Kazekage Ninja: The Rise of the Hidden Sand-Chapter 151 - 46: Bandits Must Be Eliminated Anytime! No Exceptions!

Chapter 151 - 46: Bandits Must Be Eliminated Anytime! No Exceptions!

"Bang!"

Jinghang angrily slammed the table, veins bulging on his forehead.

"This is outrageous! Where did these bandits come from, daring to provoke Sunagakure? Damn it! Picking eggplants without checking their ripeness."

According to the report submitted by Tetsu Yamashita, during the Five Nations Conference held at Yuexi Peninsula, a group of sand bandits attacked the Satsuki Expressway. Not only did they destroy nearly a kilometer of the crystal tunnel, but they also assaulted a convoy transporting grain and goods from the Moon Lake New District to Sunagakure. Fifty convoy members were killed, and all the grain and valuables were looted.

"Sand bandits?" Jinghang asked with a dark expression.

"Yes!" Tetsu Yamashita replied.

Sand bandits, as the name suggests, are bandits in the desert, an ancient profession. Despite the desolation, there are scattered oases deep in the desert, providing a habitat for these outlaws who survive by robbing caravans traversing the desert. When faced with ninja or samurai raids, they retreat into the desert's depths, elusive and troublesome.

In recent years, the world has been chaotic, with wars raging, creating many wandering ninjas and ronin (samurai from fallen countries). These individuals lack productive skills, knowing only fighting and killing, leading some to become bandits in the Land of Wind.

However, with the establishment of several crystal expressways by Sunagakure, the sturdy crystal became a natural barrier for caravans. Many sand bandits, like monkeys facing iron walnuts, wanted the goods but couldn't break through the shell.

This time, the sand bandits somehow managed to breach the crystal shell of the expressway tunnel.

Now, Tetsu Yamashita no longer bore the grim visage he had in Kirigakure. After undergoing cosmetic surgery at Sunagakure's medical department, his features were sharp and chiseled, exuding a rugged handsomeness. Even with a heavy expression, he appeared extraordinary.

"Based on our investigation, this is a bandit group entrenched deep in the desert, numbering around three thousand, with a complex composition. It includes defected ninjas from various villages, sand bandits who have lived by plunder for years, and ninjas from Kirigakure's failed coup. They call themselves—Black Wind Fortress."

"I don't care if it's Black Wind Fortress or White Wind Fortress, bandits! They must be eliminated at all times! If not eradicated, it's unacceptable! I'll order the standing army now, deploy two regiments, and wipe out these rabble."

Jinghang waved his hand decisively.

Tetsu Yamashita nodded and said, "Kazekage-sama, deploying two regiments against these sand bandits is certainly a sure bet, but I have a new idea."

"Oh? Let's hear it."

Jinghang was surprised and thought it made sense. Such matters should be reported directly to Sasori, the shadow overseeing the village, instead of traveling all the way to Yuexi Peninsula to find him.

"Firstly, according to our statistics and the intelligence brought back from Kirigakure, there are over thirty bandit groups of varying sizes in the desert. I see this as an opportunity. The war is over, and there's currently no conflict, but the standing army of over ten thousand men has been idle for too long, risking complacency. Ninjas who haven't seen blood lack combat effectiveness. I propose using these bandits as a whetstone for our standing army."

"Excellent, use these beasts as the target. Not only the standing army, but your intelligence department should also take action, pinpoint the bandits' locations, plan the attack routes. It's a chance to test your capabilities."

As the founding marshal once said, only troops willing to see blood with bayonets are truly formidable. After the Second Ninja World War, the ninja continent will enter a period of peace, "Eternal Era," with fewer combat missions in the Land of Wind. Troops must not remain idle; idleness leads to complacency. Eliminating desert bandits not only enhances the standing army's combat prowess and maintains the ninjas' fighting spirit but also ensures the safety of the expressways and the smooth flow of trade routes. Jinghang fully supported Tetsu Yamashita's viewpoint.

"Secondly, Kazekage-sama might consider requesting a bandit eradication order from the Daimyo of the Land of Wind. These sand bandits are elusive, likely to enter the Daimyo's territory, possibly even reaching Kunling Plain. We could seize the opportunity to cross the border and eliminate bandits, wouldn't you say?"

"Ah, brilliant! Appointing you as the intelligence department head was the right choice!" Jinghang praised excitedly.

Tetsu Yamashita spoke somewhat cryptically, but Jinghang understood perfectly. This approach effectively secured control over all military power in the Land of Wind in advance.

Sunagakure, as one of the five major ninja villages on the continent, is undoubtedly the strongest armed force in the Land of Wind, but not the only one. The Daimyo, of course, is not a lone commander; he also commands a group of privately loyal armed forces—the samurai group.

Samurai is a hereditary profession, practicing swordsmanship for generations, following the Daimyo's orders exclusively. Their strength is significant, and there are even countries composed solely of samurai, like the Land of Iron, on the ninja continent. They are the second-largest force after ninjas.

Every country's Daimyo has private samurai groups, ranging from dozens to thousands. The Daimyo of the Land of Wind, as the leader of a major nation, commands over four thousand samurai.

The Daimyo of the Land of Wind dares to withhold military funds from Sunagakure but never shortchanges his samurai's sustenance. Why? Ninjas are ultimately just workers; samurai are his direct loyal forces.

Therefore, to complete the plan to seize the country, the samurai group in the Land of Wind must be removed as a roadblock.

How to remove them? Engaging in open combat with samurai would be outright rebellion, which is inadvisable.

Perhaps first let the desert bandits deplete the samurai's active forces, then have Sunagakure's ninjas annihilate them. This way, the plan to seize the country can proceed legitimately.

But how can the Daimyo of the Land of Wind be persuaded to deploy samurai against bandits?

At this moment, Tetsu Yamashita handed Jinghang a plan.

Jinghang glanced at the cover title of the plan and was shocked.

"Rou Zhao Plan?! You've planted agents among the sand bandits!"

Rou Zhao—one of the names of the year, referring to Tai Sui in "Bing." Clearly part of the Tian Gan Plan.

"Exactly!"

"So you knew in advance about the Black Wind Fortress attacking the Satsuki Expressway!"

Jinghang quickly reacted, his expression turning somewhat grim.

"Yes," Tetsu Yamashita said without changing his expression.

Jinghang was silent for a moment, quietly flipping through the plan.

He instantly understood Tetsu Yamashita's reasoning.

Compared to Sasori's steady competence, Tetsu Yamashita's intelligence style was more ruthless and patient, willing to sacrifice a small part for the greater good.

Tetsu Yamashita, knowing the attack intelligence, decisively chose to sacrifice the convoy to gain greater benefits. This resolute mindset is something only seasoned intelligence personnel can achieve.

Just like Britain during World War II, having cracked all of the German military codes, they still turned a blind eye to the convoys being sunk in the Atlantic. Why? To preserve the larger strategy. The victories at the Battle of El Alamein, the Battle of Stalingrad, and the Normandy landings were largely due to Britain's continuous patience, playing a crucial role at the critical moment. Small patience leads to great schemes. (For those unfamiliar, watch the movie "The Imitation Game.")

Jinghang had to admit that Tetsu Yamashita was more suitable for the intelligence department head than Sasori. He was a snake-like figure.

"This plan is excellent, I agree, but..." Jinghang changed his tone, his voice becoming cold.

"You should have informed me in advance. Telling me after fifty deaths, isn't it a bit late?"

"Kazekage-sama, I..."

Tetsu Yamashita wanted to explain but was stopped by Jinghang raising his hand.

"I understand what you want to say, and I know your intentions, but these are fifty lives. This approach—violates the natural order!"

After speaking, Jinghang left the room without looking back at Tetsu Yamashita, essentially warning him. Otherwise, if he develops a habit of acting without reporting, he'll eventually cause a major problem.

As he left the room, Jinghang paused and left a final remark.

"Don't let it happen again."

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