Chapter 96: The War Machine Awakens; Tsunade's Breakthrough
The Hokage Office. Briefing Room.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood before a massive topographical map of the Ninja World. Below him, the members of the Konoha High Commission sat in rapt attention, their new mantles catching the light as they studied the deployment orders.
"The Hidden Grass (Kusagakure) borders the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth directly," Hiruzen began, his pointer tracing the jagged mountain passes. "However, the corridor between the Land of Frost and the Land of Iron to the north is currently under the de facto control of the Cloud. To the south, the corridor through the Land of Rain and the Land of Birds is crawling with Stone and Sand scouts."
"To prevent the Great Nations from directly intervening, we will initiate a Forced Expulsion Strategy."
Hiruzen tapped the map. "We will deploy three elite wings to the borders. Their mission: apply maximum pressure. Drive every foreign operative out of the Land of Grass and back toward their own borders."
"Once they reach the border, the foreign commanders will likely attempt to intercept or question our movements. I expect posturing, but I do not expect a direct declaration of war. If they engage, we retaliate with overwhelming force. But our primary strategic goal is simple: Buy time for the main strike team to sanitize the Grass Village."
"We create a fait accompli. We seize the objective before the world even knows the front gate is open."
Hiruzen's voice was steady, but it carried a lethal chill.
"Intelligence confirms the Grass is split into two warring factions. The hardliners—the Fruit of Grass—currently hold power. Their leaders wear distinctive animal masks. When you see a mask, you kill the wearer. No warnings. No negotiations."
"Target the high command first. Small villages lack redundant leadership structures. Once the head is severed, the body will collapse into a state of unorganized panic."
The Hokage's tone was clinical. He didn't sound like a man giving a speech; he sounded like a general ordering a pest control operation. Three "Kill" commands in one breath—he was slicing through the Grass Village's future before the first kunai was even thrown.
"The objectives of this Special Military Operation are clear:"
"One: Repatriation. We rescue the Uzumaki survivor and any other Leaf kin held in their black sites. We do not leave our family to rot in a foreign cage."
"Two: Industrial Prestige. We need a display of military dominance to ensure the Land of Fire's nobility trusts our new pharmaceutical projects. We strike the fear of the Leaf into our neighbors to secure a decade of peaceful economic development."
"Time is on our side. Every day of peace is a day we grow stronger than them."
The Commissioners nodded in unison. In the current "High-Octane" atmosphere of the village, the idea of rescuing lost comrades was the ultimate expression of the Will of Fire. Even the idealistic Jiraiya looked ready for blood.
If they're turning our brothers into 'human batteries,' Jiraiya thought, then peace isn't an option.
"Once Hozuki Castle is liberated," Hiruzen continued, "we classify the captives by village. The Uchiha, Kurama, and Yamanaka units will perform immediate field interrogations using sensory-interference Genjutsu."
"While the combat units neutralize the 'Fruit' faction, the Anbu will secure the Box of Ultimate Bliss. Danzo, you will oversee the exfiltration of the artifact. I want it in the village vaults within the hour. No traces."
"If you find secret libraries, the Uchiha will copy everything and burn the originals. As for the Grass's gold and common resources? We leave them. We'll distribute the seized funds among the other victim-nations. We don't need their blood-money, and it keeps our moral standing bulletproof on the international stage."
The strategic logic was perfect. By forgoing the "looting," Konoha appeared as a righteous liberator. The other villages couldn't condemn Konoha for saving their own people, especially if Konoha was handing them a "compensation check" from the Grass treasury.
"Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Sakumo."
"You will each lead an elite wing to the three border corridors. You are the wall that keeps the world out."
"Danzo, Hizashi, Fugaku, and Minato."
"You will lead the Decapitation Strike on the Grass Village itself. You have sixty minutes to achieve total tactical control. The intel on every bunker and rotation is on your desks. If you have questions, ask them now."
The room remained silent. Between Danzo's blueprints, Hizashi's Byakugan-scouted maps, and Minato's teleportation vectors, the mission felt less like a gamble and more like a mathematical certainty.
"I have a request, Lord Hokage!"
Tsunade raised her hand, her voice ringing through the room. "I want to swap with Sakumo. I'll take a border wing; send him to the Grass instead."
Hiruzen frowned. He knew about Tsunade's condition. Since the Second War, she had suffered from severe Hemophobia—a fear of blood that could leave her paralyzed in the middle of a fight.
"Tsunade... are you sure? The border will be a high-friction zone."
Tsunade didn't flinch. She bit her thumb with a sharp, determined motion, letting a bead of blood well up on her skin. She stared at it. Her hands didn't shake. Her vision didn't blur.
"Ever since you named the medical tech the Nawaki-Pattern Scroll, I've been having dreams. Not the bad kind. I saw Nawaki."
"He told me that if I want to inherit his dream of being Hokage, I can't be afraid of the blood that protects the village—whether it's mine, the enemy's, or my comrades'."
"So, Sensei... I'm back."
The room erupted into applause. The return of the Slug Princess to the active-duty roster was a massive morale boost.
Hiruzen was genuinely surprised. I used 'Nawaki' as a branding exercise, but it seems I accidentally performed a psychological exorcism.
Orochimaru and Danzo shared a look of private annoyance.
Return if you want, Orochimaru thought, but don't think I'm handing you the hat just because you had a nice dream.
Danzo felt the pressure increase. The "Princess of the Senju" was a political powerhouse. If she was back in the game, she was a direct threat to his and Orochimaru's path to the Fourth's seat.
Suddenly, Jiraiya threw his hand up. "In that case, Lord Hokage—I'm throwing my hat in the ring, too! I want to be the Fourth Hokage!"
The room went silent for a heartbeat, then dissolved into good-natured laughter. Everyone assumed Jiraiya was just being a clown to lighten the mood.
Jiraiya's face turned bright red. "Hey! I'm serious! I'm a Sannin too! Why is everyone laughing?!"
"Alright, alright," Hiruzen smiled, waving him down. "The race for the Fourth is a long road. Every one of you has the chance to prove your 'Will' on this mission."
"Sakumo, you join the Decapitation Strike. With you and Minato working together, the Grass won't even know they're under attack."
Sakumo stood up. "Lord Hokage, with the Flying Raijin serving as our insertion tool, I can cut our projected operation time by fifteen minutes. We'll have the village secured in forty-five."
Sakumo had sparred with Minato. He knew that the boy's teleportation was a "cheat code" for urban warfare.
"Good."
Hiruzen raised his hand, his eyes burning with the fire of the founding era.
"Then move out!"
"Konoha's war machine is turning. Let the world remember who we are."
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