The Nara Clan Head was the first to regain his composure. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "With the Kazekage missing, the Sand Village is bound to descend into chaos. They may well try to divert their internal conflicts outward.
"And after recently going through a change of Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, we in Konoha may seem to be in a 'weakened period.' We're very likely to become their primary target."
Hyuga Sosuke nodded and added, "Furthermore, once hostilities begin, Iwagakure, which borders us, certainly won't sit idly by. They'll take advantage of the situation.
"Konoha will face the extremely unfavorable prospect of fighting on at least two fronts, perhaps even three."
Shimura Danzō snorted, breaking the heavy silence. His single eye swept over everyone, his voice grim and certain:
"The war has already begun! Konoha can't keep waiting passively! We must take the most decisive measures at once!
"Root will take action immediately, eliminate all potential threats, and obtain the intelligence we need!"
The actions he spoke of often meant preemptive assassinations and sabotage.
"Danzō! Calm down!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately cut him off, his tone stern. "Taking rash action now will only give them an excuse to target us and drive even more enemies toward Konoha!
"Our most urgent task is to strengthen defenses across the entire region, stabilize things internally, and closely monitor the movements of all sides!"
"Monitor them? Hiruzen, by the time the enemy has a Kunai at our throats, it'll be too late!" Danzō retorted sharply. The two were once again at odds over their differing principles.
The other clan representatives also voiced their concerns, filling the meeting room with anxious debate.
Some called for immediately sending reinforcements to the borders that might be shared with the Sand Village and Iwagakure. Others worried about the long defensive lines and the strain on supplies. Some suggested forming an alliance with one of the other villages...
"That's enough!" The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, paused, his voice growing even firmer and more forceful as he displayed the authority of a village leader. "The Hidden Leaf Village is entering the highest state of alert, effective immediately!"
Then Hiruzen Sarutobi began issuing orders methodically, his thinking clear and his plans thorough:
"First, raise border defenses to the highest level immediately!"
"Second, impose wartime controls on supplies, prioritizing the front lines and strategic reserves!"
"Third, issue an emergency mobilization order. All ninja must be ready for conscription!"
"Fourth, establish a wartime command center. I will serve as commander-in-chief, while the two advisors and the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi Clans will handle logistics, intelligence, and strategic support."
"Lastly," Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to Shimura Danzō, his tone serious, "Root must increase its intelligence-gathering efforts, focusing on the movements of the Sand Village, Iwagakure, and the Cloud Village. However, without authorization, it must not take any offensive action that could inflame tensions!"
"That's all!" Hiruzen Sarutobi gave his final word. "Proceed as discussed. I entrust Konoha's safety to you all!"
After the emergency meeting of the village leadership ended, Konoha's vast war machine roared into motion.
Orders were issued one after another. Ninja hurried about as supplies were methodically allocated and packed. The air was thick with the tense feeling of a storm about to break.
Uchiha Ling didn't return to the Military Police Force right away to arrange the necessary details. He had keenly sensed a gaze following him, faint but persistent.
He deliberately slowed his pace and turned onto a secluded path leading to the woods behind the training grounds.
Sure enough, before long, a golden-haired figure followed after him. It was Tsunade.
The training grounds were empty. The setting sun's rays filtered through the leaves, casting scattered spots of light across the ground.
All that remained was the rustle of wind through the leaves, a stark contrast to the distant clamor of the village.
"Ling." Tsunade's voice held less of its usual boldness than it had in the meeting room, and carried a hint of complicated emotion.
Uchiha Ling turned to face his teacher.
Tsunade still wore her trademark tea-green robe. The Yin Seal on her forehead looked especially delicate, but her gaze was not its usual confident, commanding one. Instead, it held a trace of struggle and gloom she could barely conceal.
"Lady Tsunade." Uchiha Ling bowed slightly. His tone was respectful, but he met her eyes openly, without looking away.
Tsunade walked up to him, stopping very close. Uchiha Ling could smell her distinctive scent—a faint mixture of medicinal herbs and alcohol.
Tsunade opened her mouth as if to say something, but the words caught in her throat. In the end, they became a sigh so quiet it was almost inaudible.
"You don't intend to take part in this war, do you?" Uchiha Ling asked softly. It wasn't a question so much as a statement.
He knew Tsunade's past and understood the trauma that terrible war had left her with, especially the Hemophobia she couldn't overcome.
Tsunade's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. She turned her face away to look at the woods, looking bleak beneath the setting sun. Her voice was deliberately calm, yet betrayed a faint tremor:
"Yeah... That's right. A useless person like me, who can't even stand the sight of blood, would only hold everyone back on the battlefield."
Tsunade's voice was full of self-mockery, but Uchiha Ling could hear the pain and helplessness buried beneath it.
Once one of the legendary Sannin who had shaken the Shinobi World, a peerless master of Strength of a Hundred and a renowned medical ninja, she now couldn't step onto the battlefield to protect her village because of a psychological barrier. The gap between those two selves was enough to shatter anyone's pride.
"Teacher, you're not useless." Uchiha Ling's voice was firm. He stepped closer, narrowing the already small distance between them.
It was a bold gesture, one that even crossed the bounds of a teacher and student.
Tsunade instinctively wanted to step back, but her feet seemed nailed to the ground. She didn't move.
Uchiha Ling gazed into Tsunade's golden eyes, filled with complicated emotions, and said earnestly, "Your worth goes far beyond killing on the battlefield.
"The Medical Ninjutsu system you developed and the medical ninja you trained have saved the lives of thousands upon thousands of Konoha ninja. No one can take that achievement away from you."
Uchiha Ling's words were like a warm current, carefully touching the most fragile, most untouchable corner of Tsunade's heart.
Tsunade looked at the student before her, so much younger than she was. His dark eyes held no sympathy or pity, only sincere understanding and a trust she couldn't quite understand.
"Brat! You've learned how to sweet-talk people, have you?"
Tsunade forced a smile, trying to hide her inner turmoil behind her usual boldness, but it didn't work very well.
Her eyes were slightly red.
Just then, Uchiha Ling made an even bolder move.
Uchiha Ling reached out and gently took Tsunade's wrist.
Her wrist wasn't as slender as an ordinary woman's. It felt firm and strong, bearing the traces of years spent training in Taijutsu and Medical Ninjutsu, yet her skin was remarkably smooth.
Tsunade shuddered all over, as if struck by an electric current. She tried to wrench her hand free, but Uchiha Ling's grip was steady, his strength just right: it didn't hurt her, yet didn't let her pull away easily.
"You... How dare you!" Tsunade's brows shot up, and a blush rose across her face. It was hard to tell whether she was embarrassed or angry.
She was Tsunade, one of the Sannin. When had she ever been so boldly grabbed by a young man—and her own student, no less?
Yet Uchiha Ling didn't let go. His gaze remained open, even carrying a concern that brooked no argument.
"Teacher, your hand is shaking." Uchiha Ling spoke softly. Without thinking, the pad of his thumb brushed ever so gently against the skin on the inside of her wrist.
That was where her pulse beat.
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