Meanwhile, at the Iwagakure ninja village outpost, the captains of each Iwagakure ninja squad held their breath, carefully observing Henghe's expression. This first confrontation with the Konoha ninjas had been a complete defeat. Despite having established an early advantage, they were dealt a heavy blow in less than a day. Although the losses weren't massive, Iwagakure had lost face.
Henghe was somewhat dejected. His initial plan was to use sturdy fortifications to make the Konoha ninjas crash into them, then counterattack and severely cripple the Konoha ninja forces. But now, let alone crippling them, Konoha's losses were pitifully small. Even Iwagakure, whose losses weren't considered heavy, had at least double the casualties of Konoha.
And that wasn't all. More importantly, the Konoha ninja village had deployed a new ninja tool in this battle. From what they could tell, it was a tool that could rapidly throw explosive tags, creating an unprecedentedly powerful barrage of fire. This directly shook Iwagakure's defensive tactics, as evidenced by the almost complete dismantling of their field-established defense lines.
Although this ninja tool consumed an astonishing amount of resources, Henghe believed that after this battle, Konoha would likely focus all its efforts on producing explosive tags to meet the ammunition demand. While the production of explosive tags wasn't easy, it wasn't extremely difficult either. Concentrating the power of an entire village could yield a significant output, especially given Konoha's abundant resources.
Previously, explosive tags had to be thrown manually. To create a powerful and sustained bombardment while maintaining a safe distance, a ninja's arm would easily become numb, indirectly affecting subsequent combat. Therefore, explosive tags were not used very frequently on the battlefield, usually reserved for setting traps or short bursts of bombardment.
However, with the emergence of Konoha's new ninja tool, a new tactical approach for explosive tags was provided, and to some extent, it influenced the entire war's dynamic. Firstly, Iwagakure's proud defensive tactics were no longer as effective. Secondly, the role of samurai armies was drastically reduced.
Originally, while few samurai could fight ninjas in single combat, once they formed formations, they could compensate for the quality gap with sheer numbers, still causing significant trouble for ninjas. After all, a ninja's individual combat ability was honed through arduous training. Even after ninja villages emerged, allowing for concentrated training and avoiding pointless attrition, they couldn't produce large numbers of talented individuals. Ultimately, ninjas were an elite profession akin to special forces; if trained crudely, their difference from ordinary samurai wouldn't be that great.
After ninja villages could organize structured ninja forces, the role of samurai armies began to decline. All countries started to rely on the power of ninja villages, but with their vast national numbers, the role of samurai armies still couldn't be underestimated. At least on the front lines, they could wear down enemy ninja forces, allowing their own ninja forces to quickly annihilate them.
However, with the appearance of that new ninja tool, the advantage of samurai armies was gone. The reason samurai armies could annihilate enemy forces on the front lines, despite their inferior individual combat ability compared to ninjas, was primarily due to their coordinated tactics against the enemy, or by using numbers to exhaust the opponent's stamina, buying time for others.
Ninjas were never a profession with strong endurance. Ninjutsu gave them great power but also heavily depleted their stamina. Because of this, even a Jonin couldn't single-handedly defeat a sufficiently large samurai army. Of course, they could retreat. Conversely, if they fought to the death, they would either be exhausted or eliminate all enemy forces before their own stamina ran out.
Although the full scope of the 'Explosive Cannon' could not yet be discerned, according to Iwagakure's reports, the new ninja tool could rapidly throw explosive tags, creating a barrage of fire, and seemed to consume very little of the ninja's stamina.
What did these two factors combined represent? It meant that the samurai's greatest advantage had become a problem. The powerful bombardment was enough to inflict heavy casualties on samurai armies, and low stamina consumption meant ninjas had ample stamina to engage samurai in combat.
One could say that with the emergence of new ninja tools like the 'Explosive Cannon,' samurai armies would further fade from the era. Although Henghe didn't think that far ahead, he could vaguely perceive the trend, and it was precisely this realization that made him increasingly agitated.
—Alas, I don't know how Konoha managed to create this thing. Looking closely, it might even have been specifically designed to counter Iwagakure ninjas.
While Henghe was in a foul mood, one of the Iwagakure ninja captains below cautiously inquired about the next combat plan. He probably couldn't stand the oppressive atmosphere and thus spoke up. Henghe glanced at him, saying nothing. Although he was indeed in a very bad mood, as a Jonin of the village, he wasn't so impulsive as to get angry over a reasonable suggestion from someone else.
After all, ninjas were a profession skilled in endurance. In the past, when ninjas were far fewer than they are now, every ninja could master the traditional ninja arts. However, in the current era, due to the change in ninja status and living environment, the number of people who could master those ancient ninja arts had begun to decrease. Only those who underwent targeted training could maintain that level.
"With the new ninja tool Konoha has deployed, rushing into battle is not a good option." Henghe mused, then said, "In the coming days, use small units for reconnaissance and harassment. Do not easily engage Konoha ninjas in direct confrontation. Wait for the higher-ups to discuss and decide on the next combat plan."
Henghe was chosen to command a large force, so his abilities were naturally outstanding. He was an old ninja who survived the First Shinobi World War. Although called an old ninja, he was currently in the prime of his life, with both his intellect and physical abilities at their peak.
Henghe fully embodied the essence of the character "rock," displaying a seasoned and steady style in both combat and command. Faced with this setback, he was naturally furious, wishing he could immediately counterattack and make Konoha taste defeat. However, he was definitely not someone who acted on impulse, nor someone who couldn't see the bigger picture. With the power of the enemy's new ninja tool, as long as they had enough explosive tags, it would demonstrate unprecedented advantages in a frontal assault. Before finding a good solution, the best method was to rely on the sturdy defenses of towns.
Hearing the senior Jonin of the village speak this way, the younger Iwagakure ninjas naturally had nothing to say, and those Iwagakure ninjas with some experience also agreed with Henghe's assessment. At present, they had very few ways to deal with the Explosive Cannon. If they attacked rashly, they would likely suffer huge losses.
The Iwagakure ninjas were not afraid of sacrifice. As long as it was for something they cherished, they were willing to give their lives. Moreover, the ninja profession inherently emphasized sacrifice and dedication from the start. However, meaningless suicide and death that served a purpose were two different things.
In the following days, apart from the movement of small units, Iwagakure ninjas largely remained in hiding. Konoha also seemed to have no immediate intention of starting a full-scale war, similarly only using small units for reconnaissance. Thus, during these days, the only battles that erupted were those between these small units. Both sides were very cautious, not easily engaging the other, and the entire battlefield in the Land of Grass entered a quiet atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the report on the initial battle in the Land of Grass had been sent to Iwagakure and lay on the desk of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki. As Tsuchikage, Onoki could not act lightly; once he made a move, it would inevitably be to resolve a crucial battle. To some extent, a Kage was like a Tailed Beast, a strategic-level weapon.
Onoki quickly skimmed through the report. He had read its contents countless times over the past few days, but his heart remained unsettled. He had never anticipated that Iwagakure's proud tactics would encounter a setback in the very first battle in the Land of Grass, nor had he expected Konoha to suddenly develop such a ninja tool. Thinking about it, perhaps Konoha had been considering how to deal with the Land of Earth for a long time.
"Did you never have any illusions about me from the start, Fumori Masaki?" Onoki's mind seemed to conjure the scene of their first meeting during the First Shinobi World War. Back then, they were allies, and Fumori Masaki had cordially pulled him to sit down, just like a true comrade.
For a moment, Onoki wondered if breaking ties with Konoha was the right decision, if he shouldn't have done it—but it was only for a moment—Onoki's resolve firmed again. As he publicly proclaimed, after Iwagakure pledged loyalty to the Daimyo, they were the Daimyo's sharp blade, fighting for the Daimyo's interests without wavering. This was the Stone Will passed down in Iwagakure.
Furthermore, with open conflict already broken out between the two sides, expressing a desire to stop fighting now, aside from whether the Daimyo would agree, it was questionable if Konoha would accept. In such circumstances, Onoki's will could not waver; he had to push forward.
"Alright everyone, regarding the new ninja tool used by Konoha, do any of you have any ideas?" At the high-level meeting, Onoki directly addressed everyone present, getting straight to the point.
Everyone had already read the frontline battle report and had a concrete understanding of Konoha's new ninja tool. Frankly, this tool, capable of rapid throwing without consuming a ninja's physical stamina, was truly terrifying. It was also a bane to the tactics Iwagakure was accustomed to using, demonstrating how thoroughly Konoha had considered the war against Iwagakure.
"According to the report, the characteristic of this new ninja tool is its ability to rapidly throw explosive tags, and for some unknown reason, it can activate the jutsu formulas on the explosive tags without consuming the ninja's chakra, thereby creating large-scale bombardments." One of the advisory elders began to speak. "Currently, its threat is indeed very great. Whether it's a frontal assault or rock wall defense, it's difficult to withstand its impact. But it has a very obvious problem, which is that it needs to be arranged in a certain scale to achieve such an effect. Also, it seems a bit cumbersome and cannot be easily moved."
The reason for saying this was because the report mentioned an instance where an Iwagakure ninja squad destroyed one of Konoha's new ninja tools. If this new ninja tool were as light and portable as kunai or shuriken, even with such destructive power, it would likely be impossible to destroy all the explosive cannons.
"Hmm." Onoki nodded slightly. "I also noticed that. What does this mean? It means that concentrated, less mobile teams are more vulnerable to this tool, but dispersed, highly mobile units can preserve their strength and counterattack."
The others also agreed with Onoki's view. So far, the Iwagakure high command had devised two plans for countering the new ninja tool. One was to use sturdy fortresses to deplete the enemy's supplies, then counterattack immediately once their offensive weakened, just as that Iwagakure ninja squad had done. However, this would greatly increase the physical burden on Iwagakure ninjas, unless a large number of Iwagakure ninja forces were assembled. But compared to Konoha using this tool without consuming stamina, the cost seemed a bit too high.
The other tactic would incur a much smaller cost, primarily leveraging the ninjas' powerful mobility. This involved using frontal forces to attract the new ninja tool's bombardment. Then, during the enemy's rest at night or when they were pinned down, another ninja squad would be dispatched for a rapid surprise attack, launching an assault from both flanks.
"But Konoha might also consider this. If we launch a surprise attack, we Iwagakure ninjas might perform better at night when the enemy is resting, as we can make good use of the terrain. But if it's a rapid surprise attack on the battlefield—"
"Hmm, then there would be far fewer places for Earth Release to be effective. In such rapid combat, there wouldn't be many opportunities for us to form large-scale Earth Release attacks."
"It's alright. If it's too troublesome for us, we can entrust it to the people of the Land of Lightning." Onoki's expression seemed relaxed. He felt he had found a way to deal with Konoha's new ninja tool. Fortunately, Kumogakure had also declared war on Konoha; otherwise, Iwagakure alone might have truly faced some trouble.
"Um." At this moment, an Iwagakure senior official raised his head, his expression somewhat hesitant.
"What is it?" Onoki looked at the man, named Iwahashi, who was in charge of intelligence reconnaissance and held an important position in the village. Onoki trusted him greatly. Seeing that he wanted to say something, Onoki waited quietly. He vaguely remembered that Iwahashi's expression had been quite solemn at the beginning of the meeting.
"Lord Tsuchikage, according to your meaning, if Kumogakure joins the battlefield, our pressure will be much less, right?" Iwahashi asked.
"Of course, as long as Kumogakure mobilizes, our situation will improve greatly, and everything will get better," Onoki smiled.
"Then, you might be disappointed." Iwahashi lowered his head, seemingly unwilling to look into Onoki's eyes. "I received a report earlier and wanted to tell you immediately, but I never had the chance to speak. I can tell you now, Kumogakure, it… Kumogakure, it…"
"What about it?" Onoki vaguely sensed a bad sign.
"Kumogakure, it… did not launch an attack towards the Land of Fire. Instead, it marched in force towards the Land of Earth, and publicly declared war on the Land of Earth."