Despite all the arguing and bickering, the village still had no choice but to gather ninja and prepare supplies to support the Northern Border Defense Force—in case war truly broke out.
Otherwise, if Kumo suddenly launched a full-scale invasion and wiped out the northern border forces entirely, the Land of Fire's northern defenses would lie wide open—inviting nothing short of disaster. And afterward, all the blame from the daimyos, courtiers, and even the village's own ninja would ultimately fall on Konoha's F4.
However, this time's council before the Kage fell apart due to fierce disagreements and outrageous demands from the Coalition of Ninja Clans!
Still, while the meeting could be dismissed, the battle at the front line wouldn't wait for anyone.
After all, once you take up the crown, you must also bear its burden. As Hokage, there were always times when one had no choice but to act.
Moreover, although the position of commander of the Northern Border Defense Force was reluctantly handed over to Hyuga Soushu as a conciliatory gesture, the Hokage faction remained Konoha's legitimate ruling power. Decades of accumulated authority governing the village couldn't be easily shaken. Additionally, over half of the jonin leading the operational squads that controlled the Northern Front's main forces came from ninja clans firmly aligned with the Hokage faction. Thus, from the beginning, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi never really worried about the entire Northern Command falling completely into the hands of Hyuga Soushu, who lacked any real foundation.
But what he hadn't expected was that Soushu would actually flip the table so aggressively as to risk igniting outright war. Even less anticipated was that those jonin commanders originating from the Hokage faction would turn out to be so greedy that they willingly handed over mission assignments to Kumo's Infiltration Unit in exchange for illicit payments!
And after the meeting, he received what could only be described as disastrous intelligence—the evidence and reports proving collusion between those frontline jonin and Kumo!
If it weren't for spies from Danzo's Root Division embedded within the Border Forces' operational squads who discovered suspicious activity during skirmishes near Kumo's temporary camps, deliberately preserving some evidence and delivering it back to Konoha for Danzo, he likely wouldn't have known about it even now!
No wonder that ever since the outbreak of the Great Ninja World War, Kumo—known for never missing a chance to strike—had not launched a single opportunistic attack. It turned out that the very jonin assigned to guard against Kumo had secretly reached appeasement agreements with them all along!
Once this matter got exposed, how would Konoha react? What kind of perception would form toward the Hokage lineage? Even thinking with his toes, Third Hokage already knew exactly what would happen.
"If we mobilize without affecting current mission execution progress, the village could probably conscript around eighteen hundred ninja for combat; if we go all-out, we might send out roughly four thousand ninja."
After all the clan leaders had left, Mitokado Homura—who had remained silent until now—finally spoke in a quiet, contemplative tone: "However, if this force gets dispatched, the village's defenses will then be..."
He didn't finish, but the other three understood precisely what he meant.
Konoha's defense system was jointly managed by the Barrier Unit, the Policing Department, and the Hokage's direct Anbu. However, both the Barrier Unit and Anbu were clearly outnumbered and outclassed militarily compared to the Uchiha Clan's Policing Department. Adding to this already precarious situation were the various ninja clans still remaining in the village, each watching for an opportunity to pounce. If those common ninja—who acted as a stabilizing force keeping these clans in check—were all sent overseas for war, then in the event of any unforeseen crisis, the Hokage faction would be left too weak to respond effectively.
Therefore, no matter how much he resented Hyuga Soushu's reckless provocation of border conflict, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi still had to grit his teeth and haggle with the insatiable Coalition of Ninja Clans, hoping to squeeze more combat-ready ninjas from their grasp to throw into the Northern Border defenses.
"Danzo, have you confirmed that all traces and evidence were thoroughly destroyed?"
Koharu Utatane's gaze fell upon Shimura Danzo, who sat in the corner of the room.
"Not certain,"
Danzo answered grimly, shaking his head.
"The materials were merely gathered during wartime, and we have no way of knowing whether that brat from the Hyuga clan has any knowledge about it."
That, however, was the most critical problem.
This mutual suspicion—a concept akin to a 'dark forest'—left Konoha's F4 constantly hesitant. They didn't know if Hyuga Soushu or the ninja from the Hyuga and Uchiha Clans at the Northern Front headquarters knew anything about it either. Nor did they know whether other ninja clans within the village were aware of the incident!
Moreover, whether Kumo only held the evidence destroyed on the frontlines—or had more elsewhere—was also uncertain!
If Hyuga Soushu and the village's ninja clans truly knew nothing about it, then even if Kumo revealed everything, Konoha's F4 could simply dismiss it as enemy slander. But should proof already be in the hands of these clans, then things would become extremely problematic.
This wasn't the kind of issue that could be dismissed with a simple excuse like inadequate supervision!
"The village can deploy up to two thousand ninja troops, and additionally, at least one thousand must be conscripted from these clans!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly.
He deliberately avoided addressing the issue of evidence.
"But..."
Koharu hesitated.
After all, in the Ninja Clan Summit meeting, the Hyuga Clan Leader had proposed removing her entirely from control of Konoha's Administrative Department, replacing it instead with a standing decision-making committee formed by the ninja clan coalition—in essence handing governance over to the likes of the Hyuga and Uchiha Clans.
Her instincts told her, however, that the Third Hokage wouldn't possibly compromise so drastically. The Administrative Department was already the core pillar of the Hokage's authority. Giving it up would shake the very foundations of Konoha's rule.
"I will issue the War Mobilization Order against Kumo and deliver a wartime speech."
The Third Hokage's words once again shocked the three present—it was a total escalation of hostilities!
Once a War Mobilization Order was issued, Konoha and Kumo would have no choice but to fight until one side lay utterly defeated. There would be no easy way out after that.
Moreover, the longer the war dragged on, the more heroic figures would rise from its chaos—bringing new complications along with them.
"However, we haven't received reliable intelligence from Mist. Whether through the Intelligence Division, Anbu, or contacts via Daimyo, we've failed to obtain any commitment from the Land of Water."
Homura Mitokado expressed his concerns regarding his old friend's decision.
Besides these internal issues, what worried them most was the external threat—the current Ninja World still had Mist Village in the Land of Water, which had shut itself off and remained silent for a long time! This village, notorious for its brutality, had destroyed Uzumaki Clan's Whirlpool Country—Konoha's ally—and since then had maintained complete silence, even Root could not uncover their current activities!
If Mist attacked while we were marching north to war against Kumo, Konoha would find itself once again fighting four enemies at once!
"The coastal defense camp in the east has been reorganized and is now under the Hyuga Clan's management. For now, we don't have to worry about that front too much."
Danzo suddenly spoke from the corner: "Even if Mist launches an attack, that will be the Hyuga Clan's problem, and those other dissenting clans' issue!"
"While your words aren't entirely appropriate, in reality, that's exactly how things stand."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, showed appreciation for his longtime aide's understanding at this moment.
Yet Danzo ignored his old friend's praising look and continued on his own accord: "Additionally, even if the village decides to deploy our ninja forces northward, the New Regiment must not be handed directly over to that young kid Soushu Hyuga. After all, he's still wet behind the ears!"
"And your suggestion would be...?"
Koharu Utatane cast her gaze toward the old monkey who had returned to his composed and easygoing state.
"White Fang!"
"Sakumo!"
Both Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, and Danzo Shimura called out—one using the legendary title, the other using the name.
"Then let's discuss again how we can get those ninja clans to send reinforcements!"
Homura Mitokado no longer voiced any objections.
At this moment, Konoha's F4, who previously showed signs of disunity in secret, displayed unprecedented unity!
Soushu Hyuga neither doted on Mahiru-chan's cozy world nor solely focused his efforts on training the already fragile Instructor Corps. After Takahiro Uchiha completed his inspection tour across the Northern Border Battalions and verified their battle achievements one by one, Soushu immediately formed a field inspection group consisting of six Uchiha ninja and three Hyuga ninja and began inspecting the defensive readiness of each battalion.
His reason for personally heading north with such a small entourage was twofold—firstly, due to confidence in his own strength, and secondly because he had received a letter forwarded by Koryo Jonin from Sakumo Hatake.
In the secret letter, Sakumo Hatake first sent his greetings briefly, then straightforwardly mentioned something important—that the Hokage had consulted him about willingness to take up the role of Supreme Northern Commander, leading Konoha's ninja forces in the full-scale war against Kumo!
As the leader of the Jonin Unit, Sakumo needed to consult Soushu Hyuga's opinion first. He also indicated that should he accept the position of Supreme Northern Commander, Soushu Hyuga would serve as the Central Army General of the Northern Field Army, continuing to command the Northern Border Defense Force without interfering with Soushu's existing authority over his ninja troops.
Sakumo made it clear that he strongly desired the Supreme Northern Commander position—even willing to temporarily relinquish control of his foundational base at the Western Camp.
To this, Hyuga Soushu naturally penned a warm and enthusiastic reply in his own hand, expressing heartfelt welcome for the arrival of Sakumo Hatake!
This was something Hyuga Soushu had never anticipated happening at all.
Originally in his plan, he had only intended to use righteousness as an excuse to put the Hokage's faction under intense pressure, but he never expected these old men would catch fire so easily and flip the table directly!
Before Sakumo Hatake's arrival, Hyuga Soushu needed to quickly push forward those somewhat disobedient operational squads to head north into the Land of Lightning, to stir up some trouble.
"Northern Campaign???"
Hyuga Soushu's first stop on his northern inspection tour was naturally the Land of Rice Fields, where Chief of Staff Keshi Nara was stationed.
Upon hearing of Hyuga Soushu's purpose, Keshi Nara was filled with shock and disbelief!
Did they get found out?
This was the first thought that flashed through Keshi Nara's mind.
According to his previous planning alongside Sarutobi Kōhei and several other trusted jonin officers, they had originally intended to send elite ninja to infiltrate the Land of Lightning in two days' time to cause some chaos. Yet now Hyuga Soushu had arrived heading north directly with merely three seemingly inadequate squads, and was personally supervising operations!
"Are the Ninja Forces still capable of fighting?"
Hyuga Soushu asked straightforwardly.
"Striking against the barbaric Kumogakure ninja is every Konoha ninja's solemn duty!"
Keshi Nara hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking, "But attacking Kumogakure will mean declaring outright war on another Hidden Village. Shouldn't we first consult the Fire Shadow before proceeding?"
Under the death glare from the Uchiha ninja, Keshi Nara immediately swallowed back what he was about to say.
"The nearest city in the Land of Lightning is Hakone Prefecture. If I understand correctly, Lord Soushu..."
Keshi Nara ventured carefully.
"What forces are required to capture Hakone? Can the operational squads accomplish this mission?"
Hyuga Soushu fired back sharply.
"Three hundred or five hundred should suffice!"
Keshi Nara suddenly felt overwhelming joy—what a perfect timing! The happiness came far too suddenly!
"Then you shall immediately mobilize the Ninja Forces directly as the vanguard for this northern campaign!"
Hyuga Soushu decisively concluded: "Furthermore, after capturing Hakone, do not remain there. Be sure to withdraw swiftly after gathering sufficient supplies."
"At once!"
Keshi Nara could barely contain his excitement!
Once full-scale war broke out between the Hidden Villages, the waters of the Northern Border would be hopelessly muddied!
And himself, along with those jonin officers suspected of secret dealings with Kumogakure, even if the Cloud ninjas held other compromising evidence, it would prove entirely useless during wartime!
Then, he'd finally be in the clear!
Although Hyuga Soushu's sudden appearance and urging for action seemed abrupt, at this moment, Keshi Nara was simply too excited to dwell deeply on the matter.
"Let the war begin, then!"
Unaware of Keshi Nara's inner thoughts, Hyuga Soushu nodded approvingly, filled with praise.
Eagerly, Keshi Nara saluted respectfully and requested permission to leave.
Meanwhile, just as Keshi Nara hurriedly gathered the Ninja Forces, an elite force from Kumo led by A arrived secretly at Hakone, the southern capital of the Land of Lightning.
A personally led this limited-scale retaliatory operation, so the number of ninja A brought along wasn't large—only about a hundred.
Even if combined with the Kumo ninja stationed at the border defense, the number of forces available to A barely reached a thousand, roughly half the size of Konoha's Border Force.
However, just as proud as his father, the Third Raikage, A didn't care about such an obvious numerical disadvantage but instead began carefully planning the details of revenge.
To avoid irreversible all-out confrontation with Konoha, A had already drawn two red lines from the start—no more than a hundred ninjas involved, and no more than a hundred Konoha casualties. The mission would emphasize appearance over substance, saving face rather than focusing on actual gains.
"According to the intelligence we currently have, guarding the Daimyo's court in the Land of Rice Fields are the Chief of Staff from Konoha's Border Force and the Seventh Battalion. Together, they number around ninety—perfectly within your limits!"
A commander from Kumo's Border Forces reported the information he had gathered.
"Excellent!"
A spoke with sharp finality: "Then tonight, we strike directly into the Land of Rice Fields and erase every last one of those Konoha ninjas who shamed our village!"
The Kumo ninja roared in unison, their voices bursting with excitement.
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