Unified Command

Director Usami had seen through Soji's youthful recklessness and openly set a trap for him.

But Yamada-kun himself turned the tables, defusing the attack as he launched into his own performance!

...To be honest, since he hadn't spoken privately with Teacher Motochika before the meeting began, the boy had no confidence at all that his argument would hold up.

But one thing was certain: unlike personnel assignments, which might touch on political correctness, questions of right and wrong at the level of military strategy couldn't be settled in just a few words.

Though people often preferred to work backward from the outcome, tracing events to their origins and pinning all the blame on a few specific decisions.

In reality, however, a commander's judgment—especially that of the side with the advantage—wasn't really a matter of right or wrong.

--If their side truly had more troops, more capable officers, and greater numbers, then whether they chose a frontal assault or a flanking ambush, they would most likely win either way.

The rare cases where the weak defeated the strong usually weren't caused by one or two isolated decisions, but by a chain of internal and external factors that ultimately led to irreversible consequences.

In other words, as long as Soji's reasoning followed basic logic, his analysis of the march route could be considered a valid supplement to the current plan, regardless of whether it matched Nara Motonari's original design. Whether the higher-ups ultimately accepted it or not, no one present could casually refute it.

Since there was no way to judge it right or wrong, Hanbei naturally couldn't find anyone to blame...

As for where Soji had started his analysis?

That went back to the special ninja tools Erina had prepared...

The side on the defensive in a conflict usually couldn't decide exactly when it would break out, much less make use of any kind of siege weapon.

But since the commander-in-chief had given Erina specific orders in advance, Soji could only follow that lead and carefully examine the situation.

And as he did, the boy gradually noticed something in the arrangements along the Amber River.

"From a strategic perspective, avoiding the northern road gives us room to negotiate with the Land of Earth, allowing the village to focus its strength on resolving the conflict between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire. It also lets us take advantage of the river route to ease the Frontline Support Battalion's transportation burden. Tactically, though, heading north along the Amber River also gives our forces a chance to turn the tables and take the initiative!"

"This is a strategy meeting. If you have something to say, make it clear."

Director Chosokabe spoke coldly, and Yamada Soji promptly took his advice.

"Yes.

"What I mean is that, compared with crossing the wetlands by land from the northeast, the Frontline Support Battalion's journey downstream along the river effectively fixes its route and schedule in advance...

"That means if the enemy carrying out the sabotage still intends to intercept the battalion, they'll have more time to prepare and choose the best moment to attack."

"Wait." Director Usami cut in. "Why go out of your way to give the enemy an advantage?"

"To obtain something, you must first give something up." The boy answered calmly and continued explaining his reasoning. "Most of the Amber River flows gently, with clear lines of sight. Only at bends like Eagle Sorrow Ravine and Dead Gull Ridge does the river narrow, making those spots ideal for setting ambushes with certain terrain-altering jutsu...

"From that perspective, I think the commander-in-chief may have switched to the water route precisely to draw the enemy out, narrowing down the areas where they might be hiding and perhaps even locating them before they strike!"

"That sounds reasonable, but if anything goes wrong during the actual operation..."

Hanbei left his sentence unfinished.

Since Nara Motonari hadn't yet spoken, he neither agreed with Soji's analysis nor openly opposed it.

By contrast, Director Chosokabe, seated across from them, had far fewer reservations.

Soji was about to follow up on Director Usami's point when the old man abruptly interrupted him!

He turned to Nara Motonari, seated at the head of the table, and his tone grew less courteous. "Well? Is that truly what the Nara Commander has in mind?"

"Does the old director think it's feasible?"

Motonari didn't answer directly. In his usual gentle tone, he simply asked Chosokabe Masayuki a question in return, as if he had no hidden agenda.

But that very attitude only made the old director angrier!

"Disorder is born from order, fear from courage, and weakness from strength.

"I'm not against taking the initiative to break a stalemate, but even if the commander-in-chief has a grand strategy in mind, he should first consider the makeup of our personnel!" Chosokabe Masayuki had earned extraordinary respect through his many years as head of the hospital, and he often spoke with the air of a stern teacher.

He rapped his knuckles against the armrest, his words growing harsher by the moment. "The last great war ended ten years ago, and most of the medical staff assigned to this mission have never experienced a battlefield. If the commander insists on using them as bait, then they can only camp on land. They must not engage the enemy aboard a ship!"

When the Waterfall Ninja assassins launched their major attack last time, Nara Motonari had coordinated forces from every direction and laid his plans with care. In the end, he turned the tables and wiped out the mercenaries at minimal cost.

Even so, the battle's aftershocks had already left the medical staff at the camp frightened and uneasy.

By the same logic, if something similar happened in the more crowded confines of a ship, the "nursemaids" accompanying them might panic and cause chaos from within before the Guard Unit could fight back!

Though the old director had come through the smoke of the previous era and long since made peace with death, he would never tolerate his subordinates shrinking from battle! But that didn't make him a reckless fool who thought lives could be spent freely, nor did it mean he was indifferent to the fate of his subordinates.

--The truth was quite the opposite.

As an experienced doctor, Director Chosokabe understood the value of life better than almost anyone!

That was why he firmly opposed Soji's proposal, which could very well lead to mass casualties.

"A ninja's worth is measured by death. I will never allow professional doctors trained by Konoha Hospital to die in a reckless, foolish ploy to lure out the enemy!"

"..."

Every word the old director spoke seemed to be aimed at Nara Motonari, but his unspoken meaning clearly included the boy as well.

Soji had been about to defend himself and his superior, but then he caught sight of Teacher Motochika's calm, unruffled expression. He immediately abandoned the thought and sat quietly in his seat.

As expected...

Only after the old man had finished venting did Teacher Motochika finally speak.

"I understand all of your concerns. The medical staff will be essential if Jingu Forest Field Hospital is to serve its intended purpose. But... our combat unit is determined to push ahead with the plan to lure the enemy onto the river route."

His willingness to listen while refusing to change course was infuriating!

The moment Nara Motonari finished speaking, Director Chosokabe's bloodshot eyes widened again!

But before the old director could speak, Teacher Motochika, who had been so unruffled until now, suddenly raised a hand to stop him, cutting him off before he could get a word out so that his own speech wouldn't be interrupted.

"There's one thing I need to make clear in advance: this isn't a plan devised by our Guard Unit alone.

"Our comrades responsible for supplying us along the route, the Hokage's direct forces, and even the defensive forces along the border between the two countries—all the forces we can gather in peacetime will take part in this operation!"

"..."

Teacher Motochika's words were firm and decisive!

Especially after the old director's scathing lecture, they carried a rare note of authority.

No one present dared interrupt him now, and Nara Motonari finally slowed his pace a little. "Under the confidentiality rules, I shouldn't be sharing these details with you. But since we've come this far, I might as well say a little more.

"I can assure you that no one ever intended to drag the medical staff aboard the ships into a dangerous battle, much less sacrifice them to kill the enemy and earn glory!

"But in return, once you're aboard, I need you to trust me as much as possible. To make sure the plan goes smoothly, I won't be able to tell you the truth at every turn."

As soon as Teacher Motochika finished speaking, his sharp gaze swept across everyone from left to right.

This time, everyone—including the old director—lowered their eyes.

Soji didn't know what the other two were thinking. At least from his own perspective, looking back on the meeting, everything had clearly gone according to the commander-in-chief's design...

The three-way balance of power had been completely broken, and Soji had taken Usami's place.

And the harsh words the old director had just let fly had now come back to silence him!

With that, command of the entire Frontline Support Battalion was finally, for the time being, unified under Teacher Motochika.

Next came the time for both sides to test their strength in a real fight!