Chapter 219 : Giving All!

"Sarutobi-sensei, we successfully repelled the Cloud Shinobi's attack. Here are the battle damage statistics."

In Konoha's headquarters, a ninja from the Sarutobi clan handed over a battle report to Sarutobi Hiruzen and stood there respectfully awaiting his response.

"I'm already aware. Well..."

Sarutobi moved his hand away from a crystal ball, causing the image of the battlefield filled with corpses to slowly dissipate. The devastation was evident.

This technique involved telescopic glasses. By infusing mental power into the crystal ball, it could project into the distance and relay information.

Sarutobi had strategically placed several crystal orbs on the front lines. The radiated mental power could capture images refracted by these orbs, achieving long-distance monitoring, somewhat akin to the Sand Ninja's Eye of Sand.

Reviewing the battle report handed to him, Sarutobi furrowed his brows. The figures on it deeply concerned him, triggering memories of his childhood during the Warring States era when wars were rampant.

"Heh, it's still the same..."

Sarutobi gripped the battle report, and a wind attribute chakra gathered in his hand, effortlessly cutting the paper into fine shreds.

A gust of wind enveloped the shredded paper, accurately directing it into a wastebasket under the conference table without a single piece spilling. The nearby ninja was profoundly impressed.

"What precise control!"

Sarutobi drew back the curtain, observing the battlefield enveloped in gunpowder smoke from the command room. Sporadic explosions and the cries of the wounded echoed.

He raised his eyes, trying to look into the distance. The forest and bushes obstructed his view, but it felt as if his gaze pierced through obstacles, fixating on the stern second-generation Raikage Ai at the Kumogakure headquarters.

"Huh—!"

Feeling restless, Sarutobi lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled a large cloud of murky smoke, as if expressing his inner turmoil.

Originally a non-smoker, age and experience had seemingly made him dependent on cigarettes. The taste grew heavier, the dosage larger.

"One more day... When this war ends, maybe it's time to treat myself to a better pipe... Heh, let's finish this."

Sarutobi extinguished the cigarette in a small iron basin, already filled with numerous cigarette butts emitting green smoke.

"I wonder what happened to the three of them, Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, that such a mishap occurred!"

Sarutobi's expression darkened. "I've truly failed my teacher's trust. I wonder how he'd react... Damn!"

"You can go now; they know what needs to be done."

Sarutobi raised his head, regained composure, and gestured to the ninja who delivered the news.

"Yes, sir."

As this ninja left, another messenger rushed in.

"Sarutobi-sensei, good news!"

"Oh?"

Sarutobi looked at the excited messenger, his heart skipping a beat.

"Uchiha Kagami is back, victorious! He brought Princess Tsunade and the others with him!"

"...!!"

.....

"C, you're so disappointing! You lost so badly, even with all that intel!"

Simultaneously, C led the remnants of the Cloud Ninja back to Ai's base camp, only to be reprimanded by Ai.

"I'm sorry, sensei!"

All plans had crumbled. Despite having a significant advantage on the battlefield, Cloud Ninja had been deadlocked with Konoha Ninja for so long. Although they suppressed Konoha, there was no substantial progress, and they were being dragged into a war of attrition with the Land of Fire, the most prosperous country, defending the country of soup.

"It's infuriating!"

Ai slammed a fist on the wooden table, and a lightning bolt "stabbed and flashed," leaving a charred groove on the sturdy surface.

The audacious actions of the Golden Horn and Silver Horn in the Land of Fire had unexpectedly met strong resistance from Konoha. Sarutobi Hiruzen, in particular, vehemently opposed from the beginning. Rumors circulated that even Senju Tobirama was involved, and the Shimura clan, experts in wind release, played a crucial role.

According to frontline reports, the forces of the Ginkaku and Kinkaku brothers had been shattered and even collapsed. They were forced into a retreat.

Ai applauded as his confidant was finally subdued and brought under control, pressed to the ground by Tobirama. As the Raikage, he felt a momentary joy.

However, as time passed, his elation turned to worry, and his mood soured. The swift defeat of the Golden Horn and the Silver Horn left him almost unable to comprehend.

Were the Golden Horn and the Silver Horn truly that ineffective, or was the younger brother of the first Hokage and the second Hokage, Tobirama exceptionally powerful?

Recalling how they manipulated their ally, the Sand Shinobi, leading them to be swiftly dispatched by Konoha, and how Tobirama severely injured Shamon, Ai's expression grew grim. Tobirama was undeniably formidable.

"We don't have many opportunities, and we've made a significant mistake... The war we initiated is hanging in the balance!"

Ai's gloomy expression reflected the shadow cast over the future. Gazing at Sarutobi Hiruzen from a distance, it seemed their eyes were entangled in the void, conveying a sense of helplessness.

In the prolonged confrontation, Ai had also clashed with Sarutobi Hiruzen, whom he jokingly referred to as the offspring. Despite their skirmishes on the battlefield, Ai discerned that Sarutobi wasn't significantly weaker than him.

To overcome Konoha, Ai needed to breach the defense line held by Sarutobi. However, this task meant engaging in a battle with Sarutobi and the others. According to Ai's calculations, a head-on confrontation would result in mutual losses, an outcome he found unacceptable.

Ai had a crucial strategic goal—dealing with the Golden Horn and the Silver Horn. To accomplish this, he needed to preserve enough strength, making him reluctant to sacrifice himself.

War is an extension of politics. When casualties become too substantial, the war loses its meaning. Thus, Ai was more averse to death than Sarutobi, who awaited Tobirama's return.

Thinking of a grand strategy to capture the Sannin as a substantial bargaining chip, Ai regretted, "It's all my fault, I'm too careless!"

C, too, acknowledged his fault, attributing the failure to his own lack of strength rather than the association with Orochimaru, who coincidentally discovered their location.

Determined to reverse their fortunes, Ai declared, "We must attack! If we can't attack, we're in serious trouble! C, this time we must win and not lose!"

Ai decided to exploit the moment when the Golden Horn and the Silver Horn were on the brink of defeat. Despite C's unexpected defeat, Ai believed he was superior to the Uchiha Kagami.

Since the strategy failed, Ai decided to adopt Cloud Ninja's best tactic. He steeled himself for the inevitable losses. This war, sparked by the actions of the second-generation Raikage Ai, had to end in victory. There was no room for defeat.

"After defeating Sarutobi last time and directing the Kumogakure army toward Konoha, even if I gain no tangible benefits in the end, maintaining the nominal 'victory' is crucial for upholding my prestige as Raikage in the village and suppressing the scourges of the Golden Horn and the Silver Horn. Now, I can only prepare for the worst! Prepare to attack!"

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