Chapter 408: Lord Tsutsui of the Capital! The Prelude to the Decisive Battle!
Profit, without a doubt, is the best motivator.
Perhaps the war in the Land of Rain made these Shinobi Clans, who still held power, unable to see any possibility of plundering benefits, thus refusing to place their bets.
However, on the Land of Wind side, although its economic level and prosperity couldn't compare to the Land of Fire, it still surpassed the Land of Rain by several levels.
Coupled with the several oases mentioned by Sakumo Hatake, all of which were rich lands untouched by war... this immediately swayed many Shinobi Clans.
Amidst Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado's ashen faces, even the Kurama Clan leader, who had been the most vocal just moments ago, bravely patted his chest, pledging to support Sakumo Hatake with two Jonin and six Chunin, a total of two elite squads.
The next morning!
As the sun just rose, many figures appeared in front of the Konoha gate... Counting them, there were definitely no fewer than five hundred people.
These could also be considered the last reserves of the major Ninja Clans; perhaps... after Sakumo Hatake and Fujiwara Tetsuya pulled this move, the current Konoha Shinobi Clans, apart from the Hyuga and Uchiha, would no longer be able to deploy any additional forces.
"Tetsuya, you're late..."
Looking at the belated Fujiwara Tetsuya, Sakumo Hatake shook his head helplessly... "Ha~~~"
"Senior Sakumo, you know, I haven't been back to get a good night's sleep in a long time either."
Following Fujiwara Tetsuya's gaze, the surrounding elite Ninja Clansmen all turned their heads away.
What Sakumo Hatake could say, they could not.
They couldn't even show the slightest hint of unusual emotion.
This was something the clan elders had repeatedly emphasized before their departure.
"Since everyone is here, let's depart!"
As Sakumo Hatake waved his hand, hundreds of elite Ninja Clansmen accelerated, disappearing into the distance in an instant.
Only then did a silver-haired kid jump out from the shadows on both sides of the street, gazing into the direction where everyone had disappeared, wondering what he was thinking... When Sakumo Hatake and Fujiwara Tetsuya arrived at the border of the Land of Rivers with the reinforcements, the Third Kazekage, upon learning of the front-line defeat, swiftly stabilized the situation in the Hidden Sand Village in just a few days.
However, to prevent Fujiwara Tetsuya from launching another surprise attack, this time, the Third Kazekage also brought Bunpuku to the front-line camp, while continuously dispatching Sunagakure Ninja scattered throughout the Land of Wind to gather...
He had likely also assessed the current situation between the Hidden Sand Village and Konoha and prepared for a decisive battle.
Over the next ten days, Konoha's main force, stationed on the western border of the Land of Rivers, divided into several routes, launched active attacks, constantly harassing and capturing oases in the eastern Land of Wind.
Sakumo Hatake also fulfilled his promise made that day in the Hokage Building to all participating Shinobi Clans, allocating the acquired spoils of war to the Shinobi Clans according to the pre-arranged distribution ratio.
This action, although it drew hostility from the original inhabitants of the various oases, boosted the morale of Konoha's front-line main force... The cry to defeat the Hidden Sand Village and end the war grew louder and louder...
"Lord Kazekage..."
Sunagakure Camp.
Under the candlelight, Anbu members pulled the Third Kazekage out of his contemplation.
Looking at the Anbu member in front of him, the Third Kazekage's expression softened, and he slowly stood up.
"It's Chen! So late, coming from the capital, has something happened?"
"Yes!"
"Lord Kazekage, what Konoha has done on the eastern border has harmed the interests of many high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital."
"Now, there's a lot of resentment towards you in the capital."
Chen secretly glanced at the Third Kazekage's expression, and only after confirming that the Third Kazekage's mood hadn't changed much, did he lower his head and continue speaking.
"Some nobles have placed all the blame for the unfavorable war progress on you."
"They say... they say the war situation deteriorated sharply entirely due to your incompetence."
"Many people have even suggested replacing the Kazekage and selecting a new Kazekage..."
"A bunch of short-sighted fools! Chen, continue!"
"I also brought Lord Tsutsui's verbal message this time."
Tsutsui, whom Chen mentioned, was the biggest supporter of the Third Kazekage and the entire Hidden Sand Village within the Land of Wind's political system, and also one of the few powerful figures in the entire Land of Wind who could influence the will of the Land of Wind's Daimyo.
"Lord Tsutsui!"
"Lord Tsutsui asked me to tell you that if Lord Kazekage wishes to continue this war, he must resolve Konoha's main force, led by White Fang Hatake Sakumo and Mei Zhi Hang Fujiwara Tetsuya, in the shortest possible time... extending the war to the Land of Fire's homeland."
"Only then can he gain more support in the capital and from the Daimyo regarding the war against Konoha."
"Otherwise... Lord Tsutsui advises you to abandon the idea of continuing the war and choose to negotiate peace with Konoha before Konoha and Amegakure completely drive out Iwagakure."
"Only in this way can the Land of Wind, the Hidden Sand Village... and you, Lord Kazekage, minimize the losses from defeat."
Although Chen bravely recounted Tsutsui's original words, the aura inadvertently emitted by the Third Kazekage due to his emotional fluctuations still made Chen tremble uncontrollably.
Although he didn't understand politics, he could still hear from Tsutsui's words that as the Hidden Sand Village fell into a passive situation, even Tsutsui... this strong supporter of the Hidden Sand Village, began to waver.
At least for now, he no longer favored the war between the Hidden Sand Village and Konoha.
"I understand!"
"Chen, you've worked hard, coming all the way from the capital, you must be very tired!"
"Today, you'll rest in the camp for the night, and then depart for the capital tomorrow."
"At that time, when you see Lord Tsutsui, please tell him that I will comply with his wishes..."
Watching Chen's departing back, the Third Kazekage's gaze gradually deepened, clenching his hands tightly.
Nobles? High-ranking officials?
What ridiculous titles!
Don't these guys ever open their eyes and look at the common people living at the bottom of the Land of Wind?
The conflict between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire is destined to be irreconcilable!
A temporary retreat will only drag the Land of Wind into a deeper abyss.
Such a simple truth, why is it that among all the nobles in the entire Land of Wind... only a few like Tsutsui can understand?
"Someone, go call Elder Chiyo, Elder Ebizo, Rasa... I have important matters to instruct them."
Under the flickering candlelight, the Third Kazekage's shadow stretched longer and longer.
No one knew what exactly happened in the Third Kazekage's tent that night.
It was only clear that on the second morning, the Hidden Sand main force, which had established a defense line in the Ajur Oasis, abandoned its defensive posture and, after gathering all its main combat forces, headed straight for the direction of Konoha's main army... In short, the prelude to the decisive battle was fully unveiled... Regardless of victory or defeat, it would determine the future path of the two Ninja Villages.
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