On the battlefields along the border of the Land of Earth.
Ever since the last crushing defeat Konoha had dealt to the Stone Ninja, the conflicts between the two sides had quieted significantly. This lull was largely due to the heavy losses both sides had sustained during that engagement.
The Stone Ninja, in particular, had suffered a devastating blow, with hundreds of their ranks wiped out by Konoha. It was no surprise that they had settled into a period of calm; they were likely biding their time, waiting for Konoha to show even the slightest opening.
In a certain area where Konoha's forces were stationed, the atmosphere was heavy with gravity.
"Everyone knows the current situation," Shinku Yūhi said, addressing Minato Namikaze. "Kirigakure is approaching from the south and is poised to invade the Land of Fire. Therefore, Minato, you are to lead your troops to reinforce that front."
In the time since Tianyuan had left this particular theater of war, Minato's performance had been the most brilliant. While perhaps not as exaggerated as Tianyuan's overwhelming strength and record, he had nonetheless earned the deep trust of many Konoha shinobi.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had sent Minato and his men to deal with Kirigakure for a reason. Even Tianyuan had been dispatched to provide support there.
Maintaining four separate frontlines was an immense burden on Konoha. Other villages had it easier, as their only pressure came from Konoha itself. For Konoha, however, the situation was precarious. They couldn't hold out like this forever.
Konoha was like a string pulled dangerously taut, threatening to snap at any moment. Hiruzen Sarutobi's primary goal was likely to settle the conflict with Kirigakure as quickly as possible to alleviate the pressure on the village.
Back at the meeting, Minato Namikaze listened to Shinku Yūhi's instructions and nodded. "Understood. I will lead the Konoha shinobi to support the southern front immediately."
"We're counting on you," Shinku Yūhi and the other ninja said.
With Kirigakure's offensive looming, it was time for Konoha to be tested once again.
"Rest assured," Minato said with a nod. He gathered the reinforcement units, and before long, they had left the battlefield and begun their trek southward.
At the border of the Land of Hot Water, the battlefield between Konoha and the Cloud Ninja remained active.
Ever since Tianyuan arrived at this front and inflicted heavy damage on Kumogakure, the two villages had avoided large-scale combat. Small skirmishes, however, were still frequent. Under Tianyuan's leadership, Konoha was almost always the victor.
Even without massive battles, the Cloud Ninja casualties continued to climb. Despite their losses, Kumogakure had no choice but to continue their harassment; if they didn't keep Konoha occupied, Konoha would likely launch a full-scale counter-offensive.
On this battlefield, Tianyuanjust like the commanders on the other frontsreceived a letter from Hiruzen Sarutobi. The message detailed Kirigakure's invasion of the Land of Fire and ordered Tianyuan to provide rapid support.
"Tianyuan, stay safe on the road," Orochimaru said, offering a small smile, like a master advising his disciple.
"Don't worry, Orochimaru-sensei. You must be careful here as well. Once I leave, the Third Raikage and his men might decide it's time to move," Tianyuan replied.
Tianyuan had his suspicions. He acted as a sort of nuclear deterrent, keeping Kumogakure from committing to a large-scale war.
"Rest assured, we will remain vigilant," Orochimaru said slowly.
Nearby, Fugaku Uchiha, Hiashi Hyuga, and the others also came to see Tianyuan off. Over time, Tianyuan had become acquainted with them. While they weren't necessarily close, they were no longer strangers.
The rank-and-file Konoha shinobi on this front were particularly reluctant to see him go. Tianyuan had done much for them during his time there.
"Shisui, are you sure you want to come with me?" Tianyuan asked, looking at the young Shisui Uchiha beside him.
"Of course. There might be a place for me to be useful there," Shisui said with a smile.
"Fine. Kushina, let's get ready to move," Tianyuan said. His silhouette blurred as he began to move into the distance.
A large contingent of Konoha shinobi followed closely behind him.
"Lord Orochimaru, I have a feeling that Tianyuan might create even greater surprises at the Kirigakure front," Fugaku Uchiha remarked as he watched Tianyuan depart.
"Oh? I am very much looking forward to that as well," Orochimaru chuckled softly, a hint of hunger appearing in his eyes. "The power of the Sharingan... and Wood Release?"
In truth, Orochimaru was conducting research into both powers. However, his research into Wood Release had been put on hold; out of the many children he had experimented on recently, only one had survived. Though that child possessed Wood Release, Orochimaru estimated its power was negligible, certainly not comparable to what Tianyuan could do.
Tianyuan's Wood Release was the only kind that truly rivaled that of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
At that moment, Tianyuan, Minato Namikaze, Shikaku Nara, and the others were rushing toward the border of the Land of Fire at top speed. Every moment they were delayed was another moment Kirigakure could wreak havoc within their borders.
At the border of the Land of Fire, two figures stood in wait. One was a young man with an indifferent expression, while the other was a strangely shaped individual entirely in white.
They were Madara Uchiha and White Zetsu.
"Zetsu, have you finished the investigation?" Madara asked, looking at his companion.
White Zetsu possessed an ability known as Mayfly, which allowed him to merge his body with the earth and flora. By tapping into the organic network of roots and underground water veins, he could move at high speeds to any location while completely masking his presence. This made him the perfect helper for gathering intelligence.
Naturally, it was White Zetsu who Madara had tasked with looking into the individuals Obito Uchiha had mentioned.
"Yes, the investigation is complete," White Zetsu nodded. "Obito Uchiha was originally a disciple of Minato Namikaze. He had two teammates: one is that genius Kakashi, and the other is Rin Nohara."
White Zetsu then relayed everything he had discovered to Madara. As for how to interpret the information, that was for Madara to decide.
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