Changing Boats

The young man had long anticipated the old Director's attitude.

After all, conflicts of interest could be reconciled through trade, but contradictions in philosophy were impossible to compromise or resolve.

Especially for an old cadre like Chosokabe Masayuki, who possessed a wealth of experience and a stubborn streak, Soshi truly could not think of any way to reverse this antagonistic situation in the short term.

Not to mention that Director Inoue Hisahide, standing behind the youth, would never allow Soshi to act on his own initiative to establish any form of friendly relationship with the old Director...

Therefore, even from a third-party perspective, Chosokabe Masayuki was undoubtedly a more mature and reliable leader than Director Usami, but from the perspective of personal development, Soshi, as the Coordination Commissioner, could only stand with the youth representative, Hanbei!

Thus, upon entering the Temporary Command Post, Soshi did not hesitate for a moment; he turned right and sat down directly beside Director Usami.

With the seating arrangement finalized, the balance of power within the four-person leadership group underwent a subtle shift...

Faced with this complex situation of four people split into five factions, Hanbei was first pleased and then suspicious, ultimately nodding to the youth without leaving a trace...

At the same time, Nara Motonari, sitting in the center, spoke up in time to interrupt the eye contact between those present.

"I have gathered everyone today mainly to discuss two matters: the first is the appointment of the Coordination Commissioner."

Teacher Motonari gestured toward Soshi, then looked in turn at the old Director and Director Usami: "According to the arrangements made by Lord Hiruzen, starting today, Soshi-kun will also participate in the discussions regarding the daily affairs of the Frontline Support Battalion. I hope that everyone will cooperate sincerely in the future and not live up to the earnest expectations of the Hokage."

"This student is young and lacks experience; I hope for much guidance from Teacher Motonari and all my seniors."

Soshi stood up to show respect, while Nara Motonari gestured for him to sit back down and continued to push the agenda forward.

"The personnel transfer issue is settled for now. Next, let us discuss the second agenda item:

Since departing from Ota Castle, the Frontline Support Battalion has finally arrived at the Amber River after five days of marching. According to the plan, we are to transfer to large boats and travel by water to Jingu Forest. I have already made arrangements for the Combat Unit; I wonder if the logistics and Medical Team can complete the preparations by tonight?"

As the Coordination Commissioner joining midway, regardless of whether his temporary alliance with Director Usami was stable, Soshi's presence objectively tilted the power balance of the room.

Therefore, when Nara Motonari asked his question this time, he turned toward Director Chosokabe's side, using this subtle method to rebalance the decision-making team.

Neither Hanbei nor Soshi felt any surprise at this, and the old Director himself remained completely unshaken.

He adjusted his posture slightly and spoke calmly: "The personnel arrangements have been finalized.

The Internal Medicine and Administrative groups will board Ship A, while the Surgery and Apothecary groups will board Ship B. Overall, the number of people on Ship A will be slightly fewer than on Ship B."

"Why not distribute them evenly?" Teacher Motonari glanced over, intentionally avoiding the old Director's gaze.

His question was less about clarifying details and more about guiding his own student, who had just entered the fray, helping Soshi—who had "skipped class" earlier—to catch up with the progress of the leadership group as quickly as possible.

Chosokabe Masayuki, old and cunning, naturally understood Nara Motonari's intentions clearly, so when he replied, he also diverted some of his attention to the small group formed by Director Usami and the youth.

"Firstly, it is to make room for important instruments and equipment. Ship A will have fewer accompanying personnel, making it easier to house large medical equipment that is difficult to dismantle;

Secondly, it is for the sake of overall deployment strategy. Should an accident occur, the battalion can concentrate its strength for key defense, preserving our vital forces to the maximum extent and ensuring that the construction of the Field Hospital can be completed on schedule."

There is, after all, a difference between medical ninja and ordinary doctors.

Compared to modern medicine, which is destined to be constrained everywhere without medical equipment, the medical system of the ninja world, which relies heavily on medical ninjutsu, undoubtedly places more emphasis on being "people-oriented."

Therefore, according to Chosokabe Masayuki's deployment, if the fleet were to encounter extreme circumstances, the small number of personnel traveling with the instruments would become the sacrificial targets.

This deployment, which placed himself in danger, was undoubtedly filled with a noble spirit of self-sacrifice and was very much in line with the old man's consistent style of conduct.

But looking at it from another angle, such an arrangement was clearly not friendly to hospital administrators like Director Usami...

No one wants to board a ship that might be abandoned at any moment, even if the department's top leader is traveling alongside them.

Moreover, if the administrative layer, including the two leaders, were all sacrificed, it would be a complete unknown whether the remaining medical staff could produce new, capable leadership in a short period of time.

Therefore, whether for public or private reasons, Hanbei could not agree with Director Chosokabe's arrangement!

However, in such a formal setting for determining strategic decisions, the same words would produce vastly different effects depending on the order in which they were spoken...

If Director Usami had proposed it first, his suggestion could be called visionary and insightful.

But because Director Chosokabe had given the ship-splitting plan a step ahead of him, if Hanbei were to speak up and refute it now, he would immediately appear cowardly and afraid of battle.

As an opinion leader of the younger generation, Hanbei could not afford such a reputation. Therefore, after hesitating for a moment, he subconsciously glanced at the youth beside him, and a plan immediately came to mind.

"This operation is of great importance. The previous orderly coordination by Commander Nara, which resulted in the total capture of the invading Waterfall Ninja group, shows that he is indeed a pillar of talent.

My opinion is that since the plan to transfer via water was originally proposed by the Combat Unit responsible for protection, we should still refer to your own thoughts and those of the Coordination Commissioner."

Usami's first half was directed at Nara Motonari, but before he was even halfway through, he turned his attention toward Yamada Soji.

...It was clear that he wanted to use the youth, who was attending a decision-making meeting for the first time, to influence the course of events!

After all, no matter how sincere Soshi's act of picking a side was, since he had sat next to Hanbei the moment he walked in, the two were naturally assumed to be in the same camp.

Now that Director Usami, as the leader of the small group, had handed the words to the youth, if Soshi did not take them, the fragile bond of trust between them would instantly crumble.

Conversely, once the youth chose to pick up the thread, the blame for starting the controversy would naturally fall on the head of this Coordination Commissioner who had only been in office for a few minutes.

Then Hanbei could step out with a more proactive stance to "mediate," achieving his goals through seemingly compromising rhetoric!

...Such calculations were indeed deep and scheming.

Never mind an 11 or 12-year-old child; even an average adult would find it difficult to react correctly in time and extract themselves cleanly from the whirlpool.

However, Usami could not have anticipated that Yamada Soji, whom he treated as a tool, was not a "local" who was 100% original...

Having been accustomed to various office politics in his past life, the youth had no intention of playing by the rules. His very first sentence sent Hanbei's mood on a rollercoaster.

"With all due respect, I believe Director Chosokabe's arrangement is inappropriate."

Soshi pressed his hand on the armrest and, without waiting for Director Usami to seize the opportunity, extended the topic himself.

"How many people sit on which boat, or who sits on which boat, is not the focus of today's discussion in my view.

Before deciding on the details of implementing these plans, we should return to the essence of the problem—why exactly does the Frontline Support Battalion need to change boats?"

The youth stood up abruptly, raising his voice: "From marching west from Ota Castle to taking the Amber River to Jingu Forest, I think it is time for the Commander to explain to everyone the reasons for choosing this circuitous route."