Day 21 of the Konoha–Sunagakure War.
Southwestern Konoha Headquarters, Strategy Division.
Nara Suzaku sat before a wooden desk piled high with intelligence reports, his brows slightly furrowed.
Suzaku was one of the most outstanding talents of the younger generation of the Nara clan. Not only was he highly proficient in the clan's hereditary shadow techniques, but he had also demonstrated exceptional talent in strategy. In this regard, he and Nara Shikaku were widely regarded as surpassing their predecessors in this generation.
Unfortunately, the two brothers were not fighting side by side this ti.
Shikaku had followed Orochimaru to the northeastern border of the Land of Fire, serving as the strategist for that front to deal with the impending threat from Kumogakure.
anwhile, he remained here as the chief strategist of the southwestern front, assisting the commanding officer, Jiraiya, in handling the countless complexities of the battlefield, coordinating intelligence analysis and strategic projections for this front.
Suzaku set down the report he had just finished reading, rubbed his temples, and picked up another one.
Over the past two days, Sunagakure's movents had been… strange.
Their previously intensifying offensive had clearly weakened starting two days ago.
Where there had once been at least a dozen skirmishes of varying scale each day, yesterday saw only four. As of now today, there had been no activity at all. Reports from the frontline reconnaissance units also indicated that Sunagakure's forward outposts had withdrawn by about five kiloters, and their once-active patrol units had significantly reduced their movents.
Abnormal.
Far too abnormal.
This kind of silence was more unsettling than chaos.
Suzaku picked up another report—it was from an elite reconnaissance squad dispatched last night and returned this morning. The report stated that Sunagakure's various squads were beginning to pull back and regroup toward their main camp.
He stared at the report, countless possibilities flashing through his mind at high speed.
Was it that their intensified offensive had t resistance, forcing them to adjust their strategy?
Or…
A thought suddenly surfaced, sending a chill down his spine.
Sunagakure was preparing for a full-scale offensive!
Chiyo had repeatedly changed her poisons yet continued to suffer setbacks—Sunagakure's morale was bound to be affected. Rasa, eager to secure achievents and stabilize his position as Kazekage, would never be willing to let things drag on like this. Pakura was firmly pinned down by Tsunade, unable to carry out harassnt operations.
With all these factors combined, Rasa didn't have many options left.
Suzaku tapped his fingers lightly on the table, running through all the intelligence from the past few days in his mind. Then he suddenly stood up, grabbed several key reports, and strode toward the command center.
His pace was quick, and his mind was already rapidly simulating Sunagakure's possible attack directions, troop deploynts, and timing windows.
He needed to report this analysis to Jiraiya as soon as possible so that preparations could be made in advance.
The command center was right next to the strategy division—just a few steps away.
Suzaku lifted the tent flap, and a young, steady voice ca from inside: "So, Jiraiya-sama, based on the above, Sunagakure is preparing for a full-scale offensive."
…?
Suzaku's steps halted.
He stood frozen at the entrance, still clutching those reports, his mouth slightly open.
Inside the tent, the boy standing before the map withdrew the finger he had been using to point at a location and turned around.
Higashino Shinichi.
He wore his usual gentle expression. When he saw Suzaku at the entrance, he gave a slight nod.
Suzaku's gaze moved from his face to the map behind him.
Several markings had been made on it.
So of those positions were ones he himself had only vaguely found suspicious and had not yet had the ti to fully analyze.
Yet now, Shinichi had already clearly marked them in different colors, with notes beside them detailing estimated troop strength, possible attack routes, and suggested counterasures.
"Suzaku?"
Jiraiya's voice pulled him out of his daze. Turning his head, Suzaku saw Jiraiya smiling at him.
"You ca at just the right ti! Shinichi just finished analyzing Sunagakure's unusual movents over the past few days. I was about to call the strategy team for a eting—co take a look as well."
Suzaku fell silent for a second, then nodded, his voice slightly dry.
"…Yes."
He stepped forward and took the report Jiraiya handed him, his gaze falling on it as he read.
Sunagakure's abnormal movents over the past few days, their possible intentions, the direction of troop movents, projections of attack routes, counterasure suggestions—everything was laid out clearly, one point after another.
The conclusions he had struggled for so long to piece together were neatly summarized there.
The directions he had only vaguely suspected but hadn't yet fully analyzed had already been thoroughly broken down.
He lifted his head and looked at Shinichi.
The boy still stood there with a calm, gentle expression. Seeing Suzaku look over, he gave another small nod.
Suzaku withdrew his gaze, looked back down at the report in his hands, and slowly spoke: "Shinichi-kun's projections… are very comprehensive."
Very comprehensive.
For an elite mber of the Nara clan to say that, it was already a trendous acknowledgnt.
As expected of the genius strategist who had accurately predicted the course of the war before it even began.
Suzaku sighed inwardly, yet for so reason, an indescribable feeling surfaced in his heart.
"You think there's no problem as well, right?"
Jiraiya let out a hearty laugh, clearly not noticing the subtle state of mind of this strategist at the mont. He patted the report in his hand and went straight to the point: "Then I'll notify all departnts and squad leaders to co for a eting right away. Suzaku, you'll be in charge of presenting later."
Suzaku glanced at Jiraiya, then at Shinichi, who stood to the side with a calm expression the entire ti, and shook his head.
"Let Shinichi-kun present."
Jiraiya paused for a mont, his gaze shifting between the two.
Suzaku continued, "His analysis is more comprehensive and more in-depth than mine. The directions I hadn't even considered have already been fully worked out by him. If he explains it, the result will be better."
Hearing this, Shinichi slightly shook his head and said: "Senpai overpraises . I only happened to notice a few details and filled in so gaps. When it cos to overall battlefield analysis, troop deploynt, and response planning, we still need professionals like Nara-senpai to coordinate everything."
"Jiraiya-sama, it's better to let Nara-senpai present."
Jiraiya looked at one, then the other, and finally burst out laughing, waving his hand dismissively: "Alright, alright, stop pushing it back and forth."
"Then both of you will present! Shinichi will handle the analysis of Sunagakure's intentions and attack directions, and Suzaku, you'll handle our response deploynt. Each of you covers your part—complenting each other."
At this, Jiraiya looked at both of them. "Any problems?"
Suzaku and Shinichi both shook their heads.
Jiraiya clapped his hands in satisfaction.
"Good, then it's settled! I'll have people notify all departnt heads to co for the eting. You two get ready."
Half an hour later.
Inside the command center, the heads of all divisions had already gathered. Standing before the map, Suzaku spoke in a steady tone as he delivered the final summary: "In summary, Sunagakure's abnormal movents over the past few days all point to one conclusion—they are preparing for a full-scale offensive!"
His finger traced several arcs across the map, finally stopping at a few key points: "The main attack directions are concentrated at three locations, but the primary offensive will most likely be near Kikyō Pass. The total troop deploynt across the three routes is preliminarily estimated at around ten thousand, with the timing most likely within the next two days."
Shinichi stood at the edge of the crowd, listening quietly. In the end, he had handed the entire explanation over to Nara Suzaku.
After all, this wasn't his professional role. Showing a bit of insight was enough—directly taking over soone else's job wasn't sothing a smart person would do.
"Alright."
Jiraiya stepped forward, his expression turning serious as his gaze swept across every face present.
"Everyone understands the situation. Sunagakure is about to launch a full-scale offensive, and their numbers will be large. The coming battle will be tough. Each departnt will proceed according to the plan Suzaku just outlined and make preparations imdiately."
"However, there's no need to worry too much. The village has sent reinforcents—they will arrive this afternoon."
As soon as those words were spoken, the expressions of everyone present eased slightly. Jiraiya continued: "As long as we hold through this wave, Sunagakure will enter a prolonged period of weakness. If they fail to break through, they won't be able to organize another large-scale offensive anyti soon."
"At that point, our objective of dragging them into a prolonged war of attrition will be fully achieved."
Hearing this, everyone nodded.
Sunagakure's national strength was limited—they simply couldn't sustain a long war. Their hurried offensive was ant to secure quick results.
Now that their offensive had stalled and no decisive results had been achieved, dragging things out would start to hurt their logistics and morale.
After all, Sunagakure was fighting an expeditionary war. Their supply lines stretched all the way from the Land of Wind, through the Land of Rivers, to the border of the Land of Fire. Every grain of food, every explosive tag, every ninja tool, and every dose of dicine had to traverse a long transportation route.
Konoha, on the other hand, was fighting within its own territory, waiting at ease. Their supply lines were short, mobilization was convenient, the wounded could be evacuated quickly, and resources could be replenished rapidly.
The longer the war dragged on, the more disadvantageous it would be for Sunagakure.
As long as they held this wave, for a long period afterward, both sides would fall into a state of fragnted skirmishes—today you harass one of my squads, tomorrow I wipe out one of your outposts—scattered clashes, endless and inconclusive.
At least half a year.
Within half a year, Sunagakure would find it difficult to organize another proper large-scale offensive. Once that situation erged, the balance of victory would begin to tilt toward Konoha.
During that ti, the village could also devote most of its attention to dealing with the more dangerous Kumogakure.
"That's enough. Go make your preparations."
Jiraiya waved his hand, and the heads of each division filed out one after another.
At the sa ti, at Sunagakure's main camp.
Rasa stood before a massive sand-table map. Commanders from all divisions stood on both sides, all eyes fixed on him, waiting for his final orders.
"According to intelligence, Konoha will receive so reinforcents in the next couple of days, but…"
Rasa lifted his gaze, sweeping it across everyone present.
"At most, one to two thousand. Their total force, at best, will only reach eight thousand."
His hand pressed against the edge of the sand table as he leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharp: "Ten thousand against eight thousand."
"The advantage is ours!"
"Kazekage-sama speaks wisely!"
"Our forces hold the nurical advantage, and morale is high—this battle is assured victory!"
"We'll slaughter Konoha to the last man and send them back in total defeat!"
The commanders all echoed in agreent, and the atmosphere inside the tent grew heated.
Rasa raised his hand, and the room fell silent. His gaze returned to the map, lingering for a mont before he spoke in a deep voice: "Go and prepare. In two days—"
"At dawn, we launch the full-scale offensive!"
"Yes!"
All the commanders acknowledged the order and exited the tent.
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