Konoha handed over twenty percent of its grain supplies to Sunagakure that year, along with travel permits allowing the Sand Shinobi army to pass through the Land of Fire and continue on toward the Land of Water.
Upon returning to Sunagakure, under Rasa's orders, Aizen was appointed frontline commander of the Sand reinforcement forces supporting Terumi Mei.
By the time another thousand Sand Shinobi arrived at the borders of the Land of Water, half a month had already passed since Terumi Mei seized control of the rebel stronghold.
…
Aizen knew this was a war that could not be lost.
Obito had gathered all the members of the Akatsuki and was preparing to officially begin the tailed beast capture plan. Kirigakure was already in shambles because of him, and he could not afford another failure.
Still, appearances had to be maintained.
That night, in an abandoned village stronghold, firewood crackled in the hearth. Aizen oversaw the joint encampment, uniting the Sand Shinobi army with Terumi Mei's rebel forces so that both sides could grow familiar with each other.
Soon after, he gathered Pakura, Jinnarō, and other senior Sand Jōnin, along with Terumi Mei, Ao, and several rebel representatives, inside a dilapidated hut to discuss strategy.
"Lady Mizukage, now that our two armies have joined forces, how does our strength compare to Yagura's?" Pakura asked, standing beside Aizen.
Terumi Mei had anticipated the question. Without hesitation, she replied, "With Sunagakure's support, the difference in combat power is less than twenty percent. Because of Yagura's Blood Mist policies, many Mist shinobi abandoned the village years ago and now wander in exile across other nations."
Her expression hardened with resentment. "Once we reclaim Kirigakure, I will change everything."
"Then, please explain Yagura's current military deployments," Aizen said.
Ao unfurled a map of the Land of Water, brushing his finger over several marked locations.
"The Land of Water consists of countless small islands. Villagers typically rely on boats to travel between them, but shinobi familiar with the terrain can cross the sea directly." He tapped one particular island, situated before the largest island that housed Kirigakure itself.
"This island is the only passage to Kirigakure. Currently, it is guarded by the Ghost Lantern Clan, the strongest family in the Mist."
"Their leader is Mangetsu Hōzuki of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, right?" Jinnarō interjected. "I heard he's a prodigy, able to wield all seven blades."
Ao gave him a brief look before continuing. "Yes. The Ghost Lantern Clan's kekkei genkai allows them to liquefy their bodies and merge with water. The most skilled among them can even expand their bodies to monstrous sizes—like Konoha's Second Hokage once did. In aquatic environments, their power multiplies."
Pakura leaned forward. "What about the strength of Kirigakure itself compared to that island?"
"That is what's strange," Ao said, frowning. "Yagura commands roughly two thousand shinobi. Yet the majority are stationed on this guard island, while only a few hundred protect Kirigakure itself."
The Sand shinobi exchanged puzzled glances. Normally, the supreme leader would fortify his own position with the strongest defenses, while outlying forces acted as buffers. Yagura's arrangement was completely reversed.
Aizen silently pieced the truth together. This had to be Obito's doing. With only one Mangekyō eye, Obito would be straining his pupil power to control a Kage-level shinobi like Yagura. To avoid suspicion, he deployed most troops outward, masking the cracks in his control.
After all, his manipulation of Kirigakure was nothing short of disgraceful.
"In other words," Pakura murmured, "breaking through Mangetsu's defensive line is our most critical obstacle."
Aizen's eyes glinted. "Or… we strike at the head first. Slip past their defenses, enter Kirigakure directly, and eliminate Yagura."
The room fell silent. Terumi Mei stared at him in shock. "Aizen-kun… Ao just explained. To reach Kirigakure, you must pass through Mangetsu and his forces."
"What if we launch a large-scale assault on the guard island, drawing their attention, while Mizukage-sama and I infiltrate Kirigakure from the sky?" Aizen countered.
The proposal echoed a tactic yet to come: Deidara and Sasori's capture of Gaara. Sasori dismantled Sunagakure's defenses, while Deidara swooped down from above, seizing his target before retreating.
But unlike them, Aizen intended no retreat. Once Yagura was slain, the enemy ranks would fall into chaos, paving the way for total victory.
"Master Aizen, will just the two of you be enough?" Jinnarō asked uneasily. "Yagura is known as a perfect Jinchūriki. He can fully control the Three-Tails."
"Do not worry," Aizen said with a calm smile. "A tailed beast under forced control can never unleash its true might."
Just as Madara's Nine-Tails differed from the Nine-Tails that chose to fight alongside Naruto, the Three-Tails under Obito's Sharingan could not display its full potential.
In truth, Aizen almost hoped Yagura would fight with all his strength.
That would only accelerate the unlocking of his own power.