Chapter 258: Fattening The Enemy For Self-preservation
Yoru brought the corpses of the Cloud Ninja squad to the mansion of the assassinated noble, soothed the noble’s mother, and then led the team back to the main camp.
Entering Hatake Sakumo’s tent, Yoru first saw a map.
The map showed the border between the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Moon.
Various red circles and blue circles surrounded the border line.
The red circles marked locations where Cloud Ninja had appeared, and the blue circles marked locations where Leaf Ninja had intercepted and battles had occurred.
Yoru signaled Aries to mark the location of their battle.
After Aries finished marking, Yoru approached Hatake Sakumo.
The truly important communication between the two of them was always conducted through the ninja dog Pakkun.
This was ordinary mission communication.
Hatake Sakumo said, “Fox Captain, the Cloud Ninja’s tactics in this phase are hard to counter.
They do not aim to kill many Leaf Ninja, but instead continuously assassinate nobles of the Land of Hot Water.
I cannot disperse Leaf Ninja to protect the nobles of the Land of Hot Water; across the 200-kilometer border line, Cloud Ninja can kill off some Leaf squad at any time and retreat.
I want to quickly locate the Cloud Ninja main camp and organize an elite raid, ending this conflict with Cloud Village once and for all with one raid.”
Yoru was stunned.
The conflict had only started a few days ago, and he was already thinking of ending it?
He had finally snatched the position of overall commander of this conflict from Orochimaru’s hands, and it wasn’t even warm yet, but he wanted to end the conflict?
Did he understand nurturing the enemy for self-importance?
Power ministers all started with nurturing the enemy for self-importance.
If the Cloud Ninja showed too much weakness, Yoru would even want to put on Cloud Ninja clothes and deal some blows to the Leaf.
Hatake Zhaoda, your heart isn’t bad, but for this conflict overall commander position, you must sit it out for three full months, otherwise it won’t achieve the effects of building prestige and cultivating loyal subordinates.
Although Yoru’s mind was filled with countless thoughts, he said,
“I will keep an eye on Cloud Ninja intelligence, and once I find their main camp location, I will report it immediately.”
Hatake Sakumo nodded repeatedly; Fox was a trustworthy Anbu. He said,
“We once interrogated the location of the Cloud Ninja main camp, but the Cloud Ninja main camp keeps moving.
The Cloud Ninja main camp is approximately 50 kilometers north of the Moon Country border.
By the time we get there, they might have already moved or set up an ambush.
Unable to predict their main camp location makes it hard to organize a raid.”
It’s right that it’s hard to organize; if you raided the Cloud Ninja headquarters today, I would definitely leak the news to the Cloud Ninja headquarters and tip them off.
A Leaf squad entered the tent; seeing them eager to report, Yoru stepped aside to let the squad report.
The squad leader said, “Lord Sakumo, our squad has completed three missions. You said at the pre-war meeting that three B-rank missions would reward the squad with ninjutsu.”
“Yes, in this conflict war, I am implementing the ninjutsu assessment system,” Hatake Sakumo said.
“If genin still don’t know their chakra nature, they can go to the strategist first to get chakra test paper.
Jonin Yamashiro is in charge of ninjutsu rewards; he will also give you suggestions on ninjutsu.”
Yamashiro Aoba nearby patiently waited for the genin to test their chakra nature.
The survival state of Leaf genin was quite poor; some had chunin-level taijutsu strength but still didn’t know their chakra nature.
Just like Naruto in the original story, who was fifteen or sixteen before learning his chakra nature was wind.
After the genin tested their chakra nature, Yamashiro Aoba took out ninjutsu scrolls, opened the catalog, and selected ninjutsu for them.
After getting the ninjutsu, the squad thanked Yamashiro Aoba, thanked Hatake Sakumo, and left excitedly.
After the squad left, Yoru said to Hatake Sakumo, “Lord Sakumo, if it’s a raid, focus on striking the Cloud Ninja’s living forces; ending the conflict in a short time is not realistic.”
Yoru turned to leave.
“Fox…”
Hearing Hatake Sakumo’s voice, Yoru turned back puzzled.
Hatake Sakumo hesitated but then said nothing.
“It’s nothing; I just thought of something to say, then forgot.”
“Oh, I’ve had that happen too, words on the tip of my tongue but forgotten.”
Not long after Fox left, Gekko Shizuma entered the tent and came to Hatake Sakumo’s side.
Gekko Shizuma said, “Some other ninja who came to the front line to deliver supplies also mentioned the Land of Grass matter.
A while ago, the Shimura Clan sacrificed 4 ninja, including 2 jonin and 2 special jonin, all guardian ninja for the Daimyo of the Land of Grass.
Very targeted, only killing Shimura Clan ninja.
Orochimaru personally led the investigation team, but did not publicize the results.
The culprits pointed to some people with special identities that the village couldn’t make public.
The Shimura Clan sent out four more guardian ninja to replace the sacrificed four.”
Hatake Sakumo’s intelligence wasn’t very up-to-date; he didn’t know about the Land of Grass matter earlier than ordinary ninja.
He had just wanted to ask Fox about the Land of Grass matter, but on second thought, decided not to.
What if there really was some connection?
After all these events, he somewhat understood his own position.
Some things, even if guessed, should not be pursued.
In the middle of the night, Hatake Sakumo returned to his rest tent and saw Gekko Shizuma waiting at the tent entrance.
He entered the tent with Gekko Shizuma.
Gekko Shizuma said, “Sakumo, our luck is pretty good.
The sacrifice of those four Shimura Ninja is sympathetic, but with Danzo Advisor deeply embroiled in trouble, no one is targeting us for now.
I’ve been careful about our surroundings; here we only have the Fox Squad, no other Root Ninja or Anbu Ninja.
No one holding us back—this feeling is really good.”
Hatake Sakumo nodded repeatedly.
At the jonin meeting at the beginning of the year, he had a significant conflict with village high-ranking officials over the jonin recommendation quota.
Now with Danzo Advisor overwhelmed with his own issues, the pressure here was much lighter.
He commanded 4 major squads on the front line, and the ninjutsu assessment system was being implemented very smoothly.
Many genin had obtained the ninjutsu they desired.
Gekko Shizuma said, “Sakumo, although the front line situation is stalemated, a hasty raid on the Cloud Ninja main camp—one, is high risk; two, ending this conflict too early is not beneficial for us to absorb more companions…”
“No, if possible, we should end the conflict as soon as possible,” Hatake Sakumo said.
“Our gains and losses are not important; the ninja world war has only ended for over half a year, and Leaf Ninja should not be mired in the quagmire of war.
This conflict between Cloud Ninja and Leaf arose because of my investigation into Two-Tails Jinchuriki Ryuuha, and it must be ended by me.
Saving one Leaf Ninja’s life means one less death.”
Gekko Shizuma wanted to say something, but then thought that his trust in Hatake Sakumo was precisely because Hatake Sakumo cherished companions.
In his own tent, Yoru suddenly sensed the contract chakra of the ninja dog Pakkun.
After summoning Pakkun, Pakkun emphasized Sakumo’s will.
Hatake Sakumo would not deliberately prolong the conflict war to cultivate his own strength.
Yoru said, “Okay, I understand.”
In one ear and out the other.
I know, but I disagree.
At this time, inside Konoha Village, the situation remained turbulent.
If Hatake Sakumo ended this conflict war early and returned to the village, he would still become a target; better to stay here.
The Cloud Ninja main camp was not so easy to raid.
If Hatake Sakumo failed here and suffered a defeat, it would be a devastating blow to him.
The high-ranking officials had failed many times, but Hatake Sakumo failing once would lead to them targeting him crazily.
