Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 214: Sudden Change

At the border of the Land of Hot Water, in Konoha's military camp—

A week had passed since Konoha's forces retreated to the Land of Hot Water's border.

By all logic, Kumo should have pressed the advantage.

Even if they needed time to regroup after the last battle, there was no reason for such a long delay.

This could mean only one thing—

Tonari and Minato's disruption tactics were working.

The strategists inside the command tent let out a silent breath of relief.

However—

One man remained tense.

Jiraiya.

He studied the report in his hands, his brows furrowed deeply.

This report was sent by Minato, detailing their movements, encounters, and future plans.

Just like Tonari's contract with Ryuuchi Cave, Minato also had a connection to Mount Myōboku.

This made sending information far easier.

Jiraiya understood why they were doing this—

And he hated it.

Tonari and Minato were shouldering burdens that weren't theirs to bear.

"This is our failure," Jiraiya thought.

"We've forced the next generation to carry a weight that should be ours."

The Third Shinobi War had just begun.

The devastation of the Land of Lightning was only the beginning.

Jiraiya had seen far worse during the Second Shinobi War—

But even he had to acknowledge—

This was only going to get worse.

Inside the War Council Tent

Jiraiya's voice was firm.

"Tonari and Minato have done their part. The enemy is focused on them."

"Now it's time for us to increase the pressure."

"Send more squads to disrupt Kumo's operations. Keep them off balance. But we don't need to go deep into the Land of Lightning."

"This is a long war. We need to play the long game."

His commanders nodded.

They all understood.

The fight against Kumo was far from over.

"Have we finished evacuating our civilians?"

One ninja immediately stood up.

"Yes, Jiraiya-sama. The evacuation is complete."

Jiraiya's shoulders relaxed slightly.

The last thing he wanted was for Konoha's people to suffer like those in the Land of Lightning.

But just as he exhaled in relief—

A blood-soaked shinobi stumbled into the tent.

Everyone tensed instantly.

The medical-nin rushed forward.

Jiraiya was already moving.

The dying man gurgled, spitting out blood and bits of tissue.

The medic-nin just shook his head.

Jiraiya's expression darkened.

"No saving him."

But he lowered himself, bringing his ear close to the dying man's lips.

The words were barely a whisper.

"M-mist… Village…"

Then—

Silence.

Jiraiya closed the fallen ninja's eyes.

The entire tent fell into a dead silence.

"Kirigakure?!"

The words hit like a hammer.

If Kiri had entered the war—

Konoha was in trouble.

They were already fighting three of the Five Great Nations.

This would mean—

They were now outnumbered four-to-one.

Even before this, Konoha's situation had been precarious.

They had barely avoided an all-out battle with Kumo.

If not for Tonari and Minato, Kumo's army would have already launched a full-scale attack.

But now—

"The Mist is attacking from the flank?!"

This wasn't just a warning.

Kiri had already struck.

They hadn't gone for Fire Country directly—

They had ambushed Konoha's forces from the side.

"Did Kumo and Kiri make an alliance?"

If so—

Then Konoha was truly doomed.

The only reason Konoha had survived this long was because the other villages were afraid of each other.

Iwa and Kumo hated each other.

If Kumo left their borders unguarded, Iwa's Third Tsuchikage might attack from behind.

That paranoia was what saved Konoha.

But if Kumo and Kiri were working together—

Then Kiri could send all their forces without worrying about their homeland.

"If this is true…"

"We're screwed."

Jiraiya snapped into action.

"Send this message to the Hokage—NOW!"

"Yes, sir!"

A messenger-nin sprinted out of the tent.

Then—

"Prepare new defensive lines!"

"And deploy every last scout we have! I want information on Kirigakure immediately!"

"Yes, sir!"

The moment the messengers left—

Jiraiya slammed a summoning scroll onto the table.

A tiny toad appeared.

"Take this to Minato."

The toad nodded and vanished.

Jiraiya's eyes flicked to a massive war map.

He needed to recalculate everything.

Meanwhile, in the Land of Lightning

Tonari and Minato's plan was working perfectly.

The Kumo forces were entirely focused on them.

They had successfully diverted the enemy.

They were just about to settle in for a long-term guerilla war—

When Minato received Jiraiya's message.

The moment he opened the scroll—

His face darkened.

Tonari noticed immediately.

"What is it?"

Minato's voice was grim.

"Kirigakure has entered the war."

"Jiraiya-sensei wants us to return immediately."

"If Kumo and Kiri are truly working together—Konoha might not survive."

Tonari's eyes narrowed.

This was wrong.

Kiri was supposed to join the war later—

Not now.

In his past life, Kiri had only interfered at the end of the war.

Their biggest action had been sending the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—

Who were almost entirely wiped out by Might Duy.

"Why are they here this early?"

This was not supposed to happen.

The world was changing.

His presence was altering fate itself.

"I knew things would change."

"But this…"

"This is much bigger than I thought."

"What now?" Minato asked.

Tonari exhaled slowly.

"We go back."

"We need to find out what's really happening."

Minato nodded firmly.

"Alright—"

But then—

Tonari's expression shifted.

"No…"

"We can't leave."

Minato froze.

Tonari's shoulders tensed.

A tiny feline shadow emerged on his shoulder.

And then—

A voice rang out.

"Finally found you, you damn rats!"

Minato's fists clenched.

"A…"

Tonari's lips curled in irritation.

"Raikage's son, huh?"

Then—

Another voice.

"Tch—can't forget about me, ya damn fools! BAKA! TEME!"

Minato and Tonari turned—

And saw four figures standing before them.

Two were elite sensors.

And the other two—

A and Killer Bee.

The worst possible people to run into.

They weren't escaping.

"Guess we're fighting, huh?"

Minato grinned.

"Looks like it."

And the battle began.

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