As for the hasty and sudden assault by Iwagakure, whether it was connected to Orochimaru or if Orochimaru had encountered mishaps...
"Everyone! The hope for peace has been thoroughly shattered by Onoki," the Third Hokage declared loudly, suppressing his own worries.
He realized he needed to present a strong front. He was not only Orochimaru's teacher but also the Hokage of Konoha!
"Iwagakure has mobilized over ten thousand ninjas, with the Five-Tails Jinchuriki leading the charge. They have already crossed the border into the Land of Fire!"
"Onoki clearly intends to take advantage of the situation to breach Konoha, but he has underestimated our resolve!"
The Third Hokage raised his arm and shouted, "We will crush the invading enemy and drive Iwagakure's ninjas away!"
"Yes!" Without hesitation, the ninjas of various styles knelt, clearly divided: Jonin on the left and the Hokage's ANBU on the right!
Among the assembled ninjas, there was not a single figure bearing the Uchiha clan's crest...
With Iwagakure deploying their entire force and the Five-Tails nearly at Konoha's doorstep, the Third Hokage was determined to lead by example!
"Minato's team, the Sealing Unit, come with me to confront the Five-Tails head-on!" the Third Hokage issued his orders.
"Yes!" Minato accepted the command.
"Yes!" The Sealing Unit leader complied.
"Shikaku! Inoichi!" the Third Hokage called out.
"Yes!" x2
"Form a defensive line in the shortest time possible and bypass the Five-Tails to reach the front line!"
"Yes!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
With the situation urgent, Shikaku Nara led a large number of ninjas to the front line.
Aside from the ANBU and the Third Hokage, only four individuals remained on site.
They were Minato's team members: Minato Namikaze, Choza Akimichi, and Shibi Aburame. (Configuration based on the context.)
And...
A red-haired woman.
"Hokage-sama! What about me?" The red-haired woman appeared quite agitated.
"..." The Third Hokage paused for a moment, then said, "Kushina, you are Konoha's last line of defense..."
"If I fail to stop the Five-Tails..."
"Konoha will be up to you!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
The Third Hokage and his subordinates departed.
The red-haired woman stomped her foot. "Same old speech, so annoying!"
In response to Iwagakure's large-scale assault, Konoha's ninjas mobilized rapidly!
Shikaku Nara used the shortest time possible to plan thirteen advance routes for the Konoha ninja forces!
Each route avoided the Five-Tails' path and took into account the speed of Iwagakure's advancing army, ensuring that Konoha could reach the front line in the shortest time possible and intercept the enemy immediately!
Additionally, the dispersed advance could minimize the risk of Iwagakure's small squads launching surprise attacks!
There was a reason why the Nara clan's hairlines are generally receding...
The Third Hokage, leading by example, personally commanded the ANBU and Minato's team, rushing towards the Five-Tails!
"Has Onoki lost his mind...?"
In the Hokage's office, the three elders remained.
With the Third Hokage heading to the battlefield, they needed to guard the rear of Konoha.
"This scale of attack, with all the Jinchuriki deployed... This doesn't seem like a feint."
As ninjas from another era, the three elders remained calm.
At this moment, the orchestrator behind this event, who had been speeding towards Konoha, suddenly came to a halt.
"Hey! The white-haired old man up ahead!!!"
"You heading to Konoha too? We're going the same way, let me take you there!"