At the border of the Land of Fire, near the vast forest known as Yoshino Yoshino River forest.
As dusk settled upon the horizon, the shinobi of Sunagakure, following Rasa's meticulously planned strategy, arrived at their designated position.
Before them lay an endless plain stretching far beyond the eye could see, where the dense forest gradually thinned out and gave way to open terrain. This was the battlefield Rasa had chosen, the location where they would stand against the forces of Konoha for the next seven days.
The reasoning behind this decision was clear—most of Sunagakure's shinobi specialized in Wind Release techniques, and the presence of too many natural obstructions, such as trees, would greatly reduce the effectiveness of their jutsu. A vast, open plain, however, provided the perfect stage for them to unleash their full power.
Rasa turned to his forces and spoke with authority.
"We have reached our destination. Sensory units, spread out and monitor the surroundings for any movement. The rest of you, set up camp, start fires, and prepare to rest. In the coming days, we will face relentless battles, so recover your strength while you can."
The shinobi immediately sprang into action.
Using materials gathered from the nearby forest, they quickly began erecting tents and fortifying their positions. Unlike a typical military campaign, where logistical supplies would be transported, the Sunagakure forces carried only the bare essentials. Each shinobi had only seven days' worth of military rations—simple, compact food pills designed to sustain them in battle.
This minimalistic approach was part of Rasa's grand strategy. Speed and efficiency were the core principles of their invasion, meaning heavy supplies and unnecessary baggage had been abandoned. Instead, their storage scrolls were packed with weapons and combat essentials. Fortunately, the surrounding forest was abundant with wildlife and freshwater sources, ensuring that survival beyond their rations was possible if necessary.
Soon, beneath the cover of the towering trees, dozens of tents had been set up along the outskirts of the Yoshino River forest. The aroma of food drifted through the air as small fires flickered within the camp.
At the heart of the encampment, within the largest tent, Rasa sat alongside Pakura and Mikawa, two of Sunagakure's most skilled shinobi. A fourth figure was also present—Yura, an elite Anbu operative dispatched by Baki to serve under Rasa's direct command.
As soon as they settled into their seats, Mikawa voiced his concern.
"The reaction from Konoha seems unusually slow. Even now, our scouts have yet to detect any significant movement from their forces."
Rasa, ever the strategist, had already accounted for the distance between the two nations and the time required for Konoha to mobilize their troops. Based on their calculations, Konoha should have responded by now, yet there were no signs of their approach.
This anomaly unsettled them.
Rasa turned his gaze to Yura.
"Any intelligence from our operatives inside Konoha?"
Yura nodded and reported, "Lord Kazekage, our spies confirm that Konoha has begun summoning shinobi for deployment. However, something unusual has occurred—despite the call to arms, there has been no significant movement of Konoha's forces out of the village."
This revelation only deepened the mystery.
Pakura and Mikawa exchanged glances, their expressions growing serious.
Even Rasa found this perplexing. But in the end, he knew his objective remained unchanged.
"This works to our advantage, does it not?" Rasa stated. "We did not come here to engage in a prolonged war with Konoha. The slower their reaction, the greater our chances of success."
Pakura and Mikawa nodded in agreement, their determination renewed.
Rasa then turned his attention back to Yura.
"What about Baki and Elder Ebizō? Have they reached their positions?"
Yura's face brightened with enthusiasm.
"Just received confirmation. The Commander and Elder have split their forces and infiltrated the Land of Fire's borders under the cover of night. Additionally, our operatives stationed in the fourteen targeted cities have begun executing their missions."
"Excellent. Everything is proceeding smoothly so far."
With a satisfied nod, Rasa shifted his focus to his comrades.
"This operation will determine the future of Sunagakure. If we succeed, we will finally be free from the grip of the Daimyō. Our village will take a great step forward."
Pakura and Mikawa remained silent but nodded in agreement. They understood the stakes and knew there was no turning back.
"Since Konoha has given us time, let's not waste it. Get some rest. Tomorrow, the battle begins."
Konoha
Under the cover of night, Namikaze Minato and his team—composed of Aburame Shibi, Akimichi Chōza, and Inuzuka Gaku—raced back to Konoha at full speed.
Although Minato had already mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, his lack of experience in long-distance teleportation and the chakra drain prevented him from using it continuously for travel. As a result, they had to rely on traditional high-speed movement techniques.
Upon reaching the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Konoha Council wasted no time in briefing him.
"I understand, Lord Hokage. I will depart immediately," Minato declared after receiving his orders.
Hiruzen observed the exhaustion on Minato's face and hesitated.
"Perhaps you should rest first, Minato. Take a moment to check in on Kushina and Kakashi."
Minato briefly considered it, his eyes flickering with emotion, but he ultimately shook his head.
"There's no time, Lord Hokage. If Sunagakure dares to invade the Land of Fire, then as a shinobi of Konoha, it is my duty to drive them out."
Hiruzen sighed but nodded.
"Very well. I have also dispatched a messenger to contact Jiraiya. He will join you as soon as possible."
"That's reassuring. With Master Jiraiya's support, our chances of victory will increase significantly."
Minato left the office and headed straight for Konoha's gates, where his assigned troops were already gathered. Leading them was a fellow member of the Akimichi clan, Akimichi Doto.
"Doto! It's been a while."
"Indeed, Minato! And Chōza too! Feels good to fight alongside you again."
Minato smiled and nodded.
"Let's move out. Doto, fill me in on the details as we travel."
With Minato at the helm, nearly five hundred Konoha shinobi set out, their silhouettes disappearing into the dense forest, heading towards the Sunagakure forces.
As they moved through the darkness, Akimichi Doto provided additional intelligence.
"This invasion by Sunagakure is strange."
"Strange?" Minato asked, intrigued.
"Yes. According to our spies, Sunagakure has not mobilized any large-scale supply convoys."
Minato and his team exchanged glances. Traditionally, any military campaign—shinobi or otherwise—required a steady supply of food, medicine, and weapons.
"So they don't plan on fighting a prolonged battle," Minato surmised.
"Exactly. But here's the strangest part—they deployed over two thousand shinobi."
"What?!"
"That's nearly all of Sunagakure's military force," Aburame Shibi noted.
"And yet, our scouts have only detected about three hundred within the Land of Fire," Doto continued.
"Could they be planning an attack on another village?" Inuzuka Gaku speculated.
Minato narrowed his eyes.
"If that's the case, it might actually work in our favor… but would Sunagakure truly make such a reckless gamble?"