"Lord Tokumitsu! There is a Kirigakure fleet on the seaside that is turning its course. Based on its course, it is judged that its destination should be the Land of Fire..."
Just when Uchiha Tokumitsu was enjoying the fire at the port and was complacent, Hyuga Takazawa hurried over and reported to him.
"fleet?"
Uchiha Tokko was startled when he heard this, "Hasn't Kirigakure's transport fleet already arrived at the port?"
Then his finger pointed at a large area of Anzhahu that was burning.
Before going into battle, Uchiha Tokumitsu chose to launch the attack in the afternoon in order to allow Kirigakure's fleet to enter the harbor to facilitate their total annihilation.
"Does Kirigakure still have a fleet?"
Immediately, Uchiha Tokko reacted, "Has Kirigakure sent reinforcements?"
If the first fleet entering the port is a material transport ship, then this fleet...
"Can you confirm who's on board?"
Uchiha Tokumitsu looked at Hyuga Takazawa.
"...Due to the distance, I can only see the general situation of the fleet, but not the specific personnel." Hyuga Takazawa replied in a low voice: "I don't have enough eyesight, but since Lord Tokumitsu has ordered me, then I will try to go to sea. Let’s get closer and take a look…”
"No……"
Uchiha Tokumitsu thought for a while, shook his head and rejected Hinata Takazawa's proposal: "Since Kirigakure chose to turn to sail, it means that he has learned about the situation at the port, and it is impossible to cruise without protection. At this time, there is a risk of approaching reconnaissance. too big……"
Hinata Takazawa didn't speak any more, but bowed deeply.
"Get ready to evacuate. It's time to go back and meet Sakumo-kun..."
Uchiha Tokko ordered: "In addition, release the ninja eagle to inform Sakumo-kun of the battle situation here!"
"Yes!"
Hyuga Takazawa immediately bowed and was ordered to retreat.
…
Hatake Sakumo and Orochimaru, who were far away in the southern region of the Fire Country, had just concluded another fruitless offensive.
Goju Yagura's personal combat prowess is not only formidable, but his ability to command the ninja army is also outstanding.
Although Hatake Sakumo and Orochimaru are both well-known strong men in the ninja world, they still can't get along with the tailed beast-turned-Tachibana Yagura.
The Konoha Ninja Army's successive offensives not only failed to repel the Kirigakure Ninja Army, but caused heavy casualties to their own side.
After returning to the camp, Hatake Sakumo and Orochimaru continued to think hard and plan.
"I don't know how the battle is going when Lord Deguang rushes to attack behind enemy lines..."
In the Chinese army's tent, Hatake Sakumo planned some tactics on the map, then threw his pen and sighed.
Countless offensives launched for many days were forced to give up due to Goju Yagura's unreasonable Tailed Beast Tama attack, and the two of them were caught off guard for a moment.
When he couldn't think of a strategy, Hatake Sakumo missed Uchiha Tokumitsu who could defeat skill with force.
At least if Uchiha Tokumitsu is here, he can safely hand over the Ninja Army and go to the battlefield to perform the strangulation mission, instead of sitting in the command center like now.
Hatake Sakumo looked again at Orochimaru, who was still concentrating on the map for tactical planning.
Orochimaru's strength is indeed outstanding, but Hatake Sakumo doesn't feel confident about handing over his ninja army to him.
Especially the mobile troops with the Uchiha tribe as the main combat force.
Because Orochimaru's command on the battlefield was too cold and ruthless.
In his eyes, the lives of ninjas from the same village are just boring numbers, just the price to be paid to achieve a certain tactical goal. Hatake Sakumo has never noticed Orochimaru's face showing signs of anger after hearing that his companions suffered heavy casualties. The emotion it brings.
"It is indeed a cold-blooded poisonous snake with no heat..."
Although he felt that it was not good to label others, Hatake Sakumo still couldn't stop his inner murmur.
"Sakumo-kun..."
Orochimaru also stopped writing, "You have great confidence in Tokumitsu-kun~"
"confidence?"
Hatake Sakumo was stunned when he heard this.
"Didn't you just think that Lord Tokuguang can successfully complete the attack mission behind enemy lines and quickly return to rendezvous?"
Orochimaru had a warm smile on his face.
"Indeed..." Hatake Sakumo thought about what he had said and nodded to express his approval of Orochimaru's judgment.
"Although Tokumitsu-kun is young, he is indeed a trustworthy partner."
"Mangekyo Sharingan..."
Orochimaru said suddenly, looking directly at Hatake Sakumo.
"Senior Sakumo, can you describe the power of these legendary Blood Successor Eyes?"
When he asked for help, Orochimaru's address to Hatake Sakumo changed from "Kun" as an equal to "Senior" as an honorific.
"A destructive power like a ghost, an unrivaled natural disaster..." Hatake Sakumo pondered for a moment, and then replied: "But Tokumitsu-kun may be too young. There is no record of Uchiha Madara being so powerful. despair."
"Hashirama-sama's Wood Release calmed the troubled times, and Madara Uchiha's Susanoo subdued the four major ninja villages..."
Orochimaru also threw away the pencil in his hand, leaned back on his chair, and stared directly at the top of the tent, wondering what he was thinking.
"Two adults!"
A communications ninja ran to the door of the Chinese army tent and shouted out of breath.
"Come in!"
Orochimaru, who was "paralyzing Orochimaru", suddenly straightened up and sent an order to summon the communication ninja.
"Sakumo-sama, Orochimaru-sama!"
After the communication ninja entered the account, he immediately held a document in his hands, "It's a secret letter sent back by Lord Tokumitsu!"
"Secret message?"
Orochimaru's interest suddenly rose, "Bring it over and let me see."
The communication ninja raised his head slightly and looked at Hatake Sakumo from the corner of his eyes.
Hatake Sakumo tilted his head slightly in agreement.
"Please give Orochimaru-sama a review..."
The communication ninja immediately handed the document to Orochimaru,
"Sakumo-sama is indeed very skilled in controlling his subordinates..."
Orochimaru sighed as he opened the envelope.
He also noticed the little movement made by the communication ninja just now.
When Zhan Xin saw it, Orochimaru couldn't help but clicked his tongue.
"What's wrong?"
Hatake Sakumo noticed something strange about Orochimaru.
"Tokumitsu-kun has burned Kirigakure's supply base and ship anchorage..." Orochimaru couldn't help laughing, his long tongue licking his lips like a poisonous snake, "It turns out that Kirigakure set up his base in the Land of Iron. It’s the Peninsula... No wonder I haven’t gotten any information about Kirigakure.”
Immediately, Orochimaru handed the letter to the itchy Hatake Sakumo.
"We also burned down a batch of Kirigakure's material transport ships... It seems that even if Gouju Yagura wants to fight again, he won't be able to sustain it!"
Hatake Sakumo also laughed out loud, this is really good news!
The consumption required for the Ninja Army to fight is very large.
Not to mention the terrifying appetite of ninjas, the consumption of recyclable ninja tools and consumables such as secret medicine, detonating charms, etc. is extremely large.
The logistics base was completely burned down, and Goju Yagura could not sustain the battle for a long time simply by relying on the materials stored in the camp.
"But there is another fleet that has directly changed its course..."
"I'll arrange the intelligence personnel first!" Orochimaru stood up and said, "At least determine where Kirigakure's reinforcements will arrive!"
With the intelligence department in hand but no achievements made, even important information such as the enemy's reinforcements had to be obtained from other people's battle reports, Orochimaru felt a little embarrassed.
"No rush... Kirigakure's landing this time should not be covered up..."
After Hatake Sakumo stroked his chin and thought for a moment, he said: "The base in the rear was destroyed. At this time, the Kirigakure ninjas are probably also panicking. If a support army arrives, Kirigakure will probably use it to boost morale... "
Orochimaru was stunned.
"However, it is still possible to send intelligence personnel to infiltrate Kirigakure to confirm the identity of the reinforcements."
Hatake Sakumo then added.
Orochimaru nodded and sat down.
Then he summoned the person in charge of the Intelligence Department and gave him some instructions.
"How about starting a counterattack overnight?"
Orochimaru suggested impatiently.
"...It's a bit difficult to do it on a large scale, but it's still possible to deploy elite teams to carry out harassment and entanglement missions."
After thinking about it for a while, Hatake Sakumo said: "In this way, it can not only interfere with Kirigakure's rest and recuperation, but also delay Kirigakure's retreat. Kill two birds with one stone!"
Orochimaru thought for a while and agreed to this mature and prudent approach.
…
In the Kirigakure Second Army camp, Goju Yagura was looking at the battle report in his hand with a livid face.
All the Kirigakure jounin lowered their heads, not daring to express their anger.
The destruction of bases on the Tajima Peninsula was not just a matter of supplies being cut off.
Except for a small number of transport ships that traveled between the two places, the Kirigakure Second Army had no extra ships.
But what worries Goju Yagura the most is that the Sandaime Mizukage is about to arrive in the Land of Fire with the fleet...
As for the specific purpose of Mizukage, Gouju Yagura didn't know.
After the Anzha ship used to transport supplies had been burned at the port of the Tajima Peninsula, Goju Yagura didn't know exactly how much ninja troops and supplies the Third Mizukage could bring.
But the only thing that is certain is that before the Third Mizukage arrives at the front line and takes charge personally, the Kirigakure Second Army can no longer fight a war of attrition.
"Uchiha Tokko..."
After the livid-faced Goju Yagura passed the letter to his subordinates, he closed his eyes and meditated.
There is not much point in continuing this battle.
Even if the Third Mizukage could defeat the ninja army led by Hatake Sakumo and Orochimaru, they would not get much reward.
All in all, this battle was a huge loss.
"Actually...after the defeat of the First Army of the Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghosts, they should have withdrawn in time..."
A Kirigakure jounin below whispered: "This is a war with no gains, and the ninjas under my command are already complaining."
"Are you going to be a traitor?"
Another Kirigakure jounin with a hot temper stood up and scolded: "When you encounter setbacks, you become as fearful of the enemy as a tailed beast. You must know your shame!"
Immediately, the Chinese army's tent immediately turned into a vegetable market, and several factions of jounin were insulting each other.
"Knock knock knock knock!"
Goji Yagura knocked on the table a few times, and the originally noisy Chinese army tent immediately became quiet.
"...Now that Lord Mizukage has arrived, we should also ask for tactical guidance from Lord Mizukage when facing difficulties."
Goji Yagura looked down at the map, feeling his heart bleeding.
Previously, he had easily defeated the eastern border defense forces, and then invaded the Land of Fire. Such a record was definitely the best among the Kirigakure Ninja Village who had little experience in ninja combat.
But the logistics are gone, the way back is blocked, and the village boss is here again...
It seems that the past achievements overnight became one of the evidences that made Tachibana Yagura even more incompetent.
"Please show me, Lord Yagura!"
Gouju Yagura's loyal jounin said immediately.
"Mizukage-sama has arrived at the Land of Fire. As Kirigakure people, we should move to the rear to meet Mizukage-sama. The next battle also needs Mizukage-sama's guidance."
Goju Yagura said 'withdrawal' instead of 'turn in', which immediately relaxed the expressions of the Kirigakure jounin who were originally stern-faced.
As long as we are not defeated and retreating, everyone can accept the other explanation; even if we return to the village after the war, we can still cover up and explain it.
"May I ask, Lord Yagura, when would it be more appropriate to arrange for the ninja army to withdraw...to move in?"
Another Kirigakure jounin asked.
"If Konoha already knew that the rear of the headquarters was being attacked, they would have launched an attack tonight..."
Goji Yagura was thinking about his opponent's strategy: "Even if the ninja army doesn't attack in a group, there will be a small elite team to harass us to slow us down..."
"I'll arrange personnel to strengthen the defense!"
A Kirigakure jounin in charge of camp affairs responded immediately.
"In addition, our Ninja Army must also prepare in advance. All supplies must be prepared in advance, and equipment that is difficult to carry must not be burned to avoid attracting attention..."
"After repelling Konoha's harassment offensive, immediately divide the troops into small groups and withdraw in an orderly manner. Don't make a big fanfare and attract Konoha's attack again..."
Before Goju Yagura finished speaking, the sound of detonating charms exploding could be heard outside the Kirigakure camp.
"Konoha is here..."
Goji Yagura's face remained ashen.
All the jounin under his command collectively shut up again, not daring to express their anger.
"Everyone, do you have any other opinions on the transfer arrangements for the Ninja Army?"
After a while, after the explosion of the detonating talisman gradually disappeared, Gouju Yagura asked again.
"We will obey all reasonable orders from Lord Yagura!"
Normally, the Kirigakure jounin might actively put forward various tactical suggestions to highlight their talents; but now, everyone must be accepting the instructions from their superiors.
Otherwise, if you are caught talking and the blame is thrown away, the consequences will be unimaginable.
Goji Yagura also knew what the gang of people under his command were thinking, so he just snorted coldly.
"If you don't have any other opinions, please go ahead and make arrangements for deployment!"
Goji Yagura suddenly had no intention of continuing to play riddles with his subordinates, so he directly made a decision and issued an eviction order.
All the Kirigakure Jōnin could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"Where will Mizukage-sama's troops choose to land?"
Kirigakure Jounin asked.
This is also the most important question for all the Kirigakure jounin, and it is directly related to the destination of transfer.
"Twelve o'clock in the morning, Tsugaru Gorge!"
Gotachibana Yagura replied impatiently.
(End of chapter)
