It took eight days of forced marching for the Second Hokage to lead his eight hundred shinobi to the border of the Land of Rain. Upon arrival, Tobirama ordered the troops to rest while he received an urgent report from an Anbu operative arriving from the front lines.
The operative knelt, breathing heavily. "Lord Hokage, the latest report: three days ago, the Sand conquered Crag Peak and the North Supply Fort in a single night. The Hidden Stone has completely withdrawn from the Land of Rain. Our five hundred vanguard troops are currently besieged at the temporary Leaf fortress, awaiting immediate extraction."
Tobirama's eyes narrowed. "The Stone is half-hearted because their Tsuchikage is focused on the Cloud-Mist alliance in the Land of Hot Water. But for a thousand Stone ninja to be routed in a single night... how?"
"Reports say the Sand deployed a puppet brigade of over a thousand units to Crag Peak," the operative replied. "As for the North Fort, it was single-handedly dismantled by a female puppeteer from the Sand."
Tobirama raised an eyebrow. "A female hero in the Sand? It seems they aren't all fools. Return to Sarutobi immediately. Tell him to hold for three days. When the first light of the third day touches the horizon, he is to lead a total breakout. I will coordinate with him for a decapitation strike on the Kazekage."
Once the messenger departed, Tobirama summoned a specialized Anbu. "You must reach the retreating Stone commander within twenty-four hours. Tell him that if he turns his forces back to retake Crag Peak and the North Fort, Konoha will slash the Land of Earth's annual tribute to the Land of Fire by fifty percent. But they must succeed within three days. Tell him I have the Daimyo's full authorization for this decree."
At the Stone's retreat camp, a high-ranking Jonin stared at the Leaf operative. "You're saying if we retake those forts, we no longer have to support the Leaf's offensive, and our national tribute is halved?"
"Lord Tobirama does not lie," the Anbu stated firmly. "He has the authority of the Daimyo himself."
The Stone commander remained silent for several minutes before nodding. "Very well. We will retake the forts within three days."
In the Sand's forward base, the Second Kazekage looked at the scout. "You're saying the Stone ninja have turned back and are attacking our positions like madmen?"
"Yes, Lord Kazekage. Nearly a thousand of them are assaulting Chiyo's positions. Our walls weren't built to withstand such a concentrated Earth Style siege. Lady Chiyo is requesting immediate reinforcements."
Ebizō turned to the Kazekage. "It seems the Second Hokage has arrived."
"What does the Stone's attack have to do with the Leaf?" the Kazekage asked.
"The Stone had no interest in this war," Ebizō explained. "They were only here as a formality. For them to fight with such desperation means the Leaf offered them a massive incentive. Lord Kazekage, we must ignore the forts for now and launch a total assault on the besieged Leaf garrison. If we wipe them out now, we can face the Hokage's reinforcements with our full strength. My sister is strong; she must hold the fort while we finish the Leaf."
The Kazekage shook his head. "No, we cannot lose Chiyo. We have the numerical advantage. Send one thousand shinobi to reinforce the forts immediately. We will crush the Leaf garrison tomorrow morning."
Ebizō pressed him. "We should strike now, my Lord! Delay brings disaster!"
"Nonsense," the Kazekage laughed. "The Leaf ninja are fish in a barrel. They aren't going anywhere."
Back at the Leaf camp, Aki stood beside Tobirama in the silent, rainy woods. "Lord Hokage, is a decapitation strike not too risky? We are outnumbered, and the Kazekage is no weakling. If we are surrounded, we're finished."
Tobirama offered a rare, grim smile. "Do not worry. I know the Kazekage's limits. If I want him dead, no one can stand in my way. Hiruzen's breakout and my vanguard will act as twin blades piercing their camp, distracting the bulk of their forces. That gives me the window I need to take the Kazekage's head. Once the leader falls, the war ends. We need to settle this quickly so we can turn our eyes to the Cloud and the Mist."
"Why the Cloud and Mist?" Aki asked.
"They are fighting the Stone and Waterfall now," Tobirama explained. "But eventually, a winner will emerge. My intuition says the Cloud-Mist alliance will prevail. Since the Mist is already fighting our allies in the Land of Whirlpools, the Cloud will inevitably turn on us next. We must force the Sand to a peace treaty now so we have the strength to face the real threat later."
Tobirama patted Aki's shoulder. "Go to sleep. Tomorrow won't be a mission or a training exercise. It will be war—cruel and absolute."
Aki sat in his tent, listening to the rain. Eight years old and headed into a meat grinder, he thought. In my last life, kids this age were playing with blocks. Here, we're the blocks the kings move on the board.
As the first light of dawn broke, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood atop the fortress walls. "I will lead the charge with seventy Jonin. The rest of you, clear the path behind us. Do not die today!"
He bit his thumb and slammed his hand down. "Summoning: Enma!"
The Monkey King transformed into the Adamantine Staff. Hiruzen leaped from the wall, followed by a swarm of Konoha's finest. The Sand sentries barely had time to ring the alarm bells before the black staff swept through their front lines like a scythe.
Simultaneously, Tobirama's force moved through the woods. "Attack from the flank!" he commanded his main force. "I will take a ten-man squad to infiltrate the command tent."
Tobirama led Aki and nine Anbu through the shadows. Reaching the edge of the Sand camp, he placed a hand on the ground, closing his eyes to sense the Kazekage's chakra signature. "Follow me. Stay close."
He leaped into the heart of the camp and clapped his hands together.
"Bringer-of-Darkness Jutsu!"
A void of absolute pitch-blackness swallowed the camp for hundreds of meters. Within the darkness, Aki and the Anbu became ghosts. Guided by the Hokage's sensory abilities, they began a silent, one-sided slaughter of the blinded Sand shinobi, carving a path toward the Kazekage's throat.