East Camp Field Leader takes the scroll from their recon.
"Put pressure until further notice?" He didn't think much about it. The enemy flank side isn't making a move on them and seemingly playing a turtle much like them. It's like poking a turtle with a stick.
He had to withdraw Squad 9 from the enemy's side supply depot as 2 of their members were caught. He didn't realise the recon that had just given the scroll went to take a dump somewhere. Looking around, he undoed his transformation before relieving himself.
He snickered inwardly, wondering how no one actually noticed the guy he's disguised at was withdrawn after an ambush. He felt quite excited each time he went inside the Branch Command Center of Heaven's side and they really didn't notice anything amiss. It's just that the transformation requires some chakra to maintain though so he really had to be careful and not appear in front of others too much.
After minutes of rest, he transformed himself once more and rushed to Branch Command Center to be on standby.
But after an hour as he comes back, the Branch Leader already hands him another scroll.
"It's urgent! The main front needs reinforcement. Go quickly!"
"Yes leader!" He pretended to flash quickly… but midway he just burned the scroll to the ground.
He felt so happy playing like this, it's like trolling people. It would take a few hours to travel between the East camp to the Main camp. They won't notice reinforcement that they expect didn't come and by the time they send the instruction once more it would be too late.
***
Gentle Fist! Neji rushed forward, dodging kunai and shuriken coming in different directions with ease. His Byakugan can see everything.
With a palm he blasted the nearest opponent, ending him instantly.
Gate of Life! Open! Lee flashed at fast speed. Even with only 2nd gate, the normal genin is no match for his speed.
Tenten uses various weapons - staff, kunai and shuriken, sword, morning star. Her kenjutsu skills with various weapons prevent them from understanding her tempo.
A team of ninjutsu specialists at the back supports them. Neji's Byakugan render any trap set useless.
"We can't hold on! Retreat and regroup!"
The main camp is taken over in a matter of hours. And as if like a machine, they group up and head straight to the Main Command Center.
Yuu slammed the table hard, almost cracking it. His eyes already red as if he's really playing the role of the Head of Command Division.
"Where is the reinforcement from East Camp and the River Camp! Didn't I send the order early on!?" There's a lot of personnel guarding the dam they built. But this time
"The Recon Division had resend the order…"
"Damn it. Could it be that they intercepted the order? But it means they have to camp for so long. There's no way the scout didn't notice! No way the Command Center didn't notice either. Unless… the order is 'successfully' sent, so they didn't notice. It means…"
"SPIES!" Yuu slammed heavily on the table again.
"THESE STUPID PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN DO THEIR JOB!" Yuu throws the papers to the ground, taking an empty glass, smashing it to pieces.
"How do some 12 year olds get to beat them around like trash?! These useless people can't even beat kids?!" He's referring to Neji and Lee specifically.
He slumped onto his chair, closing his face.
Takeru shivered backward. He saw Yuu's progression into what he became now for the past few hours. He almost thought he's in a real battlefield from Yuu's performance.
"Uhum… Yuu, we have to retreat from here. Let's regroup and make a temporary camp."
"Yes… I know. Damn even our Command Center is gone. How we recapture our main camp… it's done… it's done…"
The light in Yuu's eyes disappears.
"We have 24 hours to re-capture. It's not too late." Takeru try to give some hope.
"Okay…", his tone seemingly lifeless as the Main Command Center emptied out, and eventually fell.
***
The Team Field Leader of East Camp was drinking tea leisurely. Because there's no movement from the enemy side on their flank. To this point he still hasn't realised something is even going on with the main front.
"Sasuke, isn't it weird? They have been doing nothing for hours… we too." Sakura voiced out while they were about to switch shifts.
"Yeah… it's off. I feel like they are planning on an attack on either the River Camp or focusing on the western flank. It would take time for us to reinforce that part."
Sasuke gives his idea - but didn't consider the possible information block.
"Make sense…"
Just then, Naruto came in shouting. He met Kiba, Hinata and Shino delivering important news.
"Sasuke! Sakura! Problem! Our main base is already captured!"
"What?" Even Sasuke was dumbfounded. They are there doing nothing and suddenly their base is already captured??
Kiba came forward. His body was bruised and had a few shallow cuts. Hinata and Shino also had light scratches here and there.
"They blocked the information from reaching this side! We got ambushed on the way here just now. Thankfully they weren't that strong." Kiba had used biological and psychological weapon Dynamic Marking onto the ambusher, and with their loss of composure they were dealt easily with Fang Over Fang. Kiba is not to be underestimated.
"Damn it…!"
Team Field Leader came over and shouted to everyone.
"Squad 8, 10 and 11, regroup at temporary main camp! Squad 12 would stay here, don't let our flank breach."
Kiba turned to face Sasuke's squad. "Come on, let's get going!"
Yuu the Head of Command Division looked over at the overall situation. They still hold the supplies, since the Earth side cannot afford to send more troops. To take over them.
In fact those soldiers attacking all had dried lips and pale complexions. It's clear the resource depletion works but there's only 24 hours left. They already gained a foothold on the main base and would focus troops there.
Once they do, it would be their disadvantage to regain them. But in a sense hope is not lost.
In hours, Sasuke's squad arrived. They are briefed over the situation.
Yuu decided to draw people from other Division to supply to their main Assault force. Kiba and Hinata are drawn in as Kiba is competent enough while Hinata has a gentle fist and that Yuu thought Hinata as the heir must be stronger than whoever Neji guy is right? And both of them had similar techniques and Kekkei Genkai. So on paper Hinata will win.
"Hinata, your main task is to take down Neji. Squad 16 and 17 will back you up and disarm traps along the way." It's more of an order instead of a suggestion.
"Huh…? I… I…" Hinata felt her feet wobble. Yuu is expecting way too much of her. But she cannot refuse.
"Squad 10, you will deal with Lee. I heard you two are geniuses. Hope you both can deal with him." Naruto and Sasuke only said yes.
Naruto turned to look at Hinata, feeling worried for her. She looks so timid and fearful. As if she's afraid of being unable to fulfill her responsibility. Naruto went to Hinata's side, patting her shoulder.
"H-huh? N-Naruto-kun…!"
Naruto gave a sunny smile to her. "You can do it-ttebayo! Prove that guy wrong! You are a strong person, believe in yourself!"
"Naruto-kun… I… I will do my best…!"
Hinata's eyes firmed, her body turned upright. Tsuyu at the side noticed Yuu's arrangements. If it's her, she would say Hinata would lose. But… this is a good battle for her. Naruto's encouragement works wonders for her already so she doesn't have to step in this time.
***
Shikamaru himself actually left the Main Command Center and took over as Heaven's Main Camp leader. He looked at the sun position, facing behind him and drawing a long shadow towards Heaven's temporary camp. This is an advantageous time for a Nara like him and unfortunately he decides to drag his lazy ass out because there's two freaks that would be coming here.
Nighttime full on assault is too risky, as for waiting for tomorrow - it means the base would be even more secured and become more difficult to take over. So Shikamaru believes they will try today itself.
Jiraiya stands at the side with Tsuyu, having an amused expression.
Yuu wasn't idle and realised whoever the enemy strategist was had things going in their head. He learned to trust the younger genins and place hope in them. He formed Wind Corp out of the members available that can use Wind Release. From experience they may use delaying tactics including forest fire and stuff. The goal is to hold the base for 24 hours after all. Naruto is assigned to go with Hinata to disarm traps on their way since he can use shadow clones and Hinata Byakugan can see through everything.
Once their target opponent appears they would then go to where they need to go.
"Tsuyu, you think our side can regain our base?"
"I believe it's tilted to our side more. The Earth's soldiers are not in their best shape. As for their elite, our side's elite are better."
"Hm… I see. By the way Tsuyu, I heard you punished quite a number…" His tone was more questioning.
Jiraiya had seen someone running around in laps until they collapsed. And even then he kept crawling to finish the round. Jiraiya tried to stop him but the Team Field Leader intervened saying Vice General Tsuyu would disqualify him if he didn't finish.
He felt Tsuyu was really going over it.
"Rather than disqualifying directly, I rather keep them as canon fodders. Now those useless piles can be useful here." Tsuyu said so factually - and admitted she would have disqualified them if not for the usefulness in their numbers.
Jiraiya was taken aback at her words. Useless piles? Canon fodders? It's as if Tsuyu at this moment no longer look at them as real lives, but numbers on paper.
"Humans make mistakes and learn from them, Tsuyu."
"That's why I give such punishment. So the lesson is drilled into their bones." Tsuyu can understand Jiraiya is dissatisfied with her methods. She wondered how this war veteran still had such a soft heart.
"Most of these guys weren't in ANBU. In your organisation, it is strict to a point. I cannot get into it either haha. But it's not the same for the majority of us and ANBU's way is not suitable for most. Konoha's shinobi are a part of our village, those we protect and fight for. We are not united solely by law and strict rules, but by the heart. Keep this in your mind."
"I will remember your words, Jiraiya-sama." Tsuyu said so, but in her mind she thought Jiraiya was a fool. United by heart? That's a part of it sure but for her law and order is always the first force binding an army together. Even sentiment can only be upheld by having order first.
The time eventually arrives. The real battle approaches.
Earth's side main army moves in 2 pronged directions, led by sensors on the perimeter.
Ino received the message. "It's starting."
Shikamaru that's lazily sitting in the tent, stood up and stretched his waist.
"If we can't hold on we lose." Shikamaru muttered.
"Everyone. Get into positions. We will win this as long as we hold on." His words were more factual than some encouraging words.
***
Meanwhile, the Heaven's army seemed down.
"We lost a lot of people. And those guys are so powerful."
"We had a lot in the medic tent. Shouldn't they also draw from the River Camp?"
"They want to keep that pressure on…"
"Hey look… we have the sannin's student now. I think we can do it?" Despite some hope, most of them had some bleak expression. It's also because they experience defeat against some kids that've only been genin for a short amount of time.
All of a sudden, a loud smack onto the table draws everyone's attention.
Vice General Tsuyu stood upright, hands behind her back.
"You think it's over!?"
Hush. Everyone was silenced, the murmur and discussion of what ifs and their possible loss stopped.
"I will tell you when it's over! And that's when you are all DEAD."
"You all here still have your limbs and feets. You can hold a kunai with your hands."
"Even you there, you broke one arm but still have the other! Even if you break all limbs, you have teeth to bite their flesh!" Tsuyu glared at one of the genin sitting in a corner looking down.
"A lot of our comrades sacrificed themselves to protect our lands. Are you willing to let their effort go down the drain!? Are you willing to let them trample on their graves?!"
Few of the genins clenched their fist tight. Almost forgetting their teammates didn't actually die but simply withdrew.
"No!" One of them stood, shouting with fervor.
"We won't let them waste their effort!"
Tsuyu nods in satisfaction.
"Then get the fuck up! Even if we are going down, we are going down in HONOR. You are a proud Shinobi of Konoha! If you think what's coming is death, then drag them to hell with you! Let your end become something you can be proud of! Let your death become a song of your deed!"
"YES!"
"YEAH!"
"For Heaven!" Tsuyu raises her voice. And following her, the crowd seems infected with fervor.
"For Heaven!"
"For Heaven!!".
"AARGH! FOR HEAVEN!".
Jiraiya looks at Tsuyu then at everyone that's injected with chicken blood in bewilderment. He almost thought it's not a simulation anymore.
Sasuke's squad followed along, shouting awkwardly so they weren't left behind.
Kiba shouted just as loud along with Akamaru. His eyes were shining looking at Tsuyu, domineering with aura around her.
"Everyone! In position! We will re-take our base. And WIN!" Yuu regained his spirit and shouted loudly.
"But they didn't die though…" Naruto muttered silently, feeling everyone is really going over the top.
***