manynovel Chapter 114 Offense against offense, it's time for me to dance!
Chapter 114 Offense against offense, it's time for me to dance!
Chapter 114 Offense against offense, it's time for me to dance!
"Previously on the battlefield, I continued to wreak havoc on Konoha's rear lines. Seeing that he could not stop me, Jiraiya turned his attention to you and prepared to carry out an attack-against-attack plan."
"That is, I kill mine, and he kills his."
"Although this battle ultimately ended with me defeating and even killing Jiraiya, the wounds we suffered far surpassed those of anything before!"
Looking at the Jonin in front of him, Makoto Karatachi spoke in a deep voice.
"Since then, I've been thinking, what should we do if Konoha completely abandons defense and counter-attack, completely abandons positional warfare, and continues to choose this offensive-offensive strategy?"
"When it comes to attacking against attack, it's all about having the foundation."
"Konoha has a very deep foundation, but they are fighting against four other ninja villages at the same time, while we are using the full strength of the nation. In addition, my combat strength is indeed slightly better than Minato Namikaze, so under normal circumstances, we cannot possibly lose no matter how we fight. At most, we will both suffer heavy losses."
"But now, with the appearance of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, everything has been completely reversed!"
"The Flying Thunder God Technique combined with the Tailed Beast Ball is almost invincible. In this situation, mutual destruction has become our best possibility."
Gouju Cheng surveyed the tense crowd, his voice clear and calm, like ice water poured into boiling oil, instantly silencing the pervasive panic and arguments.
The Jonin present all clenched their fists. Just a dozen minutes ago, they were raising their glasses and celebrating their victory with singing and dancing, as if they could break through Kazama and Kazuya tomorrow and win this war.
But in just over ten minutes, the entire battle situation underwent a dramatic change!
"What are you going to do, Acheng?"
Yagura spoke in a deep voice, his fists clenched tightly.
"retreat."
"What?!"
Yagura stared wide-eyed at Makoto Karatachi in disbelief.
In fact, he also knew that Kirigakure at this stage had no way to compete with the combination of Flying Thunder God Technique and Tailed Beast Ball, and that was the only way.
He was just unwilling to accept it!
The surrounding Jonin all wore expressions of resentment.
They lost so many people and wasted so much resources in this war. Now that they have finally gained some victory, it is time to press their advantage and retreat.
This would be unpleasant for anyone!
"Not only must we retreat, but we must break up our forces and retreat in small, dispersed units!"
Makoto Karatachi's tone was resolute and left no room for doubt: "Konoha didn't use the Flying Thunder God Technique combined with the Tailed Beast Ball at first. Firstly, it was risky; the Tailed Beasts are of utmost importance, and if something went wrong, the consequences would be unimaginable. Secondly, they were afraid of damaging their reputation."
"But now that they've tasted success and are going crazy, they're bound to do it again; they won't give up easily!"
"If we retreat normally, they will definitely use the same method to bombard our retreat route until they drive us back to the Land of Water, or even chase us to the gates of Kirigakure."
"Disperse all our main forces at the front, including command personnel, logistics personnel, and the wounded, into the smallest possible groups, and retreat covertly in batches along different routes as quickly as possible towards Kirigakure Village."
"Each group should be limited to no more than ten people, preferably no more than five. The route should avoid main roads and open areas, and instead use complex terrain such as forests, valleys, and underground passages. The operation should be fast and quiet, like a drop of water merging into the ocean, disappearing into Konoha's reconnaissance network."
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other, both annoyed and angry.
Not only did they have to withdraw, but they also had to withdraw in such a pathetic way. What kind of mess is this?!
"I'm so damn unwilling to give up like this!"
Kaguya Ryunosuke slammed his fist on the table, gritting his teeth, his face full of resentment.
"Admit defeat?"
Gouju Cheng sneered: "Who said we admitted defeat?"
"I'm just saying that the main force should retreat to Kirigakure to preserve its strength and avoid Konoha's sharpest spear."
"But it didn't say—the war is over."
"Not willing to admit defeat?"
Kaguya Ryunosuke's fist was still pressed on the table. Hearing this, he suddenly looked up and stared intently at Makoto Karatachi: "Makoto Karatachi, what exactly do you mean? Everyone's backed out, and you still don't admit defeat?"
"This is called a strategic retreat, preserving manpower and changing the battlefield situation."
Makoto Kujira walked to the sand table and traced his finger along the areas currently under the control of the Land of Fire and the Hidden Mist.
Is the space-based weapon that Konoha has just unleashed truly invincible? No, it's only invincible against our large, well-organized force at this stage.
"Its weaknesses are equally obvious. It requires precise coordinate positioning, time to prepare the Tailed Beast Ball, and perfect coordination between Minato and Kushina. Once the target is dispersed, concealed, or moving quickly, the efficiency of this attack will drop sharply, while the cost will rise sharply."
He turned to the crowd, his gaze sharp.
"Our plan is to break up into smaller groups and retreat in smaller groups, to cripple Konoha, their sharpest spear. We'll leave them with a dragon-slaying sword, but no dragon to cut down."
"No matter how strong Minato and Kushina are, they can't possibly use Tailed Beast Balls to bombard every three-to-five-person Kirigakure squad. That would be a pure waste of chakra and strategic deterrence."
"What we have preserved are elite ninjas who have been tempered by blood and fire, the seeds of Kirigakure's future!"
'
Hozuki Mangetsu said somewhat unwillingly, "Captain, what you said makes sense. But if we do that, won't we have to hand over all the strongholds and territories we've captured to Konoha? Besides, a dispersed retreat is quite risky; what if we're ambushed by a small Konoha unit—"
"Brother, I told you before, if you lose territory, you can fight it back, but if you die, you lose everything."
"The reason for the dispersed retreat is to reduce the risk. How big is our large force of thousands? Once Minato Namikaze locks onto us, a single Tailed Beast Ball will result in hundreds or thousands of casualties! On the other hand, small teams of three to five people are more mobile, more stealthy, and the probability and scale of encounters with the enemy will be much smaller."
Makoto Gojibana looked at Yagura.
"Cousin, I need to be in charge of the central command, coordinate all evacuation teams, handle emergencies, and ensure the safe return of the last batch of core personnel and supplies to Fog Shadow."
Yagura took a deep breath, suppressed his resentment, and nodded.
"I see."
"What about our Mist Blade Squad?" Hozuki Mangetsu couldn't help but ask, "Captain, who are we retreating with?"
Makoto Kujira glanced at him, then swept his gaze over Ao, Kisame Hoshigaki, Yuri Ringo, and Yuki Minazuki.
"The five of you, led by Qing, will be formed into a special operations team to assist your cousin in covering the rear and providing support."
"yes!"
The five members of the Mist Blade Squad responded in unison, their eyes showing reluctance but even more so, determination for the mission.
As for me—
Makoto Kuraki turned around, his back to the others, and looked at the jagged battle lines on the sand table, as well as the vast heartland of the Land of Fire behind him.
His voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable resolve.
"I stayed."
"What?!"
The command center erupted in chaos.
"Makoto! Are you insane?!" Yagura roared first. "Konoha wants to kill you the most right now! Danzo,..."
"Minato, and that Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, they're probably searching the whole world for you right now! What's the difference between you staying here and sending yourself to your death!"
"Yes, Captain! It's too dangerous!" Hozuki Mangetsu exclaimed anxiously.
"No, absolutely not!" Mei Terumi stepped forward, her eyes filled with worry and opposition. "Makoto, you're coming with us!"
Gouju Cheng slowly turned around, his face devoid of its usual playful smile, replaced by a chilling calm.
"I cannot retreat."
"As I said, this time Konoha's tactic is to fight fire with fire. I ordered you to retreat so that you could avoid Konoha's sharpest spear as much as possible, avoid their attacks, and avoid unnecessary sacrifices."
"But if we all retreat, what kind of attack against attack is this? It's a rout, a flight!"
"We've shed too much blood and lost too many people here. What about those fallen comrades if we just hand them over like this? What about all the manpower and resources Kirigakure has expended so far?!"
Makoto Goji looked at Yagura, his tone firm.
"Cousin, you lead the main force back to Wuyin, regroup, and consolidate the defenses."
"And I will be here, in my own way, to tell Konoha: the war is far from over!"
The command post was completely silent.
Everyone was shocked by the determination and madness contained in Makoto Goji's words.
One person, fighting against the entire eastern front of Konoha? Fighting against Konoha with the Flying Thunder God Technique and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?
This is no longer an adventure, it's dancing on the edge of a knife, walking on the edge of a cliff!
"Makoto! Calm down!" Mei Terumi's voice trembled, her eyes filled with anxiety and worry. "I know you're strong, you have the Sharingan, you have that mysterious space-time ninjutsu—but that's Minato Namikaze and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki! They're beings that can instantly destroy our entire frontline! You alone—"
"It is precisely because of them that I must stay."
Goji Makoto interrupted her.
"Ming, think about this carefully. If even I withdraw, what will Konoha do?"
"They will pursue us relentlessly, their momentum unstoppable, and they might even directly threaten Kirigakure's homeland. They'll think Kirigakure has been terrified, and that they've already won this war!"
"But if I stayed, everything would be different."
"Konoha will be wary, distracted, and forced to invest a lot of resources to deal with me. This will greatly relieve the pressure on Kirigakure's homeland and the retreating forces, giving you precious breathing room and time to adjust."
"and----"
"Who says I alone am bound to lose to Minato Namikaze and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"
These words caused the atmosphere in the command center to suddenly freeze.
A familiar smile, tinged with a roguish charm yet brimming with confidence, suddenly appeared on Makoto Goji's face.
"I am Makoto Kojima."
"Minato Namikaze and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki are indeed sharp spears, but my sword, Makoto Karatachi, is no less formidable!"
Yagura stared intently at his cousin, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
He knew that Gouju Cheng was right.
From a strategic perspective, this is currently the best, and possibly the only, option.
The main force must withdraw, otherwise they will become sitting ducks.
But someone must stay behind to hold them back, otherwise the retreat will turn into a rout.
Those who remain must be strong enough, resourceful enough, and mentally resilient enough to survive in this desperate situation, and even—create miracles.
Looking across the entire Kirigakure front, only Makoto Karatachi has the ability, the qualifications, and the courage to take on this mission.
But—that's his cousin!
He is a genius that the Goji Berry Clan has only seen once in a century, and he is the hope for the future of Kirigakure!
"Acheng————"
Yagura's voice was hoarse, with a barely perceptible tremor.
Makoto Karatachi walked up to Yagura, patted him hard on the shoulder, and gave him a relaxed smile.
"Alright, cousin, stop making that face. I'm not going to my death, I'm just going to have some fun in Konoha."
"You guys hurry up and get out of here. The cleaner and more concealed you are, the less pressure I'll be under, and the more room I have to maneuver."
"Once I've had enough fun, I'll naturally come back to find you. Maybe I can even bring you some local specialties back with me."
He turned to the five members of the Fogblade squad.
"Ao, Mangetsu, Kisame, Ame-yuri, Yuki. You all stay with Lord Yagura, protect him, and protect yourselves."
"When I'm not around, Qing is the captain, and everyone listens to him."
"Captain!" Hozuki Mangetsu exclaimed urgently, "Let me stay with you! I can—"
"no."
Gouju shook his head, his tone leaving no room for argument: "If you stay, you'll only be a burden to me. I'm much more flexible; I can fight when I want and leave when I want."
"Moreover, Yagura and the retreating troops need you even more. Your mission is equally important."
Qing took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Captain, we understand. Please—take care."
Ringo Ameyuri bit her lip, her eyes reddening, but she still nodded vigorously: "Captain, you have to come back! I'm still waiting to join you in turning all those bastards in Konoha into charcoal!"
Kisame Hoshigaki didn't speak, but nodded heavily.
Mizuki Yuki's beautiful eyes trembled slightly, a deep worry hidden in the depths of her gaze, but in the end, it could only be expressed in a soft voice.
"Captain, be careful."
Makoto Kari smiled and finally looked at Mei Terumi.
Mei Terumi bit her lip, her eyes glistening with tears, but she forced herself not to let them fall.
She knew she couldn't persuade him.
Once this man makes a decision, no one can change it.
She stepped forward and gently straightened Gouju Cheng's slightly disheveled collar, her movements as if she wanted to remember the sensation of that moment.
"—Come back alive."
"rest assured."
Goji Makoto grasped her hand, squeezed it tightly, and then let go.
He didn't say anything more and turned to look at Yagura.
"Cousin, we must be extremely careful with the retreat route and regrouping plan. The second strike should be coming soon, so we must preserve as much of the Hidden Mist's manpower as possible, no matter what."
"As for myself, I will communicate with you through reverse channeling or through the black market's hidden network. Anyway, you don't need to worry about me."
"----good!"
Yagura closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, all that remained in his eyes was the decisiveness befitting a commander.
He turned to face all the Jonin in the command center, his voice regaining its usual calm and authoritative tone.
"Order all frontline troops to immediately execute the plan to disperse and retreat in small groups!"
"Battals, companies, and squads, disperse and organize yourselves, complete evacuation preparations within two hours, and retreat covertly along different routes towards Kirigakure!"
"Mistblade Squad, assigned to the command's direct escort team, responsible for rearguard action and intelligence gathering!"
"All operations must be conducted in complete silence and concealment! Move out!"
The order was given, and the command center instantly sprang into action.
No one argued anymore, no one hesitated anymore.
The war machine is running again, but this time, it's for preservation, not for attack.
Gouju Cheng stood in a corner of the command post, quietly watching everything.
His gaze was calm, but his heart was churning with complex emotions.
Several months have passed since I was dispatched to the front lines.
Over the past few months, he has worked tirelessly, defeating powerful enemies one after another. He is finally about to lead the Hidden Mist Village to victory and welcome a bright future.
Then, out of nowhere, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki appeared!
Two hours flew by in a tense but orderly busy atmosphere.
The Kirigakure frontline troops demonstrated exceptional military prowess, swiftly and silently dismantling the camp under Yagura's command and the leadership of their respective unit commanders, destroying inconveniently portable supplies, and erasing crucial traces.
Then, following multiple pre-planned routes, they quietly disappeared into the intricate mountains and coastlines of the eastern part of the Land of Fire, like a drop of water merging into the ocean.
Break up the whole operation into smaller units and retreat in a dispersed manner.
This is the optimal solution for preserving our strength under the current circumstances.
Although they would temporarily lose their organization and command, they would avoid the risk of being targeted and eliminated by Minato Namikaze using the Flying Thunder God Technique to the greatest extent possible.
The command post was among the last to be evacuated.
Yagura stood in front of the almost empty camp, taking one last look at the land where months of fighting had taken place, soaked in blood and sweat, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
"Acheng."
He turned to Makoto Karatari standing beside him, his voice low: "Take care. If the situation turns bad, retreat immediately. Don't be reckless. Your life is more important than any temporary victory or defeat."
"Okay, cousin."
Gouju Cheng nodded, a relaxed smile on his face: "Be careful too, the road may not be safe."
Yagura patted his shoulder hard, said nothing more, turned around and led the remaining personnel of the command post, as well as the Mist Blade Squad, Mei Terumi, and others, into the flow of people on the last retreat route.
Before leaving, Mei Terumi turned back and gave Makoto Karatachi a deep look.
That one glance contained a thousand words.
Goji Makoto smiled at her and waved.
Soon, the once bustling and heavily guarded Mist Shadow frontline command post area became deathly silent.
Only Makoto Goji was left, standing alone in the middle of the empty camp.
The setting sun cast a long shadow of him, and a gentle breeze whistled through the empty tents, making a mournful sound.
An unprecedented sense of loneliness quietly welled up in my heart.
But the next second, this loneliness was replaced by an even more intense fighting spirit!
You like a tit-for-tat approach, right?
You like to break the rules of the battlefield and play this kind of game, right?
Gouju Cheng stretched his neck, making a slight cracking sound, his eyes flashing with a bloodthirsty light.
"It's my turn to dance!"