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As the people of Konoha were still reeling from the shocking news of Aizen's involvement in the war, the forces of Iwa and Suna had already assembled and were now marching towards Konoha with overwhelming momentum. Ōnoki, fully committed to winning this war, decided to deploy the maximum number of troops.
For reasons unknown, the Kazekage also chose to take the risk and agree with Ōnoki's strategy. As a result, the combined forces of Iwa and Suna had amassed a significant number of troops.
Their goal was singular: to catch Konoha and Kumogakure off guard and take Konoha Village by surprise.
At the border where the Lands of Earth, Wind, and Fire meet, a unified army of ninjas, all dressed in the same attire, was swiftly making its way forward. Their eyes were sharp, their expressions grim, and none of them showed any signs of inexperience.
These were experienced warriors from Sunagakure and Iwagakure, seasoned in the art of war. The aura of death hung over the ranks of this combined force.
The dark mass of ninjas was divided into dozens of squads, each led by a Jōnin from Iwa or Suna, moving rapidly.
"Whoosh—"
A refreshing breeze swept through the air, causing the trees in the lush forests of the Land of Fire to sway.
Beneath the massive canopy of trees, in a hidden spot almost impossible to detect, a single figure lay concealed. His eyes were wide open in shock as he gazed at the overwhelming sight of the combined ninja forces.
What... what is going on?!
'Could Suna and Iwa be planning a full-scale attack on Konoha?!'
The hidden Konoha ninja's heart was filled with terror.
'I must get this information back to the village as quickly as possible!' With this thought, a resolute gleam flashed in his eyes.
He suddenly moved, the camouflage on his body dissipating as his hands quickly formed seals.
"Swish, swish, swish!"
"Secret Technique: Beast Imitation Jutsu!"
With the completion of his technique, his form began to change, sprouting sharp claws and fangs like a wild animal, his body crouching low to the ground.
He cast a cold glance at the advancing ninja army, then swiftly turned and bolted towards Konoha Village without hesitation.
But just then— "Boom!"
A massive puppet suddenly descended from the sky, crashing down violently on him as he ran.
His animal-like pupils contracted sharply, but his body, moving at high speed, couldn't evade the attack and was struck hard.
"Bang—"
His body was slammed into the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
At that moment, the giant puppet split open, spilling out countless golden, sandy metallic grains.
"Shing! Shing! Shing!"
The liquid gold sand rapidly condensed into sharp spikes, piercing the Konoha ninja's limbs and pinning him to the ground, rendering him immobile.
The Konoha ninja, transformed into a beast, grimaced in pain as blood oozed from his mouth. His eyes, wide with terror, stared at the approaching figure, a look of utter despair on his face.
As the dust settled, a young red-haired man in a combined ninja uniform appeared, his expression indifferent as he gazed at the captive. His eyes were slightly shadowed, his face emotionless.
"Caught a rat, have I..."
Muttering softly in a cold, detached voice, the red-haired man slowly extended his hand towards the immobilized Konoha ninja, speaking quietly.
"Since you've been discovered, there's no need to think about escaping. Die here."
With that, he slowly clenched his hand. As he did so, the golden sand that had impaled the Konoha ninja began to soften and spread across his body.
The Konoha ninja's eyes widened in horror, his voice trembling.
"W-Who are you!? What... urgh..."
Before he could finish his sentence, the golden sand poured into his mouth, silencing him.
The red-haired man looked at him calmly and said in a low voice.
"Rasa of the Sand... If you die, don't blame me. After all, we were born enemies."
With those words, he clenched his hand tightly and muttered.
"Magnet Release: Glazed Sand Shatter!"
At his command, the golden sand enveloped the Konoha ninja completely. In the next moment, a muffled sound echoed from within.
"Sshh... sshh..."
Thick blood began to seep slowly from the glittering golden sand. The man named Rasa didn't look back at the scene, turning away to leave.
A soft voice carried on the breeze.
"Since Lord Kazekage chose to lead Suna in this war, I must do everything in my power to annihilate you all... For the sake of Sunagakure. I'm sorry."
At the same time, within the forest, a massacre was taking place.
Since the combined forces of Iwa and Suna intended to take Konoha by surprise, they naturally wouldn't allow any information about their presence to leak out.
As the united army advanced, elite ninjas like Rasa from both villages were tasked with eliminating any intelligence ninjas to prevent them from relaying what they saw back to Konoha.
In a war between two villages, the timing of information acquisition is crucial.
A single day's delay in Konoha receiving this information could lead to the loss of the entire war. Both Ōnoki and the Kazekage understood this well.
Meanwhile, back in Konoha Village...
A tranquil, ancient residence stood in one of the quieter areas of the village.
The heavy wooden gate stood tall, and the connected traditional buildings exuded a sense of history and serenity, calming the mind.
Within the spacious courtyard, flowers and plants bloomed, and a delicate water wheel slowly turned, guiding clear water through a bamboo channel.
As the water gently flowed, silver-white droplets sparkled in the sunlight, the gentle sound soothing to the soul.
However, just beyond one of the walls, the scene was entirely different.
The tiles appeared worn and in need of repair, and the wooden beams of the house were old and weathered. If one side represented a peaceful and elegant residence, the other was a dilapidated and shabby shack.
At that moment, within the rundown dwelling, a group of people was gathered tensely.
"Shohei, can we trust your words? You must understand the implications of what you're saying for the branch family!"
A middle-aged man spoke in a low voice, his brow furrowed, his face lined with age.
Hearing his words, the young man before him, with pale eyes, stared back calmly, replying in a serious tone.
"Lord Kosugi, I am fully aware of what this means for the branch family, which is precisely why I am bringing this information to you."
"Someone as powerful as you should understand the depth of everything in this clan. The others as well; we are the foundation behind the clan's glory... But we are also the most tragic group."
At Shohei's words, the group inside the room lowered their eyes, a trace of sadness flashing through them as they sighed softly.
Seeing this, Shohei's eyes glinted as he continued in a firm voice.
"Now, an opportunity is before us. Is the Fourth Hokage's strength not enough to earn your trust?"
The group's expressions showed hesitation. Seeing this, Shohei pressed on.
"You may not have seen it... But I have. Lord Aizen's strength is like that of a god."
At this, the group was taken aback, their eyes filled with hope as they looked at Shohei.
Feeling their gaze, Shohei's lips curled into a slight smile.