Revitalizing the Uchiha clan starts with becoming a Kage.

But now the arrival of the Uchiha clan is beginning to strip away this 'glory' that should have belonged exclusively to their Kamisumi clan!

Although Iwaze was unaware that even Shoji, Fugaku, and Elder Sogen didn't care about the small interests of the Iwagakure ninja clans.

But that's not how they see it!

From their perspective, the Uchiha clan is simply seizing these 'benefits'!

So they wanted to rebel and suppress the Uchiha clan, but unfortunately they couldn't do it. This was reflected not only in Onoki's level of trust, but more importantly, in the overall strength of the clan.

Iwazetsu knew very well how great Shoji's contribution was this time, and how strong his strength was. Gabriel was a name that Iwazetsu was not unfamiliar with. In the past Third Shinobi World War, Iwazetsu had the opportunity to fight him. The two were evenly matched. The fact that Shoji could kill Gabriel so easily meant that Iwazetsu was no match for this Uchiha genius either, not to mention that he had previously broken through the Sand Village's defensive barrier by himself and killed forty or fifty Sand Village ninja, including three or four Jonin!

To put it bluntly...

Jiang Si could easily defeat the Shangshuiliu clan all by himself!

Faced with such an existence.

Yan Jue felt a deep sense of powerlessness and bitterness, realizing that his and his companions' previous thoughts were truly laughable and foolish!

223. The oppressive aura of the Iwa ninja, the discomfort of Rasa.

Seeing is believing!

Previously, people always claimed how strong the Uchiha clan was, but it was hard to understand without experiencing it firsthand. Now, however, Iwa Zetsu truly experienced what it meant to be the most powerful clan in the ninja world. At this moment, Iwa Zetsu even wondered if the Third Hokage of Konoha had really lost his mind. To force such a powerful clan away from the village made him truly understand why his own Third Tsuchikage was willing to take certain risks to accept the Uchiha clan.

The reason is that the Uchiha clan has such value. Just Shoji alone is worth so much, not to mention Fugaku, Shisui, and the remaining two or three hundred Uchiha clan members who have awakened their Sharingan. Even though Fugaku and Shisui are slightly weaker than Shoji, if we compare Shoji's strength, it probably wouldn't take them too much time or effort to kill someone like him.

This is a difference at the dimensional level!

'At least it's not too late to back down now. We won't lose anything anyway, so let the rest be what happens!'

Fortunately, while Iwazawa Iwazawa wasn't exactly an outstanding leader, and his ninja skills were only at the level of an ordinary Jonin, he at least wouldn't actually do anything stupid. Shoji's strength made Iwazawa realize that he had to abandon all his previous ideas and change his mindset towards the Uchiha clan and Shoji.

Unless Onoki or the future Tsuchikage decides to personally suppress the Uchiha clan one day, Iwaze believes that family members should know their own business. As long as Uchiha Shoji's generation is still alive, the Kamimizu clan should behave themselves.

It won't be worse than before, right?

Yan Jue comforted himself with a touch of Ah Q mentality, and his gaze towards Jiang Si became unusually calm.

Of course, Shoji and Huangtu were unaware that Iwazawa had been thinking so much in those few short minutes. The two were still seriously and meticulously discussing and arranging the next defensive deployment issues. Meanwhile, Onoki's latest order had come from the village: before Sunagakure surrendered and took the initiative to propose peace negotiations, all matters on the front line should be decided by Huangtu, Shoji, and Iwazawa through discussion.

As long as it does not exceed the core area defined in the initial strategic plan.

They didn't care about the remaining Onoki trees.

Jiang Si and Huang Tu were discussing the further deployment of troops after the occupation of the northern fortress, and whether they should seize the planned 'lanthanum metal' production site first, which was still quite a distance from the northern fortress.

If one chooses to occupy the territory in advance, it will inevitably require allocating a certain number of troops.

Although it's 99% certain that the Kazekage wouldn't dare to act rashly, war is unpredictable. If Rasa really does lose his mind for a moment and launches a fierce attack on the northern fortress, the troops that have been sent out in advance will, to some extent, make the remaining defensive forces seem somewhat inadequate!

However, Huang Tu and Jiang Si ultimately felt that it shouldn't be a big problem to allocate some troops, since the number of Sand Ninja currently gathered at the front line was just over three thousand, and the final number would be fixed at five thousand. This was Jiang Si and the others' estimate, as long as it didn't exceed this limit.

Or perhaps Rasa and One-Tailed Beast suddenly join the battle, and Shoji and Yotsuchi can easily handle them. This is the confidence brought about by the strong foundation of Iwagakure's current strength!

"Then, the occupation of this area is entrusted to you, Lord Yan Jue. We can disregard other areas, but we must firmly control the 'lanthanum' metal production area. This is also to make some preparations in advance for the upcoming peace negotiations!"

Huang Tu looked at Shangshui Liuyan Jue beside him and said with a very serious expression.

"Yes, please rest assured, Mr. Huangtu, this area was never one that the Sand Village valued. I will definitely take it all over according to the established plan!"

As the deputy commander-in-chief at the front and one of the village's high-ranking officials, Yan Jue was well aware of the core of this plan.

It could be said that the northern fortress was really just a side effect. If it hadn't been for the fact that it could be located in the lanthanum metal production area, Iwagakure might not have even considered taking the northern fortress in their operation plan. After all, before the outcome was clear, this northern fortress had indeed demonstrated its ability to repel Iwagakure's surprise attacks on several occasions.

When ninjas are carrying out missions, they must clearly distinguish the primary and secondary points of the mission. A country or a ninja village should do the same when formulating strategic plans.

Wasting national resources pointlessly is the most foolish thing to do, the Five Great Ninja Villages! There is not just one opponent, but a total of four. This is one of the key points that must be kept in mind at all times!

While Onoki's ambitions were limited to replacing Konoha, dominating the other four great ninja villages, and making Iwagakure the dominant force in the ninja world, Shoji was a different story. At the very least, Konoha was an existence that Shoji had to destroy!

Moreover, as a transmigrator, and a member of the Great Celestial Empire, even if not a pure transmigrator soul, the 'desire for unification' deep in his bones is still very strong. In this world, it is enough to leave behind only one country and one ninja village!

Therefore, Iwagakure must be several times stronger than any other ninja village at any time. After all, even if Shoji could become as strong as Madara Uchiha with the Rinnegan in the future, it is impossible for him to conquer the world or even govern the world by himself!

This is the first real step that Iwagakure takes towards becoming powerful!

"Alright, then it's up to you, Yan Jue!"

"Yes!"

The decision made.

After resting, Iwagakure detached more than 300 people from the fortress and headed towards the mountain range marked on the map to seize it in advance. They also hoped to build a temporary fortress. Iwagakure did not intend to make a quick buck and leave; their goal was to take over the area securely!

This move by the Iwa ninja to clearly divide their forces.

And the forward positions of reconnaissance and defense seem to be slowly advancing!

This put immense pressure on the Sand Ninja in the opposite positions on the front lines.

Especially for Maki, the commander, he was increasingly unable to understand Iwagakure's intentions. Was they going to hold the northern fortress, or were they planning to push the front line further?

Will a second batch of reinforcements from Iwagakure arrive later?

Without clarifying these points.

It's really hard for Maki to make a judgment.

The only option was to strengthen security and patrols while reporting the relevant intelligence to Luo Sha in the village again. This was a situation that required Luo Sha to make a judgment personally.

No one else has the qualifications or authority to replace Rosa.

This is precisely what Luo Sha finds most distressing.

224. Luo Sha's Unwillingness (Third Update)

Ebizo and Chiyo were truly contemporaries of Onoki and Hiruzen Sarutobi. As the only veteran ninjas in Sunagakure who had experienced the First, Second, and Third World Wars, the siblings witnessed Sunagakure's decline from its peak. Ebizo and Chiyo genuinely hoped to turn the tide and did their utmost to assist the Second and Third Kazekage in governing Sunagakure. In the previous two wars, they repeatedly stepped onto the battlefield, defeating many powerful enemies and achieving numerous victories for Sunagakure!

However, Sunagakure continued to decline step by step, which made the siblings feel extremely desperate. Especially after Chiyo's only son and daughter-in-law died at the hands of Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, and her only grandson, Sasori, mysteriously disappeared during the Second Shinobi World War, Chiyo was truly disheartened and went into seclusion, no longer concerning herself with the affairs of the village.

Seeing his sister in such a state, Ebizo followed Chiyo and went into seclusion as well.

This resulted in Sunagakure not having a single strong shinobi in the Third Shinobi World War. After all, even though Ebizo and Chiyo were weakened, they still barely maintained the strength of a near-Kage. Rasa, who had just succeeded to the position, was worried that Ebizo and Chiyo would use their seniority to interfere in the affairs of the village, but later found that they had no such intention at all.

The situation is critical now, and Rasa wants to ask them to take charge, but the two elders are unwilling. Of course, this is also related to the fact that Sunagakure has not yet reached its most dangerous moment. Just like in the original story, when Sunagakure was defeated in the third battle and died in the Konoha Collapse Plan, Sunagakure was defeated again, and Ebizo and Chiyo still did not appear, which shows that.

The two most senior members of Sunagakure were truly unwilling to get involved. In the original story, during the battle to reclaim Gaara, if Sasori of the Red Sand hadn't been among those who intervened, Chiyo would likely have continued to live in seclusion. After all, for an old woman like Chiyo, as long as Sunagakure wasn't destroyed, the only thing she cared about was her own grandson, Sasori of the Red Sand!

Chiyo didn't want to get involved in other matters, nor did she feel capable of doing so. The same applied to the recent invasion of Iwagakure. Since the enemy was currently only stopping at the northern fortress, and given the current situation and her familiarity with Onoki, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and others, Chiyo didn't think her village's situation was more critical than when they were defeated in the Third Shinobi World War. Therefore, she was unlikely to intervene.

The only time he left his secluded place in recent years was more than two years ago, when he returned to the village to reseal the One-Tailed Shukaku into the Jinchuriki. Otherwise, he has truly been a complete hermit who never leaves his home.

To reiterate, unless it truly involves the survival of Sunagakure, Chiyo will not care at all and will not give face to anyone!

Even when Rasa, the Kazekage, came to visit in person, this time he didn't even get through the door, let alone see Chiyo.

The older sister meant it this way, and Ebizo, as the younger brother, naturally felt the same way. Although this would make Rasa lose face, who could blame him when his seniority and prestige were so high?

What if the Third Kazekage had disappeared back then?

If either of these two had objected to Rasa's succession, the position of Kazekage would not have fallen to Rasa. This is because both of them chose to remain silent, and since there was indeed no one in the village who was more suitable than Rasa, Rasa was able to succeed as Kazekage.

Therefore, even if there is some dissatisfaction in one's heart.

But facing veterans like Ebizo and Chiyo, who were comparable to his fathers, Rasa really didn't dare to say anything and could only retreat helplessly.

Upon his return, he received this far from pleasant news from Maki: the reinforcements from Iwagakure and the splitting of Iwagakure's forces were all quite alarming for Rasa.

At this point in time, before any news has even been received from Kumogakure and Konoha, a conflict is already on the verge of erupting.

"Summon the Shadow Guard immediately! They're coming with me!"

"Yes!"

Rasa was enraged, and the resentment deep in his heart completely erupted. No matter what, Sunagakure was one of the five great ninja villages, and Rasa was rightfully one of the five strongest ninjas in the world (in name only).

The pride of being the Kazekage!

Luo Sha will not be allowed to admit defeat and give in so easily.

If Rasa had previously planned to wait a little longer, he now intends to change his mind!

Anyway, the outcome shouldn't get any worse. Even if it's just for the sake of my own and the village's reputation, I have to fight again!

Yes.

Under Rosa's orders.

The four most elite squads from the Dark Guard, consisting of sixteen members, quickly assembled and followed Luo Sha's lead, rushing towards the front lines to provide reinforcements.

The fourth generation of Kazekage, Rasa, arrives in a grand procession.

Even though the five Kage of all time are at the bottom in terms of both paper strength and reputation, a Kage is still a Kage, and they still have to maintain the necessary prestige. The most direct example of this is the Kazekage's personal guard!

These were selected from the most elite troops in the entire village—the best group of people in the root.

Even the weakest among them are ordinary Jonin, and they are very skilled in combo techniques. Their individual strength might be about the same as Gabriel's, but as long as they form a team, even Shoji would not be able to easily suppress them without using the Mangekyou Sharingan.

These people are Luo Sha's last trump cards.

In an attempt to turn the tide, Luo Sha, along with his elite Shadow Guard, also mobilized the last remaining mobile force in the village, totaling over 1,500 people!

In this way, the combined forces of over 3,500 Sand Ninja under Maki's command, who were already gathered at the front line, brought their total strength to over 5,000 at once!

It can be said that this is the maximum number of troops that Sunagakure can currently mobilize. Although they could mobilize another two or three thousand people at a more extreme level, that would be equivalent to completely emptying the defenses of the rest of the border and the village.

This was a decision that Rasa could never make.

Such a decision was tantamount to gambling with the fate of the nation, and it also forced Iwagakure to send more troops!

Five thousand people!

This is Rasa's estimate of the maximum psychological expectation for Iwagakure.

After all, they are a combination of Huang Tu and Jiang Si!

Rasa was determined that if there were no signs of further reinforcements from Iwagakure, they would fight another battle based on the current balance of power.

However, if the other side has reinforcements, or even sends out tailed beast jinchūriki or the like.

Luo Sha will stop immediately!

No matter how unwilling we are, we cannot gamble with the fate of our own ninja village!