Deployment! [Second Update, Please Subscribe to All]

Walking into the command headquarters, Hikaru strode straight to the seat of honor and sat down. The others took their seats on either side of him according to rank. Before long, the previously empty headquarters was packed with people.

"I won't waste time with unnecessary words. Report the situation first. I heard the small-scale clashes have never stopped. What are the casualties?"

Everyone had barely settled into their seats before Hikaru got straight to the point. He needed to grasp every detail from the front lines as quickly as possible so he could make targeted arrangements.

"Reporting to you, my lord: ever since we led our forces to the border, we discovered that small Sunagakure squads had been repeatedly approaching the Land of Fire's border, showing signs of intending to invade. We therefore dispatched personnel to intercept them, and several clashes broke out. The casualties have not been significant. To be precise, Konoha currently holds a considerable advantage."

"Sunagakure's people traveled all this way through blazing sun and windblown sand. They won't be getting any advantage from us. We're waiting for them well-rested."

"This is the battle statistics report."

A compiled document was placed before Hikaru. He nodded without offering an evaluation, then picked up the battle statistics report on the table and began reading.

It clearly recorded Konoha's recent ninja deployments, casualty figures, enemy kills, and various other comprehensive statistics, all prepared for Hikaru's review.

"You've all done very well." Hikaru read quickly and finished the entire document in no time. Only then did he say, "No matter what state Sunagakure is in, and no matter what they're thinking, one thing is certain: if they dare provoke Konoha, then we should hit them back hard!!!"

"These idiots have forgotten the pain as soon as their wounds healed. During the