Because of Chiyo's words, the round-table eting finally reached a decision.
The ergency mobilization order spread rapidly from the Kazekage Building.
Before long, the preaching platform outside the Kazekage Building was packed with Sand shinobi and civilians.
Standing on the platform was Chiyo's younger brother—Ebizō, Sunagakure's chief strategist and think tank.
He first spoke at length about the Third Kazekage's outstanding contributions to Sunagakure, praising his political achievents and his devotion to the village.
Then, his tone shifted sharply.
He publicly accused Konohagakure of being responsible for the Third Kazekage's disappearance—and death.
Once a war was about to begin, an excuse was necessary.
Even if that excuse was riddled with holes, it still had to exist.
Only then could the war be considered justified—only then could Sunagakure rally its people openly.
The announcent that the Third Kazekage had been killed successfully ignited the fury of the Sand shinobi and civilians alike.
Shouts filled the air.
"Down with Konoha!"
"Blood for the Kazekage!"
Anger and killing intent surged beneath the Kazekage propaganda platform, echoing through the desert winds.
Hidden among the crowd, countless watchful eyes slowly withdrew toward the outskirts—
—and then imdiately scattered in all directions, carrying news of the coming war far and wide.
The Third Great Ninja War had officially begun to stir.
At the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire—
A massive procession of thousands entered the Land of Fire.
At its head were Yagami, his companions, and the people of Rōran.
Four days had passed since they left the ruins of Rōran.
Because of the sheer size of the group—and the difficulty of navigating the desert—their progress had been painfully slow.
Under normal circumstances, Yagami and the others could have crossed the desert in a single day.
Instead, it had taken them nearly three.
As they neared the Land of Fire, Sara suddenly slowed her steps and turned to look back in the direction of Rōran.
Noticing her hesitation, Yagami asked casually,
"Still thinking about your holand?"
"I don't know if I'll ever be able to return to Rōran again in this lifeti…"
Sara's voice carried hesitation—and quiet sorrow.
Anyone entering an unfamiliar land would inevitably feel lost for a ti.
"Isn't Rōran right here?"
Yagami said, pointing toward the people traveling behind them.
He smiled at her.
"As long as the people of Rōran are still alive, Rōran will never disappear."
Sara followed his gaze and stared at the crowd for a long mont.
Yes.
Rōran would not vanish.
Where its people went, a new Rōran would be born.
"Thank you… Lord Yagami."
With that realization, the weight on her heart eased considerably.
The gloom that had lingered on her face finally lifted.
After Sara left, Kushina glanced sideways at Yagami.
"Huh. Didn't expect you to be good at comforting people."
Yagami rolled his eyes.
"Yeah," he replied lazily. "A few days ago I comforted soone else too—almost got punched into the sky for it."
His strange tone imdiately irritated Kushina.
Nearby, Kakashi and Tekuno both wanted to laugh...
...but rembering how they'd been beaten earlier for laughing at Yagami and Kushina's quarrel, they forced themselves to hold it in.
The team advanced another kiloter into the Land of Fire before stopping to rest.
The people of Rōran gathered to light fires and cook als, gazing at their surroundings with anticipation for their new ho.
"…Hm?"
Yagami, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly felt sothing off.
His senses flared.
His gaze snapped toward the rear.
Ten kiloters away—
A force of roughly two hundred shinobi was moving rapidly toward the Land of Fire.
Judging by their speed, every single one of them was a ninja.
"Everyone—move! No resting!"
Yagami shot to his feet and shouted.
His voice spread instantly through the camp.
As everyone turned toward him in confusion, Yagami called out sharply,
"Sara!"
She rushed over from the crowd.
"Lord Yagami?"
"Take the people of Rōran and move forward imdiately. There are enemies approaching from behind."
"W-What?!"
Sara panicked for a mont—but she reacted quickly.
She climbed onto a supply carriage and shouted with all her strength,
"Everyone! Move now! Imdiately!"
The ministers of Rōran instantly understood the gravity of the situation.
They rushed out to personally oversee the evacuation.
The people of Rōran, who hadn't rested for long, began moving again in haste.
"Captain… how many are there?"
Tekuno stepped forward, his expression tense.
This was the first ti he'd ever seen Yagami look this serious.
Kakashi and Kushina also gathered around.
"About two hundred," Yagami said, exhaling slowly.
On this tiline—right after the Third Kazekage's disappearance—
There were only two hundred Sand shinobi moving directly toward the Land of Fire.
Yagami already knew what that ant.
The Third Great Ninja War had almost certainly begun.
And this group was likely just Sunagakure's vanguard.
"Two hundred?!"
"What is Sunagakure thinking—are they really starting a war?!"
Kushina sucked in a sharp breath, disbelief clear in her voice.
Among the Five Great Villages, mobilizing forces on this scale ant only one thing.
"Captain… what do we do?"
Tekuno swallowed hard.
Even Kakashi's face had grown grim.
Yagami glanced at the retreating Rōran civilians and let out a long breath.
Then he turned to Kakashi.
"Go to Kikyo Castle imdiately. Inform Konoha's border forces."
"Yes!"
Kakashi answered without hesitation and vanished in a flash.
At a ti like this, every second mattered.
"Tekuno," Yagami continued, "set up traps. As many as you can."
"Yes, Captain!"
Tekuno imdiately pulled out sealing scrolls and began working.
Yagami then turned to Kushina—and paused.
For a mont, he didn't know what to say.
Her sealing techniques weren't ideal for this kind of situation.
"And you—"
"I am what, exactly?"
Kushina cut in, lifting her chin.
"I'm not your subordinate. And I'm a jōnin, you know."
"Of course I'll face the enemy head-on."
Yagami froze for a beat.
There was no denying it—when she was serious, Kushina had a dangerous kind of presence.
But the mont he looked at her, she went full tsundere again.
Yagami rubbed his temples.
He really didn't have the authority to order her around.
"…Fine."
Worst case, he'd just have to keep an extra eye on her during the fight.
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