Fortify the Walls and Clear the Fields, Surround the Enemy, Leave an Opening

Orochimaru looked at Uchiha Kō with a burning gaze; he wanted that technique too. It was a pity he lacked the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai, otherwise, this skill would be a divine ability for him.

Seeing Orochimaru's heated stare fixed on Uchiha Kō, Tsunade couldn't help but snort coldly before stepping in front of him. "What is it, Orochimaru? Are you trying to snatch my people?"

Orochimaru's eyes widened as he watched this scene, a wry smile tugging at his lips. He glanced at Jiraiya out of the corner of his eye, but Jiraiya was just scratching his head, completely oblivious.

Orochimaru felt speechless; Jiraiya was truly a fool. Forget it, he wouldn't dwell on him. Orochimaru looked at Tsunade and said, "Not at all. I'm just interested in Kō-kun's detection-type ninjutsu. Besides, he is a trusted aide chosen for you by Lady Mito; how could I possibly snatch him away?"

"Hmph, you'd better not!" Uchiha Kō was a precious gem in Tsunade's eyes. Dual Kekkei Genkai, skilled in warfare, not greedy for credit, and always looking out for her—he was simply the best support heaven could have sent her!

Uchiha Kō scratched his head, unsure whether to speak or remain silent.

Then, Tsunade grabbed Uchiha Kō's arm, led him to the main seat in the office, and pushed him into it.

Orochimaru: !!!

Jiraiya: !!!

Nawaki: !!!

Uchiha Kō: !!!!

Was this a seat he could sit in? This was the commander-in-chief's chair. If they won this war, most of the credit would go to the commander-in-chief!

Uchiha Kō hurriedly tried to stand up, but Tsunade used her monstrous strength to pin him down. Uchiha Kō's face turned red, but he couldn't move an inch.

"Lady Tsunade, didn't we agree earlier? I'm only here to assist you this time; I don't want the credit!" Uchiha Kō said hurriedly.

"That was then, this is now! Just a moment ago, Jiraiya proposed that the three of us fight a decisive battle against Salamander Hanzō. I think it's a good idea, but that leaves the command of the army as a problem!" Tsunade smiled.

Orochimaru also realized the crux of the matter and smiled. "Exactly, Kō-kun. At a time like this, we need a commander who is adept at leading troops to defeat the rest of the Land of Rain's ninjas!"

"That's right, Kō. Tsunade says you're a genius at military strategy, so the role of leading the troops belongs to you!" Jiraiya laughed.

Uchiha Kō was stunned and frowned. "Tsunade said who proposed the duel with Salamander Hanzō?" He even forgot to struggle, looking at Jiraiya with a strange expression.

Orochimaru's eyes lit up. Could it be that this kid...

Jiraiya was taken aback. Wasn't this a good plan? The three of them were under immense pressure!

Tsunade blinked her beautiful eyes, looking from Jiraiya to Uchiha Kō.

Uchiha Kō patted Tsunade's arm, and she withdrew her hand. Uchiha Kō then rested his chin on his hands and asked, "Why do you want to duel him?"

Jiraiya scratched his head. "Because intelligence reports say that aside from Salamander Hanzō, the Land of Rain is basically a mob, so..."

"So, the three of you want to pin down the main force and let the army clear out their ninjas to deal a heavy blow?" Uchiha Kō asked coldly.

Orochimaru fell into deep thought. He had felt something was off earlier but couldn't pinpoint the problem. Seeing Kō-kun's stance, it seemed there was a better way.

Tsunade listened carefully to Uchiha Kō's argument, watching his back in silence.

"Lord Jiraiya, what is Salamander Hanzō thinking? He wants to expand his territory and show off his strength and influence to other nations. If you fight him and lose, it's a disgrace. If you win, he fought three-on-one, and either way, it boosts his reputation. So why fight him?" Uchiha Kō said in a low voice.

"Then, if we don't fight, how do we resolve this battle?" Jiraiya frowned, believing his method was already the best.

Uchiha Kō suddenly looked Jiraiya straight in the eye. "Lord Jiraiya, if we follow your method and win, don't forget that we aren't the only ones in the Land of Rain."

"Iwagakure and Sunagakure are both watching us. If we strike and win, and those two swoop in to reap the benefits, dealing a heavy blow to our remaining forces or wiping us out, have we really won? Or have we lost?" Uchiha Kō tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table.

Jiraiya fell silent instantly. Orochimaru's eyes lit up. That was it—they weren't the only ones in the Land of Rain. They might end up being taken advantage of. No, based on the intelligence on Ōnoki, he would definitely make a move!

Orochimaru looked at Uchiha Kō with eyes full of admiration.

Tsunade chose this moment to speak up. "Kō-kun, then how should we fight this war?"

Uchiha Kō looked at the map. The west and south of the Land of Rain bordered the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind, respectively, while the east bordered the Land of Fire. Since that was the case...

"Tomorrow, we mobilize and attack Yuji City, the capital of the Land of Rain. Lady Tsunade, take the Senju forces to surround the east gate. Lord Jiraiya, lead your team to surround the south gate. Lord Orochimaru, lead your team to surround the north gate."

"Every day, we hold our ground and cut off their supply lines. If they send troops out, we retreat; once they pull back, we surround them again." A glint appeared in Uchiha Kō's eyes.

"What about the west gate?" Jiraiya asked.

Orochimaru looked at Jiraiya with a strange expression, as if he were seeing him for the first time.

"What does the west gate have to do with us? That's the Land of Earth. Surrounding these three gates is enough! When the Land of Rain is pushed to the brink, they will break out through the west gate, and it will be Ōnoki who suffers the damage," Orochimaru laughed.

Tsunade nodded as well. "And by doing this, we can preserve the integrity of our army to the greatest extent while achieving our goal."

Uchiha Kō nodded. "War isn't just about the strength of ninjas or the size of the army; it's about resources, national power, weapons, and supplies."

"If we cut off their food for two months, they will either surrender or charge out the west gate. At that point, it will be a cornered beast's struggle, and it won't be easy for the Land of Earth to deal with a group of starving people." After finishing his explanation, Uchiha Kō leaned back and closed his eyes in thought.

Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade all stared at Uchiha Kō, which made him feel a bit creeped out. He opened his eyes and looked at the three of them. "No, why are you all looking at me? Is this strategy okay or not? Give me an answer!"

Orochimaru laughed. "It's okay, of course it's okay. I'm just curious, Kō-kun, your military strategy is so advanced—who did you study under?"

Tsunade nodded as well. "That's right, Kō-kun. Your military strategy is indeed formidable. You've turned a war of attrition into a resource war that favors us!"

Jiraiya was convinced. "Kō-kun, I, Jiraiya, am truly impressed!"

Uchiha Kō was stunned. Oh no, he had overplayed his hand. This strategy seemed to be a first in the world of Naruto! Oh god! He had failed to keep a low profile!