The current situation in the east remains unclear.
Although Jiraiya has gone to the eastern front, no intelligence has been sent back yet.
Of course.
If Jiraiya and Minato haven't lost their minds, the best option wouldn't be to dispatch a messenger with a scroll—but to send one of Minato's Flying Thunder God kunai instead.
With the kunai in place, they could receive real-time updates from Minato.
And right now...
Namikaze Minato has already assembled his elite team from the eastern forces, setting off to flank through Takigakure and Kusagakure's rear.
This squad is composed entirely of elites.
Hyūga Hizashi, Aburame Shibi—all are present.
The weakest link is probably Kakashi, but even he possesses Lightning Release and considerable speed.
Against Earth Release, these are his advantages.
What Jiraiya sent ahead were precisely two Flying Thunder God kunai and an intelligence report. Through the kunai, Minato can transmit information and even glean some intel about Konoha's main camp by sensing their positions.
Most of the fastest shinobi were assigned to Minato's team.
However.
Jiraiya held back one powerhouse.
Might Duy!
The one delivering the kunai and intel is none other than Might Duy himself.
Duy didn't join Minato's squad.
Though formidable, activating even six Gates leaves him dangerously depleted—
While he has unlocked all eight Gates like his son Might Guy would in the future, his self-taught path means he lacks Guy's refined mastery.
Moreover, he isn't in his prime like Guy was.
His recovery capabilities fall short by no small margin.
Thus.
Behind-enemy-lines operations simply don't suit him.
After deliberation, Orochimaru concluded Duy would be better deployed alongside Kyōichi.
Accompanying Duy on this escort mission are Team Minato's Obito, Rin, and Team Guy's trio—since Hatake Kakashi was reassigned to Minato's elite squad, the three genin needed supervision.
Six in total, advancing at full speed.
The journey from departure to Konoha's western camp took merely a day.
Yet.
In that single day, Ōnoki has already launched his assault.
"Sensei, aren't you organizing a strike team this time?"
Asuma asked curiously.
He'd assumed the war's onset would see Kyōichi employing guerrilla tactics as before—solo infiltration, targeted eliminations. But in reality...
They're still observing.
"Wait a bit longer."
Kyōichi activated his Chakra Sensing Technique to survey the battlefield.
The Iwa ninja are attacking!
However.
Ōnoki isn't rushing a full invasion. Instead, he's using earth-style techniques to incrementally expand Iwagakure's defensive perimeter—seemingly aiming to gradually encroach upon the border.
Slow, but methodical.
"Ōnoki's playing it too safe. Even if sensei assembled an elite squad, breaking through these defenses would be tough. If only my Lightning Release..."
Shisui grimaced in frustration.
With sufficient Lightning Release prowess, paired with the Lightning Blade, he could devastate Ōnoki's earth-style fortifications.
Unfortunately.
His Lightning Release is merely passable—far from exceptional.
Kyōichi glanced at the overcast sky, an idea forming.
Lightning Release: Kirin!
This technique harnesses natural lightning, guided precisely via Sharingan and Lightning Release.
Shisui isn't ready for this.
But...
The Sandaime masters all five basic natures. If he wields the Lightning Blade while Hyūga scouts mark targets, bombarding the earthworks should be feasible.
Of course.
Shisui could theoretically manage it.
Yet.
First, his youth limits his precision. Second, succeeding might exacerbate anti-Uchiha sentiment.
The Sandaime is the optimal choice.
Having reached this conclusion, Kyōichi signaled, "Move out! Back to camp!"
"Yes!"
Though Asuma didn't grasp Kyōichi's plan, his teacher's demeanor suggested Iwagakure was about to suffer.
Upon their return...
"Earth-style counterattacks seem viable."
"Mutual destruction favors Iwagakure's numbers."
"Their earth-style specialists overwhelm us..."
The Sandaime was consulting with Sarutobi clansmen, including Asuma's elder brother, about countermeasures.
He'd have preferred Kyōichi's input—the young man's unconventional thinking often yielded breakthroughs—but Kyōichi had already left camp when messengers arrived.
Just as they prepared an earth-style demolition team, a chuunin announced Kyōichi's return.
"Hokage-sama."
"Kyōichi! You have a solution?"
The Sandaime's eyes lit up.
Kyōichi's confident stride betrayed his inspiration.
"A rough concept. Their earthworks are densely clustered—Lightning Release could dismantle them."
"Lightning Release... Sound in theory, but our Lightning users are too few to concentrate sufficient firepower."
The Sandaime sighed.
He'd considered this, but elemental advantage requires comparable chakra reserves.
Against thousands of Iwa ninja, Konoha's Lightning specialists are hopelessly outnumbered.
Even combined assaults couldn't breach such defenses.
"We can simulate natural lightning. My Water Release, combined with others' Fire Release to evaporate moisture and create updrafts, will trigger atmospheric discharges."
Kyōichi outlined rapidly. "Hyūga scouts will monitor formations while you, wielding the Lightning Blade, guide the strikes."
"Lightning moves too swiftly for real-time Hyūga adjustments. But... for static fortifications, precision matters less."
The Sandaime found the logic sound.
The technique's crux was guidance and accuracy—neither critical when targeting immobile earthworks.
"The weather cooperates perfectly!"
"Hokage-sama, should we rehearse first?"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke voiced concerns.
Natural lightning wasn't to be trifled with—one misstep could prove fatal even for the Sandaime.
"No time. Rehearsals would alert Ōnoki, forfeiting surprise."
The Sandaime rejected the notion. "Mobilize immediately."
Preparations commenced swiftly.
Soon.
Konoha's forces advanced.
...
"Tsuchikage-sama! Konoha is moving!"
"Ha! Hiruzen's patience finally snapped. Hold positions—let them exhaust themselves first."
Despite his calm words, Ōnoki rushed from his tent to the frontline earthworks.
Distant treetops erupted with startled birds.
"Focus defenses below! Hiruzen masters all five natures, and his clan boasts skilled earth-style users. Expect their main thrust there... and prepare for water-style assaults."
Ōnoki barked orders.
"Rest assured—trenches will divert any water-style tsunamis."
"Good. If this holds, we'll replicate the strategy sector by sector."
Ōnoki grinned fiercely.
Water-style experts?
His favorite opponents!
Anticipation brimmed as Konoha's forces emerged—halting just beyond engagement range.
They're massing...
Ōnoki restrained his troops.
Not yet.
Then a silver-haired, masked shinobi appeared.
Kanda Kyōichi, presumably.
Ōnoki's eyes narrowed. "That's him. Young, but dangerously capable."
"Yes!"
The Iwa ninja tensed.
Suddenly—
Kyōichi charged.
Dozens of Konoha shinobi spearheaded the assault, backed by hundreds more—a tide of bodies.
Ōnoki sensed something amiss but couldn't pinpoint it before Kyōichi struck.
Hand seals flashed.
Exploding Water Collision Wave. Water Trumpet...
A deluge of water-style techniques.
Most alarming—
Earthen walls rose on either flank, channeling the torrent into a debris-laden tsunami.
Yet.
Is this all?
Ōnoki frowned.
Though formidable, prepared earth-style barriers could neutralize this.
As demonstrated when the trenches absorbed the impact.
But then—
Konoha's second act baffled him completely.
Hundreds of shinobi unleashed fire-style techniques along the riverbanks, some even firing skyward.
Rear units added Wind Release: Great Breakthrough—
Kyōichi and the Sandaime's supplementary measure to drive moisture upward.
"Tsuchikage-sama, what's their game?"
"Unclear, but this reeks of deception."
Ōnoki's instincts screamed danger.
A thousand shinobi wouldn't mobilize just for pyrotechnics.
Something's coming...
Surveying the darkening skies, unease gripped him. "Fall back to secondary defenses! Leave scouts only."
"Yes!"
Ōnoki's instincts proved sharp.
Kyōichi noted the retreat with mild disappointment—slaying Ōnoki via lightning was always a long shot.
Rain began pelting down as mist rolled in, courtesy of Kyōichi's techniques.
All pieces were in place—save the Sandaime's finale.
Then—
At the rear, the Sandaime led dozens of Lightning users forward—Shisui among them—dual blades in hand. They scaled an earthen platform as chakra converged upon him.
Thunder crackled along the Lightning Blade's edge.
"Take cover!"
The remaining Iwa ninja reacted too late.
Konoha's true assault wasn't horizontal—but vertical.
The electrified orb shot skyward, igniting the storm.
"Hokage-sama!"
"Now!"