- Shit! - Imashu Takahagi's jonin clenched his teeth and pushed his body as fast as he could, racing toward the direction where a massive explosion had just occurred, covering a large part of the forest that the advancing army had already cleared.
And just a few minutes ago, Ginkaku had fled in the same direction with his wounded brother in his arms. And Takahagi had a very bad feeling about their fate. Another failure in a mission entrusted to him in just the last few minutes, despite the powerful force at his hand. When did things have time to go so wrong⁈
The arrival at the front of Kingin Kyodai was no secret to anyone on Kumogakure's side, nor was the fact that the Mad Brothers would immediately be used to break through the defense belt prepared by the flyers.
Naturally, the commanders were well aware that Konoha would not ignore such a thing and would be ready to respond by moving their fighters of a similar level, although intelligence reported that only Orochimaru was on the front from the opposite side and that could be used. If not by getting rid of the Third Hokage's apprentice at once, then by forcing him to retreat and allowing Kumo's main forces to advance deep into Ho no Kuni without too many casualties, dislodging the local Konohagakure faction from their prepared positions.
As soon as the pseudo-jinchuriki arrived, they immediately formed two support groups from the reserves, with Imasha at the head of the second group, and formed a fairly simple plan that would allow the sannin to be pinned down from several sides after only a few minutes.
A second cover squad, beyond the possible sensitivity of Konoha's Sensoki, was needed in case the elite fighters were outnumbered and the enemy took the initiative.
The first phase of the operation went smoothly - the Kingin Kyodai easily swept away all resistance, destroyed traps and ambushes simply due to the difference in strength and uselessness of ninjutsu against them, and the main forces of the advancing army were wedged into the cleared area, allowing them to squeeze the Konoha army on the neighboring parts of the front from both sides.
Takahagi ordered his subordinates to move out, confident that whoever the enemy decided to attack, the brothers would be worthy opponents despite their age.
The rumble of battle could be heard far ahead, and the subordinates were enthusiastic, but the first warning sign that things were not going as planned came a moment later from the squad sensor, alerted by the gradual fading and disappearance of the chakra sources of the first cover group, as well as the presence of several summons and strong enemies nearby.
Alarmed, the jonin changed his original plan and instead of moving as a group, he took the strongest subordinates with him and accelerated to the limit, wanting to be near Kingin Kyodai as soon as possible. His intuition told him that delay would be very costly.
They could tell where they were going without any sensors - the splintering of trees, the shaking of the ground, the giant snake with a barely recognizable figure on it, and the flashes of familiar red chakra in the distance would have been missed only by the blind. But they were not in time. Not in time for the first squad, but for the jinchuriki. It was over too quickly for a fight on this level.
The enemy had done as much damage as possible and, sensing the approach of reinforcements, simply retreated, not even letting Takahagi's men see them. They were met only by a very badly bruised Ginkaku, leaning over his brother who was screaming in pain. Even a quick glance at the latter's wounds made all the men cringe sympathetically.
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