Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 101: Forced
In the original timeline, countless cannon fodder had appeared during the Second Ninja War, but the greatest loss of life occurred during the Third Ninja War because so many formidable shinobi had died.
Senju Clan was exploited by Danzo and some are being sabotaged during the war. Tsunade had lost her fighting power making her useless, Sakumo the most powerful shinobi had commit suicide.
So the only way they can deal with the enemy is by throwing the Young shinobi into the battlefield without proper preparation, they are being used as expendable pieces rather than soldiers worth preserving.
Although at first Hiruzen wanted to send genin onto the war, he kept holding it down because it against the will of fire and the second Hokage will.
First Hokage will of fire is for someone older to protect the youngster, while Tobirama he didn't want kids to die in a war.
Thanks to Danzo who had suggested to him at the critical moment. If he was the one who suggested to send Genin on the frontline first, people would look sceptical at him.
Luckily Danzo was the one who said it in the meeting and he was the last person who agreed, making him looked noble.
What could a normal genin possibly do on the front line?
Most of them could not even properly climb trees using chakra. They barely understood chakra control and only knew the three basic ninja techniques taught at the academy. Sending them into a battlefield filled with veteran shinobi was no different from sentencing them to death.
In the original history, many of them died without ever understanding why.
The logic was painfully simple. Five genin might be able to overwhelm one chunnin if they coordinated perfectly. Three chunnin could, in turn, take down a jonin under the right conditions. But real battlefields were chaotic. Chakra was drained quickly, fear clouded judgment, and a single mistake meant death.
While those poor young teens were ordered to die, Hiruzen just sit on his comfy chair. Issued ordered from behind within the village, then he elevated his status as the most powerful ninja in the village.
Danzo, was a bit brave and he would go to the frontline while accessing those who he thought would be good in his Root collection.
The biggest sin that they ever did is Framing Hatake Sakumo.
When Sakumo became a hero, when his reputation surpassed even that of the Hokage, Hiruzen allowed Danzo to frame him. The man who had saved countless lives was abandoned, crushed under public condemnation. Only after Sakumo death shook the village did Hiruzen feel regret, and by then, the Third Ninja War had already begun.
That was why Raiken acted now, he didn't want the same thing happen like the Naruto series.
He wanted to see Hiruzen on the front line.
"You are the Hokage," Raiken had said calmly, yet firmly. "The Raikage himself is on the battlefield and they are intent to destroying us and if Hokage are not joining the war the morale of Konoha shinobi would drop."
Those words placed Hiruzen in an impossible position to refuse.
If he refused, he would be branded a coward. Not openly, perhaps, but in the hearts of the people. Doubt would take root and once it did, it would never disappear. Even those who once respected him would begin to question his leadership and Raiken knew it that is why he struck while iron is still hot.
He forced Hiruzen and don't want to see him sit on the comfy chair.
Hiruzen feel headache and anger when hearing Raiken words, who dared to challenge him openly infront of the several clan heads.
"Raiken...." once again Raiken cut Hiruzen.
"Hokage same, we have Nara Clan who are very good in using their brain so I think it was better for Nara clan who command the army. Furthermore we have communication scroll, if we need a permission from Hokage, even Nara Shinobi can use it," said Raiken.
Hearing this, Hiruzen knows there are no escape and he was forced to join the war.
If strategy was the concern before, then there were better options.
The Nara Clan could take command as the brain of the operation. Their tactical minds were unmatched, and with the Uzumaki communication scrolls, real-time coordination across the battlefield was now possible.
There was no longer any excuse to hide behind walls and Hiruzen can no longer hide behind genin.
***
"Madara-sama, the attack on the Land of Fire has begun," White Zetsu reported.
Madara did not open his eyes. He merely let out a low hum of satisfaction.
"Good," he replied calmly. "Make sure the Uzumaki shinobi do not detect your presence. Leak their troop formations, supply routes and reinforcement schedules to the other villages."
White Zetsu grinned, "Leave it to me, Madara-sama."
With that, he sank into the ground and vanished, heading out to execute the plan without hesitation.
After he left, Madara slowly opened his eyes, staring into the darkness ahead. He let out a long, weary sigh.
He had made a grave mistake by allowing the Uzumaki Clan to grow unchecked… allowing them to marry with Uchiha Clan.
"That man…" Madara muttered. "Uzumaki Raiken is far more dangerous than I anticipated."
Raiken reminded him of Tobirama Senju, who are sharp-minded, ruthless when necessary, and terrifyingly efficient. But unlike Tobirama, Raiken had done something Madara never expected.
He chose cooperation over hatred, he strengthened the Uchiha instead of suppressing them. He married into their clan, binding them together by blood and interest.
"That is what makes him dangerous," muttered Madara "A leader who unites instead of divides."
His gaze shifted slightly looking at the direction of Black Zetsu.
"Black Zetsu," Madara called.
"Yes Madara sama," replied Black Zetsu.
"Our plan to recruit a pawn might failed and I need you to gather a ninjutsu to make me become younger again," said Madara. "That would be Plan B."
"I will do it Madara sama," replied Black Zetsu.
He finally feel happy because in this condition with the way how Raiken acted and unite the two clan, it would become danger for them and Uchiha Clan would produce a stronger descendant.
...
There is 30 advanced chapter on my patreon.
Chapter 127: Otsutsuki
Chapter 128: Strongest In The World
Chapter 129: Madara Adjust Plan
Chapter 130: Raiken Attack Again
Chapter 131: Anticipation
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