Tsunan Town, Konoha Camp.
Jiraiya looked toward Nara Enshui, who stood among the many Jonin before him.
"Enshui, how do you think Kirigakure will attack next?"
After Nara Shikaku and Nara Suzaku had been killed by Yoru, Jiraiya had transferred Nara Enshui from Souta Village to serve as a temporary commander.
This wasn't a desperate move made in haste. Nearly every member of the Nara Clan was a natural-born commander. On top of that, Enshui had been stationed in Souta Village, so he was quite familiar with the situation at the front. That was why Jiraiya had brought him here.
Nara Enshui studied the sand table with a grave expression and didn't rush to speak.
After a long while, he finally said, "In my opinion, Lord Jiraiya, Kirigakure won't use any particularly unusual tactics or tricks next. They'll attack us head-on! And they'll keep focusing their main assault on Tsunan Town!"
"What makes you say that?"
"Our current defensive line is centered on Tsunan Town, spreading north and south in a fan shape. Its main positions are Higashimatsuyama, Misawa Bridge, Oami Shirasato Mine, Tsunan Town, and Kazama Valley. But Kirigakure has always put very little pressure on the other four positions. They've focused their full assault on Tsunan Town."
"According to the intelligence we obtained from Suikazan Fuguki's mind, Kirigakure wants to take advantage of the fact that the battles against Iwagakure and Kumogakure are still ongoing. They intend to crush our main forces at Tsunan Town with a lightning strike, then push deep into the Land of Fire."
"But our strong defensive posture, along with the fact that Kirigakure's main force hadn't yet arrived, kept them from fully carrying out their plan."
Nara Enshui's hand swept across the sand table before finally coming to rest on Tsunan Town.
"Now, however, Kirigakure's main force has arrived, and the battles with Kumogakure and Iwagakure are still unresolved. So I'm certain they won't change tactics. They'll keep attacking Tsunan Town head-on, hoping to break through our defenses as quickly as possible!"
"I see."
Uchiha Fugaku's expression was grave. "Then we're probably going to face unprecedented pressure..."
Even without the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Fugaku felt that the arrival of Kirigakure's main force—and that man in particular—could more than make up for their absence. He might even pose a greater threat than the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
That Cross Ice Flower that had frozen Susanoo that day... It had left an incredibly deep impression on him.
"This will certainly be a difficult battle, but none of you need to feel too much pressure."
Jiraiya clapped his hands and raised his voice, drawing everyone's attention.
A toad had appeared beside him at some point, and a scroll had somehow appeared in his hands as well.
Jiraiya glanced at the information on the scroll and smiled.
"Our reinforcements will be here soon!"
As Yoru accepted his appointment, his expression remained quite calm.
But behind him, Yumi and Yukiko were waving their hands excitedly. Yurui and Mangetsu were grinning, too.
The ANBU Vice Director! That was one of the highest-ranking positions in Kirigakure.
Most importantly, Yoru was only fourteen!
It wasn't just the people under Yoru's command. Almost everyone in the tent watched him with different expressions—the peerless genius who had entered Kirigakure's upper ranks at just fourteen.
They were already wondering how far Yoru might go in the future.
At fourteen, he was the second-in-command of Kirigakure's ANBU. What would he become next?
ANBU Director?
An elder of Kirigakure?
Or...
It was impossible to imagine.
Quite a few people were already thinking of getting on his good side and investing in him early.
But the members of the Yuki Clan off to one side of the tent wore complicated expressions...
Yagura noticed everyone's varied reactions and wasn't surprised. What did surprise him was Yoru's calm expression, which gave him pause.
To be granted such power in a single leap and still remain so composed and levelheaded—his junior apprentice had a capacity for greatness that was every bit as impressive as his own!
"Appoint Terumi Mei, squad leader of the ANBU Second Squad, as ANBU Captain. She will be responsible for all intelligence operations at the front."
Terumi Mei was the next to be appointed after Yoru.
Clearly, Kirigakure's leadership knew just how poor its intelligence network was. But with the village at war, even if the leaders tried to fix it themselves, there was no guarantee they'd do a good job. So they were handing the task over entirely to Terumi Mei.
The appointment brought smiles to the faces of quite a few Terumi Clan elites.
The ANBU Captain position was no small post. Two of the former Seven Ninja Swordsmen, for example, had served as ANBU captains or vice captains.
More importantly, the appointment came with the added responsibility of "all intelligence operations at the front."
That gave Terumi Mei very different levels of authority, depending on how you looked at it.
At the narrowest, she would be in charge of the ANBU's Intelligence Unit.
At the broadest, she could even manage every intelligence department in Kirigakure!
"Terumi Mei accepts!"
Terumi Mei stepped forward and accepted the appointment.
"Appoint Hozuki Mangetsu, a member of the ANBU First Squad, as deputy commander of Kirigakure's First Division, the main force of which consists of ninja skilled with concealed weapons and other weapons."
"Appoint Kaguya Tetsuya, a Kirigakure Jonin, as commander of Kirigakure's Second Division, the force tasked with killing large numbers of enemies and fighting on the front lines."
"Appoint Yuki Hyōji, a Kirigakure Jonin, as deputy commander of Kirigakure's Second Division."
"Appoint the Kirigakure..."
Yagura handed out one order after another. The many ninja present maintained solemn expressions, but their eyes betrayed a range of emotions.
Some grinned at their promotions.
Others looked grim at their demotions.
Some had been promoted in name only, with no real authority or benefits to gain. Their forced smiles were especially striking.
Yoru had little to say about these people, whose hearts and minds had been corrupted by power. This was simply how Kirigakure was at present. The village seemed to be shrouded in the Blood Mist and had top-tier elite ninja, but those who had grown up under such intense pressure had come to desire things that were even more twisted and distorted.
Bonds and emotions no longer meant much to them. What they craved was power and desire!
Yoru glanced at Terumi Mei beside him. She stood stern and full of fighting spirit, and he couldn't help sighing inwardly.
If these people aren't all rooted out, Kirigakure will probably remain at the bottom of the Five Great Villages forever...
And the Blood Mist was clearly the cause of this twisted state of affairs. It was obviously Madara Uchiha's doing.
Girl, your dream means going up against Madara!
Before long, the appointments were over, but the meeting wasn't.
After setting down the appointment orders, Yagura looked over everyone present. They put their emotions aside, ready for the real meeting.
Or, rather—
The prewar mobilization!
Before you continue