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15 Advanced Chapters @ patreon.com/aizenDuchiha0
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In the cool, dimly lit chamber of Konoha's upper council, voices rose and fell like tides. The floor was strewn with maps of the Land of Hot Water and the surrounding borders. Flickering candles cast long shadows across the faces of elders, strategists, and the veteran ninja who bore the scars of countless battles.
Dan Kato, Konoha's seasoned tactical commander, stood firmly at the head of the table. His weathered face was tight with focus, eyes scanning the maps as if trying to will the enemy into retreat. He knew the truth that everyone tried to deny.
"We've had no word from our forward base for three days," Dan began, voice steady but sharp. "No scouts have returned. No messengers. That silence... it screams defeat."
Murmurs spread among the council members. One of them, a sharp-eyed older man, nodded grimly.
"Kumo's elite jōnin are formidable," the elder said. "They took our base swiftly. But they marched hard for three days straight. We can assume their forces are exhausted."
A younger advisor leaned forward eagerly. "Exactly. If their shinobi are tired from the fight, it's the perfect time to strike. Retake the base before they fortify it any further."
Dan nodded slowly, folding his arms. "Agreed. They have no reinforcements nearby. We can muster 300 shinobi—enough to overwhelm a tired garrison and reclaim the base. We can't waste this chance."
Dan continued, "Kumo's elite jōnin punch far above their weight. We need careful planning, but we must not hesitate. Exhaustion won't stop them from fighting to the death for this mine"
Dan tapped the table decisively. "Better a hard fight now than a drawn-out war of attrition."
The council nodded in agreement, finalizing their decision. The operation to retake the base was set in motion.
--
The Scroll from Kumo has arrived
Meanwhile, hundreds of kilometers away in the cold stronghold of Kumo, Ay sat quietly as a scroll was handed to him by a messenger ninja. The seal of the Third Raikage was unmistakable.
Ay's fingers trembled slightly as he broke the seal and unfurled the parchment. The message was brief, but its meaning was unmistakable:
"If you notice any movement from Konoha attempting to reclaim the base, all Kumo shinobi must feign weakness and lure the enemy into our trap. Then strike decisively—leave no survivors."
Ay's eyes flickered across the room to where Killer Bee was sharpening his blades, humming a lazy tune. The plan was clear.
--
Kaien, seated on his mother Aya's lap nearby, tugged lightly at her sleeve. "Bad guys," he said with a serious expression, "they would notice no message came. So they'll think our people fought very hard and got tired."
Aya smiled gently. "And what do you think will happen then, little one?"
Kaien's eyes sparkled. "Bad guys will zoom to take the base. Our guys play... blehh," he made a tired face and slumped his head onto Aya's shoulder, "and when bad guys come—woosh! Our guys doom doom beat bad guys!"
Ay chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Do you want to take my place as Raikage?"
Without hesitation, Kaien looked up and said, "No."
Ay laughed, nodding. "Like mother, like son."
--
True to the plan, Kumo sent out a few elite sensor shinobi to monitor Konoha's movements. Within hours, the scouts returned breathless.
"Three hundred shinobi, moving fast," one whispered. "They're heading straight for our base."
Ay, Killer Bee, and the commanders exchanged grim looks.
"Time to play dead," Killer Bee said with a grin.
The Trap is Set
In the forward camp, shinobi lay scattered like casualties, some motionless, others breathing shallowly, eyes half-closed as if drained of will. A few twitched just enough to avoid suspicion.
Ay and Killer Bee vanished into nearby woods, shadows among shadows, waiting.
Every muscle tensed as the enemy approached.
--
Dan Kato Leads the Charge
At the head of the Konoha force, Dan Kato crouched low, leading three hundred shinobi across the barren field toward the once-lost base.
His breath formed white clouds in the frosty air. "Keep formation tight," he ordered. "Watch for traps. We must not let them surprise us."
The forward scouts had not reported any resistance yet. Perhaps the enemy was truly tired, or worse, caught off guard.
--
Behind a cluster of frosted pines, Ay whispered into the leaf of a nearby tree. "Remember Kaien's plan. They expect us weak. We'll let them believe it... then strike when they're close."
Killer Bee flexed his fingers around his swords. "The time for lazy rhymes is over. Let's give 'em a show."
--
The Konoha force moved carefully, the ruins of their old base looming ahead. The snow was stained dark with the remnants of battle, but still silent.
Then, from the shadows—woosh—lightning crackled as Ay struck from behind a tree, cutting down the first Konoha soldier.
Simultaneously, Killer Bee's tails whipped through the air, knocking shinobi to the ground before they could react.
The ambush was sudden, brutal, and devastating.
Kaien Watches Quietly
From a hidden vantage point, Kaien clapped his hands softly. "Doom doom," he whispered, eyes wide with the thrill of victory.
Aya smiled, watching her son grow from a playful child into a strategist beyond his years.