Chapter 115: Besieged on Three Fronts, The Strategy to Break the Deadlock!

Chapter 115: Besieged on Three Fronts, The Strategy to Break the Deadlock!

Meanwhile,

At the borders of the Land of Fire, within the Rain Country defense line, lies the Konoha garrison headquarters.

Rain drizzled incessantly, creating muffled thuds against the leather surface of the tents.

The sky was laden with dark clouds. Blue lightning streaked across, accompanied by rolling thunder.

Inside the command tent, a group of people sat in heavy silence. Resting their heads on their hands, they stared at the scattered intelligence reports laid out on their desks, their faces grave.

Jiraiya's squad, Namikaze Minato, Nara Shikaku, and Mimura Yoshimaki—the people in this command tent were the elite among Konoha's jonin, the sharpest minds in the village.

Yet, at this moment, their expressions were exceedingly grim.

"Lord Jiraiya, can you confirm the authenticity of this information?" asked Nara Shikaku, frowning deeply. Clad in a deerskin coat and sporting his signature pineapple hairstyle, he looked up toward the seat of honor in the tent.

There sat a tall man, nearly 190 cm in height, wearing a red cloak, a headband with the kanji for "oil," and long white hair flowing down to his waist. Two crimson lines stretched from beneath his eyes to his cheeks. This man was none other than Jiraiya, one of the legendary Sannin.

Jiraiya scratched his head in frustration and sighed.

"It's been verified beyond doubt. Sunagakure plans to ally with Iwagakure and jointly declare war on Konoha."

"As soon as the envoy sent to the Land of Earth secures an agreement with the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, this will become a done deal."

Having confirmed this piece of intelligence, Nara Shikaku took a deep breath, his expression dark as he analyzed the situation.

"If that's the case, the village will face attacks from both Sunagakure and Iwagakure on the Rain Country battlefield. Additionally, the intelligence from the Land of Fields, at the Fire and Lightning border, is also troubling. And to make matters worse, Kirigakure has concluded their war with Sunagakure."

"If this continues, we'll face simultaneous assaults from Sunagakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure."

"In the worst-case scenario, we could be surrounded on all four fronts!"

"You all understand what this means. Everyone here witnessed the Second Great Ninja War. You know the outcome of being attacked on three sides in the Land of Rain."

At this, everyone in the tent flinched, their gazes falling once more on the reports before them, which now seemed even more alarming.

In the Second Great Ninja War, the Land of Rain overreached, attempting to become the sixth great ninja nation. Surrounded on three fronts, it was brutally crushed and has since been struggling to survive.

Konoha is stronger than the Land of Rain, but facing four simultaneous fronts and the outbreak of war on all sides?

To be honest, they couldn't withstand such an intense offensive.

It had been only three days since the Third Great Ninja War fully erupted, yet bad news arrived one after another. Now, the true catalyst had detonated, delivering a bombshell of devastating proportions.

Silence engulfed the tent.

This war would be far more brutal for Konoha than any previous one, so much so that even their children might be sent to the battlefield.

The thought of such a grim reality made Mimura Yoshimaki, one of the attendees, unable to contain himself. He stood up abruptly and asked urgently:

"Lord Jiraiya, isn't there any way to prevent this from happening?"

This was the question on everyone's mind. The moment he spoke, all eyes turned toward Jiraiya, who sat at the head of the table.

Even his direct disciple, Namikaze Minato, standing by his side, couldn't help but glance over.

Under the weight of their gazes, Jiraiya remained silent for a moment. Then, raising his head, he looked resolutely outside the tent.

Taking a deep breath, he answered firmly:

"Of course, there is!"

"To address this situation, the village has dispatched a reliable team."

"And we've drafted a plan called the Rain Country Decapitation Operation!"

"Calling everyone here is to refine this plan and contribute to this decapitation operation!"

Jiraiya then focused his sharp gaze toward the tent's entrance, his eyes narrowing.

"The Sannin and their disciples will serve as the core executors of this operation—"

"To assassinate Sunagakure's envoy to Iwagakure, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the tent was astonished!

It wasn't just the revelation that Sunagakure had sent the Fourth Kazekage to ensure the alliance's success that shocked them—but also Jiraiya's earlier statement!

The Sannin and their disciples would be responsible for assassinating the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa?!

The attendees immediately turned their eyes to Jiraiya and the clueless Namikaze Minato beside him.

Namikaze Minato, wearing his signature blank expression, appeared utterly baffled.

Having just returned with his master, Jiraiya, from the Iwagakure front, he hadn't received any notice from the village.

Why was he suddenly tasked with eliminating Rasa?

Seeing his confusion, the attendees couldn't help but chuckle knowingly.

The answer was obvious—Minato was merely pretending to be unaware. Hmph, his acting was impressive!

The Sannin and their disciples?

Only this master-disciple pair fit the criteria, and perhaps they truly had the ability to succeed!

Thus, the answer could only be—

Jiraiya laughed heartily under the scrutiny of those around him, his gaze piercing toward the tent's entrance.

Just then, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and a pale hand lifted the tent flap.

A figure clad in a pitch-black robe appeared. Removing his hood, Orochimaru entered the tent with a raspy chuckle.

"What's this, Jiraiya?

You're not surprised by my arrival at all?"

---

Meanwhile, in the Land of Hot Water—

Uchiha Ci's pupils contracted as he finished reading the scroll in his hand, his mind filled with question marks.

How could Aburame Ryoma be so secretive?

Providing such critical intelligence only to tell him to rest well tonight?

What kind of joke is that?!

After hearing this, how could he possibly sleep?

Uchiha Ci sprang to his feet, donned his robe, grabbed the scroll, and rushed toward the sauna room.

He had too many unresolved questions about this mission.

Why was he chosen for this task?

Why was Sunagakure's envoy Rasa? Since when had Rasa become the Fourth Kazekage?

How would this war evolve as a result?

One question after another plagued him, compelling him to seek answers immediately.

With that in mind, he kicked open the sauna room door and shouted at the shadowy figure inside the steam:

"Aburame Ryoma, tell me the answers right now!"

Aburame Ryoma, having anticipated Uchiha Ci's reaction, sat calmly on the sauna bench. Beside him, neatly folded towels rested in a basin.

The steam fogged his sunglasses, but it didn't stop him from glancing at Uchiha Ci.

"Typical Uchiha, always so rude," he said dryly.

"Kid, this is your first lesson from me as your superior."

"You want answers?"

Adjusting his flamboyant mini sunglasses with a crooked smile, Aburame Ryoma tossed a towel at Uchiha Ci.

"Fix your tone first. Then, earn your answers through labor!"

Uchiha Ci stared blankly at the towel in his hands, then looked at Ryoma, whose sinister grin and crawling bugs made his skin crawl.

Uchiha Ci fell silent.