The command tent sat at the very center of the Konoha camp. Four high-ranking figures entered while their escorts waited outside.
Inside, the long table was already prepared. Orochimaru claimed the main seat in the center. To his left sat Uchiha Gen. On the right, Baki took her, while Pakura sat just beside him.
A Konoha Chūnin soon entered with a tray, setting down steaming cups of tea for each guest in the order of their seats before quietly excusing himself.
"Lord Orochimaru, what's the current situation?" Baki asked respectfully, his back straight and his tone cautious.
He had little choice. Compared to Pakura, his own strength was far inferior. If not for betting early on Rasa and earning the Fourth Kazekage's trust, he never would have become commander.
In front of someone like Orochimaru, an ally who could end him with a flicker of killing intent, Baki had to keep his respect sharp. Even during the Konoha Crush years later, he hadn't dared to posture arrogantly before this man.
Orochimaru lifted his teacup, speaking in his usual detached drawl.
"Iwagakure's reinforcements have already arrived. The chance for a decisive battle has slipped away."
Baki grimaced. "A pity… Our forces were delayed. We ran into Kusagakure ninja, Rain shinobi, and all kinds of mercenary groups along the way. It slowed us down."
Orochimaru gave a single disinterested hum.
Relief flickered through Baki's eyes, at least Orochimaru wasn't placing the blame on him. He quickly composed himself and asked, "Then… how should we proceed with the battle?"
With a faint, crooked smile, Orochimaru posed the question in return:
"Is Sunagakure willing to throw itself to the death alongside Konoha against the Iwa–Kusa alliance?"
Baki's face stiffened. He forced a laugh. "Lord Orochimaru, isn't that… too extreme? Without the right opportunity, fighting to the death guarantees heavy losses even if we win. And if we lose, it would be nothing but ruin."
Orochimaru's expression didn't change. His tone was cold, flat. "Then what else is there to say? We can only rely on conventional tactics."
Conventional tactics meant testing the waters with probes, trading attrition, slowly stacking small advantages until the time came to gamble everything on a decisive push. More often than not, this approach collapsed into a draining war of endurance, unless one side's leadership vastly outclassed the other.
Sensing the tension building, Gen crossed his arms and interjected with a light smile.
"Sensei, Lord Baki does have a point. Caution has its merits, it's better to remain steady."
Baki glanced at Gen with open gratitude.
Pakura added her voice, calm and clear. "Lord Orochimaru, it isn't that Sunagakure is unwilling to commit fully. But many of the shinobi supporting your army are new to the battlefield. They need time to adapt to its brutality. If we force a high-intensity decisive clash immediately, they may falter and drag everyone down."
"Enough," Orochimaru cut in. "We'll proceed with conventional tactics."
His golden eyes narrowed slightly. "Now… let's discuss coordination."
That subject alone unraveled into a web of issues.
The first, distinguishing friend from foe. With Transformation Techniques so widespread and interrogation skills varied, most shinobi lacked the ability to pierce disguises. Misidentification on a chaotic battlefield could turn lethal.
Then came logistics. Sunagakure's mobilization had been hasty; their supply lines weren't established at all. Konoha would have to shoulder the burden.
But Sunagakure's options had always been limited. The most direct route ran through the Land of Rain, a path fraught with hostile Rain ninja, opportunistic mercenaries, and the constant threat of flanking from Iwa and Kusa. A safer line would need to detour deep through the Land of Fire before cutting back into Grass, wasting time they didn't have.
Thus, Konoha who is wealthier and more resourceful shouldered Sunagakure's supplies.
Even so, they weren't about to hand over weapons. The support extended only to daily necessities such as food, tents, and bandages. Kunai, shuriken, and explosive tags, those Sunagakure would need to provide for themselves.
The talks stretched on for over an hour. By the time consensus was reached, the sun was high overhead, and Orochimaru ordered a meal to be brought out.
When Baki and Pakura saw the spread laid before them, their eyes widened.
Could this really be standard camp food? It looked like a banquet.
Twelve dishes in total: six meats—chicken, duck, fish, beef, lamb, pork—three seasonal vegetables, two tofu-based plates, and a steaming soup. Each one fragrant, rich, and mouthwatering.
In this world, meat was hardly cheap. Even shinobi, with their relatively high pay, couldn't eat it daily. Konoha might be the wealthiest of the Five Great Villages, but this level of luxury still shocked them.
For Sunagakure, poorest of them all, it was unthinkable.
Seeing their stunned expressions, Gen chuckled.
"Sensei and I have our meals prepared separately. Don't get the wrong idea, we cover the costs ourselves."
He rubbed his cheek sheepishly. "Normally, it's just five dishes and one soup. We splurged today to treat our guests."
"Five dishes and one soup…" Baki and Pakura exchanged a glance, remembering the sparse meals waiting for them back home. Even during peacetime, that kind of spread was rare. On campaign, it was laughably impossible. Their throats tightened with emotion.
"Please," Gen urged warmly, "dig in."
"Then… we won't stand on ceremony," Baki said, Pakura echoing him almost at the same time.
Though they tried to maintain their dignity as Hidden Sand shinobi, their chopsticks moved quickly. Hunger and delight shone plainly in their eyes.
By the end, not a trace of the twelve dishes remained. Both were full to bursting.
With the formalities complete and their stomachs satisfied, Baki and Pakura made their farewells.
That day, the Konoha–Sunagakure alliance refrained from a major offensive, holding their defenses steady.
The following morning, they launched only probing skirmishes. Iwa and Kusa responded in kind, and clashes erupted across the grassy plains, small in scale but steadily escalating.
These skirmishes didn't warrant the presence of commanders; even most jōnin remained in reserve.
Meanwhile, Iwagakure's envoy to Hidden Mist was still far from his destination. Even moving at shinobi pace, the journey would take seven days. Negotiations would follow, then the time required to march Mist's forces and establish supply lines. Half a month at the very least.
Geography made it no simpler; the Land of Wind and Land of Water lay at opposite ends of the continent, split by the Whirlpools, the Tea Country, and vast ocean. To launch an invasion without meticulous preparation was unthinkable.
And yet, with Uchiha Obito manipulating from the shadows, Mist's involvement was all but guaranteed. The Elder Council might resist, but unlike Obito, they cared for the village's stability. He, on the other hand, wished for its collapse. He would push them, concession by concession, until Mist drowned under the weight of his schemes.
Back in Grass, Gen carried on as usual. Even with Sunagakure present, his routine didn't change. He still slipped away to Gangmen Town, the most prosperous settlement in the Land of Grass.
First, the famous hot springs. Then, the finest restaurant.
Life, even in war, had its small luxuries.