War Preparations (Two-in-One)

The next day.

Early in the morning, as usual, Jiuming arrived at the Ninja Academy with Kushina accompanying him. After a full day of intensive training yesterday, he still felt sore all over from the strenuous exercise. The bruises on his arms had faded considerably, but they still throbbed faintly.

Sarutobi Kotaro had indeed been right when he said he wasn't very good at controlling his strength. Jiuming had been at a disadvantage in their sparring match and had suffered a few minor injuries.

"Ugh, with my recovery ability, I can still feel the pain. These bruises are taking way too long to disappear."

"No wonder he's the Third Hokage's son. His Taijutsu is impressive too. With his skill, he could pass the Chunin Ninja Exams with ease."

The standards for Chunin in Konoha at this time were completely different from those in Naruto Uzumaki's generation. In the future, Konoha placed greater emphasis on intelligence when selecting Chunin. Since Jonin rarely led teams on missions, Chunin served as squad leaders, so their overall abilities as ninja were assessed more thoroughly.

But Konoha's standards for Chunin at this time were much simpler and more direct. To help ninja sent to the battlefield survive as often as possible and preserve the combat strength of the front-line troops, the only requirement for becoming a Chunin was "strength."

This difference was mainly due to the different demands of combat. During wartime, battles between ninja were usually large-scale clashes involving dozens or even hundreds of people, and only one or two people might be needed to command hundreds of fighters.

In peacetime, on the other hand, ninja mostly completed missions on behalf of clients. Most C-Rank missions could be handled by a team led by a Chunin, and even some B-Rank Missions could easily be completed by a four-person squad led by a Chunin.

Sarutobi Kotaro and Minato Namikaze, who were on the same team as Kushina Uzumaki, were both already strong enough to be Chunin. But when they were with Kushina, most of their missions were C-Rank jobs like walking dogs and shooing cats.

Jiuming guessed that the two of them had actually been assigned by the Third Hokage to protect Kushina. With Minato and Kotaro acting as her bodyguards, she was already well protected within Konoha.

"Big sis, I'm going in. You can head back."

After saying goodbye to Kushina at the entrance to the Ninja Academy, Jiuming walked inside.

At the same moment Jiuming entered the school, the Third Hokage received the latest intelligence from the front.

"Bang!" The Third Hokage slammed his fist against the desk. Even he, a man known for his composure, couldn't control his emotions after hearing the latest news.

"Damn it, they really did make their move!"

"Sakumo, notify all the elite Jonin and the members of the Council of Elders. Call a meeting!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was grave as he gripped the scroll and spoke in a low voice. Then he rose and left the office, heading for the conference room.

Hatake Sakumo moved quickly. Before long, the conference room in the Hokage Building was full.

The conference room for Konoha's leadership meetings was enormous. There was only one long rectangular table, with thirty chairs arranged around it for the village's senior officials.

Since the subject of this meeting was extremely important, not only were the leaders of the major ninja clans and a select few powerful elite Jonin seated at the table, but many Jonin and Chunin whom Konoha had chosen for special training were also given seats elsewhere in the room, where they were allowed to listen in.

At one end of the table, four chairs stood in a row. Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in the second chair from the left. On his left sat Utatane Koharu, the only woman on the Council of Elders. On his right sat Shimura Danzō, while Mitokado Homura, another member of the Council of Elders, occupied the chair on the far right.

On either side of the table below them sat the leaders of the Hyuga and Uchiha clans. At this time, the clan leaders weren't the familiar Hyuga Hiashi and Uchiha Fugaku. Instead, the seats were occupied by two composed, middle-aged men.

After the two great clans of Konoha came the other ninja clans. The Ino-Shika-Cho clans, for example, already held a fairly high standing in the room, and their seats were close to those of the Third Hokage and the other leaders.

As for the Third Hokage's three students, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade, there were no seats for them at the table. Like most of the other ninja, they sat on chairs along the walls of the conference room.

Perhaps because the Third Hokage looked so grim, the entire room was filled with a tense, oppressive atmosphere.

"Hey, Orochimaru, do you know what's happened this time?"

Looking at the heavy atmosphere in the conference room, Jiraiya asked Orochimaru in a low voice. The three of them had originally been sent by Hiruzen Sarutobi to the Genmyoji front-line command post, but the temporary command post hadn't remained operational for long. Not long after the Third Hokage returned to Konoha, it was shut down.

The three of them had returned to Konoha together. Since then, they had each been assigned different missions, and today's meeting was the first time they had reunited in quite a while.

"Where do you put your mind all day? You don't even know about something this serious happening at the front?"

"Some time ago, the Land of Earth sent a large army to conquer the Land of Grass, and a sizable force also entered the Land of Rain."

"Didn't ninja attack the team from our Ninja Academy's entrance examination? Our teacher suspects they came from the Land of Earth."

"This high-level meeting was called today, so it must have something to do with the Land of Earth's movements."

Unlike Jiraiya, who spent all day focused on his own interests, Orochimaru kept a close eye on the current state of the Shinobi World. He had a good grasp of the situation, and his reasoning was clear. Orochimaru was only in his twenties, with a youthful face and smooth skin so pale it looked unhealthy. Combined with his handsome features, it gave him an almost androgynous air.

Though Orochimaru looked sickly and eerie, those close to him knew he could be trusted. Jiraiya, who was asking him now, could never have imagined that his closest friend and comrade would one day become a rogue ninja who killed their teacher.

"I see. The Land of Earth?"

"When I was eating at home, Jiuming told me the attacking force had already been driven out of the country. Kumogakure in the Land of Lightning is already putting us under enormous pressure. If the Land of Earth makes a move now, we could end up facing enemies on two fronts."

Tsunade spoke softly after considering Orochimaru's words. Hearing his two teammates, Jiraiya's expression grew grave as well. He had been training at Mount Myoboku lately, so he really wasn't familiar with what was happening in the Shinobi World. But he wasn't stupid. He understood how serious the situation would be for Konoha if Tsunade and Orochimaru were right.

There were no weaklings among the ninja present. Though Jiraiya and the others had deliberately kept their voices low, everyone in the conference room had heard their conversation. Once several familiar ninja learned what was going on, they began talking quietly among themselves. Soon, whispers filled the room.

The Third Hokage, seated at the head of the table, didn't immediately stop them. He looked around at the people discussing the situation, and only after quite some time had passed did he clear his throat.

"Ahem!"

At the Third Hokage's quiet cough, the noisy conference room fell silent.

"I have important news to announce."

"This morning, I received word that the ninja the Land of Earth sent to occupy the Land of Grass have begun moving toward the border of the Land of Fire."

Their vanguard has already clashed with our border guards. The fighting has gone both ways so far, but their main force has yet to arrive.

"I've also received word that the troops the Land of Earth sent into the Land of Rain have won several significant victories."

As soon as the Third Hokage finished speaking, Shimura Danzō immediately picked up where he left off.

"The Land of Earth's movements have made their ambitions clear. Whether they invade the Land of Grass or the Land of Rain, they have only one ultimate target: the Land of Fire!"

"I've also identified the people who attacked the team from our Ninja Academy's entrance examination. Their leader was Houtu, the Tsuchikage Ōnoki's senior disciple, and the one being groomed as the next Tsuchikage."

Danzō's words were like a bomb tossed into water, sending waves rippling through the room. The conference room, which had just been quiet, erupted into conversation as the ninja began whispering among themselves.

But the leaders of the Hyuga and Uchiha clans, seated near the front, said nothing. Both had their eyes slightly closed, as though deep in thought.

"I called this meeting because I want to hear your opinions. In response to the Land of Earth's movements, should Konoha go to war, or should we send an envoy to negotiate peace?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire conference room fell silent.

When no one spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his gaze toward the leader of the Hyuga clan. Seeing that he had no intention of speaking up, he looked to the leader of the Nara Clan, Nara Lukin. If the Hyuga and Uchiha clans were Konoha's strongest in military strength, then the Nara Clan was the village's greatest in wisdom.

Ever since Konoha was founded, members of the Nara Clan had served as strategists on the battlefield and in the village's leadership across several generations. Even though Hiruzen Sarutobi was already the Third Hokage, he still had to take the opinion of Nara Lukin, the Nara Clan's leader, seriously.

Seeing the silent conference room and the Third Hokage's gaze fixed on him, Nara Lukin knew he would have to speak first.

He sighed softly, then slowly said, "Since no one else is speaking, I'll share my thoughts."

Nara Lukin was a middle-aged man in his forties. His features bore an eight-out-of-ten resemblance to Nara Shikaku in middle age, and he wore the Nara Clan's trademark pineapple-shaped hairdo.

When the others saw Nara Lukin speaking, they all turned their attention to him.

"Based on what we know at present, the Land of Earth hasn't announced that it intends to wage an all-out war against Konoha. For now, its actions seem to be more of a test."

"If their probes keep meeting with easy success, then these so-called tests could very well turn into a war—a full-scale war!"

"Fortunately, the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass lie between our Land of Fire and the Land of Earth, serving as strategic buffers. I propose sending troops to intercept the Land of Earth's forces in the Land of Rain and the Land of Grass. We should fight a proxy war that both sides understand perfectly well for what it is."

Nara Lukin wasn't one of the hawks in Konoha. On the contrary, he was a dove who preferred peace and negotiation. But that didn't mean he would endure the Land of Earth's provocations without responding. This was the Shinobi World, a brutal place. With his intelligence, he understood the purpose behind the Land of Earth's tests, which was precisely why he advocated fighting back—to give them a warning.

Nara Lukin's argument was a thoughtful proposal for the good of the village, but some ninja held the opposite view.

The moment Nara Lukin finished speaking, a white-haired ninja stood up. Though his hair was completely white, he was only in his forties.

"Lord Hokage, I disagree with Nara Lukin."

The Third Hokage turned toward the speaker. At the far end of the conference table, Kato Taka had risen to object. Kato Taka was the leader of the Kato Clan and Dan Katō's father. The Spirit Transformation Technique, passed down through generations of his family, gave its members a powerful ability to assassinate their targets. The Kato Clan wasn't very large, but its distinctive strengths placed it among Konoha's foremost clans.

That was why Kato Taka had earned a seat at the conference table.

"Oh? Kato, tell us what you think."

After all, this was a major meeting, and the Third Hokage's purpose was to hear a range of opinions. Now that someone had disagreed with Nara Lukin, he was curious to hear Kato Taka's reasoning.

"Lord Hokage, I don't think provoking the Land of Earth now would be wise. Compared with the Land of Earth, the enemy to our northeast deserves more attention."

"The Land of Lightning is different from the Land of Earth. Its Raikage is more aggressive, and it has already sent a large force into the Land of Moon. From the intelligence I've received, our northeastern border has already come under attack as well."

"I think we should send an envoy to the Land of Earth first to negotiate and buy time. Then our main force should hurry to the northeastern border and repel the Land of Lightning's attacks. That would be the best course of action."

"Fighting a war on two fronts would put Konoha at a disadvantage."

After finishing, Kato Taka sat back down without another word. The Third Hokage nodded slightly to show that he had heard him.

After Kato Taka spoke, the leaders of the various clans began offering their opinions. Some supported Nara Lukin, some agreed with Kato Taka, and others simply declared that their clans were willing to give everything for Konoha. A few clans hoped to secure positions in the combat forces.

For a while, the conference room was filled with competing agendas, giving the Third Hokage a headache.

The meeting lasted from early morning until noon. They discussed the situation for a long time without reaching any conclusion, and Hiruzen Sarutobi and the members of the Council of Elders were growing impatient.

"All right, everyone, go back and rest for now. We'll end the morning discussion here."

"I'll consult with the members of the Council of Elders, and we'll finalize our policy at the afternoon meeting."

The sun was already high when the Third Hokage finally lost patience with the endless debate and stood to adjourn the meeting.

"Yes, sir!"

Though the people were reluctant to leave, they began filing out of the conference room after receiving the Third Hokage's order. Before long, the room was empty, with only the Third Hokage, the two members of the Council of Elders, and Shimura Danzō remaining.

"Ah, we talked for so long and still didn't reach any conclusion. Honestly..." Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. In front of a few old friends, he let his guard down.

"Hiruzen, your approach is the problem. Strategic matters shouldn't be put up for discussion at a high-level meeting."

"You should have simply made the decision yourself. You have to remember, you're the Hokage! Everyone should be listening to you. What's with all this indecision?"

In private, Danzō didn't bother showing the Third Hokage any respect. He bluntly criticized him.

"Danzō, it isn't that simple. If we make even one mistake, everything our predecessors built could be destroyed!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi had his reservations. He didn't want to go to war with the Land of Lightning, nor did he want to fight the Land of Earth. Once war began, it would inevitably bring countless casualties. As Hokage, he didn't want to see every home in the village draped in mourning cloth.

"Stop being so naive, Hiruzen."

"The ambitions of the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning are already clear as day."

"War is now unavoidable. The only question is whether we fight the Land of Lightning first, the Land of Earth first, or both at once."

"Make your decision quickly! The situation at the front won't wait."

After he finished, Danzō leaned on his cane and left the conference room. Once he was gone, Mitokado Homura also advised Hiruzen, "Danzō is right. We won't accomplish anything by discussing it endlessly. Make the decision yourself. I recommend following Lukin's advice: send troops to give the Land of Earth a warning, then focus on dealing with the Land of Lightning."

"Fine. I understand." Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, took out his pipe, and inhaled as he fell into thought. Seeing that Hiruzen was genuinely considering the matter, Mitokado Homura said nothing more. He left the conference room with Utatane Koharu.

After everyone else had left, the Third Hokage walked to the window and looked at the Kage Rock, where the previous Hokage's faces were carved. At last, he reached a decision.

"Now, I'll make the appointments."

"Order: Shimura Danzō is appointed commander-in-chief of the Northeastern Front. Hyuga Rihui will serve as his strategist. They will lead their forces to the border of the Land of Moon and intercept the ninja sent by the Land of Lightning."

"Order: Mitokado Homura is appointed commander-in-chief of the Northwest Front. Nara Lukin will serve as his strategist. They will lead their forces to the Land of Rain and intercept the ninja of the Land of Earth."

"Order: Utatane Koharu is appointed deputy commander of the Northwest Front. She will lead her forces into the Land of Grass to intercept the enemy."

"The Uchiha Clan will defend Konoha and command the Barrier Team. They will organize reserve forces, ready to support the front lines at any time. A state of emergency will also take effect today."

"I will remain in Konoha to oversee and coordinate supplies for the front. I'll issue a detailed roster tomorrow, including the assignments for each unit and the specific duties. For now, go back and make preparations."

"Commanders, strategists, and the Uchiha clan leader, stay behind."

The afternoon meeting had barely begun when the Third Hokage announced his decision. The clan leaders who had disagreed earlier didn't say another word. They acknowledged his orders and left the conference room to make preparations.

What was the best way for a ninja to rise through the ranks? War, without a doubt. A large-scale war was an opportunity for some people to climb higher.

After the irrelevant attendees had left, Hiruzen Sarutobi began discussing the specific plan with the commanders and the Uchiha representatives.

The events unfolding in the Hokage Building meant little to Uzumaki Jiuming. On the eve of war, there was nothing for a student at the Ninja Academy like him to do.

At that moment, Jiuming was sitting in a classroom at the Ninja Academy among a group of little kids, listening to his teacher explain the History of Konoha. After adjusting yesterday evening and this morning, the fatigue from yesterday's Taijutsu training had completely faded. Feeling refreshed, Jiuming began splitting his attention: he pretended to listen to the lesson while increasing the rate at which he fed Chakra into the Yin Seal.

"As expected, my Chakra contains some kind of lightning-attribute substance. The Yin Seal is filling much faster this time. It might not even take two years to fill it completely."

"And while I'm molding Chakra, this lightning-attribute substance really is strengthening my body."

"The effect is still very slight, but if it keeps accumulating, it could end up having a considerable impact."

Molding Chakra intensively during this period had given Jiuming a better understanding of himself. He didn't know what effect this unusual Chakra of his would have when he used it in ninjutsu.

But one thing was certain: if he kept training the way he was, by the time he finished building up the Yin Seal, his physical strength and Taijutsu skills would have improved by several levels.