Night fell over Konoha's camp.
Kawaki and Tsunade were chatting in a tent.
Hayato Yamanaka was also sitting nearby.
"Aniki Sakumo has been gone for so long. What's taking him so long?"
Hayato looked a bit nervous. His scouts had reported back after the camp was set up.
There had been frequent encounters with Sand ninja scouts, and both sides had suffered casualties.
He was heart - broken because all the dead were his most trusted men.
"Don't worry. My elder brother is an expert in this field," Kawaki said calmly, and then picked up a cup of tea from the low table and took a sip.
"The Sand ninjas are sending out so many men. I'm afraid they have some kind of scheme," Tsunade said. She felt something was off. There had been Sand ninja scouts before, but never this many.
It was as if they didn't care about the casualties.
"Let's see what intelligence my elder brother can bring back," Kawaki said. Just as he finished speaking, Sakumo appeared in the tent.
"I've captured a few prisoners. You go and interrogate them," Sakumo said to Hayato. Hayato nodded and immediately turned to leave.
"I've found the Sand ninja camp. There are many sentry posts. It's unlikely we can raid it," Sakumo said.
"Their camp is in a good position. A frontal assault would be unwise," he added as he sat down next to Kawaki. There was no trace of blood on his body.
"If you were the Kazekage, and you weren't confident in a direct confrontation and had no way to retreat, what would you do?" Kawaki looked at his brother intently, already having a hunch in his mind.
"Find our weak points," Sakumo replied.
"Supplies," Tsunade said. Sakumo gasped in surprise after she spoke.
"Dai isn't here right now. The safety of our supply lines isn't guaranteed," Sakumo said.
"Once our supplies are cut off, we might not even be able to retreat," he continued.
"The large number of Sand ninja scouts might be after our supply lines," Kawaki said. After Kawaki finished speaking, Tsunade and Sakumo fell into thought, considering the possibility of his guess.
Once they had ventured deep into the Land of Wind, they couldn't afford to take risks.
"It's better to believe there is something than believe there is nothing."
"Who will go?"
"I'll go," Sakumo said without hesitation.
"No, elder brother. I'll go," Kawaki said.
"I can get back here faster to provide support."
Since the supply lines were long, if something happened at the camp, Kawaki's Flying Raijin jutsu would allow him to return more quickly.
"Okay," Sakumo agreed. When it came to important matters, he didn't argue with Kawaki.
If it were a normal day, he might have thought, 'Is he looking down on Aniki just because he has more chakra?'
The group continued to discuss the possible problems that might occur and the arrangements after Kawaki left.
Not long after, Hayato returned to the tent with a very complicated expression on his face.
"What's going on? Just tell us," Tsunade saw that he seemed to have something to say but hesitated. She guessed that he hadn't obtained any intelligence.
"The Sand ninjas Lord Sakumo brought back have seals in their brains," Hayato said.
"I tried to use my secret jutsu to get the info, but they all died on the spot."
After Hayato finished speaking, Sakumo and Tsunade exchanged a glance. They were even more certain that the Sand ninjas had a plot.
Ordinary intelligence wouldn't be protected so tightly.
"I'll leave right away. You guys wait and see how things develop for now," Kawaki said.
"If possible, let's wait until I bring back the supplies before we start fighting."
Kawaki got up and bid farewell to a few people. The task of delivering supplies had already been assigned to Shinryu Yūhi after setting up the camp.
"Okay, then be careful on the way."
Tsunade watched as Kawaki stepped out of the tent, and then the three people inside the tent continued to discuss.
After leaving the tent, Kawaki led a group of Konoha Ninjas and was ready to set off.
"Teacher (brother-in-law), what's the task? We'll go too."
Nawaki and Minato were always together. Somehow they smelled the scent of a task this time.
They were already fed up with walking in the desert. Of course, they wanted to join in the fun when there was a task.
"Just come along then."
Kawaki didn't waste any time. He led the team along the supply lines towards the border of the Land of Wind.
"Teacher, are the Sand ninjas going to target our supply lines?"
Minato keenly sensed something.
"It's just a guess, but we have to nip it in the bud."
Kawaki patiently explained, which was also a reminder to his disciple and future brother-in-law.
Minato and Nawaki nodded in unison and also understood the key point.
During the night march, giant scorpions would occasionally appear to forage.
Fortunately, the people Kawaki brought were all elites, and there were no Genin slowing them down.
The giant scorpions didn't cause much trouble to the team.
They were easily killed by the Konoha Ninjas.
Afterwards, they didn't forget to cover up the corpses. The attention to detail was impeccable.
While Kawaki's group was rushing on their journey non-stop, the Sand ninja scouts finally drew a map of the supply lines after paying a heavy price.
At the Sand ninja camp.
"Lord Third Kazekage, here's the map of Konoha's supply lines."
The intelligence chief spent three days getting the map in front of the Third Kazekage.
"Well done."
The Third Kazekage opened the map. The routes on it were detailed, and even several suitable ambush points were marked.
"It's just what I should do."
The intelligence chief stepped aside. The task was finally completed.
"I'll lead a team there tomorrow. You should immediately launch an attack on Konoha and hold them back firmly."
"Once I cut off their supply line, it won't be so easy for them to escape."
As the Third Kazekage spoke, his tone became more and more ruthless.
"Yes, Lord Third Kazekage."
All the Sand ninjas led by Pakura responded in unison.
Only Bunpuku clasped his hands together and said nothing.
"Teacher, I'll go with you."
Rasa volunteered to go with the Third Kazekage to intercept Konoha's supplies.
"Then go back and get ready."
The Third Kazekage didn't reject his beloved disciple's request. Rasa happily left the room.
The next day, the Third Kazekage led Rasa and a group of Sand ninjas straight to Konoha's supply lines.
The Sand ninjas remaining in the camp also launched an attack on Konoha under Pakura's leadership.
As the large troop of Sand ninjas got closer and closer to the Konoha camp, Tsunade had already led the Konoha Ninjas out to meet them.
"Master Bunpuku, it's up to you."
Both sides could already see each other. Pakura said a word to Bunpuku.
Seeing Bunpuku slightly nod, his body began to be wrapped in sand, and his whole body grew bigger.
As Bunpuku walked forward, his volume became larger and larger. Finally, a raccoon dog covered in Cursed Seal markings appeared in front of the Sand ninjas.
Bunpuku directly entered the complete Tailed Beast transformation state. There was no trace of Shukaku's brutality in his eyes, showing that he was still in control of his own consciousness.
Shukaku opened its mouth, and a large amount of Chakra began to gather inside.
In a gesture of reciprocity, the Sand ninjas were about to fire a Tailed Beast Ball at Konoha.
"It's a Tailed Beast Ball! Disperse!"
Tsunade roared and soared into the sky. Instantly, seven Chakra tails appeared behind her as she entered the half-Tailed Beast transformation state.
Shukaku's Tailed Beast Ball was already flying over. The Sand ninjas didn't charge forward because the Tailed Beast Ball on the other side was also being charged up.
Then the two Tailed Beast Balls collided between Konoha and the Sand ninjas, producing a violent explosion.
The shockwave from the explosion created a frenzy, with sand and dust flying everywhere. It was impossible to see what was ahead.
Since the explosion was closer to Konoha, some Konoha ninjas were injured by the aftershock.
"Wind Release, Great Breakthrough!"
Both sides chose Wind Release Ninjutsu to clear their line of sight.
The sand and dust were dispersed, and Konoha and the Sand ninjas, led by the two Jinchūriki, began to charge forward.
Any path-clearing Ninjutsu doesn't make much sense to the Tailed Beasts. (Only applicable to ordinary ninjas)
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