A Method to Defeat the Sand Ninja

"Damn Hokage! I won't accept this..."

Hoshigakure's strongest fighter died unwillingly before he could realize his dream of becoming the Star Shadow.

His death was particularly gruesome. Pressed for time, Tobirama Senju had sliced him into pieces with countless high-pressure water blades.

"Was that all...?"

Tobirama Senju shook his head, disdainful of Akahoshi's strength. He had assumed that, having absorbed part of the Ten-Tails' power, Akahoshi would at least be a slightly weaker Kage Level fighter. Instead, he did not even measure up to an elite Jonin.

That left him somewhat worried about Hoshigakure's strength. If someone like this could run rampant through their village, then he had to question, if only slightly, the countermeasures he had devised against Sunagakure's guerrilla tactics.

After stretching lazily, Tobirama Senju stepped forward to inspect Akahoshi's remains.

There truly was an aura lingering within them that shared the same origin as the Tailed Beasts, though it was exceedingly faint—perhaps one percent of the Nine-Tails' power?

How had Akahoshi dared attack him with so little strength? It could only be called the tragedy of a small ninja village. He had gone his entire life without ever seeing a true powerhouse.

Tobirama Senju sighed softly.

"Excuse me, are you Konoha's Hokage?"

A timid voice spoke from behind him.

Tobirama Senju turned around. A dirt-covered female ninja was staring at him with watery eyes, while a group of Hoshigakure refugees had appeared behind her at some point.

"That's right. I received Hoshigakure's request for aid. The scourge of your ninja village has already been killed," Tobirama Senju said flatly.

"That's wonderful!"

"I told you sending A-Xing to ask for help would work!"

The refugees behind the female ninja erupted into cheers, overjoyed that Akahoshi, the scourge, had been eliminated.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage. Without your help, all of us would have died at Akahoshi's hands."

The female ninja at the front stepped forward and bowed deeply to Tobirama Senju.

"Wait. Is this all that remains of your ninja village?"

Tobirama Senju swept his gaze across the area and frowned. He saw only a few hundred refugees, and only the female ninja among them possessed chakra. Had everyone else been slaughtered?

"It isn't like that, Lord Hokage. The other ninja in the village have already escorted the civilians to safety. These people had not yet managed to evacuate, so I stayed behind voluntarily," the female ninja explained.

Hearing that, Tobirama Senju relaxed. He did not want this trip to have been for nothing. If a ninja village with only one ninja left joined Konoha, it would be completely useless.

"What is your name?" Tobirama Senju asked.

"Hokuto, sir. My name is Hokuto," the female ninja replied.

"Mm. Hokuto, go tell the surviving ninja of your village."

"The condition for my rescue of Hoshigakure is that your entire ninja village joins Konoha and becomes a Konoha clan! The three ninja who sought help already agreed to this. I do not want you to go back on your word."

Hokuto froze, seemingly not expecting the Hokage's demand. However, such a major matter was not something a mere Genin like her could decide. She promptly replied,

"Lord Hokage, I will relay your words to them. We will definitely give you a satisfactory answer." Hokuto's body trembled.

They of Hoshigakure could not afford to offend a Hokage capable of killing Akahoshi so easily. If they failed to fulfill the Hokage's wishes, they likely would not meet a good end.

Tobirama Senju nodded and watched Hokuto race toward the location where Hoshigakure's main force had evacuated.

Then he turned to the refugees behind him. "You will join Konoha as well. I will send people to receive you."

As soon as he finished speaking, he activated the Flying Thunder God and instantly returned to Konoha.

Leaving the refugees staring at one another in bewilderment.

--

Back in Konoha

The moment Tobirama Senju returned to the village, he immediately convened a meeting of Konoha's upper echelon.

The meeting's purpose was simple: how to defeat the Sand ninja.

During the meeting, Tobirama Senju explained the guerrilla tactics Sunagakure was highly likely to employ. Every senior official present wore an extremely grim expression.

After all, if Sunagakure used such tactics, the price Konoha would have to pay to win this war would likely be enormous.

But the Hokage's next decision soon made their eyes light up.

"Everyone, I took some time earlier to resolve Hoshigakure's crisis. Their entire village will be joining Konoha. Hoshigakure possesses a secret technique called the Mysterious Peacock Method, which allows chakra to form wings on one's back and grants the ability to fly!"

Tobirama Senju revealed his objective.

Flight!?

Konoha's upper echelon were no fools. Once Tobirama Senju pointed it out, they immediately thought of a battle strategy. If these flying Star ninja threw Explosive Tags from the air, would that not easily shatter Sunagakure's guerrilla warfare?

Use aerial warfare against guerrilla warfare!

The senior officials excitedly discussed the matter and thoroughly refined the bombing plan, ensuring there would be no flaws.

During this time, Tobirama Senju used the Flying Thunder God to make another trip to Hoshigakure. He brought Hoshigakure's newly chosen leader back to Konoha, signed an agreement for the entire village to join Konoha, and had him attend Konoha's high-level meeting.

After making these decisions, Tobirama Senju began to wait. According to Hoshigakure's leader, there were forty-three Star ninja in their village who had cultivated the Mysterious Peacock Method to the point of flight. Upon hearing this, Tobirama Senju personally went to Hoshigakure to bring those forty-three Star ninja to Konoha, leaving these Star ninja—Jonin in name but no more than Chunin in reality—flattered beyond measure.

Soon, the three days Tobirama Senju had agreed upon were about to pass.