Frontlines of the Land of Frost.
A tense atmosphere hung over the entire Konoha camp.
The Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails jinchūriki had joined forces with Yugito, bringing three thousand reinforcements. The Kumogakure army was now fully consolidated.
The Konoha shinobi could only hope that reinforcements from the Land of Fire would arrive soon.
They had won the first engagement.
But with the Raikage's arrival, the balance of the battlefield had completely shifted.
At present, Kumogakure surpassed Konoha in both high-end combat power and overall strength.
The Raikage led three thousand elite troops. Yugito still had over a thousand survivors.
Combined, Kumogakure's forces now exceeded four thousand.
As for Konoha—
Although Uchiha Akihito had secured an early victory, they had suffered several hundred casualties.
Their total strength now barely reached twenty-five hundred—roughly half of Kumogakure's effective combat power.
Central Command Tent
Akihito gathered the elite shinobi for a strategy meeting.
"Akihito-sama, has the Third Hokage replied?"
"When will reinforcements arrive?"
The prolonged silence from Konoha had begun to stir anxiety.
With the Raikage's forces glaring at them from across the battlefield, delay could prove fatal.
Akihito, however, remained calm.
He had long prepared for the worst-case scenario.
Even if the Third Hokage refused to send aid, he would find a way to win.
Risk and opportunity coexisted.
If he could overturn the situation against overwhelming odds, the rewards would be doubled.
Defeating Kumogakure while outnumbered—
That would make Uchiha Akihito Konoha's next "Yellow Flash."
Wasn't Minato Namikaze elevated to Hokage largely because of his overwhelming battlefield achievements against Iwagakure?
Even the future's Uzumaki Naruto rose to prominence through his decisive role in the Fourth Great Ninja War.
Prestige was forged in blood.
Midway through the meeting, a member of the communications unit rushed in.
"Akihito-sama, a reply from the village has just arrived."
Akihito opened the letter and skimmed it briefly.
A faint, knowing smile curved at the corner of his lips.
"Akihito-sama, what did the Hokage say?"
"Are reinforcements on the way?"
Hope flickered across many faces.
Without answering, Akihito casually tossed the letter to Nara Shikaku.
"Strategist-dono, please read the Hokage's message to everyone."
Shikaku glanced at the contents—and his expression changed drastically.
He wanted nothing more than to throw the hot potato away.
But Akihito had spoken.
Clearing his throat, he began to read.
"The Raikage's advance and the crisis at the front have been noted. However, both Sunagakure and Iwagakure show signs of mobilizing troops near Konoha's borders. After careful deliberation, the leadership has decided to first dispatch forces to deter neighboring nations. You are to hold the front against Kumogakure for several days and await reinforcements…"
The short passage left Shikaku drenched in cold sweat.
Reading such an order aloud at a war council was pure torment.
Even he found the high command's actions excessive.
The frontline bled for the village—
And the village cut off their retreat.
Was this something decent people did?
If this continued, even the respected Third Hokage would lose the people's trust.
When Shikaku finished reading, the atmosphere shifted instantly.
They had been waiting desperately for reinforcements.
Instead—
There would be none.
Akimichi Chōza was the first to erupt.
"In a situation like this, and no reinforcements? What is the Third Hokage thinking?!"
The usually composed Yamanaka Inoichi looked visibly displeased.
"This decision… is inappropriate."
Hyūga Hiashi and Uchiha Shisui remained silent, but the discontent was clear on their faces.
Shisui, as Uchiha Kagami's descendant, had always trusted the Third Hokage.
He hadn't expected this.
With no support coming, the coalition's position was precarious.
Now was the moment for Nara Shikaku to act.
"Akihito," he said cautiously, "since reinforcements aren't coming, perhaps we should conduct a fighting retreat."
"We can fall back gradually and launch a counterattack once the Hokage's forces arrive…"
Before he finished, Hiashi stepped forward.
"I agree. The war's outcome is undecided. Why would Iwa or Suna attack Konoha now?"
"The Third Hokage has gone too far this time."
Several other core members voiced similar disappointment.
Shikaku's words were diplomatic, but Akihito understood the deeper meaning.
If they retreated while fighting, they would eventually fall back into the Land of Fire.
If war reached home soil, the daimyō would pressure the Hokage.
Under such pressure, Hiruzen would have no choice but to send troops.
Strategically, it was a sound plan.
But—
Akihito had no intention of retreating.
He inhaled slowly and looked down at the gathered shinobi.
"The leadership has its reasons."
"Since the Hokage ordered us to hold the line, we will not retreat."
Shikaku's eyes flickered.
When had Uchiha Akihito become so agreeable?
Defending the higher-ups?
This felt… wrong.
Shisui's eyes shone.
An unsung hero protecting the village from the shadows—
Was Akihito truly the inheritor of the Will of Fire?
Akihito smiled faintly, his voice steady and proud.
"It is our duty to protect Konoha. Even if we are outnumbered, we will fight to the death."
"Two tailed beasts? In the past, they were nothing more than playthings in the hands of the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara."
"I, Uchiha Akihito, may not compare to our forebears—but I will not disgrace their name."
Hiashi opened his mouth to argue.
But Shikaku suddenly stopped him with a subtle glance.
He had seen through Akihito's true intent.
This was a gamble—victory snatched from the brink of disaster.
Akihito was cautious by nature.
If he chose this path, he must have confidence.
Shikaku had already decided to draw closer to Akihito.
And now—
This was the perfect opportunity.
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