"This time, I underestimated the enemy. I never expected Konoha to deliberately send only three thousand men, with every one of them being an elite."
"I won't say anything else. I am willing to accept any punishment! I only ask that Lord Tsuchikage give me a chance to redeem myself through service."
Mihara Otake deeply acknowledged his mistakes, while secretly hating that Uchiha brat... the one who had crushed his right flank and triggered the chain reaction.
Through his investigation, he had already learned the man's exact circumstances.
If not for that brat, the outcome might still have been uncertain. Damn it, they would not have been defeated so thoroughly.
"In this matter, you bear an inescapable responsibility. Punishment is unavoidable, but since we are at war, it may be postponed for now."
"At the same time, I bear some responsibility as well. I underestimated Konoha's regard for the surrounding nations and did not expect their reinforcements to arrive so quickly."
"Even less did I expect the younger generation to have such talented individuals. One of them had only graduated from the ninja academy a few years ago. They truly are the strongest ninja village."
The Third Tsuchikage looked at the map of the ninja world on the table and quietly sighed.
"I have a task for you next."
Ōnoki pulled a letter he had prepared long ago from a drawer and tossed it to Mihara Otake.
"You will personally travel to Takigakure in the Land of Waterfalls. Make them our strategic allies, have them send troops into the Land of Grass, and then attack Konoha again!"
"On the other side, we must abandon our strategy in the Land of Birds and make peace with the Land of Wind for the time being."
"This time, success is the only option!"