Iwagakure's targeting of Yubi was anticipated by Sunagakure, who had formulated corresponding countermeasures.
This resulted in a situation where, despite the troop strengths being similar, Iwagakure found it almost impossible to effectively attack Yubi.
Furthermore, they could not stop the trend of Iwagakure's crushing defeat on the battlefield.
As time dragged on, Iwagakure's Overall Commander, Mountain Hero, discovered... that Yubi's Genjutsu showed no signs of stopping, as if his Chakra were infinite.
The imagined scenario—where Iwagakure would stall for time and weather the first wave of Sunagakure's offensive before immediately counterattacking—did not occur.
It was a ninja tool!
Iwagakure's Analysis Team, combined with intelligence from the Sensor Ninjas, finally figured out Yubi's 'methods.'
It wasn't a Ninjutsu he cast himself, but rather the effect of a ninja tool.
The power of this ninja tool was different from ordinary Genjutsu; while it could hypnotize targets, its more terrifying effect on the battlefield was its ability to influence individual emotions... Over time, inner emotions would be infinitely amplified, causing those on Iwagakure's side to fall into depression and panic... some were even retreating.
Meanwhile, on Sunagakure's side, every single one of them was exceptionally brave, showing no fear of death.
The two armies formed a sharp contrast on the battlefield.
Iwagakure retreated steadily, their Ranks in total disarray.
It could be said that as long as the effect of the ninja tool Yubi used continued,
their Iwagakure forces had almost no chance of winning.
Because... the combat power of the two armies was similar, and there were no top-tier powerhouses on either side capable of swaying the outcome of the battle.
If Iwagakure's forces were a Rank stronger than Sunagakure's, they could compensate for the impact of the opponent's ninja tool... but the best way would be to have individual combat power that could ignore the battlefield situation, creating an even more exaggerated and effective upheaval than Yubi's ninja tool.
But unfortunately... Iwagakure had no such person.
After Mountain Hero led the army through continuous formation changes and put up a desperate resistance for a while, he judged based on experience... that they must withdraw immediately.
Because... as long as they couldn't attack Yubi, Sunagakure's wide-range battlefield interference ability was practically insurmountable!
Dragging it out any longer would only result in more deaths for Iwagakure.
It was pointless.
Thus, this battle, which initially seemed grand and full of hostility, ended with Iwagakure's retreat after only half an hour.
Sunagakure drove Iwagakure all the way out of their territory and then stopped the pursuit.
The current situation of the Hidden Sand Village was not optimistic, leading their battlefield strategy to be somewhat conservative.
What they needed to do was passively resist Iwagakure's invasion; anything else... was unnecessary.
The end of this great battle naturally left the Sunagakure troops incredibly invigorated... because in this conflict, the commanders of both sides had personally taken the field, and Iwagakure had been beaten so wretchedly, which was far more satisfying than a simple victory.
It was also this battle that allowed the military management to clearly recognize the value of the ninja tool, military music dream.
Yubi changed the name of this ninja tool to simply military music... A few days later, at the Sunagakure camp.
Shimizu received a reply from the Village and summoned Yubi.
"Yubi, Lord Kazekage's intention is that our battle with Iwagakure is still ongoing... and it likely won't end anytime soon. Since you are the only one who can use this ninja tool, for now... it will be left in your care. We'll discuss it further back at the Village once the war here is over."
Shimizu said with a smile.
"Alright."
Yubi nodded.
This outcome... he had already guessed it.
His ninja tool could help Sunagakure achieve victory and escape Iwagakure's harassment as soon as possible.
As such, the Village naturally wouldn't have him hand over the ninja tool immediately, but would rather stabilize the situation here first.
However, for all the Sunagakure Ninja on the front lines, as the clashes with Iwagakure continued, the notion of him being the owner of the ninja tool would only deepen.
Moreover, every victory achieved... was a win established by him.
This was an unchangeable fact.
His military contributions... could not be ignored.
His presence on the battlefield was maximized... As time went on, Iwagakure's subsequent actions against Sunagakure clearly changed.
They were almost all small-scale raids... because small-scale battlefields erupt quickly, and conflicts of that level wouldn't 'disturb' Yubi into taking the field.
If he dared to participate without the protection of a solid defensive line... Iwagakure might instead find an opportunity.
However, by this point in the fighting, the tide of the confrontation between the two armies had long since shifted.
Firstly, there was the quality of the Medical Ninjas, and secondly, the combat level of the Puppeteers... These two changes brought about by Yubi and Sasori meant that even if Iwagakure frequently launched small-scale attacks, they lost more than they won. After being busy for quite a while, a final tally showed that they were the ones who had suffered heavy losses.
Next came a high-intensity Decapitation Plan!
Assassinate Yubi!
Indeed, Iwagakure quieted down for a while, no longer starting battles with Sunagakure, but they began frequently sending 'death squads' who, with the will to sacrifice themselves, attempted to infiltrate the Sunagakure camp to assassinate Yubi.
In just one month, Sunagakure caught several groups of people.
Later on, even two leading Iwagakure Jonin met their downfall.
One of them was even a captain in the Iwagakure forces.
This person actually managed to successfully infiltrate the camp... unfortunately, he was just one step short when he was discovered by Sunagakure, and it was Shimizu himself who moved to capture him.
Yubi was now a 'key protection target' for the Sunagakure forces.
Any Sunagakure personnel wishing to see him had to report their unit information and their Ninja ID number from the Village; the screening was extremely strict.
This Iwagakure Ninja was quite heroic in his own way, having no intention of becoming a prisoner; before he died... he bitterly cursed Yubi.
He claimed that Yubi would sooner or later die at the hands of Iwagakure.
This showed just how intense Iwagakure's hatred for Yubi had become.
Later, seeing that raids and assassinations were ineffective against Sunagakure and Yubi... Iwagakure finally launched another large-scale offensive. They attempted to figure out the 'weakness' of the ninja tool Yubi held, thinking to see if they could use on-site command and tactical deployment to break the influence of the ninja tool.
But without exception... they all failed.
Several large-scale skirmishes ended with Iwagakure suffering heavy losses.
Even if Iwagakure had some responses or plans, Sunagakure wasn't standing still either; they were also plotting.
Furthermore, as long as Yubi and Sasori stayed in the military for another day, at least two types of units—the Medical Ninjas and the Puppeteers—were 'benefiting.'
By the end, the gap between the two armies was visible to the naked eye.
However, Iwagakure didn't come away with nothing.
At least... they finally finished analyzing most of the intelligence regarding Yubi and his ninja tool.
They knew he possessed the Bloodline Limit ability of Blood Release and had also figured out the effects of the ninja tool, military music.
One day, in Shimizu's tent... everyone was discussing when Iwagakure would withdraw their troops. Under the current circumstances, no matter how one looked at it, as long as the Tsuchikage wasn't a fool, he would realize that continuing to stall with Sunagakure would only result in more casualties and posed no threat to the Hidden Sand Village.
But during this time, something one person said caused quite a reaction among the crowd.
It was about the nicknames for Sasori and Yubi that had spread from Iwagakure after a year of warfare.
They were Sasori of the Red Sand and Blood Doctor Yubi, respectively.
It could be said that these two nicknames... were 'beaten out' by these two kids themselves.
They carried immense weight.
And, without a doubt... these two titles would soon be spread by Iwagakure, attracting attention in the Ninja World.
One must realize that even some of the 'battlefield veterans' among them did not receive such treatment.
"Blood Doctor Yubi?"
Yubi smiled faintly.
This nickname... could only be said to be okay.
It was simple and easy to understand.
"Before Iwagakure withdraws, they will certainly engage in formal correspondence and negotiations with our Kazekage at the Village level through the Third Tsuchikage... Of course, it's also possible they won't be reconciled and will want one final, fierce battle with us. But no matter the outcome... their defeat is already a foregone conclusion,"
Shimizu said with a smile.