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The western part of the Land of Rivers had now turned into a battlefield. Since the First Great Ninja War, the five major nations in the Ninja World had tacitly agreed to hold their battles in the smaller countries bordering one another, sparing their own lands from destruction.
Whether it was the Land of Rivers, the Land of Rain, or the Land of Grass, all of them had become battlegrounds in the Ninja World Wars, symbolizing the unfortunate fate of smaller nations.
Ishigami Hara surveyed the devastated surroundings, his brow furrowing slightly but without much emotion. This was how things had been in his previous life and in this one as well. No matter the world, war always brought nothing but destruction and suffering.
The Konoha camp, constructed in a unified manner, was heavily guarded, with patrols everywhere and defense forces spread out over dozens of kilometers. It was so secure that not even a drop of water could penetrate.
The commander of the frontline here was none other than Hatake Sakumo, known as Konoha's White Fang.
He had gained fame early in the Second Great Ninja War. Upon entering the battlefield, he quickly displayed his talents and soon became known for his exceptional skills. In battles against the Sunagakure Shinobi, he even achieved the remarkable feat of killing enemy leaders multiple times.
As the conflict with the Iwagakure Shinobi neared its end, Hatake Sakumo took over command of the frontlines. His leadership had been highly effective, advancing the front by more than ten kilometers, now nearing the Land of Wind.
Ishigami Hara met Hatake Sakumo in a large battle tent. The latter was still quite young, around the same age as Orochimaru, with white hair and an energetic demeanor.
"Sakumo-kun."
Orochimaru greeted him first.
Hatake Sakumo smiled upon seeing the visitors, then noticed Ishigami Hara and Nawaki standing beside Orochimaru. His gaze lingered on the latter, his brow furrowing slightly.
"Why did the village send Nawaki-kun?"
Clearly, Nawaki's presence made Hatake Sakumo uneasy. It was easy to understand why—if anything happened to Nawaki, the impact on those who knew his identity would be significant, and that was far from ideal.
Orochimaru merely chuckled hoarsely. "Young people need to grow, and Nawaki-kun must also have his moment to shine, don't you think?"
Hatake Sakumo nodded slightly before adding, "Indeed, as the grandson of the First Hokage, coming to the battlefield shows no small amount of courage."
As they spoke about him, Nawaki simply grinned, his infectious smile lighting up the room.
Orochimaru continued, "I've also brought along a genius, whose talent surpasses everyone else."
Ishigami Hara remained composed, his expression betraying neither joy nor sadness.
Hatake Sakumo had naturally taken notice of him but remained silent, waiting for more information.
Then Orochimaru spoke again, introducing him: "This is Ishigami Hara. He's a bit younger than Nawaki but has an exceptional instinct for combat. In my opinion, his fighting talent may even rival yours, Sakumo-kun."
Receiving such high praise from Orochimaru underscored how much he valued Ishigami Hara.
Hatake Sakumo's curiosity was piqued, and he gave Ishigami Hara a second look. He was surprised to see that the young man didn't flinch under his gaze and even met his eyes directly.
It was worth noting that Hatake Sakumo, an Elite Jōnin and frontline commander, was a seasoned warrior with countless kills to his name. His presence alone exuded a sharp, intimidating aura. For someone as young as Ishigami Hara to remain composed in the face of such pressure was remarkable.
"Very good," Hatake Sakumo said with interest. "How about letting me take him under my wing?"
Orochimaru hadn't anticipated this request but shook his head. "That won't work. He's been specifically assigned as Nawaki-kun's teammate by our teacher."
At this, Hatake Sakumo immediately understood. Ishigami Hara wasn't just Nawaki's teammate—he was likely meant to be his protector.
Fully convinced of Ishigami Hara's talent, Hatake Sakumo's curiosity deepened.
"Has the Hokage given any further instructions?" he asked, shifting the conversation.
Orochimaru replied, "The Iwagakure Shinobi have made some moves, so we need to act preemptively. Our teacher's orders are clear: we must complete our strategic objectives as soon as possible and neutralize the Sunagakure Shinobi to relieve the pressure from the Iwagakure Shinobi."
Hatake Sakumo nodded. "Understood. I'll adjust the tactics accordingly and work to put the Sunagakure Shinobi on the defensive as quickly as possible."
"Good. Do it soon—I'll be heading to the Land of Rain with them soon."
"Are you meeting up with Jiraiya and Tsunade?" Sakumo asked.
"Yes," Orochimaru confirmed. "The war over there is nearly over. Hanzō of the Salamander is finally showing signs of wanting to end the conflict. His arrogance has been his downfall."
"That's excellent news. If the Amegakure Shinobi decide to stand down, the pressure on that front will ease considerably," Sakumo said, smiling.
Just as Orochimaru was about to speak again, a sharp whistle pierced the air.
Instantly, both Orochimaru and Hatake Sakumo's expressions shifted. Without hesitation, they rushed out of the tent, with Ishigami Hara and Nawaki following close behind.
The sound came from the distance, accompanied by a rumbling roar, and faint flames could be seen on the horizon.
"An attack!"
Hatake Sakumo and Orochimaru quickly understood the situation. The entire camp was already stirring into action, with many ninjas dashing toward the source of the sound, evidently aware that the enemy had appeared.
"Looks like Sunagakure Shinobi's forces. Their timing is impeccable," Orochimaru remarked with a knowing tone, casting a glance at Nawaki, a flicker of doubt passing through his eyes.
Ishigami Hara noticed this and couldn't help but make his own connections.
"Nawaki, Hara-kun, stay in the camp," Orochimaru ordered.
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru," Ishigami Hara responded.
"I understand, sensei," Nawaki added, showing no signs of impulsiveness.
Perhaps the events of the journey here had tempered Nawaki's recklessness, bringing a new level of composure to him.
Orochimaru and Hatake Sakumo exchanged a brief look before rushing toward the disturbance. At the same time, Sakumo issued commands with precise authority, guiding the defense.
Meanwhile, Ishigami Hara frowned, his instincts telling him something was off. The sudden attack by the Sunagakure Shinobi seemed too well-timed. Could there be more to it?
His thoughts drifted to Nawaki, and he couldn't help but wonder if there was a deeper secret behind the Sunagakure Shinobi's assault.