"How many enemies are there?" Hagane Zhen asked.
His earlier decoy operation had not been completely ineffective. In fact, it had lured away some of the enemies. Now, he could only hope that the number of enemies still in pursuit was not too outrageous.
"The enemies still chasing us are about equal to our numbers, roughly fifteen people," the same clansman who had spoken earlier replied.
There was nothing strange about being chased around by an enemy force of equal size. On one hand, the enemy's average strength was greater, their stamina and energy were almost at their peak, and they could receive reinforcements more quickly.
On the other hand... Hagane Zhen shook his head inwardly. His gaze swept over everyone on his side, and he found that all of them bore visible signs of fatigue and weakness. In truth, they no longer had the strength to continue fighting. Calling them lambs waiting for the slaughter would not be an exaggeration.
Forget fighting—they could not even continue fleeing.
"Fortunately, I did manage to shake off some of the enemies on my side. Looking on the bright side, at least we won't be caught between two fronts... A few hours from now, the enemies we face will probably be these fifteen people."
Hagane Zhen thought for a moment and realized that his side had pitifully few options left. He sighed and said, "To ensure that as many of us survive as possible, we can only continue with the diversion strategy, using a few individuals to lure the enemies away as best we can."
Although he appeared very young, the clan's ninja still trusted him deeply. For one thing, it was thanks to his suggestions that everyone had survived until now. For another, as the Clan Leader, he had already taken on a dangerous decoy mission for the entire clan—in effect, he had already died once for them. There was no need to doubt his selflessness.
He was capable and willing to lead by example. Even if he led everyone down a dead end, no one would complain at a time like this... He had done everything he could. After all, they had only reached this point because they were too weak.
"Clan Leader, I'm still in decent shape. I'll serve as the decoy this time," the ninja who had replied earlier immediately said.
"Count me in too, Clan Leader." Another ninja stepped forward almost at the same time.
One after the other, two ninjas stepped forward. They were both young men in their twenties. One was named Hagane Kenshin, and the other was named Hagane Ryunosuke.
"Good. Then the three of us will be responsible for luring away the enemies." Hagane Zhen had no room to be polite. He agreed without hesitation because he knew that these two were among the stronger ninjas in the clan.
"Clan Leader..."
"Don't say anything more. It's decided."
Put nicely, the mission ahead was a decoy mission. Put bluntly, it was a suicide mission. Hagane Zhen had already taken on such a mission once, so there was no reason for him to risk himself again. Nevertheless, he stopped his clansmen from trying to persuade him.
This was not the time to be sentimental.
"Everyone, listen to my orders. For the next two hours, focus on recovering your chakra. After two hours, we'll begin... Don't worry too much. I'm fairly confident in our plan for the battle ahead."
No one believed the last sentence. They merely took it as meaningless reassurance without any basis.
In any case, everyone found a place to sit and began refining chakra with all their might.
Hagane Zhen went to a high point in a large tree. Standing on a thick branch that jutted out from the trunk, he gazed into the distance and watched the surroundings, keeping guard for everyone.
Against fifteen enemies, he naturally had no confidence at present. But if it was only one against five, it was still worth attempting. He would not overestimate his own strength. Before today, he had merely been an ordinary ninja. Aside from the Three Basic Body Techniques, he could only use two or three low-level Fire Release techniques. With such strength, taking on several enemies at once would be nothing but wishful thinking.
However, things were somewhat different now.
Hagane Zhen considered how he should fight next. He White Zetsu Transformed his right hand and forearm, then gently waved his arm. A miraculous scene unfolded: his arm passed through the tree trunk beside him as though he were performing a magic trick.
This was of course not Space-Time Ninjutsu. It was White Zetsu's Mayfly Technique.
At this stage, the vast majority of White Zetsu active in the ninja world were not combat units. They were reconnaissance and intelligence units, and their abilities had been specialized for such missions. Overall, individual White Zetsu were rather frail. However, that did not mean they lacked offensive power.
In fact, White Zetsu's assassination ability was unrivaled—absolutely monstrous. Perfect concealment, flawless transformation, and silent movement. White Zetsu's abilities could be said to be exactly what every ninja dreamed of possessing.
Hagane Zhen believed that the so-called "White Zetsu-Man" was certainly not an undeserved title.
The two hours passed quickly. Hagane Zhen returned to everyone and said, "Everyone, please shake hands with me one by one... Kenshin and Ryunosuke, stay until the end... Then listen to what I have to say."
Everyone was puzzled about what Hagane Zhen wanted to do, but they still came forward one after another as he requested.
As Hagane Zhen shook hands with his clansmen, he said:
"Based on what we've encountered so far, I feel that the enemy's attitude toward battle has become less cautious than it was at the beginning. When pursuing us, a group of battered soldiers who can barely fight back, they seem to be treating it like a cat playing with mice.
"Therefore, if we continue splitting up to lure them away, there's a very high chance that they'll split up to pursue us as well, hoping to defeat us one by one and wipe us all out.
"They have reconnaissance ninjas, and they know that we don't. We can turn that against them..."
Hagane Zhen paused briefly, but at that moment, no one was paying attention to his words. Every ninja who had shaken his hand wore a strange expression.
Soon, only Kenshin and Ryunosuke were left.
Hagane Zhen took one of their hands in each of his. The moment their palms met, the two immediately felt a surge of abundant chakra flowing into their bodies.
"What... What is this?"
This was White Zetsu's Spore Technique. By using this technique, one could absorb another person's chakra and use it for oneself or transfer it to a third party. What Hagane Zhen was doing was absorbing his clansmen's chakra and then distributing it evenly between Kenshin and Ryunosuke, who would be taking on the decoy mission.
However, he had no time to explain this ability to everyone.
"Listen carefully. This is the battle plan: Kenshin, Ryunosuke, and I won't conceal ourselves. We'll draw the pursuing enemies away in three different directions. Faced with us, who are at the end of our rope, the enemies will most likely split up to pursue us. That will give us a chance to defeat them one by one."
"Kenshin, move in the three o'clock direction. Ryunosuke, you take six o'clock. I'll take nine o'clock... Release your chakra fully. Taunt them, but don't get entangled with the enemy. Run—run as far as you can. Understood?"
"Yes, Clan Leader." The two nodded immediately without hesitation.
"After I deal with the enemies in my direction, I'll immediately go support you, so don't act recklessly."
Concentrating the chakra of more than a dozen ninjas into two people would be enough to sustain them for some time. If Hagane Zhen acted quickly enough and they were lucky enough, they might survive.
"Everyone else, hide deeper in the woods. Don't show yourselves until the battle is over."
After Hagane Zhen finished speaking, several people looked as if they wanted to say something, but in the end, none of them did.
At this point, what could they say? Ask, "How can the Clan Leader defeat five enemies in peak condition with his strength?"
No one could bring themselves to say it.
They were already trying to survive in the midst of death. All they could do was give it their best and leave the rest to fate... That was what most of the people there were thinking.
Only Hagane Zhen knew that his diversion operation was absolutely not meant to send them to their deaths.
Nor could they simply choose to die. For the operation ahead, Hagane Zhen had extracted most of his clansmen's chakra. After losing their chakra, they would be completely helpless. If the enemy discovered them, a one-sided slaughter would inevitably follow. There was no doubt about it.
"All right, does anyone have any other questions?" Hagane Zhen asked at last.
Everyone shook their heads. Whatever the outcome, they had already made sufficient mental preparations.
"Good, then..."
"Begin the operation."