlefield, he began explaining the current situation.
"As everyone already knows, Kirigakure has withdrawn from the Land of Waves," Shikaku said calmly.
"Their base in the Land of Bears has also been destroyed. Out of the three defensive blockade lines they established earlier, only the final line in the Land of Hot Water remains."
After more than a year of fighting, Kirigakure had been forced to accept a harsh reality.
They could not defeat Konoha in a direct confrontation.
Because of this, the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, had made a major strategic adjustment.
The Kirigakure forces stationed in the Land of Hot Water were ordered to combine with the Kumogakure army already operating there. Together, the two villages would launch a joint assault against Konoha's forces.
With the deployment of two Jinchuriki, the son of the Raikage, and numerous elite shinobi, the battlefield situation in the Land of Hot Water had become extremely dangerous.
Danzo and Homura's forces were already struggling to hold their ground.
There were even rumors that the Third Raikage himself was preparing to enter the battlefield.
If that happened, the situation would escalate to the point where the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, might also be forced to personally intervene.
Since the Land of Hot Water battlefield offered such a strong advantage, Kirigakure had no reason to continue confronting Hayashi and Sakumo directly.
Instead, reinforcing their alliance with Kumogakure and focusing on destroying Danzo's forces was the most logical strategy.
As for the coastal battlefield of the Land of Fire that Hayashi and Sakumo controlled, Kirigakure was willing to temporarily abandon it.
This decision created enormous pressure for Konoha.
Danzo was now facing the combined forces of two major villages, including the notoriously powerful Kumogakure. It was no surprise that he had already sent multiple urgent requests for reinforcements to the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi himself was under tremendous strain.
While replying to Danzo and urging him to continue holding the line, he was also mobilizing every available shinobi within the village and sending them to the battlefield.
Even Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin, had been transferred to the Land of Hot Water.
Now only Orochimaru and Tsunade remained to support the Wind Country front.
Despite the severity of the situation, the Third Hokage still refused to transfer Hayashi and Sakumo's forces to reinforce Danzo.
The reason was simple.
Konoha could not allow itself to be dragged around by enemy strategy.
Sending reinforcements might temporarily ease the pressure in the Land of Hot Water, but it would not solve the underlying problem.
The real solution was far more direct.
Konoha needed to attack the Land of Water itself.
If Kirigakure was forced to defend their own homeland, they would no longer have the freedom to support Kumogakure's offensive.
After Shikaku finished explaining the strategic situation, Sakumo spoke.
His tone was calm, but the meaning of his words was unmistakable.
"Next, we will begin an active offensive against the Land of Water."
Excitement immediately spread through the tent.
For shinobi, taking the initiative in battle meant opportunities for achievement and recognition. The more contributions they made during the war, the greater their status and rewards would be within the village.
Sakumo pointed to the map again.
"During the past weeks, we have investigated the sea routes used by Kirigakure to transport reinforcements to the Land of Hot Water."
"Our next task is to block these routes."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Mission scrolls have already been distributed to each team captain."
"Every squad will be responsible for a specific section of ocean. Your task is to deploy underwater mines and explosive tags within your assigned area."
"This operation must be completed within three days."
"Understood?"
"Yes!"
The response from the Jonin echoed throughout the tent.
Completing such a large scale task in only three days would be impossible for ordinary soldiers. However, shinobi were far from ordinary. With chakra, water walking techniques, and coordinated teamwork, the mission was difficult but achievable.
The primary goal of the operation was to disrupt Kirigakure's naval movement and relieve the pressure on Danzo's forces.
At the same time, Konoha units would launch attacks against several coastal supply bases belonging to Kirigakure.
According to intelligence reports, those strongholds contained large stockpiles of combat supplies.
From a strategic perspective, the plan was simple.
Destroy enemy logistics.
Cut off their transportation routes.
Force them into a defensive position.
As the meeting reached its conclusion, Hayashi raised his hand and spoke calmly.
"The operation needs a code name."
He looked around the tent at the gathered shinobi before announcing it.
"The name of this operation will be…"
"The Hundred Ninja War."
Silence filled the tent for a brief moment as the name settled into everyone's mind.
Then the Jonin began quietly discussing the upcoming mission.