https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-621-The-Stalemate-and-the-Rebirth-Technique-/12943339/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-623-The-Sand-Ninja-s-Counterattack/12943341/
Chapter 622: Three-Layered Cheese Sandwich!
Chapter 622: Three-Layered Cheese Sandwich!
"They're finally here!"
Gaara's eyes lit up with excitement as he spotted several squads of Konoha ninjas approaching from a distance, half-encircling him.
Battle and blood—these were the things he loved most.
However, in the past, he merely craved these things, but now, he also wanted to protect his family and village.
And since Konoha intended to destroy what he cherished, it was no wonder that his desire for destruction was on the rise.
"Fake Sleep Technique!"
He immediately formed hand seals and entered a state of slumber.
Indeed, in his current state, he didn't need to worry about his body being taken over by the Guardian Crane while he slept.
Thanks to the adjustments made by the 'mysterious person' Yecang had found, his seals were now in excellent condition, and he was no longer affected by negative emotions, a realization he had for the first time.
Apparently, jinchuriki didn't need to suffer constantly.
Therefore, regarding Yecang, the Fifth, even if he had the intention to become Kazekage, Gaara sincerely acknowledged him.
"Hahaha!"
"This old man is back!"
...
A strange sound emanated from Gaara's body, which had fallen into a deep slumber, making it seem incredibly bizarre.
This also left the surrounding Konoha ninjas who were closing in on him completely bewildered.
"How is this possible..."
According to their intelligence, the risk of the Sand Ninja's jinchuriki transforming into a tailed beast was never small, and they wouldn't use it unless it was absolutely necessary.
But now, they had just met, and they didn't have the strength to force the opponent to use the power of a complete tailed beast upon their first encounter.
Using it right after meeting?
It was as if they were gambling their lives from the start.
This was why these Konoha ninjas were left scratching their heads, unable to understand what Gaara was thinking.
But before they could react—
Swoosh!
Countless sand particles gathered around the slumbering Gaara, forming a colossal, tanuki-shaped Guardian Crane.
The One-Tailed Guardian Crane!
Its ability to control sand was well-known.
One could imagine the terrifying power it could unleash in this desert, its home field.
"Insects, die!"
The Guardian Crane glared ferociously at the stunned Konoha ninjas surrounding it.
Swish!
Countless sand particles surged towards them.
The rising sand seemed low compared to the Guardian Crane's height, which was several dozen meters tall.
This meant that the sand was also rising to a height of several dozen meters.
For tailed beasts or large summoned beasts, this height was nothing.
But for humans, it was already a natural disaster.
These Konoha squads were instantly engulfed, with no time to dodge.
In the desert, speed was greatly affected.
Even ninjas were powerless against the desert's might.
Boom! Boom!
After burying the Konoha squads in sand, the massive body of the Guardian Crane charged towards the approaching Leaf Village Ninja Army.
"Be careful!"
"Spread out!"
"Block the Guardian Crane and don't let it use Tailed Beast Bomb or Vacuum Artillery!"
"Sealing Team, prepare!"
...
Various commands echoed among the Leaf Village Ninja Army.
The remaining few civilian airships belonging to the Konoha ninjas hovered above.
There was something that must be understood.
The Ten Thousand Phenomena Heavenly Attraction did indeed sell airships, but these airships were without 'chakra cores' or 'antigravity barriers'.
In other words, for airships of the same size, the Ten Thousand Phenomena Heavenly Attraction not only had superior speed but also dominated in terms of transport capacity.
The Kirov airship could carry several hundred tons, but these similarly-sized transport airships, excluding the crew, could only carry a few tons.
Not to mention their performance in harsh environments and speed.
In summary, the civilian export version of the airships, while a significant upgrade from horse-drawn carriages, did not differ drastically from the Ten Thousand Phenomena Heavenly Attraction's airships, let alone the 'military-grade' ones.
It was through the sale of airships that the Ten Thousand Phenomena Heavenly Attraction's manufacturing capabilities skyrocketed, and their technology advanced rapidly.
The remaining few airships were urgently brought in by Asuma from the Black Oil reserves, tasked with transporting clean water and food, serving as a final insurance.
The Child of the Hokage could do whatever they wanted. If it were anyone else, attempting to mobilize an airship from the Black Oil District... You must be dreaming.
"Attack!"
Ye Cang rose from a cave several kilometers away from the battlefield, revealing her true identity as she threw off her disguise and led the charge.
Behind her stood a group of Suna ninjas, their eyes burning with fervor as they followed her lead.
Ye Cang had first won them over with abundant resources and new benefits, making them realize one crucial thing.
If they fell in battle, the commemorative benefits would be tens of times greater than before, enough to provide a better life for their families.
Note that the benefits Ye Cang announced were not only inferior to those of the Heavenly Castle but also fell short compared to even the Mist Hidden Village, only slightly better than Konoha.
But these were Suna ninjas!
In their village, there was nothing but sand, and in the past, they were so poor that they dared to challenge Konoha, a village with far superior strength, out of sheer desperation.
Even with the reduced benefits Ye Cang offered, they were overjoyed.
Moreover, ninjas had priority purchasing rights.
With the ground effect flying ship bringing in fresh water, ordinary villagers could only buy 100 kilograms, while ninjas were allowed a ton, and this was the case every month for food as well.
Only after the ninjas had bought their share could others make their purchases.
On top of that, there was a basic salary!
This meant that after registration, as long as they completed the minimum task each month, they would receive the corresponding wages.
Although it wasn't a substantial amount, it was enough to bring joy.
Previously, ninjas only earned income when they took on missions; otherwise, they had nothing.
Hence, the impact of losing the mission quota was significant.
Now, there was no need to compete and struggle as they once did.
With these benefits, even though Ye Cang had just taken the position of the Fifth Kazekage, she already had a large following.
If she could defeat the Konoha Ninja Army, her position would be unshakable, and she wouldn't have to worry about competition or the aristocracy's schemes.
The Suna ninjas were aware that Ye Cang had the support of the Heavenly Castle.
Initially, they had rejected this support.
If not for Chiyoki taking the lead in backing Ye Cang, they would never have chosen her, regardless of her strength or reputation.
But when the ground effect flying ship arrived laden with abundant resources, they instantly realized that the Heavenly Castle was indeed capable.
The Heavenly Castle was incredibly generous!
However, the Heavenly Castle could assist in other matters.
But for this battle, which would solidify her reputation as the Kazekage, it was best to take charge personally.
So, even though Tang Ping arrived at the battlefield ahead of time, he only maintained a defensive position and had no intention of intervening.
They were merely an insurance policy!
As long as the Konoha side had no hidden cards or surprises, they wouldn't need to step in.
"Kill!"
On the other side of the battlefield, several kilometers away, Violette also revealed her disguise, leading Teiju, Kan Kyuu, Hai Ryozen, and others in the charge.
With the addition of the ninjas led by Ye Cang and the full mobilization of forces, the Suna ninjas now numbered over three thousand.
They still held the advantage in numbers!
Thus, the Konoha Ninja Army faced a massive sand wave created by the Guardian Crane on one side.
On the other two sides, there were two groups of ninjas numbering over a thousand each, creating a 'Three-Sided Cheese Sandwich!' formation.
"Impossible!"
Naruto Kurama exclaimed at the sudden change in the battlefield.
They had sent out numerous scouts for reconnaissance, so how could they have missed the ambush on both flanks?
It wasn't exactly an ambush; at most, it was a surprise attack. Even so, shouldn't they have detected it?
In reality, there was only one true hero.
The disguise cloth! Dig a hole, hide in it, and cover it with this cloth, and you could effectively block detection.
Of course, the location of the ambush was carefully chosen, at least two kilometers away from the main battlefield.
This was to prevent the Byakugan.
With this 'human radar' around, an ambush was out of the question, and using an ambush to gain a tactical advantage was already a significant achievement.
Therefore, the Hyuga clan held a genuinely unique position in Konoha, as they were incredibly useful in large-scale wars.
Soon, the two sides closed in, and the full-scale battle commenced.
(End of Chapter)
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