Unfortunately, Rei Kaguya's assumption became reality.
After the first battle drove back the Konoha unit centered around Kushina Uzumaki and the future clan heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho, Mount Kannabe's stronghold fell into an eerie calm.
The battlefield, which should have been a flesh-and-blood grinder filled with the sound of both sides slaughtering each other, now only carried the monotonous sounds of Kirigakure shinobi sparring to maintain their condition.
If not for Kushina Uzumaki, who did not trigger the weakling judgment of [Coup de Grace], bringing Konoha's reconnaissance squad every day for long-range monitoring, and if not for Kirigakure's newly appointed sensory shinobi approaching and investigating Konoha's camp, confirming that there were still many powerful chakra sources inside, Rei Kaguya might even have wondered whether he had fallen for the enemy's Empty Fort Strategy.
At the same time, Konoha launched fierce counterattacks against Kirigakure in other areas of the defensive line.
According to the information Rei Kaguya received from Kirigakure's intelligence department, both of Konoha's great dojutsu clans had sent rather luxurious lineups to participate in this counterattack, creating enormous obstruction against Kirigakure's offensive.
Although the front line was long enough that the reinforcements from the Hyuga and Uchiha clans were forced to scatter among various strongholds to provide support, making it impossible for them to gather together and pose a fatal threat to Kirigakure's main force, their participation had indeed dragged the battlefield into a rotten mire.
For Rei Kaguya, whose main mission was to hold Mount Kannabe's stronghold until Kirigakure successfully seized the other Konoha strongholds and pushed the front line farther forward, thereby freeing him, this was pure torture.
"Damn it. Why the hell did I draw Mount Myoboku Sage Mode from Minato back then instead of Flying Thunder God!? If I had Flying Thunder God, would I be stuck here like this, strong but unable to use it?"
Looking at another shadow clone of his turning into a petrified frog because of the imbalance between chakra and natural energy inside its body, Rei Kaguya, who had been studying Mount Myoboku Sage Mode almost nonstop for nearly a week, fell backward onto the grass.
With a tired expression, he pressed his brow and muttered to himself.
Rei Kaguya was not afraid of clashing head-on with Konoha's shinobi.
But at present, with the system mission restricting his activity range, he truly did not have any good way to deal with Konoha shinobi who kept watching from a dangerous distance but refused to come up and fight, especially when he could not chase them too far.
At the same time, because the entire front had begun fighting, the rear's ability to support Mount Kannabe had also become extremely limited.
After reluctantly satisfying Rei Kaguya's previous demands for medicinal herbs, medical-nin, and sensory shinobi, the main camp had not provided Mount Kannabe with any support besides intelligence. Instead, they threw all their energy into this full-front decisive battle against Konoha.
It could only be said that Shikaku Nara's tactic was indeed very successful.
At present, Rei Kaguya was precisely the kind of character who could not be handled on a small-scale frontal battlefield, but once the battlefield was enlarged and the front line stretched out, he would struggle to fully display his role due to the limitations of his own mobility.
Although Shikaku Nara did not know that Rei Kaguya was bound by something like a system mission, that did not stop him from seeing through the situation between Konoha and Kirigakure and decisively choosing a piece-trading tactic, dragging Kirigakure's only currently overpowered combatant here.
As long as Rei Kaguya could not move freely across the battlefield, Kirigakure's offensive would not produce a huge breakthrough that caught people off guard.
And as long as Konoha could pull manpower away from Iwagakure and Kumogakure, no matter how much land Kirigakure had taken earlier, Konoha could very easily seize it back from their hands.
Even if Kushina Uzumaki was also pinned here like you and unable to move, Konoha still had famous shinobi like Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Minato Namikaze, as well as rising stars who could support the village's future, such as Fugaku Uchiha and Kakashi Hatake.
Aside from you, a monster who appeared out of nowhere, does Kirigakure have any other shinobi who can change the course of battle alone?
No.
Even the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist could only do that when all members were gathered. When scattered, they were nothing more than slightly stronger jonin.
Then the answer to what I should do becomes very clear.
Stall.
Just hard-stall.
I know I can't deal with you, but I am going to pin you down.
I believe my companions can open up the situation and lead me to victory.
Do you dare entrust the chance to decide victory and defeat to your companions, Rei Kaguya?
…
"But this calm standoff will come to an end eventually. The ownership of Mount Kannabe's stronghold will ultimately have to be decided by our respective strength. And once we produce a result here, the stalemate across the entire front line will change because of it."
Inside Mount Kannabe's command room, Mei Terumi slammed a piece of intelligence onto the table.
Her eyes were sharp as she looked at the Kirigakure shinobi who had come to attend the meeting.
"Our intelligence personnel in Konoha sent back news. Minato Namikaze has already left Konoha Hospital. Although his hands are still covered in thick bandages and plaster, we have reason to believe that he has actually fully recovered."
"In other words, Minato Namikaze may appear to still be resting and recovering in Konoha, but in reality, he has already finished all preparations to rush to the battlefield. He is waiting for an opportunity to join forces with the commander on the surface, Kushina Uzumaki, and strike unexpectedly, seizing Mount Kannabe back from us."
"Considering their relationship as husband and wife, as well as the importance of Mount Kannabe's stronghold, I have reason to believe Konoha will launch an offensive this way."
"Then, Lady Mei Terumi…"
An older chunin asked in a tone carrying a trace of fear:
"Are we going to face that Yellow Flash directly on the battlefield next?"
"No. The Yellow Flash and Kushina Uzumaki will both be handled by Rei."
Mei Terumi brushed aside the long hair hanging in front of her chest and spoke in a deep voice.
"When Rei fights those two, the enemies we need to face will most likely be Konoha's Ino-Shika-Cho combination, as well as a jonin insect user from the Aburame clan."
"That will be extremely difficult, Lady Mei Terumi."
Another chunin spoke up.
"Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Aburame… Each one is a famous secret technique clan. Although Lady Mei Terumi possesses two Kekkei Genkai, Lava Release and Boil Release, I fear it will still be difficult to match all of them at once."
"That is why Rei left this for us."
Mei Terumi placed the first summoning scroll Rei Kaguya had created onto the table and pushed it to the center of the meeting table.
"Lady Mei Terumi, this is?"
The chunin who had expressed concern earlier frowned and asked in a deep voice.
"Inside the scroll is Rei's special clone. Its activity time is limited, but its strength should be around fifty percent of his main body's. Using it to suppress Konoha's Ino-Shika-Cho combination for a short time is more than enough."
"As expected of Lord Rei! He actually has a clone capable of inheriting fifty percent of his own power?"
"What an impressive technique… With Lord Rei's clone as insurance, our chances of victory can increase significantly."
"Heh, Konoha? We'll make sure they come and never return!"
A burst of cheers rang out in the meeting room.
Mei Terumi silently waited until everyone had released the emotions in their hearts before speaking again and issuing orders.
"That is the situation. I will do my best to deal with the Aburame clan's insect user, whom I counter, during the time Rei's clone can remain active. Then I will return to regroup with you and drive back the attacking Konoha shinobi together."
"You two from the intelligence squad, please stay together with the medical-nin. Remember to remain alert at all times. Do not give Konoha's shinobi a chance to fish in troubled waters by sneaking in and creating chaos."
"Yes."
The two newly arrived members of the intelligence squad nodded slightly, accepting the task.
"Patrol squad, protect every key position in the stronghold. If you discover enemy activity, you do not need to fight to the death. Do your best to delay the time it takes for them to break into the stronghold. If we suffer too many casualties on our side, then even if Rei wins on his end, we won't have enough people left to continue holding Mount Kannabe. Understood?"
"Understood!"
…
Mei Terumi arranged the tasks of every squad in the stronghold in an orderly manner.
She clearly looked like a girl only around thirteen years old, yet at this moment, she displayed an astonishing efficiency and talent, as if she had been born with everything necessary to become an outstanding leader.
After assigning every shinobi their tasks and having them return to their posts, Mei Terumi collapsed onto the meeting table with a bitter expression.
She stared at the summoning scroll Rei Kaguya had prepared for her, rubbing her throbbing temples as she muttered to herself.
"You really know how to cause trouble for people, Rei…"
"But who told me they are the first batch of followers important to you?"
"I'll let it go this time. But if you dare dump all the troublesome paperwork on me again in the future and run off by yourself to improve your strength or whatever…"
"I will absolutely leave you with a lesson you'll never forget. Mm."