From undercover in Konoha, to I am the Hokage!

Chapter 67 Ning Ming Died
Sand Village, Kazekage Building meeting room.

Although it is already late at night, there are still a dozen Sunagakure high-ranking officials in this conference room, frowning as they discuss the next battle strategy.

However, just by looking at everyone's expressions, it was clear that the meeting was not going very smoothly.

After the Third Kazekage briefly outlined his idea, the entire conference room fell into silence.

In the end, it was Fengying Advisor Chiyo who stood up from his seat first and said seriously:

"Sandaime, you're being a little too radical!"

"The total number of ninjas who can still move in the entire Sand Village, even if we count the students who are still in the ninja school, is only about 25,000."

"If we follow your suggestion and push all 20,000 of them to the Konoha battlefield, the emptiness of the Wind Country will fall to an unprecedented level."

"Although Yuyin and Iwagakure have signed a temporary ceasefire agreement with us, who can guarantee that they will not tear up the treaty before the war is over?"

Another Kazekage advisor, Monzaemon, disagreed: "Tear up the treaty? What do they want? Why do we in Sunagakure have to expand outward? Isn't it because of this barren land?"

"Are the Amegakure and Iwagakure invading us to take money from our empty treasury, or do they want this land that is all desert?"

"If you ask me, now is the time to fight to the bitter end!"

Ebizo frowned, his pipe smacking in his mouth, his eyebrows drooping as if they were about to fall to the ground:

"What if Konoha transfers troops from other fronts? What if Konoha compromises with those two bastards, Ōnoki and Ai, and uses some land in the north to buy time in order to wipe us out in one fell swoop?"

"Can we stop it?"

"Ebizo! If you're afraid of death, just go home as soon as possible!" Monzaemon puffed out his beard and glared. As the oldest person present, he had been the mainstay of the village since the time of the first Kazekage. He was also the most unscrupulous one when he spoke. With a hoarse voice, he said, "The Sand Village only needs water, not cowards!"

"Monzaemon!" Chiyo slammed the table and stood up, "The battlefield is not a place for you to run wild!"

"what"

Seeing that the meeting was about to be disrupted again, the Third Kazekage who was sitting in the middle of the conference table finally spoke:

"If I had a choice, I wouldn't want to do this."

"but."

"I received news from the Daimyo."

"."

As soon as he opened his mouth, everyone present fell silent and turned to look at him.

Unlike Konoha, where people live in a stable and affluent environment, most people are satisfied with the status quo and have no desire to make progress.

Everyone living in the desert of the Wind Country has to work together and seek resources from the outside world under the pressure of limited resources.

As the Third Kazekage who was able to unite the Sand Village and, with limited resources, support the largest group of Sand Village ninjas since the first generation, he was extremely outstanding in terms of strength, ability, and personal charm.

However, even a person like him has problems that he cannot solve.

The Sandaime Kazekage looked around and said in a deep voice, "As everyone knows, our Wind Country is also famous for being poor and barren among the five major countries. More than 80% of the land is desert, the population is only one-sixth of the Fire Country, and the national tax revenue is less than one-eighth."

"And yet, the Wind Country has half as many ninjas as the Fire Country."

"For this reason, the daimyo has maintained a high tax policy throughout the country for a full fifteen years. He is about to collapse."

Hearing this, everyone present couldn't help but lower their heads.

At this moment, they also understood why the Sandaime came up with such a crazy, almost gamble-like strategy.

"So this is our last chance."

The Sandaime Kazekage pointed to the map on the table and said, "We have now pushed the battle line across the River Country and into the Fire Country."

"Behind this front line in front of us, there are three full lines of defense, with Kikyo Castle at the rear as the rally point."

"Except for us, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure are all pressing Konoha on their respective fronts. The forces Konoha can dispatch will never exceed one-third of all ninjas."

"Our goal is to eliminate one-third of Konoha's ninjas and capture Kikyo Castle."

He raised his head, looked at the people in front of him, and said earnestly: "I believe you all know that for Konoha and the Land of Fire, even if Kikyo Castle is breached, what they lose is only the front line of defense against the Sand Village. It is impossible to destroy Konoha in one fell swoop."

"However, for our Wind Country, as long as we can establish a confrontation defense circle with Kikyo City as the front line, and annex the River Country between our country and the Fire Country as soon as possible before the end of the war, and occupy the source of its river on the plateau, then our Wind Country will truly have a chance to revitalize!"

"This precious source of water will change the fate of the entire Wind Kingdom."

The Sandaime Kazekage said, his expression gradually becoming serious and solemn: "What's more, Konoha is now the weakest since the first Hokage founded the village."

"The Senju clan that could rival the Uchiha clan has been exhausted; the Third Hokage is short-sighted and lacks the talent and strategy of the Senju Tobirama; Konoha is also counterbalanced by multiple villages at the same time." "However, our Sunagakure is united internally, has no external enemies, and has been keeping a low profile for fifteen years, accumulating an army of 20,000."

"With all these things, it is time for us, the Sand Village, to defy fate and change our destiny."

After he finished speaking, he stood up from his seat and bowed deeply to the people in front of him.

"For Sunagakure, for the Kingdom of Wind."

"I hope you can lend me a helping hand."

(Naruto world map↑)

By the time Sawara Kiri and his group arrived at Kikyo Castle, which served as the forward assembly point, everyone was covered in dust.

On the second half of the road from Konoha to Kikyo Castle, one can encounter Sand Village teams everywhere that have infiltrated the Fire Country and harassed the rear-end troops.

These teams are very small, mainly consisting of two or three people. They never engage in entanglement with large forces. They run away immediately after striking an attack, attack in dispersed positions, and never pursue victory results excessively.

Although this form of harassment did not cause many casualties to their troops, it made the rear reinforcement troops always in a state of nervousness, and they saw enemies everywhere along the way.

Even before going to the battlefield, I have already experienced the taste of the front line.

It was not until they entered the Platycodon City that everyone relaxed a little.

However, when he saw the scenes in the Platycodon City before his eyes, his heart suddenly lifted.

Uchiha Yayoi turned his head and looked at the line of civilians who were being moved out of the city, carrying their families and valuables, and walking out under the guidance of the ninjas. He lowered his voice with some doubt:
"Wu, what are they doing?"

“It’s protecting them.”

Sawara Kiri spoke calmly, his eyes deep.

Due to the popularity of the Three Body Technique and Explosive Tag, there were countless cases during wars between countries where ninjas disguised themselves as civilians, infiltrated cities, lived with them, and launched riots at critical moments.

Many times, due to unidentification or accidental impact, many civilians are often killed.

Therefore, relocating civilians in advance before the war comes is indeed a form of protection for them.

However, Sawara Kiri also saw another thing from this action - Konoha was quite pessimistic about the future of this war.

Namikaze Minato also had a heavy expression on his face, quietly watching the teams of ninjas flying over the rooftops in the city like birds.

Among the bustling crowd, some people left the city fully armed, some carried stretchers with the wounded into the temporary medical camp, and some were still wrapped in gauze, or missing limbs, but still holding weapons, looking at everyone around them with vigilant and bloodshot eyes.

The turbid smell of blood and gunpowder filled the entire Platycodon City. Everyone walked quickly on the road in silence. Only the cries and wails of the wounded in the distance were so clear.

“This is the real war.”

Namikaze Minato murmured softly, his expression slightly heavy.

"alright!"

As the team leader, Hatake Sakumo clapped his hands as if nothing had happened, attracting everyone's attention, and smiled as if nothing had happened: "Anyway, let's go to the headquarters first!"

"I'm not bragging, this time I, the teacher, am one of the deputy commanders on the front line!"

"You stupid little pawns, if you don't want to be sent on some dangerous missions by me, Master Hatake, then you better say something nice to me."

"Eh--?!"

"You can't do anything about it anyway."

"I am disliked, Master Sakumo."

They all had expressions of disgust.

"Wait! I'm talking to you guys--!" Hatake Sakumo suddenly showed an angry expression, and said angrily, "Hearing this title, you should at least respect the commander a little bit!"

Then, everyone burst into laughter, and the gate of Platycodon City was filled with a happy atmosphere.

The cheerful laughter became a bright color above the black and white battlefield.

(Ino: Girlhood↑)

(Ino Shippuden period↑)
　Thanks to book friends Qi Bu Xiu, book friend 160329082153081, book friend 20210921234818660, Alalalal, Croos-z, and Muzi灬 for their monthly tickets!
　　Keep asking for votes!

　　
　　Note 1: The other version of the map does not match the plot in that the Iron Kingdom is located at the northernmost part of the Fire Kingdom, and there are no small countries such as the Demon Kingdom and the Snow Kingdom, so this version is used.

　　Note 2: Ino is really getting uglier and uglier. After she grew up, she had a big red lipstick and looked completely unbearable. It's such a pity.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)