Chapter 388 – Departure
Once Minato's order for war was issued, the entirety of Konoha began operating at full speed.
Perhaps it was because the Third Shinobi World War had ended less than two years ago.
Perhaps it was because the Nine-Tails Incident still weighed heavily on the hearts of Konoha's shinobi.
Whatever the reason, the efficiency they displayed was nothing short of terrifying.
More importantly, Konoha had been preparing for nearly half a year.
In just a single day, all summoned shinobi assembled according to their combat formations.
Early the next morning, as the newborn sun rose from the eastern horizon, Hiruzen and Fugaku each led their respective forces—a combined total of four thousand shinobi—marching in grand formation toward the front lines.
Almost all of Konoha's civilians came out voluntarily to see them off.
Many of the shinobi who were left behind clenched their fists in silence.
They had countless reasons for not being able to go to the battlefield—but they also understood something clearly:
If logistics failed,
If village security failed,
then the shinobi on the front lines would never be able to fight without worry.
Kei stood among the crowd seeing them off.
At his side were Ayaka, Kenta, and Kakashi.
The four of them would not be heading to the battlefield—at least, not yet.
Kei still had crucial duties to carry out and did not need to depart immediately.
Kakashi, the prospective head of ANBU, carried an exceptionally heavy burden. His future missions would be the most dangerous of all, and so he had to wait for direct orders from the Hokage.
As for Kenta, the prospective head of the Mission Department, his responsibility lay in controlling, distributing, and recording mission assignments—work that determined both frontline achievements and logistical credit.
None of these roles were any less important than standing on the battlefield itself.
As the massive force gradually disappeared into the distance, Konoha fell into a tense yet orderly rhythm.
Although everyone was busy, Ayaka was probably the most relaxed among them.
Her status, after all, was not particularly critical.
And because she was considered an "important member" of the Military Police Force, neither Uchiha Fugaku nor Sarutobi Hiruzen included her in the mobilization list.
Fugaku openly regarded her as someone Kei cared deeply about. Given that she had long operated as Kei's partner, he had no intention of separating them.
As for Sarutobi Hiruzen—although the thought had crossed his mind—he had no desire to provoke Kei at such a sensitive time. And so, Ayaka was left behind.
That said, the Military Police were still heavily drafted.
There was no helping it—the Police Force had become far too valuable.
They were one of Konoha's few units that had maintained consistent combat readiness, and their performance in previous "shadow operations" had been exceptional.
Moreover, many of their members—whether from clans or civilian backgrounds—had real battlefield experience.
Both Fugaku and Hiruzen naturally selected personnel from among them.
Uchiha Kawa and Uchiha Ryū were taken, along with a large number of regular officers.
"It looks like we really had to give up quite a few capable people this time."
After the send-off ceremony, Kei returned to the Military Police headquarters and let out a quiet sigh.
"By the way, do you have any suggestions for the temporary squad leader appointments?"
Ayaka shot him a cool glance.
"Why are you asking me that? Are you the Head, or am I?"
She paused, then added calmly,
"Though if you insist—there are candidates. Still, I suspect you've already made up your mind."
"And let me say this first: I refuse to serve as a temporary squad leader. Not because I can't—but because I don't want to waste my time here."
Kei clicked his tongue helplessly.
She really did know him too well.
He had considered assigning her as an interim squad leader—only to be shut down preemptively.
But her refusal didn't bother him. He had alternatives.
Extraordinary times allowed for extraordinary measures.
"I understand."
Kei took out two stamped appointment documents, filled in the names, and handed them to Ayaka.
"Pass these along. Have them report immediately."
Ayaka glanced at the names.
"Fukuhiko Kōta… and Uchiha Asahi?"
Fukuhiko Kōta was the younger brother of Fukuhiko Kōhei—someone Kei had been closely observing but hadn't promoted due to special circumstances.
As for Uchiha Asahi, he was one of Kei's most loyal supporters.
Asahi was Uchiha Kawa's father and had followed Kei long before Kei truly rose to power. He had always worked diligently in positions that seemed insignificant, yet were crucial to Kei.
Although Ayaka had since replaced him in some capacities, Asahi had found his footing within the Police Force's internal administration—and performed admirably.
Placing him temporarily as a squad leader posed no real risk.
"Yes. Those two," Kei nodded.
"One was already on my development list, the other has ample experience. They'll manage—especially under current circumstances."
"I'll handle it," Ayaka replied. "By the way… when do you plan to go to the battlefield?"
"You're that eager to send me off?" Kei chuckled.
"Unless the Fourth Raikage loses patience, I won't need to move. And even if he does—Fugaku alone is more than enough to teach them a lesson."
"Fair enough." Ayaka tilted her head. "So you're focusing on your so-called reforms instead?"
"Of course." Kei stood up and lightly flicked her forehead protector.
"You don't seriously think those Cloud ninjas can cause us real trouble, do you?"
"I don't know about them," Ayaka said coldly.
"But if you keep doing that, I will make trouble for you—whether I can beat you or not."
"....."
---
"Who would've thought we'd be going to war again after just two years…"
Fugaku, clad in Konoha combat gear with his forehead protector secured, led his two thousand–strong force rapidly toward the Land of Hot Water's border.
They had confirmed that the Cloud forces would advance through Hot Water. Interception was their mission.
This was the vanguard, tasked with confronting the enemy head-on.
Fugaku marched at the very front.
Nearly three hundred of the two thousand were Uchiha, forming the backbone of the force.
Most were clan mission shinobi, some were his personal loyalists, and others had been drawn from the Military Police.
They represented his core combat strength.
He had also selected members from the Hyūga, Aburame, Senju, and Inuzuka clans—alongside numerous civilian and minor-clan shinobi who chose to follow him.
The unit was highly balanced: reconnaissance, assault, and ninjutsu support were all covered.
On their rear flank marched Hiruzen's separate two-thousand–man force.
Its core strength came from the Sarutobi clan and various secret-technique families—exceptionally practical in both combat and reconnaissance.
Hiruzen had no intention of missing an opportunity to build prestige.
"Clan Head," Uchiha Kawa said as he walked beside Fugaku, with Ryū nearby,
"Some things simply can't be avoided."
"True," Fugaku sighed.
"Still… who could've imagined the Cloud's ambitions ran this deep?"
He looked toward the distant horizon.
"Pick up the pace. I won't allow them to set foot inside the Land of Fire."
Even shinobi needed nearly a week to reach the Hot Water border from Konoha at full speed.
The Land of Fire was vast—thirty thousand shinobi was simply not enough.
Yet training more was no easy task.
Out of a population exceeding a hundred thousand, only a fraction could become shinobi.
Talent was a hard limit.
Without it, even a lifetime as a genin still made one superhuman among civilians.
Fugaku's orders were relayed swiftly.
The two thousand shinobi accelerated sharply, sleeping only six hours a day, devoting the rest to relentless travel.
Everyone understood the mission's importance. No one complained.
Still, Fugaku wasn't reckless.
Charging into battle exhausted would be suicide.
His destination was a second-line Konoha outpost near the Hot Water border—a fortified camp and frontline granary.
If the Cloud attacked, this location would be a prime target.
Should it fall, the enemy would gain massive supplies and a forward base—an unacceptable outcome.
Securing the outpost and resting there was Fugaku's plan.
What he didn't expect—
Was that when his forces arrived,
they would collide head-on with a Cloud unit already launching an attack on the outpost.