Chapter Sixty-Four: The Dawn Organization Makes Its Move

The Allied Shinobi Forces of the Four Nations were preparing to retreat, but due to the disruption of their command points, the order could not be executed immediately.

Raikage A straightened his neck, producing a series of cracking sounds, and stood up, saying, “Let’s stretch our muscles a bit.”

He wanted to take advantage of this moment to personally kill a few enemies.

There was nothing left to discuss before the retreat was complete; it would be better to kill a few enemies now and return afterward—it wouldn’t waste any time.

The other three Kage shook their heads, refusing Raikage’s invitation.

The Tsuchikage, Onoki, held his aching back and said, “I’m too old, my back isn’t what it used to be. I’ll sit this one out.”

The Mizukage cast a glance at the Tsuchikage and said, “You old rascal, mentioning your back in front of a lady who hasn’t married yet? I still need to find a partner. Should I choose one from among you? Forget it, you’re all just old men…”

The acting Kazekage, Elder Chiyo, ignored the Mizukage and said, “I’m not going either.”

Raikage nodded, “Then I’ll be off.”

Lightning flashed across his body as he charged toward the battlefield, while the Mizukage continued her monologue, entirely absorbed in her own world.

Onoki and Elder Chiyo paid her no mind, beginning to formulate a plan to restore the command points.

After quite some time, the Mizukage finally returned to her senses, gritting her teeth and saying, “You lifeless bunch, why didn’t you wake me?”

Without Chojuro and Ao by her side, she felt rather out of sorts.

“Should I call Chojuro or Ao back? No, I can’t. If I do, they’ll ask why, and then they’ll realize I want to get married…” And once again, the Mizukage drifted back into her own world.

…

In the Sound Village, everyone was mobilized. Shikamaru studied the sand table thoughtfully.

“The enemy has lost their command points and are fighting independently. I think it’s time for a big move.”

Shikamaru circled an area in the lower right corner of the sand table.

Kabuto adjusted his glasses, a flash of light gleaming, and said, “Are you planning to take out their ten thousand?”

With the loss of command points, the Allied Shinobi Forces were split up and unable to provide effective support. The area Shikamaru had marked represented a unit of ten thousand soldiers.

“I plan to use a thousand of our troops to eliminate their ten thousand,” Shikamaru said.

Kabuto replied, “You’re going to deploy the Eight Gates Formation army?”

Only the Eight Gates Formation army could possibly take on ten thousand with a thousand, and even then, the feat would depend on a moment of overwhelming power, which was unlikely.

“No,” Shikamaru shook his head, “The Eight Gates Formation army mustn’t be used lightly; it’s mostly for deterrence. I want to use the Byakugan army.”

“The Byakugan army?” Kabuto was puzzled. The Byakugan army was indeed strong, but its greatest strength lay in reconnaissance and support, not in direct combat.

Originally, the plan was to disperse the Byakugan troops among the various units, acting as their eyes.

Now, to pit a thousand against ten thousand?

Shikamaru spoke calmly, “The Byakugan army alone doesn’t have enough combat power, but don’t forget their weakness.”

The Byakugan army had a fatal flaw: overuse of their eyes would cause them to explode, a problem never resolved.

Kabuto suddenly understood, “You intend to use their exploding eyes as a weapon?”

If so, then perhaps a thousand could indeed take on ten thousand, but no one would willingly undertake such a task. The Sound Village was not a monolith; some were willing to die for Orochimaru, while others served him out of ulterior motives and would flee at the first chance.

For example, one of Orochimaru’s test subjects, ‘Shin Uchiha,’ had recently escaped, taking all his Sharingan with him.

Shikamaru smiled, “They won’t know what happened even as they die.”

Kabuto also smiled, saying, “Shikamaru, you weren’t like this before.”

At first, Shikamaru would never resort to sacrificing lives to achieve results, especially when those sacrificed weren’t aware of their fate. But now, he had changed.

Shikamaru did not answer Kabuto, but frowned, “There’s one last question: Where is the Akatsuki?”

The war had reached this stage, yet only the Sound Village and the Allied Shinobi Forces were fighting; Akatsuki had not participated, which was unfavorable.

Kabuto looked at the sand table and said, “Akatsuki will definitely make their move, and soon.”

He stepped forward, circling the Sound Village and marking several points.

“These are the locations of the Ten Tails’ shell and the other Jinchuriki. Akatsuki’s targets are them.”

Upon closer inspection, Kabuto realized that Shikamaru had dispatched all his forces, leaving none to guard the Sound Village, and had deliberately avoided all the Jinchuriki.

It seemed as if he was handing over the Ten Tails’ shell and the Jinchuriki without resistance.

Shikamaru replied calmly, “It’s already tough enough facing the Allied Shinobi Forces. If we have to contend with Akatsuki as well, the Sound Village will be destroyed. The only option is to let them go.”

Kabuto suddenly stepped close, grabbing Shikamaru’s collar.

“What are you hiding from me?”

Kabuto differed from Shikamaru; he would sacrifice the entire Sound Village to protect Orochimaru’s interests.

Shikamaru, on the other hand, would give up Orochimaru’s assets to save lives.

Shikamaru remained silent, not resisting; the order had already been given, and the matter was settled.

Kabuto released Shikamaru’s collar, saying, “When Orochimaru returns, we’ll settle this.”

…

“Report!”

As the battle between the Sound Village and the Allied Shinobi Forces raged, a White Zetsu from Akatsuki brought news: the Four Nations’ Allied Shinobi Forces were retreating.

“Retreating? That won’t do.”

It was a golden opportunity; if the Allied Shinobi Forces were allowed to withdraw and regroup, such a chance might never come again.

“Prepare to strike!”

The hundred thousand White Zetsu army thundered into motion, their target: the Sound Village.

The Allied Shinobi Forces were retreating because they’d lost their advantage; continuing would mean a fight to the death.

Before Akatsuki made their move, they couldn’t afford to fight to the bitter end, so they retreated.

Now, with Akatsuki stepping in, not only would the Allied Shinobi Forces feel reassured, but Akatsuki would cooperate with them to assault the Sound Village.

Only when there was profit to be gained would the Allied Shinobi Forces refuse to retreat.

“Attack!”

The hundred thousand White Zetsu army erupted from the ground, invading the Sound Village, but Shikamaru had already mobilized all his troops, leaving the village empty. The White Zetsu army, finding nothing, turned their attention to the Jinchuriki.

This included Killer Bee, the Eight Tails Jinchuriki, who was among the Allied Shinobi Forces.

Raikage was fighting alongside his brother, Killer Bee, the Eight Tails Jinchuriki.

After the pair killed dozens of Sound Village shinobi, a horde of White Zetsu suddenly appeared, joined by Kakuzu and Hidan in their red cloud-black robes.

They aimed to recapture the Eight Tails.

Elsewhere, Naruto, the Nine Tails Jinchuriki, and Gaara faced similar circumstances, confronted by Sasori and Deidara.

Black Zetsu and White Zetsu stood within the Sound Village, gazing up at the massive shell of the Ten Tails.

With Orochimaru absent, everything was ripe for the taking.