Counterattack Plan

Riyue trained for a long time and worked up a sweat before heading back. He had only taken a few steps when he froze and stopped. Tsunade stood beneath a tree by the roadside, arms folded and eyes closed. It seemed she had been waiting for him.

Riyue ignored Tsunade, who was leaning against the tree, and walked straight past her.

"Wait, Riyue." Tsunade called out to him.

"Is there something you need, Lady Tsunade?" Riyue wore an expression that warned people to keep their distance.

"Hyuga Nichigetsu, I think there are a lot of misunderstandings between us. Can we talk properly?" Tsunade said, looking at him earnestly.

"Lady Tsunade. Is that so? I don't think there's anything to talk about..." Riyue turned to leave.

"Riyue, I know you won't listen even if I explain things now. Maybe you don't acknowledge me as your teacher, but even if you aren't my student, you're still a child of Konoha, and your mother was a member of the Senju Clan. Besides, I'm still your elder!" Tsunade shouted at Riyue's back. She knew he didn't want to talk to her. It seemed he had already decided to side with Danzo.

"If you don't want to be my student, then you don't have to be! I won't force you. It was all just wishful thinking on my part. Once I return to the village, I'll explain everything to everyone myself. It was all my fault, and you had nothing to do with it. But you're still a child, and some things are right to do while others aren't! I don't want you to take the wrong path! Riyue, can you promise me that?" Tsunade said.

With his back to Tsunade, Riyue said nothing. He vanished in a Body Flicker Technique.

Tsunade stood there dejectedly. It seemed she had truly lost this student. But she was even more worried that the boy would make a secret deal with Danzo and betray the Third Hokage for personal gain. Taking the wrong path could lead to a lifetime of regret. No matter what, he was still a child of Konoha.

A guard landed beside Tsunade and knelt on one knee. "Lady Tsunade, Lord Sakumo requests your presence at a meeting in the command tent!"

"Understood..." Tsunade came back to her senses and followed the guard toward the tent.

Riyue returned to his quarters, took a bath, and then went to find Shikaku.

"Riyue, what do you need?" Shikaku couldn't guess why Riyue had come. After all, they had just seen each other that morning.

"Shikaku, of course I came to discuss something with you. Lord Sakumo Hatake arrived today, didn't he?" Riyue said with a smile as he sat down.

"Yeah. I expect we'll be making a big move soon and giving the Hidden Sand a thorough beating! I've been waiting to avenge Teacher Dan!" Shikaku nodded.

"Exactly. I have a battle plan. Let's discuss it."

"Sure. Let's hear your idea." Shikaku perked up as soon as he heard the word "plan." Riyue's talent for strategy had long since stopped surprising him. He was a real prodigy.

The two began to discuss the plan. They talked until late into the night, and only then did Riyue leave, yawning.

The next day, all the jonin received a notice to attend a strategy meeting in the command tent. Shikaku was summoned as well, thanks to his exceptional intelligence. Tsunade had sent someone to notify Riyue, but he hadn't shown up at all, claiming he had an upset stomach. Tsunade looked a little disappointed.

Everyone began discussing how to counterattack the Hidden Sand. At that moment, Shikaku raised his hand and stood to speak.

"Everyone, I have a counterattack plan. If we carry it out successfully, we can throw the Hidden Sand into chaos and completely break their fighting spirit! Meanwhile, our losses will be lower than they are now!"

"Go on, Shikaku," Sakumo said with interest. The jonin were all curious about the plan and turned to look at him.

Shikaku took a breath and spoke slowly. "After learning that we were short on blood supplies, the Hidden Sand began targeting us with attacks designed to trade wounds for wounds. This inflicted heavy losses on us and nearly overwhelmed our Medical Station. They also deliberately set a trap by luring us to a fake supply depot, costing us eight elite ninja. Teacher Dan Katō is still unconscious." Everyone burned with anger as they listened.

"My plan is to give them a taste of their own medicine! We'll use their own strategy to bring down the Hidden Sand and make them afraid to ever face Konoha again!"

"That doesn't sound right. Are you suggesting we attack without regard for casualties too?" one jonin asked.

Shikaku shook his head and explained, "No. We'll use the Hidden Sand's strategy, but not their crude tactics. Please let me explain."

"In our previous battles with the Hidden Sand, their attacks, which aimed to trade wounds for wounds, actually cost them more than they cost us. So their logistics and medical services are under even greater strain than Konoha's. I don't know how many supplies are stored at their main depot, but it can't be more than Konoha's. I don't know where the depot is either, but I do know how to drain it of supplies!"

"Oh? How?" Tsunade asked curiously.

"It's simple. Lady Tsunade will lead the front line and keep the enemy's strongest fighters occupied. Our ninja will attack fiercely. But when we attack the enemy, we won't aim to kill them. We'll only aim to wound them!"

"What? If we don't kill the enemy, won't they turn around and kill us?" "If we carry them back and treat them, won't they return to the battlefield?" "If we don't kill the enemy, does it even count as fighting? This is just a ninjutsu sparring match!"... Everyone began talking at once.

"Please, let me explain. By wounding the enemy, I mean rendering them unable to fight. If we kill an enemy, they're dead. We can burn the body to ashes and bury it. But if we wound or cripple an enemy, it takes three people to treat, care for, and protect them."

"This will greatly drain the Hidden Sand's manpower and medical supplies, multiplying the strain on their logistics. Konoha's losses, by contrast, will be reduced for several reasons. First, since we don't need to kill the enemy, it will be easier for us to defend ourselves. Second, the number of enemy combatants will drop sharply as they're wounded. Third, their supplies will be consumed at a much faster rate, weakening their attacks. Fourth, the enemy will be afraid of getting hurt when fighting Konoha, making them hesitant and overly cautious."

Everyone considered Shikaku's words, and most nodded in agreement.

"To increase the Hidden Sand's consumption of blood supplies and medicine, I propose using these kunai." Shikaku took out a wooden kunai. Unlike ordinary kunai, this one had a triangular cross-section and three grooves along its blade. It was very sharp, like a three-sided dagger.

"When this kunai pierces someone, it causes heavy bleeding, and the wound is difficult to stitch up or heal. We'll also coat it with a toxin that causes wounds to fester. Any ninja struck by one will consume large amounts of blood supplies, medicine, gauze, and bandages. Once those supplies run out, their medical and logistics systems will collapse. That will cause the entire Hidden Sand force to lose heart. Their ninja will become afraid to fight, and in the end, the Hidden Sand will have no choice but to retreat."

"Meanwhile, Lord Sakumo Hatake will lead the ambushes and assassinations behind enemy lines. We'll divide the forces into assassination squads and harassment squads. The assassination squads will target the enemy's mid- and lower-ranking commanders. They're the hardest to replace, and easier to reach than senior commanders."

"Once a large number of mid-ranking commanders have been killed, no one will carry out orders from the top, and the lower ranks will be left like headless flies. The Hidden Sand's entire command system will be paralyzed. We'll also use the assassinations to spread fear and destroy the enemy's will to fight!"

"The harassment squads will focus on the enemy's supply lines and transport teams. We'll use every available method to disrupt their transportation and slow their deliveries. We can launch ambushes, set traps, or use ninjutsu."

"In short, we'll make sure their supplies can't reach the front lines in time, leaving them piled up in the rear until they're used up or spoiled. The front line will need supplies but won't get them—or they'll arrive late and in smaller quantities each time. We'll bring the Hidden Sand's logistics and supply system to a complete standstill!"

"With no medical treatment, no supplies, and a paralyzed command system, the enemy's morale will crumble and their spirits will sink. They'll have no desire to fight. In the end, we'll defeat them in one decisive blow!"

When Shikaku finished, everyone looked at him with excitement, seemingly inspired by his words.

"What does everyone think?" Sakumo asked the jonin.

"Shikaku's plan is excellent! I think it'll work!" Tsunade nodded.

"That's Shikaku for you—what a brilliant mind! I support this plan!" one jonin said, clapping.

"Winning by wearing down the enemy is a great idea. This will be a crushing blow to the Hidden Sand's pride!" another jonin said, giving him a thumbs-up.

Shikaku scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile and thought, Most of this plan was Riyue's idea. That kid, honestly! He wouldn't come himself, insisted I present it, and even forbade me from mentioning his name. What a troublesome guy!

"Very well. We'll proceed with this plan!" Tsunade said with a nod.

"Yes!" Everyone began discussing the specific details of how to carry out the plan.

Konoha's ninja were fired up, and a counteroffensive against the Hidden Sand was about to begin. The Hidden Sand had no idea yet that they were about to plunge into a living nightmare...