"Senior Sakumo, Asuma!"
Sarutobi Asuma and Hatake Sakumo, who were retreating, stopped in their tracks as Namikaze Minato approached them.
However, he wasn't with Kakashi and the others, but with an Ino-Shika-Cho squad.
"Big brother Minato!"
"Three seniors!"
As the two groups met, Sarutobi Asuma quickly greeted them.
Namikaze Minato and the three Ino-Shika-Cho members' gazes were all fixed on Sarutobi Asuma.
Sarutobi Asuma's previous battle exploits had already spread.
Even Namikaze Minato, who knew Sarutobi Asuma was strong, was greatly shocked, let alone the other Konoha ninja who didn't know him very well.
"Most of the Sand Ninja have advanced!"
"They're led by Chiyo, and there are likely over a thousand of them!"
Sarutobi Asuma spoke.
This was the information fed back after the first Shadow Clone he left behind was dispelled.
Everyone's expression grew solemn upon hearing this, and they set off.
Hatake Sakumo asked, "Minato, who is the frontline commander?"
Minato replied, "It's Master Jiraiya!"
"Teacher has already begun constructing the defensive line, but we only have five hundred men this time."
"Just last night, almost simultaneously, Kusagakure sent people to our village for reinforcements, and the Stone Ninja even made a move before the Sand Ninja."
"Furthermore, on the Land of Rain side, both the Sand Ninja and Stone Ninja have made moves."
Sarutobi Asuma wasn't surprised by this.
When it came to dealing with Konoha, the other four great ninja villages had absolute tacit understanding.
It wasn't just the Sand Ninja and Stone Ninja; the Cloud Ninja and Mist Ninja were surely waiting for an opportunity.
Therefore, Konoha couldn't possibly deploy all its forces here.
Five hundred versus over a thousand men; the difference in numbers was quite significant.
"So, it's going to be four against one!"
Sarutobi Asuma sighed inwardly, but his thoughts quickly shifted.
War was unavoidable.
Thus, what he needed to consider now was what he should do in the upcoming great battle.
Or rather, what goals should he achieve?
"First, I need to make my reputation as prominent as possible. This will increase my charm points and allow me to gain a large amount of experience points."
"Moreover, each battle itself can also yield a lot of experience points. The few skirmishes today have already provided me with over two hundred thousand experience points."
"A few more battles, and my character level can be raised again."
Sarutobi Asuma pondered, "Also, at my age, although the chances of competing for the Fourth Hokage are slim."
"However, things like battle merits and prestige are still important to me."
"When my generation grows up, no one will be able to surpass me in the competition for the Hokage position!"
Experience points, charm points, battle merits, prestige...
Keywords flashed through his mind. At this moment, memories from another Shadow Clone were fed back.
The Sand Ninja were advancing very quickly and were also very cautious.
His Shadow Clone had not caused significant impact to the Sand Ninja.
A moment later.
The group arrived at the Konoha encampment.
Jiraiya came out with his men to greet them. Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune were among the crowd, and they showed excited expressions upon seeing Sarutobi Asuma return safely.
Sarutobi Asuma nodded slightly to the two women without showing anything, then greeted Jiraiya and the others, "Lord Jiraiya!"
Jiraiya was now the frontline commander, so calling him "Lord Jiraiya" was more appropriate than "Senior Jiraiya."
Jiraiya smiled broadly, "Hahaha, Asuma, you did great!"
A chorus of praise also erupted from the surroundings.
These were concrete battle achievements, not to mention that Sarutobi Asuma was also the son of the Third Hokage.
However, the current situation did not allow for much wasted time, so after some praise, Jiraiya immediately began to inquire about the situation from Sarutobi Asuma and Hatake Sakumo.
With over a thousand Sand Ninja, Jiraiya was under considerable pressure.
Upon returning to the center of the camp, inside the commander's tent, Sarutobi Asuma received the memories transmitted by the last Shadow Clone he had left behind.
"Lord Jiraiya, the Sand Ninja vanguard is at most 10 minutes away!"
Sarutobi Asuma reminded him.
"Understood!"
Jiraiya nodded, his expression turning serious. He turned to Hatake Sakumo and asked, "Sakumo-senpai, do you have any suggestions?"
Hatake Sakumo shook his head. "In the Sand Ninja's style, they'll definitely leave some forces to tie us down, then disperse the rest to expand the battlefield, create chaos, and seize supplies, further scattering our forces."
"After all, this is the Land of Fire. The longer the war drags on, the greater our losses."
"Under these circumstances, your arrangements are already excellent, but..."
Hatake Sakumo said, looking at Sarutobi Asuma, "Perhaps we should focus on utilizing Asuma's abilities!"
"Asuma's abilities?"
Jiraiya and the many Jonin present were taken aback, then they all looked at Sarutobi Asuma.
"Sakumo-senpai is referring to that S-Rank Wind Style Ninjutsu that Asuma created himself?"
Jiraiya reacted quickly.
"What Sakumo-sensei is referring to is likely more than just the Wind Style: Rasenshuriken technique,"
Sarutobi Asuma spoke up. "I created the Scorch Release Bloodline Limit, and when under Scorch Release Chakra Mode, or when performing ninjutsu, I can fly into the air and hover, and I can also take others into the air."
"Sakumo-sensei's intention is probably to find a way to gather the Sand Ninja army and attack from the air with Wind Style: Rasenshuriken."
"Even if the Sand Ninja can intercept us midway, with your and Lord Jiraiya's strength, we can still inflict damage on the Sand Ninja army and cause great chaos."
"This way, we can significantly weaken the Sand Ninja's numerical advantage."
This statement surprised everyone.
The ability to fly and hover in the air while carrying others was of great strategic significance.
"This method is very good!"
Jiraiya's eyes lit up upon hearing this. After only a moment of thought, he immediately made a decision: "Centered around the main base, immediately contract our defensive lines and consolidate into one group."
"Yes, Lord Jiraiya!"
A Jonin immediately acknowledged the order and flashed away to relay the message.
Following that, Jiraiya issued further orders, all arranged around the tactic Sarutobi Asuma had just described.
For example, led by Hatake Sakumo, an elite force would be assembled to charge in after the Rasenshuriken attack concluded.
...
Day broke.
Konoha's over five hundred ninjas had gathered into one compact force.
At the same time, the Sand Ninja also learned of Konoha's movements through their sensory units.
This left many high-ranking Sand Ninja, including Chiyo, somewhat puzzled.
They had already roughly detected Konoha's numbers, which did not exceed six hundred.
With such a quantity gathered together, wouldn't it make their numerical disadvantage even more pronounced?
"With this tactic, it seems Konoha intends to fight us head-on?"
"Six hundred against one thousand one hundred, we have a significant advantage!"
Said a Sand Ninja Jonin.
Another Sand Ninja then speculated, "The current Konoha commander is very likely Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo!"
"This person's style is like a sharp sword!"
"Coupled with that kid Sarutobi Asuma, perhaps Hatake Sakumo believes that by acting as the arrowhead with that kid, they can break through our army?"
Upon hearing this, many Sand Ninja nodded in agreement.
This speculation was highly reasonable.
Furthermore, given Hatake Sakumo's strength and seniority, the only ones who could contend for command with him would be those of the same generation as the Third Hokage.
Just then.
A figure rapidly approached and knelt on one knee before Chiyo and the others: "Elder Chiyo, intelligence from Konoha indicates that the commander we are facing this time is one of the Sannin, Jiraiya!"
"Jiraiya?"
Many Sand Ninja were startled and somewhat surprised.
Jiraiya was not young, having already made a name for himself during the last Ninja World War, earning the title of Sannin.
Tsunade, in particular, had repeatedly broken through Chiyo's poisons, causing the Sand Ninja to retreat in defeat.
"One of the Sannin, Jiraiya, it makes sense."
"Eager for success, brimming with spirit."
"Indeed!"
"Besides, no matter who the commander is, since Konoha has gathered like this, we must also take corresponding measures!"
...
One by one, the Sand Ninjas spoke, and finally all eyes turned to Chiyo.
Here, Chiyo was the commander.
"You are all correct. Since Konoha has chosen this tactic, we have no choice but to follow."
"Pass down the order, all squads converge around the command headquarters!"
Chiyo shouted, "Since Konoha wants to break through us head-on, then let them know the resilience and strength of us Sand Village ninjas!"
"Yes!"
The Sand Ninjas shouted in unison, and then figures disappeared with whooshing sounds, quickly relaying the order.
Soon.
The Sand Ninja squads that had been dispersed began to pull back.
Whether it was Konoha or the Sand Ninjas, both sides were gathering forces.
And this kind of operation clearly did not conform to the common sense of ninja warfare.
Looking at the situation from the previous two Ninja World Wars, large-scale clashes of ninja armies only occurred at critical junctures.
For the vast majority of other times, it was actually large-scale, vast battlefields, followed by small teams and small-scale skirmishes.
Infiltration and counter-infiltration, surprise attacks and counter-surprise attacks – these were the common tactics for ninja engagements.
Konoha Year 44, July 22nd, 8:00 AM.
This was a day destined to be celebrated and remembered.
In the forest.
Except for the Medical Ninja corps, who were still in the rear, a total of five hundred and forty-five Konoha ninjas gathered, led by Jonin like Hatake Sakumo, preparing to charge.
Behind the crowd.
In a small clearing.
Sarutobi Asuma watched Jiraiya summon the Sage Fukasaku and his wife, entering Sage Mode.
He keenly felt that Jiraiya at this moment, purely in terms of chakra, was more than 30 times stronger than before entering Sage Mode.
"As expected of Sage Mode!"
Sarutobi Asuma sighed inwardly.
Sage Mode's chakra enhancement alone was very obvious.
Of course, Jiraiya's Sage Mode was also extraordinary; the two Sages Fukasaku and Shima were now fused with Jiraiya, so to speak.
"I've kept you waiting!"
Jiraiya opened his eyes, smiled, and then introduced the two Sages on his shoulders to Sarutobi Asuma.
"Sage Fukasaku, Sage Shima, hello, I am Sarutobi Asuma!"
Sarutobi Asuma greeted them with a smile.
"Little Asuma, hello, we've often heard Little Jiraiya mention you!"
"To be able to create such Wind Style is truly astonishing!"
Sage Fukasaku said.
"Indeed, it's very astonishing, no less than Minato."
"But, old man, aren't we here to deal with a big problem? Let's settle it quickly, and then go back to prepare lunch for the kids!"
Sage Shima was clearly impatient.
Jiraiya nodded upon hearing this and said, "We should finish this quickly!"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded and stopped wasting words. With a thought, he entered Scorch Release Chakra Mode, and then a white-eyed blue dragon flew out from his body.
"Lord Jiraiya, please get on the dragon's head!"
Sarutobi Asuma said.
Feeling the astonishing temperature of the Scorch Release Dragon, Jiraiya was somewhat startled but trusted Sarutobi Asuma greatly. He nodded and leaped up, landing on the dragon's head.
"What astonishing control!"
Jiraiya, standing on the dragon's head without feeling any scorching heat, couldn't help but praise.
Meanwhile, Sarutobi Asuma created two Shadow Clones. One of them used the Transformation Technique to disguise himself as Jiraiya, and then used the Body Flicker Technique to reach the front of the army.
On the opposite side.
In the forest, many Sand Ninjas led by Chiyo also appeared.
Although it was a large force gathering, the methods and styles of ninja actions dictated that they would not form ranks like ordinary armies.
Not to mention that the chosen battlefield was a dense forest.
So.
Even though it was nearly six hundred people versus one thousand one hundred people, the individuals on both sides were actually relatively dispersed.
But for Sarutobi Asuma, this was enough.
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