Kiyohara listened quietly from the back.
The Land of Wind, despite being mostly desert, did in fact have a coastline.
Its southwestern edge faced the sea, and to the east lay the Land of Rivers.
Beyond the Land of Rivers was the Land of Fire.
So in this war, the battlefield linking the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire had effectively become the Land of Rivers.
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen?"
A young jonin looked confused.
"I heard they were taken out by Might Duy…"
"Four died. Three survived."
Orochimaru's hoarse voice picked up the thread. He was seated in the shadows.
"But those three may be even harder to deal with than the four who died. Surviving the Eight Gates Formation already says a lot about their strength."
Minato Namikaze spoke next.
"Hokage-sama, if Sunagakure is asking for help, that means they've already concluded they can't hold the border with their own strength alone. If Kirigakure breaks through Suna's defenses, the next target will be the Land of Fire."
"That's exactly what worries me."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.
Several of the Seven Ninja Swords were currently sealed by Konoha, specifically to prevent them from being summoned back.
But the Land of Water also had newly forged imitation swords.
As long as they still had their craftsmen, they could rebuild a new generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
After all, the current Seven Ninja Swordsmen were only the first generation in the broader sense.
As long as the swordsmiths were still alive and the materials were sufficient, even if they couldn't recreate the original weapons perfectly, getting something to eighty or ninety percent of the original quality was not that difficult.
And achieving eighty or ninety percent performance was already more than enough.
"So, I've decided to send reinforcements."
The conference room fell silent, everyone waiting for the Hokage's specific deployment orders.
"Konoha will dispatch three thousand ninja."
Hiruzen swept his gaze across the room.
"They will be divided into three forces. The first will be led by Tsunade, with one thousand men. They will join up with Sunagakure's forces and serve as the main force confronting Kirigakure head-on."
Tsunade stood.
"Understood."
"Kiyohara."
Hiruzen looked at the young man behind her.
"You will serve as vice-captain and assist Tsunade. The battle in the Land of Rain already proved your ability. I expect you to continue showing that same performance here."
"Yes, sir."
Kiyohara honestly hadn't expected to get promoted again.
On paper, Tsunade was leading those thousand ninja.
In reality, he would be the one leading them.
Hiruzen knew full well about Tsunade's hemophobia. She would inevitably be limited to the rear lines.
That meant the one actually directing the troops would only be Kiyohara.
The vice-captain title was probably just because he was still too young.
Kiyohara could already feel the eyes on him.
If he could understand the implication, then everyone else here could too.
Or rather, nobody who had made it into this room was stupid.
Most of them were probably already wondering what kind of signal this sent regarding the Uchiha clan.
Not far away, Uchiha Fugaku gave a faint nod.
He couldn't help feeling a little excited.
He had bet on the right person after all.
Kiyohara was the new Uchiha Kagami.
The Konoha higher-ups were probably hoping to use Kiyohara as a bridge to communicate with the Uchiha clan and ease tensions.
If that was the case, then the Uchiha's situation would improve greatly compared to before.
And when Itachi eventually became a ninja, having Kiyohara as a connection would make his political standing much better too.
"Hmph."
Danzo Shimura let out a cold snort.
Kind-hearted as he was, he simply couldn't stand hearing that the inherently evil Uchiha might benefit from anything.
Hiruzen ignored the flurry of exchanged glances and continued.
"The second force, also one thousand men, will be commanded by Nara Shikaku. They will fortify the border line and prevent Kirigakure from splitting off troops to flank us."
Nara Shikaku gave a calm nod.
"The third force, likewise one thousand men, will be led by Sarutobi Shinnosuke."
Hiruzen named his eldest son.
Beyond his identity as captain of the Anbu First Division, Hiruzen also intended to give his eldest son more political capital.
"He will serve as the reserve force and provide support as the battle situation changes."
In the corner, Sarutobi Shinnosuke stood and bowed. He was not wearing an Anbu uniform or a mask.
His face resembled Hiruzen's by about seventy percent, only younger.
"Everyone."
Hiruzen stood, both hands pressed against the table.
"The Third Shinobi World War has dragged on this long. Every village is exhausted. Kirigakure is making one final all-out gamble to secure a better position at the negotiation table.
"Our task is simple. We hit them hard enough to make them understand that invading the ally of the Land of Fire comes at a price."
His eyes passed over every person present.
"But remember this as well: we are not fighting for pointless slaughter. Every ninja's life is precious. I want you to bring as many of your subordinates back alive as possible. Understood?"
"Understood!"
The unified response echoed through the room.
"Meeting adjourned. Team commanders will stay behind to discuss the detailed deployment. Everyone else, return and prepare. We leave at dawn tomorrow."
People began rising and filing out one after another.
Kiyohara was about to follow Tsunade when someone called out to him.
"Kiyohara-kun."
He turned. It was Orochimaru.
At some point, Orochimaru had appeared at his side, his golden slit-pupiled eyes studying him with open interest.
"Orochimaru-sama."
Kiyohara nodded politely, but with distance.
"I heard you used cursed-seal senjutsu in the Land of the Sea."
Orochimaru spoke.
"Your rate of growth is truly astonishing. I find myself more and more eager to see… what you'll become in the future."
At first, when Kiyohara had used cursed-seal transformation, there had been quite a few ninja who found it terrifying and thought it monstrous.
Then Orochimaru had stepped in and cleared that up, explaining that it was senjutsu.
So after that, whenever Kiyohara used the cursed seal, nobody called him a monster anymore.
After all, pointing at an Uchiha and calling him a monster was basically asking to die early.
"I'm honored by the praise."
Kiyohara smiled faintly.
Orochimaru's intelligence network was pretty impressive.
Though Kiyohara suspected this had more to do with the fact that he had destroyed one of Orochimaru's bases.
Amachi had probably been one of Orochimaru's more useful assistants.
But given the insane human experimentation involved, Kiyohara hadn't spared him when leaving the island.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
"Of course."
Orochimaru stepped aside, the corner of his mouth curling into a meaningful smile.
"Please do be careful… on the battlefield."
Kiyohara didn't answer. He simply quickened his pace to catch up with Tsunade and the others.
He could still feel that gaze on his back all the way until he turned the corridor corner.
On the way back, the atmosphere was quiet.
In the end, Tsunade was the first to speak. She rubbed her brow, her tone tired.
"We're going to war again… I wonder how many people are going to die this time."
"Tsunade-sama…"
Shizune looked at her worriedly.
"I'm fine."
Tsunade waved her off.
"You only just had your birthday, and if I think about it, in a few more months it'll be mine again. Another year older."
There was self-mockery in her voice.
Tsunade looked young, but her actual age was not.
As a medical ninja, she understood better than anyone how cruel time could be.
"How could you possibly be old, Sensei?"
Kiyohara said it seriously.
A legendary body stayed legendary no matter the age, and besides, Tsunade was currently at exactly the age when a woman was at her most mature.
As for "old," that didn't apply at all.
After all, even in Boruto, Tsunade practically looked younger than ever.
"In my eyes, Sensei, you look no different from when you were eighteen."
Tsunade raised a brow and stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed.
"You little brat. Since when did you learn how to say things like that?"
"I'm just telling the truth."
Kiyohara's expression didn't change.
"And age is just a number. Your strength, experience, and… other aspects are all far beyond what they were back then."
"Other aspects?"
Tsunade stepped closer, narrowing her eyes.
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
Kiyohara could feel the scent coming off her, along with a certain kind of pressure, but his face remained perfectly calm.
"All aspects."
There was a brief silence.
Then Tsunade laughed again, bright enough to make the eyes hurt.
She reached out and rubbed his hair.
"You really do know how to talk."
She pulled her hand back and turned to continue walking, her steps seeming a little lighter.
"Come on. Let's get back and pack. Starting tomorrow, things are going to get busy again."
The next day, one thousand ninja gathered at Konoha's main gate.
A lot of familiar faces were there.
Might Guy, wearing his green training suit, flashed his gleaming smile and greeted Kiyohara.
Kiyohara gave him a slight nod.
Guy only wore Anbu gear when carrying out Anbu missions.
The rest of the time, he was always in that green training suit.
Kiyohara had started wondering whether Might Guy's true body was actually just a green jumpsuit.
"Kiyohara!"
Rin and Kurenai waved to him in turn, and Kiyohara responded to each of them.
At the end, he also spotted Yugao Uzuki and Hayate Gekko. It looked like they were joining this mission too.
Compared to the last time he'd seen them, both were a little older now.
Kiyohara figured it wouldn't be long before the two of them officially joined Anbu, instead of remaining unofficial attached personnel.
"You're late, brat."
Tsunade walked over toward him.
That dangerously swaying softness bounced with every step.
"The salmon shop opened late today."
Kiyohara replied.
He had left the house together with Tsunade and Shizune, but after that he'd taken a detour to buy ingredients.
After all, Tsunade had gotten so used to eating his cooking that her taste buds were basically shaped around it now.
Having her eat food made by other people really might not go over well.
"Fine. As long as you're here."
Once she saw Kiyohara had arrived, Tsunade turned and started addressing the ninja behind her.
It was mostly the usual encouraging speech, and then with one sweep of her arm, she ordered the army to move out.
A huge wave of ninja began leaping through the trees, advancing toward the Land of Rivers.
Two days later, those thousand ninja had assembled at a temporary camp near the border of the Land of Rivers. Tents were scattered across the borderland between the hills and the forest like mushrooms.
The Land of Rivers had always been a buffer zone caught between the great nations, with complex terrain full of hills, river valleys, and dense forests.
Now it had become the board on which three powers were clashing.
"Vice-Captain Kiyohara."
Shinku Yuhi walked up from the slope below.
Kiyohara turned to look at him.
Shinku was also studying this young man.
He had never imagined Kiyohara would grow this quickly.
Now Kiyohara's position was actually higher than his own.
All Shinku could do about that was sigh inwardly.
The next wave really was stronger than the last.
"Shinku-senpai."
Kiyohara said.
He didn't put on any airs in front of Shinku.
Then he noticed that Shinku had several chunin following behind him, carrying a number of sealed wooden crates.
"These are strategic supplies that just arrived."
"Thanks for the work, Shinku-senpai."
Kiyohara nodded, his gaze passing over the sealing tags on the crates.
In wartime, supply transport was always the part most likely to go wrong. Mist's assassination corps specialized in targeting supply lines.
"Tsunade-sama is over with the medical unit assigning tasks. She said the war council will start once the Suna forces arrive."
Shinku paused and lowered his voice.
"I heard Baki is leading the Suna force this time. He's not simple."
Baki.
Kiyohara searched the name in his memory.
In the original story, he had been an elite jonin of Sunagakure, one of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa's top aides, and the instructor of Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro.
Anyone who could earn Rasa's trust despite the Kazekage's suspicious nature was definitely no ordinary person.
Of course, Baki was most famous for one particular act: his encounter with Hayate Gekko.
Hayate had died at Baki's hands.
Yugao had wanted revenge, but before she could act, Konoha and Suna became allies, and the matter was buried.
"Whether he's simple or not, he's our ally for now."
Kiyohara said calmly.
"As long as they don't stab us in the back, we'll fulfill our duties as allies."
Shinku looked at him once, said nothing more, and turned away to arrange the defenses.
Kiyohara continued surveying the camp.
Even without opening his Sharingan, his Yang chakra sensing had already spread out like a web.
About one kilometer away, a force was approaching.
Not moving especially fast, but keeping formation well, without the exhaustion of a forced march.
Suna's reinforcements had arrived.
Kiyohara turned and walked down from the rise, heading toward the camp entrance.
Tsunade had probably sensed them too, but she was most likely still in the medical tents. For something like this, it fell to him as vice-captain to handle the diplomatic reception first.
Sure enough, by the time he reached the camp gate, Nara Shikaku was already there waiting.
The jonin known for his intelligence wore standard combat gear. His expression didn't reveal much, but his eyes were sharp.
"Kiyohara-kun."
"Shikaku-senpai."
The two exchanged a brief greeting, and both turned their eyes east.
Dust rose in the distance.
The first thing visible was a deep brown banner embroidered with the kanji for "sand."
Then came the formation itself.
Most of the Suna ninja wore tan flak jackets.
At the front was a man with a white cloth band around his head, the left side of his face covered by white fabric, and two red markings painted on the right side.
It was Baki.
Baki raised a hand, signaling the formation to stop, then walked forward alone.
"My apologies for the wait, Konoha."
He first bowed to Nara Shikaku; the two had crossed paths on the battlefield before. Then Baki's gaze shifted to Kiyohara.
In that moment, Kiyohara could feel the other man's eyes linger on his face, especially near his eyes.
"This is Vice-Captain Kiyohara, Tsunade-sama's student,"
Nara Shikaku introduced him.
"Kiyohara-kun, this is Jonin Baki of Sunagakure, commander of the Suna reinforcement force."
"I've heard of you."
Baki extended a hand, broad and thick-jointed.
Kiyohara shook it, with neither too much nor too little force.
"You've had a long journey, Jonin Baki. The camp has already assigned your people an area. Please, come with me."
No unnecessary pleasantries. Straight to business.
Baki nodded and made a hand signal over his shoulder.
The Suna force began entering the camp in an orderly way, guided by Konoha's logistics ninja.
Kiyohara and Baki walked side by side at the front, with Nara Shikaku half a step behind.
"I heard Vice-Captain Kiyohara was on assignment in the Land of the Sea recently?"
Baki asked suddenly, in a tone that sounded like casual conversation.
"That's right. We were investigating sea monster attacks."
"That place… hasn't been peaceful."
Baki paused.
"We in Suna also have positions along the western coast. Recently we've received quite a few reports of merchant ships being attacked. The Land of the Sea, the Land of Waves, the Land of Tea… Kirigakure's operational range is getting wider and wider."
Kiyohara could hear the test hidden in the words.
Baki was gathering information, trying to judge from his reaction how much Konoha understood about the maritime situation.
"Kirigakure has emptied its nest for this campaign, which leaves the seas vulnerable. That's exactly when pirates and wandering ninja become more active."
Kiyohara answered evenly.
"Once we break the Mist main force here, the maritime problem will solve itself."
Baki glanced sideways at him, but didn't continue the line of questioning.
By then, they had arrived at the command tent. Tsunade happened to be coming over from the medical section.
"Jonin Baki."
"Tsunade-sama."
The two exchanged greetings.
Tsunade was one of the Sannin and the princess of the Senju clan. In both strength and status, she stood far above an ordinary jonin, so Baki's attitude toward her was especially respectful.
"Enough small talk. Let's get to the point."
Tsunade lifted the flap and went inside. Kiyohara, Nara Shikaku, and Baki followed in order.
The inside of the tent was spacious. A long table stood in the center, covered with maps of the Land of Rivers and the surrounding coastal waters.
All around the tent, tactical boards hung on the walls, covered in little flags and notes.
"Sit."
Tsunade took the main seat. Kiyohara sat at her right, Nara Shikaku at her left, and Baki across from them.
"Let's synchronize our intelligence first."
Tsunade pulled out a scroll from her robe and spread it open.
"According to Hyuga reconnaissance, Kirigakure has established at least seven temporary bases within fifty ri of the coastline. Three of them have confirmed large-scale chakra signatures and are likely the main staging points for their forces."
She tapped several points on the map.
"In addition, our spies report that Kirigakure's transport fleet meets in a designated sea zone every three days, escorted on rotation by two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. The most recent escort was Fuguki Suikazan and Juzo Biwa."
"Fuguki Suikazan and Juzo Biwa…"
Baki's brow tightened.
"That pair is troublesome. Kubikiribocho can absorb blood to restore its wielder's stamina, and Samehada can absorb chakra."
"Doesn't matter. I'll handle it when the time comes."
Kiyohara suddenly spoke.
All three of them turned to look at him.
That confident?
Kiyohara ignored the looks and drew a line across the map with his finger, from the Konoha camp all the way to the coast.
"Kirigakure's strength is naval warfare and the Hiding in Mist Technique. But on land, their mobility is inferior to ours. And they have one fatal weakness."
He paused.
"Supplies."
"Sea transport may be covert, but it's heavily affected by weather, and its routes are fixed.
"If we can identify their supply points and cut the transport line, then their front-line forces will be forced into a passive position."
Nara Shikaku's eyes lit up.
"Kiyohara-kun, you mean… a flanking sabotage operation?"
"Not just sabotage."
Kiyohara tapped the map with one finger.
~~~
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