Chapitre 137: The Southern Front: A Critical Turning Point (3)
"So, no matter what, it seems like leveraging the surprise factor of you and your team's arrival on this front is our best option to try and turn the situation around here in our favor, Hikari...",
Fugaku eventually concluded with a resigned sigh. His eyes scanned the gathered allies, seeking affirmation or further input on this strategic gambit.
"Yeah, Sunagakure has carefully eroded your numbers and positions in recent months, now initiating what they likely consider a final push to secure victory on this front once they thought were finally ready.",
"You lack both the elite forces and the ordinary numbers required to withstand a conventional war right now..", Hikari observed, his tone serious as he assessed the dire situation objectively,
"It seems I will need to join the battle immediately and conduct some large surprise attacks or target their elite units.",
"They aren't expecting me to appear here, so my first move will be crucial—it can't be squandered. We need to think this through deeply now...", Hikari added.
The room fell into a contemplative silence as the gravity of Hikari's words settled. Everyone understood that the element of surprise was a fleeting advantage, and how effectively Hikari used his initial engagement could very well determine the fate of their efforts.
Plans began to form, focusing on maximizing the impact of Hikari's entrance to the battlefield, ensuring it would disrupt Sunagakure's strategies and provide a much-needed advantage to their forces.
Meanwhile, Hikari mentally reviewed everything he had learned about the developments on this front since the onset of the war.
He understood that Sunagakure had taken a decisive lead early on, capturing Tanigakure—the main village that served as a buffer between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire.
From the beginning months of the war, Sunagakure also used Tanigakure as a strategic hotspot and launchpad for operations against Konoha's forces in the area.
However, the situation for Konoha's Uchiha-led Division, under Fugaku's leadership, would have been even more dire had it not been for significant developments within their ranks.
Hikari noted that Fugaku and Kiyomi had awakened their Mangekyo Sharingan in response to their clansmen's heavy losses.
This newfound power had been crucial, allowing them to halt and temporarily create a stalemate against Sunagakure's advances.
It was only a temporary solution, and despite their efforts, Fugaku and Kiyomi failed to pay back Sungakure significantly to reverse the course, let alone take control of Tanigakure.
After all, they were only two individuals. Additionally, the use of the Mangekyo Sharingan, while powerful, came with severe drawbacks.
Each use drained them significantly and quickly, temporarily blinding them and leaving them vulnerable in the aftermath. The technique, though formidable, was also extremely taxing on the user's body and eyesight.
More alarmingly, Hikari knew that the repeated use of the Mangekyo Sharingan could lead to permanent blindness if overused, a side effect that both Kiyomi and Fugaku were likely beginning to experience.
He suspected they had seen the first signs of this troubling development but had chosen to keep it hidden from him for reasons unknown.
Hikari resolved to address this issue directly, 'It doesn't matter; I will still initiate a conversation regarding this with Kiyomi later...'
Hikari also knew that the Mangekyo Sharingan was a formidable tool designed to deliver powerful yet swiftly depleting bursts of strength. It was based on amazing chakra potency capability but not chakra endurance and vitality.
This inherent limitation meant that while Fugaku and Kiyomi could cause substantial havoc with their Susanoo and other potent abilities, their effectiveness was inherently time-bound.
Engaging entire armies meant that despite the initial disruption they could cause, they would quickly exhaust the Mangekyo Sharingan's energy reserves.
This vulnerability made them susceptible to being overwhelmed by sheer numbers once their power waned.
Consequently, their use of the Mangekyo Sharingan was previously strategically reserved only for disrupting smaller enemy squadrons and targeting elite units through ambushes.
This tactical application ensured they could maximize the impact of their abilities without necessarily overextending themselves into situations where they could be surrounded and outnumbered once their powers ebbed. It also allowed them to keep Suna at bay for a while.
This tactical limitation also explained why they never attempted a direct assault on Tanigakure, let alone Sunagakure itself.
The risk of depleting their crucial resources in a prolonged engagement, especially one on the scale of an assault on a fortified village or against a large army, was too great.
Their strategy had to focus on guerilla tactics and targeted strikes, aiming to destabilize the enemy and create openings for larger strategic gains rather than outright conquest.
However, over the course of the war, a formidable shinobi from Sunagakure named Pakura had risen dramatically in power.
Her ascent had shifted the balance, gradually putting Konoha's forces on the defensive once again, over time, with her presence and ability to face off against Kiyomi and Fugaku when they were alone.
Now, it seemed she was also the one personally spearheading Sunagakure's final push for a decisive invasion into the Land of Fire.
Hikari assessed her capabilities with a mix of surprising respect and concern, 'Pakura is currently the strongest person in Sunagakure, surpassing even their current Kazekage, Rasa, and by a considerable margin at that. It's no wonder Rasa wanted to eliminate her like that in the original series...',
He mused internally, 'There's no way he would tolerate her as the current Kage if he cherished his position. After all, he is quite weak; I feel—around the Quasi-Kage level of strength at most—whereas she has already probably reached the Middle Kage level...',
'The fact that both were approximately the same age, around 20, only heightened the stakes and the rivalry...', Hikari recognized that Pakura's strength and her leadership in the current offensive posed a significant threat.
Meanwhile, Fugaku nodded in agreement with Hikari's assessment. He then turned to Hikari for tactical advice, seeking guidance on their next move.
"What do you recommend, Hikari? Will you set an ambush here?" he asked, looking for a strategic approach to leveraging their current position.
"Yes, a simple ambush seems to be our best option under the circumstances since they don't expect us here. We should coordinate with your division to strike from a different angle. When they enter the Land of Fire territory, that's when we make our move...", He suggested, outlining a plan that would use the element of surprise to their advantage.
By attacking from unexpected directions, they could potentially throw the enemy into disarray, capitalize on the confusion to inflict significant damage, and increase their chances of successfully winning the fight and ejecting the enemy.
"We'll need to position our forces strategically and ensure that everyone is synchronized for the assault. Timing and precision will be crucial... We are lucky we have a reconnaissance advantage on our side now that we have arrived; we could pinpoint where they would be coming from exactly to position our ambush successfully in the best way possible..." Hikari added, emphasizing the need for meticulous planning and execution to make the ambush effective.
After a while of finalizing their strategy, the group swiftly moved to make the necessary preparations for the ambush. Despite their decisiveness and speed of planning, the atmosphere among them remained heavy.
Each member present was acutely aware of the high stakes and uncertainty ahead. They understood that while their well-planned ambush could significantly increase their chances of success, it did not guarantee victory.
As they made their final checks and prepared to move out, there was a silent agreement that they would give their all to secure a favorable outcome, understanding the crucial need to protect their territory and weaken their opponent's momentum.
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