EXCERPT FROM 'AMES NINJA REVISION GUIDE.'
'...Out of everything a ninja must utilise and carry, they must remember their basic equipment. Not having the right tools in battle means that they are at a disadvantage - and in a world of shadows and death where even 'peace' conditions means foreign ninja cross borders at will; this can be the cause of death just as much as the ninja that will slit their throat.
The first and foremost any ninja may think of when told to account of their equipment is perhaps that of the basic kunai. Versatile and lethal to this day, its history saw it rapidly rise to fame and use as the need for a versatile weapon arose in the clan wars era following the rise of chakra utilisation; its own origins lying in the pre-apocalyptic era. A ninja must remember their kunai for any battle as it can fit the standard of any battle - its light weight and versatile uses in being thrown or even standing up to swords making it standard issue for any army.
A ninja must also remember their headband. Not only does this protect the vital area of the brain and top of the head from instant and damaging injury, it acts as the identifying factor for any individual. Readers of this manual must be reminded that going on missions without an identifying factor is grounds for espionage or desertion - the penalty of which is execution across any and all countries in the elemental nations. But perhaps the most important factor is that of your allegiance - by putting on your headband each day, you promise to serve and be loyal to our leader and nation, of which there can be no greater reward for a soldier.
A kunai pouch is also standard equipment for Ame ninja. Not only does it contain the aforementioned kunai, but also other basic ninja tools such as ninja wire, explosive seal tags, smoke bombs and other such useful items. These serve a variety of purposes, from binding prisoners to acting as distractions. Please see the relevant sections on the ninja tools to learn more and how to incorporate them into battle tactics.
A flak jacket is also extremely advisable, but it is not part of the necessitated equipment list. Handed out to chunin rank or above due to the costs involved and that chunin go on more dangerous missions than genin, this flexible jacket can offer plenty of protection for the torso whilst offering other purposes like storage.
There are other pieces of equipment a ninja can utilise, however his differs across what unit a ninja belongs to and what purpose it would serve for the ninja carrying out a specific role. For example, hunter ninja will be given senbon and other gear to assassinate or capture targets.
All equipment and gear will be found within your brigade logistics department...'
TEN YEARS AFTER THE END OF THE THIRD NINJA WORLD WAR.
"...I repeat, we are under intense assault by Rain forces! We are heavily outnumbered!" A chunin ninja fitted with a flak jacket and baring the headband with the Grass nation symbol upon it, was shouting into a radio set. "Requesting urgent reinforcements! We will only hold out for a few minutes longer-"
A kunai suddenly skimmed by, cutting by the chunin's head with great accuracy that would've cleaved a scar through their forehead had they not shifted their head to the left. A Rain chunin leapt straight through the doorway into the small room the Grass chunin had been sheltering in, the Grass ninja jumping backwards to attain some amount of space within the enclosed environment.
A stalemate quickly ensued, as quick swipes and clashes were made with opposing kunai as the Grass ninja drew a kunai from their leg pouch and thrusted it at the Rain ninja who instinctively blocked it. Several more swipes and thrusts were met with the same outcome, a competition of strength forming.
The Grass ninja once more clashed and blocked with the kunai before changing tactics - sending a hefty punch towards the lower torso of the Rain ninja, who quickly lowered their guard to deflect the incoming blow. An overreaching arm quickly thrust forwards to stab the Rain ninja with the kunai, who only realised that they had been duped by a feint too late.
Another hand quickly seized the thrusting limb at the elbow though, stopping it completely as the Grass ninja stared in shock at the Rain jonin who had silently joined their altercation. Roughly seizing the arm further and twisting it back towards himself, the jonin used chakra in his hand to further aid his strength as a sickening snap rang out, a cry of pain ringing out from the Grass chunin. The Rain chunin took the opportunity to rectify his mistake, gripping their own kunai tighter and burying it to the hilt in the torso of the Grass ninja - a central strike to the heart as geysers of blood began to already fall from the wound; semi-synchronous with the dying pulses of the failing organ.
It was over as quickly as it began as the jonin pushed the bloody corpse to the floor, the body falling at such an angle that it crumpled over itself. The chunin was taking deep breaths to regain their bearings as the jonin calmly glanced at them.
"Good job." The jonin gruffly praised. "However, your close quarters combat could use some work. Try fighting where you are not exposing yourself so much or where you can utilise both hands effectively. Now come, we must clear the rest of this base."
Giving a nod, the chunin only followed after the jonin as they walked out.
OUTSIDE, THE GRASSY PLAINS SURROUNDING THE CAPITAL.
Standing in one of the tall trees that occasionally dotted the long grassy plains was the division leader tasked with seizing the capital. Under their command, was more than twenty thousand Rain ninja that had yet to move into the capital.
Five divisions had invaded the Land of Grass. The First and Second Divisions had swung left and right simultaneously, a combined total of forty four thousand ninjas had stormed through the grassy country which had just more than twenty thousand ninjas in its military. Needless to say, more than half of this number had to be diverted to the flanks of the country lest they get totally cut off, leaving the Third Division the numerical advantage in outnumbering their enemy by two as they were tasked with seizing the capital and its surrounding area. Not to mention the Fourth and Fifth Divisions which were moving behind the First and Second and thus within easy reach of them - a deliberate action so they could be reinforced within hours if needs be.
The man was currently stood on one of the thicker branches that could hold his weight, observing through binoculars the small city that held a population of roughly four hundred thousand. As to be expected, thousands of them had already fled which would put pressure elsewhere on the country, for a small nation that only had a population less than ten million would be unused to dealing with such movements.
For now, neither side made a move - one hastily erecting whatever defences they could as the other prepared and awaited for the order to attack. As the division leader observed, grass ninja were scuttling about the main entrance to the city he was facing - a wide stone path that was had been hastily blockaded by a wooden structure being built over it. Grass ninja dotted about, many of them doing exactly what he was doing - he'd been spotted more than once.
"Sir." A woman called out, as the chunin ninja landed on the branch beside him and gave a quick salute causing the division leader to turn round, before pulling the radio set off her back and handing the wired receiver attached to it to him. "Ame wants you, sir."
"Very well." The division leader acknowledged as he made a gesture with his hand which the chunin quickly placed the receiver in before the man brought it to his ear. "This is the Third Division leader of the First Army, go ahead."
"Division leader, this is Pain." A deep voice spoke quietly from the receiver. The chunin ninja watched, a bit shocked as the very posture of her superior many times over himself was brought to attention. "What is the status of the enemy and yourselves?"
"Static, sir." The division leader responded, his tone of his voice noticeably much more professional. "Neither side has moved yet. The Grass ninja are erecting quick fortifications whilst we were waiting for all of the troops to arrive."
"And have they?" Came the responsive question, tone seemingly neutral but a sliver of impatience was there.
"Most of them, sir. There's still a few platoons missing from brigade four though, sir." The man responded.
A short pause allowed for Pain to think before his voice came back. "Begin at once. Allow the enemy no more time to prepare."
"Yes sir." The division leader responded with a tone of finality, but that was of no use as the radio line had already been cut off before the division leader even spoke.
The division leader himself said no more as he simply signalled for the chunin to fall back to her squad, before withdrawing a kunai from his pouch. Reaching a hand inside his pocket and tugging out out a flare tag, he carefully attached it to the end of the kunai before he then charged the entire metal weapon with his chakra. The flare seal responded immediately, starting to spark and hiss before the leader then threw it straight up in the air as high as he could.
As the weapon reached a height of thirty metres in the air and still climbing, the flare tag activated - red light immediately flaring out from the seal upon the tag and creating a trail of red in the sky as the kunai arched up before beginning to fall. The tag had spluttered out before the kunai even touched the ground.
The effect was near instant. Shrill whistle blasts erupted across the entire rural country side that surrounded the northern entrance, sending out a loud message that was clear even to the opposing side. And so, out rose their attackers from the long grass that made up the northern plains of the capital, rushing en-masse to their objectives.
Hordes of dark green and black ran through the grass that came up to their waists, humanoid shadows that nimbly sprinted through the environment to reach the capital before them at full pelt.
The division leader saw it all as he made no move to join his troops. Hundreds of four-man squads were dashing across the environment in triangular formations that denoted their platoons, flying past all the occasional trees in seconds and would be upon the small city within the minute. It seemed to be that the opposing Grass ninja were panicking in their attempt to organise, men and women scrambling onto the makeshift barricade on the stone road and on top of the rooftops of the low-lying buildings. Watching through binoculars, he took note of their posture - tense, nervous, sweating. Many already had kunai within their hands, angled for an optimum throw; others had set their hands into the first seal of an undoubtable jutsu sequence; all of them now merely awaiting for the Ame ninja to be upon them. After all, a ninja could only really engage in short distances - most ninja could throw a kunai further than they could a jutsu. And kunai were easily dodged at long distances...
And so it began.
Jutsu were immediately exchanged first as kunai were flung at each side, soaring off into the country side or impacting a building and clanging off the material. Fireballs were launched from the barricade that blocked the main entry to the capital, projectiles of earth being thrown or spat at the on-rushing Rain ninja. They too responded in kind, with the two common elements of Ame being thrown at them - water and earth. Barrages of chakra infused hardened earth and rock crashed into the barricade, splintering and damaging it - some smashing right through the wooden wall. The squads that had a fireball racing towards them slowed and the lead ninja of the four-man squad was quick to spit out a water wall to hold back against the approaching fireball. The other three members of the squad quickly leapt away and split up, flanking around and surrounding the jutsu caster, who panicked and tried to fight back but was quickly killed by a kunai strike to the back.
It was the same image for those who approached the city buildings, only having to leap over a small stone wall that ringed the city with the assistance of chakra. Rain ninja jumped right on top of rooftops and either immediately assaulted a surprised enemy or were repelled by the Grass who took advantage of an enemy still in momentum. However, the Rain ninja heavily outnumbered the Grass ninja who had spread themselves thin over the city whilst the Rain had assaulted almost entirely from the North.
A platoon from the fourth brigade was tasked with seizing the reinforced stronghold at the entrance to the city behind the hastily erected barricade - a previous policing station that had been reinforced ever since word had arrived of the Ame invasion. It was quickly swept up within minutes, two squads landing on the roof of the police station and quickly dispatching the outnumbered spotters on the roof. As they did that, six other squads surrounded the building and forced their enemies to take shelter within. Kunai were hurled at windows and covered shelter to force their enemies into hiding as they could bring more kunai to bare than those within - as the three remaining squads breached the back entrance.
As more enemies started to fall within, those on the roof joined them by splitting the enemy's attention further by invading through the upper floors. As two more squads from the platoon raced in through the front entrance, the enemy were now heavily outnumbered within and couldn't even leave as the squads outside forced them back into cover with accurate kunai throws. So began the systematic clearing room-by-room of Grass ninja by the Rain ninja who combined superior numbers, surprise advantage and specific training for this scenario to gain the upper hand. Suffice to say, the building was captured within five minutes.
The division leader landed on the rooftop, three other chunin and a jonin ninja arriving with him, acting as the squad that protected him. Striding over to the door in the rooftop, he flung it open before descending the stairs. Two chunin who were still prowling the hallways of the police station quickly stepped to the side and saluted, but the division leader continued forth unabated as he strode to the radio located within a room in the station. Tuning into the corresponding wavelengths, the division leader was connected straight to his brigade commanders.
"Third Brigade Leader of the Third Division, come in. This is the Third Division Leader." The division leader spoke, the man leaning on one of the desks close to where the radio equipment had been dumped. He eyed the scurrying ninjas around him, cleaning and fortifying the place now it was theirs. The constant static in his ear suddenly gave way as he saw two of their ninja literally fling a Grass ninja corpse out of the window, a pile next to them as two more respectfully carried out a dead Rain chunin.
A feminine voice started talking into the receiver next to his ear then. "This is the Third Brigade Commander, reporting in. All preliminary objectives have taken, confirmed within Rain hands. Please advise any additional orders or requests."
"Yes, I am ordering an additional priority to be carried out above all else, even your secondary objectives. You are to take the Third Brigade and seize the central square of the city, denying them central access within the city will be crucial in putting a halt to their movements. Please confirm reception of priority orders." The division leader commanded, eyes hardened as he gazed out the window. Several black plumes could already be seen dotted close to the walls of the city, another plume shooting up further away from the walls - evidence of the Rain ninja beginning to carve their way into the actual city itself.
"Priority orders confirmed." The woman on the other end responded. "They will be carried out at once."
Static once more filled his ear as the receiver on the other end had obviously been put down, the division leader himself handing his receiver back to the radio operator before nodding to the elite jonin standing guard in the room as he strode out. He had the Fifth Brigade to go find out news upon.
GRASS CAPITAL CENTRAL SQUARE.
Another black plume of smoke erupted into the air as the successive detonations of several explosive tags going off at once occurred. An entire shop storefront was blown outwards through where the kunai with tags attached had smashed straight through the glass at the front, before the two Grass ninja within were blown to kingdom come as the deafening roar of the shockwave from the explosion blew apart everything within. The glass shattered outwards and cascaded lethal shrapnel everywhere with fire hot on the trail as it belched out the now gaping hole in the shop windows.
The fast-paced action of the invasive Rain ninja against the lagging Grass defenders seemed to have reached fever pitch; as the entire force of thousands of concentrated ninja in a singular brigade cracked down upon the central location in the city before the Grass ninja could even attempt to organise defensive formations within it. Speed was crucial in the ninja world, meaning that defenders in enclosed spaces often suffered poorly - as seen as the Rain ninja didn't even attempt to enter buildings but rather flushed the defenders out in hailstorms of explosions, kunai and jutsu. It went against everything one would try to achieve when taking the assets of an enemy, but Pain was not after their economy or population - but rather their resources. And so the Rain ninja did the fighting on their terms, with lower casualties than an already outnumbered enemy. With the planned invasion having been heavily equipped and trained for, and given that the home turf advantage was partly negated by the backwards scorched earth tactics the Rain ninja were employing; the fight was going poorly for Grass.
And the decisive blow to take the central part of the city and close off major transport routes to the defending Grass only further solidified that.
A squad of Grass ninja were fighting off two squads of Rain ninja at once on a cobbled path, one of the Grass ninja leaping and sticking to the side of a building and launching a fireball at several chunin at once. It was for naught, however, as one of the Rain chunin quickly went through the few hand signs needed for the water projectile jutsu they needed - spitting out a large glob of water that slammed into the fire head-on and completely negated it as the superior element. Meanwhile, two Rain chunin then followed the singular Grass ninja and quickly engaged them, giving them no time to launch any further techniques as they quickly fell to one of the chunin grabbing the struggling defender from behind and smashing their skull against the brick wall they were all on.
Only for then one of the Rain chunin to fall over dead as several kunai raked over their body, one penetrating straight through their own skull as they collapsed to the floor three storeys below, the other chunin leaping up and over to the rooftop to get out the firing line. The location from whence the kunai were launched from became apparent as a glowing soft-golden, see-through barrier sprung up over the width of one of the conjoining streets into the square. Three Grass ninja could be seen standing behind the barrier as their fourth squad mate reinforced the glowing kanji on the floor that had created the barrier. Two squads could also be seen on the two rooftops of the first buildings on either side of said street, hunkered down below pieces of cover and launching kunai or jutsu at any target of opportunity.
Combined with the squads of Grass within the square defending it as well as those still incoming from less pressurised areas in the city as opposed to the larger majority of the thousands of ninja within the Third Brigade still minutes away; the first attempt at defending a portion of the square could be successful if reinforcements arrived fast enough before the barrier was in too much danger. For behind the barrier was what the Grass ninja were really trying to defend, fleeing civilians who were panicking and running in the opposite direction of the square as they were directed and guarded by genin - some who could be no older than a young teenager.
Jutsu were already being launched against the barrier, projectiles of mainly mud laced with earthen style chakra and water crashing against it, and apart from the occasional flickering the barrier held firm as another Grass squad leapt to the street floor to add their chakra to their barrier strength. Attempts to flank the barrier from opposing neighbouring streets was met with failure as reinforcements did arrive in time, whole platoons of Grass ninja leaping onto rooftops and street pathways to repel the invaders.
This was not without consequence as the defenders focused on a singular area - resulting in their comrades still fighting in the square itself quickly being butchered and put down. As such, the quick success the Grass enjoyed from quicker mobilisation of reinforcements began to turn into a stalemate as the Rain ninja began to concentrate on the barrier. The first attempt to properly take the barrier was met with failure as a platoon of Rain ninja stormed it from ground level, expecting the weak level barrier to fall before another hail of jutsu and bombardments of explosion tags against it. A few squads of the invaders landed on the rooftops, to be met by hastily erected traps of proximity seals and tripwires, backed up by the defenders themselves who enjoyed the temporary period of matching their enemy in numbers.
This continued for a further minute as a second attempt was made by the Rain ninja. This time, the primary aim was not to break the barrier - but rather to distract the enemy as smoke grenades were detonated against it along with several concussive explosive tags to add thick, volatile and blackening smoke to the mix. Two platoons of Rain ninja a-piece then tried to storm the rooftops, landing upon them and quickly engaging the defenders in clashes of kunai, ninja tools and jutsu.
It was doomed to failure as the Grass ninja then detonated planted explosive tags along the edges of the rooftops they'd had to abandon as the Rain ninja swarmed over it, killing quite a few of the invaders and tossing many off. The remainder found themselves outnumbered in a twist of irony.
The Rain ninja in their attempt seemed to be turning into a rout as they were disorganised and forced to retreat back to their side of the barrier when suddenly another squad landed on one of the left-side rooftops. A Grass ninja that had been pushing back a chunin quickly tuned to engage one of the newcomers, their kunai glowing with chakra as they met to stab it forth - only for the newcomer to duck and sweep their arm out to the side. This revealed a hidden pointed blade which was visibly dipped in a purple poison, which was then stabbed straight into the Grass ninja's torso before they themselves could react.
Decked out in full metal chakra armour, each having a sword strapped behind their backs with styles of blue and white painted onto the armour. The normal headbands were present around their foreheads, but what really drew the attention of the Ame ninja around them were the bars of dark green present on their shoulders; automatically outranking any of the Rain ninja present.
"Specialist squad in position." One of them announced, before all four of the elite ninja squad disappeared as they utilised the body flicker technique.
The barrier was in danger within moments as one of the elite ninja fired a lightning jutsu at the squad powering the barrier, frying one of them as the other three scattered - the elite ninja landing on the street floor as two Grass ninja then engaged them. Drawing their sword, the Rain ninja quickly deflected several kunai thrown at them before breathing in and holding up a hand sign, their better training allowing them to fire off a fireball with only one hand sign. The Grass ninja which had leapt at them to strike at their head was instantly flash-fried as they collided with it, their screams of pain ringing out before the blackened corpse dropped to the floor.
No time to think was given as the other Grass ninja stabbed at them from behind, the kunai merely scratching the armour before the elite ninja turned, grabbed their arm and threw them away. It was to only buy a second as they quickly leapt off a wall with the assistance of chakra, but the Rain ninja quickly engaged them by blocking their overarm swing of the kunai, deflecting it downwards and bending the sword to use the tip to swat away the kunai underarm as they tried to then power through once the sword had alleviated its pressure. The Rain ninja then took quick advantage of the reeling Grass ninja, as they quickly detached their left hand from their sword, retrieved a kunai from their leg pouch and stabbed it straight through the ribcage of the Grass ninja in one swift motions they themselves were bringing their kunai back up.
With the immediate area being clear, a swift down plunge of the sword laced with lightning chakra into the sealing matrix holding up the barrier caused it to fail. And with that, the entire defensive plateau that the Grass had been holding fell as a giant entrance was now presented to the dozens of Rain squads holding the square.
Needless to say, they quickly rushed through and brought back their superiority in numbers, just as the first advance parties of the Third Brigade arrived.
AME, PAIN'S TOWER.
"Central square is now firmly within Rain hands." A monotone voice spoke through the speaker, getting a nod from the Deva Path who was stood at the bank of radio equipment against the wall as then a further flurry of activity happened around him. Several chunin were jotting away into notepads and then flicking switches and speaking into receivers to order about even individual platoons who would then leave it to the platoon leader to order individual quads tot heir targets. Sat next to them were the partners to the chunins, who were constantly typing away on keyboards and updating static maps to the locations and assets on the battlefield to allow the central command a very good idea of what was going on many miles away.
Pain did spare a brief thought to the set-up as he looked about the room, giving a cursory glance to the giant map in the middle of the room where a jonin quickly ran forth and pinned down several numbers denoting the strength of the Rain forces in the central square of the Grass capital before backing off. This type of set-up was very new to the elemental nations, with the technology for it not even existing during the Third World War. He would know, he fought in it. And yet, here they were, manually directing a battle that occurred an entire country away.
"Sir." A chunin called out, snapping off a quick salute as they looked at him, the microphone on the headset they were wearing raised upwards as they drew their Leader's attention. "The Second Brigade Commander requests permission to begin encircling the Southern districts of the city to cut off all escape."
"Tell me, what are the enemy doing there?" Pain asked. Even if it had been planned for, the last he'd heard about the Southern districts was thirty minutes ago. Up-to-date knowledge was important.
The chunin relayed the question through their headset before listening in for several seconds, before once more raising their microphone and addressing Deva. "The Grass ninja are still evacuating the city sir, they seem to be funnelling the civilians and genin out of the city mostly through the South as it is most opposite from where the invasion started, my Lord."
Pain gave a nod, before asking a final question. "And what precise location is the Brigade now in?"
"Mostly around the Eastern trading district in the city, sir." The chunin answered with no need to check - they were one of the five pairs assigned to watch over one of the battalions from the Second Brigade.
"Good." Deva answered, thinking for a moment before he snapped off a command. "They have my permission to engage only if all of their preliminary and priority objectives have been taken. Order a battalion be left behind to secure the Eastern districts but otherwise they are to head to the Southern districts at once and engage the enemy. The less ninja that move up to reinforce those in battle elsewhere, the better."
The chunin gave a nod and a last salute before turning back round to their monitor and flipping back on their microphone; instantly relaying the command Pain had given them.
Pain mused on the evolving situation. Whilst the initial strategy of allowing the Grass to evacuate had been good in taking away some of their manpower in assisting evacuation efforts and guarding the fleeing populace, it now worked against them as the numbers of evacuees dwindled and more ninja could switch from guard duty to actually fighting. As such, suddenly putting their populace in direct danger in larger numbers for the first time would make them panic and haul back many of their squads at once to respond in such a fashion that it would damage their ability to fight back.
THE HIDDEN ROCK VILLAGE.
"WHAT!" Came the outraged, thunderous shout from the Tsuchikage.
The messenger ninja gave a flinch before bowing and speaking once more. "The reports are confirmed, sir. Our spies have seen the black plumes and damage to the capital as well the movements of Rain ninja throughout the countryside. The true numbers are unknown, but it is predicted at least four brigades of Rain ninja have invaded the Land of Grass, with one of them currently seizing the capital as we speak, my Lord. It is predicted to be taken within a maximum of two hours."
Onoki the Tsuchikage, leader of the Rock village and the Land of Earth, was furious. A small man with haggard expression, he was also one of the oldest ninja around to the extent that the grey hairs of elderly age had sprouted. And right now, a very angry man. He had already bared a negative view of the Land of Rain to start with when Hanzo of the Salamander had helped cause casualties of an entire brigade of their troops in the Third World War; surpassed only by the Namikaze who had single-handedly slaughtered 94% of another brigade within the Land of Grass. And now, the man was invading one of the few countries that was at least neutral to them and held a lot of investments. Needless to say, it would be bad for their economy if they just allowed this to go forth.
Taking a deep breath, he thought more calmly upon the situation before snapping off his orders. "Organise a platoon from the closest battalion to cross the Kanabi bridge and find out what teh Grass are doing. I want more precise locations of where the Rain ninja are, what they are doing about it, and if they will allow our troops through. If not, we'll discuss that later. Now go."
The messenger ninja gave a bow before dashing out of the room, Onoki giving a sigh as he thought over the events before waving a hand forth to one of his bodyguards. "See if we can't raise anybody from the Land of Grass governing body or military, make sure to try all the radio wavelengths we know of from them. I want information."
The body guard gave a confirmative nod before then using the body flicker technique to leave, quickly going about his business as Onoki's very tone had stressed how urgent he thought it was. The Third World War had been started for less after all, and he knew that the Leaf would also be planning to respond when they found out.
KONOHA, HOKAGE'S OFFICE.
Minato Namikaze was not usually an angry man. No, he had not even gotten angry in the heat of battle versus his opponent who summoned the nine tails.
The same rang true now, and that was how people knew he meant business - and to stay out of his way. The day that man became angry was the day nations went asunder.
Shikaku had just finished explaining to the blonde Hokage as he sat at his desk of how an estimated entire army of Ame troops had just effectively within thirty six hours encircled more than half of the Land of Grass. How the capital was currently under siege, and from the last intercepted transmission they were winning heavily.
"It's difficult to tell much." Shikaku concluded to the Hokage. "The Rain ninja are employing jammers all along the way they're invading. They can't jam everything which is how we have what we do, but we don't have the full intelligence we need to make a concerted intervention that would result in the best outcome."
"And even if we did march into the Land of Grass, we're still up against an entire army." Minato stated, drawing a grim nod from Shikaku.
Minato gave a sigh as he contemplated over the news, before he looked over those that were in the sealed and silenced room with him. His own sensei, Jiraiya the Toad Sannin, Shikaku Nara his second-in-command; and his wife who was herself an elite jonin.
"I hope your not thinking of sending in any S ranks or battalions of your own, Minato. Doing so would lead to all out war with Rain, or even worse, Hanzo himself stepping down from Ame." Jiraiya warned, his face turning grave over his last warning. "It'd be a massacre of thousands of ninja. I should know, he came down to greet us three Sannin. He could've killed us right there and then if he so desired."
"I know sensei. Though old, the amount of people in the Leaf that could go at least go up against Hanzo would number less than ten." Minato stated as he drummed his fingers on the desk to hide his concerns. "Undoubtedly, the Land of Earth will send in brigades of their own. Whenever something goes down, they always try to grab something for themselves."
Kushina Uzumaki, the so-called 'Red Death', had thus far remained quiet in the meeting so far. But now was a time to pitch her idea. "Send in a team of experts then, like ANBU. We need information like you said, whether it be from locations and army strength to simply how they're treating people."
"I concur." Shikaku spoke up, drawing their attention to him. "ANBU would be perfect for this mission. They're anonymous and trained for sabotage and infiltration. They would be able to get us the information we need."
"Very well. I'll leave it to you to organise the ANBU, I want the details by this evening." Minato ordered, drawing a nod from Shikaku. "Meanwhile, I'll organise a battalion or more to secure an area of the Land of Grass." Minato looked up from taking a note to see confused faces and Jiraiya looking positively alarmed, but he quickly held up a hand to stop any protests or questions. "This is non-negotiable. Besides, we must take quick action. Setting up a forward base of considerable strength will allow us a staging area for larger operations if needs be, as well as an area for fleeing refugees to come. We will help anyone displaced or running from this war."
Nods went round the room as Minato looked round, and upon being satisfied that he had his answer sent Shikaku on his way.
Nobody believed for a second that the Land of Rain had been in the right when they had used the explosion against their facility as an act of war.
THE NEXT DAY, THE LAND OF GRASS BORDER.
An advance camp of a platoon had been se up on the rocky cliffs, the platoon having marched all night to reach where they were. Even as a platoon that did not have all the excess equipment, logistics and manpower that a battalion did, they had still taken quite a few hours just to reach the edge of the country. To the North.
It had been to their despair that they had found the Tenchi Bridge completely and utterly destroyed, to the matter of fact that even the ANBU were delayed upon their mission.
"This is Beta Platoon, calling home. We need advice on how to proceed, over." The jonin in charge of the platoon spoke into the radio.
Static filled the radio for several long seconds before a voice burst out over the radio. "This is home base, we need the status of the ANBU team that was assigned to your paltoon, over."
The jonin looked at the chunin helping to run the radio with him before looking back at the receiver. "The ANBU leader felt it prevalent to achieve their mission within the selected time parameters and went ahead as we are still majorly delayed since our crossing point was destroyed, over."
Seconds more went by before they received their orders. "Negative, negative, recall the team at once. Negotiations are on-going with the Land of Rain as of this morning. Lord Hokage has ordered that these talks are not to be endangered."
A more confused expression met the chunin this time who looked confusedly back as they didn't even hear what was said, but the jonin complied anyway. "Copy that, home base. The ANBU team will be recalled."
The receiver was put down as the jonin made to voice his confusion.
AME.
The Deva Path stared apathetically at the missive he held within his hand. His jonin commander stood at his desk, hands behind his back as he stood at ease, occasionally fidgeting not at anything particular Deva did; but rather the uncomfortable silence gave him no impression to go off of.
"And you think this is acceptable, do you?" Deva asked in a neutral tone of voice, paper lowering slightly from his face so that his plain black irises could be clearly seen by the jonin commander. "Acceptable to send to the leaders of two of the great five nations, one of who single-handedly stopped the Rock invasion from the Kanabi Bridge?"
"Sir?" The jonin commander voiced his confusion, a desperate tone edging into his speech as a worried frown took place on his face, accompanying the sudden tilt of his head as if he wished to put more space between them. "Well sir, I did think it acceptable at the time-"
"Excellent." Deva stated. "This will be an excellent message to send them, one where we give no ground yet look as if we are conceding to a more powerful enemy. Not only will this stroke their egos, but this will also be enough to pacify the Yellow Flash into negotiating at least. We need to milk our image of simply retaliating on an act of war for all its worth, well done Commander."
Deva offered forth a hand across his desk to shake, which the jonin commander confusedly took as a confused expression took over his face before he wiped it clear. "Yes sir, thank you sir."
Deva put the missive down and gestured to it as it sat on the desk. "Send it at once." The jonin commander merely bowed his head before hurrying off, as Deva looked at it once more.
"To the corresponding Kage that this missive has been sent to. It has come to my attention that you wish to stage interventions to deal with the on-going crisis that the Grass has started with their act of war. As a leader myself, I know what it is like to wish to avoid war and so I am willing to concede to open negotiations with your fair countries in order to do so. I will halt all conflict and try to reach a truce with the Land of Grass so as to avoid any further trouble, whilst our discussions take place at least. I am willing to offer a fair deal in return for some appropriate compensation from the Land of Grass for initiating a costly war for which many of my soldiers have died. Please contact me at once so as to continue thes discussions, otherwise I will have to regrettably take your silence as an intervention on the side of an aggressor. I have also sent a copy of this to Lord Mifune of Iron Country to act as a mediator in our discussions, so as no one can claim an unfair discussion.
Sincerely,
Hanzo of the Salamander."
Deva smirked. As there was no international organisation in place to keep the peace, the best anyone could settle for was the ever-neutral Land of Iron; which would ensure that they would at least start discussions. Even ninja of the elemental nations held some shred of honour, and to refuse discussing peace when the Land of Iron was involved was tantamount to looking just as bad as an aggressor.
And given how the cards had been manipulated to be on his side and the fact that the Namikaze was a foolishly idealistic man and Onoki was a man of greed who could be pacified with some land for his own country, Pain was fairly sure he would get the deal. And given how his army was fortified right all over more than half of the Land of Grass, he was confident it would remain his.