Konoha Notes.

Chapter 87 Weighing the Options

Chapter 87 Weighing the Options

That night, Kakashi stayed at the command center, while Shuji and Yamato returned to their assigned rest area to recuperate and await new orders.

"Mori-senpai, what are you doing?"

Back in the tent, Shuji took out a scroll and started working on something, which made Yamato very curious.

"Cultivation."

Yamato was silent for a moment, then his tone was filled with undisguised admiration: "Having just gone through such an intense battle, using so many powerful techniques, and having such a huge consumption of chakra, you were still able to immediately begin training. Mori-senpai, you are far stronger than me."

This is no politeness. From the moment Yamato used Wood Release on the battlefield, he could sense that even though they were both users of the same Bloodline Limit, Shuji's Wood Release seemed to be somewhat different from his.

His Wood Release tends to involve the transformation of wooden creations into different forms. Shuji's Wood Release creations are more active, have a stronger thirst for chakra, and are more effective on Jinchūriki.

Kakashi, who had been partnered with Yamato for a long time, noticed this difference, which led him to decide to have Yamato cover for Shuji.

"It's just that the opportunity is rare."

As he spoke, Shuji carefully put the two sealing scrolls into his ninja tool pouch and put on his mask.

Seeing this, Yamato silently put on his own mask as well.

The curtain was lifted at that moment.

Jiraiya didn't go in directly, but paused at the door for a moment, seemingly to check the situation inside, before stepping in.

"Hey! You've had a great day."

"Even without the two of you, dealing with those two Jinchuriki would be a tricky matter." Jiraiya sat down casually on the ground with a relaxed smile. "Although we failed to capture the Jinchuriki, we've done quite well."

"Lord Jiraiya," Shuji said calmly, getting straight to the point, "is there anything you need to tell me?"

He wouldn't have come here personally unless he had something to explain directly to Shuji and Yamato.

The two are currently members of the Hokage's direct ANBU, not regular ninjas. There's no question of a superior commander coming to offer condolences. If there are any follow-up missions, just tell Kakashi directly.

"You're really not cute, kid." Jiraiya sighed dramatically, scratching his wild white hair, but he also toned down his casualness. "Alright, let's get down to business. The current situation has forced the main force of Iwagakure back to the Kannabi Bridge line, basically achieving the village's initial strategic goals. You guys deserve a lot of credit for that."

"However, since we cannot confirm that the two Jinchūriki on the other side have withdrawn, neither of you can leave."

Shuji didn't say anything; such things are to be expected.

"And then," Jiraiya shrugged, a hint of helplessness in his expression, "Kakashi thinks that compared to the two of you key combatants, there's not much point in him staying at the main camp. So, he's already taken a team and gone out to infiltrate and scout ahead."

Yamato's cry almost escaped his lips: "Not again?!"

Then, under the watchful eyes of Shuji and Jiraiya, he realized his lapse in composure, and embarrassed himself, he shut up and straightened his posture somewhat awkwardly.

"Looks like you've had a tough time, Tenzo." Jiraiya laughed nonchalantly. "Kakashi, that guy, is quite the maverick himself."

After laughing, his tone became formal again: "In short, that's the situation. Until Kakashi returns, or until this mission phase is clearly over, you two will be under my command for the time being."

That's no problem. As the only one of the three legendary ninja who didn't leave, Jiraiya's status in the village was no less than that of the other advisors.

Especially now that he also holds the position of the highest-ranking commander of the frontline troops—Nara Shikaku, he is the strategist and the actual commander.

After finishing their business, Jiraiya chatted casually for a few more minutes, asking about their current situation and whether they needed to replenish their ninja tools, before getting up and leaving the tent.

The atmosphere at the Iwagakure front-line command post was far more somber than that in Konoha.

"Wood Release, what a troublesome power."

Having witnessed the First Hokage's power in pacifying the chaotic world and suppressing the Tailed Beasts, he would never underestimate the power of Wood Release.

That is precisely why he found himself in a dilemma.

Continuing to invest in Jinchuriki, especially against opponents with Wood Release ninjas capable of effectively countering Tailed Beasts, becomes a high-risk, low-reward gamble.

Human jinchūriki are the village's strategic weapon, and their loss is not to be tolerated.

However, without the power of the tailed beasts as the spearhead for attacking, forcibly breaking through the current Kannabi Bridge defense line would inevitably turn into an extremely brutal war of attrition, with too high an investment, too great a cost, and too low a success rate.

Not only is Jiraiya on the other side, but the Third Hokage is also hiding and has not yet made a move, so I cannot make a move easily.

The original plan was to hope that after seeing the pressure on Konoha's western front, Kumogakure would take the opportunity to put pressure on the eastern front, or even launch an attack, forcing Konoha to fight on two fronts and be unable to attend to both ends.

What he had never done before was patience to wait for this opportunity.

But the result was not as he had hoped.

Just three days after Konoha pushed the battle line back to Kannabi Bridge, Konoha began to widely publicize a message: a Konoha delegation led by advisor Mitokado Homura had officially entered the Land of Frost and was about to begin peace talks with Kumogakure.

The moment the news arrived, Onoki understood. The Fourth Raikage, A, was clearly using Iwagakure's attack as leverage to bargain with Konoha!

If this stalemate continues, it will be Iwagakure and Konoha that bleed, while Kumogakure will likely reap the benefits in the end.

Are the villages of Iwagakure and Kumogakure on good terms? The Third Raikage died at the hands of Iwagakure.

In a situation where both sides could benefit, Onoki wouldn't mind making some moves to cooperate first, but now Iwagakure is unlikely to gain any benefit.

Furthermore, the stance of Sunagakure (the Hidden Sand Village) must also be considered.

According to Konoha's propaganda, Sunagakure remains an ally of Konoha. Of course, simply dealing with Sunagakure isn't enough; otherwise, he wouldn't be here.

But if Kumogakure compromises, while Iwagakure continues to fight a bitter battle on the western front.

Kazekage Rasa could very well transform from a wavering ally into a staunch supporter of Konoha, cooperating with Konoha's counter-offensive to seize the interests that originally belonged to Iwagakure in the Land of Silence and even further north.

The balance between risk and reward has tipped.

Onoki landed slowly and gave a deep command to Huang Tu, who was waiting nearby:

"Plan changed. Huang Tu, arrange for troops to withdraw from the current position in batches and in an orderly manner. Prioritize the transfer of seriously wounded soldiers and important supplies."

"Lord Tsuchikage?" Huang Tu nodded slightly, surprised by the sudden order. Although the battle was going badly, it didn't seem to have reached the point where a full retreat was necessary.

"Execute the command."

"Yes!" Huang Tu didn't ask any more questions and immediately turned around to make arrangements.

They poured all their efforts into planning and launching offensives, even sacrificing two Jinchūriki—but in the end, it seemed that nothing changed and no substantial progress was made.

With Rasa wavering and A refusing to cooperate, and with these people on their side, Iwagakure always seems unable to truly break out of its predicament.

A decisive breakthrough was achieved.

I'm already so old, will I ever find another chance in my lifetime?

Ohnoki doesn't know.

But he knew it was time to pass on his hopes to the next generation.