Genji was absolutely certain of the Sunagakure army's position.
There was no way it could suddenly appear at the flank of Kirigakure's forces.
"Are they really Sunagakure shinobi?"
"Yes."
Genji's face darkened.
"Then there is only one explanation."
"Sunagakure forcibly drew more shinobi from the village, formed a second shinobi army, and launched a surprise attack against us."
He gave a cold snort.
"So Rasa really does have some courage."
"But he's still a fool."
"Does he think we can't figure this out?"
"Forcibly drawing shinobi from the village to launch a surprise attack may indeed deal our army some damage…"
"But what state is Sunagakure itself in now?"
"If I dispatch a shinobi force straight to Sunagakure, how will he answer that?"
Genji gave the order immediately.
"Stabilize the situation."
"Recall Jinpachi Munashi and the others."
"Yes, Genji-sama."
As Genji's order went out, Jinpachi and the others rushed back at the fastest speed possible.
"Genji-sama?"
Jinpachi Munashi was somewhat displeased.
The elite force he led had already approached the Sunagakure army. Given just a little more time, they could have struck and inflicted heavy losses—at least dozens dead.
And yet they had been recalled before even making a move.
Worse still, it had been an urgent order.
If not for Genji's immense seniority and authority in Kirigakure, Jinpachi might have started wondering whether he was another Fuguki Suikazan.
Genji said, "Rasa forcibly pulled shinobi from Sunagakure and formed a second army to launch a surprise attack against us. That is why I recalled you."
Jinpachi frowned.
"Genji-sama, even so, there was no need to call all of us back, was there?"
"Can our Kirigakure army really not handle some hastily assembled Sunagakure forces?"
Genji looked at him.
"If this were only about dealing with the Sunagakure army, then no—you wouldn't be needed."
"The real reason I called you back is because I saw an opportunity."
"A very good opportunity."
"Rasa is too aggressive."
"He thought Fuguki Suikazan's defection had dealt our army a devastating blow, so he took the chance to forcibly draw shinobi and attack us."
"But he underestimates us."
"So what if there are two Sunagakure armies?"
"Our Kirigakure army can still hold."
"And if he has truly drawn out that many shinobi, then what must Sunagakure itself look like now?"
"Its defenses must be hollow."
"For us, that is an excellent opportunity."
At that, Jinpachi's eyes lit up as well.
"So your elite force's target will change."
"Our main army here can hold."
"I need you to bring additional manpower and then head for Sunagakure at top speed."
"Strike the village."
"Kill until the sky turns upside down."
"If possible, kill Rasa in public."
"Without its Kazekage, Sunagakure will once again become a headless swarm of flies."
"Just as it did after the Third Kazekage disappeared."
"Victory for Kirigakure will then be within reach."
The four looked at one another.
"Genji-sama, we guarantee the mission will be completed!"
The next instant, the four turned and left.
An elite force of several hundred sped toward Sunagakure at once.
At the exact moment the second Sunagakure army launched its surprise attack against Kirigakure, the news also reached Pakura.
Without the slightest hesitation, Pakura immediately led the first Sunagakure army into action as well.
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
The two Sunagakure armies attacked Kirigakure from two different directions with fierce momentum.
That immediately pushed Kirigakure—already missing a large number of elite shinobi—into a disadvantageous position.
Sunagakure completely suppressed them.
Every Sunagakure shinobi grew excited.
Because after such a long war, this was the first time.
Whether against Iwagakure before, or Konoha—
They had never enjoyed such dominance.
"So this is what it feels like to have the advantage. It's incredible."
"We're completely pressing them down."
"They're angry, but there's nothing they can do."
"I think I finally understand why some people get addicted to war."
"Now I'm getting addicted too."
The fighting spirit of Sunagakure's shinobi burned fiercely.
After finally turning the tables, they wanted nothing more than to vent every bit of frustration they had been forced to swallow before.
By contrast, Kirigakure's shinobi felt miserable to the extreme.
"What is going on?"
"Since when did Sunagakure shinobi get this fierce? Why are there so many of them?"
"Where are Jinpachi-sama and the others? Why haven't they come yet?"
"Did they run first?"
The ordinary Kirigakure shinobi knew nothing about the elite unit's operation.
Genji, however, was fully aware of the situation.
And not the least bit flustered.
"A temporary advantage proves nothing," he said coldly. "The outcome of a war is decided by the final result."
"This battle belongs to Kirigakure."
"Sunagakure is already on the edge of collapse."
"Once Jinpachi and the others reach Sunagakure, the village will fall."
"Rasa alone cannot stop them."
"This battle will be Kirigakure's victory."
After hearing the casualty reports from below, Genji actually smiled.
The shinobi below him looked confused.
"Genji-sama?"
Only then did Genji recover himself.
"I understand the situation."
After a slight pause, he added, "Tell everyone to retreat. Fight while withdrawing. Reduce casualties as much as possible."
"Yes, Genji-sama."
And at that very moment—
A Kirigakure shinobi came racing from the Land of Water all the way to the front.
"Genji-sama!"
The shinobi was gasping violently, face pale, body swaying as though he might collapse at any moment.
He had clearly pushed himself to the limit.
Genji frowned.
"What is it?"
"Genji-sama, something terrible has happened! The Kaguya Clan has launched a rebellion! Mizukage-sama has been gravely wounded!"
Genji shot to his feet.
"What?"
On the front line, things had been proceeding beautifully. In Genji's eyes, crushing Sunagakure had already become a certainty. There should have been no room for accidents.
Rasa had made a disastrous decision.
That was what Genji had believed.
But he had not expected that the front line itself would not be the problem.
The problem had erupted in the rear.
Kirigakure itself was in crisis.
And that could not be ignored.
Even if they defeated Sunagakure—
If they returned to the Land of Water only to find their village broken, what meaning would victory over Sunagakure still hold?
A thought suddenly surfaced in Genji's mind.
"Could it be… Rasa knew?"
"No. Impossible."
"If such a change happened in the village, the front would be notified immediately."
"Even if Rasa has spies in Kirigakure, he could not possibly have received the news earlier than I did."
"At most, he would have learned it at the same time."
"He probably just acted after hearing about Fuguki Suikazan."
"He's simply been lucky."
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