Chapter 95: Uchiha Madara's Target! (Seeking Subscriptions, Monthly Tickets, Recommendation Tickets!)
Stepping out of the tent, Sarutobi Asuma saw Yūhi Kurenai and the others grilling fish.
Leaving a Shadow Clone to take the place of Hizashi Hyuga and Might Duy, Sarutobi Asuma greeted Yūhi Kurenai and the others before plunging directly into the sea.
Rumble!
The waves surged, and Sarutobi Asuma battled the waves with all his might, training in the sea.
An hour later, Sarutobi Asuma, exhausted, sat on a reef absorbing Natural Energy.
"Training in the sea really is more effective!"
Sarutobi Asuma smiled.
After eating the grilled fish, there was still no news from Jiraiya. Sarutobi Asuma took the Kubikiribōchō out of the sealing scroll and then leaped into the sea again to train.
He quickly discovered a more efficient training method than before.
That was training in the sea combined with Lightning Style Chakra Mode!
Especially after using Sage Mode Chakra for Lightning Style nature transformation, training in the sea revitalized his cells, allowing them to digest Natural Energy twice as fast.
Two days later, Jiraiya sent someone.
The Konoha ninja army would be split into two.
One part would defend the eastern coast of the Land of Fire, guarding against Mist Ninja attacks.
Sarutobi Asuma would lead the other part south to rendezvous with Jiraiya.
The main force of the Mist Ninja was also there.
The primary route for the Mist Ninja entering the Land of Fire was to use the islands, where the former Land of Whirlpools was located, as a stepping stone for their attack.
Secondly, they would land on the peninsula further south, bordering the Land of Tea, and invade the Land of Fire.
June 1st, Konoha Year 46.
Sarutobi Asuma rendezvoused with Jiraiya in the southern part of the Land of Fire.
"Jonin Asuma, a portion of the Mist Ninja forces has retreated to the former territory of the Land of Whirlpools, while another portion has retreated to the southern peninsula. Some Mist Ninja have entered the Land of Tea, and not long ago, people from the Land of Tea came to us for aid."
Nara Shikaku briefed Sarutobi Asuma on the situation.
Sarutobi Asuma nodded and asked, "So now we have to split our forces?"
"I'm afraid not!"
Jiraiya shook his head and sighed, "We just received news from the village yesterday."
"The Stone Ninja and Cloud Ninja offensives are fierce. Especially the Stone Ninja, they are skilled in large-scale warfare and have many troops. They have already invaded the Land of Fire from the Land of Grass."
"Orochimaru is not with the border defense forces. Instead, he is engaged with the Stone Ninja on the border of the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass, attempting to cut off their logistics, but he failed and was instead bogged down by the Stone Ninja."
Sarutobi Asuma frowned, "So, the village wants to divert troops from us to deal with the Stone Ninja?"
"That's right!"
Jiraiya nodded.
Nara Shikaku said, "Therefore, we can only return to our previous strategy here, which is focused on defense!"
Looking at the frowning Sarutobi Asuma, Jiraiya smiled, "Fortunately, we inflicted heavy losses on the Mist Ninja this time, so they won't have strong offensive capabilities for a while."
"Let's deal with the Stone Ninja first, and then we'll deal with the Mist Ninja!"
Sarutobi Asuma nodded and asked, "So, how has the village arranged it?"
"Are you sending me to the Stone Ninja front?"
Nara Shikaku replied, "No, this place needs your deterrence, Asuma."
"With you and Lord Jiraiya here, the Mist Ninja won't dare to launch a reckless offensive for a while."
Sarutobi Asuma nodded, "Understood!"
He actually wanted to go to the Stone Ninja front.
Given the current situation.
To quickly eliminate the Stone Ninja's advantage, the Battle of Kannabi Bridge was inevitable.
And this place would definitely be heavily guarded by the Stone Ninja, and it would absolutely be the Stone Ninja's rear base.
"Kakashi's strength should be much greater than in the original story, perhaps…"
Sarutobi Asuma thought to himself.
The next day.
Nara Shikaku led a portion of the ninjas back to Konoha. After a period of rest, they would head to the Stone Ninja front.
Before leaving, Sarutobi Asuma entrusted Nara Shikaku with a message to take back to the Sarutobi Clan, asking them to give the repaired Raikiri to Kakashi.
Kakashi was skilled in Lightning Style and had been taught Sword Technique by Hatake Sakumo, making him the best candidate to wield the Raikiri.
Sarutobi Asuma had originally intended to give the Kubikiribōchō to Might Duy, but it was refused by the latter.
After Nara Shikaku left.
Sarutobi Asuma and Yūhi Kurenai also took a portion of the ninjas and split off from Jiraiya, heading to the southern peninsula to stand guard.
The war was not completely over.
Mist Ninjas would probe occasionally, but they were all driven back by the Konoha ninjas.
And every day, Sarutobi Asuma would deliberately let Mist Ninja scouts see him during his sea training.
Regarding training.
Sarutobi Asuma brought along the Kubikiribōchō when he went into the sea.
Wielding the Kubikiribōchō in the ocean became a training regimen Sarutobi Asuma had to undertake daily.
Might Duy followed suit.
Time flew by.
July 5th, Konoha Year 46.
Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune returned to Konoha for repairs and brought Sarutobi Asuma some news.
Uchiha Obito had become a Chunin, and Kakashi had been promoted to Jonin!
"The wheels of fate are relentlessly turning!"
Sarutobi Asuma sighed.
"Huh?"
Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune both froze, not quite understanding what Sarutobi Asuma meant.
Sarutobi Asuma smiled and changed the subject, "It seems the Raikiri was a gift for Kakashi's promotion to Jonin!"
"Of course."
Yūhi Kurenai smiled.
Shizune said with some regret, "It's a shame you weren't there. Our batch was rarely able to gather like this."
Sarutobi Asuma felt a pang of regret too.
Their graduating class had many talented individuals.
This wasn't about being in the same squad, but rather attending the Ninja Academy at the same time, making them all contemporaries.
For example, the younger Mitarashi Anko, Gekko Hayate, and others.
And those older than them like Shiranui Genma and the others were also considered contemporaries.
So they had encountered each other during the Chunin Exams before.
"The war should end soon, then we can all get together."
"Hey, Asuma, didn't you say you wanted to hold a gluttony competition before?"
"After the war ends, let's invite Lady Tsunade and Kushina!"
...
Sensing Sarutobi Asuma's slightly low mood, Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune quickly changed the subject.
However, they didn't think too deeply about it, merely believing Sarutobi Asuma was regretting not being able to gather this time.
After Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune left, Sarutobi Asuma stood with his hands behind his back on the reef, watching the surging waves, and a thought suddenly struck him.
"Uchiha Madara is looking for someone to execute a plan, he wouldn't just pick someone randomly, would he?"
"He probably already had targets in mind, and likely multiple ones."
Sarutobi Asuma's gaze sharpened, "Uchiha Madara is already involved, so he definitely can't pick people himself. That means it's White Zetsu!"
"Uchiha Obito is certainly just one of the targets Uchiha Madara has his eyes on. For the Uchiha clan, the more passionate and seemingly kind and simple they are when young, the more drastic their emotional changes will be when they face adversity, and the more they will turn to darkness!"
"Besides Uchiha Obito, who else?"
Sarutobi Asuma frowned.
Honestly, he didn't know much about the younger generation of the Uchiha clan.
The vast majority of Uchihas were arrogant, looking down their noses not just at their comrades, but at most people as well.
Or rather, the Uchiha clan was typically one that only respected those stronger than them; they didn't place anyone else in their eyes.
Someone like Uchiha Obito was truly rare.
Of course, that guy was also quite tsundere.
"Could Uchiha Shisui also be one of the targets? After all, he's considered an anomaly within the Uchiha clan!"
"And in terms of talent, Uchiha Shisui is no less than Uchiha Obito!"
With that thought, Sarutobi Asuma put on his fire-patterned robe, and his figure flickered, disappearing without a trace.
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