Eastern Stronghold
Konoha
At the Konoha Gate, thousands of ninjas had gathered, divided into three rows, each with about a thousand ninjas.
The Uchiha Clan occupied one row, the Hyuga Clan occupied another row, and the remaining Konoha ninja clans and commoners formed a separate row, clearly divided into two groups.
Naraku stood calmly on the platform at the entrance to the Uchiha's Daimon, looking down at the thousands of Konoha Ninja below.
The assembled ninja force awaited Commander Naraku's orders before setting off.
Next to Naraku Hizashi Hyuga and Choza Akimichi, and behind them were Naraku's two squads of guards. The Uchiha Anbu Guard wore traditional Uchiha blue high-necked uniforms with Gunbai embroidered on the back, and were led by Uchiha Zensui.
Uchiha Ruofeng, along with Inuzuka Manaomaru, Uzumaki Taki, Kurama Kaori, were dressed in black vests, blue shirts, and Special Police Division Military Police Force uniforms.
"Ruofeng, give me a megaphone."
Naraku whispered to Ruofeng behind him. Ruofeng hearing this, Ruofeng took out a scroll from his ninja tool bag, unfolded it, and pressed it onto a "lou" character, which immediately produced a loudspeaker.
Naraku's guards carried a lot of Naraku luggage, as Naraku often needed to give speeches and carried many megaphones with him.
"Gentlemen, I am Uchiha Nara, the leader of the Konoha Military Police Force and the commander of this expeditionary force!"
Naraku gathered Chakra in his throat, making his voice loud and penetrating. Combined with the megaphone in his hand, even people standing at the back of the line could hear Naraku's voice.
As Naraku finished speaking, the group with the Gunbai fans began to applaud. Seeing this, the Hyuga Clan and other Konoha Ninja also joined in with scattered applause.
Naraku smiled upon seeing this. Having his own people around made all the difference; no matter what Naraku said, the Uchiha clan members would applaud and support him.
Regardless of factions within the clan, the Uchiha clan always displays unity in public settings like this.
"Now, the Kirigakure of the Land of Water is invading our Land of Land of Fire territory, burning, killing, looting, destroying strongholds, and murdering our comrades on the eastern coast."
The loss of lives and property to the people of our Land of Fire is utterly outrageous and an act that angers both gods and men.
Furthermore, the timing they chose—when the Sunagakure of the Land of Wind had declared war on us—clearly revealed the Kirigakure's opportunistic intentions.
They think Konoha can't punish them!
Naraku's righteous voice resounded throughout the arena. Naraku paused briefly, glancing at the ninjas below.
Thousands of ninjas were watching Naraku intently, listening quietly to Naraku speech. Many in the front row gritted their teeth as Naraku announced the crimes of Hidden Mist.
After observing the situation of the Genin, Naraku nodded to himself and continued:
"Now, we, eight thousand ninjas, are setting out to wipe out these Hidden Mist clowns, save the people of the Land of Fire, and ensure these opportunistic bandits never return. Are you confident you can do it?"
When Naraku asked if he had confidence, he channeled his Chakra into his throat and unleashed a furious roar through the megaphone, Naraku throughout the entire arena.
"I have confidence! I have confidence!"
"Drive these robbers away!"
"Kill the Hidden Mist!"
The Konoha Ninja in the audience cheered.
Naraku observed the performance below and was slightly satisfied. The number of ninjas had increased from three thousand to eight thousand, as Naraku had initially stated.
The number of people was vast and boundless. The ninjas below could only see their Konoha comrades around them and knew that there were many of them, but they did not know the exact number.
When leading troops into battle, information such as the number of enemy troops and friendly forces is generally sufficient for the commander-in-chief to know; it's not good for subordinates to know too much. If the enemy outnumbers them, they will become fearful. If the enemy outnumbers their own forces, even more problems will arise.
For some reason, Sunagakure had to adopt a policy of elite troops, which meant that Sunagakure had only about 13,000 to 14,000 ninjas at most, who were stationed in the west to confront Konoha. Hidden Sand was known for its 50,000 ninja troops.
Naraku wouldn't bother with discussing the disparity in strength between his forces and the numbers. He would simply exaggerate his own strength to instill confidence in his ninja.
In Naraku's memories of battles, there were always 10,000 men claiming to be 100,000, 100,000 claiming to be 200,000, and it was always a lot of boasting.
"Hizashi Jonin, Jonin, do you have anything to add?"
Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Naraku asked the two people behind him.
When Hizashi Hyuga heard Naraku's words, his eyes lit up. The Konoha Hyuga Clan, and although they were famous, they had never held a position such as commander.
This was the perfect time to proclaim the Hyuga Clan's fame, Hizashi immediately understood, saying:
"There are indeed some things that need to be added. Let me explain to the ninjas in my unit."
Naraku gave Hizashi a subtle, dismissive look. Naraku was just being polite to the two of them, but Hizashi took it seriously.
"Alright, we've already wasted quite a bit of time, let's set off! We'll split into three groups, I'll be in the middle, you, Hizashi Jonin, on the left, Jonin, on the right."
After Naraku finished speaking, without Hizashi's reply, he picked up a megaphone and roared:
"Konoha ninjas! Protect Konoha, now is the time! Set out!"
After saying this, Naraku his trumpet and Naraku into the arena. His eight guards reacted quickly and followed. Naraku's direction was towards the Uchiha group in the middle.
When the Uchiha group saw Naraku towards them, they parted to the sides, making way for him.
Naraku led his guards and sped past the column, after which the Uchiha and Security Department ninjas in the middle followed.
Hizashi Hyuga and Choza Akimichi exchanged glances, then reluctantly returned to their group and led their ninjas to follow.
Land of Fire
Eastern Stronghold
At this Eastern Stronghold, the sounds of battle erupted from the eastern stronghold. Garrison Commander Fukushima Yuki Yoshiki gritted his teeth, gripping his long sword as he Jonin against a Hidden Mist.
Of the sixty-five outposts in the Eastern Stronghold, the outer forty-five were eliminated by Hidden Mist. Fukushima Yuki withdrew the ninjas from those outposts to the remaining twenty well-supplied inner outposts.
The Eastern Stronghold garrison consists of a thousand ninjas, most of whom are currently gathered at these twenty outposts, with nearly fifty ninjas at each outpost, making it a formidable defensive force.
Although Fukushima Yuki Hidden Mist, she never expected that Hidden Mist would launch a surprise attack, daring to strike even a heavily fortified Hidden Mist.
Fukushima Yuki gritted her teeth, her long sword trembling in a peculiar manner. The Jonin Hidden Mist opposite her, not paying attention for a moment, glanced at the trembling sword.
"Konoha Style: Willow!"
Fukushima Yuki used the Genjutsu Sword technique, lunging forward to slash at the neck of the Hidden Mist Jonin.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
He swung his long sword, but several Kunai and Shuriken shot toward Fukushima Yuki. As the Garrison Commander of the Eastern Stronghold, Fukushima Yuki bore a heavy responsibility and could not easily exchange his life for another.
Fukushima Yuki immediately retreated to dodge the Kunai and Shuriken, while the Hidden Mist who was trapped Jonin the illusion suddenly awoke. Hidden Mist reacted quickly, wielding a long sword and charging forward to slash at Fukushima Yuki.
"It's over!"
The enemy outnumbered us at the stronghold. Hundreds of Kirigakure Ninja besieged the stronghold, presumably having already figured out where the Garrison Commander was, so they gathered a large force to annihilate him. The Konoha Ninja were caught in a fierce battle and were unable to come to his aid.
Bite!
Fukushima Yuki had closed her eyes and was waiting to die when she heard the sound of weapons clashing.
Just in time
A calm voice reached Fukushima Yuki's ear. Fukushima Yuki opened her eyes and saw a person wearing a black vest, a blue shirt, and Shuriken ring Gunbai pattern embroidered on his left arm.
The ninja, with a heroic face marked by two nasolabial folds and bloodshot eyes, blocked the Kirigakure Ninja's long sword Kunai a kunai.
As this ninja entered, countless ninjas dressed in dark blue Gunbai with fans embroidered on their backs rushed out from the direction of the Land of Fire behind the base.