"Casualties are within the acceptable range!" Funan put the report on the table and calmly ordered, "Prepare to attack. Three-Tails and Seven-Tails, keep throwing tailed beast balls non-stop!"
"Understood!"
"What's the situation with Jiraiya?"
Funan was still somewhat concerned about that front.
Just as Yako was about to respond after checking the latest communications, a ninja ran into the room.
"Hokage-sama! Kumogakure has launched a counterattack!
Everyone present was stunned.
But how could Kumogakure launch an offensive after suffering such heavy losses?
This is completely unreasonable.
At this time, another ninja ran over in a hurry and said, "Hokage-sama, it's bad, Fugaku-sama has been defeated."
"What?" Funan asked in surprise.
The others present were also stunned.
Fugaku had been assigned to the vanguard, leading a group of shinobi on the front lines of combat.
With his Mangekyō Sharingan, his power was at an overwhelming level.
Only one name came to Funan's mind.
Orochimaru!
Had he appeared on this front and summoned a horde of powerful resurrected shinobi?
"Counterattack! Reclaim that position!" Funan ordered without hesitation. "Where are the Uchiha?"
"Hokage-sama!" Yako interjected in a serious tone. "The Uchiha need to rest. They've been at the forefront throughout the entire battle."
Even those who did not sympathize with the Uchiha clan could not say anything against it at this moment. Their sacrifice had been unquestionable.
Funan's face darkened. Then, he looked at Itachi and ordered, "Go and help your father."
"Yes!"
"Tsunade!"
"Understood!"
The two left in a hurry.
Only then did Funan turn his gaze to the messenger. "Now, tell me exactly what happened."
...
"Suicide attack?"
When Funan heard this answer, his first reaction was…bullshit.
Can a suicide attack break Uchiha Fugaku's Susanoo?
Some gaps in strength cannot be made up by going crazy.
Fugaku also led a troop of five thousand shinobi.
What kind of suicide attack could break through such a formation?
"That's right!" The ninja's eyes were filled with shock. "You don't know this, but the shinobi of Kumogakure have gone completely crazy. They don't attack normally. They strap explosive tags all over their bodies and simply charge at us. Then..."
Yako immediately interrupted: "Those so-called Kumo shinobi? How many are there exactly?"
"Everyone!" the ninja exclaimed. "All the Kumo shinobi in sight are using this strategy."
Inside the tent, the silence was absolute.
Funan shook her head firmly. "Kumo shinobi are humans too. They may be willing to give their lives for their village, but to say that absolutely everyone is running to their deaths with their bodies filled with explosive tags... that just doesn't make sense."
No one rushes into death without hesitation.
The fear of death is one of the most basic instincts of human beings.
"It's the truth," the ninja insisted. "Even Fugaku-sama chose to retreat."
"He's very strong. He can withstand the explosions for a while, but the rest of the shinobi can't. And if the others back off..."
Everyone understood the seriousness of the situation.
If the other Konoha shinobi were eliminated and only Fugaku remained, it was very likely that he would end up surrounded.
Even though Kumogakure had lost a lot of strength in the previous wars, if they were to sacrifice their remaining shinobi in order to wipe out some of Konoha's high-level shinobi, Fugaku might actually end up being defeated.
Funan muttered in confusion. "Why? I clearly left them a way out. I didn't exterminate them right away. Why are they fighting like they have nothing to lose?"
The others were also puzzled.
They had planned the attack carefully, keeping a controlled pace, otherwise Funan would have gone with his Susanoo and wiped out all of Kumogakure.
Funan's plan was to slowly devour Kumogakure, managing to capture most of the shinobi and ensuring that Konoha would not suffer great losses. Even while invading Kumogakure, they allowed the villagers to stay in their homes and did not slaughter them.
So why were they reacting like this?
What had driven them into this suicidal frenzy?
"Danzo…" Funan suddenly muttered.
Yako reacted instantly. "If it's him, then it's possible. That shady man… This fits his style perfectly."
"How annoying." Funan's eyes turned cold. "Orochimaru in Iwagakure, Danzo here in Kumogakure... Do they think Konoha is a toy they can manipulate at will?"
Yako felt a nervous twitch in her eye.
Look what you've done to them! If Iwagakure and Kumogakure are like this, it's because you pushed them to the limit. Don't act like you're the victim here!
Funan smiled sweetly. "Yako? Do you think I'm wrong?"
"Not at all!" Yako replied with a serious face. "I think you're absolutely right. Iwagakure and Kumogakure have repeatedly harassed us. Konoha never sought trouble with them, but they have insisted time and time again. If we don't exterminate them, they'll think we're weak."
The others in the store fell silent.
You are the boss, and what you say is what it is. Whether it is right or not, it is right anyway.
"What's the next step?" Yako asked, with a slight tone of doubt.
"Let's go!"
Funan stood up and walked out of the tent. He quickly arrived at the combat zone.
There, hell unfolded before their eyes.
Piles of corpses.
The blood dyed the ground red.
The smell of charred flesh hung in the air.
Arms and legs were scattered everywhere.
Funan was stunned.
He had fought many battles, but since he took command, he had never suffered such casualties.
The last similar disaster was during the Third Great Shinobi War, when Sarutobi Hiruzen issued a stupid order that caused huge losses to Konoha.
Funan looked at the battlefield and remained silent for a long time.
"Hokage-sama!"
Fugaku approached with a gloomy face.
Fūnan looked at him coldly and, with a mocking tone, said, "What's wrong, Fugaku-dono? Have you come to give me a surprise?"
Fugaku's heart skipped a beat. He immediately fell to one knee and replied in a grave voice, "It was a mistake on my part. Because of me, the village has suffered great losses. I am willing to accept any punishment, Hokage-sama."
"How many casualties?"
Fugaku lowered his voice. "Of the five thousand shinobi, more than half have fallen in combat. However, on the Kumo side as well…"
"Shut up!" Fūnan interrupted coldly. "I don't care how many died in Kumo. I care about Konoha!" His gaze grew even colder. "Tell me the exact number of casualties."
"...Three thousand two hundred."
Since the outbreak of the war, Konoha has never suffered such a huge loss.
"You got carried away by arrogance, didn't you, Fugaku?" Fūnan's voice was calm, but hidden within its calmness was a sharp edge.
"Yes..." Fugaku's voice was low.
He had no excuses. The battle so far had been too easy for him. He became overconfident.
He thought that with the power of Susanoo he was invincible.
Without saying another word, Fūnan looked away from Fugaku and towards Kumogakure.
In the distance, he felt some glances coming from some buildings.
Funan smiled coldly and stepped forward.
The others stood where they were, understanding his intention. Only Yako followed him.
Soon, Darui, C, Danzo and Hiruzen appeared in front of them, along with five Kumo elders.
Fūnan ignored everyone and focused on Hiruzen.
"Not bad… really not bad." His tone was light, almost disinterested. "Monkey, you know what's funny? The last time Konoha suffered such heavy losses, it was in the Third Great Shinobi War… and all because of a stupid order from you."
Hiruzen's face was instantly dark. He could already feel the gazes on him becoming strange.
Fūnan shrugged and said with a mocking smile, "Since you've decided to help Kumo against Konoha… what's the point of you pretending to be dignified?"
Not bothering to continue speaking to Hiruzen or Danzo, Funan turned his attention to Darui and C.
"I must admit that you guys have surprised me," Funan sighed. "I wish you were Konoha shinobi."
Darui and C exchanged glances.
"We appreciate the compliment, Hokage-sama," Darui replied seriously, "but we will always be Kumo shinobi. It is an honor for us to bear this title."
"Hokage-sama, may we negotiate peace?" Darui said. "Kumo is willing to pay a price to prevent further bloodshed."
"Impossible!" Fūnan rejected without hesitation. "There is no longer room for negotiations." He paused and smiled coldly. "But I have no intention of exterminating Kumo. Surrender. If you do, I will guarantee your safety… even that of the Raikage."
He would not make the same naive mistake as Senju Hashirama.
His every move had a clear purpose: To unify the world.
Otherwise, he could just wipe out all the shinobi villages.
"Alas!" Darui sighed helplessly and said: "Hokage-sama, if you were in our position, would you agree to surrender?"
"Yes!" Funan gave the answer without even thinking about it.
There was no way to prove whether he was telling the truth. So whatever he said, it was correct!
Darui: "..."
C: "..."
"We won't give up…"
"Oh, yeah?" Fūnan gave a cold laugh. "Trying to prove that you're tougher than me? Perfect. Let's keep fighting. Let's see how long you can keep up that attitude."
Darui: "..."
"Hokage-sama…" Darui said seriously. "Konoha has also suffered great losses. Do you really want this war to continue? Kumo can accept defeat and pay compensation…!"
Fūnan turned around and began to leave.
Why are you still talking? What's the point?
Anyway…
This could only end with Kumogakure being subdued by Konoha.
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