A brief rest allowed the four members of Team 11 to regain some energy. Their next steps became the pressing issue they had to consider.
Spreading the map on the ground, the four sat in a circle to discuss their plans.
Pointing at the map, Shisui was the first to speak: “Kumogakure heavily infiltrates the Land of Hot Water. They have many spies here, so we can’t stay any longer. It’s best to leave immediately and follow this route.”
The route Shisui pointed to ran along the eastern coastline of the Land of Hot Water, leading back to the Land of Fire.
On the map, this route seemed unsafe, crossing the territories of Konoha, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure. But precisely because of this, it was the safest route. All of the villages had little control over this mixed territory.
Over time, this area became a no-man’s land, a haven for retired or wandering shinobi with nowhere else to go.
Gai nodded immediately: “Yes, this route looks good.”
Given Team 11’s current strength, as long as they don’t encounter the main forces of Kumogakure or Kirigakure, they should be fine traversing this area.
As the team leader, Kakashi stared at the map without saying anything.
Seeing that Kakashi seemed to have other plans, Hyuga Kyo said, “If you have something to say, just say it. We’re comrades who’ve been through life and death together. There’s nothing we can’t discuss.”
Although Kakashi had kept secrets from the team in their previous mission, putting Team 11 in great danger, the Third Hokage personally assigned the mission. Kakashi couldn’t question or refuse it. Moreover, he had taken on the most dangerous part of the mission and nearly died, so no one blamed him.
Pointing at their current location on the map, Kakashi slowly said, “Logically, we’ve completed our mission and should return to Konoha immediately. But think carefully; we are now positioned right between Kumogakure’s forward assault troops and their main village. This is a crucial spot!”
Hyuga Kyo continued from Kakashi’s words: “Yes, this location is dangerous for us, but our presence is like a thorn in Kumogakure’s throat. As long as we’re here, they won’t dare to fully commit to attacking the Land of Fire. Our small team of four can delay their entire force, comparable to an entire battalion.”
Team 11 had just destroyed one of Kumogakure’s secret warehouses and killed over 300 of their ninja. No matter how arrogant Kumogakure was, they couldn’t ignore Team 11.
If Kumogakure discovered that Team 11 was still active in the Land of Hot Water, their offensive against the Land of Fire would inevitably weaken or halt.
Shisui thought for a moment and said, “You’re right. Even though we’re injured and our combat strength is greatly reduced, Kumogakure doesn’t know that. As long as we hide well and show ourselves occasionally to scare them, they can’t fully commit their forces to the front lines.”
Within Team 11, Kakashi was too weak to fight and could barely move.
Gai had only regained his mobility, but with multiple fractures, his combat ability was also severely limited.
Shisui, having overused his Mangekyou Sharingan, was heavily depleted. Being the youngest in the team, his recovery rate was slower than the others, leaving him with only about 30-40% of his combat strength.
The only one with significant combat capability was Hyuga Kyo, who had recovered about 70-80% of his chakra.
This wasn’t because Hyuga Kyo had a superior constitution but because the massive chakra from the giant Tenseigan during the battle had healed his injuries, preserving most of his combat strength.
The members of Team 11 quickly reached a consensus to stay in the Land of Hot Water and harass the Kumogakure forces invading the Land of Fire.
Hyuga Kyo agreed because, based on his past life memories, he knew that Kumogakure didn’t intend to escalate this conflict indefinitely. If the situation became a stalemate, Kumogakure would likely seek negotiations.
If Team 11 could force Kumogakure and Konoha to the negotiating table, it would be a significant honour and merit for the four of them.
For instance, the Fourth Hokage quickly gained popularity and respect by establishing merits in war.
In the Kumogakure assault camp in the Land of Fire.
After communicating with their village, the frontline commanders—Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Killer Bee, Two-Tails Jinchuriki Yugito Nii, and Storm Release user Aida—finally understood the reason behind the Fourth Raikage’s order to “halt the attack.”
Looking at the message from their village, Killer Bee’s usually playful face turned unusually grim.
The Raikage’s message mentioned that Konoha’s Anbu had simultaneously attacked four secret warehouses on the border. One warehouse was destroyed, and over 300 Kumogakure ninjas stationed there were all killed.
Yugito Nii crossed her arms and said coldly, “Hmph, Konoha always resorts to underhanded tactics.”
Deputy Commander Aida said worriedly, “It’s not surprising that Konoha found out about the warehouse locations. The transportation of goods is hard to conceal. But for them to annihilate over 300 of our stationed ninjas, that’s no small feat.”
Although Yugito Nii was arrogant, she understood that wiping out 300 ninjas was no easy task. She frowned and asked, “Which of Konoha’s top fighters haven’t shown up yet?”
A Kumogakure Jonin, serving as the secretary in the command room, stepped forward and answered, “Based on all available information, the only notable Konoha fighters who haven’t appeared are the heads of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans and the Third Hokage.”
Aida analysed, “The head of the Hyuga clan rarely goes to the front lines, even in the previous Great Ninja War, only showing up at critical moments. So, we can rule out the Hyuga clan head. The Uchiha clan’s absence from the battlefield is suspicious. The rear ambush might very well be their doing, possibly led by the Uchiha clan head!”
Yugito Nii added, “If it’s not the Uchiha clan head, then it must be the Third Hokage leading the attack!”
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