Chapter 317 - 317: Exploding Tags 2.0! The Allied Forces Bogged Down by Endless Traps!~ Support & Read 11 Advanced Chapters on Patreon!

    Unlike previous conflicts, quantity had become quality.

    Faced with a fifty-thousand-Shinobi deficit, even Konoha''s superiority in elite Shinobi couldn''t compensate for such a staggering disparity.

    Not to mention, Konoha''s top-tier combatants were—nowhere to be found.

    The Fifth Hokage, the Fourth Hokage, the Third Hokage, Lady Tsunade, the Avengers—all vanished. Nara Shikaku had no other pieces to play.

    "Annoying... why are all the Hokage such irresponsible leaders?" Nara Shikaku sighed.

    If he couldn''t repel the enemy at the border, his command at the Hokage Tower was meaningless.

    All of Konoha''s available Shinobi had been deployed to the border. If they were defeated, he too would perish here.

    "Lord Jiraiya!" A guard''s respectful voice sounded from outside the tent.

    Nara Shikaku, his eyes bloodshot, looked up, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

    Jiraiya, with his white hair and "Oil" forehead protector, entered the tent. "Looks like I''m not too late."

    "Lord Jiraiya, you''ve finally arrived."

    "I was investigating the frequent disappearances of jinchuriki. I rushed back as soon as I received the Fifth Hokage''s message, but it still took some time," Jiraiya explained. "What''s the situation?"

    "Not good—We''re heavily outnumbered."

    "Though we planted numerous exploding tag traps in the forest before the battle, significantly slowing their advance, if we can''t effectively reduce their numbers, a war of attrition is inevitable."

    West of Kusagakure was Iwagakure territory; east was Konoha''s backyard.

    Before the war, Konoha, with its vast wealth, had lined the Allied forces'' path with exploding tags.

    The density was so great, the entire landscape was a minefield.

    There was practically nowhere for the Allied Shinobi to stand. Stepping anywhere would trigger a Hidden tag. The first day alone had resulted in significant casualties.

    Though possessing a numerical advantage, they couldn''t capitalize on it, their morale steadily declining under the shadow of the exploding tags.

    The hot-headed Raikage slammed his fist on the table. "Damn it! Every attack route is littered with exploding tags! Does Konoha have an endless supply?!"

    "They used our money to build defenses against us! Despicable!"

    The Allied command quickly realized this couldn''t continue.

    They couldn''t match Konoha''s wealth; their only advantage was numbers.

    But even with deep coffers, they couldn''t afford such a war of attrition. The post-war distribution of spoils depended on the number of surviving Shinobi from each Village.

    Someone suggested using the smaller Villages'' Shinobi as human minesweepers. Fearing a mutiny on the first day of the war, the command rejected this proposal, opting for a more conservative strategy.

    They deliberately slowed their advance.

    Iwagakure forces stepped forward, using large-scale Earth Release combination jutsu to churn the earth, disabling the exploding tags planted on the trees.

    They gradually broke through Konoha''s defensive line, steadily approaching their encampment.

    This, while delaying the final battle, would preserve their forces, accumulating strength for the post-war reconstruction of the Shinobi World order.

    As for why only Earth Release Shinobi were used for minesweeping?

    The Allied Shinobi had discovered, to their dismay, that neither water nor fire could destroy Konoha''s exploding tags.

    Konoha''s exploding tags—had seemingly entered a 2.0 era.

    Conventional methods were ineffective.

    Only by using the physical force of Earth Release could they be detonated.

    Damn it—How many secret technologies does Konoha have? Even something as mature as exploding tags, they''ve developed a 2.0 version?

    Nara Shikaku, also a compassionate leader, gave simple orders: Enemy advances, we retreat. Enemy retreats, we advance. Fight when possible, flee when not! Use exploding tags, not long-range Shinobi tools. Use long-range tools, not close-quarters combat!

    Every Shinobi was an irreplaceable resource; each death a significant loss.

    Exploding tags, however, were replaceable.

    And there was no risk of the enemy recovering and reusing them. In the early stages of the war, they''d indeed inflicted heavy casualties on the Allied Shinobi Forces.

    "Don''t worry. I''m here now!" Jiraiya''s cheerful smile and confident demeanor infected everyone in the temporary command center, dissipating some of the oppressive atmosphere.

    Jiraiya looked around. "Where are the Hokage? Why are only you here?"

    Those in the command center were mostly Jiraiya''s old comrades, veteran officials from the Hokage Tower, seasoned by the Second and Third Shinobi Wars.

    Faced with this question, Nara Shikaku forced a bitter smile. "They''re all gone. The Fifth Hokage''s final order was to hold Konoha until his return."

    "The Fourth Hokage''s wife is in labor. The Hokage have all gone to attend to the delivery. It''s a matter of utmost secrecy. We have no way to contact them."

    "Honestly, this is too reckless. The Fourth and Fifth are young, but why is even the old man going along with this?" Jiraiya grumbled.

    Three living Hokage... unprecedented in the Shinobi World.

    The rate of Hokage succession was alarming.

    Three in one year, He''d been away for only a few years, and the Hokage had changed twice.

    The Konoha he remembered was becoming increasingly unfamiliar.

    The Kage was typically the Village''s strongest warrior. Yet, with the Village facing an existential crisis, all three Hokage had vanished. It was baffling.

    "Fine, Since they''re not here, I''ll take charge!" Jiraiya sighed.

    After so many years, the Village still had to rely on old men like him—If something were to happen to him, who else could the Village depend on?

    Jiraiya was a hero with a big heart. He loved peace, but he loved the Village more.

    If forced to choose between peace and the Village, he would unhesitatingly choose the latter. His lover was also this Village!

    Peeping into bathhouses wasn''t about lust, but about appreciating the Village''s overall female charm!

    "Shikaku, give me one hundred elite Shinobi," Jiraiya said, his expression serious.

    "Lord Jiraiya, you intend to...?"

    "You just said Iwagakure''s Earth Release combination units are destroying Konoha''s traps, correct?" Jiraiya patted his chest. "Then it''s simple. Since the Fifth Hokage''s orders are to wait for his return, we concentrate our elite forces and crush Iwagakure''s Earth Release units!"

    "When they return, everything will be fine!"

    Jiraiya, a veteran of the battlefield, had immediately focused the entire conflict on this single, crucial point.

    Though he didn''t know what gave the Fifth Hokage the confidence to say, "Wait for my return," as a Konoha Shinobi, as a jinchuriki of the Will of Fire, all he could do was trust, and trust again!

    Unconditionally execute the Hokage''s orders!

    "Give me the one hundred most elite Lightning Release Shinobi."

    Among the conventional five nature transformations, Lightning Release was a counter to Earth Release.

    And for a surprise attack, Lightning Release Shinobi possessed superior physical abilities.

    "Lightning Release Shinobi and taijutsu Shinobi—if their skills are comparable, prioritize the Lightning Release Shinobi," Jiraiya added. "I hear Minato''s student is an exceptional Lightning Release user. Bring him to me." Sёar?h the Novёl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Minato''s student, the White Fang''s son—Kakashi was a true Konoha red second generation.

    Geniuses didn''t necessarily catch Jiraiya''s eye, but a red second-generation genius—Jiraiya would pay some attention.

    "Kakashi isn''t here either."

    "?"

    "He went to the delivery too?"

    "Not exactly. Kakashi was assigned to the First Airborne Deployment. He''s in the sky now. As captain of the air strike unit, he probably can''t assist you with a surprise attack."

    "The sky—It seems a lot has happened in Konoha during my absence." Jiraiya sighed, feeling a sense of disconnect from the times. "I don''t understand Konoha''s affairs anymore. You handle the selection, Shikaku."

    "Yes, Lord Jiraiya!"

    With Jiraiya, a stabilizing force, inserted into the collective Shinobi way of the Konoha forces, the pervasive pessimism was contained.

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