I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 538 The Farmer's Son Who Traveled Thousands of Miles to Fight: The Sin of Killing No One Compares to the Man Who Went There

"Why is it Sakamoto Tatsuma again?! Doesn't he need any rest? In the past year, has he even had a single day off?!"

In Iwagakure, inside the Tsuchikage's office at the Tsuchikage's building, Onoki was furious as he looked at the battle report. A young man was kneeling in the office; it was Bunya, who had returned from Takigakure.

Huang Tu stood beside Onoki and said, "Actually, there is some. In the past year, he spent ten days away from the front lines and returned to the village. However, for him, who has mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, returning to the battlefield is too easy."

If Sakamoto Tatsuma couldn't use the Flying Thunder God Technique, his threat level would be reduced by more than one level, because traveling back and forth on the battlefield always takes time, and even a one or two-day time difference is enough to do a lot of things.

However, Tatsuma is skilled in the Flying Thunder God Technique, and many times, even if the enemy knows he is not on the battlefield, they dare not do anything because they are not sure when Tatsuma Sakamoto will arrive at the front line.

This time was no different. When the hunting squad received news that Sakamoto Tatsuma had "invaded" Takigakure Village, the village immediately made a decision and issued an order to advance the front line in order to profit from it.

Even without rest, regular ninjas would need one or two days to travel from Takigakure to the front lines, given the rugged terrain.

However, less than three hours after the plan was put into action, while the Jinchuriki of the Tailed Beasts were still waiting for an opportunity to strike, a battle report came from the front line that Sakamoto Tatsuma had suddenly appeared on the front line and captured nearly two hundred Iwa ninja with a single Wood Release technique.

Fortunately, they have extended and broadened their battle lines, so the number of ninjas in a single area is not dense. If this were six months ago, before the battle formation was changed, the number would probably be more than two hundred, perhaps five or six times higher.

The surprise attack plan was abruptly ended from the very beginning due to the appearance of Sakamoto Tatsuma, and the commander at the front line had no choice but to order a retreat.

However, even the most disciplined teams will inevitably falter when they retreat, and Konoha seized the opportunity to advance against the odds, losing nearly fifty miles of battle lines in just over a day.

Countless stranded supplies, equipment, and weapons were all seized by Konoha, resulting in significant losses. Currently, the frontline is barely holding its ground, and with Konoha lacking manpower, Iwagakure has managed to avoid further retreat.

After simmering in anger for a long time, Onoki looked at the kneeling Wenya and asked angrily, "You dozen or so people couldn't even hold off Sakamoto Tatsuma for a few hours?!"

Wen Ya, his eyes dull and lifeless, shook his head, his shrill voice still tinged with indelible fear, and said, "I can't do it, not even for a moment."

To say it happened in an instant is an exaggeration, because they had no ability to resist at all. Even the Jonin leading the team, Kari, a Kekkei Genkai Explosion Release ninja from the most elite unit of Iwagakure, couldn't cause Tatsuma the slightest trouble.

Onoki's eyelids twitched, and he said, "Why are you the only one who came back? Where are the others? Where's Kari?"

Wen Ya took out a roll covered in blood scabs from behind his waist, raised it with both hands, and said with an unconcealed sob, "Everyone else was killed. They gave their lives to save me."

These are everyone's corpses, and Lord Kari's corpse too. His corpse was taken by Sakamoto Tatsuma.

Upon hearing this, Onoki's face darkened. Although he had anticipated this outcome, the fact that so many elite troops couldn't even hold off Sakamoto Tatsuma was still shocking.

Also, what is...

"Exchange? What do you mean?!"

Huang Tu realized this too, and his face darkened as he questioned Wen Ya. Wen Ya gritted his teeth, enduring the humiliation, and said, "Sakamoto Tatsuma only agreed to let one person return to the village for help. I... I was the one who was let go."

"You didn't escape? How come?"

Huang Tu wanted to ask more questions, but Onoki stopped him by raising his hand. He got up from his seat, walked around the desk, and came to Wenya.

Looking at his subordinate, who was kneeling on the ground and still taller than him, Onoki took the scroll the subordinate was holding in his hands, stepped forward, gently embraced Bunya's head, and said:

"Child, you've suffered so much. Go and rest. You haven't done anything wrong. It was everyone's choice. You must bear their expectations and continue living, do you understand?"

"Waaaaah~"

The moment the words left his mouth, Wenya burst into tears like a child, his burly body trembling. He was even more helpless than a child left alone at home by his parents, facing the darkness and loneliness.

Onoki gently stroked the back of Wenya's head, comforting him as he handed the scroll in his hand towards Huangtu, saying, "Huangtu, make the arrangements to bury him with the highest honors."

"Yes, Father!"

Huang Tu nodded and took the scroll, but did not leave immediately. Instead, he looked at his father expectantly, feeling that his father was somewhat different from before.

"More...realistic?" Thinking this, he looked at his father with anticipation and said, "Father, what about Senior Shou's corpse, and their grudge?"

When Onoki heard his stupid son's words, the muscles in his neck tensed up. He wished he could break his son's knees with a slap. At this moment, Wenya also raised his head. His face was covered in tears, but his two eyes, which had regained a little light, stared at Onoki.

Whenever Wen Ya was not present, he had many ways to steer the conversation away from the topic, or simply order a diplomatic letter to severely condemn Konoha's actions.

But with Wenya present, and a "child" whose will had been battered and broken, if he dared to say those things again, Wenya would probably completely question his own ninja way.

At that point, it will make little difference whether Wenya comes back or not. In fact, once the conversation gets out, it will be a huge blow to his reputation and the morale of the entire village.

Onoki was tricked by his own son and put on the spot. One wrong move and his words and decisions could become the torch that ignites the woodpile.

After a moment's thought, Onoki gritted his teeth and said, "I will definitely seek justice for the fallen heroes of Iwagakure! Koto, go and inform the front lines; I will go there personally!"

"Yes, Father!"

Huang Tu grinned and quickly left. Seeing his enthusiastic demeanor, Onoki almost ground his teeth to powder. This kid seems to be too idle. He needs to find him a wife to keep him busy and distract him.

To avoid constantly upsetting and angering his elderly father!

Wenya cried even louder at this point, but the light in her eyes was gradually returning.

The news that Onoki was going to the front line quickly reached the front line. This news undoubtedly greatly boosted the morale of the rank-and-file ninjas. Those who were still hesitating about whether to continue retreating instantly stood firm.

On the grassland, inside a brand-new wooden house, Orochimaru looked at the message returned by the reconnaissance team, a malicious smile on his face, and said to Tatsuma:

"Tatsuma, there are no excuses this time. Judging from the actions of the Iwa ninja, it's clear that Onoki intends to join the war again."

Just two days ago, Tatsuma made an excuse to avoid fighting Onoki. He never expected that, only two days later, Onoki would quietly give him a "surprise".

He clicked his tongue and said, "What's wrong with Onoki? He's so old, why isn't he staying home? Why is he going to the battlefield? Can't he learn from the Third Hokage and retire early?"

"Don't you want to fight him? Or do you feel you're no match for him?"

Jiraiya asked curiously, and Tatsuma shook his head and said, "No, no matter how experienced Onoki is or how amazing his bloodline limit is, if he can't hit me, he's not much of a threat."

But if I were to defeat him, this war would likely end much faster than anticipated; the war cannot end at this stage.

"Do you know how many more comrades' lives we'll lose for every day the war continues?!"

Kushina was about to say something when Minato stopped her halfway through. Seeing the seriousness on Minato's face, Kushina wanted him to agree with her, but Minato said instead:

"Tatsuma is right, the war cannot stop yet."

Kushina stared at Minato in disbelief, and even Tsunade frowned. Although Tsunade did not directly question Tatsuma like Kushina did, after all, he was her disciple, what kind of nonsense was this, that the war could not be stopped?

Shikaku nodded and said, "If the war were to end now, then Konoha would be the loser. Even if we win the war, Konoha will still be the loser."

Konoha has exhausted all its resources for this war, but Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and even Sunagakure still have reserves. Once the war ends, the effort and time Konoha will need to revive will be several times greater than that of the other ninja villages.

"Can't we make them pay war reparations? Besides, after winning the war, shouldn't Konoha's orders be pouring in? Why are you saying we're the losers?"

Kushina was still unconvinced. Orochimaru gave her a disapproving look and said, "Money is not the village's primary goal. Besides, even if there are countless requests, how many can the current number of ninjas accept?"

At that time, the commissions that Konoha could not afford would also flow to other ninja villages, and the so-called war reparations they paid would be quickly recovered from the commission orders.

If a ceasefire is declared now, Konoha will likely become the weakest of the five great ninja villages within three years, and it might not recover for at least ten years. If the other ninja villages join forces to suppress it, the outcome will be even more uncertain.

Tatsuma, Minato, and Shikaku all nodded simultaneously, and even Shisui nodded thoughtfully. Although he couldn't fully understand it yet, he could accept the explanation.

Tsunade and Kushina, on the other hand, both frowned. Tsunade couldn't help but ask, "But if we continue fighting, won't there be fewer and fewer ninjas left in Konoha?"

"There will be fewer and fewer, but the same will happen to other ninja villages. Tatsuma instigated the war between the Earth and Lightning Kingdoms to make the war more intense and cause more deaths in other ninja villages."

When the number of ninjas in the five great nations is reduced to the same level due to this war, and even when the number of surviving Konoha ninjas surpasses that of other ninja villages, that will be the time for us to declare victory.

If the number of ninjas decreases, then the orders in the entire ninja world will fall into a situation where no one can handle them. At that time, the client will have to raise the unit price in exchange for priority in the commission.

As the victorious village, Konoha also has the right to prioritize acquiring those who control the most resources, ensuring that Konoha's development in the next era consistently outpaces other ninja villages.

As the person who "knows" Tatsuma's personality best, Shikaku provided the answer. Tatsuma nodded, agreeing with Shikaku's statement. Kushina opened her mouth and said, "But... how many people would die?"

She looked at the expressionless Tatsuma and said, "You really are a monster."

Even though Shikaku's statement was tactful enough and conveyed that Konoha would be the ultimate beneficiary, few ninjas could easily accept this approach.

Therefore, when the village and Tatsuma tell others the purpose of the war, they embellish and package it to motivate them to participate, rather than considering whether they are victims of the village's power struggle.

What tailed beasts? Compared to Tatsuma, who orchestrated all of this, the tailed beasts are as innocent as children. I'm afraid that even with their thousand-year lifespans, the nine tailed beasts could not kill as many people as Tatsuma's will guided them to death.

Compared to the tailed beasts, Sakamoto Tatsuma is the real monster!

"You finally understand!"

Within the spiritual realm, the Nine-Tailed Fox roared, its words filled with excitement and agitation, like a "bad student" who had suddenly gained recognition.

Tatsuma crossed his arms and said coldly, "In short, this war must continue."

(End of this chapter)