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On the surface, Uchiha Fū led the team, while Itachi watched from the shadows.
Only when encountering enemies too powerful, or facing encirclement, would Itachi intervene.
At other times, Itachi could only observe.
Unless Sasuke was severely injured or in mortal danger, he could assist.
Sasuke was not Naruto.
Though both were blessed with immense potential, their methods of "cheating" differed.
Sasuke could grow step by step through experience, while Naruto...
As long as he reconciled with the Nine-Tails, his strength would skyrocket.
Then a trip to Mount Myōboku would essentially complete his "cheat," leaving only the arrangements of the Sage of Six Paths.
Compared to Naruto, Sasuke needed more trials and battles. At the very least, they needed to find a way for him to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Given Sasuke's personality, once he awakened the Mangekyō, he would also be an uncontrollable force.
He would need timely discipline.
The more you disciplined Sasuke, the more obedient he became.
Conversely, if you left him alone, that kid was capable of all sorts of bizarre things.
When sizing people up, his nose rose higher day by day, as if he wanted to look down at everyone through his nostrils.
While Iwagakure was still busy setting up defense lines and building camps, Orochimaru wouldn't give them much time.
The day after Kazuki sent Naruto away, a new wave of war erupted.
Under Orochimaru's command, one team after another left the camp, advancing from two different directions: the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass.
Ōnoki had also made various arrangements.
The new round of warfare absolutely could not be fought within the Land of Earth. It had to be fought in the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain, especially the Land of Grass.
Ōnoki had his eyes on them for a long time.
Although the Land of Grass was also quite poor, it could at least satisfy some of Iwagakure's basic wartime supply needs.
At this point, Ōnoki was caught in a dilemma. The supplies gathered by the village and the Daimyō could only be used for the Land of Waterfalls battlefield.
As for the war with Konoha, the consumed supplies would have to be obtained locally.
No supplies?
Then we'll plunder!
Since they had already plundered the Land of Waterfalls and their reputation was already tarnished, going a bit further didn't matter.
Thus, the villages and towns within the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain suffered.
Basically, all were visited by Iwagakure.
Within just a few days, many villages and towns had large amounts of grain and money plundered.
"Don't you people rest at night?"
Kazuki was comfortably sleeping in his tent when he was awakened by someone Fugaku had sent.
Since Kazuki had directly taken over the original command post, Fugaku, Hiashi, and Orochimaru had to set up a temporary command post as their office space.
Kazuki entered the temporary command post still half-asleep. The moment he stepped in, he saw Orochimaru wearing a faint smile, and Fugaku and Hiashi with gloomy expressions.
"Lord Advisor."
With the pillar of support arriving, the three immediately stood to greet him.
"Everyone, sit."
Kazuki waved his hand and walked directly to the head seat. Before he could speak, Fugaku proactively slid several intelligence scrolls in front of him.
"Lord Advisor, this is intelligence gathered by the camp's ninja. Please take a look."
So formal?
Had something major happened on the front lines?
Bewildered, Kazuki opened the scrolls.
"Cough!"
When he saw the contents of the scrolls, Kazuki couldn't help but cough.
"This... Ōnoki and Iwagakure are going down this path?"
Fugaku, with a stern face, said gravely:
"Lord Advisor, Iwagakure's people are plundering resources everywhere within the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain. This is undoubtedly bad news for us. Iwagakure lacks supplies. Through plunder, they can acquire enough to sustain the war."
Iwagakure's lack of supplies had been an advantage for Konoha. But after this move, that advantage disappeared.
Iwagakure's supplies still weren't abundant, but at least they could support the war. Moreover, with the money they stole, they could purchase supplies through various channels.
Kazuki wasn't in a hurry. He opened and read all the other scrolls before putting them away.
He tapped his fingers on the desk a few times.
"In the short term, Iwagakure's disadvantage has indeed disappeared. Through plunder, they have enough supplies to sustain themselves. But only enough for short-term consumption. Don't forget how terrifying wartime logistics consumption can be. These plundered goods won't last long. Learn from Orochimaru. Look how calm he is. He's even smiling."
"...."
Orochimaru indeed hadn't taken this matter to heart. It was Fugaku and Hiashi's concern that led the three to sit here in the middle of the night and urgently summon Kazuki.
But some things were better left unsaid, even if understood. Bringing them up in front of everyone would be awkward.
Sure enough, Orochimaru, who had been able to smile moments ago, fell silent after being singled out by Kazuki.
Talk about Iwagakure if you want to talk about Iwagakure. Why bring me into it?
Although Orochimaru didn't care about others' opinions of him, the problem was that he, Fugaku, and Hiashi were now a team. If conflict arose among them, affecting the war, he, Orochimaru, would be the biggest loser.
Fugaku and Hiashi could at worst return to the village disappointed and continue as clan leaders. But he, Orochimaru, couldn't.
He was still counting on Kazuki to give him more rewards.
If the war went poorly, how could he even ask for rewards?
After Kazuki singled him out, Fugaku and Hiashi both looked at Orochimaru.
At a time like this, you, Orochimaru, can still smile?
"....."
Can't be bothered with you.
Orochimaru's lips moved, but he swallowed his prepared words. He felt that saying them would be useless for Fugaku and Hiashi anyway.
Since it was useless, why say anything?
"Alright, stop looking so worried."
Kazuki found it somewhat amusing.
"Iwagakure doesn't need to worry about supply consumption in the short term, but how long will these supplies last them? Put bluntly, war, besides manpower, is about logistics. Besides, if Iwagakure chooses to wallow in filth, we'll just let them have it. Compile this intelligence and send it to the nearby bounty stations. Tell them the information is free, but they need to spread it proactively. Since Iwagakure isn't afraid of a bad reputation, we'll help them out."
All you small countries and small ninja villages of the shinobi world, you'd better be careful. Iwagakure has started looting again, targeting you smaller villages and countries because you're weak and can't resist.
Once the news spread, the expression on Ōnoki's face would be quite something.
He was prepared to abandon his reputation, but that didn't mean he wanted Iwagakure's immoral behavior broadcast throughout the shinobi world.
Once people formed the impression that Iwagakure was not a good village, it would be very difficult for Iwagakure to redeem itself.