In the desert.
A Sunagakure shinobi was running desperately.
Behind him, two Konoha shinobi were in close pursuit.
One of the Konoha shinobi shouted, "You cannot escape."
The Sunagakure shinobi ignored them and fled for his life. Where his right arm should have been, there was only empty space.
He was gravely injured.
"Fire Release, Great Fireball Technique."
A massive fireball shot toward the Sunagakure shinobi.
He narrowly dodged it, but the movement aggravated his wounds. His face turned pale with pain as he collapsed to the ground.
The two Konoha shinobi quickly closed in and surrounded him.
"It is over."
One of them drew a kunai, preparing to end his life.
The Sunagakure shinobi suddenly smiled.
"You are too late."
"The message has already been sent back."
One of the Konoha shinobi replied coldly, "So what? How many of you are left? Do you think you can stop us?"
"Hmph."
The Sunagakure shinobi bared his teeth in a sneer.
"At least we can take a bite off…"
Ah.
The kunai plunged down.
The Sunagakure shinobi fell into a pool of blood.
"Go."
"Report back to Hokage-sama."
"Sunagakure has already received the message."
…
Inside the canyon.
Minato's expression was solemn after receiving the report.
"It still got out."
He went to find Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru, we were still one step too slow. The surprise attack will have to turn into a direct assault."
Orochimaru was overseeing the cleanup of the battlefield. He frowned slightly when he heard this.
"If Sunagakure already knows, then a surprise attack has lost its meaning."
"They will definitely strengthen their defenses. The assault will become much more difficult."
Minato was equally troubled.
"Yes. I did not expect Sunagakure's will to fight to be this strong."
"Should we still proceed with the original plan?"
Orochimaru thought for a long moment, then nodded.
"Proceed as planned."
"Let the news spread. It does not matter."
"Sunagakure only has a little over six hundred defenders left."
"Even if Rasa brings back his five hundred men, they still cannot stop us."
"We have more than four thousand people. That is enough to crush them."
Minato nodded, his expression heavy.
"I just do not know how many more comrades will have to be sacrificed."
"Hokage-sama is still too kind," Orochimaru said calmly.
"As long as there is war, there will be casualties. That is unavoidable."
"I understand."
Minato sighed softly.
"Never mind. I will go gather the troops."
"Hokage-sama."
Orochimaru called out to him.
"I just thought of something. We can slightly adjust our route."
Minato looked at him in silence, signaling him to continue.
"Since the news has already leaked, there is no need to wait until tomorrow," Orochimaru said.
"Let us set off now and try to reach Sunagakure before nightfall, and catch them off guard."
"But…"
Minato glanced at the shinobi still cleaning up the battlefield.
"They are already exhausted."
"Speed decides victory in war," Orochimaru replied.
"While they are still unprepared, we strike."
"Catch them off guard…"
Minato considered it for a moment.
"Alright. I will make the arrangements."
"We will assemble in one hour."
"Yes."
One hour later.
All Konoha shinobi had assembled, ready to move out.
Everyone knew what awaited them next.
An attack on Sunagakure.
The occupation of the Land of Wind.
This would be a major event in the history of the shinobi world.
"Everyone."
Minato stood on high ground, his voice echoing clearly.
"Tonight, we will make history."
"We will make the Land of Wind part of the Land of Fire."
"We will make Sunagakure disappear completely."
"This is a great moment."
"And also…"
"The moment of the Land of Fire's rise."
"Long live the Land of Fire."
The shinobi roared in unison.
"Long live the Daimyo-sama."
"Long live Hokage-sama."
As the shouts gradually faded, Minato raised his hand.
"Move out."
More than four thousand shinobi began their march.
Their target was Sunagakure.
Sunagakure.
Inside the Kazekage's office.
Several high ranking Sunagakure officials were in the middle of a meeting.
"When will Kazekage-sama return?" an elder asked.
"It should be soon," Ebizo replied.
"Based on the route, he should be back by tomorrow morning at the latest."
"Very good."
"Although this war caused heavy losses, at least we won."
"That is right."
The elders all nodded.
At that moment, a shinobi rushed into the room.
"Urgent intelligence."
Chiyo, who had been silent until now, spoke up.
"What happened?"
The shinobi took out a scroll.
"This is a message from Baki-sama's subordinates."
"It says that Baki-sama has fallen in battle."
"What?"
Chiyo's expression changed sharply.
"Baki is dead?"
The shinobi nodded.
"According to the report."
"Konoha betrayed us and ambushed the escort unit at Sunset Canyon."
"Five hundred Sunagakure shinobi were wiped out, and Baki-sama also died in battle."
The news struck like a thunderbolt, leaving all the elders stunned.
"This… how is this possible?"
"How could Konoha betray us?"
"They are our allies."
"That is what the intelligence says," the shinobi said bitterly.
"And…"
He hesitated.
"Konoha is currently marching toward the village."
"They are expected to arrive by tomorrow."
The elders fell into panic.
"This… this…"
"What should we do?"
"Kazekage-sama is not here."
"What do we do?"
Ebizo was also shaken, but Chiyo remained comparatively calm.
"Do not panic yet."
"Immediately gather all shinobi and prepare for defense."
"And…"
"Send someone at once to inform Kazekage-sama."
"Tell him to return as quickly as possible."
"Yes."
Before long, the entire village was in turmoil.
All shinobi were urgently summoned.
"What happened?"
"I do not know."
"It seems Konoha is coming to attack."
"What?"
"Aren't they allies?"
"Why would they attack us?"
Voices of confusion spread throughout the village.
Soon, the elders appeared.
"Everyone," Chiyo said.
"I have bad news."
"Konoha has betrayed us."
"They ambushed our escort unit at Sunset Canyon."
"Five hundred comrades have died."
"And Konoha is currently marching toward Sunagakure."
The shinobi immediately erupted into chaos.
"What?"
"Konoha is attacking us?"
"How is that possible?"
"Aren't they allies?"
"Quiet."
Ebizo shouted.
"The facts are clear."
"Konoha has betrayed us. There is no doubt about it."
"We must defend the village until Kazekage-sama returns."
Even so, the shock of Konoha's betrayal left the Sunagakure shinobi shaken.
"How many people do we have now?" a jōnin asked.
"Six hundred and thirty seven," Ebizo answered truthfully.
"That includes all shinobi capable of fighting."
"What about Kazekage-sama's side?"
"Seven hundred."
"And Konoha?"
"According to intelligence, Konoha has no fewer than four thousand."
Ebizo's voice trembled slightly. The number itself was despair inducing.
"What."
"Four thousand."
The shinobi fell into despair.
Six hundred against five thousand.
How could they fight that?
Even if Kazekage-sama returned with his seven hundred, they would only have thirteen hundred.
They would be fighting three against one.
"Can we…" the jōnin asked, his voice trembling.
"Can we hold out?"
Ebizo fell silent.
After a long pause, he finally spoke.
"We will do our best."
"And leave the rest to fate."
(To be continued.)