Minato's resolve visibly firmed as he nodded to Aizen, the weight of command settling on his shoulders. Though he was no stranger to the life-and-death struggles of the battlefield, this was his first time acting as the supreme commander of a warfront. He had wanted a flawless victory, one where his leadership could shine as a beacon to his allies. But reality seldom aligned with such lofty aspirations.
Even so, Minato couldn't help but lament the inevitable losses. If he could have accomplished this mission with no casualties among his men while still crippling the Sand Shinobi vanguard, he would have considered it a true masterpiece of strategy. Unfortunately, such perfection was unattainable.
"Have the others been sent back?" Aizen asked, his tone even.
"Yes," Minato replied. "Aside from Commander Yama, everyone else has returned to the fortress as planned. Now, only the three of us remain."
"Good. Let's recover here briefly and then head back," Aizen said, his expression feigning weariness. "I've expended about 30% of my chakra in this operation."
Minato nodded in agreement. Though his face betrayed little emotion, he felt the weight of exhaustion himself. After eliminating over a hundred elite Sand Shinobi and performing dozens of space-time maneuvers, his chakra reserves were now at less than half.
Their conversation marked a pause in the larger chess game unfolding on the battlefield. Unbeknownst to Minato and Aizen, their bold assault on the Sand Shinobi vanguard at the had reached the ears of Chiyo and Ebizō.
In the Sand Shinobi command center, Ebizō raised his eyebrows in astonishment as the reports came in. "Those two Konoha shinobi… they're quite bold, aren't they? Attacking our vanguard on their first day at the battlefield? That's surprising."
Chiyo, seated nearby, gave a faint smile. "Bold, yes. But it's the way of the young to act with vigor and ambition. It's their first opportunity to prove themselves, after all."
"Should we send reinforcements to assist Rasa and the others?" Ebizō asked, his tone cautious. "The chaos caused by their assault is considerable."
"No," Chiyo replied with a shake of her head. Her expression turned calculating as she elaborated. "The vanguard forces at the river are too far from our main position. By the time reinforcements arrive, those two brash Konoha shinobi will already have retreated. Their courage stems from that understanding."
Ebizō frowned, uncertain. "So, do we simply wait and allow the attack to run its course?"
"Of course not," Chiyo said, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. Her voice carried a steely confidence. "While I don't know how those two managed to infiltrate our vanguard undetected, the chaos they've caused is evidence enough—they've likely taken Konoha's best from Kikyoyama Fortress to pull this off."
Ebizō's expression shifted as realization dawned. "You mean…"
"Yes," Chiyo confirmed with a smirk. "Now is the perfect opportunity to capture Kikyoyama."
She continued, her tone laced with satisfaction. "Those two brought medical supplies and reinforcements to prolong this campaign, a move I thought would drag this war out unnecessarily. But now, their impatience has exposed a glaring weakness. And I intend to exploit it fully."
Ebizō listened intently as Chiyo's plan unfolded. Her logic was sound. Without their elite commanders, the Konoha forces stationed at Kikyoyama would be leaderless, floundering without direction.
The primary objective of Aizen and Namikaze Minato's infiltration of the Sand Shinobi vanguard was never simply to defeat Rasa and Pakura, the supreme commanders. While eliminating them would strip Sand Shinobi of two of their strongest fighters, it was the elite force of more than 100 special Jōnin that represented the backbone of their combat strength. By targeting and neutralizing this group, the Sand Shinobi army's fighting capability would be halved.
With Kikyoyama Fortress having sent its elites to support the operation at the Silver Scale River, its defenses were similarly weakened, leaving it vulnerable to attack. Ebizō, with his wealth of battlefield experience, quickly grasped the brilliance of this maneuver and silently admired Chiyo's cunning.
Under Chiyo's command, the Sand Shinobi forces began to mobilize, organizing into a massive offensive. Within half an hour, more than 6,000 Sand Shinobi, led by Chiyo and Ebizō, assembled in front of Kikyoyama Fortress. Their sheer numbers cast a shadow over the battlefield, their presence an ominous prelude to the impending assault.
The Konoha sentries atop the fortress walls were quick to respond, sounding the alarm as Sand Shinobi came into view. A wave of Konoha shinobi surged to the ramparts, their faces resolute as they prepared to defend their stronghold.
Thanks to prior warnings, the Konoha defenders were fully aware of the Sand Shinobi's impending attack. Instead of panic, they exuded confidence, bolstered by the knowledge of Aizen and Namikaze Minato's resounding victory at the Silver Scale River. Commanders returning from the vanguard shared news of this success, along with new supplies, including vital medical scrolls, reinforcing the defenders' morale.
The defenders held an unshakable belief in their leaders. Aizen and Minato, the architects of their earlier triumph, were now their guiding lights in the defense of Kikyoyama.
"Attack!"
With a thunderous roar, the Sand Shinobi charged, their weapons gleaming as they surged toward the fortress with overwhelming momentum. In response, Konoha's defenders unleashed a torrent of kunai, shuriken, and explosive tags, blanketing the battlefield in a deadly rain.
The Sand Shinobi countered with massive ballistae, launching colossal bolts adorned with explosive tags toward the fortress walls.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions reverberated across the battlefield, mingling with the clash of steel and the cries of the wounded. The chaotic symphony of war filled the air as the two forces clashed relentlessly, neither side yielding an inch.
Initially, Chiyo and Ebizō observed the battle with calm detachment, confident in their numerical advantage. But as the skirmish dragged on, unease began to creep into their expressions.
"How is this possible?" Chiyo's voice wavered with disbelief. "Konoha's forces remain so well-organized, with no signs of confusion or disarray!"
Ebizō, equally astonished, added, "I've been watching closely, and I recognize some of the shinobi on the fortress walls—they're the same Konoha elites we faced when we attacked Kikyo Mountain before!"
The sight of familiar faces among the defenders, alongside the unwavering discipline of the Konoha forces, left both Chiyo and Ebizō bewildered. Their carefully crafted plan was unraveling before their eyes.