Chapter 169: Ways to Respond

Has Cloud Hidden sent a Shadow-level Strongman to the battlefield again?

In the Hokage Office, Qianshou Feijian stared at the frontline reports and muttered to himself.

Jin Jiao, Yin Jiao, the Lightning Shadow's Personal Guard, and the newly arrived Long-haired Strongman.

Cloud Hidden Village has already consecutively dispatched four Shadow-level Strongmen into the war against Konoha.

Spending such a huge price, it is clearly determined to defeat Konoha!

Qianshou Feijian remained silent; the appearance of the Long-haired Strongman will surely affect the battlefield situation, and such a thing cannot be avoided…

As the war drags on, the price Konoha must pay to defeat Cloud Hidden will only grow larger.

And the war will not cease in the short term; the casualty rate among both sides' ninjas is rising rapidly.

Such a scene is something Feijian does not wish to see; he does not want the war to continue indefinitely.

Because war only adds needless casualties…

"If a crisis arises, we'll have no choice but to use that ninjutsu…" Qianshou Feijian subconsciously clenched his fist, "No one can destroy the village!"

He was, of course, referring to Impure Earth Reincarnation.

When developing this technique, Qianshou Feijian's purpose was clear: to summon the dead during the war to repel the enemy's invasion!

Although the technique manipulates the souls of the dead and is highly unethical, what does a little moral condemnation for the sake of the village amount to?

He believes the summoned spirits will understand his actions…

Qianshou Feijian began reviewing documents, ordering Nara Commander to stall Cloud Hidden as much as possible while awaiting reinforcements from the Southwest Battlefield ninjas.

Wind Country was helpless against the poison bundle devised by Lian Ye, and ultimately chose to surrender to Konoha, becoming the first defeated nation.

The remaining Sand Ninja could only tuck their tails and scurry back to Wind Country, while Konoha ninjas from the Southwest Battlefield were dispatched by Qianshou Feijian to the Northeast Battlefield for support.

Without Sunagakure, Konoha can focus its efforts on dealing with Cloud Ninja!

Konoha's overall strength surpasses Cloud Hidden; even with two Shadow-level Strongmen stationed, they should not expect an easy victory.

If they truly cannot hold, they will use Impure Earth Reincarnation to turn the tide.

Qianshou Feijian kept scanning the reports and learned that Yin Jiao was killed by Lian Ye and his men, prompting him to sigh, "These kids really exceed my expectations…"

The six of them are performing increasingly well and can already handle matters on their own.

Even when facing Shadow-level Strongmen, they can achieve a counter‑kill through coordination!

"Tell me… which of them is more suitable to become Hokage?" Qianshou Feijian looked toward the shadows and asked suddenly.

Hearing this, a member of the Anbu wearing an animal mask emerged, kneeling on one knee to respond.

"Reply, Lord Hokage, I do not know…"

Qianshou Feijian stared at the Anbu in silence for a long while, then finally waved his hand to signal the other to leave.

The Anbu let out a sigh of relief, and their figure flashed away from the spot.

It's better not to get involved in this Hokage election business…

Just focus on one's own duties; other matters should not be meddled with.

Qianshou Feijian lightly tapped his knuckles on the table, and the images of the six and their specific performances floated in his mind.

He picked up a pen and wrote on the paper; after finishing, he locked it in a drawer, and no one knows what he wrote.

……………………

Inside the Yun Yin Camp.

The Long-haired Strongman's face was grim as he held the casualty figures from Cloud Hidden's recent battles.

It can only be described as heavy casualties!

"You useless piece, how did you command this?" he roared, pointing at Jin Jiao's nose, "If you hadn't been so reckless, the casualty rate wouldn't be this high!"

When faced with the strongman's questioning, Jin Jiao nonchalantly curled his lip, "It's all their incompetence; how can it be blamed on me?"

Before launching the attack, he deliberately provoked the Cloud Ninja's emotions; who could have thought that even so, they still weren't a match for Konoha ninjas.

At first it was fine; he and Yin Jiao coordinated to keep Konoha from gaining the upper hand.

Until Lian Ye and his men entered the battlefield, the situation suddenly reversed.

First the Banana Leaf Fan was seized, then Yin Jiao died from poison!

Enraged, he wanted to avenge his brother, but nearly died at Lian Ye's hands…

Jin Jiao believed that the misfortunes of this period all stemmed from that damned Uchiha Xiao Gui!

If he is killed, everything will improve.

The Long-haired Strongman gave Jin Jiao a cold glance and did not continue the topic.

He began planning the next operations based on the camp's troop deployment…

————————

Konoha Camp.

Nara Commander looked at the order from the Hokage and let out a sigh of relief.

They only need to wait for reinforcements from the Southwest Battlefield; then the situation will improve.

Even a Shadow-level Strongman, when surrounded by numerous ninjas, will be stretched thin and is prone to a disastrous turn.

When faced with an assault by dozens, there will always be overlooked spots, and chakra will be drained to exhaustion…

The Jin Jiao Yin Jiao Brothers are a perfect example.

If handled properly, they can cooperate to kill a Shadow-level Strongman!

When reinforcements arrive, they can work with Lian Ye's six to jointly resist the Long-haired Strongman and Jin Jiao.

……

Medical Department.

Xiaochun Zhuanqin used Medical Ninjutsu to treat Tuan Cang; the gruesome wound on his chest began healing at a visibly rapid pace.

The treatment is finished, and Tuan Cang's injuries have greatly improved compared to before.

He looks at Xiaochun Zhuanqin, whose chakra has been over‑consumed and whose face is pale, and says softly, "Thank you, Xiaochun."

"No need to thank me; it's what I should do," Xiaochun Zhuanqin forces a smile.

If Tuan Cang hadn't been trying to save himself, he wouldn't have been injured at all.

"These newly arrived strong men are harder to deal with than the previous Lightning Shadow's Personal Guard. Have you thought of a countermeasure?" Yuanfei Rizhan's voice was low.

"Not at the moment," Uchiha Jing said, shaking his head bitterly.

Shuihu Menyan said nothing, furrowing his brows as he contemplated a response.

Tuan Cang and Xiaochun's gazes fell on Lian Ye, and Ri Zhan likewise showed curiosity, "Lian Ye, do you have a solution?"

Lian Ye lowered his head, fiddling with the bottles and jars before him; they were the Poison Liquid he had recently been developing.

He wants to create a Poison that can corrode chakra, so they won't have to worry about the strong men's Lightning Style Armor.

He had pondered this issue during the battle with Jinyin Jiaoyin.

As long as a Poison that ignores chakra defenses can be made, many troublesome matters will be easily resolved.

Based on this idea, Lian Ye concocted dozens of Poisons in a short time; they are still in the testing phase, and their exact effects are unknown.

"There's still no solution at the moment..."

The others sighed helplessly at the words—could even Lian Ye have no answer?

Lian Ye looked up at the group, then kept his head down, continuing to work on the Poison.

He didn't share his idea with them, lest it fail later and leave them cheering for nothing!

Taking advantage of the cease‑fire between Konoha and Cloud Hidden, he will swiftly develop a Poison that can erode chakra.