Chapter 61 Potential Brother Sasori and Four-Tails Jinchuriki
Rock Hidden Camp, Operations Center.
Although Tsuchikage Onoki was injured by Chiyo's Chikamatsu Ten Ninja during the previous attack on Sunagakure, fortunately, he was only trying to avoid the Three Treasures Absorption Technique.
He had overexerted himself and injured his lower back, rather than being directly hit by the poisoned weapon.
He recovered quickly after receiving treatment from a medical ninja.
Right now, Onoki is discussing the battle situation with his eldest son, Kitsuchi, the captain of the demolition squad, Kari, the captain of the flight squad, Soseki, and a group of elite Jonin.
Onoki was in a good mood, estimating that Sunagakure would soon be unable to provide support due to its current state.
However, he was also somewhat troubled. If Iwagakure were to eliminate Sunagakure, it would further deplete their strength.
He wondered if there was any way to get Konoha to intervene...
As they were discussing this, suddenly some ANBU ninjas rushed over.
"Lord Tsuchikage! Urgent report!"
"What's up!"
"Reconnaissance has detected that Konoha, Sunagakure, and Amegakure are all moving their full forces simultaneously and are advancing towards our position!"
"What!?"
Onoki and the other high-ranking members of Iwagakure all widened their eyes instantly!
"Have you confirmed the intelligence?"
"Yes! All three sides have launched a full-scale attack, on a massive scale, and all scouts have reported the same thing!"
"Ugh... Damn it! These guys teamed up!"
Onoki slammed his fist on the conference table, his veins bulging with rage!
The expression on Kitsuchi's face was also extremely solemn:
"Father! It's difficult for us to simultaneously withstand this three-way coalition, so..."
Onoki took a deep breath, waved his hand, and shouted:
"Contact Roshi immediately and ask him to come and help us!
Also, send a message back to the village and tell them to send the troops left behind to join us immediately.
Han should also be mobilized!"
"Hunter! You also send a message to Roshi! You and Kitsuchi are closest to him, so make sure he comes immediately!"
"Everyone move immediately! The entire army... retreat!"
...
A combined force of 13,000 ninja from Sunagakure (5,000), Amegakure (1,000), and Konoha (7,000) is rapidly advancing towards Iwagakure (1,000).
Even though the number of ninjas reached the size of an army, they did not have the orderly military formations of ancient Earth.
They simply gathered together and advanced at the same time.
After all, the individual strength difference between ninjas was too great, and there was also the factor of ninjutsu.
Unless they set up formations such as Four Purple Flames or Four Crimson Suns, the formations were really meaningless.
Regardless, the sight of over ten thousand ninjas advancing simultaneously was still quite spectacular.
The Sand Village originally had 7,000 troops in the Land of Rain, but after repeated losses, only 5,000 remain.
Although it sounds like there are so many ninjas, which seems quite exaggerated, Kakashi said at the very beginning of the original work that the so-called Five Kage are the strongest ninjas who reign supreme over tens of thousands of ninjas from all over the world.
Later, in the Fourth Shinobi World War, they even pulled out an allied army of 80,000 ninjas.
Especially now, the number of ninjas in the five great nations is even greater than it would be later.
During Naruto's time, very few people could pass the Chunin Exams.
This was partly because it was a joint exam with guests from many countries, making it more difficult, and partly because the times were different.
The requirements for Chunin promotion in major countries are quite lenient now.
Unless you're like Might Guy, who is completely incompetent in all aspects except for taijutsu, you can basically become a Chunin as long as you have hand seals.
Genin are more like ninja trainees, just a transitional period. Most people can at least be promoted to Chunin.
The reason for doing this is to save face.
Jonin cannot be promoted randomly because they are responsible for extremely important A-rank and S-rank missions, which would reduce the success rate of missions.
Chunin are different.
A large number of Chunin can make the ninja village appear strong.
As for missions, the weaker Chunin can be assigned to C-rank and D-rank missions, just like Genin.
Of course, this would still greatly increase the demand for mid-level missions like B and C in various ninja villages, leading to conflicts...
This is one of the main reasons why the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars occurred one after another during these periods.
According to the general's estimation, the significant increase in the standards for promotion to Chunin in later generations may have been a consensus reached by various countries after the Third Shinobi World War, or at least a restriction imposed on the strongest village, Konoha, to prevent a shortage of intermediate-level missions.
At the same time, only the stronger individuals could be promoted, which would also increase the mission success rate and make it a matter of pride.
Souji and a group of high-ranking Konoha ninjas walked at the front.
An ANBU ninja appeared and shouted:
"Report! The Iwagakure army has begun its advance and is retreating towards the Land of Earth!"
Jiraiya nodded and said:
"So they've decided to retreat after all! Old man Onoki is quick on his feet!"
"The difference in strength between the two sides is too great.
There is no need for Iwagakure to fight a desperate battle here.
As long as they withdraw from the Land of Rain, Sunagakure and we will not be able to pursue them. So naturally, retreating is the best option," Homura Mitokado said.
"So our goal this time is to take advantage of this great opportunity to kill as many people as possible and inflict as many losses on them!" Jiraiya said.
"That's right… Although I don't want to see so many people die if possible… but it's all for the sake of protecting Konoha!" Minato said resolutely.
Souji patted Minato on the shoulder and smiled:
"Minato, we finally have a chance to fight side by side!"
"Yes, Souji-nii, we finally have a chance."
Minato sighed:
"Souji-nii, as soon as you arrived, you first treated our teacher and stole a large amount of Sunagakure's supplies.
Now you've forced Sunagakure and Iwagakure to fight each other and wear each other down, greatly reducing the risks and casualties Konoha is facing.
You're much better than someone like me who only knows how to fight!"
"Maybe you are the one..."
Minato recalled Souji's words to him about becoming Hokage and couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion, but he stopped midway through his sentence.
The Souji didn't know what he wanted to say, but he thought to himself that this kid was bragging to others again.
Actually, you're the bug, I'm the cheat, we're both pretty much the same.
"Although we do have the upper hand right now, we must not underestimate our opponents.
The Iwagakure is still very strong, with a counterattack force of up to 10,000 ninjas... This is not to be underestimated!" Souji reminded everyone.
Looking ahead at the Sand Village, who were leading the way, Souji felt that this time things wouldn't go as smoothly as they seemed.
When the talks ended and they returned to the Konoha camp, Souji learned that the thirteen puppets that Sasori had revealed had been stolen and all the ninjas guarding them had died.
Judging from this situation, Brother Sasori might take advantage of the chaos and launch a sneak attack to avenge him during the battle.
Judging from his constant rivalry with multiple Kazekage in the original work and his desire to kill Orochimaru, it's clear that Sasori is a very vengeful person.
There is also the possibility of a Four-Tails Jinchuriki.
Although Jinchūriki had a falling out with Onoki and left, based on what I know about the events, the two Jinchūriki in Iwagakure will work together to force Jiraiya and Minato to retreat.
The Four-Tails Jinchuriki will still participate in the battle if Iwagakure needs them, and they can appear in this battle.
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End of this chapter...