"The Leaf messenger has already been to see you?"
Inside the Arakawa estate, Ryoko Yamaji strode into the courtyard. The first words out of her mouth to Maru Arakawa were a sharp inquiry regarding the Konoha envoy.
"They've approached me, but I didn't give them a definitive answer," Maru replied.
After a period of lying low, Maru had become significantly more composed. Though still cautious, he trusted his "sister" Ryoko implicitly and detailed every word of the Leaf's proposal.
Looking at Ryoko's unreadable expression, Maru asked tentatively, "Sister Ryoko, how do you see this confrontation between the Leaf and Shiraishi?"
"What is your view?" Ryoko countered, tossing the question back.
"I'm inclined to agree with them," Maru admitted. "If this continues, the seat of Kazekage will inevitably fall to Shiraishi.
For the sake of restoring the glory of the Sand Style lineages—which have been suppressed by the Council of Elders for two years—leveraging the Leaf might be our only option."
Despite his logical reasoning, Maru caught a flicker of disappointment in Ryoko's eyes.
"The Hidden Sand is truly stronger now than it has ever been," Ryoko sighed softly. "So strong, in fact, that the Leaf is forced to use such underhanded tactics to deal with him."
Though she and Shiraishi had once been bitter rivals, nearly reaching a point of mutual destruction, Ryoko had changed. She still disliked "Black Mist" Shiraishi, she detested the Council of Elders, and she hated their iron grip on the village. That had never changed.
However, she refused to destroy the prosperous environment the Sand had cultivated over these past few years just to settle a personal score.
This was a paradoxical choice, but as a member of the Sand, her rebellion was triggered by the Leaf messenger's arrogant assumption that they would betray their own home on command.
"But the Leaf is going all out this time," Maru argued. "The Sand cannot stop them."
"Their plan is to label him a rogue ninja and watch Shiraishi slaughter his own people within the Land of Wind. Even if we 'won,' the Sand would lose its chance to ever compete with the Leaf again."
Ryoko let out a mocking laugh. "As for whether the Leaf is still as strong as it used to be... that depends on whether Shiraishi can hold back those old fossils."
Maru knelt and bowed deeply. "I understand. Thank you for the guidance."
No matter their internal strife, a family's survival depended on a strong village. Without the Sand, they would be mere drifters, far more vulnerable to the Leaf's whims.
Konoha had miscalculated; they expected Ryoko to act on emotion as she had in the past, failing to realize she had become a cold, calculating strategist.
The Leaf's War Council
Near Kikyo Pass, Shikaku Nara sat within the main camp, staring at the starry sky. Two years had passed, and his attire now closely mirrored that of his late father.
"Father... I am now the Commander of the Jonin Class and the Military Chief for this operation. I will reclaim the honor we lost at Kikyo Pass."
His father, Shikagawa Nara, had passed away a year ago, haunted to the end by the heavy losses the Leaf suffered due to his tactical errors during the previous battle at Kikyo Pass. Shikaku, inheriting the Nara tradition, now commanded the entire Leaf army.
Beyond the Third Hokage and Jiraiya, Shikaku had formed an Elite Jonin Combat Unit. He had requested three elite members from every major clan: the Uchiha, Hyuga, Aburame, and Inuzuka. The Ino-Shika-Cho trio's main forces were also fully committed.
In terms of mid-to-high-level combatants, the Leaf's data completely overwhelmed the Sand. With four Kage-level powerhouses—Hiruzen, Jiraiya, Hiashi Tenmon (Clan Head), and Danzo—participating, the Leaf's resolve was unmistakable.
News of the Third Battle of Kikyo Pass spread like wildfire. The world was shocked by the Leaf's first proactive offensive, but they understood the reason:
Shiraishi's rise was too fast for the Leaf to tolerate—especially after news broke that he had defeated the "Demi-god" Hanzo on the Rain's own turf.
The Leaf wanted to force a wedge between Shiraishi and his village. Once a ninja is severed from their village, no matter their individual strength, they are eventually swept into the dust of history—just like Madara Uchiha.
The Land of Rain
In the Ota District, Shiraishi received word of the Leaf's movements while organizing defenses against the remaining Rain ninjas. He wasn't surprised.
"Teacher, are we heading back to the village immediately?" Bizen Nagase asked, placing the intelligence reports on the desk, clearly worried about Shiraishi's standing.
"Lady Chiyo will arrive in the Land of Rain shortly," Shiraishi replied. "Once she takes over the task of watching Hanzo, I will return to the village directly."
Chiyo was the only one fit to replace him. As old rivals from previous wars, she and Hanzo knew each other's tricks perfectly; neither could easily overcome the other, ensuring a stalemate while Shiraishi handled the crisis at home.
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