"Lord Hokage, I don't understand." Amemiya's voice carried across the war room. "Why split our forces? Wouldn't a unified army be stronger?"
The final strategy meeting. Twenty commanders around the sand table. And Amemiya—Third Takikage, supposed equal partner—raising objections like a petulant child.
His gold-decorated fan was gone. Lost in some previous humiliation. Without it, he looked less... decorative. More like what he actually was: a minor village leader playing at being a great power.
Neither Shikaku Nara nor Danzō Shimura looked surprised by the interruption.
Danzō's eye flicked to Shikaku. Handle it.
Shikaku stepped forward, voice clinical. "Desert warfare is about water security. This formation ensures our army doesn't die of thirst before we even see the enemy."
He pushed the flags representing the advance group across the sand table.
"Our last supply point is the Land of Hot Water. After that—" His finger traced the route. "—six hundred li of wasteland. The first potential water source is Area 4. Used to be a service station on the Tang-Yue Highway." He glanced up. "It's destroyed now. Probably mined. Definitely not a place you want twenty thousand shinobi crowding into at once."
"If we can't secure water within forty-eight hours," Shikaku continued, "this campaign is over before it starts. We'll be fighting dehydration, not Suna."
Amemiya frowned. "So?"
"So we split the force." Shikaku's tone was patient. Too patient. Like explaining basic tactics to a child. "Eight columns advance—eight thousand shinobi. They scout, clear threats, locate water, establish supply bases. The remaining twelve columns follow at two kilometers' distance. If the advance group finds nothing, they fall back. Fresh troops rotate forward. Leapfrog progression."
He met Amemiya's eyes. "One step at a time. Methodical. Safe."
The plan was sound. Even Amemiya couldn't argue with the logic.
But he tried anyway.
"Eight columns seems... excessive. That's eight thousand ninja just looking for wells—"
"The Yuexi garrison is three thousand strong." Shikaku's voice didn't change. "We can't assume they'll sit idle while we march past. Two-to-one odds are minimum acceptable force ratio. Unless—" He tilted his head. "—you'd prefer to risk an ambush?"
"They wouldn't dare attack—"
Danzō's voice cut like a blade.
The room went silent.
"You got a problem with the plan, Amemiya?" Danzō stepped forward, eye fixed on the Takikage. "Because if you think you can do better—" His smile was all teeth. "—then you lead the advance corps."
Amemiya's mouth opened. Closed.
"Well?" Danzō's voice was soft. Dangerous. "You wanted command, didn't you? Here's your chance. Eight thousand shinobi. Hostile territory. Unknown water sources. Possible enemy contact." He leaned in. "Think you can handle it?"
The silence stretched.
Amemiya's face went through several colors. Red. White. Purple.
"I... that is..." He swallowed. "Perhaps the follow-up corps would be more—"
"That's what I thought." Danzō turned away, dismissing him like a servant. "Fugaku Uchiha!"
"Sir!" The Uchiha clan head stepped forward, back straight.
Danzō pulled a short blade from his belt. Tossed it.
Fugaku caught it one-handed.
"You're in command of the advance corps." Danzō's voice carried to every corner of the room. "Harsh conditions breed insubordination. If anyone—" His gaze swept past Amemiya. "—disobeys orders, you have authority to execute them on the spot. Report the details later."
Fugaku's knuckles whitened on the blade's hilt. "Understood."
"Good." Danzō's eye found Amemiya again. "Lord Takikage will remain with the main force. Under my direct command. I'm sure he has no objections."
It wasn't a question.
"No," Amemiya said quietly. "No objections."
"Excellent." Danzō straightened. "We march at dawn. Dismissed."
Amemiya's Quarters - That Night
The teacup shattered against the wall.
Amemiya paced like a caged animal, fists clenched. "That bastard! Who does he think he is?! I'm the Takikage! In my village, my word is law!"
Jūri watched from the corner. Silent. Waiting for the storm to pass.
"When I first arrived—" Amemiya's voice cracked. "—they bowed. Flattered me. Treated me like an equal. And now?" He laughed bitterly. "Now Danzō orders me around like a genin. 'Stay with the main force.' 'No objections.' As if I'm some—some subordinate—"
Jūri's voice was quiet. Steady.
"You made a mistake today."
Amemiya froze. Turned slowly. "What did you just say?"
"A mistake." Jūri met his gaze. "When Danzō offered you command of the advance corps—you should have taken it."
The words hung in the air.
Amemiya stared. "Are you insane? He was trying to humiliate me! Send me to dig wells in the desert like some—"
"He was offering you power."
Jūri stood, moving to the table. Poured tea with steady hands.
"The advance corps isn't a labor detail, my lord. It's the vanguard. Eight thousand shinobi under your direct command. And more than that—" He set the cup down. "—whoever controls the advance corps controls the army's pace. Its direction. Where to scout. When to advance. Which routes to take."
He looked up. "You'd have dictated how this entire campaign unfolds. And Danzō just handed it to you."
Amemiya's face went pale. Then red. "Then why didn't you—"
"I tried." Jūri's voice was mild. "I tugged your sleeve. You shook me off. And in that room, surrounded by Konoha commanders, I couldn't exactly shout strategic advice."
Amemiya sank into his chair. "Can we... is there a way to fix this?"
The word was final.
"Danzō's obsession with control is written across his face," Jūri continued. "He might compromise on logistics. On tactics. But command authority?" He shook his head. "He'd burn the village down before sharing that."
Amemiya was silent for a long moment.
Then Jūri pulled a bamboo tube from his sleeve. "This arrived from Takigakure."
Amemiya grabbed it. Broke the seal. Read.
His hands started shaking.
"Kakuzu occupied the village." His voice was hollow. "Desecrated Lord Sora's tomb. Took the Takikage Building."
"No casualties," Jūri added. "Everyone evacuated to the mountains before he arrived."
"I'll kill him." Amemiya's knuckles were white. "I'll rip his hearts out one by one—"
"Later." Jūri's tone was pragmatic. "Right now, the village is lost. The only way to recover—politically, economically—is to win here. Take Yuexi Peninsula. Claim our share of the spoils."
Amemiya looked up. "You're saying we should cooperate? With Danzō?"
"I'm saying his plan is sound." Jūri's voice was careful. "And we need the victory more than we need pride."
Amemiya's expression cycled through emotions. Rage. Humiliation. Calculation.
Then he smiled.
It wasn't a pleasant smile.
"Tell me something, Jūri. If I sold this plan to Jinghang—the whole strategy, troop movements, everything—what do you think Sunagakure would pay?"
Jūri went very still. "My lord—"
"Relax." Amemiya's laugh was sharp. Bitter. "It's a joke. Jinghang would take the intel, then turn around and slaughter us anyway. We'd die without even knowing who to blame."
He stood. Walked to the window.
"We'll attack Yuexi. Follow Danzō's plan. But—" His voice hardened. "—we won't take the fall for it. He wants command? Fine. Let him have it. All of it. And when Sunagakure comes for revenge—" His smile widened. "—they'll come for him."
Jūri nodded slowly.
But privately, he thought: My lord is sometimes brilliant. And sometimes... dangerously naive.
When an avalanche comes, no single snowflake is innocent.
And they were all standing on the same mountain.
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