The rain had fallen over the Land of Grass for three straight days.
"Lord Sakumo, Iwagakure's forces have retreated north of the Kusa River." A chūnin knelt on one knee. "Should we pursue them or hold our position?"
"Hold." Hatake Sakumo turned around. "Pass down the order. Reinforce our defensive fortifications and seal off all five crossings along the Kusa River. No ninja from any faction is permitted to fight within Konoha's defensive zone."
"Yes, sir."
The chūnin disappeared into the rain.
Hatake Sakumo looked ahead once more. The hills of the Land of Grass faded in and out of view behind the curtain of rain.
The flashes of lightning from Kumogakure had illuminated the eastern sky two nights ago. Their main force had been fighting Sunagakure.
To the northwest, although Sakumo had stopped Iwagakure's surprise-attack force north of the Kusa River, Iwa's main army was gathering along the border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Grass.
The meat grinder of war had already begun to turn, and every side was feeding human lives into it.
"The Land of Grass will be torn apart," Hatake Sakumo murmured.
No one answered him.
The sound of the rain drowned out everything.
...
Konoha Village, afternoon.
At the edge of the training ground, Guy balanced upside down on one hand atop a concrete post. The green headband bearing the word Youth was tied around his forehead.
Sweat streamed down his face.
"One thousand three hundred and twenty-one, one thousand three hundred and twenty-two, one thousand three hundred and thirty-three..."
"Guy, you've already done nearly two thousand handstand push-ups." Obito crouched beside him. "Aren't you tired?"
"Youth never grows tired!" Guy's voice remained full of energy. "Once I finish two thousand one-handed handstand push-ups, I'll run five hundred laps around Konoha!"
"You're insane," Obito muttered.
Rin spoke from nearby. "Have any of you noticed that the atmosphere in the village has been a little strange lately?"
Everyone fell silent.
In truth, they had all noticed.
There were noticeably fewer people wearing chūnin flak jackets on the village streets.
Whenever they passed the ninja-tool shop, they could see the craftsmen working through the night to produce kunai and shuriken.
Even the number of ninja at the training grounds was far lower than in previous years.
"Yesterday, I heard them discussing whether they had enough tourniquets..."
...
At the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Grass.
Sunagakure's camp had already been locked in combat with Kumogakure's forces.
Chiyo stood before the command tent. Her younger brother, Ebizō, stood behind her, holding a newly decoded intelligence report.
"Iwagakure has begun gathering a second wave of troops in the north," Ebizō said heavily. "Their objective is unclear. It could be Kumogakure, or it could be Konoha."
"Has Ōnoki gone mad? Provoking both Kumo and Konoha at the same time..."
"He wants to drag Konoha into the war as well. Once fighting breaks out along the Kusa River, Konoha's troops will be pinned to the border."
"Where is that brat Rasa now?"
"On the left defensive line with his squad. They've been fighting continuously for three days." Ebizō paused. "Sister, we don't have enough troops."
Chiyo fell silent.
Sunagakure already had the smallest military force among the Five Great Ninja Villages. The recent fierce battles had wiped out half the frontline ninja under her command.
Kumogakure possessed plenty of high-level fighters, while Rasa was the only person Suna had who could hold them back directly.
As for Bunpuku, the jinchūriki of the One-Tail, Shukaku...
Chiyo closed her eyes.
Although Sunagakure regarded its jinchūriki as its ultimate weapon, she had never fully trusted a tailed beast.
"Tell the front line to hold for another three days."
"They won't last. Kumo's offensive is too fierce."
"They must hold even if they cannot." Chiyo opened her eyes. "Iwagakure has severed Kumo's supply lines. Their current offensive cannot last much longer."
Ebizō knew his sister was right.
The problem was that Sunagakure was also nearing its limit.
"Write to Konoha." Chiyo's voice grew cold. "Tell the Third Hokage that Iwagakure intends to drag Konoha into the war."
...
The Land of Lightning, Kumogakure.
A massive map of the ninja world was spread out before the Third Raikage.
Blue markings indicated Kumogakure's troop deployments, stretching from the Land of Lightning itself all the way to the battlefield in the Land of Grass.
"Since the supply lines were severed, three frontline battalions have developed a shortage of explosive tags and ration pills that will last nearly a week. The southern offensive against Sunagakure has been forced to slow down. Meanwhile, Iwagakure has begun reinforcing the northern front. If they launch an all-out attack before we can consolidate our forces, Kumogakure will be forced to fight on two fronts simultaneously."
"What about Sunagakure?"
"Chiyo is desperately holding on, but she cannot last much longer. Once we take the left flank, Suna's defensive line will collapse completely."
The Third Raikage extended one finger and pressed it heavily against the centre of the Land of Grass.
"Separate one Lightning Style company from the southern front and send it north to secure the supply lines. The remaining troops will continue pressing Suna's left flank. Tell them that once the left flank falls, Sunagakure's letter of surrender will be delivered to my desk."
"And Iwagakure?"
"If Iwa wants to crush us from two sides, then we'll see who gets crushed first. Place the entire northern front on combat alert. We launch our counterattack in three days."
The Third Raikage turned around.
"Also, send Ōnoki a letter."
"What should it say?"
"Can that old back of yours still withstand one of my punches?"
That had always been Kumogakure's style.
They would rather stand and be struck dead by lightning than kneel and beg for peace.
...
The Land of Grass, Konoha's defensive line.
"Lord Sakumo, Iwagakure's forces on the opposite bank have begun gathering."
Hatake Sakumo raised his head from the map and looked through the rain toward the far side of the Kusa River.
At the edge of the mist, the vague silhouettes of Iwagakure ninja could be seen moving.
"How many?"
"At least three battalions, and their numbers are still increasing."
Hatake Sakumo picked up the short blade resting on the table.
"Everyone is to withdraw to the second defensive line. No one is permitted to attack without my order."
"Yes, sir!"
The rain fell even harder.
...
Konoha Village, the Hokage's office.
The Third Hokage stood before the window, smoke drifting from his pipe.
A thick pile of maps and intelligence reports covered the desk.
Sunagakure's letter, Kumogakure's movements, Iwagakure's gathering forces—every piece of information pointed toward the same conclusion.
The war was spiralling out of control.
Mitokado Homura stood before the desk, holding the latest battle report.
"The defensive line in the Land of Grass is stable for now. But if Iwagakure launches an all-out offensive, Sakumo's forces will not be able to hold for long."
"I know." The Third Hokage turned and placed a document in front of him. "This is the reinforcement plan for Sakumo."
Homura accepted the document but did not immediately leave.
"Why aren't we conscripting this year's graduates into the war?"
"Because war will eventually end." The Third Hokage's gaze fell upon the streets of Konoha outside the window. "When it does, who will become the next Hokage? Who will rebuild this ninja world?"
Homura did not answer.
"Konoha must preserve its embers." The Third Hokage's voice grew solemn. "Asuma, Kurenai, Shizune... they are the future flames of Konoha. Every additional year they spend training gives them a better chance of surviving."
Homura nodded, tucked away the document, and left the office.
The Third Hokage relit his pipe and looked outside.
The streets of Konoha were still bustling.
But how long that liveliness would last, even he could not answer.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 70 Chapters Ahead of Others!