I just returned to Konoha and found that all my clan members were gone.

"Is this guy Ohnoki crazy? He actually transferred all the troops here!"

Osamu was surprised by Ōnoki's decision, he had expected Ōnoki to attack, but he had not predicted such a big move.

"Master Xiu, should we abandon our position? If the enemy's reinforcements arrive, our situation will be very difficult!"

An adjutant couldn't help but speak up, saying that Iwagakure was ready to fight to the death.

"Can't withdraw!"

Xiu said without even thinking.

"Let our troops come over as well. Since Ohnoki wants a decisive battle, we will fight him to the end."

"But we still need soldiers stationed in our occupied areas. No one knows how many Iwagakure ninjas are hidden among those civilians."

The adjutant was right. Apart from some who joined Amegakure, many deserters from Iwagakure fled among the civilians.

The more places Amegakure occupies, the more people are needed to guard them. No one knows whether these exiled ninjas will rise again.

"Ohnoki made this decision very suddenly. He didn't have that much time to prepare these. Follow my orders and have the nearby troops provide support as much as possible. I will take responsibility if anything goes wrong."

After Xiu said this, those who still had objections lowered their heads. What did they fear if the leader dared to take responsibility?

"We also need to form a counterattack force to focus on dealing with the Tsuchikage. His Dust Release is too troublesome!"

Xiu looked at Ohnoki who kept releasing Dust Release on the battlefield. Its power was not much different from that of artillery.

"Counterattack? But we can barely hold on now."

The people under his command did not expect that Xiu would have such an idea.

"Why? You are used to fighting in favorable battles, but you can't fight a slightly tougher battle?"

At this time, Xiu also showed the aura of a leader.

"Who would have thought a year ago that we could occupy so much territory in the Land of Earth? You think something impossible is impossible? Let the rocket soldiers disperse to attack Ohnoki and his group, and the rest of the people will charge under the cover of rockets! This must be done for me!"

Later on, Xiu's voice became like a roar, making these people not expect that the usually gentle Xiu would show such a side of him.

"Yes, I understand. I will order people to organize an attack right away!"

The person who had just raised the objection was suddenly startled. If he had just refused, Xiu could have arrested him for disobeying military orders.

"No need, I will personally select the candidates for the counter-charge!"

Xiu no longer counts on these officers staying in the rear. After all, the military has not been established for long, and the uneven quality also poses some hidden dangers. These things still need to be adjusted later.

Xiu put on Yuyin's specially made military uniform jacket, walked out of the command post and came to a slightly farther defense line. A few dozen meters ahead was the battlefield where the two sides were fighting.

When all the officers in the command post saw Xiu at the front line, they rushed to his side, fearing that something might go wrong with him. At this distance, Ōnoki could take their lives with one Dust Release.

The soldiers on the defense line hadn't figured out the officers' intentions yet. Xiu ignored the cover of others, stepped forward, looked at the soldiers and said.

"This battle may be the most difficult one we have fought in the Land of Earth! You can see that the enemy has fought desperately! Even Ohnoki, the Tsuchikage, has run to the front line! Are you afraid?"

Many soldiers didn't react at once. They knew Xiu, but they didn't know why he said such a thing at this time.

In response to Xiu's question, more soldiers remained silent.

"I'm not afraid!"

At this time a young soldier stood up and spoke loudly.

Xiu's eyes lit up. He didn't expect anyone would respond to him.

"Very good, you are not afraid, but to tell you the truth, I am afraid!"

This made them even more confused about what Xiu wanted to say, including the young soldier who was looking at Xiu with puzzled eyes.

"Everyone should know what the current situation of the Rain Country is like? Are our lives getting better and better?"

Instead of answering their questions, Xiu asked an obvious question.

Everyone present could answer this question, and it was an obvious fact.

Work is allocated, wages are generous, there is land to farm, and there is a house to live in. The changes in the Rain Country in recent years have affected everyone.

"So I am afraid of the title of Tsuchikage, but I am more afraid that we will lose the fight! Once we lose, our good days will be over! Do you still want the Rain Country to become what it was before? To live a life of hunger and joblessness?"

"Do not want to."

Hearing this inquiry, some soldiers couldn't help but start answering.

"Speak louder, tell me if you want to live that kind of life?"

"In no mood!"

At this moment, everyone present started yelling loudly.

"Not only for the Rain Country! But also for your wives, children, brothers and sisters! We must win this battle! I am organizing people to launch a counterattack now. Who will sign up?"

"I!"

In an instant, everyone present raised their arms, their eyes were red, and Xiu's words touched their hearts.

Xiu nodded, and then asked his adjutant to select the candidates. He knew that these people had a narrow escape from death, but if they survived, they would be able to give the Rain Country army a new lease of life.

"My Lord, I didn't expect you to be able to give a speech."

After everyone left, the adjutant quietly came to Xiu and raised his thumb.

Xiu smiled and said, "It's just repeating what others have said. These are what Lord Ye Lan told me."

Looking at the counterattack troops that were already prepared, he felt a little reluctant.

In fact, he did not expect the counterattack to bring any effect. He only hoped to stop Ōnoki's advance. However, the only way to stop the opponent's advance was to pay with their lives.

Looking at the still pitch-black night, Xiu clenched his fists. Ye Lan told him that they could return at daybreak, and he only needed to hold on for one night and all problems would be solved.

Whether Yuyin's "rabble" can truly become a steel torrent depends on this battle.

...

"Die, you bastard from Iwagakure!"

Another person carrying a detonating tag rushed towards Ōnoki in a suicidal manner. A senior ninja from Iwagakure used ninjutsu to block the opponent in time, but the aftermath of the explosion also made him look a little embarrassed.

Ohnoki was also breathing heavily at this moment, his neatly combed hair was now messy, and his entire face was covered with dust.

"Are these guys crazy?"

The Iwagakure jonin who was made to look so embarrassed couldn't help but curse. Not only Ōnoki, but the others had also obviously consumed a lot of chakra in order to maintain the formation.

At this moment, everyone looked pale and exhausted. Those who could come here were all people with strong will.

Ōnoki also clearly felt that the pace of advancement was slowing down, but he couldn't blame anyone seeing that everyone was almost exhausted.

The effectiveness of Dust Release has been greatly reduced now. The rocket soldiers are too scattered, and one Dust Release may not kill many of them.

What made him even more speechless was that the rocket soldier might have been killed by him, and the black iron pipe he threw down was taken away by the person next to him and continued to be used.

This caused him to waste a lot of chakra, and the situation became increasingly worse.

He also discovered that as soon as the troops they mobilized arrived, the enemy's reinforcements also arrived, and many fearless guys rushed up with detonating talismans at all costs.

Just to consume a little bit of their chakra. If they continue like this, they may not be able to take the position even if they die of exhaustion.