c156: The Skill of Drawing Cakes
After hearing those words, the high-ranking officers of Kirigakure began murmuring among themselves. The large tent instantly filled with the buzzing sound of secret exchanges and tactical whispers.
The Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and a battle-hardened commander, folded his arms, deep in thought. After pondering for a long while, he felt that the proposed strategy was indeed feasible.
The cooperation of top-class shinobi often produces results where one plus one exceeds two. If Konoha's two elite commanders, Orochimaru and his newly promoted deputy Uchiha Gen, could be separated, their coordination would collapse. Each could then be dealt with more easily and with concentrated force.
If the assault unit assigned to the rear was large and well-coordinated, then ordinary Konoha jōnin indeed wouldn't be enough to resist them.
If they could sever Konoha's logistical supply line destroying depots and transfer stations.the consequences would be disastrous. Powerful reinforcements would have to respond, weakening their front.
Gen Uchiha, though recently promoted to deputy commander, had yet to command a force of this scale. Even if he had received Orochimaru's personal training, command experience in a thousand-man battle formation wasn't something that could be learned overnight.
War is not a child's game. Even a master like Orochimaru would never hand over full command during such a volatile phase. Gen's assignment to lead the rear defense of Konoha's supply network was already considered an important yet risky move.
To the Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost, this was precisely the weak point to exploit.
He suddenly raised his voice.
"Silence!"
The tent immediately went quiet. All eyes turned toward him.
"I think this plan is feasible. What do the rest of you say?"
Some officers nodded immediately, their loyalty unquestioning. Others hesitated, muttering that they would defer to the commander's judgment.
The Pufferfish Ghost frowned. "Listening to the commander is fine but remember, if things go wrong, who will take the blame?"
That single line silenced even the most hesitant. No one wanted to be the scapegoat for failure.
Faced with the sharp gaze of the Seven Ninja Swordsman, those who were previously ambiguous began to nod one after another.
The Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost's grim face relaxed into a smile.
"Good. Since we all agree, we'll proceed with this method. We'll discuss tactical refinements later, but first, we'll divide the units and assign the captains and vice-captains."
"As overall commander, I'll be leading the main force. That much is non-negotiable. However, we'll also form a covert strike team to assault Konoha's rear and eliminate Uchiha Gen."
He unrolled a battle map on the table, tracing routes with his finger.
"We have twenty-two active jōnin on this front. Twelve will remain to lead the main army; the other ten will form the infiltration unit."
"If the operation proceeds smoothly, they can launch a feigned attack on Konoha's supply chain.then turn it into a real one if the opportunity presents itself."
He paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in.
"If the deputy commander of Konoha dies and their rear collapses, morale will plummet. Even Orochimaru himself will find it difficult to turn the tide."
"As long as we deliver the final blow, Kirigakure will secure victory. We'll seize resources, territories, and prestige. When Konoha bleeds, the other great nations will circle like wolves as they did in the Second Shinobi War."
He clenched his fist and slammed it on the table.
"This time, Konoha won't survive another siege. Once the Land of Fire is carved up, Kirigakure will rise as the strongest village in the shinobi world!"
"Your clans and families will share in this glory! Our names will be remembered in history!"
His passionate tone infected everyone in the tent. Even the cautious ones felt a dangerous spark of ambition.
"Now—who's willing to volunteer as captain, vice-captain, or team member?"
Hands shot up one after another.
Those who still hesitated soon followed suit; the atmosphere was too heated to resist. Even a few elite jōnin like Kisame Hoshigaki and Loquat Jūzō raised their hands, though less enthusiastically.
"Good! Very good!" The Pufferfish Ghost nodded approvingly.
He already knew the danger of this plan those sent behind enemy lines would be facing Orochimaru's personal division. Few would return alive.
He glanced briefly at Kisame and Jūzō. You two are too valuable to throw away.
He needed them alive for future operations.
"Alright," he declared. "Wanyue will serve as the captain. Tang will be vice-captain. The other eight jōnin are…"
He pointed one by one, calling out names as his finger moved along the map. Ten names in total.
Those selected beamed with excitement. The unchosen masked their relief under feigned disappointment.
Seeing the expression on Kisame's face, the Watermelon Mountain Pufferfish Ghost sighed inwardly. Still too naïve. You think I spared you because you're weak? No, I spared you because you'll be needed later.
He then turned back to the others.
"Don't be disheartened if you weren't chosen. Once the operation succeeds, there will be countless opportunities to earn glory."
"Now, let's discuss the precise details of the infiltration and ambush. Whether you participate or not, any useful suggestion will be rewarded as a military merit."
The tent erupted into activity again. Maps were unrolled, supply routes analyzed, and battle timings debated. The "Fire Extinguishing Plan" was refined step by step.
By dusk, the strategy was finalized.pending only small adjustments based on field conditions.
That night, implementation began under a veil of secrecy. Kirigakure's intelligence and counterintelligence units were also mobilized to suppress leaks.
Rather than rushing, the Mist prioritized stealth and precision. Their small infiltration force took a long detour passing through the Land of Waves and Land of Tea before circling behind Konoha's front lines.
No movement betrayed their intent.
From the surface, Konoha saw nothing unusual; Orochimaru's scouts reported no anomalies.
As for Uchiha Gen, he remained unaware of the noose tightening behind him. His days proceeded in rhythm.training, managing affairs, and refining his control over chakra and lightning techniques.
A week passed.
By then, Uchiha Gen had devised a partial method to transfer the lightning power contained within Rairyū Fang (Thunder Fang) to Wu Sheng, but full success still eluded him.
That afternoon, after finishing lunch, Uchiha Gen returned to his tent and began his next round of experiments…
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