Naruto: Escape From Konoha-Chapter 294 - 287: Declaration of War

The raid had concluded.

Ayane was somewhat dissatisfied with the statistics of the attack results on Suna in Windmill Town. She observed that out of the 50 air combat ninjas deployed, 21 lost their equipment. Despite the protection system preventing fatalities, the loss exceeded her initial estimate of ten to fifteen.

Regardless of Suna’s personnel losses, the equipments loss rate was almost one-third higher than anticipated, marking the operation as relatively unsuccessful.

Such outcome didn’t bring joy.

However, Ayane had no intention of punishment, but the Jōnin, serving as the squadron leader, reprimanded the returning ninjas. The ninjas who had lost their flying equipment were to be re-equipped with replacements.

There was a total of 100 aerial combat ninjas assembled for the main purpose of bombing windmill town in two batches until Suna troops there could no longer resist and had to withdraw. This was their main purpose.

"Then Ayane-sama, shall we go assess the extent of Suna’s battle damage in more detail?" The squadron leader asked.

Ayane clasped her hands in front of her chest, activating her Byakugan, she looked up at the distant town, a panoramic view of the situation there. Shaking her head "No need. With my Byakugan, i already know Suna’s damage. They sacrificed 79 ninjas, 37 seriously injured, and 90 slightly injured."

She effortlessly listed off the accurate casualty count, making the squad leader smile wryly. He momentarily forgot Ayane’s all-seeing eyes. Though their aircraft could clearly monitorenemy positions from the skies, her Byakugan’s range exceeded even the expensive equipment.

While specifics may vary, Ayane’s visual radius extended at least 15 kilometers...it was frightening indeed.

The Byakugan usually had an observation range within one to two kilometers, with those exceeding two kilometers being powerful ninjas from the Hyuga clan. Ayane, besides detecting the enemy situation, wanted to assess pilots’ abilities to detect the enemy and gauge deviations from the correct answer.

Air combat units were not invincible. In many cases, it required preliminary investigations to better deploy air strikes. Even a ballista, lacking advanced military technology, could pose a threat when armed with exploding tags on arrows.

"Tomorrow at 6:00, let the other five teams launch an attack on the Suna troop there. I’ll be there to observe the battle in person," Ayane commanded.

"Yes. Do we need to issue a pre-war notice letter to Suna this time?"

"No, even without a notice letter, they’re ready to fight us anytime, anywhere. Just follow the arrangement," Ayane instructed before turning and entering the tent.

.....

Indeed, as Ayane had predicted, after the first aerial attack, Baki had anticipated that the conflict between the Land of Wind and the Land of Demons could only be resolved through war.

General peace talks was no longer viable to settle this dispute between the two countries, unless a powerful third party intervened to stabilize negotiations between the two countries.

For now, Iwa and Kumo, adopting a wait-and-see approach, seemed disinterested in intervention. Instead, they appeared to favor the eruption of a large-scale conflict between the Land of Wind and the Land of Demons.

In this way, not only could the depth of the Land of Demons be gauged, but Suna’s power could also be depleted.

However, the strategy aligned with Suna’s expected outcome. Despite an imperfect execution of the process, winning the war would still position Suna on the side of justice, painting the Land of Demons’ actions as unreasonable.

At that point, the Land of Demons would come under the rule of the Land of Wind.

For the Land of Demons, this was a battle that staked the fate of the country. However, for the Land of Wind, it was merely a small-to-medium-scale local conflict.

As expected, they faced fierce resistance and counterattacks from the Land of Demons. It was well within Baki’s predictions. The only thing he didn’t anticipate was that the Land of Demons’ aerial combat force would be more powerful than he imagined once it took shape.

Even with preparations made in advance, there were still about two hundred casualties, with seventy-nine losing their lives in the in the first attack.

This wasn’t a good start for Baki. As the enemy attacked from the air, many ninjutsu and ninja fighting abilities became irrelevant in this war. The only effective tools were ultra-long-range weapons like the ballista, which Suna never valued in the past.

Baki efficiently implemented post-war protocols and arranged the casualties appropriately, but he couldn’t afford to be lax about the skies.

The strategic layout of the Land of Demons might be immature and erratic, but their sophisticated weapons and equipment allowed them to overlook this shortcoming.

Baki realized the importance of paying attention to the next battle, avoiding blind underestimation of the Land of Demons’ military from a strategic perspective.

Thus, the second half of the night passed peacefully.

.....

The sun hadn’t yet risen, and the members of Ayane’s unit stationed in the Forest had already risen early to enjoy their breakfast, ensuring they didn’t waste the morning air raid.

The fifty ninjas assigned to the morning air raid sat together in a simple tent, facing their own dining seats. Freshly baked white bread, jam, salad, milk, and hot canned meat adorned each dining table, providing rich and balanced nutrition.

They swiftly consumed their meals, then proceeded to the warehouse to retrieve their assigned equipments. They strapped the aircraft to their backs, pulled the switch, and seamlessly integrated with the machines, thanks to their chakra system connecting with the functional system inside the equipment.

Afterward, they made their way to the landing pad, a small silver-white metal square with a mechanical texture on the ground. Five flight tracks were set up, each with a huge metal launcher at the starting point, bonded to the track. The launcher could supply energy to the aircraft, replenishing it to the maximum in the shortest time.

The launch took place in batches of ten times for the fifty ninjas. Without hesitation, they stabilized on the launcher, and the sound of machinery and roaring atmosphere filled their ears. Although not deafening, the noise had a trembling effect.

As they were ejected by the launcher, sparks and electric currents crackled on the track, and they soared into the sky. The aircraft, surrounded by a gentle airflow, allowed the ninja, with their strong physiques, to navigate the atmosphere without much discomfort.

Once in high altitude, each pilot adjusted their body shape, skillfully balancing themselves within three seconds—a mastered skill learned during their student days, an instinct engraved in their bodies.

As the first rays of the sun appeared from the east, their aerial maneuvers continued.

....

Eating cold rice balls or consuming soldier pills to fill their stomachs, the Sand Hidden troops, being isolated, prefer to minimize their mealtime.

The air strike the previous night har disrupted the traditional ninja fights they knew of, leaving a psychological shadow within them. While they displayed strong will against the air raid, it was only a balanced battle, successfully repelling the Land of Demons’ air troops.

To cope with potential air strikes that might occur at ny moment, their eating time became tighter. Despite the unappealing taste of the rice balls and ration pill, they only needed 5o fill their stomach not caring for anything else.

Most importantly, they couldn’t leave windmill town’s shelter. Losing the tow would expose them on the endless plain, making them live targets for the Land of Demons’ air combat troops.

This explained why Baki didn’t withdraw the troops but defended the town. The bunkers provide a strategic advantage, allowing them to withstand the assault from the Land of Demons’ aerial forces. Losing this advantageous terrain would be disastrous.

After the airstrike last night, Baki learned about their capabilities. Despite the formidable firepower, it wasn’t insurmountable, especially when utilizing the surrounding bunkers to significantly reduce the enemy’s bombing effectiveness.

While most of the Suna ninjas were having breakfast, the familiar buzzing sound of machines approached their ears from the distance.

The Suna ninjas quickly finished their food, then moved to their designated positions, gazing up at the sky. True to expectations, against the morning light, black dots whirled in the air, speeding towards the sky above the town.

Baki, informed by a sensory ninja’s report, learned that 50 members would be attacking this morning, similar to the previous night. A sense of unease nagged at Baki, though he had little time for contemplation. Connecting with the radio, he organized the Suna ninjas, launching arrows carrying explosive tags into the air.

The battle scene mirrored that of the previous night, with Suna displaying a sharper response to the airborne threat. Baki commanded the ninjas with increased ease, leveraging their familiarity with the enemy’s attack patterns to find gaps in the opponent’s formation.

As Baki observed the fifty Land of Demons ninjas circling in the sky, his heart’s tension eased slightly. A hole opened under the aircraft wing, emitting a dark light.

Afterwards, Kunai shot out from the hole, each carrying a special exploding tag. Falling ruthlessly to the ground, they created explosions, digging up streets, scattering reddish-brown soil, swaying trees, and causing casualties among Suna ninjas near the blast.

Baki maintained a calm and unhurried command, understanding that sacrifices were inevitable against the fierce air firepower of the Land of Demons. Despite the sorrow for Suna’s sacrifice, it was the nature of combat.

"Next, it’s our turn to attack," Baki said to the four ninjas beside him with a serious expression.

These four Suna ninjas stood up, having refrained from action the previous night to assess the Land of Demons’ air firepower and the flying ninjas’ specific heights and maneuverability.

"How about it, are you confident in taking them down?"

"Not sure, after all, there’s that troublesome protective barrier, and the exploding tags from kunai and arrow which will also hinder our actions."

"It’s alright, I’ll take care of it."

Baki blew into the radio set on his lips and then took a deep breath.

"Understood, let’s also appear in the next battle," One of them nodded, initiating action, followed by the other three ninjas.

They retrieved scrolls from their pouch, spreading them on the ground. With white smoke, hard wooden dolls emerged one after another.

The four Suna ninjas released their ten fingers without hesitation, using chakra to control the summoned puppets. The puppets, connected by chakra, floated off the ground, defying the laws of nature and soaring towards the sky.

Ninjas from the Land of Demons noticed this scene, their brows furrowing. Puppets?

Puppeteery was unique in Suna, but flying puppets to such heights was truly remarkable. Ordinary puppets, controlled by puppeteers, moving at low altitudes were impressive. Their high-altitude position, seemingly untouchable by conventional ninjutsu, was specifically designed to counter ultra-long-range offensive puppet masters.

To allow the four puppet masters to fight without scruples, Baki focused all his energy on battle command. Suna faced disadvantages against the air force, but these could be slowly equalized.

For Baki, wiping out the air force entirely was unrealistic. Repelling them, however, meant victory for Suna.

...

"The Suna ninjas are proving more challenging to handle than anticipated."

On the edge of the cliff lies a lush forest. One of the squadron leader, frowned while observing the blocked air force through hid binoculars.

"After all, they’re one of the five great powers with deep foundations. It is within expectations that they would be a ble to make corresponding deployments swiftly. Even if their technology was lacking, their ninja abilities are outstanding."

Using her eyes, Ayane could immediately grasp the overall situation and understand the battle in windmill town like the back of her hand.

"Should we recall and redeploy them?"

Suna’s actions proved somewhat unexpected. No one anticipated a puppet master capable of ultra-long-range attacks.

"No, this is part of their mission. For them, gaining experience is more important. If it were for victory from the start, I could handle the surrounding Suna army alone."

Ayane’s mouth curled up, showing complete indifference to the strength of Suna’s resistance.

The banner symbolizing the Land of Demons’ victory had already been raised; there was no urgency to eliminate the Suna troops remaining in the Land of Demons.

Unlike the Five Great Nations, which had experienced three ninja world wars, the Land of Demons hadn’t been involved any significant wars before.

While there were numerous simulated battles, they remained just that – simulations, lacking the reality of actual combat. The blood and fire on the battlefield were the best nourishment for soldiers to grow.

The Land of Demons didn’t lack strength, weapons, or logistical resources. What they lacked was the will to traverse the battlefield, facing life and death without fear of blood and death.

Though the Land of Demons used the underground black market to let some of their ninjas gain experience, supported by Bug Men, such training was a mere drop in the bucket for the large ninja base of the Land of Demons, rendering it inconsequential.

Only the battlefield of a major country constitutes a genuine battleground.

If the Land of Demons could not surpass this level, regardless of the strength of the three, the Land of Demons’ regime will inevitably crumble soon.

The battle with the Land of Wind presents the best opportunity for actual combat exercises.

If they missed this chance, the next Land of Winds might not appear, depriving the Land of Demons of valuable training and experience. Hence, it was crucial to control the situation on the initial battlefield and maintain the delicate balance of being ’evenly matched.’

"After an hour, have them return, and I’ll leave the rest to.you."

"Yes, please rest assured," The squadron leader nodded solemnly.

...

After one hour:

After two rounds of bombing, the building complex in within the town suffered even more severe damage. The ground was littered with charred clods, and the power supply facilities on the town’s edge were completely destroyed, sending black smoke billowing into the sky.

Observing the orderly evacuation of the’ air force, Baki couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong, yet he couldn’t pinpoint the issue.

With puppet masters capable of ultra-long-range attacks joining the battle, Suna generally held an advantage in this exchange of fire with the enemy.

Despite the advantage being subtle and the losses relatively large, holding their ground and repelling the enemy would be a significant victory for Baki.

After the two skirmishes, Baki gained a better understanding of the Land of Demons’ air combatants.

"How about the losses?" Baki asked as he saw the puppeteers around him summoning their puppets back.

A puppeteer smiled wryly and responded, "It’s more challenging than expected. Although the puppet’s hardness rivals steel, the enemy’s firepower is fierce. Particularly, we need to be cautious with our own attacks. Overall, it’s still not satisfactory; we can only play a role in restraining a portion of their firepower."

Examining the recalled puppets, all in tatters, Baki sighed. The repair work was intricate, and the uncertainty of when the enemy would launch another offensive made matters more troublesome.

"This has nothing to do with Baki-sama. Mainly, it’s our first-time cooperation, and there will inevitably be some errors," The puppeteer assumed Baki was blaming himself for operational mistakes.

In fact, from the puppet masters’ perspective, Baki’s commands did their best to make the puppets avoid friendly fire and concentrate on attacking the airborne enemy.

The main issue was a time error in the cooperation between themselves, causing attack trajectories to occasionally overlap. The exploding tags on the arrows would encroach on their puppet’s attacking space, hindering its movements.

This was an issue that even Baki’s strategic acumen couldn’t bridge. Ninjas from Konoha’s Yamanaka Clan were probably the only people capable of remotely connecting everyone’s spiritual space, ensuring perfect and uniform cooperation among ninjas.

Skills played a crucial role in a ninja’s talents, and in Konoha, with the Yamanaka and Nara clans, dealing with the Land of Demons’ air force wouldn’t be as challenging as it was for Suna.

The Yamanaka Clan could execute tactical chaining, while the Nara Clan could act as the brain or use their shadow jutsus to limit the mobility of the’ air force. Capturing the shadow of the aircraft meant a perilous situation of crashing.

"I’m not worried about these; I have no idea why, but k keep having a bad feeling," Baki sighed.

"Didn’t Baki-sama already send someone to send a message back to the village? With the message, Kazekage-sama will take action soon,"

"The request for reinforcements from the village is much earlier than the original plan. According to the village’s strategy, they didn’t anticipate the continuous stalemate with the Land of Demons from the dtart. Still, they hoped that our vanguard would deliver a decisive blow, allowing a large force to press forward and end the battle quickly with an absolute advantage."

However, the current situation revealed the Land of Demons putting up tenacious resistance and confining them to this small time, creating a dilemma.

This was something Baki hadn’t anticipated.

"Don’t worry about it; it’s nothing more than ending they war early," The puppeteer reassured.

The vanguard force of a thousand Suna ninjas served as a lure. Once the specific strength of the Land of Demons was tested, Sunagakure could initiate a large-scale attack, aiming for a swift victory in a single round of war.

Although the actual situation deviated from the original plan, it didn’t hinder the final direction.

The stronger the Land of Demons, the sooner Suna’s reinforcements would be dispatched, leading to an earlier end to the war.

In order to control the scale of the war and prevent it from escalating into a ninja war, the optimal solution was a full-scale conflict confined to a local area, swiftly resolved.

The position of the neutral contry needed to also be considered, and subsequent interest negotiations would be left to politicians from the Daimyo’s dide.

By then, Sunagakure would secure its share of the action.

"I hope so. I hope the village makes a decision as soon as possible," Baki nodded, acknowledging that their next move, whether to advance or retreat, depended on the village’s decision.

...

"The official announcement declaring war on the Land of Wind has been made, and it’s time to provide a comprehensive explanation to the people in the country."

Shiraishi handed the declaration of war against the Land of Wind, signed with his name, to the staff of the subordinate department in front of him.

"Yes."

Bowing slightly to Shiraishi, the Oni nin left the office promptly. He conveyed Shiraishi’s order to various departments as quickly as possible and then announced the Land of Demons military’s decision to every town in the country.

The declaration of war between the Land of Demons and the Land of Wind was officially established to all countries.

This constituted the equation for the declaration of war’s establishment. From the moment Suna crossed the Devils Ravine of the Land of Bears and captured Windmill Town, it already meant that the Land of Demons could take necessary legitimate military actions against the Land of Wind.

The reason for not issuing the announcement immediately was that Shiraishi wanted to build anticipation among the people of the Land of Demons.

Faced with Suna’s unreasonable entry and occupation of territory, most people in the country were emotional, harboring dissatisfaction directed at the Land of Wind.

The tacit fact of big countries bullying smaller ones had long been recognized. However, in the past, the Land of Demons, protected by witches, had never been invaded by foreign enemies except for monsters.

Yet, the unreasonable troubles caused by the great powers had seriously damaged the Land of Demons’ national sovereignty. Not only the common people but also many nobles and businessmen were concerned. If the Land of Demons lost this war, their interests would be violated.

While some hoped for the Miko to intervene and prioritize peace with the Land of Wind, most nobles and businessmen, while maintaining a pessimistic attitude, hoped that the military would make a difference. They wished to avoid significant losses during negotiations with the Land of Wind.

Their wealth, relying on the excellent business environment of the Land of Demons, was not only guaranteed but also growing. A loss in the war would have a profound impact on the business of the Land of Demons, affecting the living space of nobles and businessmen.

Due to the unique business environment of the Land of Demons, currently unmatched in the ninja world, merchants and nobles in the Land of Demons would come to realize the importance of having a strong military force.

Moreover, the series of actions by the Land of Wind had successfully mobilized the resistance of most people in the country. This was precisely what Shiraishi wanted to see.

In this way, declaring war on the Land of Wind had become a just war of course. To seduce, declare war, and expand—the plan was officially entering its second phase, transitioning from partial conflict to full-scale conflict and from a passive stance to preparing for active war.

"The conditions have been met, so Ruri can officially start from Hoshigakure."

Shiraishi tilted his head slightly, gazing out of the window at white clouds floating under the blue sky in the direction of the Land of Fire. His name was signed on the declaration of war against the Land of Wind, marking the first time he disclosed the name as the military leader of the Land of Demons. This information would reach Konoha’s senior management within three days.

By then, negotiations or joint pressure from the rest of the ninja villages might follow.

Shiraishi smiled lightly, sat on the chair, took a calm sip of tea without feeling nervous, and opened his mouth to the air.

"Then, when the time comes, you will be responsible for my protection...."

Behind him, a figure appeared like a ghost. Holding a spear wrapped in a white bandage in his hand, the bandage densely packed with black eyeballs resembling a live object.

"Yes, Father."

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