"This is the village's latest weapon—crafted from synthetic resin. It's completely immune to Magnet Release, and its toughness and sharpness rival steel, though it's a bit lighter. I've already had the craftsmen shape it just like your special kunai. Here, give it a try!"
Nara Shikaku handed over a transparent, forked kunai.
Minato Namikaze took the kunai, weighing it thoughtfully in his hand. He tested a few standard grips, switching from forehand to backhand stabs. It felt well-balanced—he was quite pleased.
At that moment, Minato still had a medicated patch stuck to his forehead, and his face was a little pale. He looked a bit battered, but the air of elegance and confidence never left him.
"How many did you make?"
Minato asked.
"Thirty. Is that enough?"
Shikaku replied.
"It's enough for me, but what about our twelve thousand troops?"
Minato shook his head, helpless.
"There's no way we can re-equip the entire army on such short notice. The village can't scrape together that kind of funding, either."
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.
"That's a real problem. With Jinghang showing up personally, Sunagakure's main force can't be far behind. An assault on Lishi Fortress is out of the question now. Looks like our first clash with Sunagakure will have to be a head-on fight."
Shikaku added.
"Based on Minato's report, Kazekage Jinghang seems to know the Flying Thunder God Technique inside and out. I'd bet it's because of Lord Danzo's dealings with Sunagakure. They must have thoroughly studied the technique and figured out its workings. Honestly, I suspect someone in Sunagakure has already mastered it."
Shikaku continued.
Hiruzen's face darkened. Trading the Flying Thunder God Technique to Sunagakure for that weakening drug—sure, it was Danzo's idea, but all the village elders agreed, and he, as Hokage, had signed off on it.
He'd thought trading an incomplete jutsu for the drug was a win-win. Now, it seemed he'd handed over Konoha's "village treasure" for nothing.
"Forget it. The army's about to mobilize—no point rehashing this. What I need now is a way to counter Jinghang."
Hiruzen said, voice heavy.
"When it comes to Magnet Release, we're still in the dark. My uncle, Nara Shikachō, fell victim to it before. I checked the records; since the Five Kage Summit, Jinghang has deliberately limited his own appearances—probably to keep us guessing. I propose we set up a special unit focused solely on dealing with him. At the very least, we need to keep him contained, or we're in for a world of hurt."
Shikaku said.
"You're right. If we don't keep Jinghang in check, Konoha's advantages are meaningless. You handle the planning. Whatever resources you need, just ask. I'll see they're provided—but move fast!"
Hiruzen stood up.
Konoha's only real advantage now was its deep foundation. The enemy's got more top-tier fighters, and that's something only time can fix. Jinghang had poured so much effort and money into training just twelve elites—spread them across the front lines, and there were barely any to go around.
"We've been hovering on the border for two months. We can't stall any longer. Tomorrow, we break camp and move into the Land of Rivers—shortens our attack distance. Hisako, has the Yugakage responded to our diplomatic note about stationing and passage?"
Secretary Hisako hurried to answer.
"Yes, Yugakage replied that Yugakure will remain neutral, and won't get involved in any ninja village disputes. They hope all parties show restraint..."
"Fine, neutrality's enough. Let him sit on his handful of hot springs in peace. Sending him a diplomatic note was just a courtesy—no need for all the diplomatic posturing. The army moves out tomorrow as planned."
Hiruzen was already growing impatient.
Really, what right did a village with fewer than a hundred ninja have to challenge Konoha?
"Hokage-sama..."
Hisako hesitated, as if she wanted to say more.
"If you've got something to say, just say it."
It was obvious that Hiruzen's mood had been sour ever since Minato returned from his mission.
"I mean... shouldn't we at least come up with a reason for attacking Sunagakure?"
The moment the words left her lips, Hiruzen, Minato, and Shikaku all looked at each other in surprise.
Oh, right!
They'd been so caught up in mobilizing shinobi and drawing up plans, they hadn't even considered a pretext for war!
They couldn't just attack without warning. Otherwise, what would make them any different from bandits?
Originally, Jinghang had planned to just tear down Lishi Fortress and rebuild from scratch. But who knew where Minato Namikaze had left his marks in every nook and cranny? If a real fight broke out and Minato kept teleporting in to cause chaos, it'd be a nightmare.
But then again, Konoha had already started scouting the fortress, so war was clearly imminent. Starting over wasn't realistic; they'd have to expand on the existing structure.
"Look! See that? That's the kind of mark I'm talking about. I want you to search every inch—whenever you find one, dig out the whole brick, tile and all. Don't leave a single spot unchecked. You hear me? I mean every spot—corners, ceilings, basements, even the bathrooms and kitchens. Got it?"
Jinghang jabbed a finger at a "Sword of Ninja Love" mark in the corner, barking orders.
"Yes, sir!"
The troops scattered immediately, searching high and low.
To clear all of Minato's markers, Jinghang mobilized three entire battalions. Until the cleanup was done, the rest of the army had to camp outside—nobody was allowed inside the fortress.
"How about it, Sasori? Any good ideas for expanding this place?"
Jinghang asked.
"There are ways, but honestly, they're all so much work it might be slower than just tearing it down and starting over."
Sasori replied.
"How's that possible?"
Jinghang frowned.
"Godfather, listen. Before I came, I checked the fortress records in the archives. Second Kazekage Shamon-sama designed this place for two hundred people. If you try to cram over ten thousand in here, they'll barely have space to stand, let alone fight."
Sasori explained, exasperated.
"So what do you suggest?"
Jinghang asked.
"If it were up to me, Lishi Fortress is one main keep with five sub-forts in a plum blossom pattern, all connected by underground tunnels. Since that's the case, we should just tear down all the outer walls except for the load-bearing ones, then use the sub-forts as anchors and expand the fortifications outward. That way, we can just barely squeeze everyone in."
Sasori proposed.
"That sounds like a massive project. How long would it take?"
Jinghang pressed.
"At least three months."
"We don't have three months. Can you do it faster?"
"Then you'll have to find someone else—I'm not a miracle worker."
Sasori shrugged.
"Someone else? Actually, that might work..."
A sudden idea flashed through Jinghang's mind.
"Alright, stop searching. Tear it all down! Leave only the load-bearing walls—everything else goes!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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