36: Promotion

Inoue Reina's sudden arrival eased the tense atmosphere, but the standoff between the new generation and the Conservative Faction wouldn't end so easily.

The two aggrieved men arrived at the Temporary Command Post together. As sharp as Nara Motonari was, he could easily read the unusual tension between them.

He knew that work like mediation and keeping the peace required more than eloquence. It also depended on the authority that came with one's status and position. Ordinary people simply weren't up to the task...

Fortunately, things were different now!

With Lord Hiruzen's orders backing him, Nara Motonari, as commander-in-chief of the combat operation, held the equivalent of a golden warrant. The two men wouldn't dare disregard him.

Still, since they would need to maintain their working relationship for some time, Motonari decided to handle things tactfully. He would carry out his superiors' orders while ensuring everything went smoothly and ended on a conciliatory note...

"Gentlemen, thank you for the hospital staff's cooperation last night. We immediately reported the loss of supplies to the Hokage Office, and the Third Hokage personally ordered the Amber River area to provide us with full support. The supply convoy should catch up with us before our next camp."

"Thank you for taking care of it."

"It was no trouble. It's part of my job."

As a first step toward taking responsibility in earnest, Nara Motonari put aside his usual lazy, carefree manner.

He rose to greet them and showed each man to a seat. His opening words also put the hospital representatives at ease.

Since there had been no casualties and the destroyed supplies could be replenished quickly, Konoha had clearly won a complete victory in last night's battle!

Motonari's Guard Unit would surely be richly rewarded, but the Medical Team supporting the front would also receive credit by association.

With such a win-win situation as their starting point, the mood of the conversation immediately eased...

But neither the seasoned Director Chosokabe nor the perceptive Director Usami let their guard down.

Both men knew full well that Nara Motonari, as the person in charge of combat operations for this mission, wouldn't have summoned them just to report on the supplies.

And events unfolded just as they had expected...

After offering them a sweetener, Motonari soon moved on to the less pleasant part: "speaking frankly."

"To be honest, building the Field Hospital is a demanding task with a tight deadline. Given the complicated power struggles along the border, perhaps we shouldn't have asked two important figures from Konoha Hospital to accompany us in person...

"But then again, it's precisely because this mission is so difficult and important that we all need to work together in unity!"

Nara Motonari turned toward Director Chosokabe. "The respected old director has earned everyone's esteem. In an unexpected situation like last night's, everyone can pull together only with an experienced senior like you there to guide them."

Then he turned to the other side and looked at Usami Hanbei. "Director Usami is young and talented, and a leading voice in the Young Doctors Group. With you stepping up at a critical moment, this young team will have all the more drive."

Having finished his flattery, Motonari put on a solemn expression and furrowed his brow. "However, neither of you is a combatant, and the division of your usual duties doesn't quite fit the Frontline Support Battalion's current needs. The Third Hokage is concerned that this could lead to unnecessary friction between the Logistics Unit and the Combat Unit. So he repeatedly reminded us to be considerate of one another and put the bigger picture first."

"..."

Nara Motonari had phrased it tactfully, but his words, "put the bigger picture first," still placed invisible pressure on the two men!

After all, from the Third Hokage's perspective, using that phrase clearly carried a note of reproach. As the ones being reprimanded, they couldn't simply ignore it.

But Motonari had been the one to raise the issue, and he had never intended to give them time to think it over!

Taking advantage of the brief lull, he presented the solution he had been planning for some time.

"Of course, I understand the difficulties you're facing.

"But so that we don't disappoint Lord Hiruzen... and, more importantly, so we can complete the mission the village gave us as quickly as possible, I already had the Communications Squad consult the Hokage Office.

"The Third Hokage and the Advisory Council have approved my proposal. They've decided to appoint a 'Coordination Commissioner' to oversee coordination between the medical team and the combat force. What do you think?"

"Well... Captain Nara, the Frontline Support Battalion already has countless affairs to deal with. Bringing in a newcomer so suddenly might..."

Director Chosokabe remained silent, while Director Usami took the initiative to respond.

Aside from his worry that his own status and authority might be weakened further, the concerns he had hinted at weren't entirely unreasonable.

In general, the more people there were in a decision-making body, the more power was divided, and the harder it became to reach agreement.

For a Frontline Support Battalion stationed on the border, conflicting orders would only intensify internal friction. It was hard to expect a parachuted-in Coordination Commissioner to quickly grasp the key issues and improve the current predicament.

It was far more likely to turn into a disaster like "600,000 versus 800,000," where an attempt to solve a problem only made it worse...

Hanbei was sure Nara Motonari understood this too, so he assumed Motonari was deliberately using the proposal to seize more influence: by enlarging the decision-making group, he could dilute the hospital's say in the construction project!

But to Usami's surprise, Motonari had no intention of arguing with him.

In fact, when Hanbei mentioned the word "newcomer," Motonari's smile took on a hint of meaning...

"Sorry, Director Usami. I think you may have misunderstood me. The Hokage doesn't intend to bring in more people from the village to reinforce the Frontline Support Battalion.

"The Coordination Commissioner will be selected from within the battalion."

"Then who does the Hokage have in mind..." Hanbei froze, then straightened up and gripped the armrests, unconsciously leaning half a pace forward.

Across from him, Chosokabe Masayuki also turned to look at Motonari.

The old director knew that his status made him an unlikely candidate for the position. But he also didn't think Sarutobi Hiruzen would entrust such an important role to Usami.

If this was meant to create a balance of power, they should have made arrangements when they first decided who would join the Frontline Support Battalion. There was no reason to wait until now to try to make up for it.

Following that line of thought, a name that seemed unexpected yet perfectly reasonable sprang to the old director's mind...

At the thought, Chosokabe Masayuki pressed his pale, chapped lips tightly together.

At the same time, Nara Motonari gave them the answer.

"Since we're choosing someone from within the Frontline Support Battalion, we naturally have to take everyone's views into account.

"The Guard Unit and Communications Squad together have only fourteen people, so choosing someone from our side would clearly be inappropriate. The hospital staff are skilled physicians, but few of them have notable combat abilities.

"After considering everything, the Hokage decided to make an exception and appoint a newcomer: Yamada Soji, formerly of Team Five."

"Him?"

"Hmph!"

As soon as Teacher Motonari finished speaking, Director Usami instinctively tightened his grip on the armrest.

Director Chosokabe had anticipated this, but he still couldn't help letting out a cold snort...

Meanwhile, Soji, the focus of both sides' argument, received the notice from his superiors at the same time. After bringing him to the Temporary Command Post, Inoue Reina immediately contacted the boy and announced the news in front of Erina and Todo.

Team Five, which had only just formed, immediately erupted into chaos...