Two days later, inside the Hokage's Office in Konoha...
The first thing Jiraiya and the others did after returning from Otogakure was report to the Hokage on how the negotiations had gone.
"How did it go? Will Otogakure send troops?" Tsunade asked without delay.
"They agreed," Jiraiya said proudly. "Chiba Mokushū himself is leading the forces. They set out not long after we left Otogakure. It's all thanks to yours truly—took everything Shikaku and I had to convince him."
"Good. As soon as reinforcements arrive, we strike into the Land of Grass and confront Iwagakure," Tsunade said, slamming the desk without even acknowledging Jiraiya's bragging.
Shikaku asked, "Why did Iwagakure suddenly launch this war? Weren't they supposed to be in recovery mode?"
Tsunade's jaw clenched. "They're saying we killed their Jinchūriki, Roshi. That old man defected on his own, and they're blaming us? What, do they think I'm that easy to push around? I just took office and they're already declaring war on Konoha."
That reason made even Shikaku frown in thought. This didn't make sense... Ōnoki was known for being shrewd, not the type to start a war without seeing clear benefit.
But for now, he couldn't come up with any better explanation.
Tsunade pressed on. "What about Otogakure? Is it worth maintaining the alliance?"
Shikaku shared what he had seen there—Otogakure was thriving, bustling with energy.
Jiraiya chimed in, launching into a long-winded monologue about how developed the place was.
He sighed wistfully. "Everything was great, but... there's a certain kind of entertainment they're lacking. Plus, their ANBU were tailing me constantly—wouldn't even let me explore…"
"You damn pervert... Get to the front lines and take command of the battlefield!" Tsunade snapped. Her patience was at its breaking point. She was buried in paperwork while this guy was off enjoying gourmet food in Otogakure.
The only reason she didn't punch him straight through the Hokage's office wall was because she didn't want to wreck the building again.
Sensing danger, Jiraiya nodded like a madman and bolted from the room.
"Right! I'm on my way!"
...
Three days later...
Hyuga Gakuya arrived at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass with a thousand Oto-nin, joining up with Konoha's forces led by Jiraiya.
The five-day journey had put Gakuya in a great mood—every day Konoha paid out large sums in hiring fees for Otogakure's forces.
Jiraiya, meanwhile, was staring grimly at the expense reports Kabuto had handed him—logistics, rations, supply costs—all meticulously detailed for the past five days. His face darkened with every page.
These mercenaries are bleeding us dry, he swore silently. I'm ending this war fast, no matter what.
Finally, Kabuto said something Jiraiya liked for once. Since arriving, the man had been on thin ice with him.
"No need to worry, Lord Jiraiya. Lord Mokushū said he'd offer Konoha a five percent discount—just for your sake."
Jiraiya's expression eased. "We'll settle the payments at the end of the campaign, then."
"Of course. I trust your word, Lord Jiraiya," Kabuto replied smoothly, not missing a beat.
Jiraiya nodded. "We strike Iwagakure tomorrow night. I'll need Mokushū to follow the attack plan to the letter."
"Of course."
On the other side of camp, Gakuya had handed off every single responsibility to Kabuto and was now enjoying the luxury of being a commander in name only.
He made a circuit around the joint encampment, inspecting Konoha's deployment—five thousand ninja, including forty-two Jonin.
None of the newer generation—Naruto and the others—were present.
Makes sense, Gakuya mused. They're heirs to major clans; no way Konoha would risk them on the frontlines.
And Naruto? As a Jinchūriki, it still wasn't his time to act.
"Boring. I was kind of hoping to see what Naruto looks like when he kills someone." Gakuya yawned and ducked back into his tent.
...
The following night...
Gakuya led a detachment of elite Oto-nin through the darkness, lying in wait.
They were the ambush force—tasked with flanking Iwagakure's formation once the main battle started.
Just a month ago, Otogakure and Konoha had been locked in a deathmatch. Now, they were fighting side-by-side.
In the night, Konoha's ninja launched their charge toward the Iwagakure camp. But the enemy seemed prepared. The Iwa-nin burst from their tents in a countercharge.
A fireball soared into the sky, burning brightly, casting harsh light over the battlefield.
"Kill them all!"
"Hahaha! You fools thought we weren't ready? Take down them!" the Iwa-nin roared as they surged forward.
The Konoha forces resisted briefly, then scattered, leaving a few corpses behind as they retreated.
From his vantage point, Gakuya saw a massive figure in the midst of the Iwa-nin—muscular, towering, exuding an overwhelming presence. The intel was right. This was Kitsuchi, commander of the Iwagakure army.
Konoha's retreat path led them right past where Gakuya and his troops were hidden, but the Iwa-nin were too focused on chasing them to notice the ambush lying in wait.
Now was the time.
Gakuya patted Mogi on the shoulder, signaling him.
Mogi leapt up, launching a flare into the sky. "Move in! Kill them all!"
A red signal flare lit up the sky.
"That's the Oto signal! Turn around—attack!"
The hidden Oto-nin rose as one, surging down the hill toward the Iwagakure troops.
The Iwa-nin were caught completely off guard. Their intel had been wrong—they'd walked right into a trap.
"Break west! No enemy forces that way!" Kitsuchi bellowed.
The Iwa-nin surged in that direction like a crashing wave, desperate to escape.
Gakuya stood tall, his eyes flashing as he entered Sage Mode in an instant. Two bone blades extended from his palms. With a single leap, he hurled himself into the midst of the fleeing Iwa-nin like a meteor.
Boom!
He landed, and two enemy bodies collapsed at his feet. Blood sprayed as he pulled his bone blades free, painting him in crimson.
"Kill him!" someone shouted. Iwa-nin swarmed toward Gakuya.
His expression didn't waver—cold, emotionless.
He moved like a ghost, dodging easily, his blades carving arcs through the air, each swing ending a life.
Though surrounded, Gakuya showed no fear.
The battlefield was chaos—shouts, screams, clashing steel. In the thick of it, Gakuya moved like a reaper. His twin bone blades danced, and the Iwa-nin fell like wheat before a scythe. His body was soaked in blood, but it only made him fight harder.
"Move!" a furious voice roared.
A massive figure crashed down in front of Gakuya, stone-coated fist hurtling toward his face.
"Earth Style: Fist Rock!"
It was Kitsuchi.
Gakuya didn't flinch. To him, the attack was slow—turtle slow. He ducked low, sidestepping with ease, and fired bone bullets from his palm, cutting down more Iwa-nin in the blink of an eye.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo