Born in Sunagakure, dedicated to antagonizing Konoha for decades

On the battlefield in Sunagakure, inside the Sunagakure camp, everyone except Shinto, including Rasa, was stunned by the Kirigakure's lineup. Over 40,000 people! A full 40,000! While they didn't know if there were any double-flowered red-ranked soldiers among them, there were at least a dozen red-ranked soldiers. This lineup was incredibly powerful. Although the Uchiha and Hyuga clans from Konoha had both entered the fray, how could a "mere" 20,000 people possibly fight against Kirigakure? Compared to Kirigakure's lineup, Iwagakure's lineup seemed so rudimentary, not even reaching the luxury tax level...

That's incredibly arrogant! They all suspected that Kirigakure, like Iwagakure, had launched a full-scale attack, leaving only the Mizukage in the village.

"This must be the full power of Kirigakure! What is the Mizukage doing? He's going to destroy the village!"

Rasa couldn't help but marvel at the mysterious Mizukage's audacity. Although Kirigakure had been developing its strength in a lowly manner for decades, this lineup should represent the full power of Kirigakure. This was a huge gamble. If they won, they would naturally enjoy great wealth and prosperity, but if they lost, Kirigakure would be set back at least ten years, and the village would be severely crippled.

He asked himself if he had the courage of the Mizukage. Not only did he not have it, but many people did not either. Who would bring all their resources to fight on an away field? They probably only supported that mysterious Mizukage. Don't be fooled by how many people Onoki brought. He left many elites behind to guard his home base. The Mizukage didn't leave any of them behind!

"Who cares if it's useless or not, it has nothing to do with us. It's perfect timing to send Jie on his way. This time, Sunagakure is going to make a killing. If we pull off this big heist, Sunagakure can roam freely in future wars!"

Shinto was actually taken aback by his idol's actions. He could guess that his idol was definitely planning something big. Anyway, Kirigakure wasn't Madara's business, so he wouldn't feel bad about what he did. However, he thought that if each clan in Kirigakure contributed some people, plus some cannon fodder, they could gather more than 30,000 people, just like Onoki. He didn't expect Madara's obsession with Konoha to be so deep. He brought all the main forces here. This was a move to fight Konoha to the death while not leaving Kirigakure any resources.

No wonder Obito was able to control just three Jinchuriki and launch the "Blood Mist Policy" in Kirigakure, crippling the village. It seems Madara's move already crippled the major clans; they were practically starving by then...

687. Onoki: Are those bastards here for a beauty pageant?

After receiving the message from Rasa, Ebizo, who was far away in Sunagakure, also approved of their plan. Although the battle had to be fought, the benefits that could be gained could not be missed. Since Chiyo had gone out to find her beloved grandson, Ebizo did not consult with anyone and immediately summoned Sasori's father, the two clan heads of the Umekawa and Yusa clans, and about a thousand of their clan's underlings. They immediately set sail for the Land of Water. Ebizo's guess was similar to everyone else's. Kirigakure had also mobilized more than 40,000 people this time, and almost all of them were elites. These people were almost the entire strength of Kirigakure.

Right now, Kirigakure is probably just the Mizukage and a few riffraff guarding their home. Sending Sasori's father, along with the elites from the Umekawa Naito and Yusaka Kakuzu clans, over there should be no major incidents as long as they're careful. Kirigakure's attention is probably all focused on the battlefield right now. After all, this is their entire fortune. If they lose, Kirigakure, being far from land and fighting on foreign soil, has no way out. They won't be able to care about their home anymore. Moreover, ever since Shimura Danzo led his men to offer sacrifices at someone else's doorstep, no one from the outside world has ever set foot in the Land of Water. They wouldn't expect anyone to be raiding there at this time.

Thinking this through, Ebizo felt confident that this was a sure thing. As long as Sasori's father didn't drink and didn't use the three-sword style, nothing bad would happen...

.....

While Sasori's father and his men were quietly heading towards the Land of Water, the Hidden Mist Village, fighting on its home turf, had finally finished regrouping. While Jiraiya, the second male lead's father, and the Hyuga brothers waited anxiously for reinforcements, everyone assumed the Hidden Mist Village was preparing to attack Konoha. However, the Hidden Mist Village delayed the attack, only occasionally sending the Seven Swords of the Mist to sneak up near Konoha's camp at night to kill a few people before retreating at dawn. Jiraiya, the second male lead's father, and the Hyuga brothers dared not pursue them. Firstly, they feared it might be a Hidden Mist Village conspiracy; secondly, the enemy's forces were simply too formidable. They genuinely dared not chase after them. The current standoff was the best outcome for them; they could wait for reinforcements to arrive before engaging in a decisive battle.

However, Kirigakure suddenly seemed to have embraced martial ethics and did not engage in battle with Konoha. It was as if they felt that it would be unfair for the enemy, with only 20,000 people, to win. Apart from the seven swordsmen of Kirigakure occasionally causing trouble, they remained completely silent.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Especially the leaders of the three major ninja villages who were preparing to cooperate with the Hidden Mist Village's operation—the Third Raikage, Onoki, and Rasa—looked more uncomfortable than if they had eaten shit.

"boom!"

"What are those bastards from Kirigakure doing? Are they here for a beauty pageant instead of fighting?!" (「▼皿▼)

Inside the Iwagakure camp, Onoki slammed his fist on the table in front of him, smashing it to pieces. His nose even seemed to be tingled with Armament Haki. He was furious. They had already sharpened their swords, and as soon as Kirigakure started fighting, they would immediately follow suit and put pressure on Konoha. Of the four fronts, Kirigakure had the biggest advantage. Once Kirigakure's line collapsed, they could directly attack Konoha's home base.

But those damn bastards from Kirigakure haven't started fighting yet, which is making Onoki, who's been sharpening his sword for a long time, extremely frustrated. He has no idea what those bastards are up to. If Kirigakure doesn't want to fight, there's no need to make such a big fuss all at once. Since they've already made such a big fuss, it's not going to be big now. Onoki is starting to wonder if those bastards have become idiots from not having fought in a raid for so long.

The enemy only had a little over 20,000 men, and the Uchiha and Hyuga combined totaled less than 1,000. The rest were just small fry. No matter how you looked at it, they couldn't possibly be a match for the Hidden Mist Village, which was composed of so many elite troops. Yet, they stupidly sent those seven idiots to launch sneak attacks all day long instead of charging in head-on.

Ohnoki was completely bewildered and overwhelmed by Kirigakure's secret maneuver.

"Perhaps something has happened in Kirigakure."

Tsuchiki, who was next to Ohnoki, stroked his chin and guessed.

Generally speaking, anyone with a sound mind can see that Kirigakure has a huge advantage right now. There's no reason why Kirigakure wouldn't see it, but they're delaying the attack. It's impossible that they're all out of their minds. The only reasonable explanation is that something has happened to Kirigakure.

"What happened? Did Hashirama Senju resurrect and take them to plant trees, or did Madara Uchiha resurrect and beat them all senseless? I bet these bastards are up to no good. Damn it, I knew I couldn't trust these despicable people! (▼ヘ▼#)"

Onoki gritted his teeth, furious. Such a good opportunity was right in front of him, but those bastards from Kirigakure didn't make a move. By the time reinforcements arrived, what was the point of fighting?

"..."

Tumu shrugged helplessly. He really couldn't guess what had happened in Wuyin. He just felt that something must have happened to make sense.

.....

"Damn it, what's wrong with these Kirigakure people? Are they even going to fight or not? (▼へ▼メ)"

Not only Onoki, but also the Third Raikage and others from Kumogakure were not in a good mood. However, the Third Raikage was not very obsessed with attacking Konoha. If Kirigakure made a move, they would immediately attack and put pressure on Konoha. If they could crush Konoha, that would be the best. If they couldn't, it wouldn't matter. Anyway, they were playing a supporting role this time, and it mainly depended on how Kirigakure performed.

They weren't as popular as Onoki yet, but they were also puzzled and annoyed. All the support characters had their swords sharpened and were just waiting for the protagonist to take the plunge, but the protagonist was dragging his feet. Wasn't that just messing with their mentality?

"Have those old guys not fought in so long that they've forgotten how to fight...?"

The future Fourth Raikage also started complaining with a dark expression.

"The Hozuki clan, the Minazuki clan, the Kaguya clan... so many clans have come, what could possibly happen...?"

Ignoring the complaints of the two muscular father and son in front of him, the big-headed man in burlap knelt on his seat, propping his head up and tapping the table with his fingers, causing the 64-core processor to run at high speed.

"Azabu, what's on your mind? (⊙_⊙)?"

The Third Raikage watched his own big head muttering to himself, contemplating life, and asked curiously. With Azabu's big head around, he was too lazy to bother with his brain; the high intelligence of the ninja clan wasn't just a boast.

(⊙_⊙)

People around also turned to look.

"I'm wondering... why Kirigakure hasn't made a move yet, is there some internal problem...?"

688. Uncle Ban never served as village chief.

"Huh? How do you know?"

The Third Raikage raised an eyebrow when he heard what the big-headed guy in the burlesque said.

The idea of ​​Azabu Big Head sounds quite novel. It's common for the various clans in the village to exclude and compete with each other. After all, ninjas are human too, and humans are not immune to human nature. The same is true for the Hidden Cloud Village. It's normal for the clans to fight each other in normal times, but when it comes to war, everyone must unite against a common enemy. This is their bottom line. The clans have maintained this habit for many years. But now Azabu Big Head says that there are problems within the Hidden Mist Village.

"The Kirigakure's lineup this time includes the Hozuki clan, the Minazuki clan, the Kaguya clan, the Hoshigaki clan, and many other clans, large and small. This lineup seems powerful, but it has a drawback. Among these large clans, except for the Kaguya clan which is not originally from the Land of Water, the Hozuki, Minazuki, and Hoshigaki clans are all powerful families from the original Land of Water. In particular, the Hozuki and Minazuki clans have not had a harmonious relationship since the Warring States period. This time, the Mizukage sent them here without clearly defining a clan leader. I guess these people are currently arguing about who should be the leader, and this is probably why they haven't started fighting yet."

After organizing his thoughts and thoughts, the big-headed man in burlap said.

"A snake can't function without a head. If they continue like this, the situation will be very difficult to predict once Konoha's reinforcements arrive."

After taking a sip of tea to moisten his throat, the big-headed man in burlap continued.

He really couldn't understand what that mysterious Mizukage was thinking. If the situation in Kirigakure was indeed as he suspected, then this Mizukage seemed to have done a rather incompetent job, sending out everyone without assigning a leader to them. This was truly...

........

"What the hell are those damn bastards doing?!"

Not only Onoki and his two companions, but even Madara, who was hanging on to his death somewhere in the Land of Water, was furious and looked like he might die at any moment.

He controlled the Mizukage to muster the troops, and the entire power of Kirigakure was mobilized, all in an effort to greatly weaken Konoha's strength. But now that everyone has landed and is fully rested, they still haven't started fighting Konoha. Instead, he heard from his white-clad underlings that these bastards are fighting over who's the leader.

Grandpa Ban is about to have a heart attack. His kaleidoscopes are spinning wildly. If he could, he would summon the Blue Giant to smash these bastards to death.

With an intelligence score of 98, Azabu's big head is truly amazing. He actually guessed the current situation in Kirigakure. Although Madara is fierce in killing people, he is also quite good at using his brain after turning to the dark side. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to devise such an interconnected plan that would affect the world's destruction for decades to come.

But in the end, Uncle Ban never served as a village chief. The highest official position he ever held was a high-ranking village official, and even then, it was a high-ranking village official with little real power. At most, he had only managed one family. There is a big difference between managing a family and managing a village. It's like a village chief who has been a village chief for decades suddenly becoming the head of state of a country, but his thinking is still stuck at the level of a village, and he hasn't considered many aspects.

Back when Madara was still the leader of the Uchiha clan, he would take these underlings to kill people. Because they were from his own clan, they didn't have many ulterior motives and just followed him to do what he said.

However, this village, especially one with many clans like Kirigakure, is a different story. Everyone in the village is always fighting and arguing. Apart from the Kaguya clan, who are outsiders and don't get involved, when have the Hozuki clan, the Minazuki clan, and other clans ever gotten along peacefully? Everyone is always trying to outdo each other. This time, Madara controlled the Mizukage and sent out all the clans, including their heads, but he forgot to appoint a leader.

Letting them decide who should be the leader is bound to lead to a situation where no one is willing to submit to anyone else. So, before a leader is decided, the Mist Hidden Camp is more bustling than a vegetable market.

The Seven Swordsmen of Kirigakure, who frequently caused trouble at Konoha's camp, weren't plotting anything. They simply saw that the various clans were locked in a stalemate, and waiting around wasn't a solution for them. This was their battle to make a name for themselves, so they certainly wouldn't stay in the camp. On the way there, their swords had been honed to a gleaming shine, practically ready for consecration. They had no patience to wait for the outcome in the camp; it was better to go to Konoha, gather some kills, and boost their numbers. With a good track record, they could secure a top-tier salary and a more secure future...

.....

So far, only Azabu Big Head has guessed the situation in Kirigakure. Although Nara Shikaku has an intelligence of 98, his experience is not as rich as Azabu Big Head's, so he did not consider this aspect. Moreover, he is already under great pressure on the battlefield in Iwagakure. Although Hiruzen Sarutobi has arrived with support, they are still in a difficult position against this lineup. The main reason is that although Minato Namikaze has accepted Hiruzen Sarutobi's teachings and gradually changed his team fighting rhythm, he is still not good at prolonged battles due to his naturally weak foundation. The Four-Tails Jinchuriki is known for being thick-skinned and durable. Minato Namikaze's Rasengan can only blast people away and dent their Tailed Beast Cloaks, without causing any major damage. Once Minato Namikaze's legs give out, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki can still fight, just with less impressive stats than before.

However, they are still being suppressed by Iwagakure. The Four-Tails Jinchuriki and other tough and durable heroes are too much of a counter to agility-type heroes, especially since Minato has an extreme full agility build, making him a hard counter.

As the chief strategist on the battlefield, he has to think about how to solve this problem and consider the current situation. He doesn't have time to consider what the situation is like in Kirigakure. Moreover, Kirigakure is not making a move for a long time, which is not good for Konoha. Otherwise, if they really charge, Jiraiya's side will not be able to withstand it.

So basically, when there wasn't a fight, he was dragged into the camp by Hiruzen Sarutobi every day to try to change the situation, and he didn't have time to think about what was happening in Kirigakure.

"Actually, there are ways, but the chances of success are not very high."

Nara Shikaku, after staying in his tent for three days, forced himself to speak despite his sleepiness.

"Oh. Tell me, what's the plan?"

After Nara Shikaku spoke, inside the tent, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Minato Namikaze, and Tsuru Inuzuka all turned to look at this lazybones.

Damn, if only we could just get rid of this guy's laziness, it would be so much better. It took him three whole days to come up with a solution.

689. Rosa still needs to be brushed.

"Actually, we've all fallen into a trap, always thinking about how to deal with the Four-Tails Jinchuriki. But it turns out that the Four-Tails Jinchuriki type is very effective against Minato, so this approach is simply not feasible. Right now, most of the Iwa ninja's forces are on the front lines, leaving the interior vulnerable. I suspect that Onoki is probably setting a trap, waiting for people to fall into it. However, this is also an opportunity for us. If we can go around and do something in the Land of Earth, Onoki will definitely become wary and retreat with some of his men. He can't leave so many people on the front lines forever. But this method is also very dangerous. After all, it's obviously a trap set by Onoki. If we still go into it, those people in the Land of Earth will be in danger."

Nara Shikaku organized his thoughts and analyzed the situation.

"That's one way, but it's very dangerous. What other options are there?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. It was indeed a good idea, but it was too dangerous. The people who went around to the Land of Earth would likely face tens of thousands of underlings led by Onoki. As the Hokage, he certainly couldn't bear to watch them die in vain. He was a fighter by birth, unlike Danzo who switched from writing and only knew how to throw his head away.

Speaking of which... Danzo went to the Land of Rain a long time ago and hasn't returned yet. I wonder if he's dead...

"Another method, even less certain than the previous one, is to capture the leader first. Next time the battle starts, we, Ino-Shika-Cho, will hold off the Four-Tails Jinchuriki while Minato and the Hokage try to defeat Onoki, capture him, or injure him, forcing him to retreat. However, this method is time-limited. After all, even if Choza uses forbidden techniques, it's not certain that he can hold off the Four-Tails Jinchuriki for long. Moreover, if the Four-Tails Jinchuriki brings out the entire Four-Tails, the consequences will be even more troublesome."

Nara Shikaku looked at his friend Minato as he spoke. This friend was the key. Onoki was all too familiar with the Hokage's tactics. Their fights always went in two modes: one was a barrage of ninjutsu, but in this chaotic battlefield, they couldn't really have that kind of barrage. The aftershocks of the ninjutsu clashes alone could kill their teammates. So, it always came down to the second mode: one flying around in the air while the other kept poking around on the ground. But because Onoki could fly, it was very difficult for his friend to injure or catch him.

"...Let's go with the second method. Let's discuss Minato."

Upon hearing Nara Shikaku's suggestion, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes lit up. Without the slightest hesitation, he chose the second method. Whether it was capturing Onoki or injuring Onoki, although it was somewhat difficult, it was not impossible with Minato's cooperation. Moreover, he would feel good whether he injured or captured Onoki.

That bastard dares to call me a perverted monkey.

"Minato, remember to go all out, preferably aim for his kidneys..."

Minato: "....ヾ(′▽｀;)ゝ"

......

"Let's go! Magnet Release: Glass Shatter!!"

While the other three battlefields were at a stalemate, Rasa from Sunagakure couldn't stand it any longer and started fighting Konoha once again.

He's different from Onoki and the Third Raikage. Onoki and the Third Raikage are both veteran leaders, and they no longer need to boost their influence in the village. But Rasa needs to. He's only been in power for a short time and is young and inexperienced. If he doesn't take advantage of this war to boost his influence, he won't be as effective as Ebizo when he returns to the village. This is a very difficult situation for anyone.

Moreover, Sasori's father has already set off for the Land of Water. If they don't make a commotion to distract Sasori's father, the situation in the Land of Water will easily be exposed. So, Iwagakure and Kumogakure can endure the loneliness, but Sunagakure must fight.

So far, he hasn't even gotten an MVP. The leader of the Aburame clan is too damn cunning. Even though he's stronger than his opponent and his Golden Sands are more powerful than the opponent's bugs, he just can't break through the opponent's defense, which is making him quite frustrated.

He originally thought that with Shindou-sama restraining Konoha's White Fang, he should at least be able to get a few MVPs. The leader of the Aburame clan was old and past his prime. As for the other one, Yuhi Shinku, who made a living with genjutsu, he might be able to handle it in a one-on-one fight, but he couldn't defend against him in this kind of large-scale team battle.

However, after several encounters, he finally witnessed the strength of Konoha. Although the leader of the Aburame clan was a veteran of Konoha, he was not well-known and could not compare to the previous generation of Ino-Shika-Cho. His most impressive moment was more than ten years ago during the Second World War when he teamed up with the previous Hyuga clan leader to fight the Third Raikage, and was eventually beaten to a pulp by the Third Raikage.

That was already the old guy's most impressive moment, but even this old guy, who was already at the tail end of his peak, was able to be restrained by him. How could Rasa, who had just become the Kazekage and was determined to lead the village to become bigger and stronger by inheriting his teacher's will, accept this?

So when Shinto and Sakumo went to the other side to have a duel, Rasa and his underlings rushed up without saying a word and started with a wide-range attack.

"Secret Technique: Insect Tornado!"