The tension in the air was thick as the leaders of the five great villages gathered. The voices that rose belonged to Kage—powerful shinobi who led entire nations. Although Konoha and the Sand Village didn't agree with what was being said, they stayed silent. No one dared to oppose three Kage-level powerhouses outright.
Yet, despite the silence, Sarutobi Shinnosuke was clearly frustrated. He kept shooting glances at Andrew, hoping to get some reaction from him. But Andrew ignored him completely, standing calmly beside the Mizukage.
Konoha's forces were primarily composed of shinobi loyal to Sarutobi Hiruzen's clan, while the other clans took supportive roles. On the battlefield, support-type shinobi like medical ninja were incredibly valuable, and that value was recognized even by other villages.
So, even if Konoha was being pushed into a frontline cannon-fodder role, the critical support ninjas—especially from the Hyuga and Uchiha clans—wouldn't be thrown away recklessly. No matter how bitter the alliance, everyone still needed healing and chakra support.
Still, Andrew's decision to side with the Mizukage despite earlier claiming it was a "personal favor" stung. He was now openly standing with another village, and that made his silence feel like betrayal.
"Let's split our operations," said the Stone Village's Tsuchikage, Onoki. "Sand Shinobi will join Iwagakure, and Cloud Shinobi will work with Konoha. Mizukage, do you agree?"
Andrew remained silent, while Terumi Mei, the current Mizukage, responded with a calm nod. "No problem. But let's try not to scheme against each other this time. Let's first defeat the Akatsuki before we start fighting over rewards."
Her voice was soft but firm. Compared to the aggressive Raikage and the stubborn Onoki, Terumi Mei displayed a level-headed approach, likely shaped by her past in the Blood Mist Village. Her hatred toward the Akatsuki was personal—and deep.
Although it looked like Mist Village would be isolated, Rain Village's terrain gave them an advantage. They had fewer troops, but they had Andrew, and his presence alone was more powerful than an army.
"Even if they have thousands of shinobi," one of the commanders muttered, "none of them can match Andrew's Susanoo."
Mist had fewer numbers, but two Kage-level ninjas backed them, meaning their losses could be minimized with tight coordination. The discussion ended quickly, and the temporary coalition split into three factions: Konoha with Cloud, Sand with Stone, and Mist on their own.
Konoha and Sand Shinobi were stunned by how fast everything was finalized. They weren't even asked for input.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke was left speechless. He had hoped to earn honor and praise on the battlefield, perhaps even earn a path toward becoming the next Hokage. But before he could say anything, Andrew vanished along with Terumi Mei, leaving him alone to face the other commanders.
"Ugh... what now?" he muttered. "You saw what just happened. This alliance is already cracking apart."
Baki from the Sand Village approached him, a grim look on his face. "We'll have to rely on our own judgment now. Let's just hope these alliances hold together long enough to fight Akatsuki."
Shinnosuke clenched his fists. He had big hopes when the war started—to lead Konoha to victory, earn fame, and perhaps become Hokage. The Sannin weren't interested in the position. Danzo was gone. And most others lacked either strength or political background.
This was supposed to be his moment.
But now, everything had gone off course. Mist was truly focused on stopping Akatsuki. But Stone and Cloud clearly had their own agendas.
And worse, because Cloud and Stone distrusted each other, they couldn't form a single joint offensive. The alliance had to split into three separate attack groups.
As the leader of Konoha's Anbu, Shinnosuke didn't have the authority to negotiate directly with the other Kage. He couldn't earn any military credit—he was just one piece on the board now.
He sighed, remembering how Andrew stood beside the Mizukage. Had Andrew supported Konoha instead, the situation might have been completely different.
Andrew's strength was unmatched, and his loyalty could have turned the tide. If he had sided with Konoha, they wouldn't have been forced to team up with Cloud Shinobi. Instead, they could've launched a four-pronged attack against Rain Shinobi.
Mist Village, led by Terumi Mei, had only brought one true army strategist—Ao. With him handling battlefield plans, Terumi Mei mostly stayed out of the logistics.
And so, Andrew and Terumi Mei enjoyed their time in private, rarely leaving their tent, their post offering a panoramic view with no one daring to interrupt.
After two days of preparation, the coalition began their invasion of Rain Shinobi Village. The attacks came from three directions—one for each alliance faction.
Rain Shinobi resisted fiercely at first. But even their strength couldn't stand against the combined force of five villages. Their lines collapsed quickly, and within two days, the allied forces entered deep into the village's territory.
On top of a towering building in Rain Shinobi Village, the figure of Pain (Tendo Path) stood silently, gazing over the battlefield.
"They've arrived," he said calmly. "It's time they feel what real pain is."
Through his Yahiko-controlled Tendo Path, Nagato already knew everything. He had been monitoring the coalition forces through the Yuhu Zizai Technique, allowing him to stay one step ahead. But there was no fear in his expression.
"Konan," he said, turning slightly. "Tell Sasori it's time to move. Delay them as much as possible. I need time to gather enough chakra."
Konan nodded and vanished like a whisper.
Nagato's face was still calm, but his heart carried a storm. He wouldn't abandon Rain Shinobi—not yet. He knew he might lose this battle, but he wanted to make sure the five great villages would pay.
Even if he fell, he would ensure that his pain would echo across all their nations. This wasn't just a military battle. It was a message.
Rain Village would burn—but so would their hope.
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