"Dozens of ironclad ships are conducting exercises outside the sea..."
In the main tent of the Kirigakure Expeditionary Force in the Land of Thunder, the Third Mizukage once again received military information from the shogunate from within the country.
"Has the shogunate done anything special recently?"
The third Mizukage put down the information document and asked the ANBU ninja.
"... Konoha's warships also escorted 70 billion ryo of banknotes to Kinki and asked to exchange them for gold coins..."
The ANBU ninja replied.
Since the decision to withdraw troops, the Third Mizukage has consciously strengthened intelligence collection in the Land of Water and the southern archipelago of the shogunate to conduct strategic research and judgment.
The retreat of the Ninja Army is not a simple matter.
Although after a series of rapid attacks, Kumogakure, who was severely injured, could only huddle in Yunlei Gorge to defend, but it did not mean that Kumogakure did not have the strength to fight back when Kirigakure withdrew his troops.
Moreover, once there is a problem in the withdrawal process, Kirigakure, who is eager to return home, may even cause the whole family to collapse due to some inexplicable little things. In that case, he will regret it.
"Besides, hasn't Konoha Ninja Village mobilized for war?"
The Third Mizukage asked with a frown.
He felt that he could not figure out the purpose of the shogunate's move.
To say that it was to force the daimyo to pay the gold in full, there was no need to mobilize so much troops; if a war was to start again, the shogunate's military power alone might not be able to compete with Kirigakure.
Especially now that the Kirigakure Expeditionary Force is full of fighting spirit and full of complaints about being forced to withdraw. If they face the shogunate ninja army again, they will not have the psychological burden caused by multiple defeats in the past.
Moreover, the Third Mizukage has also arranged for secret emissaries to spread various hate speeches among the ninja army to inspire the Kirigakure ninjas to hate the shogunate.
"The spies lurking in Konoha found nothing unusual."
The ANBU ninja said with great certainty.
"It seems that it is really to intimidate the daimyo so that he can pay the full amount of the fine..."
The Third Mizukage laughed and felt a little funny: "As a ninja of the Uchiha clan, he behaves like a philistine businessman who falls in the eyes of money... It's really interesting!"
"I understand, let the ANBU in the village continue to spy on the shogunate's movements!"
The Third Mizukage was a little bored, so he left the matter behind.
"As you command!"
The ANBU ninja immediately bowed and left.
"……call!"
After retreating and leaving the Chinese army's tent, the Kirigakure ANBU ninja who originally exuded a cold and murderous aura breathed a sigh of relief, and his originally tight and straight waist also collapsed.
"Mizukage-sama has really changed a lot... The solemnity of the superior is really unbearable..."
The Kirigakure ANBU ninja sighed inwardly and left instantly.
As for the recent actions of the shogunate, after "professional research and judgment" by the Kirigakure Anbu, various intelligence experts agreed that the shogunate wanted to take advantage of the Kirigakure ninja army's overseas expeditions and the emptiness at home to blackmail the Daimyo of the Land of Water. The majestic Kirigakure Expeditionary Force has withdrawn and returned home, and the arrogant and domineering behavior of the shogunate will definitely be restrained from now on.
The Third Mizukage's views are also consistent with Kirigakure Anbu's judgment.
In addition, there was indeed no large-scale war mobilization within the Konoha Ninja Village, which further strengthened Kirigakure's self-judgment.
…
"The fleet engaged in foreign naval exercises can be withdrawn."
After the rain ninja army led by Sansho Hanzo secretly arrived in the eastern waters of the Land of Fire to lurk, Uchiha Tokko immediately gave the order.
"As you command!"
An attendant ninja immediately took the order and left.
"Notify the garrison column in the Southern Islands to take the radio to the sea and set up a reconnaissance post!"
Uchiha Tokumitsu issued various combat orders one by one in an orderly manner.
The attendant ninjas under his command came out one by one to take orders and left.
"Has the gold judgment of 70 billion taels been redeemed?"
Uchiha Tokko asked Hinata Shuhiro.
"According to reports from the entourage, 33 billion have been exchanged..."
Hinata Shuhiro responded immediately.
"Very good~"
Uchiha Tokumitsu was very satisfied: "Continue to exchange! The three armored ships off Kinki continue to cruise in the port. Don't let Kirigakure's spies see the flaws!"
"So far, Kirigakure has not sent an envoy to communicate. Could it be that there is something wrong..."
Uzumaki Ashina, leader of the Konoha Sealing Team, current leader of the Uzumaki clan and Uzushio guardian under the shogunate, asked.
"It shouldn't be..."
Uchiha Tokumitsu wasn't sure, but since he had already made so many fake moves, there was nothing he could do if he was still seen through.
"The fire release has already gathered in the throat, so now is the time to release it, otherwise the ninjutsu will backfire and cause injury to myself..."
"Clan Chief Ashina, we really need to start fighting for our lives this time..."
Uchiha Tokko said to Uzumaki Ashina.
"The lives of the Uzumaki clan were all saved by the Lord. It is our duty to join the war!"
Uzumaki Aoi said honestly.
Uchiha Tokko nodded, and then continued to issue various military tasks.
According to the latest intelligence, after many rounds of reinforcements, the ninja army of Kirigakure's expedition to the Kingdom of Thunder has reached 10,000 people. With such a huge number of ninja troops, if it were a traditional land battle, the shogunate's power alone would indeed be enough. It is difficult to defeat it.
However, through the ship repair yard built with the aid of the shogunate, Uchiha Tokumitsu also keenly discovered a shortcoming of the Kirigakure Expeditionary Force, which was the relative lack of maritime transportation capacity.
The Kirigakure ninja army that expedition to the Land of Thunder had more than 500 large and small battleships, but most of them were traditional sailboats and oars with extremely limited carrying capacity. The main battleships were six armored ships sold to them by the shogunate. It was these six This battleship established the absolute advantage in the battle against Kumogakure at sea when conquering the Kingdom of Thunder.
However, compared with the seventy-two ironclad ships of the shogunate, Kirigakure's naval power was not worth mentioning.
Other traditional warships in the Kirigakure fleet, such as Anzai ships, are not only slow in speed, but their defenses cannot even withstand a single torpedo. As long as the shogunate controls the pace of war during naval battles, they can completely send all the Kirigakure ninjas away. Go to the bottom of the sea and feed the fish.
Although Kirigakure is good at underwater combat, it does not mean that every Kirigakure ninja can travel long distances across the sea. After all, the backbone of the ninja army is still mainly chunin. The chakra of these chunin is relatively limited. Even if you try your best to cross the sea and return to the Kingdom of Water, you will still be trapped in a dilemma due to the exhaustion of chakra.
"...Notify the maritime outposts of the three Zhengyi tribes. If Kirigakure's sea-crossing fleet is discovered, immediately send a report and confirm the fleet batch where the target of this battle, the Third Mizukage, is located!"
The naval battle was getting closer and closer, and Uchiha Tokko became a little anxious.
This time, they directly faced not only Kirigakure's main ninja army, but also Uchiha Madara disguised as the Third Mizukage!
Facing this old man, one cannot be too cautious.
"Tokuguang-kun seems to be a little too anxious..."
A roaring sound came from the door.
"Mr. Hanzo..."
Uchiha Tokko turned his head and looked with a bright smile on his face.
Sansho Hanzo, holding a scythe in his hand, walked over with his head held high, accompanied by a particularly mini-sized Goju Yagura.
"Mr. Yagura is here too~"
Uchiha Tokko greeted.
"snort!"
Although Goju Yagura had regained her consciousness after Uchiha Madara's seal was released, she still snorted angrily.
Uchiha Tokumitsu didn't care about Goju Yagura's rudeness, and said to Hanzo the Sanshouyu: "This matter is of great importance. I ask Mr. Hanzo to go all out and don't hold back..."
"Of course, the hiring fee is easy to negotiate. As long as we win the battle, I will never treat the rain ninja who came all the way to participate in the battle badly!"
Uchiha Demitsu said firmly.
After Hanzo exchanged a few words with Uchiha Tokumitsu, he also resigned and left on the grounds of taking care of his own ninja army, leaving space for Uchiha Tokumitsu and Goju Yagura.
During the second Kirigakure conquest, he also had a relationship with Goju Yagura. He knew that this short ninja who had been defeated and captured was one of Kirigakure's top ninjas, and he was also a Jinchuuriki. I don’t know why he suddenly showed up at the Tokumitsu Shogunate’s headquarters.
"It's really scary..."
Sanshouyu Hanzo thought as he walked: "If the Rain Ninja Village hangs out with the shogunate a few more times, will the ninjas in the village also favor the shogunate..."
Sanjiao Hanzo jumped up to a high tower and looked towards the port of Fubo City.
The rain ninja who had put on brand new equipment had just disembarked from the ship, with the shogunate's fan logo on his forehead to protect his forehead. He was arming himself with the ninjas of the United Company who had arrived across the sea together in twos and threes, and they seemed to be having a good time.
"These bastards!"
Sanshouyu Hanzo was about to faint from the incompetent ninjas in his family.
…
"If you have anything, just tell me."
Uchiha Tokumitsu said to Goju Yagura, who had a constipated face.
"...What exactly are you going to do to Kirigakure?"
Gotachibana Yagura asked seriously.
Although his sanity was sealed by the "Third Generation Mizukage", and although he was rescued by Uchiha Tokumitsu, Goju Yagura's love for Kirigakure still prompted him to ask this question.
“Bringing order to chaos.”
Uchiha Tokko's answer was concise and to the point.
"But a lot of people will die from it!"
Gotachibana Yagura was not satisfied with Uchiha Tokimitsu's answer.
"Maybe...but this is all fate!"
Uchiha Tokumitsu was noncommittal.
"As expected, he is an Uchiha who is known as the evil clan! Isn't the life of the Kirigakure ninja not life?"
Goji Yagura asked through gritted teeth.
Although his heart was full of anger, he was powerless at this moment.
"The life of a Kirigakure ninja is naturally life, but..."
Uchiha Tokumitsu looked down at the short Goju Yagura, "You can't do Kirimeiki's trick, right?"
"Besides... the shogunate is free to come and go. If you are not satisfied, you can leave!"
Uchiha Tokko's tone seemed very indifferent.
"What about the seal on my body? What's going on!"
Goji Yagura finally couldn't hold back her anger, stuck out her tongue and said, "What the hell is this!"
After saying that, he tore off his clothes, pointed at the black curse mark on his abdomen and shouted, "And this! What the hell is that!"
"The one on the tongue is the seal of the root of the tongue's evil, and the one on the belly is the seal of the four inner signs embedded in the curse of self-karma..."
Uchiha Tokumitsu said indifferently: "Please don't think too much. After all, this battle has been planned for a long time and there is no room for error. I am just trying to keep it a secret."
"Besides, do you think I don't have the ability to seal your mind like my ancestor?"
Uchiha Tokumitsu snorted coldly, with a threatening tone in his tone, "In front of Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan, it is not that difficult to control a Jinchūriki to fight..."
"hateful……"
Goji Yagura was so angry that he gritted his teeth, "Uchiha Madara...why Uchiha Madara!"
After he was released from the seal, Uchiha Tokumitsu selectively disclosed some information to him, but in the face of the truth, people would still choose to escape.
"The legendary ninja Shura Uchiha Madara..."
Goju Yagura looked restless, pacing back and forth in place.
Seeing Goju Yagura being so anxious, Uchiha Tokimitsu's pre-war uneasiness also inexplicably dissipated.
"...Is it really Uchiha Madara?"
After lingering for a while, Goju Yagura asked again.
His face was full of uneasiness.
The opponent is the legendary Uchiha Madara...
How could Shura, a dignified ninja world, come to Kirigakure to control the Mizukage and replace him?
This is not in line with Uchiha Madara’s arrogant character!
"If you don't believe me, ask the three tails in your belly."
Uchiha Tokumitsu curled his lips, "By the way, there is another key word to tell Isofu -"
"Indra!"
Goju Yagura's expression immediately became strange, and the tailed beast chakra on his body began to leak out unconsciously.
"The seal of the curse of self-karma!"
Uchiha Tokko made a hand seal casually and activated the spell to make Goju Yagura's body freeze.
After seeing that the tailed beast's chakra had converged, Uchiha Tokumitsu released the curse seal.
"...You guy!"
Gotachibana Yagura, who regained his freedom of movement, was trembling with rage.
It's a very unpleasant feeling to have your life hanging in the hands of others.
"What's the difference between such disgusting behavior and what you said about Uchiha Madara!"
"At least you are free again!"
Uchiha Tokko said matter-of-factly: "Are you willing to be reduced to a mindless combat weapon?"
“It’s okay if you don’t want this kind of freedom!”
Goju Yagura is still unconvinced.
"Oh well……"
Uchiha Tokumitsu was about to activate the curse seal again.
"I was joking!"
Goju Yagura shouted quickly when he saw this.
"Don't forget, you are still my prisoner. It is my kindness to allow you to regain limited freedom. You should be grateful."
Uchiha Tokumitsu snorted coldly, "Besides, leaving the charm on your body is just to avoid being discovered by Uchiha Madara after the seal is released, so don't think too much about it!"
We have all been reduced to such a situation, how can we not think too much about it?
Besides, what can I do if I overthink it? Is it useful?
Goji Yagura only felt bitter in her mouth.
"...If I can persuade some Kirigakure to surrender, can I save them from the disaster of war?"
"Maybe...but not now."
Uchiha Tokumitsu replied: "Of course, if they rebel during the war, I will give them a decent ending..."
What is a decent ending?
Goji Yagura didn't dare to think or ask any more questions.
"Lord Tokumitsu!"
As a cloud of smoke from the teleportation technique rose on the spot, an attendant ninja knelt on one knee in front of Uchiha Tokko.
"According to reports from overseas sentry posts, the Kirigakure Expeditionary Force has now begun its return journey. The first fleet has now set off, carrying an estimated 4,000 people, and its leading Jonin is Loquat Juzo!"
"Where is our respected Mizukage-dono?"
Uchiha Tokko twisted his neck, with a ferocious smile on his face.
"It is confirmed that it is still on the coast of the Kingdom of Thunder, or it will set off at the same time after the first batch of unloading crews returns!"
The attendant ninja reported.
"very good!"
Uchiha Tokko nodded, and the last trace of uneasiness in his heart was completely eliminated.
"Inform the ninja troops to assemble immediately and board the ship for battle!"
"This battle is codenamed: Ming Liang!"
May I ask whether age spots should fight to the death or flee in defeat?
(End of chapter)
