Rustle!
On the coastline at the border of the Land of Fire, the salty air carried the faint, metallic tang of blood. The rhythmic sound of crashing waves was interrupted by the shuffle of hurried footsteps and the distant echoes of battle.
"Kill!"
The Konoha army roared in unison, their morale surging as they pursued the retreating Kirigakure forces.
Over the past few days, Konoha had turned the tide of these skirmishes, steadily gaining ground. As the Mist ninja retreated once more, the relentless pursuit claimed dozens of their lives.
"Boom!"
A towering curtain of water suddenly erupted from the sea, rising like a liquid wall between the two armies. It was an impressive display, a testament to Kirigakure's mastery over water-style jutsu. The downpour from the curtain fell like heavy rain, creating a misty veil that obscured the retreating forces.
Might Guy watched the disappearing Kirigakure army with disdain, a scowl forming on his face. "What a bunch of cowards," he spat, the irritation clear in his voice.
Despite their superior numbers, the Kirigakure troops had repeatedly refused to engage in a decisive battle. Konoha, despite being outnumbered due to fighting on multiple fronts, had managed to maintain control of the coastline. Most of their main forces were committed to the Land of Grass and the Moon Country, battling the armies of Iwagakure and Kumogakure.
This was the fifth clash between Konoha and Kirigakure in half a month, and each encounter had followed the same frustrating pattern. After brief skirmishes, the Mist forces would retreat, leaving behind casualties in the process.
The casualty ratio was heavily skewed in Konoha's favor, with Kirigakure losing three ninjas for every Konoha shinobi. Many of these losses occurred during their chaotic withdrawals, further diminishing their fighting strength.
Not far from Guy, Kakashi and Shisui stood with grim expressions.
"This doesn't make sense," Kakashi muttered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the crashing waves.
Shisui nodded in agreement. "Kirigakure's forces aren't weak, and their numbers give them an advantage. Why would they repeatedly engage in these skirmishes only to retreat? It's a losing strategy."
Kakashi's gaze lingered on the horizon, his thoughts racing. "If they wanted to break us, they could attempt a full assault. Instead, they're wasting resources in a war of attrition that they can't afford to sustain. It's almost as if..."
"...they're stalling," Shisui finished, his voice laced with suspicion.
Uchiha Fugaku, standing nearby, frowned deeply. He had come to the same conclusion. Terumi Ryūnosuke, the leader of the Kirigakure forces, was no fool. His strategic retreats were not the actions of a coward but rather the result of orders from higher up.
The real question was why.
"The Third Mizukage," Fugaku muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing.
The absence of Kirigakure's leader, one of the most powerful ninja of his time, was a mystery that had not gone unnoticed. If the Third Mizukage were to take the field personally, Konoha's forces on the coastline would face a significantly greater threat. Even Konoha's elite, such as Hyūga Tenki, Kato Dan, and Nawaki, might not be able to stand against him.
Yet, the Mizukage had not appeared. Instead, he had issued orders for Kirigakure's troops to engage in seemingly futile hit-and-run tactics.
Fugaku's thoughts were interrupted as he turned to Shikaku Nara, who stood silently beside him. "What do you think?" Fugaku asked, a glimmer of hope in his voice.
Shikaku, ever the strategist, had a faraway look in his eyes as he considered the situation. Finally, he exhaled slowly and said, "I can't determine their exact strategy yet. But one thing is clear—if they're this persistent, they have no intention of backing down."
He paused, his expression darkening. "We need to stay vigilant. We can't afford another situation like last time."
Fugaku's jaw tightened at the mention of the previous incident. The memory of Konoha's near-disastrous encounter with Kirigakure's poisoned blades was still fresh in his mind. If not for Tsunade's antidote and Uchiha Yoruki's decisive intervention, the Konoha forces might have suffered devastating losses.
Far from the battlefield, in the damp shadows of an underground cavern, the air was thick with an oppressive silence.
The ground stirred, and from the shifting earth, a massive pitcher plant emerged, its leaves unfolding to reveal White Zetsu. The strange being raised his gaze toward the elderly figure seated before him.
"Kirigakure's forces have been following your instructions for half a month," White Zetsu reported, his voice carrying an unsettling calm.
Madara Uchiha, though aged and weathered, radiated an aura of unyielding power. His expression remained impassive as he listened. "And the task I gave you?"
White Zetsu nodded. "I've gathered detailed intelligence on Uchiha Obito, Kakashi, and the other Konoha ninjas stationed on the Kirigakure front."
Madara's eyes flickered with a dangerous light. "Is there an opportunity to act?"
"Of course," White Zetsu replied confidently. "They're talented, but they're still just brats. Compared to the Uzumaki Kushina incident, this should be a simple task."
Madara's expression darkened at the mention of the past. "Back then, I underestimated Namikaze Minato. At only thirteen, he had already mastered techniques beyond anything I anticipated. He incorporated the Flying Thunder God Seal into Kushina's Four Symbols Seal, creating a level of security even I couldn't break."
A bitter edge crept into Madara's voice as he recalled how his plans had been thwarted. "Minato's understanding of sealing techniques surpassed mine, and his actions ensured Konoha's stability."
White Zetsu's lips curled into a sly smile. "But this time, Minato isn't here. He's tied up confronting the Third Raikage in the Moon Country. Even the Yellow Flash can't be everywhere."
Madara's expression softened into a predatory grin. "Good. Begin preparations. It's time to move forward with our plan."
"Understood," White Zetsu replied, disappearing back into the earth.
Left alone in the dimly lit cavern, Madara's smile deepened. His old eyes, filled with cunning and ambition, glinted with anticipation.
"How far will these children go?" he murmured to himself. "I look forward to finding out."
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