Early morning.
At the Konoha Gate.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood at the gate, wearing the Hokage Ceremonial Robe.
Before him stood over two thousand members of the Ninja Corps. Chihane and Hizashi Hyuga stood at the front alongside the Corps' deputy commander, Jonin Sasaki Aki.
"Where leaves dance, fire burns eternal. The flames will... you are the village's hope, and soon... you must protect the village, protect your families, protect... everyone must be ready to..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi delivered an impassioned speech to rally the ninja before battle.
He spoke for so long that Chihane was nearly asleep below the podium. Finally, after another thirty minutes, the speech ended.
"Jonin Chihane, I'm entrusting them to you. You must bring them back alive. Konoha's safety rests in your hands."
Hiruzen Sarutobi clasped Chihane's hand and spoke earnestly.
"Rest assured, Lord Hokage. This war will end in Konoha's victory."
Chihane spoke confidently.
Then Chihane looked toward the Ninja Corps beside him and thought, Once these people leave the village, they'll answer to me. I'll let you talk a little longer for now.
"Brothers, take one last look at Konoha! We're going to fight to defend our village, our families, and everything we hold most dear."
Chihane called out loudly to the Ninja Corps.
"Are you confident we can drive the Mist Ninja out of the Land of Fire?"
Chihane shouted his question to the Konoha Ninja force.
"Yes!" × 200
A small portion of the ninja answered.
"I can't hear you! Louder! Are you confident we can drive the Mist Ninja out of the Land of Fire?"
Chihane raised his right hand to his ear and turned his right ear toward the Ninja Corps, shouting loudly. "Yes!!!" × 2,021
The roars of over two thousand ninja shook the ground before the Konoha Gate.
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