Chapter 671 : Darui's Decision, Fujin's Plan!

Realizing how devastating their losses would be if Konoha destroyed those 5 bases, Darui ordered, "Contact these two bases and tell them to be on guard. I'll take 100 ninjas with me and go to see what the situation is. Yugito, you stay in the village in case my guess is incorrect and their real target is our village."

Darui began moving towards the door. However, before he could leave, Mabui said, "Don't be reckless, Darui! Konoha has already managed to lure Raikage-sama away. If you act without considering all the possibilities, you could fall into a trap as well. If that happens, we could suffer even more."

Darui stopped and looked at her. Mabui continued, "There are still a few more possibilities other than Konoha attacking those bases. In fact, I think that those are more likely than Konoha attacking our bases. Don't forget one of the main reasons behind creating these bases."

Darui's eyes widened as he realized what Mabui was indicating. He said, "Sorry, I lost control for a moment. You're right. While making these bases, we kept Konoha's attack on the mine in mind. The bases were specifically created in a way to ensure that a few large-scale attacks won't be able to destroy them."

Samui agreed and added, "That's right. Even if they were attacked and at a great disadvantage, they should have been able to contact us. So, it is highly unlikely that they were attacked."

Mabui nodded and said, "That's right. I feel that Konoha has sent a few squads to intercept the messenger birds between us and those bases. Their goal might be to make us think that those bases are under attack and make us send reinforcements there.

Once we do, they would ambush our reinforcements and eliminate them. Without Raikage-sama and Bee, our reinforcements won't be able to resist if the Sannins are involved in the ambush. Even you might lose your life, Darui.

Not to mention, there is still the chance of this being an attempt to lure even more capable ninjas away from our village so that our defenses weaken even further. So, we need to tread carefully."

Darui and the rest analyzed Mabui's words and felt that they were reasonable. However, it left them in a dilemma. C sighed, "So, what do we do in this situation?"

A helpless expression could be seen on C's face. No matter what they did, the situation was bad. If they didn't go and their bases were under attack, then it would be the same as giving up on the lives of hundreds of capable ninjas. On the other hand, if they did go to reinforce and fell into an ambush, it could also result in painful casualties.

Mabui sighed as well and said, "There are only two things we could do. Either we stay holed up here until Raikage-sama returns, or we send a large group to check what is happening. However, there won't be any half-baked attempts.

Either you all stay here, or all four of you head out leading an army of 500 ninjas. We can't risk sending a small group and losing someone like you, Darui."

Everyone looked at Darui. As the leader in Ay's absence, he would have the final say. After thinking for some time, he said, "Even if Konoha attacked our village, they won't have an easy time getting inside the barrier. After all, even the Eight Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb can't break the barrier. Besides, that isn't Konoha's way of doing things.

I'll head out towards the closest base along with an army to see what is happening. If Konoha really wants to ambush us, let me see what they have brought to ambush us!"

Everyone nodded and got to work immediately. Samui, C and a few others left to gather the army. Since everyone was already on guard, it wasn't a very difficult task. However, it would still require some time.

Five minutes after the two of them left the Raikage's office, Mabui's expression became grim once again. Darui muttered, "We have lost contact with 3 more bases… To think that they would target this one as well…"

Darui's eyes were on the base where Dodai was stationed. Since it was on the other side of Kumogakure, he didn't think it would be targeted.

Yugito frowned and asked, "How did they interrupt our Chakra Transmission Communication devices?"

Mabui answered, "These devices work by transmitting chakra. Though unprecedented, it wouldn't be too strange for them to intercept it. Perhaps Konoha has sent members of the Hyuga and Yamanaka clans to interfere with this. Or perhaps they invented a technology allowing them to interfere with our transmission. However, it is very suspicious that they're doing this."

She looked at Darui and asked, "Which base will you head to first? And what should I tell the other 4 bases?"

Darui muttered, "Dodai's base is the closest to the village. I'll need just 4 hours to travel there. I'll head there first. Ask the remaining four bases to be on their highest guard. Tell them that they might be attacked or lose contact with us.

In addition, send an Anbu squad to the other 5 bases which we can't contact. However, instruct them to take irregular routes."

Mabui nodded and quickly got to work. Half an hour later, Darui, Yugito, C and Samui left Kumogakure along with 496 other ninjas! Such a large movement made everyone inside Kumogakure tense. Needless to say, the ones who were the most tense were the spies. However, none of them dared to send a message to their village due to the barrier surrounding the village.

In an underground base in the Land of Frost, a frown could be seen on Fujin's face. He thought, 'He doesn't know anything about the Lightning Chakra Mode either… He does know the basic mechanics behind techniques like the Lightning Release: Double Lariat, but nothing about the Lightning Chakra Mode.

He knew where the scroll of that technique was kept by the Third Raikage. Unfortunately, the Fourth Raikage changed its location later… Sigh, I guess I can't expect to get Kumo's greatest technique so easily…'

Fujin calmed his mind and thought, 'After my chakra recovers, I'll destroy three more bases. Kumo has already discovered that there is something wrong with the first three bases I targeted, though I am not sure whether they discovered the details. Even if they haven't, it is just a matter of time. They should soon discover about the remaining three as well.

However, it is too late. Even if they ask the ninjas in those 3 bases to retreat to Kumogakure, I can easily intercept and eliminate them. Even if they split and escape in different directions, eliminating most of them wouldn't be too difficult thanks to my Space Time Sensing Technique and Flying Thunder God jutsu.

That'll leave just one base. After such losses, there is no way Kumogakure would stay silent. They would do everything they can to keep everyone in that base safe. Even if it isn't tactical, they'd do it for their pride and morale. And the only thing they can do is send a large army led by either Darui or Yugito or both there. However…'

A smirk formed on Fujin's face as he thought, 'That base is on the freaking edge of this continent. Even if everyone eats soldier pills and rushes there, they would need over a day and a half to reach there. With just Darui or Yugito inside Kumo, I can easily infiltrate and try to look for the scroll without needing to worry much about any obstructions.'

Fujin turned his gaze back towards Dodai's dead body and thought, 'This guy's quite peculiar as well. Even though he showed that he was quite smart during his young age, his fighting prowess wasn't very impressive compared to his peers. While not weak, he didn't stand out either.

He didn't have any affinity to Lightning manipulation and his main affinities were Fire and Earth. However, even there, his affinities weren't particularly spectacular. Yet, he managed to fuse the two elements in his late teens in a stroke of luck while he was trying something else…'

Fujin let out a sigh. Even though he hadn't devoted his life to creating a Kekkei Genkai like a few others, he still worked a lot. He even experienced how Takeshi did it several times with the Spirit Transformation jutsu. And, even though his talent in Fire Manipulation wasn't extraordinary, his talent in Wind Manipulation was beyond extraordinary. Yet, he hadn't managed to properly recreate Scorch Release. On the other hand, Dodai managed to do it by a stroke of luck…

Fujin muttered, "No wonder Renjiro said that it is luck-based rather than skill. No wonder Hiruzen and Orochimaru never managed to create any Kekkei Genkai despite having excellent affinities and access to even more jutsus than me…

Sadly, even though I read Dodai's memories, I won't be able to recreate Lava release that easily. I'll have to get that combination right just like how he did and that's not something I can copy by just reading memories… I'll need to learn how to do it instinctively…"

Fujin shook his head and thought, 'Leave it, it's too much work for something that adds very little to my strength. Besides, if that plan works, then all my efforts would become pointless. I'll rest for a bit and continue my attack…'

Four hours later, Darui's army reached Dodai's base. As they looked at the base carefully, a puzzled look appeared on everyone's face.

[A/N: Latest chapter - A Game of Death!]

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