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"They're here."
Konan and Nagato stood atop the highest tower in Amegakure, gazing across the water at the distant horizon, where rows of tiny figures gradually came into view.
"This direction… It's the combined forces of Lightning, Fire, and Iron." Konan turned to look at Nagato. "Aren't you going to make a move yet?"
"Wait." Nagato's expression remained unreadable.
Konan didn't press further, silently watching as the Allied Shinobi Forces began setting up camp in a valley roughly five kilometers away from Amegakure.
Both sides understood that the scale of this war was unprecedented—past battle experience no longer applied.
Against an enemy who wielded the power of nearly all the Tailed Beasts, the only way to win was through sheer, head-on combat.
Because of this, the Allied Forces' chosen campsite didn't even attempt to leverage any strategic terrain advantages.
---
"Is that Amegakure over there?"
Shikamaru stood on a hillside, staring at the cluster of towering buildings rising from the water in the distance.
"It looks… eerily quiet," Chōji muttered, carefully munching on chips hidden beneath his raincoat. "Like there's no one there at all."
"What kind of nonsense are you spouting?!" Ino snapped, though she couldn't deny the unsettling feeling creeping up her spine. The village, shrouded in the gray curtain of rain, resembled a ghost town.
Kiba sniffed the air but caught nothing beyond the earthy scent of rain and his own comrades.
"Too far, and the rain's messing with my nose," he grumbled, rubbing his snout. "Can't pick up any scents from over there."
"Woof woof!" Akamaru barked in agreement.
"Damn it, if only Hinata were here!" Kiba kicked at the mud impatiently.
"Calm down, Kiba. This isn't our job anyway," Shino's composed voice cut in. "If you're wondering why, it's because the army has dedicated sensory units. Our role is simply to follow orders."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Kiba muttered, still rubbing his nose. "I'm just itching to get out there and show what we can do!"
"Ooooh!" Rock Lee suddenly appeared beside Kiba, throwing an arm around his shoulders. "I knew I wasn't wrong about you, Kiba!"
"Huh?" Kiba blinked at him in confusion.
"SHING!"
Lee flashed his signature sparkling grin and thumbs-up.
"You're a fellow hot-blooded warrior, just like me!" Lee's round eyes gleamed with passion. "Let us pour our youth onto the battlefield together!"
"Uh…" Kiba opened his mouth but had no idea how to respond.
Nearby, Tenten rolled her eyes while Ino stifled a laugh.
"You're overthinking it. There's a good chance we won't even see combat in this war," Shikamaru interjected, dousing their enthusiasm like cold water.
When everyone turned to him, he explained, "The main enemies here are the Akatsuki and the Tailed Beasts they control. That level of battle is way beyond us. We probably won't even get a chance to step in."
"What?!" Lee protested. "Then why did the Hokage bring us here? If we're on the battlefield, we must fight!"
"More likely, it's just for experience," Shikamaru reasoned. "Even if we were to engage Amegakure's forces, the sheer difference in numbers means we might not even get a turn."
Most of them accepted this logic, though Lee and Kiba still looked dissatisfied.
---
Meanwhile, inside the largest tent at the center of the camp, the leaders of the three nations' shinobi and samurai forces had gathered once more.
"Still no movement from Amegakure?" A, the Fourth Raikage, asked Tokuma, who stood at the center of the tent.
"Yes, Lord Raikage," Tokuma reported. "According to our Hyūga scouts, who briefly approached Amegakure's waters, there's no sign of troop mobilization within the village."
"Seems the Akatsuki don't even consider Amegakure's shinobi worth factoring in," A mused.
"Additionally, two figures have been observing us from Amegakure's highest point—likely the Akatsuki leaders, Nagato and Konan," Tokuma added.
"So they're waiting for our full forces to assemble as well," Tsunade said. "How long until the Kiri, Iwa, and Suna reinforcements arrive?"
Mabui, standing behind the Raikage, stepped forward to answer. "Latest reports indicate the other three divisions will arrive within the hour."
"Then the battle will begin soon," A declared, rising to his feet. "I'll head out to wait."
The others stood as well.
"Shikaku, expedite the command center's setup," A ordered as he reached the tent's entrance. "Once the fighting starts, the command post will take over deployment."
"Understood," Shikaku nodded.
"I'll head to the medical unit."
Tsunade exchanged a glance with Jiraiya, who then followed the Raikage outside.
Pulling on her raincoat, Tsunade stepped out of the tent, watching the group stride toward the camp's entrance before turning to make her way to the medical division stationed at the rear.
"Master, you're here!" Sakura emerged from a large medical tent just as Tsunade approached.
"Mhm." Tsunade pushed inside without pause. "How are preparations?"
"Everything's ready—all medical-nin, supplies, and equipment are on standby," Sakura reported, following her. "The medical unit can begin operations at any moment."
"Good."
Tsunade began inspecting the medical tents, occasionally offering corrections or advice.
The medics, invigorated by her presence, worked even more diligently. Even the Cloud-nin healers couldn't help but watch with reverence—this was Tsunade, the legendary medical master of the shinobi world.
---
Atop a distant hill, a paper clone of Uchiha Kaito stood silently atop a tree, observing the camp in the valley.
Suddenly, his gaze shifted—first to one side, then sweeping across the wilderness beyond.
His vision pierced through the heavy rain, landing on the far horizon.
The forces of Kirigakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure were advancing from three different directions, bypassing Amegakure entirely as they converged on the valley camp.
Like three surging tides, shinobi from across the nations streamed into their designated positions within the camp.
And at the camp's entrance, the leaders of the Five Great Nations stood together.
"You? Where's your Hokage, Jiraiya?" Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage, eyed the Sannin with clear displeasure.
"Tsunade's overseeing the Allied Medical Unit," Jiraiya replied casually. "As for frontline command, this Sage is more than qualified, don't you think, old man?"
"Hmph." Ōnoki remained unimpressed. "The Hokage should still be here to greet her allies."
"Enough. That was my call," A cut in. "We're at war—save the formalities. Just do your damn jobs."
"Someone's coming out of Amegakure."
Mei Terumī, who had been watching the village, spoke up in warning.
The group immediately fell silent, their attention snapping toward the water's edge beyond Amegakure.