Naruto: Aizen's Shadow in Konoha

In the ninja world, while each major country uses smaller buffer nations to maintain a semblance of neutrality, the truth is that many regions of these smaller countries are under the covert control of the larger nations.

The area north of the Land of Rivers is a barren desert that directly borders the Land of Wind, serving as a de facto boundary between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire.

Meanwhile, the southern region of the Land of Rivers, with its fertile land and lush vegetation, is largely under Konoha's control.

At this moment, Rasa leads 2,000 Sand Shinobi, organized into squads, secretly advancing towards the Fire Nation.

After traversing the desert, they reach a barren wasteland.

Not far from the wasteland, vibrant greenery suddenly appears on the horizon—the western forest of the Land of Fire.

Rasa's eyes narrow as he gazes at the stark contrast between the lush vegetation of the Land of Fire and the harsh desert of the Land of Wind.

"Why is the Land of Fire blessed with such fertile lands at the center of the continent, while we in the Land of Wind are left to survive in desolation?" Rasa's fists clenched as his jealousy burned.

"Konoha, your days are numbered. Soon, the western lands will belong to Sand Village!" His voice carried resolve and bitterness.

Rasa then turned to a female Sand Shinobi and asked in a commanding tone, "Pakura, how long until all of our units have gathered?"

Pakura, the infamous wielder of Scorch Style, was a striking kunoichi with black-green hair tied in a bun, strands of orange-yellow hair framing her face. She wore a sleek black ninja uniform, and her demeanor exuded lethal elegance.

"Not long. They'll all be here within a quarter of an hour," Pakura replied with sharp precision.

"Good. As soon as everyone arrives, we will launch a full-scale assault on Konoha's western forest outpost!" Rasa declared, his tone fierce and resolute.

Meanwhile, in Konoha's western forest outpost, Ichiro Fujiwara, the Elite Jōnin in charge, sat in his office. Having fought in countless battles, his instincts for danger had been honed razor-sharp.

Recent increased activity from Sand Shinobi in their search for the missing Third Kazekage, coupled with growing tension in the ninja world, had put Ichiro on high alert.

This evening, a sense of unease gnawed at him, making him restless and irritable.

"Nozawa, come here," he called to his young deputy.

"What's the matter, Captain?" Nozawa asked, curious about the urgency.

"Anything unusual tonight?" Ichiro asked, his voice carrying a weight of concern.

"No, sir. Everything is the same as usual," Nozawa replied, puzzled.

Ichiro's brow furrowed. The feeling in his chest wouldn't subside.

"Double the patrols tonight, and tell them to pay extra attention to any movement along the border," Ichiro ordered firmly.

"Captain, did you receive some intel?" Nozawa asked, taken aback by the sudden command.

"No," Ichiro admitted, "It's just a gut feeling."

Nozawa's expression froze in disbelief, but he nodded. "Understood, sir."

Despite his skepticism about relying on intuition, Nozawa relayed the order. Soon, the number of patrolling shinobi at the outpost doubled, their vigilance heightened.

However, despite their efforts, the outpost's total strength was limited. Including the stationed forces, there were only about 300 to 400 shinobi—a stark contrast to Sand Village's 2,000-strong vanguard.

The Sand Shinobi force, led by Rasa and Pakura, included elite warriors and top-tier shinobi, adding to the imbalance.

Not long after, the Sand Shinobi forces regrouped near the border.

"Rasa, all units are assembled. We await your command," Pakura said, her voice calm yet brimming with deadly intent.

Rasa's golden eyes gleamed with anticipation as he prepared to launch the attack.

Rasa nodded and then turned to the intelligence ninja beside him. "What's the current status of Konoha's western forest stronghold?"

The intelligence ninja's expression was serious as he replied, "Lord Rasa, based on the latest information, the number of patrols at the Konoha stronghold has increased significantly. 

To avoid alerting them, our reconnaissance team didn't dare venture too close and could only observe from the perimeter."

Hearing this, Pakura's expression shifted, and she blurted out, "Could it be that our reconnaissance team has been exposed?"

Rasa, however, remained composed. 

After a brief moment of thought, he shook his head. "No, if Konoha had discovered our movements, they would have chosen to retreat rather than increase their patrols. 

This is likely a coincidence."

Even so, a shadow of frustration flickered in Rasa's eyes. 

In his initial plan, he had intended to obliterate the Konoha stronghold in a single, swift strike, ensuring no survivors could alert Konoha. 

This would have bought Sand Shinobi more time and a significant strategic advantage. 

But now, that plan was no longer feasible. 

"If a silent elimination isn't possible, then we'll confront them head-on," Rasa muttered, his tone laced with cold determination.

Staring into the darkness of the forest, his murderous intent surged. 

"Relay my orders! All forces are to close in on Konoha's western forest stronghold. Once within range, launch a full-scale assault. Leave no survivors!" Rasa commanded, his voice sharp and unyielding.

Shortly afterward, as 2,000 Sand Shinobi surrounded the outskirts of the Konoha stronghold, they finally abandoned their attempts at stealth. 

"Attack!!"

With a unified battle cry, the Sand Shinobi unleashed their pent-up killing intent. 

The roars of battle echoed through the night as they surged toward Konoha's stronghold like an unstoppable flood. 

Thus, the Third Ninja World War officially began.

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