Analyzing the Ninja World Starting from Konoha

Chapter 164 Deceiving the Heavens

These past few days, he has been thinking about a question.

Rasa, under the guise of revenge, deployed most of Sunagakure's forces into the Land of Fire. His purpose was clear: to plunder resources for his own development.

However, since it is plunder, a distribution center for supplies is necessary.

Thousands of Sand Village ninja looted so much food and supplies from the Land of Fire. They couldn't just carry it all on their backs forever, could they?

Not everyone has a sealing scroll, let alone a large storage scroll.

They need a hidden base or command center to collect these supplies and then figure out a way to transport them to the Kingdom of Returning Wind.

However, no.

In the past few days, Konoha's counterattack has begun, and they have captured at least eighty to a hundred Sand Village prisoners.

The intelligence unit and the interrogation department worked around the clock, subjecting these prisoners to severe torture and mental manipulation.

The result was quite surprising.

All the prisoners received the same intelligence: their orders were to break up into smaller groups and loot everywhere.

As for where to meet up after the looting?

do not know.

Where are the main forces?

do not know.

How will the supplies be transported back? We still don't know.

These Sand Village ninjas, who were plundering everywhere, were fighting entirely on their own, without any logistical support or retreat plan.

This is completely contrary to normal military logic.

"Luo Sha is a madman, but he's definitely not a fool."

Aoba's expression immediately turned serious.

He quickly realized that he might have fallen into a cognitive bias.

These Sand Village troops, who roam around the borders of the Land of Fire and cause chaos, are not the main force at all!

They were just a bunch of expendable pawns, a huge bait used to attract Konoha's attention and divert Konoha's military strength!

Aoba closed his eyes, his mind racing as he recalled the plot of the original Naruto series from his previous life.

The original manga doesn't describe many details about the Third Shinobi World War; most of it is found in the memories of Kakashi and Obito, the two best friends, filled with their love-hate relationship.

But he still remembered the outlines of some major events.

Aoba reopened his eyes and put himself in Rasa's shoes, putting himself into the logic of Rasa's actions.

If you were Kazekage Rasa, what would you do when faced with the daimyo's distrust, military spending cuts, a strained village economy, and a talent shortage?

Luo Sha is actually quite similar to Yue Buqun from The Smiling, Proud Wanderer.

Both of them were appointed to their posts in a time of crisis, taking over a mess.

One was thinking about reviving Sunagakure, and the other was thinking about revitalizing Mount Hua.

However, Yue Buqun's sect was unfortunate because he was betrayed by his disciple, while Luo Sha's mentality was purely that of a gambler.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have listened to a Konoha rogue ninja who said he wanted to launch the "Konoha Crush Plan" and dared to follow along, only to end up killing himself.

Since they're gamblers, and they've decided to rob someone at the cost of breaking the alliance agreement, they're definitely going to pull off something big!

Can robbing ordinary food and money completely change the current situation in Sunagakure?

Obviously not.

What is the most valuable thing in the Land of Fire?

Aoba shifted his gaze to the location of Konoha Village on the map.

Without a doubt, it's Konoha!

How did Konoha manage to stand firm in the First and Second Shinobi World Wars, and even in the Third Shinobi World War, fight against Kumogakure, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure simultaneously with the strength of a single village without being at a disadvantage?

It relies on that profound foundation!

Besides the bloodline families, there are also various ninja clans that possess powerful secret techniques, and Konoha's most valuable asset is its vast collection of ninjutsu!

Minato Namikaze, having mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, was able to intercept the strongest duo from Kumogakure, Abby, at the border. A genin who mastered the Eight Gates was able to fight a Jinchuriki from Iwagakure to a standstill. And then there's the Spirit Transformation Technique, which struck fear into the hearts of Sunagakure during World War II.

Mastering a powerful secret technique can transform an ordinary ninja into a renowned figure in the ninja world!

What could be more tempting than this?

If they can conquer Konoha and seize those sealed ninjutsu scrolls and secret technique data, Sunagakure will be able to continuously cultivate geniuses and completely reverse its current decline!

"So that's how it is—a feint to the east while attacking in the west, deceiving the heavens to cross the sea."

Aoba was also surprised by Rasa's methods.

His gaze swept across the map, finally settling on Kikyo Castle, a town very close to Konoha Village, and Mount Kikyo behind it!

If he were Rasa, the most suitable place to launch an attack would undoubtedly be here.

Just then, the tent flap was lifted.

Nara Saltwater and Yamanaka Three Days, who had just led a team from Konoha to provide reinforcements, walked in.

"Lord Aoba, a new batch of supplies has been delivered, and the defense line is currently stable."

Saltwater report guide.

Qingye ignored Yanshui's report and suddenly turned his head, staring intently at the three people in the mountains.

"Senior Santen, which route did you take to get here from Konoha this time?"

San-san, caught off guard by Aoba's question, hesitated for a moment before replying, "We took the usual supply route, passing through Kikyo Castle, and then headed west. What's wrong?"

"How was the journey? Did you encounter any roaming Sand Village ninja?"

Qingye pressed for an answer.

Three days into the mountain, Yamanaka answered truthfully, "No, the journey was very smooth. We thought we would encounter an ambush by Sunagakure, but we didn't see a single Sunagakure figure."

boom!

Aoba's question exploded in Nara Shiozuke's mind like a thunderclap!

He has been pondering the true purpose of Sunagakure lately.

Despite the large commotion caused by the thousands of Sunagakure ninjas on the western border of the Land of Fire, most of them were actually genin and chunin; the elite ninjas and the main force of jonin were all absent.

Upon hearing Aoba's question, all the doubts suddenly came together.

Luo Sha's main force is not even on the western border!

Nara Shizuku also realized what was happening, "Lord Aoba, you mean the main force of Sunagakure—"

"That's right, their target is the village!"

Aoba's expression was solemn. "That madman Rasa sent out thousands of Sand Village ninjas to draw our attention and cover their main force."

Aoba pointed to the location of Kikyo Castle on the map.

"The fact that you encountered no obstacles on your journey over the past three days indicates that the main force of Sunagakure has silently infiltrated Kikyo Castle. Their target isn't any border supplies, but Konoha Village!"

Upon hearing this, the entire command post fell into a deathly silence.

After three days in the mountains, I gasped in shock, and cold sweat instantly soaked my back.

If the main force of Sunagakure is really in Kikyo Castle, then Konoha is now in imminent danger.

Seeing that the two were still in shock.

Aoba quickly pulled out a specially made communication scroll from his ninja tool pouch, wrote down the information at lightning speed, and then formed hand seals.

boom!

A Greninja frog appears on the desktop.

"Send this intelligence back to the village immediately and deliver it to the Hokage! Quickly!" Aoba stuffed the scroll into the ninja frog's mouth, and the frog instantly disappeared in a puff of white smoke.

"Salt water, Senior Three Days!"

Aoba didn't give them time to hesitate, quickly instructing, "This is your responsibility! Immediately tighten the defensive line, ignore those roaming Sunagakure soldiers, and hold the supply depot! I'll return to the village as quickly as possible to provide support!"

"Lord Aoba, it's too dangerous for you to go alone. We'll have to send others—"

1

"It's too late!"

Aoba flung open the tent flap and strode out of the command post.

The main force was marching too slowly; by the time they reached Konoha, it would be too late.

The Battle of Kikyo Mountain ended in victory for Konoha, a great opportunity for them to shine.

Once he finishes this battle, he'll have the right to slam his fist on the table in front of the third generation.

Aoba leaped into the air, and a sand cushion quickly condensed in mid-air, carrying him out of the base and speeding towards Konoha Village.

Konoha Village, Hokage's office.

"Croak!"

A small Greninja frog leaped in through the window and landed steadily on the Hokage's desk.

It glanced at the familiar figure behind the desk, opened its mouth, spat out a perfectly sealed scroll, and then with a "bang," it turned into white smoke and disappeared.

-

Hiruzen Sarutobi reached out and picked up the scroll, slowly unrolling it.

Above is Aoba's slightly messy but clearly organized handwriting.

His gaze swept quickly across the words, but Hiruzen Sarutobi's face showed no panic or shock, not even a hint of surprise.

His eyes were unusually calm.

"Rosa————"

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down the scroll, murmured the name softly, and sighed deeply.

"Your target, it really is the village."

Muttering to himself, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up and walked to the storage cabinet next to him.

He opened the cabinet door, and inside hung a set of equipment that had been gathering dust for a long time.

Without hesitation, he removed the divine robe that symbolized supreme power and began to put on the equipment in an orderly manner.

It was an extremely sharp black tight-fitting combat suit, clinging tightly to his aged yet still robust body.

He put on the specially made ninja hat, with green, layered armor hanging down on both sides of the hat, completely protecting his cheeks.

He carefully strapped tough mesh wrist guards to his arms and calves, and then put on a thick layer of green armor on his right arm.

This is the same outfit he wore when he was young and fought alongside the Second Hokage.

How many years has it been since he last wore it? Hiruzen Sarutobi himself could hardly remember.

Since becoming Hokage, he has mostly worn a large divine robe and sat behind his desk giving orders, and hasn't really taken action in a long time.

Squeak—

The office door was pushed open, and Xiaochun from the dormitory walked in hurriedly.

When she saw Hiruzen Sarutobi in his familiar attire, she paused for a moment, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

How many years has it been? — How many years has it been since she last saw Hiruzen wear this outfit?

At that moment, she seemed to see the spirited young ninja from decades ago, who led the Konoha ninja to victory on the battlefield.

Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she ultimately swallowed her words back.

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