"Report!!"
A shrill, panic-stricken voice suddenly rang out from Sunagakure's position.
The Suna shinobi resting nearby all jolted in alarm, their faces turning pale.
"Report to Lady Chiyo!"
The figure stumbled straight into headquarters.
The moment he crossed the entrance, his right heel caught against his left foot in his panic, and he crashed hard onto the floor.
Seeing him in such a flustered state, everyone in the command center felt their nerves tighten.
"Why are you panicking?!"
"The little morale we managed to build up with such difficulty is being shattered by your shouting!"
Already in a terrible mood, Chiyo saw the sensing ninja in such a state and immediately barked at him in fury.
"Chiyo-sama…"
The sensing ninja scrambled back to his feet. After being shouted at, he froze for a moment.
But his body was still trembling as he forced the words out.
"Konoha… Konoha is making its move again…"
"What?!"
"They're moving again?"
"Could it be Konoha already saw through our plan?"
"What do we do now?!"
The Suna jōnin, who had already been on edge, instantly fell into renewed panic the moment they heard the report.
Everyone had known Konoha would make a move sooner or later.
But when that moment finally came, they still couldn't suppress the fear rising in their hearts.
"Quiet! Have you no shame?!"
"You are captains! Commanders! If you lose your heads like this, what do you expect the shinobi below you to think?!"
Seeing so many members of the command center panicking like this, Chiyo roared again in anger.
At a time like this, the army's morale was already dangerously unstable.
If even the high-ranking commanders became this shaken and discouraged…
Then there was no point remaining here and talking about a counterattack.
Because with the command staff already in such a state, there was no way Sunagakure would be able to stop Konoha.
"…"
Chiyo's furious rebuke made the gathered jōnin lower their heads in shame.
For a moment, silence filled the headquarters.
Then Rasa slowly rose to his feet.
"At a time like this, we have no road left to retreat to."
"Since we're already standing here, trembling and despairing will change nothing."
"If we are prepared to die, why can't we stop Konoha?"
"Or are you all truly afraid of death?"
Although Rasa's complexion was still pale, his voice rang out loud and clear.
He had even resorted to provocation.
That alone showed just how disappointed he was in the performance of those around him.
"Yes!"
"Are you really going to stand by and watch Konoha's shinobi invade the Land of Wind?"
"Are you going to let them slaughter our people? Our comrades?!"
Pakura also stepped forward at that moment, her voice filled with anger.
At this point, her strength had yet to reach the Kage level she would one day be associated with, but there was no doubt that she was still among the strongest people in this headquarters.
"Hah… then let's fight Konoha!"
"If death is all that awaits us, then so be it!"
"We're shinobi! Since when have we feared death?!"
Seeing the three strongest figures all stand together, the command center fell silent for a brief moment.
Then, one by one, others began to step forward as well, gritting their teeth and raising their voices.
As more and more people spoke up, the panic that had gripped headquarters slowly began to heat into resolve.
Watching this, Chiyo finally let out a quiet breath of relief.
At the same time, she inwardly praised Rasa and Pakura for how they had handled the situation.
The current Sunagakure needed people like them more than ever.
People who could steady others. People who could lead.
If the two of them had not stepped forward just now and shaken everyone awake—
Then even if she herself could still force the situation under control, the army's spirit would never have recovered.
"Good!"
"You are all shinobi of Sunagakure!"
Only after everyone had voiced their determination did Chiyo speak again, firmly suppressing the swelling emotions in the room.
After that, she wasted no more words and directly ordered the meeting adjourned so preparations could begin at once.
The jōnin commanders left headquarters and quickly scattered to carry out their duties.
Before long, Sunagakure's forces began gathering toward the center.
Roughly ten minutes later, the Suna army had fully assembled.
The moment they heard Konoha was advancing again, a heavy pressure settled over every heart.
Even though it was broad daylight and the sky above was clear—
To the Suna shinobi, it felt as if dark clouds were already rolling in from the direction of the Land of Fire.
A suffocating atmosphere hung over the entire army.
"Konoha is making its move again!!"
Just as the gathered Suna forces were drowning in that oppressive silence, Chiyo's voice suddenly rang out like thunder.
Everyone instinctively looked up toward the source of the sound.
There stood Commander Chiyo-sama, elevated high above them on a platform of sand.
"Konoha is advancing again!!"
"Their strength is indeed formidable!!"
"But tell me this—"
"Are you willing to watch them cross the border and trample your homeland?!"
"Are you willing to watch them invade the Land of Wind and harm your people?!"
"Think of the Land of Wind!!"
"Think of the families and loved ones waiting for your protection!!"
"Answer me clearly—are you willing to accept that?!" (PS: Bruh... Hypocrites)
Though it was Sunagakure that had provoked this war, though they were the aggressors—
At a moment like this, Chiyo could no longer afford to care about such things.
If twisting black into white could rekindle what little fighting spirit remained, then so be it.
Her words came one after another, fierce and forceful, carrying across the battlefield like a storm.
Every single Suna shinobi heard them.
And under her voice, the suffocating heaviness in their hearts slowly began to transform into anger.
"No!!"
"Never!!"
"We'll defend the Land of Wind!"
"We'll stop Konoha!!"
One voice rose first.
Then another.
And another.
In an instant, it became a chain reaction.
The oppressive atmosphere that had blanketed the army was swept away.
The gloom in their hearts was replaced by fury—fury at the thought of resisting Konoha to the very end.
"Good! That's the spirit!"
"You are all shinobi who protect your homeland!"
"I give you my solemn word here and now—"
"If any one of you falls in battle, the village will never abandon your family!"
Seeing the fighting spirit of the Suna army reignite, Chiyo nodded in satisfaction.
And to make sure they would not break in terror once battle truly began, she gave them that promise without hesitation.
Because only by removing the fear of what would happen after their deaths—
Could they truly fight without holding anything back against a powerful enemy.
PS: Imagine Granny Chiyo in a Wedding Dress smiling at you.
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