Chapter 447: The Battle for Crab Island!
Chapter 447: The Battle for Crab Island!
Crab Island!
Located in the southern waters of the Heavenly Fortress.
It is also the headquarters of the Heavenly Fortress army, where most of its forces are gathered.
Compared to the small-scale squads on other islands, this place has assembled almost half of the defending forces.
At the same time, younger members of the Heavenly Fortress, such as Scarlet Lotus and Uchiha Inari, are also stationed here.
Both sides have their main camps as the core, and within this area, they are vying for control of the surrounding islands, aiming to weave a encirclement to defeat the other.
Although the Heavenly Fortress has an absolute disadvantage in terms of numbers,
their individual qualities are stronger. After all, the Mist Ninjas are not participating in the battle, and those who are fighting, although they wear the Mist Ninja headband, are not very skilled.
Even if they can't achieve the level of 'I can take on ten opponents,' taking on a few opponents is simple and enjoyable.
The focus is not on these battles, but on the difference in logistics and supplies.
The Heavenly Fortress side not only has healing potions but also explosive tags and various ninjutsu tools, giving them an unknown number of levels of advantage in terms of survival.
So far, the casualties on both sides are extremely disproportionate.
The Heavenly Fortress has lost less than a hundred ninjas, while the 'Mist Ninjas' have lost nearly a thousand.
Note that these are just cannon fodder wearing the Mist Ninja headband, and their strength does not represent the true power of the Mist Ninjas.
Ninjas trained by the Five Great Ninja Villages are absolutely superior to ordinary small ninja villages in terms of power at the same level, not to mention rogue ninjas and wild ninjas.
Therefore, it is only natural for both sides to have such a large casualty ratio. If it weren't for this ratio, one might suspect that the Heavenly Fortress side is deliberately sacrificing their forces.
However, the situation changes when the 'true' Mist Ninja army is deployed.
The casualty ratio between the two sides quickly decreases.
Although the Heavenly Fortress still has an advantage in logistics, they don't have many other advantages.
And today, the Mist Ninja army sweeps through the surrounding islands like thunder, directly advancing to Crab Island.
As long as they capture this island, which stores most of the Heavenly Fortress' front-line supplies, even if the ninja casualties are not significant, they will have no choice but to retreat.
Ninjas are a profession that relies heavily on logistics, especially in large-scale battles.
This is because chakra refinement requires a large amount of food supplies; otherwise, can chakra appear out of thin air?
So, the larger the battle, the higher the demand for food.
Additionally, various secret medicines and soldier pills are also essential for maintaining one's condition.
Huge warships began to form a semi-encircling formation south of the island.
On them stood numerous Mist Ninjas!
It's not that they can't tread water, but to conserve their energy and chakra.
After all, treading water continuously would result in continuous consumption, so why not use a ship?
Well... the warships on the Mist Ninja side are extremely large, and they are equipped with fishing crossbows, cannons, catapults, and other war machines.
Although they are called warships, their true combat power lies in the Mist Ninjas on board. These war machines are effective against ordinary people but not against ninjas.
The super-large warships alone, each several hundred meters long, number in the double digits, not to mention the smaller vessels.
Altogether, this fleet has already exceeded a hundred ships.
It's merciless! These are not merchant ships or fishing boats; they are all warships built for naval battles.
Only the Water Country, one of the Five Great Countries, could deploy warships on such a scale.
Water Country!
The ships belong to the Water Country but are assigned to the Mist Ninjas.
Otherwise, the Mist Ninjas wouldn't have the manpower to support such a large fleet.
Judging by the formation, the Mist Ninjas' momentum is overwhelming, as if they want to swallow the nearly a thousand Heavenly Fortress ninjas on Crab Island in one go.
Why, with over a hundred losses, do they still have nearly a thousand ninjas left?
Of course, the Heavenly Fortress has been continuously activating the 'cultivation' mode, constantly replenishing their forces.
In the past, the school only cultivated three hundred ninjas, and the rest were reserves, with only fifty graduates each year.
However, with the development of the Heavenly Fortress and the influx of large populations and various ninja clans, the number of ninjas they cultivate each year has increased, and now over two hundred ninjas graduate annually.
Note that this number does not include those ninjas cultivated in a 'clan-style' manner.
In terms of cultivating ninjas, the Heavenly Fortress was almost on par with the Five Great Ninja Villages.
With money and resources, anything was possible!
In other words, the number of potential ninja recruits wasn't that high, otherwise, the number they could cultivate would be even more impressive.
Don't underestimate the Heavenly Fortress just because it had less fame than the Five Great Ninja Villages; when it came to income...
Therefore, once they occupied the Water Country, they could harvest ninja recruits from the entire nation for cultivation, and that would be the 'explosive period'.
Although these civilian ninjas had limited potential, Dong Ping and his team didn't need recruits with exceptionally high potential.
Both sides were on the brink of conflict!
The fortress on Crab Island was built into the mountainside, nestled within an incredibly sturdy cliff face, with only small openings for firing.
There were also many war machines such as cannons and crossbows.
These weren't meant for fighting ninjas but rather for combating battleships.
Of course, in the event of a large-scale ninja assault, these machines could still play a role.
Combined with numerous traps, the defense of Crab Island was as solid as a mountain.
However, when faced with the Mist Ninja's full-force strike, this level of defense seemed somewhat inadequate.
With over five thousand ninjas and these battleships, it was definitely not something the 'mere' thousand-strong Heavenly Fortress defense forces could hold back.
Hence, the Mist Ninjas were confident.
In the island fortress—
"Hmph, it seems like the Mist Ninjas are planning to make an example of us?"
Uchiha Shou peered through the observation port at the distant fleet and the ninjas leaping onto the sea surface, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure.
He had naturally received the intelligence about the Mist Ninja's internal strife and understood why they didn't retreat but instead advanced.
They were preparing to take advantage of the perceived weakness of the Heavenly Fortress, using them as a stepping stone to prove that the Mist Ninjas were still powerful and hadn't weakened due to internal conflicts.
It was precisely because he felt that the Heavenly Fortress was being underestimated that Uchiha Shou was dissatisfied.
Don't be fooled by the fact that he had only joined the Heavenly Fortress a few years ago; all the Uchiha of the main branch lineage considered this place their true 'home'.
After all, not only were they not treated like trained dogs, but they also enjoyed full welfare benefits and respect. How could they not be satisfied?
Even the Uchiha from Konoha hadn't given up on their plan to bring them back, but these attempts had been rejected.
No one wanted to return to Konoha, a place of ostracism and suppression, unless they were born masochists.
Even if someone asked about their relationship with the Konoha Uchiha now, they might very well respond with, 'We're not close.'
After venting, Uchiha Shou turned to the subordinates around him.
Among them were Yawara No Yuki, Uchiha Inari, and other new generation elites.
This was a rare training opportunity, so naturally, they were eager to fight.
As for being afraid of danger?
Sorry, if you're truly afraid, then don't be a ninja.
Even for Scarlet Lotus, the next-generation pillar that Dong Ping and his team valued the most, they merely provided ample conditions and didn't send anyone to protect her.
Only those who emerged from the battlefield were recognized as the new generation pillars.
In this regard, Uchiha Yai was a hawkish and iron-blooded leader.
Dong Ping didn't say much; he only took flesh and blood tissue in advance and recorded the chakra.
Yes, he had already obtained the Summoning of the Dead, and with flesh and blood, he could naturally perform the resurrection technique. If he combined this with Chiyo's secret technique, he would immediately have a complete resurrection channel.
Unfortunately, Chiyo had just come up with the idea, and it was still far from completion, which made Dong Ping and Konan extremely anxious, wishing they could jump in and develop it for her.
However, it was fine; having this idea was enough.
Anyway, Konan often visited the Sand Village and revered Dong Ping as a god.
Several years ago, when Dong Ping had already foreseen this, how could she not admire him?
Soon, Mist Ninjas began their assault, crossing the sea.
"Prepare to engage!"
Uchiha Shou was filled with battle intent.
Previously, they had received intelligence that the support team had set off but would look for an opportunity to join the battlefield, allowing him, the front-line commander, to display his abilities.
Although he didn't know how he was expected to perform, Uchiha Shou naturally wouldn't give up easily.
Thus, both sides began a bloody battle.
(End of Chapter)
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