"Are you trying to joke with me?" Tsunade shot up from her seat, slamming both hands onto her desk.
The heart that usually remained calm during matters of the village now pounded violently at the shocking news she had just received.
This news was about the war's development and had occurred practically at Konoha's doorstep.
"Attacking the village? How is that possible! We have deployed a large number of scouts along our borders in the Land of Fire!"
They should have been notified immediately. If any suspicious activity arose, carrier birds would promptly deliver messages, catching the enemy off guard and making them pay dearly for their mistake.
Yet this time, the information came from a much more secretive division within Konoha—one Tsunade could proudly claim didn't exist.
"Lady Hokage, I swear upon my life that this is true. Our intelligence agents witnessed it firsthand," Sai said, kneeling on one knee and bowing before Tsunade. "The prison—where else could serve better as an enemy base? And it's close enough to Konoha to launch sudden attacks here. According to the intel we received, we have about eighteen hours remaining. Considering the time it took him to send me the message and for me to return here, we only have eighteen hours left."
By then, they would face a group of gray creatures—if the intelligence was accurate—creatures that looked like hybrids of plants and humans.
But members of Root weren't easily fooled by Genjutsu. Therefore, if they said those creatures were the enemy, then that's what they'd be facing.
Thankfully, they still had a guarding force.
Though most of Konoha's ninja had been dispatched to various battlefields, this didn't mean Konoha itself had become defenseless. Still, this would be a difficult fight.
If they had more time to prepare, they'd stand a better chance of securing victory.
"I wish we'd gotten this intel sooner," Tsunade complained, stepping out from behind her desk, her wooden sandals tapping sharply on the floor. "But eighteen hours is better than three or having no preparation time at all. Good work, Sai."
"Yes, Lady Hokage," Sai replied, rising back to his feet. "What should we do next?"
The escaped prisoners would scatter throughout the Land of Fire, but that was just a distraction.
If Konoha found out about the breakout, they'd send forces to chase the fugitives, walking right into the enemy's trap—if not for Root uncovering their plans in time.
They needed to risk sending out one or two Anbu squads pretending to perform pursuit missions. These units could later infiltrate behind enemy lines once the battle started and conduct sabotage missions.
There were several options, though each came with its own pros and cons.
They could gather their forces on the plains between Konoha and the prison and meet the enemy head-on in [Fight] to the Death. However, if they lost the fight and retreated, it could turn into a full rout, leaving Konoha vulnerable to attack.
They could also attempt a direct assault on the prison, catching the enemy off guard. However, under such rushed circumstances, gathering an assault force primarily made up of Chunin and Genin, supported by only a handful of Jonin, would be tantamount to suicide. Besides, as previously mentioned, Konoha's high-security prison was itself akin to an unassailable fortress.
Thus, there was only one choice left—and that was defense.
Now, Konoha's defenses were stronger than ever because they faced the threat of invasion.
Even though the number of ninjas in the village had decreased, they still had strong fortifications and emergency plans in place to handle invasions of any scale.
Considering the potential destruction the enemy might cause, defending Konoha was likely the best way to address this problem. Buildings could be rebuilt, but protecting lives was the top priority.
No matter whether or not the enemy managed to break through Konoha's defenses, the villagers would be safely evacuated. That wasn't an issue.
The real question was—who or what had unleashed this mysterious power? And how had they managed to sneak into the Land of Fire without being detected?
But right now, did those things really even matter?
"A man wearing a mask with a spiral pattern covering his entire face walked into the prison," Sai said, frowning. "He showed no concern whatsoever about facing retaliation. I'm certain he's the same person we saw after Naruto-senpai defeated Sasuke and Itachi—he was the one who took their bodies away."
Naruto Uzumaki's Shadow Clone had previously warned Tsunade to watch out for Madara Uchiha while Naruto was returning to Konoha after defeating Jiraiya during his mission in Amegakure.
"I don't like this," Tsunade said. "Tell me, how many members of Root are currently inside the village?"
"Most of us. More than two-thirds."
He refrained from providing exact numbers to Tsunade. "We've dispatched several squads to the front lines for special missions."
Maki was already braced for the impending battle. Root needed to be the most battle-ready faction of all.
"Very well." They couldn't possibly return from the front lines within eighteen hours, and doing so would merely let them witness Konoha's destruction with their own eyes. Therefore, Tsunade had no choice but to make full use of the forces she already had. "We need them. Do you know Konoha's defensive plan?"
"Yes."
Of course they did. Naruto was the most important person in their hearts, and he had personally participated in formulating Konoha's defensive strategy. So if there was anyone who understood Konoha's defense better than others, it was definitely them—Root.
"We know what needs to be done."
******
He didn't need sleep, nor did he require any kind of rest. He had already rested sufficiently during his voyage back across the sea.
After the naval battle with Sasuke's former subordinates, Naruto parted ways with B, leaving those hapless Kumogakure ninjas to endure the long return trip to the Land of Lightning—and abandoning the hip-hop-obsessed Jinchuriki as well.
What a shame for those poor souls.
In any case, it was time for him to return to the village, take some proper rest, and ready himself for the next mission. The battlefield might still await him—but which one?
In the northeastern battlefield, the deadlock with Iwagakure has finally been broken, and the allied forces of Konoha and Kumogakure are advancing steadily.
In the northwestern battlefield, Konoha ninja are locked in fierce combat within the dense forest under Grass Country's control. Ever since the mysterious withdrawal of the ninja from Waterfall Country, Grass Country's defeat has been inevitable.
The western front remains eerily quiet. After the naval blockade was lifted, once Kiri confirms the sea routes are secure, they will rejoin the fight and march toward the mainland again.
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