บท 16: Preparations

With clenched fists and a grim look, she broke the heavy silence, "What now?" Chiyo said. "Pakura is useless, she doesn't even dare to tell us what the hell Luo Lei can do! And now, with Danzō out of the game, we have this... this unpredictable guy in his place."

Ebizō's eyes were burning with rage: "Damn it! First Sakumo massacres us in the Second War, and now his apprentice comes to finish the job! We're walking targets!"

"ENOUGH!" Rasa roared. "....We won't take a single step back."

"This is our last chance. If we defeat Konoha, if we take even a piece of their territory, all our problems will be solved."

He let the unspoken words hang in the air. Everyone knew the truth: Sunagakure was on the brink of collapse. Years of decline, the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, internal conflicts... Everything depended on this war.

Suddenly, an ANBU burst into the tent, panting: "Lord Kazekage! Konoha is moving! It looks like they're going to attack!"

"WHAT?!" The three leaders exclaimed in unison, their eyes wide open.

"Are they crazy?" Chiyo hissed. "A decisive battle now?"

"What the hell is Orochimaru planning?" Ebizō growled.

Rasa remained silent for a moment, his mind working at full speed.

Then, a cold smile appeared on his face. "Well, if they want to fight, we'll give them a fight they'll never forget." His eyes shone with determination. "Let's see how powerful this Luo Lei really is, that makes Orochimaru so confident."

Chiyo nodded, her voice loaded with venom: "As long as we win, we can have our revenge. At last."

Thinking it all through, Ebizō added: "Let's contact Iwagakure and Kumogakure. Have them pressure Konoha on the other fronts." A malicious smile crossed his face. "Let's see how the 'first ninja village' manages fighting on three fronts at once."

"Excellent!" Rasa exclaimed, his voice resonating with authority. "Prepare for battle! And send our best ANBU to negotiate with Iwa and Kumo. It's time for Konoha to learn that they can't underestimate us."

As the tent erupted in activity, with orders being shouted and plans being drawn, one thing was clear: the upcoming battle would not only decide the fate of this war, but the very future of Sunagakure.

As they prepared for a decisive battle with the Konoha army in Kikyoyama, Sunagakure's ANBU were sent to negotiate with Iwagakure and Kumogakure.

---

That afternoon, the news spread: Konoha's troops in Kikyoyama and Sunagakure's forces would face off in a decisive battle. It was information too explosive to keep secret, and soon it caught the attention of the entire shinobi world.

The shockwave of this revelation reached every corner of the conflict. On the battlefield of Kusagakure, the shinobi paused their confrontations.

In the Land of Waves, tension intensified as ninja speculated about the implications of this new phase of the war.

Even Kirigakure, which had so far stayed out of the conflict, felt the impact of the news.

The magnitude of this development could not be underestimated. It had been just a few months since the outbreak of the war, and until now, confrontations between the major villages had been limited mainly to skirmishes and localized conflicts.

A large-scale battle like the one approaching in Kikyoyama marked a critical turning point. It was a clear sign that the war was entering a new and dangerous phase.

The outcome of this battle, whatever it might be, promised to have profound repercussions on the course of the war. A victory for Konoha could decisively tip the balance in their favor, while a triumph for Sunagakure could completely rewrite the balance of power in the world.

As if the tension wasn't already enough, Sunagakure's influence began to extend beyond Kikyoyama. Iwagakure and Kumogakure, apparently motivated by Suna's actions, intensified their movements.

Suddenly, Konoha's troops in Kusagakure and in the Land of Waves found themselves under renewed and fierce pressure.

In every corner of the world, ninja with even a minimum of strategic insight turned their gaze towards Kikyoyama.

And in the midst of all this, one name resonated again and again: Luo Lei.

Konoha's ANBU deputy captain, now elevated to the rank of deputy commander-in-chief in Kikyoyama, had become an almost mythical figure. His feat of annihilating an elite team from Sunagakure had added an element to the impending battle.

---

Konoha Camp in Kikyoyama.

In the largest tent, located in the heart of the camp, Orochimaru leaned over a tactical map, surrounded by a group of Jōnin.

"Listen to me carefully!" Orochimaru's voice resonated. "This battle is not just decisive, it's our damn future that's at stake!" His snake eyes scanned the faces of the jōnin, looking for any sign of doubt. "Yes, we have Luo Lei on our side, but we can't depend on him alone. Each of you must fight as if your life depended on it, because it does!"

A jōnin dared to ask: "Orochimaru-sama, what if... if we lose?"

The Sannin turned sharply, his eyes dangerously glowing. "Lose?" he hissed. "That word doesn't exist in our vocabulary. If we win, we'll be heroes. If we lose..." he paused dramatically, "not even my status as the Third Hokage's disciple or as one of the Sannin will save me. And believe me, if I fall, I'll make sure to drag you all down with me."

Meanwhile, in a nearby tent, oblivious to the frenzy of preparations, Luo Lei lay on his cot, bathed in moonlight filtering through the canvas. His eyes were closed, but a smile of satisfaction played on his lips.

If someone had been observing with the Byakugan, they would have seen an amazing spectacle: threads of lunar energy, invisible to the normal eye, intertwined around Luo Lei's body.

Every cell of his being seemed to vibrate, absorbing and transforming this ethereal energy, strengthening his already formidable power.

"Ah, what a delight," Luo Lei murmured to himself, stretching like a satisfied cat. The warmth coursing through his body was intoxicating.

________

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