The plume from Shiba's cigarette dissipated into the twilight, carrying with it the unspoken weight of future Hokages and Uchiha dilemmas. The momentary silence was shattered by the hurried approach of Shiba's subordinate, a young Yamanaka clansman whose face was pale beneath the grime of battle, a hastily compiled scroll clutched in his trembling hand.
"Commander Shiba," the subordinate gasped, despite his obvious exhaustion.
"Casualty reports consolidated, sir. Initial figures…" He swallowed hard, unfurling the scroll. "Confirmed KIA: One hundred and seventy-three shinobi. Critical injuries requiring immediate evacuation: Eighty-nine. Severe chakra exhaustion or moderate wounds: Two hundred and twelve. Missing in action, presumed KIA: Thirty-seven."
Shiba didn't react immediately. He stared past the man, his gaze fixed on some unseen point in the middle distance where the cries of the wounded still echoed faintly. His jaw clenched, the muscle ticking rhythmically beneath his skin.
The cigarette, forgotten between his fingers, burned down almost to the filter. Then, with a sudden, violent motion, he ripped it from his lips and ground it into the churned earth beneath his boot heel.
The tiny ember died instantly, mirroring the cold fury that flashed in his dark eyes. One hundred and seventy-three names. One hundred and seventy-three families shattered. The drag of leadership felt heavier than any shadow technique.
After a long, heavy moment, the man cleared his throat nervously. "Sir… the Hokage. He requests a secure debriefing… at your earliest convenience."
"Earliest convenience is now," Shiba rasped. "The battlefield doesn't wait for schedules." He glanced at Minato, who had been standing quietly, observing the grim exchange.
"Stay, Minato. This concerns the overall picture." He turned back to the subordinate.
"Set up the Yamanaka link. Patch both myself and Namikaze through to the Hokage."
The aide nodded sharply. "Hai, Commander!" He closed his eyes, forming a series of complex hand seals. He first had to connect to the nearest relay point, which he did with ease. Next, a faint, almost invisible shimmer of chakra pulsed around him, then extended tendrils towards Shiba and Minato's foreheads.
Instantly, the stern, familiar visage of Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, was felt from their mental space.
"Shiba. Minato," his voice resonated directly in their minds, calm but taut with underlying tension.
"Report. Give me the situation."
Shiba took a steadying breath, "Hokage-sama. The Kumo assault is repelled. They are in full retreat, disorganized. We hold the northwestern stronghold."
He paused, the names and numbers heavy on his tongue.
"Casualties: One hundred seventy-three confirmed KIA. Eighty-nine critical. Two hundred twelve severe or moderate wounded. Thirty-seven MIA presumed lost. Logistics: Barrier infrastructure destroyed. Significant terrain damage. Enemy equipment was secured for analysis. Medical triage and evacuation are underway."
A profound silence stretched within the mental link. Hiruzen closed his eyes for a moment.
"A heavy toll," he finally murmured.
"Ensure the fallen are treated with the utmost respect. Their bodies are to be preserved and returned to the village for proper burial rites. Their sacrifice will be honoured." He opened his eyes, the sorrow replaced by sharp focus.
"Now, explain. All long-range communication was severed just before the final barrier layer fell under the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki's assault. Yet, your casualty count, while grievous, is lower than projected for a full breach. How was the line held?"
Shiba exchanged a glance with Minato, "Uzumaki Renjiro, Hokage-sama,"
"He arrived unexpectedly, via his flying summon, moments before the collapse. He erected a secondary barrier buying crucial time. Then, he engaged Killer Bee alone."
"Alone?" Hiruzen's raised an eyebrow, surprise evident.
"Renjiro? But his last mission briefing placed him far from the No Man's territory."
"The flying summon," Minato interjected smoothly, reminding him. "He must have concluded his mission and come directly."
Shiba nodded. "He contained the partially transformed Jinchuriki, Hokage-sama. Prevented a breach. His power… it was decisive."
He hesitated, the next part crucial.
"However, after the Kumo main force retreated, prompting Ayy and Bee to disengage, Renjiro pursued them. He… he was moments from killing both Ayy and Killer Bee. I intervened."
This time, the surprise radiating from both Hiruzen and Minato was palpable. Minato's connection flickered slightly, a ripple of pure astonishment crossing his features.
'Kill Ayy and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki? Single-handedly? Is such a thing even possible?'
The tactical implications were staggering.
Hiruzen' leaned forward slightly, his gaze piercing even through the psychic link.
"Intervened? Explain, Shiba. Why?"
Shiba braced himself. The secret was out. "Because, Hokage-sama," he stated bluntly, projecting his earlier fears, "I believed Renjiro was utilizing the Mangekyō Sharingan. The strain was immense – his eyes were bleeding. The nature of his fire technique… it consumed chakra itself. The risk of escalation, of provoking the Raikage's full wrath…"
Instead of shock or disbelief, Hiruzen' simply sighed a weary exhalation that resonated in their minds.
"Ah. So he eventually used it." He paused, letting the confirmation hang heavy. "Your concern is valid, Shiba. And your observation… is correct."
Silence, thick and stunned, filled the connection. Shiba felt a jolt – not surprised at the fact but surprised that Hiruzen knew.
Minato went utterly still, his usual analytical composure shattered by sheer incredulity.
'He knew? For how long? What spy network could penetrate Renjiro's secrecy? The Hokage's reach is deeper, craftier than I ever fully appreciated.'
A grudging respect warred with unease.
Shiba's thoughts were colder, more pragmatic. 'Impressive. Not unexpected. Hiruzen always has eyes where you least expect them.'
The confirmation validated his fears but deepened the mystery of when Renjiro had acquired such power.
"Yes," Hiruzen continued, his mental voice grave. "Reports from… reliable sources… indicated the awakening some time ago. The circumstances remain unclear, but the potential is undeniable. And deeply concerning, as you rightly identified, Shiba. Preventing the assassination was the correct call, however difficult. Where is Renjiro now? He needs to report on his previous mission."
Shiba shook his head, "Gone, Hokage-sama, immediately after the confrontation. He vanished. Reverse summoned, I suspect. Though the summon's realm… its location is unknown to us."
Hiruzen frowned.
"Unknown…" he murmured. "That complicates matters. He is beyond reach, potentially vulnerable, and we cannot debrief him." The strategic loss was evident – an S-rank asset now, injured and unreachable, was adrift.
The Hokage shifted gears, "Very well. We must look forward. Anticipate the fallout. Kumo's retreat is tactical, not strategic. Shiba, what is your assessment of their capacity for a swift counter-offensive?"
Shiba marshalled his strategic mind, pushing aside the personal revelations.
"Significantly diminished, Hokage-sama," he projected with certainty. "Their losses today were catastrophic, not just in numbers but in morale and chakra reserves. The psychological impact of the strange strikes from Renjiro as well as his stand against Bee… will take time to recover. They haemorrhaged shinobi and confidence. A major offensive from Kumo in the immediate future is unlikely. Weeks, at minimum. More likely months."
Minato nodded, "Then the primary threat axis shifts, Hokage-sama. With Kumo stalled, they might see an opportunity to escalate, to force a decisive engagement before Kumo can regroup and renew pressure from the northwest. We must reinforce the southern front immediately, prepare for a concentrated push from Sunagakure."
Hiruzen listened, his expression inscrutable. He took a long, slow, mental drag from his unlit pipe. "Your analysis is sound, as always, Shiba... and Minato. But… overly linear."
A faint, almost imperceptible hint of something – calculation? Relief? – touched his mental projection.
"You anticipate Suna's aggression. Kumo's recuperation. However…" He paused, letting the implication hang.
"I have received… assurances… through diplomatic channels. Neither Suna nor Kumo will be launching a major offensive in the coming weeks."
Confusion radiated from Minato's projection. "Assurances, Hokage-sama? From whom? Suna has shown no inclination towards a truce, and Kumo just attacked us with their Jinchuriki! What assurances could possibly hold them back?"
Shiba, however, caught the subtle shift in Hiruzen's tone, the unspoken implication. His eyes narrowed within the mental space. A slow, grim understanding dawned on him, replacing his tactical assessment with the cold calculus of global politics.
He spoke before Hiruzen could elaborate, his mental voice flat, devoid of surprise. "Our allies. They are making their moves."
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