Start with a Zanpakuto and build the strongest Mist Village.

"If you can't even handle this little setback, this little blow, then go back to Konoha!"

"I……"

Minato Namikaze stared at Danzo, clenching his fists tightly, and took a deep breath: "Please, Lord Danzo, teach me what I should do!"

"teach?"

Danzo's words were icy: "Hasn't Kirigakure already laid out the answer in front of you? Do you need me to teach you?"

"Wha, what?"

Minato Namikaze was taken aback, but quickly understood Danzo's meaning, his expression changing slightly: "This!"

"Think of your comrades who died in Konoha, think of the frozen Higashimatsu Mountain, think of your teacher." Danzo, leaning on his cane, walked out of the tent, his cold voice echoing softly: "This is war, a war of life and death!"

Chapter 68 The Rejected Plan

According to scouts at the Iwagakure front, Onoki has launched an attack on Konoha, and it's a full-scale attack.

Although Onoki, the Tsuchikage, did not appear, the Iwagakure team still put tremendous pressure on Konoha with the power of the Four-Tails and Five-Tails, combined with the Explosion Release: Explosion Team brought by 'Hunting'. Without Minato Namikaze, Konoha was forced to retreat steadily, and now the battlefield has even advanced into the heart of the Land of Fire!

Clearly, Yagura's plan succeeded.

Using the news of Jiraiya's death, they secured assistance from the other two major ninja villages. Although they didn't know the situation on the Cloud Village side, the Iwagakure side did indeed launch a full-scale attack on Konoha, just as Yagura had planned.

This is one of the reasons why, after the fall of Tsunami Town, Konoha's resistance was not strong, and they even retreated directly to their rear positions.

As the battleground of Hidden Rocks progresses, the distance between them and the battleground of Hidden Mist is also decreasing.

Even if the entire army were to set off, it would only take half a day to arrive, so the plan to sandwich cheese between the two sides of the night was entirely feasible.

After the high command of the Kirigakure group discussed the feasibility of the plan, Yagura immediately instructed the messengers at the base to use psychic abilities to transmit the information back to the village and request a battle plan.

But the reply he received was a bucket of cold water poured on his spirits.

"Lord Mizukage has rejected your idea."

Yagura sighed and tossed a scroll to Yoru: "The Mizukage believes that even if we launch a surprise attack on Orochimaru's Konoha forces at top speed before Minato Namikaze can react, we will still suffer attacks from Iwagakure."

“The greedy Onoki will not share the spoils with us. At that time, once Iwagakure attacks us, we will face the combined attack of the Four-Tails, the Five-Tails, and Minato Namikaze and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki who have recovered their senses! Therefore, the Mizukage rejected this plan. In his opinion, seizing the gap in the Higashimatsu Mountain line and launching a direct attack on Konoha is the best strategic plan at present.”

Ye Shen frowned deeply as he looked at the scroll in his hand.

The scroll emphasized Night's performance at East Pine Mountain, stating that Night would be well rewarded and honored, but at the same time rejected Night's plan to sandwich cheese between two buns.

The night believed that a desperate army would surely win, while an arrogant army would surely lose.

However, the Mizukage wanted to seize the opportunity and crush Konoha in one fell swoop, expanding their gains and even turning Kirigakure's current advantage into a decisive victory...

"Lord Yagura, what do you think we should do?"

Ye put away the scroll and looked at Yagura.

When the general is out, military orders are not obeyed.

As the supreme commander of the Kirigakure front, Yagura has the authority to handle any emergencies on the spot!

"Lord Mizukage is right, Onoki will never cooperate with us, so..."

"Are you prepared to face the targeted attack of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's Tailed Beast Ball?!"

Before Yagura could finish speaking, Yoru interrupted him: "Don't forget Tsunami Town. Just one Tailed Beast Ball from the five tailed beasts cost us over a hundred ninjas!"

“There’s definitely a Flying Thunder God mark left by Minato Namikaze on Mount Higashimatsu. Once we step inside, Minato will teleport us with a Tailed Beast Ball. Tell me what to do!”

"If we clash with Iwagakure, won't we still have to face the power of the Tailed Beasts, and two of them at that!"

"The power of the Tailed Beasts is not terrifying; what is terrifying is the power of the Tailed Beasts combined with space-time techniques. Doesn't Lord Yagura understand this?" Ye said in a deep voice, "If it were merely Tailed Beasts, I would have a thousand ways to defeat them head-on!"

Yagura frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "So you're going to disobey the Mizukage's orders?!"

"I am taking responsibility for the lives of all the Hidden Mist ninja!"

The night will not yield an inch!

The two locked eyes, and Yagura took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "I understand your concerns, but we can't really disobey the Mizukage's orders."

"Moreover, the prerequisite for releasing the Tailed Beast Ball is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. We can do what we did before and have you restrain the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Alternatively, you can go and wreak havoc in Konoha's territory again. They will definitely focus all their attention on you."

“We can even avoid entering Higashimatsu Mountain and directly engage Konoha in battle. We can start fighting Konoha the moment we step onto the battlefield. I don’t believe Konoha can completely disregard the lives of their own village’s ninjas and launch a Tailed Beast Ball attack against us!”

"...You are personally destroying Kirigakure's advantages and future, Yagura."

"This is Lord Mizukage's order."

"But you are the commander-in-chief at the front, you are the general!"

"Since I am the general, why do you still question my decision!" Yagura roared. "The Mizukage has already issued the order, and I also think it's a good and correct order. What are you still questioning? Just because your strategic and tactical plans have been rejected, are you going to rebel?!"

Yoru stared at Yagura in disbelief. There was clearly an immense risk involved, and he had previously agreed with Yagura's ideas, but now…

Is this your political correctness, the decision you make to gain the political capital you need?

"You'll regret this, Yagura."

"I am the supreme commander, Night!"

Night's face stiffened, she glanced coldly at Yagura, then turned and left the tent.

Yagura snorted coldly and sat in his seat, seemingly lost in thought.

The Mist Shadow operatives stationed at the entrance didn't dare to breathe, their backs already soaked with cold sweat...

……

"The Mizukage actually rejected Yoru's tactical request... Didn't Yoru tell him about the Three-Tails' defeat that day?"

Inside the tent belonging to the night, Mei Terumi asked in a low voice.

“I have already reported everything to Yagura. Besides, even if Yagura concealed the information, Mizuki Akira would have reported the situation directly to the Mizukage.”

Yoru said calmly, and Mei Terumi's confusion deepened: "Then why..."

Knowing full well that the target possessed the ability to strike at pinpoints from extremely long distances, yet still engaging in a head-on confrontation, this goes beyond mere arrogance; it's a complete disregard for the people of Konoha.

Or rather, in the Third Mizukage's mindset, the fighting power of Kirigakure on the front line was already enough to overwhelm Konoha's side, but the opponent was Minato Namikaze, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, who combined the Flying Thunder God Technique!

This combination possesses the military power to slaughter an entire nation; one cannot be too cautious when facing such a force.

If we launch a forced attack, even if we win, how many soldiers will Kirigakure have left in the end?!

Mei Terumi hesitated, but Yoru shook his head and spoke directly without any hesitation.

"My anger and disappointment are not because my tactics were not adopted, but because I cannot see a future for this village, do you understand, Ming?"

"What's corrupt in this village isn't just the intelligence system, but everything at present, from head to toe, inside and out, deep into the marrow."

"Absurd policies, incompetent leaders, corrupt management, and selfish subordinates. Everything born under the bloody fog ultimately converged into a tragic village."

"This is what makes me angry and disappointed!"

"night……"

Chapter 69: Let blood and death wash away the blood mist and gloom that shrouds the village.

Mei Terumi knew that Kirigakure was in a terrible state, extremely terrible.

Compared to other great ninja villages, Kirigakure is like a pitiful creature that relies on its ruthless and cruel methods to forcibly maintain the appearance of the village. It is all show and no substance, pretending that it has not yet fallen out of the ranks of great nations.

Even so, Mei Terumi still held great expectations for Kirigakure, because it was, after all, her village, even if this Blood Mist Village couldn't really foster much of a bond.

But she is still working hard, and many people in the village are also working hard.

In order to make Kirigakure better and better, to obtain more resources, and to no longer be held back by other ninja villages, they launched this war, all for the sake of Kirigakure's further advancement!

Now, the series of victories have given them a glimmer of hope. If things continue like this, it seems they can truly realize their dream and gradually transform the village into the place they envision.

But Ye's words tore apart this seemingly beautiful illusion, revealing the bloody reality.

"...So what are you planning to do?"

Mei Terumi gazed at the night and whispered, "Should we forcibly seize command from Yagura, lead Kirigakure to victory in this war, return to the village in triumph, overthrow the corrupt regime, and establish a brand new village?"

"Have you been watching too many novels and plays?"

Yoru's gaze, as if looking at someone with an idiot, instantly shattered Mei Terumi's carefully cultivated emotions, even causing her to break down slightly.

"The further you go down the wrong path, the further you stray from success. Besides, I have no way of leading the current Mist Village to win this war. It's unrealistic, impossible."

Ye said calmly, "The combination of Minato Namikaze and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is almost invincible on the battlefield."

"The reason we were able to fight against this combination and bring the war to this point is not because I am particularly strong, nor because Kirigakure is particularly strong. It's purely because of the various problems on Konoha's side, such as the limitations imposed on them by their comrades or the system."

"If we let the two of them fight without restraint, I would even say that they alone could end this so-called Third Shinobi World War!"

Mei Terumi opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to deny the enemy's strength, but she couldn't find any reason to deny it.

The super mobility of space-time ninjutsu, combined with the Nine-Tails, the strongest tailed beast, makes it a mobile fortress, a humanoid catastrophe!

"Isn't there a solution?" Mei Terumi whispered.

Theoretically, there are many ninjutsu that can counter the Flying Thunder God Technique, but in actual combat, its operability is completely zero.

the reason is simple.

Minato Namikaze's reaction speed is too fast!

During the Fourth Shinobi World War in the original work, even Madara, who possessed the Rinnegan, couldn't react to Guy's attack with the Eight Gates. However, Minato Namikaze, while assisting Guy, accurately took away five Waypoint Balls.

Even Ye had to admire the level of timing control he possessed, calling him a timing genius!

What, you mean you want to find a genjutsu master like Itachi?

indeed.

Relying on top-tier illusion techniques like Tsukuyomi, it is indeed possible to target Minato Namikaze.

But is it possible that you might think the battle between Minato Namikaze and Itachi was like this: Minato was on guard against Itachi's genjutsu, cautiously probing his attacks, and if he wasn't careful, he would fall into the genjutsu and Itachi would take him down with a shuriken.

But the reality might be: Itachi saw a shuriken hit his feet, and before he could even look up to see Minato, his throat was slit...

after all.

Even Obito, who possessed the Mangekyou Sharingan thanks to the First Hokage's cells, couldn't catch Minato Namikaze's movements, let alone anyone else.

Of course, if Yoru were to fight Minato one-on-one, Yoru would definitely win, because Hyōrinmaru's power is naturally designed to counter such flashy speed.

The problem is that Minato Namikaze understands this, and he doesn't give Yoru a chance for a one-on-one fight.

Moreover, once Minato Namikaze unites with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Yoru, who is still unable to fully unleash his Bankai, will have no choice but to back down!

It can be said that unless someone of Madara or Hashirama's caliber comes up with the Minato-Ku-Tails combination, there is absolutely no way to deal with it!

Even when facing beings of Hashirama and Madara's caliber, they could still run away...

"The best way to deal with space-time ninjutsu is currently sealing techniques and barrier techniques. Moreover, ordinary techniques are not enough; the most advanced barrier techniques are required."

Night shook his head: "But if the target is traveling with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, then both sealing techniques and barrier techniques will be meaningless. Not to mention the Nine-Tails' terrifying power, just Kushina Uzumaki's mastery of barrier and sealing techniques is such that there are very few techniques in the world that can restrict them."

"So, apart from praying that they can continue to restrain themselves, I really can't find any way to stop them."

"That's why I made the tactical decision to shift the target."

"Leverage strengths and avoid weaknesses to gain greater initiative on the battlefield. Forcing a head-on confrontation with a combination that is currently almost invincible is tantamount to suicide."

"Is it beyond stopping?" Mei Terumi couldn't help but ask, "What about trying to persuade Lord Yagura?"

"Why do you think I'm so angry?" Yoru glanced at Mei Terumi: "No one can stop someone who's crazy about climbing the ladder. The Third Hokage is old, and Yagura made too many mistakes in this war. If we don't seize the Third Hokage's political capital, do you think the Fourth Hokage will even get a chance?"

"Doesn't Lord Yagura know the consequences of doing this?"

"Of course he knew, but he believed in my fighting prowess and also believed that the final victor in this war would be Kirigakure."

Night sneered, "So, he doesn't care how much he has to pay. Because he thinks he will win, and as long as he wins, he will have the political capital to become the Fourth Hokage."

"But I think I will lose. It's not that I want to throw the match, but that even if I give it my all, I will still lose."

Looking at Yoru's indifferent expression, Mei Terumi couldn't help but say, "Think of something, Yoru! We can't just sit here and do nothing!"

"There is no way."

Ye shook his head: "For someone who is already terminally ill, only scraping the bone can cure the poison, and only after breaking down can one be rebuilt."

"A lost war will kill many, many people, night..."