To his disappointment, Shiyu Uchiha couldn't win the Hyuga Clan's support for this mission. He fully understood how unique and powerful the Byakugan ability of the Hyugas was—if they had joined, reconnaissance effectiveness would certainly have reached a new level. Still, the current reconnaissance unit was already performing exceptionally well in both patrols and combat.
Whenever these sharp-eyed reconnaissance units detected movement from Iwa-nin, they would make corresponding decisions based on the actual situation. If the enemy was weak, they would act decisively, killing the Iwa-nin on the spot.
However, if they encountered enemies too strong to handle alone, they would immediately use their respective Summoned Beasts to relay intelligence back to Shiyu Uchiha and Renga Uchiha at the rear.
Upon receiving the report, Shiyu Uchiha, as commander, would immediately mobilize the Paramilitary Police Force and gather superior numbers for an encirclement mission.
Of course, there were exceptions for personnel assigned to operate behind enemy lines. Shiyu Uchiha himself fully understood the immense difficulties and risks involved in behind-enemy-line operations.
Because of this, he clearly instructed that under any circumstances, self-preservation must always come first. Meanwhile, their main responsibilities were limited strictly to reconnaissance and scouting missions.
As for whether or not to carry out disruptive operations, it was left entirely up to individual discretion and based on the circumstances at hand. After all, Shiyu Uchiha's available manpower was quite limited—he couldn't afford excessive losses.
Currently, directly under Shiyu Uchiha's command was the Paramilitary Police Force, composed of four full battalions, each with seventy members.
Among them, the first three battalions had already appointed their captains. The first was Fugaku Uchiha—perhaps not suited to be a leader himself, but definitely a capable subordinate.
The second was Uchiha Kotetsu, an old veteran who had earned repeated merits on the battlefield.
The third was Qingyuan Uchiha, who had grown much more meticulous after two years of training and experience, far stronger than when Shiyu first met him.
As for the final battalion, it was personally commanded by Uchiha Yamashiro, Shiyu's trusted general. This unit was newly established only after the clan's secret Sharingan techniques began spreading.
Surprisingly, although this battalion was the last to be formed, it proved to be the strongest, as its members were already quite skilled before awakening their Sharingan.
Among these four battalions, two usually operated together, patrolling back and forth within Grass Country's reconnaissance zone. Once receiving operational signals from headquarters, they could instantly advance to launch prompt military actions.
Another battalion was stationed permanently at the headquarters base, serving as strategic reserve forces ready for any unexpected emergencies.
Another battalion was assigned to guard the rear lines, actively eliminating Iwa-nin units attempting infiltration.
Due to the small size of the invading squads, this force primarily deployed in flexible, mobile units to better handle unexpected situations and improve operational efficiency.
Meanwhile, these four units rotated according to a fixed schedule. Of particular note, Shiyu Uchiha was accompanied by a special squad of 17 members, all of whom were Tokubetsu Jonin. On the surface, this squad was tasked with protecting Shiyu Uchiha, but it was actually for a much deeper reason.
It was precisely because they were young and full of potential that Shiyu Uchiha had personally chosen them, keeping them close to provide careful guidance and instruction.
Within this squad, a few members had successfully awakened their *Sharingan* through extraordinary talent and relentless effort—true prodigies rarely seen; while most had only joined after the Sharingan's secret [dōjutsu techniques] had already been widely disseminated. This showed how the former system within the Uchiha Clan had caused many talented individuals to be overlooked.
Originally just Chunin or Tokubetsu Jonin within the Uchiha Clan who hadn't yet awakened their Sharingan, once they activated it and benefited from the powerful boost granted by their dōjutsu, their strength improved significantly, reaching an entirely new level. Because of this, they received significant attention and care from Shiyu Uchiha.
At the exact moment Shiyu Uchiha arrived at the border between the Land of Fire and Grass Country, Iwa-nin forces had almost simultaneously dispatched five thousand ninja to the border area between the Land of Earth and Grass Country, successfully joining up with the local Iwa-nin border forces. Suddenly, the tension along the two nations' borders escalated sharply, as if an intense conflict was about to erupt at any moment.
Among the Iwa-nin forces, the proportion of Chunin outnumbered those within Shiyu Uchiha's Konoha Shinobi Forces. However, at higher levels—specifically Tokubetsu Jonin and Jonin—Iwa-nin numbers and quality both lagged slightly behind Konoha.
Both sides had unique advantages, though clearly Konoha's were far more prominent. The main reason lay in having three fighters whose strength could rival Kage-level opponents—a formidable combat capability Iwa simply could not match.
However, Iwa still had a reserve force of 5,000 ninja ready for immediate mobilization—an area where Shiyu Uchiha fell short.
Originally, the primary purpose of Iwa's large-scale advance into Grass Country was to exert heavy pressure upon Konoha, effectively coordinating with Sand-nin operations—intending to pin down part of Konoha's military strength.
This way, when Konoha engaged in large-scale warfare against both Sand-nin and Kirigakure forces, it would inevitably suffer significant losses, gradually depleting its overall strength.
Meanwhile, to prevent Konoha from dispatching reinforcements to this location, Iwa-nin had no intention of hastily initiating a decisive battle. Instead, they chose exactly what Shiyu Uchiha wished to see—the strategy of decentralization: dividing their forces into smaller teams to conduct hit-and-run tactics, increasing disruption while reducing chances of all-out war.
The Iwa-nin commander, already prepared with strategies, wasted no time and led two thousand ninja across the border into the Grass Country, then fanning out to begin their missions. Meanwhile, he kept the rest of his forces back as reserves, forming a strong deterrent against Konoha and applying intense psychological pressure.
Onoki's plan wasn't complicated. He was figuring out how to reach his goals through carefully planned strategy. On one hand, he wanted to frighten Konoha enough to cause concern, but had no intention of sparking a full-scale war.
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