Kakashi fell into thought upon hearing the news.
Their primary mission in supporting the Hidden Stone wasn't to apprehend Akatsuki members but to rescue the two captured Jinchuriki. If the Jinchuriki wasn't with the enemy, he was reluctant to engage the Akatsuki head-on so hastily.
Kurotsuchi, meanwhile, was at a loss.
The Hidden Stone's main forces were within the blockade zone, and she had no idea how Moryo and Shinno had broken through to reach this point.
This area only had a temporary camp. Aside from the Leaf's reinforcements, there were few Hidden Stone ninja left—many of them part of the medical or intelligence units.
After a few moments, Kakashi made his decision. "Since we can't rule out the possibility that the Five-Tails Jinchuriki is with them, we need to confirm."
Kurotsuchi asked, "Your plan?"
"Strike immediately!"
Kakashi's tone was resolute.
Hearing his decision, the Leaf forces stirred. Facing the Akatsuki was daunting, even for jonin like Kurenai and Shizune, who felt a flicker of unease.
"Hm?"
Kurotsuchi scanned the Leaf ninja and let out a soft gasp in her mind.
Kakashi's team consisted of his elite jonin squad, Shizune's medical team, a communications team, two Anbu squads, and two academy student squads.
Upon learning of Kakashi's plan to engage the Akatsuki, the medical and communications teams aside, even the jonin and Anbu around Kakashi began whispering, showing varying degrees of unease.
This tension and anxiety were all too familiar to Kurotsuchi—she'd seen it countless times in Hidden Stone ninja facing the Akatsuki.
What truly surprised her was the academy squad led by Shinji.
Upon hearing they'd soon face the Akatsuki, they neither boasted arrogantly like typical battlefield newbies nor showed fear or hesitation.
They stood calmly, as if the Akatsuki members—who had captured a powerful Jinchuriki and broken through the Hidden Stone's encirclement—were nothing to fear!
Kakashi and the other jonin noticed this too, nodding approvingly in silence.
Soon, the combined Leaf and Hidden Stone forces, led by Kurotsuchi, left the temporary camp, charging toward Moryo and Shinno, who were breaking through in their direction.
BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.
Moments later, the group halted.
The thunderous roars ahead signaled they had reached the battlefield!
Kurotsuchi's expression shifted. "They're already here?!"
The Leaf ninja didn't need to ask to know the Akatsuki's breakthrough speed had exceeded the Hidden Stone's expectations. The combat zone ahead likely wasn't the planned ambush site.
Crossing a ridge, the battlefield came into view.
Chaos reigned as several Hidden Stone ninja attacked a colossal figure with various ninjutsu and tools. The massive figure, radiating sinister chakra, was none other than the demon known as Moryo!
ROAR.
Suddenly, Moryo let out a furious bellow!
A torrent of tentacles shot out, ensnaring the lead Hidden Stone ninja. Others were swept aside by the tentacles, their bodies shattered and bloodied.
Then, a more horrifying scene unfolded!
The beastly Moryo forced its way into the mouth of the ensnared ninja, forcibly possessing their body.
"This…"
Even from a distance, Kurotsuchi was struck with horror!
The others reacted variably—some grim and solemn, others tense and uneasy, and some with panic in their eyes!
Kakashi's gaze didn't linger on Moryo. Instead, it shifted to Shinno, who was holding the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, and he said, "Yakumo, Neji, confirm if the one in his hands is the real Five-Tails Jinchuriki."
Yakumo and Neji activated their respective dojutsu Bloodline Limits, observing the figure in Shinno's grasp.
After a moment, Yakumo frowned. "The chakra level feels off, but it seems real."
Neji added, "I can't be certain either. There's definitely Tailed Beast chakra, but it's low—possibly depleted in battle or a clone."
Even the Byakugan, Sharingan, or Rinnegan couldn't perfectly identify high-level clone techniques.
In the original timeline, Obito, with transplanted Rinnegan, was fooled by Kakashi's "Lightning Clone," and Kaguya's Byakugan couldn't instantly see through Naruto's shadow clones.
Identifying a clone through dojutsu required combat experience, familiarity with the target, and the clone's precision.
"Still uncertain…" Kakashi sighed. "Looks like this battle is unavoidable."
The group tensed!
Kakashi ordered, "Intelligence team, medical team, and student team stay here! Jonin team, with me. Anbu team, provide support!"
"Yes, sir!"
Regardless of their thoughts, the Leaf ninja responded in unison.
Kurotsuchi asked, "What about us?"
Kakashi pointed to Shinji and the others. "Please look after them. If the situation turns bad, get them out!"
"Understood!"
Kurotsuchi felt relieved but also guilty.
In her eyes, the Leaf had come all this way to support the Hidden Stone, yet as a Hidden Stone ninja, she was standing by while they faced the enemy—a humbling position.
"Engage!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
With Kakashi's command, the jonin and Anbu squads—over a dozen ninja—leaped forward, fanning out in a semicircle toward Moryo, who was slowly picking up a red-cloud cloak from the ground.
On the ridge.
The communications team immediately contacted nearby reinforcements, while the medical team watched the distant battle anxiously. From Moryo's slaughter of the Hidden Stone ninja, they knew a loss would mean heavy casualties, and they doubted whether the wounded could hold out until they arrived—or if they'd even get close to the battlefield.
Shinji gazed into the distance, his expression tinged with worry.
Kurotsuchi, feeling guilty, approached him and patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. Even if I die, I'll protect you all!"