Chapter 262

Furthermore, because of their resistance, the Iwa-nin's actions became increasingly ruthless. Realizing this, the captain knew they were in danger.

These Iwa-nin were not only numerous but also very powerful, and they had the advantage since they ambushed.

In just a short time, many of the Konoha ninjas stationed here were injured, with some even collapsing into pools of their own blood, unable to move.

Even the captain of this checkpoint was now wounded, with blood constantly oozing from a deep wound in his abdomen.

If he hadn't held his belly, the contents might have spilled out. His face was exceptionally pale, yet he continued to fight valiantly.

"We can't go on like this; we must relay this information!"

The captain thought rapidly. He kicked away an enemy in front of him, but soon others lunged at him.

Being outnumbered meant being surrounded from all sides unless one had overwhelming power or completely dominated the surrounding ninjas.

Anyone else facing such a situation would feel helpless and completely reactive!

Blocking the attack from a Rock ninja, the captain looked around, tragically realizing he seemed to be the only one still alive.

The young ninja who had earlier yearned for the war to end so he could get married had several kunai stabbed into his chest, with crimson blood continuously flowing from his wounds.

His eyes were wide open, but there was no breath left in him. A vibrant life vanished right before the captain's eyes.

"Is this where it ends?"

The captain blocked a lethal blow, but the next moment he felt a heart-wrenching pain as a kunai pierced through his back!

Feeling his strength rapidly fading, and with the intense pain making his consciousness blur, he couldn't help but think.

Death is genuinely terrifying, especially for someone with lingering attachments.

The captain, enduring severe pain, launched an attack on the ninja behind him. But turning around caused him indescribable agony.

His speed naturally slowed significantly. His retaliation couldn't inflict any damage and due to his movements, he was struck by an enemy again.

When a kunai from an Iwa-nin slashed his waist, blood poured out rapidly. The captain couldn't hold on any longer and fell to the ground.

He still clutched a kunai in his hand, but he could no longer get up. His vision started to blur, and he felt his end was near.

"It's a pity, Naomi. It seems I won't be able to return to see you."

The captain thought to himself, then took a deep sigh.

Seeing the kunai of the enemy getting closer and closer, he suddenly clenched his teeth.

Even in death, he would not let the enemies have it easy. Even in death, this intelligence must be relayed!

"Shoo! Shoo! Shoo!"

Several kunai stabbed directly into his back. The captain's body involuntarily twitched a few times, and eventually, he could no longer move.

An Iwa-nin approached slowly and turned his body over. He had to confirm whether this person was dead. Others began to do the same.

"Be careful, retreat quickly!"

However, at that moment, the Iwa-nin's face changed drastically. He saw that this Konoha ninja had an explosive tag hidden in his hand!

"Boom!"

A massive explosion resonated across the wilderness. Not long after the explosion, from a watchtower in another location, an emergency signal silently soared into the sky.

"It seems the people of Iwagakure have truly gone mad."

Inside the office at the Konoha camp, Kaito and Tsunade finished reading the intelligence delivered by Shizune. Both of their brows were furrowed.

They could guess that Iwagakure might act irrationally, but the speed at which they were doing so seemed faster than anticipated.

Could it be that Ōnoki has already arrived at the front line?

It's very possible, after all, only Ōnoki could instill such confidence in these Iwa-nin.

Of course, it's also possible that these Iwa-nin's morale had been greatly challenged, and they had to find an opportunity to break through their current predicament.

After all, if they continue to be besieged by Konoha, it's hard to tell how long it would be before Ōnoki arrives or they collapse on their own.

And once they're driven back to the Land of Earth, it would essentially mean the Land of Grass is taken over by Konoha.

The impact on the Land of Earth would be unimaginable. Even if they regrouped and returned, their morale might not recover to its former height.

So, gathering a large force to launch an attack on Konoha now is nothing out of the ordinary.

Currently, Kaito and Tsunade are unsure about which category Iwagakure falls into.

After all, the whereabouts of Ōnoki are not so easily known to the average person. Who knows if someone might ambush them along the way?

But what is certain is that they have gone mad and have already started their attack.

"These bastards really know how to pick their timing."

Kaito shook his head gently, speaking with a hint of sentiment.

"If it weren't for the team on that watchtower, who relayed the information with their lives, we probably wouldn't have known about this intelligence."

Not a single person from that watchtower survived. Their bodies were even completely blown apart. However, they provided Konoha with crucial information.

With such a warning, people in other defense zones of Konoha began gathering intelligence and organizing resistance while simultaneously retreating.

Although Konoha's fighting will is strong, it doesn't mean their small number can fend off a large enemy force.

In the face of such a massive surprise attack, retreat is of utmost importance. It's crucial to quickly regroup with the main forces for a more effective counterattack.

With such organized actions, Konoha didn't suffer many casualties in Iwagakure's major assault.

Although Konoha lost quite a few positions, these positions originally belonged to Iwagakure, so the losses weren't particularly severe.

"I didn't expect you to care about the lower-rank ninja. It's a bit surprising."

Tsunade's mood wasn't the best, but she still managed to keep her emotions in check.

"You think everyone is like you, born with two Hokage grandfathers and having a Hokage as a teacher upon graduation."

Kaito didn't want Tsunade to feel too down, as it wouldn't be conducive to subsequent actions. He said with a hint of teasing,

"My parents lost their lives early due to wars. If it weren't for a bit of talent, I probably wouldn't have fared well under your teacher's guidance either.

I started as a mission ninja and naturally have more empathy for these regular ninja."

"I'm sorry, I overlooked your growth journey."

Upon hearing Kaito's words, Tsunade immediately recalled his personal development trajectory and directly apologized to him.

"After all, the power you're displaying now, and your current status, make it hard for people to believe in your growth process."

"People progress step by step. Geniuses are everywhere, but not many can recognize them."

Kaito noticed that Tsunade's attention was diverted considerably and nodded slightly in his mind.

However, he knew that the pressing issue at hand was the war. So he took out a map and began to speak directly.

"How should we proceed now? Iwagakure's attack is unlikely to halt easily, and we're still uncertain about Ōnoki's situation. 

We can't let them rampage unchecked any longer. We must find an appropriate location to put an end to all of this."

"A place suitable for you to showcase your abilities?"

Tsunade's mood had evidently improved. She glanced at Kaito and then pondered for a moment before finally speaking.

"For a battleground suited to your combat style, I personally think the plains would be best. That way, you can maximize your potential.

In the direction they're advancing, there's a suitable plain. We can get there in less than half a day.

However, while the plains offer advantages for you, they're also the best location for them to launch a frontal assault. You should be aware that it's quite risky.

The Iwa ninja have strong defenses, and their attack potency is also significant.

Even if they aren't as fast as us, once they close the distance, they won't be easy to handle.

Based on the strategies used against Iwagakure during the three wars, we always engaged them in the mountainous and hilly terrains.

Through constant repositioning and maneuvering, we wore them down before engaging in the final confrontation."

"But their stamina isn't a joke either, right?"

Kaito understood Tsunade's point and responded directly,

"I've seen plenty of intel, and the fact is that even after wearing them out for half a day, the actual effect wasn't that significant.

While we were trying to wear them out, we were also exhausting our energy.

In contrast, during direct confrontations, we performed better."

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