Kagero agreed, "Yes, we''ll be sent on the frontlines to face Konoha in this country since we are most familiar with it. And there will be only one result: our complete annihilation. Even though Iwagakure has supported us, don''t forget that they only did it to increase their influence in this country and not out of any concern for our cause."

    Ganku solemnly nodded and said. "I apologize, I didn''t think clearly."

    Shizuka asked, "What do we do now?"

    Kagero answered, "We change our base again."

    Both Ganku and Shizuma were surprised. Shizuma asked, "We already changed our base thrice. Shouldn''t that be enough?"

    Kagero suddenly chuckled and said, "Don''t underestimate our enemy. They aren''t as weak as Hiroshi''s forces. We could change our base a thousand times and they would still find us if they have the will to do so."

    His expression became serious as he continued, "Of course, that is if they have the will. We''ll leave behind countless false trails and traps. Hopefully, the losses and delays they face along with external pressures due to their recent war will force them to withdraw. Since they already destroyed a third of our forces, they can claim victory to increase their morale and destroy others even if they don''t manage to find us. We can only hope..."

    Silence filled the tent as Ganku and Shizuma finally realized how grave their situation was. Finally, Ganku asked, "What if they continue looking for us?"

    Kagero''s eyes became murderous. His students were terrified by the bloodlust they felt! Kagero answered, "Then we give them hell! I''ll use my blood and life to remind every Kusagakure ninja what they could be capable of!"

    Ganku and Shizuma''s expressions became solemn. Both decided to follow their teacher until the very end.

    Unlike the solemn atmosphere in the Rebel Camp, the Konoha camp was rather lively and in high spirits. After the first battle, Fujin had given them a day''s rest since the army had rushed from the Fire Capital to Tsuchioka and engaged the enemy without a break. They were finally ready to go and were looking at Fujin, who was facing the entire army.

    Fujin glanced through the army before speaking, "I know that everyone is excited due to yesterday''s victory. Even though we outnumbered our enemy considerably, killing 350 ninjas and capturing their leaders without losing a single ninja is an extremely impressive achievement. It is something that rarely happened in history.

    However, don''t let your excitement make you careless and don''t let yesterday''s victory make you overconfident. We not only had an overwhelming advantage in numbers and strength but also had the element of surprise. The enemy didn''t know they were facing us until the last moment.

    That will no longer be the case. Our enemy will now expect us and be prepared. They''ll set countless traps to target us and break our morale. Even though they are weaker than us, unlike us, they have been in constant war for a long time. So, don''t underestimate our enemy.

    So, always pay full attention to your surroundings and be careful. Look out for yourself and your comrades. Ensure that your enemy is dead and be on the lookout for suicidal attacks. Only then can we win as thoroughly as yesterday. When we win, I want to return to Konoha with all of you."

    However, not making any move made Iwagakure look weak, which didn''t sit right with several people in the room. A council member asked, "So we do nothing?"

    Onoki replied, "Of course not. Konoha has not only attacked the Kusagakure rebels but also provoked us. Kitsuchi, you''ll take 5,000 ninjas and go to the Kusagakure border. Roshi, you''ll go with him and always stay with him. Don''t make any move, just station your army at the border and let them feel the pressure."

    Onoki''s words surprised everyone in the room except Kitsuchi and Roshi. Several glanced at them in confusion. Kurotsuchi asked in surprise, "Do you mean that Uncle Roshi and Father can''t defeat Suzuki Fujin despite having more ninjas?"

    Onoki answered, "No, they can''t. However, Fujin won''t be able to defeat them either as long as they are together. On the contrary, Roshi''s Tailed Beast Bombs will force him to withdraw the entire army.

    However, the trouble with this boy isn''t just his strength. It''s his ability to kill ninjas. The reports said that he killed a hundred Suna elite ninjas in the blink of an eye with just one technique twice! Perhaps that might be their intention as well. So, don''t let your guard down. How they respond after we deploy our forces will give an idea about their true intentions."

    He looked at Kitsuchi and Roshi and seriously said, "If they retreat their army, you guys should retreat as well. This might just be a ploy for us to send our forces so that Fujin could run amok among our ranks and eliminate hundreds of ninjas, just like the Fourth Hokage did previously. Though it''s very unlikely, a lot of strange things are happening and every one of them seems to benefit Konoha in some way."

    Kitsuchi and Roshi nodded. Unlike others in the room, neither dared to underestimate Fujin. Kitsuchi had already suffered a terrible loss at Fujin''s hands while Roshi was forced to his limits as well. And, both those battles had happened years ago.

    Within a day, 5,000 Iwagakure ninjas marched. Along with Konoha, Kusa and Rebel forces, nearly 11,000 ninjas would soon gather in and around the western part of Kusagakure. It would be the largest concentration of force that involved several hidden villages since the end of the Third Great Ninja War! Would tensions escalate, causing the three hidden villages to go to war? Or would things calm down? Only time would tell.

    ————

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