Leaf intelligence moved fast. Three days after Orochimaru gave the order, fresh reports on the Rock-Cloud war landed on his desk.
As expected, both sides had ramped up the fighting. Intelligence even spotted Killer B on the battlefield. With two jinchuriki now active for Cloud, the balance had shifted hard. Iwa was getting pushed back a full hundred miles—into their own territory.
Onoki was furious. For the first time since the war began, one of the great villages had lost actual land. The Daimyo of Earth Country had already started sending angry letters asking when the "barbarians" would be driven out.
With the Five-Tails tied up against Leaf in Grass Country, only the Four-Tails jinchuriki, Roshi, was left to hold the line in Earth Country. One man couldn't stand against two perfect jinchuriki. Rumors said Onoki was seriously considering going to the front himself.
While Rock and Cloud tore into each other, Sand and Mist had gone strangely quiet.
Minato had been keeping an eye on the coast. After confirming that Mist had completely pulled out of Wind Country and was now sitting on an island fifty kilometers offshore, he sent word to Jiraiya immediately.
Inside the main command tent in the Land of Rivers, Jiraiya, Shikaku, and the other staff officers studied the report.
Shikaku spoke first. "They've clearly cut a deal. The only thing that could make Sand and Mist team up right now is us."
The mood in the tent turned heavy. If Mist was finally ready to move against Leaf, then Konoha was about to face its most dangerous situation yet—fighting all four great villages at once.
Jiraiya didn't waste time. "Send the report back to the village. Increase patrols along the entire coastline, especially near the Land of Rivers. I want extra eyes on the water. If Mist tries anything, I want to know the second they land."
A few days later, Sand started sending scouting parties toward the Land of Rivers. They were careful—probing for information without starting real fights. At the same time, Mist forces began landing on the coasts of both the Land of Rivers and the Land of Wind, raiding supplies and resources exactly the way Cloud had done earlier.
Leaf couldn't ignore it. The Land of Rivers was under their control. Letting Mist loot it freely was the same as letting them slap Leaf in the face. Fighting broke out between Leaf and Mist forces inside the Land of Rivers, even though neither village had officially declared war.
---
Wind Country border camp.
Rasa looked exhausted when he arrived at the command tent. The constant losses and political pressure had worn him down.
"Lord Kazekage, are we still going to attack Leaf?" his trusted subordinate, Sawa, asked carefully.
"No," Rasa answered. "We only need to keep making threatening moves. Tie down some of their forces. Let Mist do the real work. They've been begging for a chance to kill Leaf ninja anyway."
A strange smile crossed Rasa's face. After a lot of effort, he had finally pulled Mist into the fight against Leaf. The price had been high, but it was worth it. Sand was out of the worst of the war, and one of their rivals was about to bleed for them.
Sawa hesitated. "But… Pakura was just killed by Mist. A lot of people in the village are angry. Some think she was betrayed—that someone fed Mist her location."
Rasa's expression didn't change. Pakura's death had been convenient. Three days later, Sand and Mist had signed their secret agreement. Plenty of Sand ninja suspected foul play, but without proof, their complaints didn't matter. Not when the deal could drag Sand out of the quagmire.
---
Konoha Year 47, July.
Taiichi had spent the last month occasionally harassing the Cloud camp while spending most of his time trying to track Nonou through the special Flying Thunder God kunai he had given her.
After Danzo lost his elder seat, Taiichi had a bad feeling the man would eventually go after her. Today, during his routine check, the kunai's location had jumped dramatically. She was now deep inside Earth Country territory.
A medical ninja suddenly appearing in the heart of enemy land could only mean one thing—Danzo had sent her on a spy mission.
Taiichi's hands tightened into fists. Danzo never stopped scheming against the people around him.
He told Orochimaru he was leaving, then vanished from camp.
He reappeared near the border between Fire Country and Grass Country—the closest Flying Thunder God marker to Nonou's current position. After recovering his chakra, he launched into the sky on golden wings, wind chakra clearing the air resistance around him.
His flight technique had improved a lot. He was getting close to the speed of sound now. Without the wind barrier protecting him, the air pressure would have torn him apart.
Two hours later he was close. He slowed down, spread his chakra sensing, and began searching for her.
A few minutes later he found her inside a small city. She was sitting alone in a restaurant, eating calmly like any ordinary traveler. Her movements were relaxed and natural—perfect spy behavior.
Taiichi didn't approach right away. He stayed high in the clouds, watching.
After two hours, he spotted two suspicious people tailing her. One was clearly working with her—they exchanged occasional glances. The other was a pure shadow, staying back and observing. Taiichi couldn't tell if the second person belonged to Root or some other group.
He created two shadow clones to guard his body, then activated Spirit Transformation. His soul left his physical form while the golden chains from his back anchored his body between the two clones.
His soul dropped straight into Nonou.
In the outside world, Nonou's steps only faltered for a second before she continued walking normally.
Inside her mindscape, Taiichi appeared in what looked exactly like the old Konoha orphanage courtyard. He spoke quickly before she could attack.
"Nonou-nee, it's me. Taiichi."
Nonou had been ready to fight for her life. She froze when she recognized the voice. She knew about Spirit Transformation and Mind Body Switch techniques. For a second she had thought Danzo had finally decided to kill her.
"Taiichi? What are you doing here? It's dangerous—there are Root agents watching me right now."
"It's fine," Taiichi said gently. "My real body is safe. No one can find it. You just keep moving like normal. We're in your mindscape. They won't notice anything."
He guided her to sit at the stone table in the courtyard.
"Why are you in Earth Country? What mission did Danzo give you?"
Nonou sighed. "I was going to ask how you found me… but I guess that's not important right now." She looked at him with real worry. "Taiichi, you shouldn't be here. This place is too dangerous."
Taiichi shook his head. "I'm not leaving until I know what's going on. Tell me."
Nonou explained that the mission was important for the war against Iwa. Danzo wouldn't sabotage it while it could still help him win. The person tailing her was standard Root procedure for high-risk operations—both to watch her and to report success or failure immediately.
Taiichi listened quietly. He hated that she was in danger, but he also understood her loyalty to the village. People like Nonou were part of the reason Konoha had survived this long.
"I won't stop you from doing the mission," he said at last. "But if things get too dangerous, call me. My strength is completely different now. There aren't many people in the ninja world I can't handle."
Nonou smiled softly, the same warm smile she used to give him when he was small. "I know, 'White Death.' I've heard the rumors. My little Taiichi has become quite the famous ninja."
Taiichi scratched his head, embarrassed, but still made her promise again before pulling his soul out of her body.
He would keep watching from above. If Danzo tried anything, he would be ready.