Kumogakure's military mobilization was carried out with such overwhelming fanfare that nearly the entire shinobi world became aware of their movements almost immediately.
Naturally, Konoha was no exception.
Especially since Konoha's ANBU was firmly under Natsuhiko's control, there was no way he would neglect monitoring a potential wartime enemy.
For instance, troop deployments within the Land of Lightning had already begun shifting noticeably.
Some of the forces originally stationed along the coastline to guard against Kirigakure had been redeployed toward the borders near the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Iron.
On one hand, this was meant to prevent a surprise attack from Konoha.
On the other hand, it was clearly intended to keep an eye on their old rivals from Iwagakure.
Of course, the number of troops stationed there was actually rather limited. If either major village truly launched a full assault, those defensive forces would be crushed almost instantly.
At best, they served as an early warning system.
Still, even symbolic defenses were necessary.
And almost as soon as these movements began, reports arrived directly on Natsuhiko's desk.
Natsuhiko understood very clearly what this meant.
Despite his own involvement, the course of events had not shifted much from the original trajectory at all.
And that also meant…
He was finally about to make his move.
Sure enough, after Kumogakure's envoy died, intelligence quickly confirmed that the Fourth Raikage would personally lead the campaign—alongside the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki himself.
The moment Natsuhiko shared this information with Nara Shikaku and the others, everyone immediately realized just how serious Kumogakure was this time.
Not only were they mobilizing massive numbers of shinobi, but even the Raikage and the Jinchuriki had been dispatched personally.
No matter how one looked at it, Kumogakure clearly intended to crush Konoha outright.
"But if they're going this far," someone eventually asked, "aren't they worried about their own village being attacked?"
That question had been weighing heavily on many people's minds.
Even Natsuhiko himself could not help pondering it.
Why were Kumogakure acting with such confidence?
After all, Natsuhiko had already made preparations within Iwagakure long ago. He had even left Nara Rokushiro stationed there specifically to monitor Iwa's movements at all times.
If Kumogakure truly had no fear whatsoever, then either they were completely insane…
Or they possessed some kind of hidden trump card.
A village's grand strategy could never be based purely on impulse or personal emotions. Natsuhiko was certain there had to be a deeper reason behind all this.
After thinking it over repeatedly, he finally realized what he had overlooked.
And the moment he remembered it, he immediately understood why Kumogakure dared to act so boldly.
The answer was simple:
The Heavenly Transfer Technique.
Space-time ninjutsu were actually far more common in this world than most people realized.
Obito's Kamui was one example.
The Flying Thunder God Technique mastered by both Minato Namikaze and Natsuhiko himself was another.
Beyond those, techniques such as the Summoning Jutsu, Amenotejikara, Amenominaka, Yomotsu Hirasaka, the Heavenly Transfer Technique, and Limbo: Border Jail all belonged to the category of space-time abilities.
It could honestly be described as a dazzling variety.
However, most of those abilities were derived in some form from the powers of the Otsutsuki Clan.
The only major exceptions were the Flying Thunder God Technique, the Summoning Technique, and the Heavenly Transfer Technique.
And unfortunately for Konoha…
Kumogakure just happened to possess one of those three.
The Heavenly Transfer Technique.
The principle behind the technique was simple: it used extreme-speed transportation to instantly move a target to a designated location.
But because the transportation speed was so terrifyingly high, the target's body would experience violent friction against the surrounding air.
Ordinary people simply could not endure that kind of pressure.
Most would be torn apart instantly during transit.
Because of this, the technique was normally used only for transporting objects and supplies.
But there were always exceptions.
Back during the Third Great Ninja War, the Third Raikage—the same monster who had battled ten thousand Iwagakure shinobi for three days and three nights—had successfully used the Heavenly Transfer Technique to travel directly onto the battlefield.
Because his body was strong enough to withstand it.
That man had once fought the Eight-Tails barehanded.
His physical durability was monstrous enough to resist the violent tearing force produced by the technique.
And as the inheritor of the Third Raikage's bloodline and physique, the Fourth Raikage was naturally capable of enduring the same process as well.
Aside from those two freakishly durable monsters…
The only other known person capable of surviving the Heavenly Transfer Technique seemed to be Tsunade, thanks to the Strength of a Hundred Seal.
And now, Natsuhiko finally understood.
The reason the Fourth Raikage dared to personally leave Kumogakure and lead the army himself… was because he already knew he could return at any time.
If someone truly lost their mind and decided to attack Kumogakure while the Fourth Raikage was away, then he could simply return instantly and give them a very unpleasant surprise.
"Unfortunately…"
A faint smile appeared on Natsuhiko's face.
"Once you run into me, are you really sure you'll still be able to make it back whenever you want?"
Natsuhiko was genuinely confident.
After all, even if he only used the strength available under the identity of "Natsuhiko Senju," his current power had already approached—or perhaps even reached—the level of peak Hashirama Senju during the Warring States Era.
And during this period of preparation, he had also spent considerable effort mastering some rather interesting techniques.
Particularly certain special forms of Wood Release.
Everything he had done was meant to prepare a "surprise" for Kumogakure.
To be honest, he was very curious what expressions those people—and the hidden observers secretly watching the war from the shadows—would show once that surprise was revealed.
Natsuhiko had always possessed a bit of a malicious sense of humor.
And besides, this battlefield was meant to be his stage.
Naturally, he intended to put on a spectacular performance.
Especially since the Sharingan Origin Seed planted in his body seemed to be more difficult than he had imagined.
At first, Natsuhiko had assumed the process would only take one or two months at most.
But now he realized he had severely underestimated the difficulty.
Even after all this time, his progress had barely advanced beyond seventy percent before grinding almost completely to a halt.
Naturally, he found that deeply unsatisfying.
Which was why this upcoming war also represented an opportunity for him to forcibly break through the bottleneck restricting the implantation process.
Still, Natsuhiko knew this was not the time to dwell on such matters.
Sitting inside the Hokage's office, he exchanged a glance with Nara Shikaku before calmly rising to his feet.
He completely ignored the ugly expressions on Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado's faces, and he did not even bother looking at Hiruzen Sarutobi's icy expression.
Instead, he slowly began speaking.
"Everyone, the current situation is extremely unfavorable for us. Kumogakure's forces have already crossed through both the Land of Iron and the Land of Hot Water and arrived at the borders of the Land of Fire…"
At this point, Natsuhiko paused briefly, his gaze slowly sweeping across everyone seated inside the conference room.
Today would become a signal.
A signal that many people would find difficult to accept, yet ultimately unavoidable.
From this moment onward, the Fourth Hokage's faction—or more accurately, Natsuhiko himself—would truly stand at the center of Konoha's political stage.
Every person gathered here represented the true core of Konoha's power structure.
These were the people capable of determining the scale, direction, and outcome of the coming war.
Even if there were some individuals Natsuhiko personally disliked—perhaps even hated.
For example, the two elders who looked as though they could survive all the way into the Boruto era.
But regardless of personal feelings, only through cooperation between these people could Konoha truly withstand Kumogakure's assault.
Natsuhiko feared no one in direct combat.
But wars were never decided by a single clash between powerful individuals.
Mobilization.
Logistics.
Defensive formations.
Offensive coordination.
All of these required careful planning and cooperation from everyone involved.
Large-scale warfare was never something won through individual strength alone.
If even one defensive line collapsed and the enemy smashed through recklessly, disrupting the formation and splitting the army apart, the final outcome would only be complete annihilation piece by piece.
And with Konoha currently standing in a disadvantaged position, coordination and leadership became even more critical.
"To be honest," Natsuhiko continued calmly, "I know that some people here never wanted this war to happen."
His voice remained steady, but every word carried undeniable weight.
"But I believe everyone also understands what Konoha's future would look like if we refuse to fight.
"Kumogakure is using fabricated accusations to force Konoha into submission.
"If we accept their demands, then Konoha will lose all dignity throughout the shinobi world… and the hearts of our own people will never remain stable again."
As he said this, Natsuhiko slowly turned his gaze toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"I believe even the Hokage agrees with this point."
The moment those words fell, the atmosphere inside the room instantly became subtle and tense.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression grew even more unsightly at that moment, but he still managed to hold himself back. He knew very well that this was not the time to lose his temper.
The Hokage was, in theory, the head of Konoha—the highest commander responsible for guiding the village in the right direction.
But right now, all those who should have supported him, those who were supposed to function like trusted officers on the same ship, had collectively stopped following his lead.
In such a situation, he could no longer mobilize the full strength of the village. He could only watch as the people in front of him made decisions freely, while he was no longer even in a position to object.
Because at this moment, any opposition from him would be equivalent to opposing Konoha itself.
He did not know why things had turned against him so suddenly, but he understood one thing clearly—he had to compromise now, or everything would be over.
Taking a deep breath, Hiruzen slowly stood up. His gaze swept coldly across everyone present.
Some of those under his gaze instinctively lowered their heads, while others met his stare without flinching.
Finally, his eyes settled once more on Natsuhiko.
After a long silence, he gave a slight nod.
"I understand. I'll leave it to you, Senju Natsuhiko."
At this moment, if there was anyone who felt even a trace of satisfaction, it would undoubtedly be Hiruzen Sarutobi.
But if there was anyone filled with the greatest anger, it would also be Hiruzen Sarutobi.
These conflicting emotions intertwined within him, making it impossible for him to stay in the room any longer.
If he had not been fully aware of the consequences of walking out now, he might have already turned and left without hesitation.
What enraged him most was the betrayal.
Betrayal from everyone.
Those he had appointed to the highest positions in Konoha had now completely turned to the other side.
This kind of betrayal struck him deeply. After all, he had already endured Danzo's betrayal, Orochimaru's betrayal… and even more personal tragedies—the deaths of his wife and son, and the sight of Danzo's own demise.
The past few years had been nothing but unbearable.
And now, even the very foundation of Konoha itself was slipping out of his control. How could he possibly accept something like that?
And that wasn't even the worst part.
The worst part was Natsuhiko.
That damn bastard had actually leaked his intention to hand over Hiashi Hyuga.
Thanks to that cursed newspaper, the entire village likely already knew about it.
Hiruzen could easily imagine how harshly Konoha was now speaking of him behind his back.
He no longer even dared to think about it.
Failure.
This time, it was a complete, utter failure—one that had nearly cost him everything, including his reputation.
And yet, at the same time, a part of him still felt a strange sense of approval.
He had long since recognized Natsuhiko's ambition for the position of Hokage.
And he had already concluded that Natsuhiko was far more suitable than even Minato Namikaze.
So to see Natsuhiko, almost silently and without warning, pull so many high-ranking officials into his faction—such ability, such means… even Hiruzen had to admit it was impressive.
But what came next?
This moment of brilliance was one thing.
But if he could not sustain it, then after this peak… would only come an abyss.
The higher one climbed, the harder the fall.
And despite everything, Hiruzen did not want to see the man he had once considered the most suitable Hokage candidate end up in such a situation.
Satisfaction, anger, and worry—these three emotions twisted and tormented him endlessly.
And yet, all he could do now was watch.
Watch to see what Natsuhiko would do next.
"Lord Shikaku, how many shinobi can the village currently mobilize?"
Seeing Hiruzen sink into silence, seemingly drifting away mentally, Natsuhiko could not help but shake his head slightly before turning to ask.
It seemed the Third Hokage was already halfway into a state of resignation. Still, that actually made things more convenient for him.
"Since the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars, the village has suffered heavy losses. Many injured shinobi have retired and returned to civilian life," Shikaku replied calmly. "Combined with the fact that recruitment and training haven't kept pace…"
He paused briefly before continuing.
"At present, there are approximately thirty-seven thousand two hundred active shinobi in the village."
Among them, there were twenty-seven thousand genin, nine thousand six hundred chunin, and as for the jonin…
As the Commander of Administrative Affairs, Nara Shikaku normally should not have been the one answering such a question.
However, he also held another extremely important position—he was the commander of the Jonin Corps.
That role had originally belonged to Minato Namikaze, but after Minato went to Mount Myoboku for recovery, the position was left vacant.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had likely assigned it to Shikaku as a way to further strengthen ties with the Ino–Shika–Cho alliance, and now, that decision had conveniently become useful for Natsuhiko.
"I understand. Thank you for your hard work, Lord Shikaku."
Natsuhiko gave a slight nod.
That number was not large—but it was completely within expectations.
Even though Shikaku had not explicitly mentioned the number of jonin, Natsuhiko already knew that Konoha's elite forces were severely limited.
Jonin were a scarce resource. Outside of the major clans, who might have a relatively higher number, civilian-born shinobi could at most account for a few hundred at best—if that.
"Then, how many shinobi can the village actually mobilize for combat operations?"
Shikaku closed his eyes briefly, recalling the details before answering with precision.
"On the western border of the Land of River, there is a garrison of about one thousand shinobi. From the northwest to the northeast—covering the Land of Rain, Land of Grass, and Land of Waterfall—there are approximately five thousand shinobi deployed."
"From the northeast to the east, including the Land of Sound, Land of Hot Water, and Land of Whirlpools, there are another four thousand shinobi."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"However, the defensive forces stationed between the Land of Iron and the Land of Hot Water have already concentrated at border outposts, totaling about two thousand shinobi."
"And within the village itself, excluding administrative personnel, we have about thirteen thousand combat-capable shinobi that can be mobilized."
"However…"
That "however" made the implication immediately clear.
The shinobi assigned to perimeter defense absolutely could not be moved.
That much was unquestionable—no one knew whether someone might try to attack the village from the shadows while they were away.
Although Konoha and the other villages had ceasefire agreements in place, that did not mean smaller nations or hidden factions might not attempt something underhanded.
Everyone understood that many of those so-called "smaller villages" were likely acting on behalf of the major hidden villages anyway.
But as long as they never showed their faces directly and only operated through proxies, there was little anyone could openly accuse them of.
Meanwhile, although Konoha technically had over twenty thousand shinobi available in total, that number included a large portion of young genin, as well as shinobi assigned to education, medical services, and administrative duties.
Shikaku's report likely did not even include underage genin in the combat roster.
Beyond that, a significant number of shinobi were required simply to maintain order within the village itself.
After all, Konoha had a population exceeding one hundred thousand civilians.
If order broke down and foreign operatives infiltrated the village, the consequences would be disastrous—whether through spreading rumors, assassination of officials, or sabotage of administrative structures.
That was why the actual number of deployable forces was far smaller than it appeared on paper.
War always required consideration of far more than just raw numbers.
And mobilization was never as simple as "having how many, using how many."
Unless the village was on the brink of destruction, full-scale total mobilization would never be considered.
"It seems our usable forces are quite limited," Natsuhiko said with a faint sigh.
But soon after, his gaze shifted toward Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Hokage-sama, is there anything you would like to add?"
"Do as you see fit."
Hiruzen closed his eyes, clearly unwilling to continue engaging with the discussion.
He understood very well that even if he spoke now, this young man would not truly listen.
As a Hokage—especially one who still held the support of the village—there were times when decisive authority was necessary. Indecision could not be allowed.
And now, that authority was no longer in his hands.
"Very well. Since everyone places their trust in me, then I hereby announce…"
Natsuhiko spoke without hesitation.
And the moment his words fell, everyone present stood up—everyone except Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado.
"This time, we will deploy four thousand shinobi, coordinated with the two thousand stationed at the frontline outpost, to resist Kumogakure's invasion."
"Lord Shikaku, I'll leave the mobilization to you. We don't have much time."
"Also, make sure the jonin from other defensive sectors are quickly transferred to the Land of Hot Water front. Prioritize those capable of independent command."
"Yes, Commander Natsuhiko."
Nara Shikaku responded without the slightest hesitation, nodding firmly. Inwardly, however, he felt a slight sense of relief.
Natsuhiko had been abruptly placed into such a position of authority. On paper, his qualifications were sufficient, and everyone already believed that the Fourth Hokage stood behind him.
But he had never truly demonstrated command experience in an actual wartime situation. Suddenly entrusting him with such critical decisions naturally left many people uneasy.
Shikaku included.
In fact, most people likely felt the same way, which was why Shikaku had already been preparing himself to step in and offer reminders if necessary.
However, the young ANBU commander had exceeded expectations.
Although his orders were relatively straightforward, they were clear, organized, and decisive.
After all, this was a war between two great villages—anyone sitting in this position would feel immense pressure.
And yet this boy… did not seem burdened by it at all. He was handling everything with surprising ease.
"Hokage-sama."
Natsuhiko, unaware of Shikaku's thoughts, turned to Hiruzen.
"Then I will leave logistics to you."
"After all, logistics are the lifeline of the frontline shinobi. I believe only you are capable of handling it properly."
"I understand," Hiruzen replied with a quiet sigh.
Despite the resentment and inner turmoil he could not suppress, he still nodded in agreement.
No matter how unwilling he was, no matter how much anger and frustration burned within him, he understood that Konoha was heading into war.
And in war, he had to contribute something.
Even if personal grievances existed, they would have to wait until after everything was over.
He also knew that with the current situation and the accelerating spread of public sentiment, his position was becoming increasingly difficult.
But now was not the time to dwell on that.
Since war had been declared, he would still do what he could.
Logistics was a heavy responsibility.
During the Third Great Ninja War, Iwagakure had been forced into submission largely because their supply lines were severed by Minato Namikaze's squad, compounded by pressure from Kumogakure.
Fortunately, Konoha's geography gave them a significant advantage.
They had multiple viable supply routes.
And with the Hyuga Clan present, they were also able to significantly reduce the risk of large-scale infiltration attacks.
At the very least, they would not be forced, like Iwagakure, to deploy massive rear-guard forces that would weaken their frontline strength.
However, the moment Hiruzen thought of the Hyuga Clan, his expression subtly shifted again.
After all, he had originally intended to hand them over to Kumogakure in exchange for peace.
And yet now, he found himself thinking about them once more.
"As for the main force of four thousand shinobi…"
Natsuhiko did not dwell on Hiruzen's reaction after receiving his assignment. Instead, he continued calmly issuing commands.
He genuinely had no concern that Hiruzen would sabotage this important mission.
If it had been Danzo, he would have had to remain cautious.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi was different.
There was a fundamental distinction between the two of them.
Of course, if anyone truly did something unforgivable—especially in the current state of Konoha—Natsuhiko would absolutely make that person an "embarrassment" to the title of Hokage.
Although, from the current situation, that already seemed to be happening to some extent. After all, most of the village's key positions were no longer aligned with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Lord Shikaku, arrange for someone to temporarily take over your duties. You will be in charge of this four-thousand-man force."
After a brief moment of thought, Natsuhiko made his decision. A force of this scale would be best entrusted to Nara Shikaku—it was simply more reassuring that way.
However, to his surprise—
"No, Commander Natsuhiko," Shikaku said, shaking his head.
"The commander of this operation should be you."
"…Me?" Natsuhiko blinked slightly, clearly not expecting a refusal.
From any angle—position, ability, experience—Shikaku Nara was unquestionably the most suitable candidate.
"I will arrange a replacement for my duties," Shikaku continued with a faint smile, already seeing through Natsuhiko's confusion.
"That way, I can accompany you to the front lines and coordinate directly against Kumogakure alongside you."
...
With the final arrangements made, the war was now fully defined, and Konoha's entire system began to operate at high speed.
Perhaps because the Third Great Ninja War had ended less than two years ago—and the Nine-Tails Incident still lingered heavily in the hearts of the villagers—the efficiency they displayed was nothing short of terrifying.
Within just two days, all summoned shinobi had assembled according to their combat formations.
Although two days might seem slow for shinobi standards—especially since Kumogakure had already begun its advance—Konoha still had frontline defensive forces holding the line, so there was no immediate need for panic.
On the morning of the third day, as the first light of dawn rose from the east, Natsuhiko's force of four thousand shinobi set out for the front lines in a vast and organized formation.
Almost all of the villagers came out voluntarily to see them off, while the remaining shinobi left behind clenched their fists tightly, holding back their emotions.
They were not going to the battlefield for many reasons, but they still understood their responsibility—to ensure their assigned duties were carried out flawlessly.
Even so, many of them could not help but wonder who exactly was leading this army.
Information about it had been scarce.
But soon, the truth spread through the newspapers.
The commander of this expedition force was a young man from the Senju Clan—the same man who had stopped the Nine-Tails incident, the ANBU Commander himself: Senju Natsuhiko.
"Unbelievable… so it's him. So his name is Senju Natsuhiko."
"A new-generation Wood Release user? If the heavens are watching us, is the glory of the First Hokage about to return to Konoha again?"
"I heard that the Third Hokage originally intended to hand over the Hyuga Clan in exchange for peace, but this man, together with several department heads and clan heads, opposed the decision and forced him to reconsider."
"The Third Hokage really is getting old… how could Konoha ever make such a concession?"
"Exactly. I read in the newspapers a long time ago that once you give in like that, Konoha's reputation in the shinobi world would be completely ruined."
"Not just that—if you give in once, there will be a second time. Once it becomes a habit, won't the village keep yielding again and again in exchange for so-called 'peace'?"
"First it's the Hyuga Clan… next it might be the Land of Fire itself."
"And I even heard that this whole thing was orchestrated by Kumogakure—that they tried to abduct the Hyuga clan's little princess, which is why their envoy was killed."
"…"
"…"
From the viewing platform, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in silence, watching the departing army.
But the murmurs of the crowd reached his ears once again, wave after wave of discussion that only grew harsher.
His expression shifted faintly between light and shadow.
He knew public opinion would spread. He knew things would not be favorable to him.
But he had believed—perhaps naively—that his actions would still earn at least some understanding from the villagers.
Yet now it seemed…
He had received nothing at all.
It was as if everything he had done had been fundamentally wrong.
As if no one, anywhere, would ever understand him again.
And what troubled him even more was the way some clan members looked at him—their gazes were clearly off, filled with doubt, resistance, and something close to distrust. It only deepened the sense of helplessness and quiet resignation in his heart.
"Koharu, Homura… what should we do now?"
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura had been standing beside him the entire time. Naturally, they had also heard the murmurs from the crowd, and it left them simmering with anger.
Konoha's decisions did not require understanding from its people—they only required obedience.
Yet what they were seeing now felt like outright betrayal. How could they not be angry?
"What should we do now?" Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the two of them and let out a long, weary sigh. "The war has already started. We can only focus on what we must do."
...
"Who would have thought… after only two or three years of peace, we're already back in another war."
Meanwhile, Natsuhiko was already moving.
Dressed in Konoha's standard combat uniform with the green flak vest and a forehead protector tied firmly in place, he led the four-thousand-man force rapidly toward the border of the Land of Hot Water.
To be honest, the outfit still felt somewhat unfamiliar to him. He was far more accustomed to ANBU attire, and wearing this kind of open battlefield uniform for the first time made him feel slightly out of place.
But as the highest commander in Konoha during wartime, there was no longer any room for him to continue wearing ANBU gear.
Nara Shikaku was indeed an interesting man.
Originally, Natsuhiko had intended to assign him this command position, as Shikaku was undoubtedly the most suitable person to lead a large-scale force—his strategic ability, war experience from the Third Great Ninja War, and his position as commander of the Jonin Corps all made him ideal.
And yet, without the slightest hesitation, Shikaku had handed the role over to Natsuhiko instead.
His intention was obvious. He had already seen through Natsuhiko's ambitions—and was willingly stepping aside to support him.
At the same time, this expedition had also brought another notable development: the major clans aligned with Natsuhiko had all contributed significant forces.
Right behind him were Hiashi Hyuga and Hyuga Hizashi, along with nearly one hundred Hyuga clan shinobi.
Most of them were branch members, with only a small number belonging to the main house.
But this was already the limit of what Hiashi could mobilize. In truth, the main house members were not necessarily strong in combat, while the branch members were the ones constantly undertaking dangerous missions.
That imbalance was one of the core reasons for the growing tension between the main and branch houses.
It was easy to imagine why resentment had accumulated for so long—those living in comfort and privilege at the top, and those risking their lives every day yet treated little better than tools.
Few could accept such a system.
Still, Hiashi's personal presence here had at least somewhat suppressed the unrest within the clan ranks.
This was already the Hyuga clan's main combat force—the maximum they could deploy.
In addition, forces from the Aburame and Inuzuka clans had also joined, along with members of the Senju clan that Natsuhiko himself had cultivated.
On top of that were a large number of civilian ninjas and small clan shinobi who had chosen to follow him.
As a result, this four-thousand-man force was extremely well-balanced—capable of reconnaissance, assault, and full-scale ninjutsu support.
"Kumogakure didn't give us a choice," Nara Shikaku said beside Natsuhiko, shaking his head slightly. "And more importantly… isn't this exactly what you wanted, Commander Natsuhiko?"
"Something like that," Natsuhiko replied with a faint smile, appearing unusually relaxed. "War is frightening, yes. But what's even more frightening is the lack of resistance. As long as you prepare properly, war can still be managed."
"Then may I ask what your plan is, Commander Natsuhiko?" Shikaku asked with genuine curiosity. "Or rather… do you already have a strategy in place?"
"A strategy?" Natsuhiko's expression shifted slightly, as if recalling something amusing. He raised a brow. "Of course I do. And it's already in motion."
"If nothing unexpected happens, that kid is probably dealing with a headache right about now."
"But that's ANBU's problem."
"As for us…" His gaze sharpened slightly. "We just need to make sure Kumogakure gathers their forces in one place—preferably somewhere suitable for a full-scale frontal engagement."
...
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