By February 2nd of Konoha Year 45, as their forces continued retreating southward, Shimizu found himself caught in a tense rhythm—waiting for reinforcements from Konoha while repeatedly leading elite squads in sudden strikes and harassment against the advancing Iwagakure army.
After nearly seven days of probing and skirmishing, they had finally pieced together a rough estimate of the enemy's strength—around 3,600 shinobi, organized into ten legions.
If they hadn't noticed that faint, inconspicuous mist at the very beginning—if they hadn't pursued it relentlessly and uncovered the presence of Iwa shinobi—then their mere four hundred men would likely have been surrounded and wiped out in a single night.
Yet during this time, Shimizu discovered something else—something that left him deeply unsettled.
That Iwa force didn't seem intent on invading the Land of Fire at all.
Their current trajectory was heading southwest, toward the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain.
What was even stranger was that instead of pushing further southeast into Konoha's territory, the massive Iwa army was moving in parallel with them—shadowing their retreat toward the southwest.
At another hastily convened meeting, Shimizu voiced his doubts once more.
"What I don't understand," he said slowly, "is how they're tracking our movements."
"Maybe they have a shinobi skilled in tracking?" one of the captains suggested.
"If that's the case," Shimizu replied, his tone turning colder, "then their objective is clear—they're trying to eliminate us."
There was no other explanation. The enemy was following them with relentless determination—they were set on wiping them out completely.
"Are we really that valuable?" Amane asked, disbelief evident in his voice as he instinctively glanced at Shimizu. "Enough for them to abandon an invasion of the Land of Fire?"
The only reasonable explanation was that Iwagakure wanted Shimizu dead.
After all, during the incident in Takigakure, Shimizu had thoroughly offended the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki. Given the man's notoriously stubborn nature, it wasn't impossible that he would go to such lengths for revenge.
Of course, Amane had also considered another possibility—that Iwagakure's true target was the Uchiha.
After all, who wouldn't covet the legendary Sharingan? Who wouldn't be tempted by such power?
These were things Amane could see clearly—and Shimizu even more so.
He hadn't forgotten the overwhelming threat Ōnoki had left behind before departing.
Could this really be retaliation for what happened in Takigakure?
Had they truly dispatched ten entire legions just to settle that score?
But then another question arose—
At the very beginning… how had Iwagakure known that Shimizu and the Uchiha were stationed near the Lake of Tranquility?
It felt almost as if the enemy had some kind of all-seeing perspective… as though they were watching everything from above.
And that thought led Shimizu to a single name.
White Zetsu… Tobi.
During the war with Sunagakure, that man had seemed to be everywhere at once. Somehow, in some unknown way, he had even managed to cooperate with the Sand, repeatedly striking at Konoha's most vulnerable points and causing heavy losses in the early stages of the war.
And then there was his elusive earth-release technique—
Appearing and disappearing without a trace, impossible to guard against.
If it really was him providing Iwagakure with intelligence on their movements…
Then Madara… and Tobi… had begun to act again.
But what was their objective this time?
Was Tobi still fixated on taking his life?
If that was the case… then there was only one way to find out.
"This can't go on," Shimizu said decisively. "We can't keep letting them chase us like this. The northern border has already been breached by Iwagakure—they've pushed straight into the heart of the Land of Fire."
"Right now, Konoha's attention is focused over there. The fact that our mere four hundred men are tying down a force of 3,600… they probably think we've already done more than enough."
He paused, then made his decision.
"So starting today, the rest of you will head north to reinforce our lines…"
"And I'll continue southwest—alone."
The moment his words fell, everyone present froze in shock.
Shimizu… was planning to shoulder everything alone.
To draw the danger away from the entire unit—by himself.
"Senpai, how can you even suggest that?" Amane rejected the idea outright. "If you get entangled by Iwagakure's main force on your own, there's no way you'll be able to shake them off."
Satomi shook her head as well, her voice firm with concern. "Doing this would only put us in a worse position… and if something were to happen to you—"
Only Fugaku narrowed his eyes slightly, as though he had grasped Shimizu's true intention. "You want to test who their real target is?"
"Exactly." Shimizu's tone was steady, unwavering. "If we don't understand their objective, then dragging this out serves no purpose. It's not like they haven't tried to encircle us before—they've just failed so far."
"But what happens when they bring in reinforcements?"
"When that time comes, these four hundred men will truly be wiped out here."
"…You have a point," Fugaku admitted. He, too, wanted to know who Iwagakure was really targeting.
In truth, there was a lingering worry in his heart—that their goal was the Sharingan.
"But what if we split up, and they split up as well?" one of the captains asked.
Shimizu answered without hesitation. "If that happens, I'll head straight into the Land of Rain alone, while the rest of you return directly to Konoha."
"The Land of Rain…" Fugaku pondered for a moment before nodding. "That's not a bad option."
It was, in fact, a very clever one.
The Land of Rain was currently under strict lockdown. Anyone who dared to intrude upon its territory would be seen as making a direct provocation.
Without sufficient justification, no one would willingly provoke Hanzō of the Salamander—the so-called "demigod."
After all, he was the man who had inflicted devastating losses on Konoha during the Second Great Ninja War.
If Shimizu went alone, his mobility might allow him to slip past Rain's surveillance unnoticed. But a force as large as Iwagakure's would inevitably draw attention—perhaps even spark open conflict with Amegakure.
And if it really came to that…
Then shifting the disaster onto someone else and watching from the sidelines wouldn't be the worst outcome.
The decision to split up was settled just like that.
Yet before Shimizu could set out, two unexpected figures stepped forward.
"Since you've already made up your mind, senpai…" Amane scratched his head. "Mind if I come along? I may not be a jōnin, but I won't slow you down."
"At least we can look out for each other on the way."
Before Shimizu could respond, another voice joined in—
Satomi.
"I'm a jōnin," she said simply. "I won't hold you back."
"You two…" Shimizu felt a headache coming on, unsure how to refuse them.
If his suspicions were correct, if everything he feared turned out to be true, then they would inevitably run into White Zetsu—Tobi.
And if that happened… how was he supposed to keep the two of them safe?
It wasn't as though he had come unprepared. He had already sent a confidential message to the Third Hokage, outlining both his suspicions and his plan.
To use himself as bait—to see whether, beneath this seemingly calm surface, there truly lurked a massive predator waiting to strike.
Shimizu let out a quiet sigh. "Why go this far…"
"Senpai, if Iwagakure really is targeting you," Amane said with unwavering conviction, "then like I said before—you won't be able to shake them off alone. My traps and genjutsu will definitely help."
"And my reconnaissance abilities will be useful too," Satomi added.
Shimizu looked at the two of them for a long moment, then finally gave in.
"…Fine. Keep up."