Seagulls circled in the sky, their cries sharp against the sea wind.Far above, goshawks swept in from the ocean, casting hazy black shadows over the waves.
The ship let out a dull creak as it ran aground on the beach.
Crabs scuttled across the gravel, waving their pincers and leaving behind neat trails before slipping into the hibiscus bushes as if fleeing for their lives.
A boot stepped down from the deck into the sand.
Then another.
And another.
Their movements were perfectly synchronized.
By the time the Konoha forces led by Tsunade officially set foot in the Land of Waves, the two Kirigakure "scouts" previously detected by Neiki Hyuga had already vanished without a trace.
All that remained was an irregular green-brown stone half-covered in seaweed.
Fresh characters had been carved into it in bright red:
"Those who cross this boundary—abandon all hope of survival."
Tsunade stared at the carving for a moment, her brows knitting together.
They had been too hasty.And worse—they were underestimating Kirigakure.
If Kumogakure learned that Konoha had almost emptied its defenses and seized this chance to strike, Konoha—already on the brink—might have no option left but surrender.
With a series of sharp swish sounds, the jōnin commanders dispersed instantly to carry out their orders.
Temporary Command Tent
"Nothing unusual," Neiki reported calmly, shaking his head."The island is too large. My Byakugan can't cover everything."
He paused, then added:
"Intelligence also suggests that the strongest candidate for Fifth Mizukage isn't Mei Terumi, but the Six-Tails Jinchūriki, Utakata."
"According to Kirigakure tradition, if Utakata can fully control the Six-Tails—just like Yagura once did—then Mei Terumi's chances are close to zero."
Nara Suzaku nodded gravely.
"That possibility exists. However, Mei Terumi wants to use this war to accumulate merit, earn the elders' recognition, and force her way into the Mizukage seat. That ambition is no secret in Kirigakure."
Neiki frowned slightly.
For a brief moment, the dark silhouette seated upright on a distant mountain looked inexplicably similar to his brother.
Outside the Camp
Only the natives of the Land of Waves had left that stone carving behind.
Yes… only them.
"These people have no sense of propriety anymore," Shizune said angrily."Don't worry, Neiki. Tsunade-sama will protect you."
Neiki couldn't help but give a bitter smile.
No matter how you looked at it, this was a pitifully small and poor country—caught between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water, home to barely fifty thousand people and not a single native ninja.
Being chosen as the battlefield between Konoha and Kirigakure was already a cruel fate.
Yet—
The Inuzuka clan ninja said nothing more. He merely glanced at Neiki before leaving silently with his ninken.
They didn't understand one thing.
In this world governed by jungle law, if you are beaten, you endure.If you shout curses instead, you are beaten even harder.
As more Konoha ninja disembarked, several jōnin frowned upon seeing the stone and issued cold orders.
The scattered fishermen, defenseless and terrified, clutched their tattered fishing nets and fled through the hibiscus bushes like startled crabs, disappearing in seconds.
Under Nara Suzaku's command, more than two hundred Konoha ninja began advancing toward the predetermined cliffside position.
Strategic Discussion
"Is it possible the intelligence is misleading us?" Hatake clan jōnin Shirakumo Hayama asked after some thought."Kirigakure clearly has the home-field advantage, yet they're waiting for us to attack first. Could this be a trap?"
"Could there be reinforcements under Yagura's command, hiding nearby?"
Tsunade frowned.
This question was critical.
If Mei Terumi had launched this operation with Yagura's tacit approval, then Kirigakure reinforcements might already be lurking—either within the Land of Waves or bypassing it entirely to strike Konoha directly.
Were they facing two hundred enemies…or a thousand?
No one could say.
Suzaku spoke slowly, emphasizing each point:
"This war didn't begin from a single cause. Internal division and external pressure are both at play—just like the Fourth Great Ninja War itself."
"Mei Terumi needs victory to challenge Utakata. Her relationship with Yagura is hostile. That makes large-scale reinforcements unlikely."
"The best option for Konoha right now—is to push forward decisively."
Some jōnin laughed quietly.
"Other than Mei Terumi and that subordinate called the Byakugan Killer, Kirigakure doesn't have many shinobi worth worrying about."
Confidence filled the tent.
Two hundred elite Konoha ninja against a force of similar size—but inferior quality.
Victory seemed inevitable.
Only the cost remained uncertain.
Tsunade shook her head slowly.
"After Neiki's incident, we cannot afford assumptions," she said coldly."Prepare for the worst. This battle will not be as simple as you think."
Silence fell.
Neiki's name hung over everyone like a shadow.
"Proceed with the plan," Tsunade ordered."Confirm whether Kirigakure has reinforcements. If none are found—prepare for battle."
"Yes!"
The jōnin vanished in flashes of motion.
Advance
ANBU squads swept through the forest.
"Clear a ten-mile radius!""Kill any suspicious individuals!""Leave no one behind!"
"Yes!"
One by one, more than two hundred Konoha ninja stepped past the stone marked "No Hope of Survival", officially entering the heart of the Land of Waves.
They advanced steadily northward.
Neiki looked back once.
If it were you, brother…what choice would you make here?
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