Chapter 84 - Arrival at the Camp
Nightfall
Konoha Border
In the pitch-black forest, a shadowy figure darted between the trees.
Under the faint glow of the moonlight, silver streaks flickered as the figure moved.
That figure—was Kazane.
After receiving Hiruzen Sarutobi's secret message, he had taken only a brief moment to adjust his condition before departing for Jiraiya's war camp the very next day.
Now, after a full day of travel, he was nearing the Konoha border camp.
The thought of facing the Third Raikage in battle sent a surge of excitement through him.
His pace quickened.
---
Konoha War Camp
Ever since Jiraiya had been severely injured by the Third Raikage, the morale in the Konoha camp had plummeted.
The temporary commander, Shikaku Nara, feared that Kumogakure would launch another offensive—
Or worse, a stealth attack.
To prepare for such an event, night patrols were now always led by Jonin-level shinobi.
And tonight's patrol leader was an old acquaintance of Kazane's—
Jonin Sasaki Yuki.
In the darkened forest, Yuki's keen senses caught sight of the approaching figure, the flickering silver gleams breaking through the shadows.
As an experienced Jonin, he immediately knew—
"This isn't normal."
No one from their own forces should be moving outside the camp at this hour.
"Incoming presence—stay on alert!"
His sharp warning immediately snapped the four-man patrol squad into action.
They quickly formed a defensive formation, eyes locked onto the approaching figure.
"Halt! Identify yourself!"
Yuki's voice rang out firmly, his hand gripping a kunai, ready to strike at a moment's notice.
The shadowy figure finally stepped out of the darkness—
The first thing that stood out was his piercing gaze. Then, his silver hair, the sleek dark green kimono.
Sasaki Yuki instantly recognized him.
"Sasaki-senpai, long time no see."
A calm, confident voice, laced with a slight smile.
At that moment—
To Yuki, that smile was as bright as the sun.
"Kazane-sama!"
Yuki's eyes widened in disbelief before his face lit up with pure joy.
Since Jiraiya's injury, the Konoha camp had been shrouded in an overwhelming sense of doom.
They all knew— Without a top-tier warrior, they had no hope of surviving Kumogakure's next assault.
But now—Kazane had arrived.
For Yuki, no one inspired more confidence than Kazane.
He had seen it with his own eyes— How Kazane had crushed the entire Kirigakure force with just his sheer presence.
How he had defeated the Fourth Mizukage, forcing even Kirigakure's elite Jonin to flee in terror.
"Kazane-sama, did the Hokage send you to reinforce us? That's fantastic news!"
As a devoted admirer of Kazane, the thought of fighting alongside him again filled Yuki with excitement.
He still remembered the last battle against the Mist ninja— Watching Kazane effortlessly annihilate the enemy had been the easiest, most reassuring battle of his life.
"Yes. Let's talk more inside the camp."
Kazane nodded with a small smile, but after a full day of traveling, his body was covered in dust and grime.
The last thing he wanted was to continue standing outside any longer.
"Understood, sir! I'll take you to Commander Shikaku Nara."
"Since Jiraiya-sama's injuries are severe, he's been confined to the medical tent. Right now, Shikaku-sama is leading the forces."
With that, Yuki led Kazane toward the war camp's command tent.
---
War Room: Konoha Command Tent
"Commander, Kazane-sama has arrived!"
A Konoha ninja rushed into the tent, his voice brimming with urgency.
Inside, Shikaku Nara had been staring at the war map, desperately searching for a way to halt the Raikage's advance.
The moment he heard the name "Kazane", his eyes widened in shock.
"No way…"
Shikaku had never personally met Kazane before, but even he knew his legend.
From the very beginning of the war, Kazane had done the impossible—
From slaughtering the Iwagakure supply squad and securing a crucial supply cache—
To killing Kitsuchi, turning the tide of the battle at the Land of Earth border—
To the legendary battle of Mist Village, where he single-handedly shattered the Mist's entire army.
And just a few days ago, he had accomplished something unthinkable— He had killed Hanzo the Salamander.
The man once hailed as a "Demi-God" of the ninja world.
At this point—Kazane had surpassed Hanzo, becoming a true symbol of power among all shinobi.
And now, he was here.
Shikaku could barely contain his excitement.
Since Jiraiya's injury, he had believed this battle was already lost.
But now?
Now, for the first time, he saw a glimmer of victory.
Shikaku quickly calculated the battlefield in his mind.
"If Kazane can hold off the Third Raikage…"
"If my squad—Ino-Shika-Cho—can stall the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki…"
"And if Danzo's Root forces can block Kumo's AB Duo…"
Then—this battle could be winnable.
With Konoha's overwhelming advantage in mid-tier Jonin, as long as their top-tier warriors held the line, the entire war would turn in their favor.
But…
Would things really go as planned?
Shikaku pushed those thoughts aside.
He would deal with that later.
Right now, the most important thing was welcoming Kazane properly.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of the command tent—
Just in time to see a young silver-haired shinobi approaching with Sasaki.
Even without ever meeting him in person, Shikaku instantly recognized him.
"That hair… that presence… it can only be him."
Wasting no time, Shikaku hurried forward—
"Kazane-sama, I've been waiting for you!"
With respect and gratitude, he guided Kazane into the command tent.
Inside, after a brief exchange of formalities, Shikaku laid out the current battlefield situation, as well as his proposed strategy.
But—Kazane simply chuckled.
"Your plan sounds solid, Shikaku-sama… But I still don't trust Danzo."
His smile remained, but his voice was sharp as a blade.
After all, it's no secret that Danzo want him dead, who knew what would Danzo do amidst the battle.
Now that everything was out in the open, there was no need for pretenses.
The Nara Clan had survived for generations by choosing the winning side.
And Kazane knew—Shikaku was no fool.
He wouldn't expect Kazane to ever trust Danzo.
With war looming and allies still uncertain, one thing was clear—
This battle would change everything.