Knowing that the Third Raikage might directly join the battle, Sora suspected that Iwagakure might be setting a trap for the Hidden Cloud Village.
Given the current situation in the shinobi world, the Hidden Cloud Village was now a more suitable target than Konoha or other hidden villages.
If true, the legendary battle of the Third Raikage versus Iwagakure's 10,000 Shinobi was about to unfold.
Sora didn't want to miss such a remarkable sight. He was also curious whether Iwagakure truly had 10,000 ninja at their disposal.
All of Konoha's shinobi combined numbered around 10,000. Because there were so many battlefields, Konoha assigned ninja to each front in groups of one or two hundred—the minimum necessary forces.
This conservative approach was necessary because Konoha needed to prepare for a long-term war.
The majority of remaining shinobi were scattered throughout the Land of Fire. Whenever a problem arose, ninja would be dispatched according to minimum requirements, ensuring that support could be sent to any battlefield as quickly as possible.
Ten thousand ninja was a massive force. Excluding the Rock shinobi already stationed in the Land of Grass, did Iwagakure really have another 10,000 ninja to spare?
Moreover, the Land of Earth was separated from the Land of Lightning by several small countries.
If Iwagakure truly mobilized ten thousand shinobi, how could the Third Raikage have no intelligence about it?
Therefore, Sora was skeptical about the legendary battle between Iwagakure's 10,000 ninja and the Third Raikage.
Sora approached Orochimaru: "Lord Orochimaru, I would like to request a mission."
Orochimaru asked, "What mission do you have in mind?"
Sora replied, "I want to undertake an intelligence-gathering mission to determine whether the Third Raikage truly intends to join the battle personally."
Orochimaru responded with surprise: "It should be certain that the Third Raikage will personally enter the battlefield. Is there any point in further investigation?"
Sora answered seriously, "Lord Orochimaru, I believe it's very meaningful, because I think Iwagakure will not simply sit idle and await their fate."
Orochimaru frowned slightly. "You mean... Iwagakure is planning a large-scale operation against Konoha as well?"
Sora shook his head. "No, my theory is that Iwagakure is likely to take action against the Hidden Cloud Village."
Orochimaru's expression showed astonishment. "Why would you think Iwagakure would move against the Hidden Cloud Village, which is their ally?"
Sora analyzed the situation for Orochimaru: "Iwagakure's Tsuchikage, Onoki, is a rather cunning old man.
The war has been ongoing for many years. Although they cooperate with the Hidden Cloud Village, Iwagakure's shinobi have been very conservative in their deployment to the Land of Grass, engaging in far fewer battles than on other fronts.
As a result, among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Iwagakure currently maintains the strongest position.
The Hidden Cloud Village has been locked in a stalemate with Konoha in the Land of Hot Water from the beginning. After all these years, they haven't been able to break through Konoha's defenses. Their overall strength is now nearly equal to Konoha's, despite Konoha facing pressure from multiple fronts.
That old man Onoki is interested in profit, not in defeating Konoha.
Let's analyze the current situation in the shinobi world:
Sunagakure is too poor to offer much benefit.
Kirigakure is too remote, so there's little point in confronting them.
Konoha's morale is currently high, with many powerful and outstanding shinobi emerging among their ranks.
Meanwhile, a large number of elite shinobi from the Hidden Cloud Village have been deployed to the Land of Hot Water, and now the Third Raikage has decided to personally enter the conflict. The Hidden Cloud's homeland is left relatively undefended—the timing is perfect.
So I believe Onoki won't miss this opportunity. He's likely to intercept the Third Raikage and severely damage the Hidden Cloud Village to gain strategic advantages."
Orochimaru pondered for a moment.
Sora's analysis made sense, but Orochimaru thought this possibility was unlikely.
Still, it remained possible. If true, then Konoha's counteroffensive could begin.
Orochimaru nodded in agreement. "Very well, I'll entrust this task to you."
Sora nodded and said, "Lord Orochimaru, I'll depart immediately."
Sora believed that if the Rock shinobi truly intended to intercept the Third Raikage, they wouldn't do so in the Land of Lightning or the Land of Hot Water. The most likely location would be the Land of Moon, situated between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Hot Water.
So Sora headed directly for the Land of Moon.
Several days later, Sora arrived at the Land of Moon. As soon as the Third Raikage crossed the border from the Land of Lightning into the Land of Moon, Sora detected his presence using Observation Haki.
During his previous operations in the Hidden Cloud Village, Sora had memorized the Third Raikage's chakra signature.
The Third Raikage was accompanied by more than twenty shinobi, none of whom were weak opponents.
Sora followed the Third Raikage at the maximum distance where he could still sense the Raikage's presence.
Two days later, Sora, who had been sitting on the ground resting, suddenly stood up.
"They're coming!"
Sora sensed a large number of shinobi—approximately 7,000 in total.
Not quite 10,000, but still a formidable force. However, most of these shinobi weren't particularly strong; only a small percentage possessed significant combat prowess.
Sora checked the Third Raikage's position again. It seemed they hadn't realized that the Rock shinobi were planning to confront them and were continuing on their path.
Sora was confused. Was the Hidden Cloud Village's intelligence network really so lacking?
With so many Rock shinobi moving across multiple countries, was it possible that no information had reached the Raikage?
Sora accelerated forward. Regardless of the circumstances, this battle was definitely about to begin.
When Sora arrived, the Third Raikage and the Rock shinobi army had already encountered each other.
The person leading the Rock shinobi army was Onoki's son, Kitsuchi.
The Third Raikage looked at the Rock shinobi army before him and asked in a deep voice: "What is the meaning of this? Onoki informed me that your forces would enter the Land of Hot Water from the flank of the Land of Sky to support our shinobi in defeating Konoha's forces. Yet here you are, blocking our path!"
Only then did Sora suddenly understand.
It turned out that Onoki had deceived the Third Raikage.
Under the pretense of cooperation, Onoki had gathered an army and successfully positioned them in the Land of Moon to intercept the Third Raikage.
Kitsuchi stepped forward and declared: "The Tsuchikage's latest order! Kill the Third Raikage here, and then... attack the Land of Lightning!"
The Third Raikage glared angrily: "That old bastard Onoki dared to lie to me, dared to betray our alliance!"
Hearing the Third Raikage insult his father, Kitsuchi responded with displeasure: "Raikage, this is a battlefield. As the leader of a village, surely you understand the strategies and deceptions of war?"
The Third Raikage immediately activated his Lightning Style Chakra Mode and ordered those behind him: "I will hold them back. You must go to the Land of Hot Water immediately. Withdraw all our shinobi and return to the village. Let A inherit my title!
Tell A that in this war, the Land of Lightning and the Hidden Cloud Village must withdraw! We have been outmanoeuvred!"
The Third Raikage's men hesitated, reluctant to move. "Lord Raikage..."
The Third Raikage scolded them: "Don't argue with me! Leave immediately! You are the future of the Hidden Cloud Village—you cannot fall here!"
"Yes, Lord Raikage."
The Third Raikage's men departed with tears in their eyes, leaving their leader behind with great reluctance.
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