Starting with rogue ninjas, building the insect kingdom.

Chapter 107 Even fierce resistance is useless

"These are truly heartening young people. With their efforts, I believe the Grass Country will only get better and better." Aburame Shisei smiled and turned to say, "This time, let's tell them the truth and let them choose for themselves."

After saying that, he nodded and walked to the center of the training field.

Dragonflies descended from the sky, and the ninjas jumped off their backs and lined up in neat rows.

"Tonight, we will try a new technique." Aburame Shisei's voice echoed throughout the arena: "The initial stage of human-insect fusion. If successful, your strength will increase dramatically in a short period of time, enough to face off against Konoha's Jonin."

A slight commotion arose in the arena.

"However, there is a price to pay," Aburame Shisei continued. "Each time you fuse, the cells in your bodies will divide and burn at an accelerated rate. Your own chakra meridians may also be damaged, and you may never be able to improve your strength again."

"This is not an order, it's a choice. Those who are willing to try, stay. Those who are not, you can leave and go help set up defenses on the front lines."

After a long silence, the first ninja stepped forward, followed by the second, the third...

Without Aburame Shisei even needing to call out names, the first batch of ten ninjas to experiment with ninjutsu voluntarily showed up.

The vast majority of them were either too old, too young and impetuous, or ninjas who genuinely believed that the Grass Village could win this victory.

You might not be the kind of person who would selflessly sacrifice everything for the ninja village. But at this moment, their choice to stand up is certainly a kind of courage.

Even if it's because I have no other choice, even if it's because I have nowhere else to go.

Aburame Shisei applauded them, then took a deep breath and slowly unrolled the scroll in his hand.

"Alright, let's begin."

……

Konoha's main camp.

"Seven dead, six seriously injured," Hyuga Tenjin muttered repeatedly. "Fugaku, the opponent was just a Kusanagi ninja; isn't this loss unusually high?"

Inside the tent, several Konoha Jonin and key members of both clans held their breath in concentration.

The casualty rate of the Uchiha clan was expected, but the fact that it is so high, combined with the strength shown by the Grass Ninja that exceeds the intelligence, warrants further investigation.

Fugaku Uchiha said, "The individual combat strength, equipment quality, and fighting spirit of the Grass Ninja we encountered this time far exceeded the information we had previously gathered. The standard kunai and shuriken they used were of extremely high quality, as were their armor."

"Iwagakure," Hyuga Tennin suddenly said.

A Konoha strategist analyzed, "Very likely! Only a major ninja village has the capability to arm and mobilize a minor ninja village in such a short time. The Land of Earth has always coveted the Land of Grass's buffer zone. If Onoki is behind it..."

"No need to guess." Hyuga Tennin interrupted him, looking at Uchiha Fugaku. "Fugaku, what's your assessment?"

Fugaku Uchiha reiterated, "Kusagakure itself is not a concern. However, we must investigate the shadows behind them. I suspect that Iwagakure not only provided equipment but may also have sent a considerable number of elites to infiltrate and guide them, or even provide certain forbidden secret techniques or drugs."

Keep in mind that the fifty people he took with him were all elite members of the Uchiha clan, and even so, there were still significant casualties.

Despite the infighting between different factions, the Uchiha are extremely united when facing a common enemy.

But even this slight centrifugal force, the resulting distraction, caused them heavy losses, exceeding the limits that the Uchiha could tolerate.

"In that case, the strategy needs to be adjusted." Hyuga Tennin pondered for a moment: "We cannot give Iwagakure time to react and intervene further. We must act swiftly and decisively, completely crushing Kusagakure before they fully reveal their so-called 'trump cards,' and then quickly taking control of the entire Land of Grass to create a fait accompli."

"I agree." Fugaku Uchiha nodded. "Delay could lead to unforeseen circumstances. If Iwagakure is truly behind us, seeing the Kusanagi's defeat, they might not dare to directly clash with Konoha. But if the war drags on, giving them an opportunity to exploit..."

The consequences could be disastrous.

"Head of the Tennin Clan," Fugaku Uchiha said to the Hyuga, "I'll leave the rear and flank defenses, especially the reconnaissance towards the Land of Earth, to the Hyuga clan's Byakugan. I'll send a small team to assist your reconnaissance."

Hyuga Tenshi nodded. This was both a division of labor and a statement of agreement.

The Uchiha clan focused on offense, while the Hyuga clan focused on defense and reconnaissance. Each clan had its own strengths and weaknesses, which also prevented the Uchiha clan from monopolizing the top spot and causing subtle internal tensions.

Although the Hyuga clan is not particularly interested in merit, a necessary balance still needs to be maintained.

"I will personally arrange for a team of elite Hyuga clan members to conduct reconnaissance in the northwest, focusing on the movements on the border of Iwagakure."

Hyuga Tennin asked, "As for the main force, how should we proceed?"

Fugaku Uchiha declared, "At dawn tomorrow, launch a full-scale attack. No more probing, no room for retreat. With overwhelming force, crush the remnants of the Kusagakure ninja and march straight towards Kusagakure!"

The order was quickly relayed, and the Konoha camp sprang into action, with nearly a thousand ninjas beginning their final rest and preparations before the great battle.

As Fugaku Uchiha watched the group remain disorganized, a bad feeling crept into his heart once again.

But this time, Konoha must win, and the Uchiha must win!

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

For Negishi Kusanagi and his remaining subordinates, those three days were like hell.

Konoha's pursuit was no longer a probing attack, but a highly efficient hunt.

The Uchiha and Hyuga ninjas were like the most sophisticated killing machines, coordinating with other Konoha ninjas to launch wave after wave of attacks.

A trap? It's useless against a cold shoulder.

An ambush? The Sharingan's insight can see through most disguises in advance.

A direct confrontation? That's wishful thinking.

The only thing the Grass Ninja could do was use their familiarity with the terrain to keep retreating and buy time with their lives.

Negishi Kusa and his men suffered heavy losses. Their original force of over 400 men was reduced to just over 190, and most of them were injured.

But the support they needed never came; neither the tailed beasts nor the support from Takigakure Village arrived.

The people of Kusagakure were already somewhat disheartened, but with their lives in the hands of others, they had no choice but to fight desperately for a chance to survive. Therefore, their fighting power was astonishing.

However, this desperate resistance, exhausting every last bit of strength, is something completely different and unbelievable when it comes to the Konoha ninjas.

In terms of casualties alone, Konoha suffered nearly two hundred casualties and one hundred wounded, a loss that was almost one-to-one with that of Kusagakure.

Moreover, the majority of the casualties in Kusagakure were caused by the Uchiha clan. This can no longer be described as unbelievable; it's downright shocking!

Unfortunately, delaying the battle won't change the outcome; it's just a slow death.

"Chief, have we been abandoned?"

"How could that be? There's also a brocade pouch."