CHAPTER 168
The messenger hawk descended swiftly from the sky before landing steadily on Inoichi Yamanaka's outstretched arm. Without wasting a second, Inoichi untied the message tube fastened to the hawk's leg and removed the tightly rolled secret letter. The moment his eyes swept across its contents, his expression changed dramatically. He immediately rose to his feet and rushed toward Akimichi Torifu at top speed, handing over the scroll with an urgent and solemn expression.
"Torifu-sama! This is bad! We've received emergency intelligence!"
Akimichi Torifu's heart tightened. He quickly accepted the scroll and scanned its contents.
[Kumogakure Ambush!]
[The son of the Third Raikage and the Eight Tails Jinchuriki, Killer Bee, are leading one thousand elite Kumogakure Shinobi across the border toward Konoha's defensive line in the Land of Grass!]
[The Land of Grass front is in critical danger!]
"Kumogakure is actually fighting on two fronts..."
Torifu's face instantly grew solemn.
When he first learned that Kumogakure had invaded the Land of Earth, forcing Iwagakure to retreat from the Land of Rice Fields, he had secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Now, however, that relief had vanished completely. His fingers unconsciously tightened around the emergency intelligence scroll as his brows furrowed deeply.
Standing nearby, Inoichi Yamanaka wore an equally grave expression. His gaze unconsciously drifted toward Sakumo Hatake, who had only just been stabilized by the Medical Corps after suffering severe injuries.
"White Fang-sama was transferred here from the Land of Grass not long ago."
"Right now, Minato Namikaze should be temporarily commanding the forces stationed there."
"But can he... stop Kumogakure's A B Combo by himself?"
The surrounding Konoha Shinobi all fell silent the moment they heard those words.
The A B Combo.
It was the strongest partnership among Kumogakure's younger generation.
A, the son of the Third Raikage.
And Killer Bee, the perfect Jinchuriki of the Eight Tails, Gyūki.
The terrifying reputation of the pair had already spread throughout the battlefield. Facing such opponents, even elite Jonin felt tremendous pressure.
Only Guy quietly breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the intelligence.
"So it's this battle..."
"If that's the case... then there shouldn't be any problems."
Unlike everyone else, Guy clearly remembered this event.
It was during the battle in the Land of Grass that Minato Namikaze displayed the true terror of the Flying Thunder God Technique. Alone, he faced both A and Killer Bee while simultaneously restraining the advance of the entire Kumogakure army. That battle marked the beginning of the Yellow Flash's legend. From then onward, Minato's fame spread rapidly throughout the Shinobi world, eventually forcing several hidden villages to issue an extraordinary standing order.
"If you encounter Minato Namikaze, you may abandon the mission immediately."
Such an unprecedented command demonstrated just how overwhelming his deterrence eventually became.
Of course, that reputation had not yet fully spread across the Five Great Nations. At present, only those who had personally fought him truly understood how terrifying he was.
Standing beside Guy, Ebisu suddenly remembered something and lowered his voice.
"The Land of Grass..."
"Obito and Rin are stationed there, aren't they?"
Genma removed the senbon from the corner of his mouth and nodded.
"Not only them."
"Kakashi is there as well."
"They're all serving under Minato-sama."
The two exchanged solemn glances.
The battle on their side had only just ended, yet another fierce war was already erupting elsewhere.
Even with Minato Namikaze leading the defense, facing Kumogakure's elite forces while protecting every subordinate would never be easy.
Both of them couldn't help worrying about their companions fighting far away in the Land of Grass.
Torifu's expression remained incomparably serious.
Taking a deep breath, he quickly reached a decision.
"We must reinforce the Land of Grass immediately."
"The Land of Rice Fields borders the Land of Grass. If our elite force travels at full speed, we can arrive in approximately three days."
"Furthermore, we're the closest force capable of providing immediate reinforcements."
Having made up his mind, Akimichi Torifu slowly swept his gaze across the battlefield.
Although every surviving Konoha Shinobi wore expressions of exhaustion after the fierce battle against Iwagakure, not a single person's determination had weakened.
Torifu immediately spoke in a loud voice.
"Everyone, Konoha Headquarters has yet to receive the complete battle report from the Land of Rice Fields. Once Hokage-sama learns of our victory, he will certainly issue further strategic arrangements."
"But we cannot afford to wait."
"We must seize the initiative ourselves."
After speaking, Torifu immediately calculated the forces available to him.
There were currently more than two thousand two hundred Konoha Shinobi remaining in the Land of Rice Fields.
After excluding the seriously wounded, Medical Corps personnel, logistical units, intelligence personnel, and the Shinobi required to consolidate Konoha's newly established positions throughout the Land of Rice Fields...
Only about three hundred elite Shinobi could be dispatched as reinforcements.
"Three hundred will be enough."
Torifu decisively waved his hand.
"Supporting the Land of Grass takes priority above everything else."
"Inoichi, immediately relay today's battle report and our planned movements back to Konoha Headquarters."
"All Jonin and Chunin commanders, immediately select the fastest and most physically capable Shinobi under your command and assemble them."
As his eyes swept through the crowd, they paused briefly on Guy.
"Might Guy."
"Ebisu."
"Shiranui Genma."
"You three will join the reinforcement force."
The three of them were momentarily stunned when their names were called, but none hesitated.
They immediately began inspecting their Ninja tools, replenishing supplies, and adjusting their equipment to prepare for departure.
As Torifu's orders spread across the battlefield, the exhausted Konoha Shinobi regained their momentum once more.
Inoichi immediately led several members of the Yamanaka Clan to establish a long-distance communication formation and transmit the battle report to Konoha.
The entire camp became busy again.
This time...
Not for battle.
But to rescue their comrades.
Everyone seized every available moment to recover Chakra, receive treatment for minor injuries, replenish supplies, and prepare for the forced march ahead.
About an hour later, Inoichi Yamanaka, who had been meditating to restore his Chakra while maintaining communication with Headquarters, suddenly felt the communication technique activate.
His eyes snapped open.
Immediately forming several hand seals, he received the returning message.
A moment later, his expression relaxed slightly, though the seriousness on his face remained unchanged as he hurried toward Akimichi Torifu.
At that moment, Torifu was discussing the fastest marching route with several Jonin commanders.
"Torifu-sama!"
"Urgent orders from Konoha Headquarters!"
Inoichi respectfully handed over the decrypted scroll.
Torifu accepted it and immediately unfolded the document.
The familiar handwriting and seal of the Third Hokage quickly came into view.
The contents were brief and direct.
[Approved.]
[Akimichi Torifu will immediately lead three hundred elite Shinobi to reinforce the Land of Grass.]
[Orochimaru and Sakumo Hatake will remain in the Land of Rice Fields.]
[Secure complete control over the territory as quickly as possible and establish a stable defensive line.]
After reading the Hokage's orders, Torifu displayed the contents to the surrounding commanders.
Seeing that the three hundred elite Shinobi had already assembled without delay, he immediately issued the next command.
"Everyone!"
"Depart immediately!"
"We're reinforcing the Land of Grass!"
The three hundred Shinobi responded at once.
Under Akimichi Torifu's leadership, the elite force rapidly departed toward the Land of Grass.
Guy, Ebisu, and Genma naturally joined the marching column.
As they left the battlefield, Guy subconsciously turned around.
At a glance, he spotted Kurenai standing among the Intelligence Division personnel.
Her eyes were slightly red as she waved vigorously at him.
Everything had happened far too suddenly.
Neither of them had even been given enough time to properly say goodbye before another mission forced them apart.
But this...
Was war.
On the battlefield, countless farewells arrived without warning.
Guy grinned brightly before raising his familiar thumbs-up toward her.
Although his voice was drowned out by the marching army, Kurenai clearly understood the words formed by his lips.
"Wait for me."
A faint blush appeared on Kurenai's face.
Instead of lowering her head, she met his eyes directly before nodding firmly.
Her lips moved gently as well.
"I'll wait for you."
Guy laughed heartily before turning around without hesitation and following the rapidly advancing reinforcement force toward the Land of Grass.
However, after marching only a short distance, his expression suddenly became rather strange.
"...Wait."
"Did Shikuro also give me a thumbs-up just now?"
Guy blinked before shaking his head helplessly.
By now, the distance had already grown too great.
The people behind him had long disappeared from sight.
There was no way to confirm it anymore.
Putting the matter aside, Guy quickly refocused his attention.
Together with the three hundred elite Konoha Shinobi, he accelerated toward the Land of Grass.
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