Chapter 8: The Secret Art of Survival
Soon, the four of them had run three kilometers, arriving at the rear of the Aoba Squad's defense zone, beside a river no more than three meters wide. They immediately distributed chakra to their feet, stepped onto the river's surface, and continued forward without slowing down, splashing across in an instant.
"Tekudō, you should lose some weight," Sasuke said, stopping on the far bank to watch his three subordinates. Ryo and Chōmi crossed with ease, but Tekudō, weighed down by his own bulk and the dozens of blades hanging from his body, struggled to maintain balance, his chakra control faltering.
"Don't spend all day playing with your sword-girlfriends," Sasuke chided. "You can't let your chakra control slip. Otherwise, I'll have to help you diet."
Though he scolded him, Sasuke was secretly relieved. When he had first taken command of these three, only Ryo, the clan ninja, had even a basic grasp of tree climbing. Tekudō and Chōmi were complete novices. Now, after his guidance, they had undergone a world-changing transformation. His strict training had paid off.
On the battlefield, tree climbing and water walking weren't just exercises; they were essential survival skills. Strict masters produce excellent students. Under his harsh tutelage, the three of them had developed chakra control that was no less than that of most chūnin. Chōmi, in particular, had a natural talent for it, and had even begun attempting to practice on waterfalls, laying a solid foundation to become a medical ninja in the future.
Tekudō, on the other hand, just couldn't resist the temptation of good food. He ate fish and meat every day, and seemed to gain weight just by drinking water. It was a small miracle he could cross the river at all.
"Captain," Tekudō said, caressing the blades hanging from his body, his eyes full of obsessive intoxication, "you taught us that mastering one skill is better than being a jack-of-all-trades. Chakra control is good enough; sword control is my main job."
"Then why don't you hurry up and set the traps before you get us all killed?" Sasuke snapped, kicking him in the rear.
"Alright, my dear captain," Tekudō said with a fawning look and scurried off to act.
As Tekudō began to set traps, Sasuke took the opportunity to impart some more battlefield experience, especially for the two rookies, Ryo and Chōmi.
"The innate chakra natures of Sand ninja are primarily wind and earth," he explained, pointing to the river behind them. "This river may not seem large, but for them, it's a natural barrier."
"Captain," Ryo asked, a glimmer of wisdom in his eyes, "then why are we setting the trap on this side of the river? Wouldn't it be better to wait on the other side and stop them as they try to cross?"
It was a sharp tactical question. The ninja clan's education was indeed good.
Sasuke flicked him on the forehead. "Idiot, can't you think before you ask?" He gestured to Tekudō, who was busy in the bushes. "What is Tekudō doing now? What is our tactical objective? What is our primary goal, and what is our secondary one?"
Ryo rubbed his forehead, his brain working at full speed.
It was Chōmi who answered. "Our primary tactical goal is to set traps and try to annihilate the Sand puppet team. Second, to stop the enemy and hold out until support arrives."
Sasuke nodded at Chōmi with satisfaction, then turned back to Ryo. "See? Even Chōmi understands. As a super-genius from the Inuzuka clan, you should know this. It seems you still have much to learn."
But there was a deeper layer to his strategy that he didn't share. The purpose of setting the trap on this side of the river wasn't just to stop the enemy from advancing. If the ambush failed, this river would become their own natural barrier, covering their retreat and buying them time to escape.
Always plan for defeat before you plan for victory. Always plan your escape route before the battle even begins. That was the essence of the secret art he had taught them: the Way of the Survivor. After all, on the battlefield, it was always best to prepare for the unexpected.