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Chapter 159: Konoha with All Its Might!
🕑 Added 2025-01-23 13:24:35 +0000 UTCUzumaki Raiden's guerrilla warfare in the Land of Earth caused considerable trouble for Iwagakure. To secure the border, Onoki personally led a contingent of ninjas to station along the border between the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind, preventing Konoha's surprise forces from launching further sneak attacks.
During this time, battle reports from the front lines arrived regularly at Onoki's temporary office. Despite Raiden's reduced operations to smaller-scale skirmishes, the prolonged conflict kept Onoki's forces occupied. These piecemeal clashes saw both Konoha and Iwa forces trading wins and losses, though neither side gained significant ground.
Although dissatisfied with the stalemate, Onoki could do little as Konoha's ninjas hid their movements well. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to locate Konoha's main stronghold.
This pattern continued for nearly three months. When the gravely injured Roshi finally recovered, he was sent to the border to take over command from Onoki. As the Tsuchikage, Onoki had numerous responsibilities back in the village and could not remain on the front lines indefinitely. To bolster Roshi's command, Onoki assigned him a sizable force of 5,000 ninjas, placing the front line in his hands before returning to Iwagakure.
Upon Roshi's arrival, Raiden resumed his offensive with Konoha's forces. However, Roshi, acting on Onoki's orders, avoided engaging Konoha's ninjas in open-field battles. Instead, he relied on fortified defensive positions, turning the conflict into a war of attrition.
Despite his best efforts, Raiden's force of fewer than 1,000 shinobi was unable to break through the heavily fortified Iwa defenses. Forced to retreat, Konoha suffered significant casualties.
Roshi mirrored Konoha's previous strategy, establishing strongholds along the border and using them as bases for coordinated responses. Whenever Konoha forces were spotted, these strongholds quickly relayed information and dispatched reinforcements. Raiden's forces launched several attempts to attack these positions, but Roshi's overwhelming numbers nearly encircled them on multiple occasions.
Although Raiden managed to break through the encirclements, Konoha's losses were substantial. Facing mounting casualties, Raiden ordered a retreat.
The unfavorable reports from the front lines soon reached Konoha Village. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was informed of Raiden's latest request for reinforcements. Months earlier, Raiden had already requested additional troops, but Hiruzen had been unable to spare any due to Konoha's stretched resources.
Now, faced with another plea for reinforcements, Hiruzen found himself at a loss.
"Lord Hiruzen, the surprise attack force led by Raiden has requested reinforcements again," Mitokado Homura said, placing a scroll on Hiruzen's desk.
"According to the latest reports, Iwagakure has stationed a 5,000-strong force along the border, specifically to counter our surprise troops. Raiden's unit, reduced to only about 500 combatants, cannot overcome such a numerical disadvantage. Should we put his request on hold again?"
Hiruzen rubbed his temples, a weary look crossing his face. "Homura, you're aware of our current situation. We're fighting on three fronts. Where can we find reinforcements to send?"
At that moment, the office door swung open, and an Anbu ninja entered.
"Urgent report from Lord Jiraiya!"
The ninja placed a sealed scroll on Hiruzen's desk before swiftly departing.
Hiruzen unsealed the scroll and began reading. His expression darkened as he absorbed the contents.
"What is it?" Homura asked, noticing the change in Hiruzen's demeanor.
"The situation on Jiraiya's front is deteriorating," Hiruzen said grimly. "Our troops are being pushed back by the Cloud ninjas. Casualties are heavy, and Jiraiya is requesting reinforcements."
Homura frowned deeply, reading the scroll after Hiruzen. "The situation is worse than I thought," he said. "In that case, why not withdraw Raiden's forces from the Land of Wind and send them to support Jiraiya? They're outnumbered and struggling to achieve results anyway. Redirecting them could ease the pressure on the Land of Lightning front."
Hiruzen immediately shook his head. "Raiden's unit may be small, but it's tying up 5,000 Iwa shinobi. Their presence is critical to maintaining our advantage on the Rain Country front under Orochimaru.
"If we withdraw them, those 5,000 Iwa ninjas will flood into the Land of Rain, erasing the progress Orochimaru has made."
Before Homura could respond, another Anbu ninja entered with another urgent report.
"This time, it's from Lord Orochimaru," the ninja said, placing the scroll on Hiruzen's desk.
Hiruzen unsealed it and let out a heavy sigh after reading.
"What now?" Homura asked, already anticipating bad news.
"Orochimaru's campaign is progressing well. Iwa forces are retreating steadily, and he's close to reaching the border of the Land of Earth," Hiruzen explained. "However, the fighting is intense, and casualties are high. He's requesting reinforcements too."
Homura grimaced. Reinforcements were needed on all three fronts, leaving Hiruzen in an impossible position.
"Withdraw the border troops guarding the Land of Water," Hiruzen said after a long pause. "Send reinforcements to Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Raiden.
"With Kirigakure at war with the Land of Wind, they won't have the resources to attack us. We'll have to gamble on this."
Homura's eyes widened. "That leaves no reserve forces, Hiruzen."
"I know," Hiruzen said quietly. "But we have no choice."
One year later, the situation had become even more dire.
Konoha's lack of reserves meant that Hiruzen had to deploy younger and less experienced ninjas, including children fresh out of the Academy. Even so, the relentless demands of the war stretched Konoha's resources and manpower to their limits.
Despite the mounting challenges, Konoha's forces continued to fight with all their might. Uzumaki Raiden's guerrilla tactics disrupted Iwagakure's operations, Orochimaru made steady advances in the Land of Rain, and Jiraiya held the line against the Cloud ninjas.
Konoha's resolve was unyielding, but the cost of survival continued to rise.
(End of Chapter)
