Compared to the outpost in the Land of Rivers, Konoha's base in the Land of Grass was much larger.
There were also more stationed shinobi here—around 2,000 in total.
Gekko Chizan wasn't surprised. After all, Iwagakure had deployed two Jinchūriki into the Land of Grass. Without sufficient reinforcements, it would be easy for Iwagakure to break through the front lines.
The commander here was Jiraiya.
After a year apart, Gekko Chizan met this white-haired old pervert once again.
"Yo, Jiraiya-sama, still as lively as ever."
Gekko Chizan handed over the supplies to the three brats to sort out, while he himself followed Minato to find his teacher.
"Hahaha, Chizan, you're here."
"These supplies really helped us out. Many comrades had completely run out of ninja tools. This batch of resupply will last us a while."
Indeed, this shipment contained ninja tools—shuriken, kunai, katana, and so on. All strategic materials.
"I just retreated from the Land of Rivers and got sent over to deliver this stuff."
"I'm dead tired."
Gekko Chizan exaggerated his exhaustion, causing Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato to burst out laughing.
"By the way, Chizan, is Kushina doing well?"
Minato suddenly asked, his tone a bit awkward.
Hearing this, Gekko Chizan chuckled inwardly. This little blondie—still thinking about his girlfriend even during war.
"She's doing great. Pakura keeps her smiling every day."
Hearing news of Kushina, Minato showed a faint smile, though it quickly faded into a more serious expression.
"What's with the face after hearing about your beloved?"
Jiraiya glanced at his student and explained for him:
"We ran into Iwagakure's two Jinchūriki."
"Sigh, the power of the Tailed Beasts is terrifying on the battlefield."
"The appearance of the Tailed Beast Bomb forced us to retreat."
Tailed Beast Bomb? Oh?
So Minato is already starting to prepare the Rasengan, huh.
But, hahaha, I beat him to it.
"Just a Jinchūriki. Minato, it's not like this is your first time seeing one. Remember when you chased me to the Land of Grass?"
"Tch, I've seen not just Iwa's Jinchūriki, but also those from Kumogakure."
"The Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki is a skilled swordsman named Killer Bee. If you run into him, be cautious."
"Though newly appointed, he can already use the power of the Eight-Tails."
Minato nodded and recalled that day's events.
"The power of the Tailed Beasts, sigh..."
Gekko Chizan knew that Minato wasn't sighing because of the enemy's strength—but because of the Nine-Tails sealed inside Kushina.
This guy... such a sentimental soul.
...
While the three chatted, two figures suddenly ran back from the front lines. They looked anxious and headed straight to Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya-sama! A large number of Iwagakure shinobi are entering the Land of Grass from the Land of Fields!"
Jiraiya's brow furrowed slightly upon hearing the report.
Entering the Land of Grass from the Land of Fields? That shouldn't be happening.
After all, Iwagakure and Kumogakure were currently engaged in intense combat with the Land of Fields.
"Chizan, you're the intel expert—what do you think?"
Gekko Chizan's mouth twitched.
"Jiraiya-sama, come on. Everyone knows the strongest intel expert in Konoha is you."
"But yeah, Iwagakure's movements are a little suspicious. They're abandoning their deployment in the Land of Fields to flood into the Land of Grass. It looks like they're going to attack us, but something feels off."
"Though the Four Great Nations usually target Konoha, Iwa, Suna, Kumo, and Kiri have their own tensions too."
"I suspect there's a trick to this."
Gekko Chizan narrowed his eyes slightly. From the intel he'd just received, he noticed something unusual.
Iwagakure was pulling back troops, seemingly preparing to launch an assault on Konoha—but as someone familiar with the flow of history, he knew better.
In the end, Iwagakure actually stabbed Kumogakure in the back—taking out none other than the Third Raikage.
Truly devious.
Still, if Iwagakure retreats now, Kumogakure will step in—toward the Land of Hot Water...
"Minato, Jiraiya-sama, interested in going to check it out?"
"After all, we need to get a clear grasp of Iwagakure's intentions."
Gekko Chizan smiled faintly. He was ready to stir up trouble again.
With Iwagakure retracting their lines, if they didn't act now, then when?
"I'm in. With the Flying Thunder God Technique, we're flexible. Jiraiya-sensei's strength is unquestionable too."
"Even if we run into a Tailed Beast, we can retreat safely."
Minato was the first to agree. After thinking it through, Jiraiya nodded in agreement with Chizan's plan.
Gekko Chizan then entrusted his subordinates to Inuzuka Gaku for care.
He, Minato, and Jiraiya made their way toward the border of the Land of Fields and the Land of Grass.
...
The Land of Grass wasn't that big. Besides, all three of them were experienced veterans.
It only took them half a day to reach the border.
Just as the intel team reported, a large number of Iwagakure shinobi were entering from the Land of Fields.
"Whoa, that's a lot of people."
Using his insect vision, Gekko Chizan observed the Iwagakure troops in the distance. He had to admit—there were a lot.
Jiraiya and Minato both wore serious expressions.
"Such a large-scale entry into the Land of Grass... Is Iwagakure planning a full-scale offensive?"
"If so, we don't have the manpower to withstand it."
"If Iwagakure launches a full-on assault, with our current forces, we might not last even a day."
Gekko Chizan didn't reply.
He was still using his insect vision to carefully scan the terrain.
"Chōmei, help me check—about 2,500 meters ahead, is there a big pit there?"
"Hmm? A pit? Looks like it. Why?"
"Chōmei, if I pump a huge amount of scale powder into that pit, then disperse it—will the powder's effect still hold?"
"It will. My scale powder only dissipates under extremely intense fire—has to be open flame."
Hearing Chōmei's answer, Gekko Chizan immediately formed a plan.
"Jiraiya-sama, Minato, I spotted a large pit up ahead."
"If I inject my toxins into it, then detonate on a large scale, the toxins will drift into the air—creating a blockade effect."
"That might buy us some time to call for reinforcements."
Gekko Chizan spoke with conviction.
He'd already made up his mind—no matter what, he was going to screw with Iwagakure a little.
Even if there weren't any named shinobi in the mix—numbers still mattered.
With the unique traits of the scale powder, he was confident he could take out over a thousand in one go!
If quality isn't enough—win by quantity!