Chapter 256: The Rumors Spread
After organizing the garrison, Sasuke led his troops at lightning speed, assaulting the Yamanote Prefecture. As soon as the Daimyo and nobles of the prefecture learned of the fall of the Hidden Mist Village, Sasuke's troops attacked them. Faced with the overwhelming force and speed of his tactics, combined with the previous destruction of the village, they offered little resistance and surrendered. Even two Iwagakure guardian ninjas tried to resist, but they were easily defeated by Shun and Ye.
"Sasuke-sama, the Yamanote Prefecture is much richer than the Land of Rivers'!" exclaimed Aoi, holding the ledger.
Compared to his previous kind treatment of the Land of Rivers, the Umino troops adopted a completely different attitude, acting like a swarm of locusts. Without sparing a single civilian, they mercilessly confiscated all the prefecture's treasure. The plundered treasures amounted to mountains of gold, silver, jewels, and antiques, as well as vast food reserves, maps of the entire Land of Mountains, and even Iwagakure's supply routes in the Land of Frost.
"Aoi, secure the Daimyo and those nobles and send them to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire's residence," Sasuke ordered.
Capturing an enemy Daimyo and presenting him to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire was a great achievement. It represented a significant territorial expansion, enough for his forces to cause a stir again.
After capturing the nobles, Sasuke's forces did not delay, but continued north, trying to cut off Iwagakure's supply lines. Taking advantage of the terrain, they frequently appeared and disappeared along the supply lines. In particular, after having inherited the detonating talisman from the Hidden Mist Village, they now used it, constantly attacking the convoys.
"Enemy attack! Damn Konoha thieves!"
"It's the White Blood Demon's Army! Our supply lines have been cut again!"
"Could Konoha and Kumogakure really be secretly allying?"
The bad news spread like wildfire through Iwagakure's camp on the Land of Frost front. Sasuke took the opportunity to spread fake news about an alliance between Konoha and Kumo, and the Iwa ninjas' morale began to falter.
In the Tsuchikage's office building, "Useless!" Onoki roared. "The Hidden Mist Village was lost in less than half a day, and the Explosion Force was annihilated again. Now, even our supply lines have been cut by this White Blood Demon!"
"Tsuchikage-sama, I'm only worried that Konoha and Kumogakure are really secretly allying," his Staff Officer suggested. "If they really formed an alliance, with Kumo drawing our main force, and Konoha attacking from the flank and rear, it would be disastrous."
Onoki immediately understood the terrible consequences. "We can't take any risks!" he declared. "Mobilization order! Hurry to the Land of Frost! At the same time, order the frontline troops to launch a probing assault on Kumogakure's positions."
Deceived by Sasuke, he truly believed they were conspiring. To prevent his border troops from being surrounded, he had to relieve the immense pressure exerted on Konoha's forces on the Land of Grass front.
Upon receiving the order, the Iwa troops on the Land of Frost front immediately launched a fierce attack on Kumo's defenses. Simultaneously, a series of incendiary rumors spread like wildfire.
"Did you hear that? That old Onoki dared to say that we Kumo ninjas are cowards."
"The Rock ninja mocked us, saying we're all muscle and no brains!"
"Onoki even threatened to flatten the Kumo Gorge, saying the Third Raikage had been crippled by the Eight-Tails' rebellion!"
The rumors, combined with the shortage of supplies, enraged the Kumo ninjas, especially the young ones.
"Call us cowards!" they shouted. "The Iwagakure ninjas are dying! Brothers, show them who is the strongest!"
Amidst the fury, many Kumo squads, even ignoring their superiors' orders, spontaneously launched fierce retaliatory attacks against Iwa's lines. The Kumo leaders, who hoped to observe the confrontation, were dragged into the conflict, and the weaknesses of their army-based system began to be exposed.
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