Chapter 297: Akira's Indifference
Now that the grand Shinobi Alliance had been dramatically formed, and the supreme commander (Raikage A) and deputy commander (Ōnoki) had been chosen, it was time to discuss serious matters: strategy.
All eyes in the meeting hall refocused on Ōnoki and Raikage A. They were the leaders, the brains and the brawn.
Raikage A, though the supreme commander, knew very well that in terms of battlefield strategy and political calculation, he was far inferior to the old fox, Ōnoki.
A crossed his massive, muscular arms over his chest and spoke in a deep, booming voice.
"Ōnoki, you're full of tricks, and you're the strategist. You go first. Tell us the plan."
This was, in a way, temporarily handing over the strategic initiative. A was direct enough to acknowledge his own limitations.
Ōnoki glanced at A and snorted inwardly. A brute is a brute, he thought. At least he has some self-awareness.
Ōnoki floated to the center of the meeting hall so everyone could see him clearly. He then performed a single Earth Release jutsu.
"Doton!" (Earth Release!)
The center of the meeting hall suddenly began to undulate. Crushed stones and dust gathered, rapidly rising and deforming. Within a few breaths, they formed a simple but clear, three-dimensional map of the Shinobi World.
Ōnoki tapped heavily on the map. The location was precisely the Land of Grass (草の国, Kusa no Kuni).
"First War Zone!"
"This area, the Eastern Front, will be where my Iwagakure will act as the main force!"
"The Land of Grass directly borders the Land of Fire (火の国, Hi no Kuni), making it the closest sharp knife for us to thrust directly into Konoha's heartland!"
"I will have Iwagakure's main forces directly stationed in the Land of Grass!"
As soon as these words were uttered, the goatee-bearded leader of Kusagakure (Hidden Grass Village) instantly turned an ashen white.
Iwagakure's main forces... directly stationed in the Land of Grass?
What was the difference between that and directly announcing the immediate annexation of the Land of Grass? They were sacrificing his country to save their own.
"It's over…" the Kusagakure leader thought, despair crushing him. Inviting a wolf into the house... no, this is directly inviting the entire wolf pack into the house!
He trembled, wanting to say something, but under Ōnoki's cold, contemptuous gaze, he still bit his tongue.
Ōnoki gave a thin, contemptuous smile and continued.
"Of course, relying solely on my Iwagakure is not enough to open the borders."
His gaze turned to the representatives of the smaller Ninja Villages.
"All allies bordering the Land of Grass, or located on this eastern front—including Takigakure (Hidden Waterfall Village), and the various smaller Grass and River Villages—must send their entire available combat power to join the Eastern Allied Forces and accept unified deployment!"
"This is not a request. This is an order!"
Raikage A glanced at the ashen-faced Kusagakure leader, his massive head nodding slowly. His mind was as clear as a mirror.
Hmph, truly an old fox, A thought. Using the alliance's name to conveniently swallow the Land of Grass and seize control of the battlefield. That abacus is ringing loud and clear.
However, A had no practical objections to this. It didn't affect Kumo. As long as Konoha could be weakened, what did the sacrifice of a few small Villages' interests matter?
Just then, Konan, who had been silent, spoke, her voice clear and precise.
"Amegakure (Village Hidden in the Rain) will send an elite unit to coordinate and advance into the Land of Grass. We will contribute our tactical forces."
Konan's statement undoubtedly added a heavy weight to Ōnoki's plan. With even Amegakure—a famously isolationist village—being so proactive, the other small Villages had even less room for negotiation.
Ōnoki nodded with satisfaction. "Very good, Amegakure. Your contribution is noted."
"Next, the Second War Zone!"
Ōnoki's gaze turned to Raikage A.
"This Northern Front will be led by Kumogakure as the main, powerful force!"
"You will deploy along a long defensive line—from the Land of Iron (鉄の国) to the northern Land of Fire border. A long defensive line will be built, directly threatening the northern part of the Land of Fire!"
Raikage A grinned, his teeth flashing. This arrangement was exactly what he wanted. A front he could command, a place where he could unleash his full brute force.
Ōnoki continued to add.
"The Land of Iron's Samurai, Takigakure, and the Land of Frost need to fully cooperate with Kumogakure's actions."
"At the same time, we can establish an Allied Forces' front-line outpost near the capital of the Land of Rice, to constantly monitor Konoha's movements."
"I believe the Lord Daimyō of the Land of Rice should not object. After all," Ōnoki sneered, "he also fears that Uchiha Akira's butcher knife will be the next to fall on his neck."
The former Lord Daimyō of the Land of Fire and the Lord Daimyō of the Land of Wind were both dead. Those remaining Daimyō now feared they would be next.
"I understand, Tsuchikage-sama." Mifune, the General of the Land of Iron, nodded, speaking in a low, professional voice.
"The Land of Iron will send elite samurai to join the northern front and obey the command of Raikage A. Our neutrality is over."
"Takigakure has no objections! We will join!"
"The Land of Frost... Your command!"
With the Land of Iron's firm stance, the remaining two small Villages could only reluctantly agree.
At this point, the alliance's preliminary strategic deployment was complete.
The two war zones, from two directions, firmly clamped down on the Land of Fire. The pincer attack was ready.
"Excellent!" Raikage A slammed his massive hand on his thigh (carefully avoiding the already broken table) and stood up.
"Since the plan has been decided, let's not waste any more time here! I will return to Kumogakure immediately to mobilize troops!"
The meeting officially concluded. Representatives from the various Ninja Villages, their faces marked by fear, resignation, and complex feelings, successively left the meeting hall, carrying their new, dangerous orders.
Meanwhile.
Konoha, Hokage Office.
Uchiha Akira was leaning back in his chair, eyes closed, resting. He was completely serene, his control absolute.
Kurenai Yūhi stood behind him, her fair, slender hands gently pressing on his temples with exactly the appropriate force, soothing his mind.
Tsunade sat on a nearby sofa, legs crossed, sipping sake intermittently, her eyes narrowed in contemplation.
The atmosphere in the office was quiet, comfortable, yet subtly alluring.
Suddenly.
Knock, knock, knock.
A sharp, urgent knock sounded at the door.
"Enter."
The office door opened, and an Anbu Ninja, masked and kneeling, appeared.
"Hokage-sama, an urgent intelligence report from the Land of Iron."
Uchiha Akira slowly opened his eyes—the dark, calm eyes of the eternal observer—and extended a hand without moving his body.
The Anbu Ninja immediately respectfully handed over a sealed scroll.
Akira took the scroll and casually unrolled it. He glanced over the densely written text, noting the official seals of Iwa and Kumo.
Then.
Akira tossed the scroll onto the desk, his face utterly unchanged. He closed his eyes again, signaling Kurenai Yūhi to continue her massage.
"Hokage-sama?"
Such a major intelligence report—a summit in the Land of Iron, gathering all their enemies—and the Hokage's reaction was... this? Complete, unnerving indifference?
Tsunade put down her sake cup, frowning as she asked, "Akira, what's the intelligence? Is it about Kumo or Iwa?"
Akira waved his hand at the Anbu. "Understood. You may go."
"Yes!" The Anbu Ninja, trained not to question, vanished.
Akira looked at Tsunade, then let out a soft, low chuckle.
"Kumogakure and Iwagakure have rallied a group of insignificant small Villages and held a dramatic meeting in the Land of Iron."
"They've formed a so-called... Shinobi Alliance."
"They even seriously chose the Raikage as the supreme commander and the Tsuchikage as the deputy. Such predictable formality."
Tsunade's expression instantly turned grave. She knew the weight of that historical title.
"An alliance? This is precisely what Shikaku feared! A unified front!"
"Yes, and they've even formulated a battlefield plan. A pincer attack."
"They're clamoring about forming some kind of pincer attack on my Konoha. From the northern and eastern Land of Fire borders."
After hearing Uchiha Akira's calm narration, Tsunade's face had become extremely grim.
Kumogakure and Iwagakure—the two remaining top Shinobi Villages in the world—joining forces.
Plus the Samurai of the Land of Iron, and the smaller Villages like Amegakure, Takigakure, and Kusagakure that were coerced.
This combined force was already enough to suffocate any major country! This was the brink of a new World War!
"Akira! This is no laughing matter!" Tsunade's ample chest heaved violently with emotion.
"Those are the Raikage and the Tsuchikage! They have planned this meticulously! We cannot underestimate them!"
Tsunade had witnessed too much of war's cruelty. She also knew that any trace of underestimation could lead to immediate, irreversible consequences.
Facing Tsunade's fierce warning, Uchiha Akira nodded, acknowledging her emotion.
"I know, Tsunade. I am not underestimating their political cunning. I am underestimating their actual combat threat."
Then, Akira changed the subject, his voice turning cold and strategic.
"However, you, Tsunade, also overlooked the most crucial point."
"Our Konoha also needs time now."
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