"It looks like the Sky Ninja have been fully absorbed into Sunagakure," Shikaku said, rubbing his temple faintly. "Let's hope the village produces its own research breakthroughs soon. Otherwise… this will become a persistent headache."
This wasn't an enemy seeking decisive victory.
This was an enemy content to harass—avoiding glory, avoiding risk, avoiding accountability.
Even for someone like Shikaku, finding a clean countermeasure against such tactics was troublesome.
Konoha had no mature aerial corps.
Yes, Roshi possessed Wind Release powerful enough to suppress airborne units—but he could not remain on constant high alert, ready to unleash large-scale techniques every few hours against sporadic harassment.
Roshi's gaze drifted across the canyon, toward the distant direction where Sunagakure's main force had withdrawn.
"We continue advancing," he said quietly. "Push the front line all the way to the Land of Wind border and stabilize it there."
"As long as we control the Land of Rivers' land routes and coastline completely—compress their operational space—their harassment capability will naturally diminish."
A senior jōnin nearby spoke up immediately.
"Roshi. Advancing to the Land of Wind border is feasible."
"But do not cross it."
"Sunagakure in the Land of Rivers and Sunagakure on their home soil are two entirely different beasts."
"The desert is their domain. Our mobility will be restricted. Supply lines will stretch thin and become vulnerable. A reckless push would be disastrous."
Roshi nodded calmly.
"I understand, Shikaku."
He paused.
"It's just… what comes next remains unclear."
"So far, we've only seen the Sky Ninja force."
"We still don't know what Rasa is waiting for."
Shikaku stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"The Sky Ninja themselves weren't weak," he said. "If your technique hadn't countered them so perfectly, our early losses would have been far heavier. This advance would not have unfolded so smoothly."
"Perhaps it isn't that Rasa's judgment is flawed…"
"Perhaps," he exhaled softly, "it's that the strength you've displayed has exceeded everyone's expectations."
"Including ours."
Roshi said nothing.
He only looked up once more, watching the black silhouettes circling high above.
There were still threads unresolved.
After a moment, he spoke again.
"When I was first dispatched to the Land of Rivers," he said quietly, "it wasn't to confront Sunagakure."
"It was to investigate abnormal material movements at the border outpost."
Shikaku's expression sharpened slightly.
"Even though Sunagakure's actions now seem to validate parts of what Danzo said… I still feel there's something else hidden behind this."
"That batch of materials is still unaccounted for."
"With the front line temporarily stabilized… this might be our best chance to resume that investigation."
Shikaku nodded slowly.
"That mission was assigned to you personally, wasn't it?"
"Yes."
"And now," Shikaku said, narrowing his eyes, "you're implying…"
Roshi met his gaze directly.
"Someone needs to remain here to anchor the front."
"In case Rasa attempts a counterstrike."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"I'll have to trouble you, Shikaku-san… to investigate the materials' whereabouts."
"Entering the Land of Rivers directly… how aggressive, Roshi."
That had been Tsunade's first thought when she received the report.
But she had already sent the order through Shikaku: Make your own judgment based on the situation.
If the Advisors wanted to complain now, they could complain to the wind.
The Fifth Hokage immediately began drafting contingency reinforcement plans.
Yet the reports that followed came so swiftly that even she was caught off guard.
"Direct confrontation with the Kazekage?"
"Forward camp successfully established?"
Well… that part wasn't entirely shocking. Roshi possessed Wood Release—and Sage Mode.
But what came next pushed beyond even her expectations.
"Konoha forces advancing steadily… Sunagakure struggling to resist… possible full withdrawal from the Land of Rivers?"
What exactly did that mean?
When she reached the latest report—clearly stating:
"Our forces have advanced to the Land of Wind border. Sunagakure's main units have contracted fully. Large-scale engagements within the Land of Rivers have effectively ceased."
—she finally exhaled.
The tension that had stretched across her nerves for days loosened all at once.
'We won.'
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
"Come in."
Koharu and Homura entered.
"Tsunade," Koharu began immediately, "any updates from the front?"
"Yes."
Tsunade slid the battle report across the desk.
"Sunagakure has withdrawn. Roshi and Shikaku now control the major transit routes through the Land of Rivers. Our defensive line extends to the Land of Wind border."
Homura adjusted his glasses thoughtfully.
"And what is your intention regarding Sunagakure from here? Continued pressure… or a more conciliatory posture?"
"How we deal with Sunagakure," Tsunade cut in calmly, "will depend on the comprehensive assessment report from the front."
She folded her hands beneath her chin, her tone sharpening.
"Right now, there's a more urgent issue."
"The Joint Chūnin Exams in November."
The room fell into immediate silence.
Koharu and Homura exchanged a glance. Neither could hide the gravity in their expressions.
In earlier years, this wouldn't have been complicated. If necessary, the Exams could be canceled—or converted into an internal village event.
After all, Konoha was a military power. The exam venue was outside the village core. Every large-scale event required significant manpower to ensure internal security.
In wartime, with forces stretched thin, cancellation would have been reasonable.
But things had changed.
In recent years, the Chūnin Exams had become entangled with massive capital flow.
A single spectator ticket cost tens of thousands. The newly constructed arena—capable of hosting tens of thousands—generated astronomical revenue from ticket sales alone.
By mid-September, every seat had sold out.
More importantly—
After Sunagakure moved into the Land of Rivers, Kumogakure had made its position clear:
As long as Konoha did not cancel, they would participate as scheduled.
That statement of "support" carried heavy implications—economic, diplomatic, and reputational.
"If we cancel," Koharu said slowly, "it will deal a severe blow to the Village's credibility."
She hesitated.
"The ticket revenue has already been incorporated into this year's fiscal projections. If we issue refunds…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
She didn't need to.
Homura continued in a measured tone.
"Sunagakure has withdrawn. Iwagakure still has forces stationed near the border, but according to Hiruzen's intelligence, Ōnoki currently shows no genuine intent to initiate hostilities."
He paused.
"The risk… may be manageable."
Tsunade leaned back slightly in her chair.
The war had been halted.
But the board was far from settled.
Canceling the Exams would project caution.
Proceeding would project strength.
And strength—In the current Ninja World—Was currency.
The two officials in charge of political affairs had already drafted this year's financial projections based on last year's revenue.
No one understood the village's fiscal reality better than they did.
Money was needed everywhere.
The Ninja Academy reforms were still underway. The expanded Genin training program required constant funding. And now, the technical analysis and defensive upgrades prompted by the Sky Ninja wreckage sent back from the front demanded even more resources.
The revenue from the upcoming event had already been written into the budget.
Allocated.
Spent—on paper, at least.
To refund it now?
Just imagining the deficit that would tear open in the books made their scalps prickle.
Even the two advisors—who normally leaned toward conservative caution—found themselves tipping the scale toward continuing the Exams.
Tsunade's thoughts, for once, aligned perfectly with theirs.
Such an enormous sum…
If she really had to return it—
Just thinking about it made her knuckles itch.
"First, open communication with Iwagakure," Tsunade decided. "Aren't they hosting some Western ninja conference?"
"If they want stability, they should show it."
She paused.
"Then send a letter to the front. Ask Roshi and Shikaku for their assessment."
Border of the Land of Rivers and the Land of Wind
Since Sunagakure had gained air capability, Konoha's defensive construction here had shifted priorities.
Air defense came first.
Ninja could dodge what fell from the sky.
Barracks could not.
Warehouses could not.
Fortifications certainly could not.
Even with barrier techniques in place, fixed structures were still passive targets.
Roshi was inspecting the interior of a newly carved mountain command post, checking the reinforcement pillars and airflow channels for stability, when a front-line sentry appeared in a flicker.
"Lord Roshi. Sunagakure has sent an envoy requesting talks."
Roshi brushed stone dust from his sleeve without looking up.
"Who?"
"The envoy claims to be Sunagakure's jōnin, Baki."
"Baki…"
Now he raised his eyes.
"I'll see him."
The meeting was arranged atop a barren mountain peak.
No table.
No chairs.
No shade.
Only harsh wind and open sky.
Konoha's guards were scattered in deliberate formation, visible enough to signal control, distant enough to avoid provocation.
Baki had just opened his mouth—
When Roshi cut him off.
"Let's skip the pleasantries."
His tone was flat. Direct.
"Whatever pretext you've prepared—Land of Rivers' Daimyō's request, defensive posture, mutual misunderstanding…"
"Drop it."
"Say something useful."
The wind whipped Baki's robes.
"What price," Roshi continued, "does Sunagakure intend to pay for breaking its alliance?"
The question landed like a blade.
Baki's rehearsed rhetoric suddenly felt hollow.
After several seconds of silence, he forced out a response.
"Sunagakure did not invade the Land of Fire."
Roshi replied immediately.
"Konoha's forces are also currently stationed outside the Land of Wind's border."
The implication was unmistakable.
We can cross.
We simply haven't.
Baki inhaled sharply, cold air burning his lungs.
"Roshi-san… peace benefits both sides."
"A fickle ally benefits no one."
Roshi's expression did not soften in the slightest.
"In the past few years, regardless of fluctuations in aid terms, Konoha never allowed Sunagakure to walk away empty-handed."
"That is a fact."
"Sunagakure acknowledges this, does it not?"
Baki pressed his lips together.
All the arguments he had prepared on the journey here—economic interdependence, shared enemies, geopolitical caution—felt weightless before the man who had personally crushed Sunagakure's advance.
This was not someone who could be persuaded with wordplay.
"Make peace today. Betray tomorrow. Reconcile the day after. Abandon it again when convenient…"
Roshi shook his head slowly.
"If Sunagakure seeks peace merely to buy time before its next betrayal, then there is no point continuing this conversation."
His gaze sharpened.
"Unless you bring a guarantee strong enough to bind the alliance—"
"Do not waste another word."
The mountain wind roared between them.
"Return," Roshi said coldly. "Discuss it thoroughly with Advisor Ebizō and the others."
Then, his final sentence struck like a hammer.
"Or do you truly believe Konoha is unaware of what you are preparing?"
Silence followed.
And for the first time since arriving—Baki felt the weight of being the weaker side.
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