Having failed to obtain any useful intelligence, Yukimichi Uchiha finally embarked on the path that Uchiha Takashi had predicted.
He steeled himself and said to his adjutant, "Since our reconnaissance team encountered the enemy outside, it means they haven't detected our intelligence either. In that case..."
Let's launch an attack now! After all, this test is the commander's ability to adapt to changing circumstances, and if I charge straight in now, I can minimize the gap between myself and my seniors.
I know I can't outwit my seniors in terms of strategy, so I absolutely cannot give them the opportunity to set a trap. I should confront them head-on, otherwise everyone will just have to rely on their abilities on the spot!
It all comes down to who's the better fighter; all schemes and tricks will be exposed! So...
The adjutant chimed in, "For victory, is our only option to launch a full-scale attack now and decide the outcome in one fell swoop?"
"Yes, a single Yukimichi will decide the outcome! Since this boy understands the importance of intelligence gathering, it means he knows that my strategic abilities are superior to his."
To compensate for this, his most likely course of action is to launch a direct attack on us, attempting to win through sheer brilliance in reacting to changing situations.
Tatsu Uchiha stood before the map and slowly said, "So what we need to do now is to strengthen our defenses and prepare fortifications in advance, so that we can gain some advantage before he arrives."
"We have roughly the same manpower; whoever has the greater advantage will be the one to achieve final victory."
The adjutant beside him asked, "But sir, how can you be so sure that the Yukimichi will definitely lead to a general offensive? He knows that you, as the commander, have become more cautious."
"Then that shows you don't understand him. Like I just said, he knows I'm strategic, so he'll choose to minimize everything. The best way is to launch a full-scale attack directly, so that even if there's a huge gap in strategy between us, we won't be able to launch it."
Upon hearing this, the adjutant suddenly understood. "Oh, is that how it is? Then I'll go prepare now."
Sitting in the director's office Uchiha Takashi quietly observed everything that was happening. "As expected, Yukimichi Uchiha will eventually choose to launch a full-scale attack, and on the very first day."
After all, three days was more than enough time for his senior to set traps and make things difficult for him. To avoid all of that, he had no choice but to make this choice.
"So he chose to fight with his back against the wall?" Suke Uchiha asked.
"However, if they travel a long distance, all the teams will become fatigued, which will put them at a disadvantage in battle."
Uchiha Takashi nodded. "But there's no other way, because without knowing the exact location, it can only move towards the mission's designated objective."
Even if the team was exhausted, he had no other choice; otherwise, giving his seniors more time would lower his chances of winning.
Moreover, his team consisted mostly of young tribesmen. Although they lacked combat experience, their fighting spirit was extremely high, and they could still exert great fighting power even when exhausted.
If we really catch our seniors off guard, we might actually win!
"If that's the case, wouldn't that put you in danger, senior? That would defeat the purpose of overcoming the obstacles on your Yukimichi," Suke Uchiha said with considerable concern. "Should we remind you?"
Uchiha Takashi shook his head. "No need. Don't underestimate your senior. If we were to offer a reminder, we would be breaking the rules. He can figure that out himself. If I'm not mistaken, he should already have."
They should be making defensive preparations now. You're saying that their well-rested army is facing a hastily arriving, exhausted army. Who has a better chance of winning?
Suke Uchiha finally relaxed and turned his attention back to the map. The Hyuga clan members beside him were providing real-time updates on the movements of both sides.
According to the map, Yukimichi Uchiha led his army forward relentlessly, while Tatsu Uchiha in the distance had already laid a trap, waiting for him to fall into it.
Although Yukimichi Uchiha knew that Tatsu Uchiha would be well-prepared and wait for the opportune moment, he had no other choice but to do so in order to achieve victory.
Soon, the high-speed Yukimichi Uchiha crashed into the defensive line set up by Tatsu Uchiha.
Looking at the clansmen who had already formed a Yukimichi Uchiha took a few steps forward and said to Tatsu Uchiha at the front.
"Senior, I've arrived," Yukimichi Uchiha said, taking two deep breaths. "Three days is too long. Let's resolve this today."
Tatsu Uchiha narrowed his eyes. " Yukimichi, I have to admit you are indeed quite capable. You were able to seize the opportunity presented by the lack of information and directly narrow the strategic gap between us."
The difference between you and me isn't strategy or wisdom, but age. Given time, with experience, you'll definitely surpass me.
But you're still too young.
"Is that so? Senior, then let me show you the advantages of youth!" Yukimichi Uchiha said, waving his hand, and his clansmen immediately rushed forward.
He took the lead, brandishing his Ninja Blade, and charged towards Tatsu Uchiha.
Tatsu Uchiha's pupils contracted; he hadn't expected Yukimichi Uchiha to actually charge straight at him.
The Mitsudomoe in his eyes immediately began to spin, and then he collided with Yukimichi Uchiha.
With a clang, the blades of the two swords clashed, sparks flying. The two pairs of Mitsudomoe stared at each other, neither willing to yield.
"Fire..." Just as Yukimichi Uchiha opened his mouth to unleash Fire Style, Tatsu Uchiha kicked out, interrupting his attack.
Yukimichi Uchiha quickly leaned back, performing a backflip, and during the backflip, Hand Seals again and released Fire Style: " Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique ".
" Water Release: Water Flow Wall!" Tatsu Uchiha quickly Hand Seals, slamming his hands together to block the fireball with water. At the same time, he swung his Water Flow Arm forward, transforming it into a waterfall that rushed towards Yukimichi Uchiha.
" Earth Release: Quicksand" Yukimichi Uchiha immediately transformed the land in front of him into quicksand, channeling the massive flow of water into it and swallowing it up completely.
"Not bad, not bad, your reaction time is indeed very strong," Tatsu Uchiha said with a smile, "But it's still not enough to deal with me."
Yukimichi Uchiha curled his lips into a smile, "Senior, what I want isn't to get rid of you, I just want to keep you here. After all, it's too dangerous for you to command on the battlefield."
Tatsu Uchiha realized the surrounding battlefield had descended into chaos.
Ninjutsu was everywhere, and smoke was billowing everywhere, accompanied by a chorus of sarcastic remarks.
"Holy crap, how did I die?"
"Oh no, I thought I was fine, but I just stepped on the ground and they declared me dead? Isn't that a bit too far-fetched?"
"I'm in a worse situation than you. I just saw a jar fly over, then I slashed at it with my sword, and I was declared dead! I'm the one who's been wronged!"
"Oh, that thing, that thing is Canned Kunai. In a real battlefield, it's filled with Kunai, so of course you'll die if you get hit by it..."
Because Yukimichi Uchiha was holding Tatsu Uchiha back so tightly, the battlefield had completely lost its command structure, and everyone could only execute the pre-determined battle plan.
However, the battlefield situation is ever-changing, and the pre-determined battle plan quickly becomes ineffective, so command can only fall into the hands of the adjutant.
"So this is your real purpose? To hold me back, preventing me from giving orders, thus rendering my on-the-spot command abilities useless," Tatsu Uchiha said, narrowing his eyes.
Inside the director's office, Suke Uchiha was pacing anxiously. "Senior and Yukimichi, what are they doing? Isn't this supposed to be a test of their combat skills? How can they test them if they keep fighting like this?"
Uchiha Takashi, however, calmly stated. "While this exercise does test the commanders' leadership abilities, it primarily tests the army's combat capabilities."
The commander's command ability is merely a secondary test; the current situation still tests the army's combat capabilities, so the fundamental objective remains unaffected.
Furthermore, the purpose of the exercise was to simulate a real battlefield, so Yukimichi Uchiha were understandable. When faced with a commander smarter than himself, what other options did he have besides stalling the enemy and preventing them from giving orders?
However, this also serves as a reminder that commanders should never go to the front lines, otherwise they'll be bogged down by the enemy, rendering the command system useless.
See? That's the purpose of exercises; we can identify problems on both sides and make improvements.
Therefore, improvements can be made on the battlefield to ensure that these problems do not occur.