Enemy Advances, We Retreat

Uchiha Kō had explained the strategy so clearly that even Jiraiya had grasped the specific methods for implementation.

Consequently, Tsunade led the Senju clansmen to block the east gate, preventing the enemy forces from launching an attack on Konoha. Jiraiya took the Uchiha clansmen to guard the south gate, preventing the enemy from making contact with Sunagakure and colluding with them. Meanwhile, Orochimaru led the elites of various major families to hold the north gate, preventing the enemy from circling around to attack Konoha.

The three of them led their teams to camp in plain sight, well within the enemy's line of sight but safely outside the range of thrown shuriken.

Every supply unit transporting grain to Rainy Clearing from the surrounding towns was intercepted by jonin squads dispatched by the trio; without exception, every mission was a success.

Salamander Hanzō naturally realized that this situation was wrong, so he led his troops out of the city gates, heading straight for Tsunade. Upon seeing the city gates open, Tsunade immediately ordered, "Everyone, fall back!" She then fired a green signal flare. The Senju troops retreated in an orderly fashion, and the Rain ninja pursued them relentlessly, only to be caught in a trap set by the Konoha ninja in a dense forest, where countless explosive tags and ground spikes awaited them.

The sounds of agonizing screams echoed out, causing Salamander Hanzō's eyes to twitch. Damn those Konoha ninja! Don't let me catch you, or I will surely skin you alive!

He glared at Tsunade in the distance with bloodshot eyes, while Tsunade watched him from afar, not taking a single step forward.

In the words of Uchiha Kō, this was called guerrilla warfare: when the enemy advances, we retreat; when the enemy camps, we harass; when the enemy tires, we attack; when the enemy retreats, we pursue.

Regardless, a head-on confrontation was out of the question. These sixteen characters of wisdom were proposed by a great man; there was no need to explain just how powerful their effect was.

Watching his Rain ninja die one after another, Salamander Hanzō began to lose his composure. He started to circulate his chakra at full capacity, channeling it into his speed; he was determined to tear Tsunade to pieces!

But at that very moment, Jiraiya and Orochimaru at the south and north gates began to order an assault on the city. Shouts of battle erupted, and a signal arrow was hurriedly fired from the direction of Rainy Clearing.

Whoosh! The arrow streaked through the air, emitting a piercing sound.

It was precisely this sound that brought the blood-crazed Salamander Hanzō to a halt. He looked back at the city of Rainy Clearing, and his heart sank.

It's a trap. This was just a diversion; their true target is Rainy Clearing, my base of operations! If I choose to continue pursuing Tsunade now, even if I manage to kill her, my own base will be taken. There will be no need to fight anymore—I will have lost outright!

Salamander Hanzō gritted his teeth and shouted, "Boys, we'll settle the score with them next time! Back to the city!"

"Yes!" The Rain ninja were filled with pent-up frustration. Not only had their supplies been cut off, but the enemy refused to fight, refused to retreat, and instead set traps and ambushes. Was this the "magnanimity" of a great nation?

If Uchiha Kō had known their thoughts, he likely would have scoffed, "A bunch of brutes with no brains. Let me show you what real Chinese military strategy is!"

Seeing Salamander Hanzō withdraw his troops, Tsunade's forces fired a red signal flare. Upon seeing it, Orochimaru and Jiraiya immediately led their armies away toward their previously assigned posts.

When Salamander Hanzō returned to the city walls, all he saw was a scene of devastation: the traces of explosive tags having blasted the city, and the gate itself nearly shattered.

Looking up, the ramparts were littered with corpses—his own Rain ninja garrison. Facing this scene, even the man known as the Demigod, Salamander Hanzō, was at a total loss.

Uchiha Kō sat in the command center, a sand table before him featuring three flags representing Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya.

Based on the intelligence reports, he was responsible for moving the flags and observing the situation. In a word, he was "devising strategies within a command tent to ensure victory a thousand miles away."

Outside the command center stood Uchiha Kiyoshi himself along with several other Uchiha clansmen. They insisted on protecting Uchiha Kō, and seeing their firm resolve, Tsunade had no choice but to agree.

As of now, aside from Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru, not even the Hokage would be allowed to enter the command center.

Another report came in, and Uchiha Kiyoshi brought it into the command center. Uchiha Kō sat in his chair, eyes closed, and asked, "Has Salamander Hanzō retreated? Is he back in the city, and has it gone quiet?"

The scout knelt on the ground immediately. "The Commander is brilliant! Following the strategy you provided, our side has suffered fewer than two hundred casualties, while the enemy's death toll is at least eight hundred!"

The scout's eyes shone as he looked at Uchiha Kō. A four-to-one casualty ratio—what a brilliant strategy and layout! He never expected to witness this firsthand, let alone be the one to deliver the news; it was truly his honor!

Uchiha Kiyoshi opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but looking at Uchiha Kō's figure at that moment, his throat felt constricted, and he couldn't make a sound.

It was no wonder he was too moved to speak; throughout the entire Warring States period, the highest casualty ratio for any clan's army had been one to two. Now, it had doubled!

Having watched Uchiha Kō's entire operation, Uchiha Kiyoshi felt a complex mix of emotions, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at him.

At the same time, a fire of rage burned in his heart. He wanted to ask the clansmen who had bullied Uchiha Kō: Such a talent, and you dared to bully him? Are you even worthy?

Not to mention Uchiha Kō's terrifying combat talent, his strategic mind alone was something those simple-minded clansmen could never hope to insult.

This was just... this was just...

"Kiyoshi, Kiyoshi, Uchiha Kiyoshi, are you listening to me?" Uchiha Kō waved his hand, frowning. This guy seemed reliable enough, so why is he spacing out?

Uchiha Kiyoshi quickly snapped back to reality and knelt on one knee, his movements natural. "Forgive me, Commander. This subordinate was momentarily distracted. Please, punish me!"

Uchiha Kō waved him off. "It's fine, Kiyoshi. You don't need to be so tense. It's nothing major, it's just..." Uchiha Kō leaned in and whispered into Uchiha Kiyoshi's ear...

"This... this isn't right, is it?" Uchiha Kiyoshi's mouth twitched. Good grief, he wanted to take back his previous praise of Uchiha Kō. Uchiha Kō was nothing but a scoundrel with no bottom line.

Uchiha Kō rolled his eyes at him. "What do you know! In war between nations, the best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans, the next is to attack their alliances, and the worst is to attack their cities! Isn't it better to resolve this battle without wasting a single soldier?"

"Go quickly, don't delay the military situation!" Uchiha Kō glared at Uchiha Kiyoshi, then crossed his legs and began humming a tune in a devil-may-care fashion.

Uchiha Kiyoshi took a deep breath, bowed to accept the order, and headed toward Tsunade's front-line troops.

Tsunade was still observing the distant city of Rainy Clearing when a subordinate suddenly came to report, "Lady Tsunade, Uchiha Kiyoshi requests an audience!"

Tsunade raised an eyebrow at the mention of Uchiha Kiyoshi, then her expression softened. It must be Kō who sent him. Could there be something urgent? She replied, "Bring him in!"