Chapter 7: A Hero Among Thousands (Part 2)

Strategic Chamber, Kazekage Tower

"Advancing deep into enemy territory with no reinforcements—that's a cardinal sin in warfare! Looks like the Raikage might be in trouble this time."

Inside the war room of the Kazekage Tower, Jing Hang tapped the map thoughtfully as he spoke.

"Still, the Third Raikage is immensely powerful. Even though his forces are few, they're all elite. Iwagakure, on the other hand, may have the numbers, but they're lacking in top-tier fighters. I'd say it's a fifty-fifty chance," Rasa analyzed calmly.

"Fifty-fifty? Not even close. Kumogakure is bound to lose," Yamashita Tetsu interjected as he pushed the door open, handing over a piece of intelligence while casually grabbing the tea from Rasa's desk and downing it in one gulp.

"I already drank from that," Rasa said, his tone tinged with mild disgust.

"No problem, I don't mind," Yamashita Tetsu replied nonchalantly, spitting out a tea leaf stem.

Ignoring the banter, Jing Hang snatched the intelligence report and scanned it rapidly.

"This time, Kumogakure is in serious trouble. If things go south, the Raikage might even lose his life in the Land of Earth," Jing Hang said gravely, passing the report to Rasa.

"What?! The Eight-Tails has gone berserk? How is that even possible?" Rasa exclaimed in shock.

"The intel came from Tu Wei, so there's no mistake. Someone must have sabotaged the jinchūriki. As for which faction is responsible, we'll need corroboration from the other Heavenly Stems agents," Yamashita Tetsu explained.

Tu Wei, who holds the "Ji" position among the Heavenly Stems, was a deep-cover operative painstakingly planted by Sunagakure within Kumogakure. According to the intelligence protocols of Sunagakure, information relayed by the Heavenly Stems must always be accurate and reliable.

Jing Hang knew the intel was solid. This was undoubtedly the work of Orochimaru. That eccentric had suddenly developed an interest in tailed beasts and ventured to Kumogakure to target the Eight-Tails. His meddling not only led to the death of the jinchūriki, Burubi, but also indirectly caused the Third Raikage to be surrounded by over ten thousand Iwagakure shinobi, ultimately fighting to his death from exhaustion.

Jing Hang had a certain admiration for Third Raikage A, a bold and heroic figure. In recent years, Kumogakure and Sunagakure had enjoyed a strong relationship, forming a strategic partnership akin to brotherhood. During Sunagakure's recent internal turmoil, the old Raikage had immediately mobilized troops to deter Iwagakure without needing Jing Hang to ask. That kind of loyalty and camaraderie couldn't be ignored.

In the original timeline, the Third Raikage had staged a legendary defense to cover the retreat of Kumogakure's forces. Alone, he faced an army of ten thousand Iwagakure shinobi, cutting through their ranks unscathed—a feat that rivaled the greatest warriors of legend.

"We should lend a hand," Jing Hang said, his gaze fixed on the map.

"I'm all for helping, but the distance is too great," Rasa said as he measured the distance with a ruler.

"The battlefield is over 2,800 kilometers away from Sunagakure. By the time we arrive, we'll probably be just in time for the Raikage's seven-day memorial," Rasa added dejectedly.

"No need to mobilize troops from the village. Isn't there a regiment from the Second Division stationed at Heifeng Fort? Deploy them. That shortens the effective range," Jing Hang suggested, tracing a line from Heifeng Fort to Zheyan Gorge on the map.

"A single regiment? And you want them to attack? That's like sending 400 men straight into Iwagakure's jaws! Absolutely not!" Rasa shook his head vehemently.

"Exactly, Kazekage-sama. Even though Iwagakure isn't what it used to be, a sinking ship still has thousands of nails. A regiment only has ten jōnin. Sending them against over ten thousand Iwagakure shinobi is nothing short of suicide," Yamashita Tetsu added.

"Which is why I'll go myself. My head alone is worth a few thousand men, isn't it?" Jing Hang said with a sly grin.

"No way!" Rasa and Yamashita Tetsu protested in unison.

"Relax, relax. I'm not being reckless. There's a way to make this work," Jing Hang reassured them.

"Absolutely not! You're gambling with Sunagakure's future!" Rasa rejected the idea outright, waving his hand dismissively.

"Seriously, hear me out. There's a way to make this work," Jing Hang insisted, putting on a shamelessly persistent expression.

"Look, the goal of this operation isn't to defeat Iwagakure but to intimidate them and rescue the Raikage. With 400 men and some shadow clones, we can create the illusion of a force several thousand strong. Once we've created the appearance of overwhelming numbers, we can pressure Kitsuchi into releasing the Raikage. He wouldn't dare refuse.

Think about it—if we save the Raikage, Kumogakure will become our blood ally. Having such a staunch ally in the north will allow us to suppress Iwagakure and check Konoha to the south. The strategic benefits are immense, and the cost is minimal. It's a no-brainer," Jing Hang explained.

Hearing this, Rasa and Yamashita Tetsu began to calm down and consider the proposal.

"It still doesn't add up. If thousands of troops suddenly appear out of nowhere, Kitsuchi will definitely be suspicious," Rasa pointed out.

"Of course he'll be suspicious. But with me, the Kazekage, present, even a bluff becomes reality. Kitsuchi will have to weigh the consequences of offending two major shinobi villages at once," Jing Hang said confidently.

"I actually think this plan could work," Yamashita Tetsu said after some thought.

"After all, we haven't even held Iwagakure accountable for inciting our village's coup. If Kazekage-sama shows up, Kitsuchi is bound to panic. But if Iwagakure decides to go all in…"

"Simple. Offer him a peace treaty," Jing Hang replied.

Though Sunagakure had a reputation for diplomacy, everyone understood that treaties at this point were worth little more than toilet paper. Rasa and Yamashita Tetsu caught on immediately.

"Still, we need to prepare for every eventuality. I suggest mobilizing the Third Division from Moon Lake New Area and having the Fourth Division at Lao Wan Camp move toward Zheyan Gorge as backup. They'll take about seven days to assemble, ensuring we're ready for anything Iwagakure might pull," Rasa proposed, finally relenting.

"Alright, let's proceed with this strategy. Send orders to the Third Division, the Fourth Division, and the Eleventh Regiment of the Second Division stationed at Heifeng Fort to mobilize immediately. I'll leave the village's affairs to you, especially the aftermath of the coup," Jing Hang said, patting Rasa on the shoulder.

Telegraphs had been developed a few years ago and were now standard equipment at the regiment level. No longer did messenger hawks have to tirelessly fly across the skies. (Don't complain; even the Naruto manga had walkie-talkies.)

"But Kazekage-sama, I must remind you—battlefields are unpredictable. If the bluff is exposed, you'll need to retreat immediately," Rasa cautioned.

Jing Hang burst into laughter and playfully smacked the back of Rasa's head.

"Assistant Shadow Rasa, let me remind you—when you were a genin, I was your team leader and instructor. Those skills of yours? I taught you every single one. And now you're lecturing me? Show some respect for your teacher and go pack my bags!"

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