I, The New Hokage of Konoha

Bang~ Bang~

A series of explosions echoed continuously in the sky.

Once again chewing clay in the palms of their hands, Deidara swiftly spat out one small clay bird after another without any pause, just like before, hurling the bombs in their hands towards the pursuing Konan.

Konan, seeing this, flapped her giant wings made of paper scraps.

Thin but incredibly sharp paper sheets shot out rapidly.

Some sliced the clay birds in half, while others turned into explosive tags, detonating alongside the clay birds.

In the end, Deidara's obstruction proved futile, as Konan continued to chase relentlessly without slowing down.

"Tsk~"

Witnessing this scene, Deidara snorted displeasedly, commanding the C2 dragon under his feet to accelerate toward the direction of the Land of Grass, carrying a group of Rock Ninjas and numerous scrolls containing logistical supplies.

He had been through many such encounters before.

Three days passed.

The Rock Ninjas earnestly commenced their self-rescue efforts.

On the side of the Land of Grass, Dainoki, despite the worsening situation at the front line, dispatched another batch of reinforcements responsible for logistical tasks to aid Deidara's team.

In the coastal direction of the Land of Earth, despite the efforts of Rock Ninjas and even more desperate battles than the Konoha Ninjas, the dispatched Rock Ninjas forces, though willing, could only manage to send back less than a hundred reinforcements.

Despite these combined efforts, they still couldn't break through the barrier of the Rain Ninjas numbering four thousand.

Even though the supply convoy took longer routes, avoiding the established logistical lines, they were hindered by agents sent by Jiraiya, who had extensively studied the map of the Land of Earth and planned everything.

In the end, when many methods failed, the Rock Ninjas had no choice but to resort to having Deidara airlift the sealed scrolls.

However, due to his limited chakra and Konan's interception, the supplies were occasionally intercepted.

When calculated, the supplies transported by Deidara were only a drop in the bucket for the increasingly depleted forces of the Rock Ninjas in the Land of Grass.

But even so, this was the most effective way to sustain their operation.

Aware of the Rock Ninjas's dire situation and the significance of the sealed scrolls he held, Deidara, glancing at his old rival who was closing in, cursed, then proceeded as he had always done.

In a short time, he molded over a dozen birds capable of carrying people, tossing them to his side, where they quickly enlarged.

"Same old method, everyone fend for yourselves," Deidara said to the Rock Ninjas following him.

"Yes!"

No one opposed it.

All the Rock Ninjas swiftly and skillfully grabbed the sealed scrolls they could carry to their limits, then leaped onto the backs of the birds, dispersing in various directions and swiftly flying away.

Finally, only one person stood on the back of the giant dragon, carrying slightly more scrolls than the others, looking back expectantly, hoping Konan would come for him.

Unfortunately, after glancing at the sealed scrolls carried by Deidara, driven by the pursuit of maximum achievement, Konan spread her wings and headed towards a Rock Ninjas who was closer.

Seeing this, Deidara could only shake his head and hasten his departure.

This was the Rock Ninjas's current strategy for maximizing efficiency.

Using a small amount of bait to buy time for Konan, allowing the remaining individuals to successfully deliver supplies to the Rock Ninjas's large army.

Deidara had considered eliminating Konan first.

But her strength was on par with his, coupled with her constant long-range harassment, her objective was more about delaying him and others.

This was fatal for the anxious Rock Ninjas awaiting supplies at the front lines.

Deidara couldn't afford to be delayed and couldn't defeat her, so he had to resort to the gecko's tail-cutting method.

He even dared not carry too many scrolls himself.

Not out of fear of Konan, but for fear of being entangled by her, hindering the timely delivery of supplies to the front lines.

Finally, after suffering a third of the casualties, Deidara's team returned to the Rock Ninjas camp in the Land of Grass.

Upon landing, some Rock Ninjas, noticeably more disheveled than before, hurriedly came to collect the sealed scrolls and quickly took inventory of the supplies.

Deidara paid no attention and went straight to report the current situation in the country to his own teacher at the main tent.

Along the way, observing the fewer number of Rock Ninjas than before, who no longer had the same spiritedness as before, and hearing the increasingly desperate cries of the wounded, Deidara, who used to be carefree, had matured considerably after these days of intense warfare, sighed slightly and quickened his pace.

When he finally entered the presence of his mentor, he immediately caught the familiar scent of blood.

"Are you alright, old man?" Concerned, Deidara asked his teacher, lying on the bed and receiving medical treatment on his waist from ninja medics.

Big Boss Yamanaka, who appeared much older than before, quickly raised his head upon hearing Deidara's voice, swiftly expressing joy, "Deidara, you're back! It's just an old problem of mine, nothing serious. How much of the supplies that were transported this time?"

Although aware that his teacher's injuries were far from being "nothing serious," the matured Deidara didn't comment further and instead proceeded to report the quantity of supplies transported.

"It's still far from enough!" Upon hearing this, Big Boss Yamanaka bitterly smiled.

Seeing this, after thinking for a moment, Deidara continued to disclose another reality, "In addition... the response of the Rock Ninjas army in the Land of Earth's coastal area suffered significant losses due to the resilient resistance from Konoha Ninjas forces. Even if we manage to defeat them, the remaining forces might not be able to handle the Rain Ninjas."

Silence enveloped the tent.

After a while, Big Boss Yamanaka sighed deeply, "I understand."

Then, he quickly regained his composure, stating firmly, "The Rock Ninjas still have a trump card. I've already contacted the Fourth Kazekage from the Hidden Sand Village. Three thousand Sand Ninjas are on their way to the Land of Earth. Two days! As long as we can hold on for two days! The Rain Ninjas will be defeated by the Sand Ninjas when they arrive, and our logistical lines will be restored."

"Two days?" Deidara murmured.

It was indeed good news.

But suddenly, he wondered whether the Rock Ninjas, who had been languishing for the past few days, receiving thousands of reinforcements from the Mist Ninjas battlefield and the Land of Iron battlefield, their strength now surpassing the Rock Ninjas considerably, with abundant logistical support, and the high-spirited Konoha Ninjas continuously launching relentless attacks day and night—could the demoralized Rock Ninjas hold on?

However, this thought was quickly dismissed from his mind.

Regardless, they had to hold on.

"Old man, I'll go back to the village now

and gather another batch of supplies," Deidara quickly stated.

"Be safe, Deidara."

At this moment, every Rock Ninjas had to exert their full strength.

Facing the request of his disciple, Big Boss Yamanaka would not refuse.

Finally.

Watching Deidara's departing figure, Big Boss Yamanaka, enduring the pain on the bed, gazed with determination:

"Two days!"

...

"Two days?"

Inside the main tent of the Konoha Village's army in the Land of Grass.

Through the latest intelligence received, it was clear that a troop from the Hidden Sand Village had set off for the Land of Earth. After calculating the distance, it was understood that this new force would reach the location of the old master, Jiraiya, in two days.

Then, gazing at the assembled Konoha Ninjas, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, declared decisively, "Since we only have two days, let's set the time for two days from now and give our final farewell to the Rock Ninjas!"

"Yes!"

At that moment, every Konoha Ninjas nodded enthusiastically.

At this stage of the war, each Konoha Ninjas had unwavering confidence and firmly believed that they would achieve the ultimate victory in two days.

However, they never anticipated it.

Sometimes, life is full of surprises.

Just two days later, the Konoha Village, acting as the headquarters, would play a little "joke" on them.