Uchiha Izuna was currently sitting in the command tent. Below him were Uchiha Fugaku and Pakura. The several of them were looking at a map of Kumogakure, thinking about a plan of action.
"Izuna-sama, Kumogakure's walls are high and sturdy, and the village's supplies are ample. Although we don't know how many people are inside the opposing village, a rash assault would undoubtedly cause us heavy losses," Uchiha Fugaku said with a frown.
"That's right. If we fight a war of attrition, our supply lines from Konoha are long, and the manpower consumption is significant. It's clearly not worth it. This approach won't work either," Pakura, wearing standard-issue shinobi gear, also frowned.
She was now a Konoha shinobi, and also Uchiha Izuna's wife. Uchiha Izuna was the person in charge of the war against Kumogakure, so naturally she had to consider Konoha's interests.
Uchiha Izuna sat with one leg crossed over the other, one hand stroking his chin, the other arm crossed over his chest. He had anticipated this situation from the beginning. However, his grandson's words clearly indicated he didn't want to waste too much time.
Therefore, for this battle, they would need a forceful assault. Suddenly, he looked at his wife. "Pakura, how is your synchronization with the Four-Tails these days?" Uchiha Izuna's eyes lit up as he asked.
Pakura was momentarily startled, then broke into a radiant smile. She understood her husband's meaning. Tucking a strand of brown hair behind her ear, she said, "I am now a perfect Jinchūriki."
Son Gokū had discovered that Pakura's body's chakra nature was very compatible with his own. Furthermore, Konoha's treatment of Tailed Beasts was not as harsh as Iwagakure's. Therefore, Son Gokū quickly accepted becoming a Tailed Beast within a Jinchūriki again.
Moreover, Pakura's personality was infinitely better than Rōshi's, and she respected his opinions, not just treating him as a tool. Thus, after these years of training and coordination, Pakura had become a perfect Jinchūriki, able to freely utilize the Four-Tails' power.
She was also very familiar with the Four-Tails' Lava Release and Tailed Beast Ball. Currently, in Kumogakure, only A and Darui were struggling to hold on. Both of their Jinchūriki had already left Kumogakure, meaning they essentially had no method to resist a Tailed Beast Ball.
At this moment, Nawaki Senju entered the large command tent, pulling Yugito, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, along with him. Their relationship had progressed over these years. Although they weren't married yet, it wasn't far off.
For this campaign against Kumogakure, Nawaki and Yugito had volunteered. Seeing the current stalemate, Nawaki grew anxious and pulled Yugito along to volunteer for battle, seeking to avenge the murder of Yugito's entire family by the Third Raikage in his attempt to cultivate a perfect Two-Tails Jinchūriki.
Seeing the two enter, Uchiha Izuna smiled. He personally stood up and looked at them. Nawaki had now awakened Wood Release, with help from Uchiha Ryun. Ryun had infused Yang attribute chakra into Nawaki's body. In just one day, Nawaki grasped the basics of Wood Release. After eight years of training under Hashirama Senju, he could now perform many Wood Release jutsu.
Apart from Sage Art: True Several Thousand Hands and Wood Human Technique, he had basically mastered everything else.
"It's Nawaki and Yugito. Come in, come in, please," Izuna said with a smile on his face. He took Nawaki's hand and guided him to a seat. Yugito, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, walked over to Pakura. The two had a very good relationship.
To a certain extent, they shared common ground. Both were shinobi from other countries, both were Jinchūriki, and both had come to Konoha. This made their relationship special.
They shared a knowing smile, looking at Izuna and Nawaki. Uchiha Fugaku, standing to the side, looked displeased. He felt quite superfluous here.
Then, Uchiha Izuna poured tea for Nawaki and Yugito. "I just thought of a strategy to attack Kumogakure, and immediately thought of you, Nawaki, and Yugito."
Nawaki, about to drink his tea, paused upon hearing this. He looked eagerly at Uchiha Izuna. People said Uchiha Izuna's strategic mind was on par with his Second Grandfather's. He was also Ryun's grandfather. Surely, the success probability of this plan was high. Finally, the day to seek justice for Yugito had arrived. How could he not be invested?
Yugito also didn't drink her tea upon hearing this news. She looked at Uchiha Izuna, her eyes filled with anticipation. Ever since she learned that the Raikage had killed all her family members to accommodate the Two-Tails and cultivate a perfect Jinchūriki, she had been locked in a life-or-death struggle with Kumogakure. Hearing a method to attack the village now, she was also very expectant.
Seeing them like this, Uchiha Izuna stopped beating around the bush. He sat in the main seat. "Currently, our Konoha forces are elite and well-supplied. The enemy is holed up, refusing to engage, fighting a war of attrition. The money, food, and supplies we would consume are three to four times that of the enemy."
"Secondly, we are fighting on non-native soil, while they are fighting on their home ground. Their morale will rise accordingly, basically prepared to fight to the death. If we attack head-on, our casualties will certainly be severe."
"However, I thought about it. What do we have that they don't? Finally, I thought of Yugito and my wife, Pakura." Uchiha Izuna smiled, looking at the two.
Yugito looked at Pakura. Pakura smiled slightly. Yugito also understood. The corner of her mouth lifted. "Jinchūriki."
"Exactly, Jinchūriki. We have two perfect Jinchūriki here. Kumogakure's Jinchūriki have either left or retired into seclusion." Uchiha Izuna's eyes brightened. He stood up.
"Jinchūriki generally serve as a village's strategic weapons, able to deter and threaten other countries to a certain degree. However, for this campaign, we have two Jinchūriki present, while they only have two Kage-level fighters. I think breaching the village gates should be relatively easy. Once the gates are open, our Konoha shinobi will charge forward at full strength."
"Fugaku will activate his Susano'o and lead the charge. Nawaki will use Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees." Using the pollen to hypnotize the enemy, we can take Kumogakure with minimal losses, subjugating the entire village for Konoha's use. If the battle situation changes, I will also activate my Susano'o and charge forward, fighting alongside everyone." Uchiha Izuna now slammed the table and stood up, his eyes shining.
Everyone present simultaneously took a sharp breath upon hearing this. Breach the gates, hypnotize, Susano'o clearing the path. He had thought of every step. Was this the genius from the Warring States Period, the Uchiha Izuna who led the Uchiha clan against the Senju clan?
They had rested for less than two hours, and he had already devised such a perfect plan. Originally, everyone was thinking either a head-on assault or a war of attrition. But this series of smaller moves by Uchiha Izuna, if executed, would surely devastate Kumogakure.
"So, when do we act?" Nawaki Senju stood up, already rubbing his hands together eagerly. Years of training had transformed him from a naive youth into a qualified shinobi.
With Yugito always having his back, he had now become a perfect Kage-level fighter. This couple was also quite famous within Konoha.
Uchiha Izuna naturally knew about his and Yugito's hatred for Kumogakure, so he smiled and reassured the two. "Between two and three in the morning. For now, please go back and sleep. When the time comes for the surprise attack on Kumogakure, we'll still need your cooperation."
After getting the confirmed result, Nawaki Senju took Yugito's hand. Yugito nodded to Pakura, then went with Nawaki to rest in their tent.
Because a major battle would happen that night, the two only slept while holding each other, nothing more. Uchiha Fugaku excused himself and went down to arrange for the shinobi to rest and patrol. Pakura knelt in the main tent, drinking tea with Uchiha Izuna, discussing where the two of them would travel after this battle ended.
Uchiha Izuna smiled, pulling her into his embrace. "Anywhere is fine, as long as I have my wife with me."
Pakura blushed, only letting out a soft snort and patting his chest.
The two embraced, looking at the snowy mountains outside the tent, smiles on their faces.
Uchiha Ryun wiped his sweat. Damn, why is the distance between Iwagakure and Kumogakure so far? I really don't know why they always attack each other every time they fight. Such a long distance, with two or three small countries in between. Is it worth it?
Just then, Sarutobi Shinnosuke handed a water canteen to Uchiha Ryun. "Sensei, you've worked hard. Have some water," he said with a smile.
Uchiha Ryun nodded, took the canteen, thanked him, and gulped down the water. Then he wiped the corner of his mouth. This was what came with leading troops. If he were alone, he could just use Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport directly inside Kumogakure.
Looking at the journey, there was about a day left. Presumably, the battle at Kumogakure wouldn't end that quickly. "Everyone, rest here for now." After saying this, Sarutobi Shinnosuke put away the canteen and relayed the order.
The shinobi sat on the ground, resting. Seeing this, Uchiha Ryun smiled, not caring about his image at all, and sat down as well.
The plan to subjugate the ninja world was currently in progress, one-quarter complete. He looked at the progress bar on his system panel, the corner of his mouth lifting. Once everything was subjugated, he could awaken the side-effect-free version of the Eight Gates. By then, even if the Ōtsutsuki came, he could kick them to death.
Kumogakure
The Fourth Raikage sat restlessly in his office. He spoke, "Darui, have the Konoha forces made any moves?" he inquired.
Darui shook his head. "The guards on the village walls haven't reported anything. On the contrary, they say everything is calm. I am also very suspicious, but I personally went up to the walls and found it was indeed as the guards said."
The Fourth Raikage frowned. Something was wrong. Very, very wrong. The one leading the opposing forces was Uchiha Izuna. Last time, he had used all sorts of cunning tactics to beat him and his father badly.
This time, leading troops, would he really be content with just a war of attrition? That was unfavorable for them. Whether it was morale or food supplies, they far surpassed the enemy's. The only problem was they couldn't attack. Once they attacked, there would be no turning back. In terms of shinobi quality, they were completely outmatched.
He could already imagine that if war broke out, the Konoha shinobi would probably break through their defenses like a hot knife through butter, pushing them back step by step. And that was the optimistic scenario. The pessimistic scenario was they would directly charge into the village and seize power.
But just defending the village also made him very anxious and worried that the enemy would combine their forces. By then, he would truly have no way out.
"Darui, have the scouts sent to Kirigakure returned?" The Fourth Raikage, A, slowly asked.
Darui nodded.
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