That is what they were planned.
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A sandstorm swept over the desert, blinding anyone who looked at it. Amidst the harsh terrain, a group of ninja, donning yellow-gray cloaks, blended in with their surroundings, making it difficult to spot them at a distance.
However, upon closer inspection, it was evident that they were the Sand Shinobi, stationed at their military base located near the border of the Land of Fire.
The base was enclosed by rugged rock walls, which protected it from the harsh environment, making it their camp's closest military base in the Suna Village of the War Front for the Land of Fire.
Tents of varying sizes dotted the base, with the largest of them housing Kazuki, the commander of the battle against the Konoha camp.
He knelt down on one knee inside, narrating the intricacies of the battle to a red-haired man seated on a chair. It looks like a subordinate reporting to his superior.
"That's how the battle went," Kazuki reported. "The Uchiha patriarch proved to be a formidable foe, displaying kage-level skills. Even his shadow clone was capable of using B-rank fire and thunder-style techniques. We suffered heavy casualties, and to make matters worse, Orochimaru appeared."
Kazuki reported to the man seated on the chair, but he did not mention Fugaku using wood release, so he did not take the report as a commander because he did not see him using it in the war.
"Well, because of the Uchiha clan head, we lost more than three hundred ninja." The man in the white robe frowned, tapping his fingers on the chair. "The Uchiha clan head... Ino-Shika-Cho?" he questioned.
They already launched a surprise attack with a thousand-man force and failed miserably. No matter what, they must be cautious of us. It will then be known to the Konoha camp.
"Are we going to fight head-on?" Kazuki asked tentatively.
"fight head-on? Kazuki, it seems you're not suitable to be a commander." The white-clothed man asked in a cold voice.
When Kazuki heard him, he felt terrified and broke out in a cold sweat, lowering his head as he became aware of his stupid idea.
"sigh you may leave," the man said, forcibly holding back his anger as he waved his hand.
Kazuki got up and left the tent as if he had been pardoned for his blunder.
Taking a deep breath, the man's eyes fell on the cloak beside him, prominently displaying the blue "wind" symbol that marked him as the current temporary Kazekage of Suna Ninja Village.
Rasa was seething with anger, but if the village wasn't so desperately short of ninjas, he would have killed Kazuki on the spot.
Kazuki had led a thousand men against four hundred and not only lost three hundred of them but also failed to report how much damage the Suna troops had inflicted on the Konoha camp.
Rasa considered Kazuki to be a useless and incompetent commander.
However, he knew there were many who opposed his position as Kazekage, and he needed Kazuki's support to keep his position. So he forcefully suppressed his anger and chose to deal with the situation diplomatically.
If they were to engage in a head-on war, the issue of supply would pose a significant problem for them.
Attempting to invade Konoha's territory with a large force of ninja would also be unwise, as the Konoha camp would surely detect their movements.
The Konoha camp could then retreat, regroup, and wait for reinforcements to strike back, leaving their defense line stretched thin and vulnerable to counterattacks in an unfamiliar environment.
However, these problems were all rooted in the Wind Country's lack of resources and equipment.
The Kazekage had to admit that, despite being one of the five great nations, Wind Country was the poorest.
Although it boasted the largest territory, the harsh environment made it difficult for merchants to trade, diminishing the number of entrusted missions. Furthermore, their ninja training system was not well developed, making it expensive to train capable ninja.
Without the support of the daimyo, the sole income from missions would not be enough to sustain the village.
In this world, strong ninja are respected, yet money plays a crucial role in running a village. After all, why did Ninja take on missions? Wasn't it for the money?
Purchasing basic necessities such as shurikens, kunai, detonation tags, ninja swords, vests, and even soldier food pills all required money.
Therefore, it was crucial that they planned thoroughly in their attempt to corner Konoha camp. They understood that the war was not just a contest of human resources but also a contest of financial resources.
They attacked Konoha for two reasons: suspecting them of being the ones behind the Third Kazekage's disappearance and the desire to obtain the fertile land of Konoha.
With that land, they could finally cultivate and grow their grain without any hindrances.
However, they understood that trying to overpower Konoha in an all-out attack was out of the question. Instead, they developed a scheme to divert their opponent's attention.
They attacked Konoha to create a diversionary front, while a more substantial force maneuvered from another direction to accomplish their ultimate goal.
In order to carry out their plan, they had entered into an agreement with the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning.
They exploited the disappearance of the Kazekage as a pretext to decoy Konoha's forces, while the other two villages would execute an unexpected onslaught to defead their enemy.
Then, the three villages would split up the territory according to their desires. However, their strategy failed to unfold as they had planned.
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iwakagura
In the meeting room of the Tsuchikage Building, the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, sat at the head of the table, surrounded by eight advisors.
The group scrutinized the report of the latest battle situation with eyebrows furrowed and deep concentration etched into their faces.
A collective sigh echoed through the room as they learned of the failure of the Sand Village's surprise attack with a thousand-man force.
Onoki broke the silence. "What of the Uchiha clan and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio? It seems they have reached the camp, followed by Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin."
The advisors exchanged glances, hesitant to speak first. "We should not act hastily," offered one advisor. "We can wait for the Suna and Konoha villages to weaken each other before we make a move."
Another advisor chimed in agreement. "Yes, Konoha's strength is not to be underestimated. And we can also observe the movements of the Kumo Village."
Onoki listened attentively, considering each viewpoint carefully. They all understood the high stakes involved in any potential attack. He nodded, acknowledging their suggestions.
After all, this wasn't just some child play, but a real war with real people whose lives were at stake. They couldn't afford to make mistakes.
The Third Raikage of the Land of Lightning shared the same thought process, deciding to let the Suna and Konoha Villages wear each other down before making a move.
As they waited for the right time to strike, the Suna Village found themselves without any ally support, having offended the Land of Fire.
The two sides reached a stalemate, and the hidden village of the Land of Earth, Iwakure, waited for their moment to seize victory.