Immediately, Ryou rode out on Nekomata and shouted to the Allied Forces across the great river, "Monkey—"
The Third Hokage took a step forward and asked, "What do you want?"
Ryou calculated, "Right now we're at one win and one loss, so neither side is at a disadvantage. This third match will be the tiebreaker."
"The winner will control everything belonging to the loser."
"However, my cats are hungry. It's dinner time, so we'll fight after we eat!"
Ryou had his feline subordinates hang up a flag of truce to tell the other side to pause the war for now.
Then he called upon the cat army to start making cat food!
"..."
The Shinobi Allied Forces were stunned for several seconds, not knowing what to say.
The other side had actually started building fires to make cat food; they truly didn't take them seriously at all.
Itachi asked Shisui, "Is this what the cruel battlefield is like?"
Shisui shook his head. "No, it isn't. A Shinobi war isn't usually two armies facing off like this; our battles are hidden in the darkness."
"We peer from the silence for flaws, and once the opportunity arises, we strike like a venomous snake leaving its hole or an owl pouncing on its prey—a single lethal blow."
Yashiro crossed his arms and said to Itachi, "Be grateful. This is the most ridiculous war I've ever seen, and also the luckiest."
"Neither side wants to fight; it all depends on the attitude of the higher-ups."
The Third Hokage lowered his pipe. Shikaku at the command center was still agonizing over how to find an opportunity to infiltrate the Land of Rain.
And here was the opportunity!
While the other side was busy eating, the Third Hokage could lead the elite Shinobi to slip into the Land of Rain.
Shikaku had already told the Third Hokage to seize the chance.
The Third Hokage instructed, "Since the other side is eating, let's start fires and cook as well! Let the men fill their bellies."
"If we can avoid fighting, we will. This group of ours didn't gather to throw our lives away in a head-on clash, but to band together and deter the enemy."
It was now the end of the Third Great Shinobi War, and anti-war sentiment in the Five Great Nations was high. Each Village was in a period of recuperation.
If war could be avoided, it should be. If the power of elite Shinobi could resolve things, they tried not to involve ordinary Shinobi.
Soon, the Shinobi Allied Forces also began building fires to cook alongside the Shinobi Cats army opposite them.
Meanwhile, the Third Hokage secretly led the elite Shinobi on a detour to infiltrate the Land of Rain.
Minato, Jiraiya, Fukasaku, Shima, Kakuzu, Hiruko, Yuhi Shinku, Hizashi...
Shinobi with Kage-level stats or Elite Jonin all followed the Third Hokage's lead.
Before leaving, the Third Hokage held Mifune's hand. "Lord Mifune, the enemy wouldn't be so reckless as to think they could stop our Shinobi Allied Forces with just a bunch of cats."
"They must have a trump card."
"Lord Mifune, you must be careful!"
Mifune nodded. "Rest assured. If anything happens, I will lead the Allied Forces in a retreat."
The Third Hokage nodded. "Then I'll leave it to you!"
The Third Hokage then took one last look at the Konoha section of the Allied Forces.
He saw Asuma, Ebisu, Guy, Kurenai, Yūgao, Hayate, Raido Namiashi, Aoba Yamashiro... the new generation.
The Third Hokage took one last puff of smoke. He didn't know if he would be able to return from this mission.
But—he had to go.
The Third Hokage extinguished his pipe and then activated the Body Flicker technique, leading Jiraiya and the others into the Land of Rain.
Mifune and Duy watched the Third Hokage and the other elites depart, then shouldered the responsibility of leading the Allied Forces.
Mifune said to Duy, "Duy, I've heard of your great name. You are a pure Taijutsu Shinobi who once defeated the Seven Shinobi Swordsmen of the Mist single-handedly."
The Land of Iron was not a closed-off country; the samurai were also advancing with the times and keeping pace with the Shinobi.
Mifune had heard that Konoha had a pure Taijutsu Shinobi who was a Genin his entire life, but finally erupted with sheer power, single-handedly crippling the roster of Kirigakure's Seven Shinobi Swordsmen during the Third War.
It was only a rumor, and he hadn't found out who it was specifically. Even the people in Konoha Village weren't very clear on it, let alone people from other nations.
It was only after the Shinobi Allied Forces were established that Mifune finally learned Duy's story.
Duy's story was like that of a samurai in a remote corner, silently lying low and gathering strength, quietly honing himself.
While people like Sakumo and the Sannin were shining brightly and showing their prowess, Duy endured the loneliness and silently accumulated his power.
Once the time was ripe, he became an overnight sensation, shocking everyone.
It was just a pity that such a person was wasted on Shinobi, who emphasized stealth.
If Duy were a man of the Land of Iron, Mifune would certainly have publicized Duy's story far and wide.
All the samurai of the Land of Iron would have to learn from Comrade Duy.
To maintain integrity and persistence, to silently gather strength without being flashy, and to wait for the moment of explosive growth.
"Lord Mifune, you flatter me!"
Duy rubbed his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.
Duy felt that being summoned from the Pure Land didn't tarnish his youth.
At least he had gained the recognition of many great figures.
A general of a nation like Mifune—Duy probably wouldn't have even been able to see his face during his lifetime.
He hadn't expected to receive such high praise from him.
Youth needs recognition; a word of affirmation, a shout of praise, can support the confidence of one's entire youth.
Duy was someone who lacked recognition.
Mifune patted Duy's shoulder. "No, you are a pure man. If you were still alive, I would definitely poach you to the Land of Iron and grant you the rank of General."
"And the White Fang—you are both pure men. The Shinobi philosophy is a bit extreme; you are more suited to the samurai's code of honor."
The Third Hokage had just left, and Mifune was already thinking about poaching people.
Mifune was full of auspicious words to coax the ghost, and Duy was full of embarrassment.
He actually wasn't that low-key or humble; if he could have passed the Chunin Exams, he would have been a Chunin long ago.
He could have taken higher-level missions and earned more money to support his family.
Mifune pointed to a bowl-cut head currently building a fire to cook. "Duy, that's your son Might Guy, isn't it?"
Duy looked back at Guy, who was treating cooking as training and had taken charge of the meals for over a hundred people, and nodded. "Yes, that's my son Guy. He has inherited my youth."
"I am fighting for his sake!"
Mifune nodded. "Duy, I can see it. Guy is also a pure Taijutsu Shinobi. I suggest he come to our Land of Iron to develop."
"I can take him as my disciple and make him a General of the Land of Iron in the future!"
Duy was somewhat overwhelmed by the favor. Mifune valuing Guy so much was recognition of the youth of both father and son.
In Konoha, Duy had always been looked down upon; not only was he a Genin, but he was also a pure Taijutsu Shinobi, and he only had a chance to show his worth at the moment of his death.
Looking at Guy now, although he had fortunately become a Chunin, looking at the people around him, they only treated Guy as a kappa with a bad brain, leaving all the cooking to him.
Duy could see that Guy's talent had not yet been recognized by the masses; in the eyes of others, he was still just a strangely dressed kappa.
Now that Guy was so highly regarded by Mifune and had the chance to inherit the position of General, how could Duy not be excited?
Although the Land of Iron was a small nation, it was considered a strong power among them.
To hold the military power of this country was undoubtedly a very glorious thing.
But Duy did not make the decision for Guy on his own. "That will depend on Guy's decision. He values the comrades around him very much; he is definitely not someone who would give up his bonds to pursue his own interests."
Mifune, seeing Guy's youthful exuberance and how he looked out for his comrades, knew that Guy was not someone who cared about personal glory.
He still insisted, "It doesn't matter. I promise that as long as Guy comes to the Land of Iron to develop, I will definitely give him a position that matches his abilities."
"Lord Mifune, I really don't know how to thank you!"
Duy knelt before Mifune in excitement, affirmed by Mifune's attitude of valuing and recognizing him and Guy.
Duy finally couldn't help but cry!
Duy felt that all his efforts were worth it.
Mifune quickly helped Duy up. "Duy, there's no need to degrade yourself like this. You are a greater father than I am!"