73

"Quick! Another wounded! Ozawa, go help!"

"Captain! That ninja is dying, come quickly!"

"Wait! I have a critical case here too!"

Within the Konoha medical unit, Aizen observed the frantic activity, the medics rushing back and forth, the constant stream of injured shinobi. He shook his head inwardly.

He had just read the latest battle report from the front lines. Aside from Ryuken's inexperience as a commander, the cunning of the Sky ninja had surpassed his expectations. They had abandoned their base, leaving it riddled with traps for the Konoha shinobi.

This tactic was akin to cutting off one's nose to spite one's face! Any rational leader would have hesitated to employ it. While it seemed the Sky ninja had gained a temporary advantage, their army of thousands was now displaced, without shelter, food, or a way to maintain their fighting strength. The losses from these issues would far outweigh any gains from their initial attack.

Unless the Sky ninja had other hidden bases that could sustain their forces. Aizen considered this possibility. Shinno, their leader, had been obsessed with obtaining the Senju clan's bloodline. He must have anticipated Konoha's retaliation and prepared for it. Hidden bases would be crucial for the Sky ninja to regroup and eventually strike back.

Finding these bases in the vast Land of the Sky would be the key to winning this war. However, it was a daunting task, especially considering that Konoha was on a expedition.

Once the conflict dragged on, not only would morale suffer, but the astronomical resources consumed by the army would be enough to bankrupt Ryuken.

But what did this have to do with Aizen? If the troops suffered heavy losses, only Ryuken would be blamed, not the medical squad leader.

A gentle smile spread across Aizen's face as he channeled healing energy into his palms, tending to a nearby wounded shinobi who looked at him with gratitude.

While Aizen was in high spirits, Ryuken was not.

Bang!

Ryuken slammed his teacup on the table, his eyes burning with rage.

"Damn Sky ninja! How dare they mock me! When I find them, I'll tear them apart and feed them to the dogs!" he snarled, his face twisted in fury.

"Young master, please calm down! They must have prepared secret bases beforehand, otherwise they wouldn't have dared to abandon their main base. We need to find those bases as soon as possible to resolve this situation," Senju Kogane, his advisor, said cautiously.

"Do you think I don't know that?! The problem is, it's nearly impossible to locate those hidden bases in this vast country within a short time! If it were that simple, would I be this angry?" Ryuken retorted.

Kogane nodded fearfully, not daring to utter another word.

After venting his frustration, Ryuken calmed down and began to contemplate his next move. Despite his temper, he was also cunning and calculating.

"Kogane, come here. Listen carefully..." Ryuken beckoned.

Kogane approached, bowing his head.

As Ryuken spoke, Kogane's eyes grew brighter, his face alight with undisguised joy.

"An excellent plan, young master! If you follow this plan, the Sky ninja won't escape your grasp!" Senju Kogane exclaimed with admiration after Ryuken finished explaining.

"Hmm... Not only that, if the first phase succeeds, I'll eliminate that unsightly little Aizen in the second phase!" Ryuken smirked, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent.

He then proceeded to share the rest of his plan with Kogane, who nodded enthusiastically in approval.

"Alright, you know the plan. I leave the specific execution to you," Ryuken instructed.

"Yes, young master! I won't fail you!" Kogane declared.

Kogane immediately began preparations for Ryuken's plan.

Time passed, and half a month went by. The Sky ninja remained elusive, as if they had vanished.

The Konoha army, meanwhile, consumed their supplies with no sign of action, causing anxiety among the jonin commanders. Whispers of doubt about Ryuken's leadership spread throughout the camp.

Despite his reputation for being short-tempered, Ryuken remained surprisingly calm. He dismissed the concerned jonin with vague assurances and focused on increasing the supply shipments, further fueling speculation about his competence.

However, Aizen saw through Ryuken's facade and grew increasingly wary.

Then, one seemingly ordinary morning, something unexpected happened. A Konoha logistics unit, traveling along its usual route, was ambushed by a group of Sky ninja. After bombing the convoy, the ninja emerged from hiding and seized the supplies and bodies.

Unbeknownst to them, tiny, invisible insects had crawled onto their clothing.