Uchiha's personal opinion

But... the more I look, the more alarmed I become.

The ninja army's offensive and advance speed were almost exactly the same as the pre-battle tactical simulation, and the combat power they unleashed was unmatched by the Rain Ninja.

"This is the ninja clan..."

Hanzo the Salamander sighed inwardly, feeling somewhat disheartened.

He then dispelled the spirit mediumship of the salamander, Ibuki, to prevent the accidental release of its deadly poison and the resulting unnecessary harm.

As the ninja alliance advanced on both sides of the port, the Kirigakure ninja forces, which had been engaged in a fierce battle with the Rain Ninja Water Demons, also retreated. The Rain Ninja forces began to land and spread out an encirclement from both flanks in an attempt to annihilate the Kirigakure coastal defense forces.

Guided by Hozuki and the ninja Minazuki, the three ironclad warships at sea slowly approached the port.

Although the battle continues, the dust has settled and the outcome is no longer in doubt.

Hanzo the Salamander leaped into the air and used the Body Flicker Technique to return to the bow of the Ninja Clan's Will-class ironclad ship.

"Mr. Hanzo, you've worked hard..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu's tone was very cheerful.

Although this battle was costly, the results were sure to be very fruitful, and the casualties of our own ninja army were sure to be negligible.

For the shogunate, whose potential was limited, this was the best possible outcome.

"It consumed the chakra of one Body Flicker Technique and one Summoning Technique, so it's really not that strenuous..."

Hanzo the Salamander let out a deep sigh through his gas mask, "...However, this battle also shows that, without a doubt, the Tokumitsu Shogunate's ninja army is the strongest in the ninja world in terms of combat power."

"Mr. Hanzo, you flatter me. Your little lads still have a lot of room for improvement."

Uchiha Tokumitsu smiled reservedly.

……

At approximately 5:00 AM on October 15th, 37th year of Konoha, under the command of Uchiha Tokumitsu, the Shogunate's ninja army launched the second round of the Kirigakure invasion. They annihilated the Kirigakure's underwater and coastal defense forces stationed outside the port of the Daimyo's residence in the Land of Water. After landing and resting briefly, the ninja army headed towards the nearby Daimyo's residence.

When the news reached Konoha, it immediately caused an uproar.

Immediately afterwards, the Namakawa Stock Exchange announced the issuance of its second Eastern War Bond, with an annual interest rate of 6% and a total face value of one billion taels, which was snapped up within half a day.

Chapter 196 The Arrogant and Unreasonable Shogun Leads His Troops to Advance on the Daimyo Prefecture

The distance between the ports of Kinki and the daimyo prefecture is not far, only about fifty kilometers, which is at most half an hour for a ninja's march.

Therefore, when the shogunate's ninja army launched its offensive, the daimyo and nobles of the Land of Water learned of the relevant intelligence immediately.

At the same time, it was learned from the commander of the Kirigakure garrison that the Kirigakure ninja army, originally planned to have 2,000 men and only responsible for guarding the Daimyo's capital, had had a portion secretly transferred by the elders to the south to support the southern islands, leaving only about 1,500 ninja soldiers stationed at the port and in the Daimyo's capital...

Of these 1,500 people, nearly 1,000 were ninja troops deployed at the port and on the outer defenses of the Daimyo Prefecture.

How are the outer defensive fortifications deployed?

Daming was so angry that his head was spinning, but he still managed to suppress the urge to vent his anger and asked coldly.

When the shogunate's ninja army launched its offensive in the southern and eastern islands, the daimyo's energy was mainly focused on correspondence with the other four major countries, discussing how to curb the expansion of the ninja clan's power and control the ninja village's influence on the secular world, and he did not pay much attention to the ninja army's defenses.

Now, the consequences of being careless have arrived.

"...Three hundred underwater troops and three hundred coastal defense troops were deployed at the ports of Kinki, and about four hundred people were deployed on both flanks."

The commander of the Mist Village was ashen-faced and answered in a low voice.

"A thousand ninja soldiers... Hehehe..."

Upon hearing this, Daimyo was so angry that he let out a gloomy laugh like that of a night owl.

The palace eunuchs and warriors inside were so frightened that they dared not even breathe.

"If ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if five times, attack them..."

After finally calming himself down, the Daimyo asked in a cold voice, "How many Uchiha rebels have come?"

"About... two or three thousand people..."

The commander of the Mist Village could only give a vague response.

The outer defenses had completely collapsed under the fierce offensive of the Shogunate's ninja army. The few defeated ninjas who escaped back to the Daimyo's residence could not say how many enemies there were. The only details of the battle that the Kirigakure commander knew were that the demigod salamander Hanzo, hired by Uchiha Tokumitsu, easily broke through the Kirigakure's defenses with the salamander's deadly poison. Subsequently, the Kirigakure ninja army was quickly defeated under the fierce offensive of the Shogunate's landing forces.

The number of the attacking shogunate ninja was only roughly estimated based on the number of ships.

Daiming closed his eyes wearily.

"Your Highness, please leave the palace to inspect the northern region!"

Konoe Atsushi knelt down with a thud and pleaded.

He heard of the great name, but remained unmoved.

Several ministers of the inner court who had initially tried to dissuade Konoe Atsushi also shut their mouths.

The fact that the emperor did not refuse means that he intends to "go out of the palace for inspection".

However, we still need to find a few reasons to give His Highness a way out.

"How is Yagura, the commander stationed at the northern county seat, doing now?"

Ignoring his colleagues' thoughts, Konoe Atsushi turned to the Kirigakure commander and asked.

"I have already sent someone to inform Jonin Yagura that the ninja forces have likely already been mobilized to the area north of the Daimyo's capital for defense..."

The commander of Kirigakure was also intimidated by Atsushi Konoe's imposing presence and could not help but reply.

"How many ninja are there? What is their combat strength? Are they reliable?"

Konoe Atsushi continued to ask.

Although his tone was aggressive, the commander of the Hidden Mist Village didn't bother to argue.

"Approximately two thousand ninja soldiers, all elites from Kirigakure; and Yagura Jonin is a Jinchuriki, who once fought alone against Uchiha Tokumitsu, Hatake Sakumo, and Orochimaru on the battlefield of the Land of Fire without being defeated..."

"Your Highness, please leave the palace to inspect the north! Jonin Yagura is already waiting for your arrival!"

Konoe Atsushi no longer hesitated and turned to kowtow repeatedly to the daimyo.

Da Ming remained silent.

Only the clear, resounding sound of Atsushi Konoe's kowtow echoed within the palace.

"Daimyo Prefecture is where the ancestral temples and shrines are located, and it's the center of national governance. How can one easily go out there..."

After a moment, the daimyo spoke softly, "Get up, Lord Atsushi... As a middle coroner, you should act like a noble official. Don't humiliate yourself like this..."

Despite this, the officials breathed a sigh of relief.

The daimyo intends to go out on an inspection tour!

"Your Highness! The northern prefectures are also part of His Majesty's territory, and it is only right that they be inspected to appease the people! You must not be stuck in Daming Prefecture and unaware of the true situation in the region!"

The Home Secretary immediately knelt down and said.

"Yes yes yes..."

"Your Highness, we urge you to inspect the northern frontier and bring peace to the people!"

Other eunuch ministers who were slower to react spoke up.

"BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!"

Just then, the faint sound of explosive tags detonating could be heard outside.

A ninja hurriedly leaped and landed outside the palace, hesitating whether or not to enter.

The commander of Kirigakure recognized him as his messenger ninja and beckoned him inside.

The messenger ninja hurriedly entered and whispered a report to the Hidden Mist commander.

"call……"

After listening to his subordinate's report, the Kirigakure commander waved for him to leave and addressed the assembled officials who were anxiously awaiting news in the hall: "The vanguard of the Uchiha ninja army has arrived at the outskirts of the Daimyo's residence, and about three hundred men are launching a probing attack..."

"According to the scout ninja's report, there are still more than two thousand enemy troops landing, assembling, and undergoing training in the rear..."

The Daimyo Prefecture was only guarded by five hundred ninja soldiers...

Even the port and outer defenses, defended by thousands of ninja soldiers, couldn't hold out for long against the shogunate's ninja offensive. The ninja force of the daimyo's prefecture probably wouldn't even be enough to satisfy the shogunate's ninja army's teeth...

Although the commander of Kirigakure did not say it explicitly, the daimyo and nobles all knew the meaning behind his words.

“Even when touring various prefectures, ancestral temples, shrines, and government offices still need to be guarded and protected…”

The daimyo said softly, "Lord Atsushi, are you willing to take on this important task?"

"Your Highness's appreciation is greatly appreciated; I will certainly do my utmost!"

Although being left in the daimyo's mansion might be dangerous, Konoe Atsushi took the job without hesitation and kowtowed repeatedly in gratitude.

"Attendant, prepare the carriage!"

Without further hesitation, the lord stood up, and the eunuchs quickly stepped forward to help him up.

At this moment, the sound of the detonating tags exploding grew louder and louder.

……

"My lord, please launch the attack!"

Standing on a hill in the southern part of Daimyo Prefecture, Uchiha Tokumitsu led two detachments of the Seii (suppression of the barbarians) to observe the situation in Daimyo Prefecture of the Land of Water.

Hozuki Masahiko and Minazuki Chino, who were accompanying him, were already impatient and wanted to massacre the Daimyo's mansion to avenge the extermination of their clan.

After annihilating the port's garrison, Uchiha Tokumitsu did not rush to attack the Daimyo's mansion. Instead, he dispatched the first division of the Tokumitsu Red Guard as the vanguard, leading recruited ninja from the Grass Village as the vanguard to launch a probing attack on the Daimyo's mansion.

He did not want to capture the daimyo of the Land of Water alive, nor did he want to massacre the daimyo's mansion as advocated by the Hozuki and Minazuki clans.

Although he did not reject killing, Uchiha Tokumitsu did not like meaningless indiscriminate killing.

Moreover, if a massacre were to be carried out, the Uchiha clan would likely become the target of the entire ninja world, and even the nobles of the eight eastern districts of the Land of Fire who were cooperating with the Uchiha clan would become alienated out of fear.

What he actually wanted was exactly what he had said when Konoe Atsushi came as an envoy: for the Land of Water to cede territory, pay reparations, and open its ports for trade.

As for demands such as the daimyo stepping down or the mizukage resigning, those are purely for bargaining purposes.

Besides, as long as the ninja army is strong enough, after defeating Kirigakure, everything in the Land of Water will be at their disposal.

"Please calm down..."