At this moment, Satoshi walked in, holding a large scroll.
"I've found some secret Ninjutsu from Kumogakure. See which one you like to learn."
"Naruto and Sasuke, how about you study this Lightning Release Chakra Mode and collaborate on Lightning Release: Lariat?"
"Hell Stab? This one seems a bit difficult..."
Naruto interrupted Satoshi, "Sensei, Sasuke doesn't seem to be doing too well."
"Hmm?"
Satoshi walked over, saw Sasuke's unfocused eyes, and then extended his middle finger.
"What number is this?"
"...One."
"If you can still see, then it's fine."
Naruto's face darkened. Seeing his teacher like this, he was furious. Why was his teacher so unreliable sometimes?
He was just like Jiraiya, who loved to write those smutty novels.
"Alright." Satoshi stopped teasing Naruto. "There is a way."
"You can go to Mount Myōboku for your training. Sasuke will stay home and rest quietly these few days."
"Understood, sensei. I'll go get Sasuke something to eat."
Satoshi nodded.
As soon as he stepped out of the main tent, a man wearing glasses and a pineapple-haired man approached him.
The Aburame clan head, Aburame Shibi and Konoha's super brain, Shikaku.
Satoshi asked, "What's the situation?"
"The number of reconnaissance teams dispatched by Iwagakure is more than expected, and their infiltration routes are more cunning. Their objective is very clear: to ascertain the true strength and troop deployment of our front line in the Land of Lightning. But rest assured, we have captured them all."
Satoshi nodded.
The situation was pretty much as they had expected. At their most recent meeting, they had carefully speculated on Iwagakure's next move.
Konoha ninjas had deliberately let Dodai escape, precisely so he would go to Iwagakure for reinforcements. When they rushed to the battlefield, they would send elite ninjas to ambush them.
The Kumo ninjas who managed to reach Kumogakure would surely be tired and exhausted, with combat effectiveness significantly reduced. At that point, they would swarm them, which would greatly reduce their own casualties.
However, it had been several days, and Ōnoki still hadn't made a move.
Could he be thinking of betraying them?
Shikaku seemed to read the doubt in Satoshi's eyes.
He took a step forward, lowering his voice even further. "Iwagakure's recent actions are very abnormal. Not only have they not reinforced the front line, but they have actually withdrawn some forces from the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain, and their main force is clearly retreating towards their homeland."
"Ōnoki is likely weighing whether this war is still profitable for Iwagakure if it continues. He might even have the intention of actively seeking peace talks."
Shibi nodded. "Kumogakure has been silent for this period, and the cunning Ōnoki will definitely become suspicious."
At this point, he and Shikaku exchanged glances.
If Iwagakure made concessions, then this war might end early. After all, Sunagakure alone could not contend with the Konoha army. At this stage, they were already starting to consider post-war negotiations. After all, the sooner a war ends, the better. One less day of fighting meant many fewer deaths.
"Hokage-sama, shouldn't we send a letter of persuasion to Iwagakure..."
"Yes, and also send a declaration of war to Iwagakure, telling them that Konoha is coming for them now, and to clean their necks and wait for death."
"Huh?" Shikaku was a little confused.
"If Ōnoki doesn't want to fight, we can..."
Satoshi sneered, "He fights when he wants to fight, and he doesn't fight when he doesn't want to fight? Does he think he calls the shots in the Ninja World?"
"When these three villages allied, they were aiming to destroy Konoha."
"Now that they see they can't chew us up, they want to raise a white flag and surrender, then just brush it off as if nothing happened? There's no such easy good thing in this world."
Shikaku pinched his forehead and sighed. The Uchiha clan's traditions were indeed different.
If it were the Third Hokage... bah, the Third Hokage was also very good.
"I understand." Shikaku said with a serious expression. "I will notify everyone immediately."
After Shikaku arranged the battle plan, the ninjas quickly quieted down.
"Are we still fighting?"
As long as there's war, people will die. And when people die, people cry.
Although they had enough confidence in the village, some of the younger ones, after experiencing the baptism of their first battle and seeing their comrades fall beside them, were still a little scared.
Choji crunched on potato chips, looking very nervous. Among the Twelve Genin, and among his peers, his combat power was definitely not weak. It's just that sometimes, he always subconsciously backed down.
Asuma lit a cigarette. "Choji, you need to be a little braver. You are now like your father, capable of being an independent ninja."
"I understand, Asuma-sensei." Choji frantically ate potato chips, trying to alleviate his anxiety.
As for Sasuke, lying in the sickbed, his expression was calm. For him, war was merely a means to get stronger.
If he couldn't even defeat those rabble, how could he defeat that annoying man?
And that big fool who was currently stuffing himself.
As for the oldest generation of comrades in the village, they appeared much calmer. They had heard about the terrifying Sengoku era from their fathers or grandfathers. Compared to that time, the current war was not at all cruel.
Back then, with Hashirama leading them to end the chaotic world, Konoha gained a foothold, and they had their own homeland.
Now, they wondered if this young Hokage, who inherited Tobirama's will, could lead them to victory once again.
—
Land of Water, Kirigakure.
The ninjas guarding the village received orders from Satoshi.
All forces to be dispatched to jointly oppose the allied forces of Iwagakure and Sunagakure.
Mei pinched her brow. This Hokage was truly aggressive.
Just moments ago, she had been speculating with Genji whether the war situation would change due to Kumogakure's defeat.
Now it seemed, it had indeed changed. It had become more intense.
"Notify everyone, we're deploying troops in one hour."
Genji paused. "All ninjas with combat capabilities must go to the battlefield."
Mei looked surprised. "Aren't we leaving some forces to protect the village? What if an enemy ambushes us?"
Genji pinched his brow and said, "We must show Konoha enough sincerity in this war, otherwise..."
Mei knew what he meant. Otherwise, if they incurred Konoha's displeasure, after dealing with these three villages, Satoshi would turn around and attack Kirigakure.
This rule-breaking Hokage was absolutely capable of doing such a thing.
"The wisest decision we've made these past years might be establishing a peace treaty with Konoha."
Mei rolled her eyes. "Hmph."
...
Iwagakure, Command Center.
Kumogakure had completely lost contact. The liaison team sent out was like a stone sinking into the sea.
Ōnoki, who had waited a long time without a reply, felt increasing pressure.
Kumogakure must be finished, otherwise, there wouldn't be such a prolonged silence. He was now considering peace talks. He had even secretly calculated his bottom line for negotiations.
Ceding some resource points in disputed border areas and paying a certain amount of war reparations.
As for Sunagakure's stance, it was clear. They would follow Iwagakure's instructions in everything.
If Iwagakure wanted to fight, they would fight. If Iwagakure surrendered, they would surrender too.
If all else failed, they would push the responsibility for starting the war onto Kumogakure, and hand over Dodai, Kumogakure's strategist stranded in Iwagakure, as a gesture of sincerity for peace.
They would claim that the two of them were incited by A, and so on.
Anyway, backstabbing was something everyone did frequently, so no one could criticize anyone else.
Ōnoki speculated that Konoha also didn't want to fight.
In the end, it would definitely be a lose-lose situation.
As soon as they surrendered, Konoha would surely agree eagerly. It would just involve giving up more territory and paying more money at the negotiating table.
Under the guidance of the Will of Stone, Iwagakure would rise again eventually.
(End of Chapter)
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