"This waste... he's usually servile enough, but at least he looked like a living person. Now? He's practically a walking corpse."
"Who? Oh, you mean the 'illustrious' Chunin Yoshida?"
"Maybe he's finally come to his senses? Ashamed of his own incompetence and ready to end it all?"
"Doubtful. He's far too terrified of death for that..."
"It's likely because of recent events. We're mobilizing our forces; even a wretch like him will probably be part of the 'operation'."
"If that's the case, the thought of standing on the same battlefield as him makes me feel like I'll be cursed with bad luck."
"Enough talk. With our strength, we'll crush the Cloud, move on to Konoha, and ultimately claim victory in this Great War."
"Still, a ninja like him facing the Hidden Cloud? He's a dead man this time."
"Yeah. Dead as a doornail."
Hagoromo walked down the street, the steady stream of such remarks flowing into his ears. He personally didn't care, but he couldn't help but feel that the real Yoshida's life was truly pathetic.
Nearly every shinobi who recognized him seemed to take a malicious delight in the fact that he was heading to war. "Malicious delight" was perhaps too kind a term; many viewed him as a stain on the Hidden Rock, openly and viciously hoping he would meet his end as soon as possible.
Because of this, Hagoromo had spent the last few days maintaining a look of utter despair and impending doom, perfectly mimicking the aura of a man who knew he was marked for death.
He had been in the Hidden Rock for a week now. To avoid exposure, he had maintained a "perfect mimicry," never daring to let his guard down for even a second.
Even for someone as naturally optimistic as Hagoromo, staying deep within the enemy's nest placed an immense psychological burden on him.
To not relax meant exactly that: not for a single moment.
In the past, he had held somewhat negative views regarding the role of a spy. Having experienced it firsthand, his feelings had shifted toward genuine respect.
He had only been here for a few days. These career spies lived under the enemy's nose for years—some might never be exposed, while others could be discovered at any second. It was a life of constant, suffocating tension.
It was a profession for those who craved the ultimate adrenaline rush.
Hagoromo decided then and there that he was not cut out for this line of work long-term.
Regardless, his wish was granted: Yoshida was to be part of the upcoming mobilization.
The detailed tactical arrangements and the exact timing of the incursion into the Land of Lightning hadn't been shared with a bottom-tier Chunin like Yoshida. However, based on Hagoromo's observations—the frantic preparations, the tension in the air, and other subtle clues—the move was imminent. It would happen within three days at the latest.
The atmosphere of war was already palpable.
As for exactly how many would be participating, Hagoromo couldn't be certain. He couldn't verify the "5,000 men" figure the spy had given him.
To confirm troop numbers, one didn't necessarily need to steal documents; a simple inspection of the war supplies being moved would provide a rough estimate.
Yet, out of caution, he refrained.
With Yoshida's personality, he would never go near such a place. If he appeared at a supply depot looking inquisitive, it would raise immediate red flags.
A man this terrified of death wouldn't care about war preparations. Besides, that wasn't for a ninja of his level to worry about. His only job was to follow orders and die for the Hidden Rock.
And despite the optimistic chatter on the streets, the Rock's leadership—from the Tsuchikage down to the tactical commanders—knew exactly how formidable the Hidden Cloud truly was.
They might be optimistic, but they were not arrogant.
The Hidden Rock acknowledged the Cloud as a peer-level threat. Had Konoha not tied down the majority of the Cloud's combat power and mobility, they never would have chosen this moment to launch a surprise raid on the Land of Lightning.
As Hagoromo was mentally rehearsing various battlefield scenarios and strategies, he saw two figures approaching from the opposite direction.
He was startled... no, Yoshida was startled, and promptly scurried to the side of the road.
Most Rock shinobi had rugged, similar features that made them hard to distinguish, but one of the men approaching was a high-priority target.
Even before this mission, Hagoromo knew exactly who he was.
One of the two was Kitsuchi, a High Jonin of the Hidden Rock and the son of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki.
According to intelligence, Kitsuchi possessed overwhelming strength and was highly likely to be one of the primary commanders for this operation.
The two passed by Hagoromo without giving him a second glance. However, snippets of their conversation drifted clearly into his ears.
"Lord Kitsuchi, shouldn't we be checking the readiness of the personnel... or perhaps the supply stockpiles? Where are you going at a time like this?"
"Haha, leave those matters to the others. My daughter was just born; I want to spend as much time as possible with her before the war begins."
"Oh... your daughter..."
"Kurotsuchi. Her name is Kurotsuchi. The old man named her himself..."
The question was: what was the takeaway from that conversation?
The takeaway wasn't that Kitsuchi's daughter was named Kurotsuchi, nor was it wondering if she had been born prematurely...
The real takeaway was that Kitsuchi was indeed a primary commander, and preparations for war had reached their final phase.
As the two walked away, Hagoromo continued forward.
All shinobi ordered to participate had to report by the end of the day. It was the final deadline, so Hagoromo had to make his appearance. True to Yoshida's nature, he had waited until the very last possible moment to move.
Hagoromo's intuition was correct. The war began almost immediately.
Early the next morning, he received the signal for an emergency muster.
When the full force of the shinobi gathered, Hagoromo was left utterly speechless. This wasn't 5,000 men. A quick glance suggested he'd have to double that number to be even close.
No wonder even a wretch like Yoshida was being sent.
Was the Hidden Rock planning to go all-in for this campaign?
At this moment, he wondered if it would be more effective to send word back to Konoha—to suggest that instead of a coordinated pincer, they should launch a direct assault on the now-depleted Hidden Rock Village.
Unfortunately, it was too late. By the time Konoha could mobilize and strike the Land of Earth, the opportunity would have long vanished.
Moreover, he had no way to transmit a message that quickly.
While such a massive mobilization couldn't be kept perfectly secret, the Hidden Rock had been extremely vigilant against spies lately.
As Hagoromo's mind raced through a hundred different thoughts, the ten-thousand-strong army of the Hidden Rock began to move. They marched out of the village, advancing toward the Land of Lightning.
They marched toward the battlefield.
Some marched toward victory.
Others marched toward their graves.