"What…?"
This time, since there was no urgent need to rush back to the front line, Yagami did not push his body to its limit.
Instead, his body scattered into golden light.
A trail of radiance stretched across the sky like a mirror of light.
Yata no Kagami.
By reflecting himself through beams of light, Yagami crossed the distance at terrifying speed, cutting through mountains, rivers, and forests in a straight path.
Even while holding back, it only took him a few moments to return to the battlefield against Iwagakure.
By the time his body reformed from countless particles of light, he had already descended outside Konoha's command post.
"Lord Yagami!?"
The shinobi on duty stiffened in shock the moment they saw him land.
Yagami glanced at them and gave a small nod.
"You've held the line well. Keep it up. This war is almost over."
He patted one of the shinobi on the shoulder, then stepped into the command post.
The moment the people inside heard the voices from outside, everyone in the command center rose to their feet.
"Lord Yagami, you're back?"
"What happened in the village?"
"Was Kirigakure dealt with?"
Even Kushina turned toward him, her eyes filled with curiosity and concern.
Yagami walked to the head of the command table and sat down.
"It's over. Kirigakure has retreated."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then, one by one, the Konoha shinobi let out deep breaths of relief.
But beneath that relief, shock spread through their faces.
Yagami had only been gone for two days.
In that short time, he had returned to Konoha, forced back Kirigakure, and come back to the front line.
That speed was almost absurd.
Yagami rested one hand on the table and looked toward Nara Shikaku.
"Shikaku. What happened here while I was gone?"
Shikaku stepped forward, his expression calm and serious.
"Nothing major. The Iwagakure forces haven't moved for two days."
He placed a hand on his chin and continued.
"Judging from their behavior, they're waiting for something. Most likely reinforcements."
"Reinforcements?" Kushina asked.
Shikaku nodded.
"Lord Yagami already crushed most of their high-end combat strength. If I were in their position, I wouldn't launch another attack recklessly either. They're probably waiting for elite jōnin… or someone on the level of a Kage."
Yagami gave a faint smile.
"Good. Then we'll end this before their reinforcements can change anything."
His fingers tapped lightly against the command table.
"Pass down the order. Except for the sentries and patrol squads, everyone rests tonight. No unnecessary movement. No wasted stamina."
His voice became calm, but heavy.
"Tomorrow, the entire army moves out. We crush Iwagakure's front line in one strike."
"Yes, Lord Yagami!"
The jōnin commanders answered at once.
The atmosphere in the command post changed instantly.
The hesitation from the past two days disappeared.
If Yagami had not returned to the village, they would have already launched the attack yesterday. Now that he was back, there was no reason to wait anymore.
Yagami stood.
"That's all. Dismissed. Make sure the order reaches every unit."
"Yes!"
The commanders quickly left the command post and scattered through the camp.
The shinobi who were still awake and chatting were told to rest. The patrol routes were adjusted. The sentries were changed.
Soon, the entire Konoha camp quieted down.
Under the night sky, only the footsteps of patrol squads and the faint cries of insects remained.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning.
As the first light of dawn appeared over the horizon, Yagami opened his eyes.
Because a major battle was waiting for them today, even the slightest movement from him woke Kushina beside him.
The two got up and put on their gear.
The moment they stepped out of the tent, a patrol squad happened to pass nearby.
"Lord Yagami, good morning!"
"Lady Kushina, good morning!"
Yagami nodded.
"Morning. You've worked hard."
Then he looked toward the patrol leader.
"Go inform the jōnin commanders. Have every unit assemble."
"Yes, Lord Yagami!"
The patrol squad immediately scattered to carry out the order.
Yagami and Kushina walked to the open ground in front of the camp.
Before long, shinobi began gathering one after another.
Twenty minutes later, the entire Konoha force had assembled.
Yagami, who had vanished for two days, had finally appeared again.
Naturally, whispers began spreading through the ranks.
Because the command staff had kept the attack on Konoha secret to prevent panic, most of the army had no idea why Yagami had disappeared.
They only knew that their commander had been gone for two full days.
Yagami raised one hand.
"All right. Quiet down."
His voice was not loud, but it carried clearly across the entire formation.
The murmurs faded.
Behind him, the jōnin commanders stood in a line.
Yagami looked over the gathered Konoha shinobi and spoke calmly.
"I know what you're wondering."
"Three days ago, I ordered the army to prepare for battle. But the attack was delayed until today."
He paused.
"And I disappeared for two days without explanation."
Many shinobi lowered their heads slightly.
They had indeed been thinking about it.
Yagami continued.
"I'll tell you the reason now."
Before, this information could not be spread.
If the army had learned that Konoha itself was under attack, morale would have shaken. Some would have worried about their families. Others might have lost focus on the battlefield.
But now, the crisis had already passed.
And the truth would only strengthen their resolve.
"Two days ago, we received urgent news from the village."
"Kirigakure avoided our defensive line near the Land of Bears and moved by sea. They landed along the coast of the Land of Rivers, then launched a direct attack on Konoha from behind."
The entire army erupted.
"What!?"
"Kirigakure attacked the village!?"
"What about our families!?"
"Did they break through?"
The noise spread like a wave.
Yagami did not interrupt immediately.
He let them react.
Then his voice cut through the chaos with a strange weight, reaching every shinobi clearly.
"That is why I left the front line."
The sound of the army gradually faded.
Every pair of eyes turned back toward him.
"Two days ago, I returned to Konoha."
Yagami's gaze swept across the gathered shinobi.
"And I drove Kirigakure back."
Silence fell.
Then the tension in the army shifted.
Fear turned into relief.
Relief turned into pride.
Yagami continued, his tone steady.
"Konoha still stands. Your families are safe. The village was defended."
He looked toward the direction of Iwagakure's camp.
"And now, we finish the battle in front of us."
The Konoha shinobi straightened one after another.
Their eyes sharpened.
The commander had left the battlefield, saved the village, and returned to lead them into battle.
There was no better way to raise morale.
Yagami lifted his hand and pointed forward.
"Today, we end this war."
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