The Unbeaten Plan

"Hope?" Dan Katō asked in confusion. The other senior officials were also somewhat taken aback by Nawaki's answer.

"That's right—it's hope!" Nawaki nodded. "If we split our forces to attack the towns around the mountains, then afterward, neither our troop positions nor our numbers can remain hidden. What do you think Kumogakure would do if they discovered that their retreat route and supplies had been cut off, leaving them completely trapped in the mountains?"

"If it were me, I'd break out immediately! Am I supposed to sit in the mountains and wait to die?" Jiraiya said without hesitation.

"That's right—they'd break out!" Nawaki said with a smile and a nod. "There's an old saying: 'Break the cauldrons and sink the boats.' In ancient times, a general led sixty thousand soldiers against an enemy force of two hundred thousand. His troops were trapped between a great river and a powerful enemy, unable to advance or retreat. To inspire his men, the general ordered them to smash their cooking pots, burn the boats they had used to cross the river, and keep only three days' worth of rations before going into battle. With no path of retreat left, those sixty thousand soldiers erupted with tremendous fighting spirit. They fought the enemy to the death, won nine battles in a row, and ultimately defeated all two hundred thousand enemy troops with a smaller force! Now that you've heard this story, do you understand my intention?"

"Nawaki, you mean we should deliberately leave them hope, so Kumogakure won't do what that general did and break their cauldrons and sink their boats?" Tsunade asked, raising a brow.

"Exactly!" Nawaki nodded firmly. "If we completely block Kumogakure's retreat, they'll be surrounded from both front and rear. How is that any different from that general's situation? Kumogakure