Cloud Front

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Back at his own quarters, Horyu packed his gear, readying himself for the journey. He chose weapons and scrolls carefully, planning for multiple scenarios. The political and military landscape was volatile, and he needed to be prepared for anything.

With everything set, Horyu joined the group of Jonin assigned to assist him. They gathered at the village gates, ready to depart at dawn. The air was cool and crisp, a stark contrast to the heated political tensions that simmered beneath the surface.

As Horyu gazed back at the gates of Konoha, his lips curled into a slight smirk. "Time to dive into the chaos," he murmured, his eyes sharp and focused on the path ahead.

The journey to the Rain border was quiet and tense. Horyu led the way with Kurenai, Asuma, Neji, and two trusted Jonin from the Aburame and Yamanaka clans. The landscape grew increasingly rugged as they approached their destination, the constant drizzle typical of Rain Country making the path slippery and the atmosphere somber.

"Keep your senses sharp," Horyu instructed, his eyes scanning the dense foliage. "Rain isn't just known for its weather. Ambushes are common."

Kurenai nodded, her hand resting on a kunai. "The terrain is tricky. Visibility is low, and the sound of the rain can mask movements."

Asuma, holding his chakra blades, added, "We'll need to rely more on chakra sensing. Yamanaka, Aburame, anything from your scouts?"

The Yamanaka Jonin shook his head. "Nothing specific yet, but I'm pushing out further with my mind technique. It's hard to get through the natural interference."

The Aburame Jonin, silent until now, spoke up. "My insects are on high alert. They'll sense any unusual activity."

As they moved, Horyu kept to the front, his Sharingan occasionally flickering to life to scan deeper into the forest. Neji stayed close, the Byakugan active and probing.

"It's too quiet," Neji commented, his eyes never stopping their vigilant sweep.

"That quiet isn't a good sign," Horyu agreed. "Stay ready."

The group advanced slowly, their formation tight and coordinated. Despite the tension, there was a silent acknowledgment among them of Horyu's capable leadership. His directions were clear and concise, leaving no room for doubt or hesitation.

When they reached the border outpost, the Jonin in charge, a member of the Nara clan, greeted them. He looked relieved to see the group. "Just in time. Cloud is getting restless," he said, scanning the group before his gaze settled on Horyu. "So you're the leader now. Good, I am free of making decisions."

Horyu smirked and stepped forward, signaling the others to follow. While Shisui had named him the leader, it was clear the other Jonin were there to keep an eye on him. This assignment was strategic on multiple levels. Since Horyu had killed the Cloud's Jonin Commander, who had come under the guise of negotiating peace but intended to kidnap a member of the Hyuga clan, Cloud demanded Konoha to hand over Horyu.

Danzo insisted on sending Horyu to the Cloud Front for that reason. From an outside perspective, Konoha seemed to be sending Horyu, a young ninja of only 15-16 years old, to his death, thereby appearing to bow to Cloud's demands without actually weakening their stance. But would Shisui really send one of his closest confidants to his death? Of course not. He sent four experienced Jonin to keep an eye on him and assist him with the war, although he still put Horyu in charge. He had high hopes for Horyu. Not only did Horyu have a spy network, he was also extremely powerful and resourceful. Shisui hoped that in this war, Horyu would overcome his only remaining weak point, a lack of experience in warfare and leadership.

Entering the command tent, Horyu looked around at the faces. There were a total of four other Jonin inside the tent, along with the previous Nara commander and the five from Horyu's group, making ten Jonin in total, supported by a few hundred Chunin. This was not yet a full-scale war, so the number was neither too much nor too little.

Walking to the map spread on the table, Horyu looked at the flags and quickly assessed the situation. Then he said, "Report."

The Jonin from the Nara clan stepped forward. "Cloud ninjas have been increasingly active along the border. They haven't made any large-scale moves yet, but their scouting parties are probing deeper into our territory each day."

Horyu frowned, considering the unfolding situation. "What about Hanzo? What's his stance?" he asked sharply.

The Nara Jonin snorted in response. "He's let the Cloud use Rain as a battleground. Seems like they offered him something valuable in return."

Horyu hummed thoughtfully, then probed further, "And the people of the country?"

An Akimichi clan Jonin stepped forward. "The locals are angry. There's a military group called Akatsuki in Rain. They've been quite active lately, helping the people wherever possible. Before the war, they acknowledged Hanzo's sovereignty, but since he opened the borders to Cloud, Akatsuki has been defending civilians and opposing both Hanzo and Cloud."

Horyu cursed silently. His initial plan had been to draw Rain into the war, but with Tsunade's recent revelations about Naruto being there, he had backed off. He knew that if Rain were threatened, Naruto wouldn't just stand by. And if Shisui found out about Naruto... that wouldn't end well. He needed to find a way to extract them discreetly.

Looking around the tent, Horyu's gaze settled on the assembled Jonin. "We need to keep a close eye on Akatsuki's movements. They could be key allies or formidable foes, depending on their next steps," he directed, keeping his tone neutral to avoid revealing his deeper concerns. The Yamanaka Jonin nodded in agreement.

"Prepare for a potential skirmish along the border. I want early warning systems and traps set up. We're not here to start a war, but we will defend our territory," Horyu commanded, his voice carrying a calm authority that reassured the others of his capability as a leader despite his young age.

The group nodded, each member taking their leave to prepare their respective tasks. As the tent cleared, Horyu sat down with a map of the area, plotting out potential conflict zones and escape routes.

After everyone had left the tent, Horyu quickly set up several seals around the room to ensure privacy. Satisfied that no one could eavesdrop, he activated a communication seal. "Come to Rain as soon as possible but travel light. I need you to reach out to Akatsuki and find Hatake Kakashi. Tell them I want a meeting," he instructed firmly. Once he received an acknowledgment, he deactivated the seals and left the tent to head back to his lodging. The air was tense, thick with the impending sense of conflict; he could feel that war was imminent.

Early the next morning, the skies over the Rain country were as gray as the mood among the troops. Horyu walked through the camp, his eyes sharp and alert. He stopped by the sentries, checking their readiness. "Keep your guard up. The enemy could strike at any moment," he reminded them.

The Jonin from the Aburame clan approached, a hint of concern in his voice. "We've noticed some unusual insect activity near the eastern ridge. It might be nothing, but..."

Horyu nodded, understanding the implication. "I'll check it out. Keep monitoring the area and inform me immediately if anything changes."

He made his way to the eastern ridge alone, moving silently through the misty rain. His Sharingan scanned the dense foliage, detecting the faint traces of chakra that ordinary eyes couldn't see. As he neared the suspicious area, his senses tingled with the presence of foreign chakra.

Suddenly, a group of Cloud ninjas burst from hiding, kunai in hand, their intentions clear. Horyu reacted instantly, drawing his sword and meeting their charge with a calm yet deadly precision. The clash was brief but intense, with Horyu parrying and striking in fluid, measured movements.

As the last of the attackers fell, Horyu sheathed his sword and surveyed the area. "So, they are testing our defenses," he muttered to himself, his mind already anticipating the next move of the enemy.

Returning to the camp, he convened a quick meeting with the Jonin. "Cloud is probing our defenses. We need to strengthen our patrols and set up more traps. They might be planning a larger assault soon," he instructed.

The Jonin nodded, each quickly leaving to carry out his orders. Horyu then turned to Neji, who had been observing the situation closely. "Neji, I want you to gather others from clan and use your Byakugan to keep a constant watch on the perimeter. Anything out of the ordinary, you let me know immediately."

Neji acknowledged with a nod, his face set in a mask of concentration as he activated his Byakugan, scanning the surrounding area for any hidden threats. 

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