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"The main Kumogakure forces are not at the border at all."
"The enemy's main forces have already entered the Land of Fire."
Shin's words exploded in everyone's minds like a clap of thunder.
The entire office instantly fell silent.
"How could this be... how could this be..."
Minato stared blankly at the daimyo, his eyes lifeless, his lips moving as he muttered to himself.
Shame, fear, and immense anger at being fooled instantly enraged all the Konoha higher-ups present.
Nara Shikaku's mind went blank as he stared intently at the two starkly contrasting battle reports.
Cold sweat soaked his back.
They actually believed such an unbelievably fake battle report!
And even felt smug about it.
Just as everyone was shocked by this revelation, Shin moved.
He ignored their surprise and quickly walked to the massive map of the Land of Fire.
His boots made soft clicking sounds on the floor.
Everyone held their breath, their gaze following the daimyo's figure.
Without realizing it, this daimyo of the Land of Fire had become the center of this temporary command post.
Shin's gaze swept rapidly across the map.
In his mind, the entire Land of Fire's geography, military deployment, and intelligence network were clearly imprinted.
South, the capital?
He sneered inwardly.
His grand departure was the biggest smokescreen. The enemy wouldn't be foolish enough to attack a capital without its ruler.
As long as he was still here, and as long as Konoha was still in his hands, even if the capital was destroyed, it could be rebuilt at any time.
Kumogakure attacking the capital would not yield returns worth their costs.
Rejected!
North.
The supply hub and border troops were interlocked, with two thousand elite shinobi embedded in between, forming a tight defensive line.
It was a fool's dream for Kumogakure's main forces to infiltrate silently from here.
East.
It had been thoroughly searched, but nothing was found.
This only proved that the enemy was not there from the beginning.
The possibilities of the south, north, and east were instantly rejected by Shin.
Then, only one answer remained.
Shin's sharp gaze fell upon the vast, almost unmarked area on the map.
The western Land of Fire!
The terrain there was complex, mostly mountains and valleys, sparsely populated, making it a natural place to hide troops.
It was also the weakest link in Konoha's defense system!
In previous wars with Sunagakure, their invasion routes often turned to the northwest immediately after entering the Land of Fire.
Because there were at least a few populated villages there, and supplies were much more convenient.
But the west, and even the southwest, were often the easiest to overlook!
At this thought, Shin turned around, his icy gaze sweeping over everyone present, including Minato, the Hokage.
"Nara Shikaku!"
"Here!"
Nara Shikaku's body tensed, and he instinctively straightened his back.
"Immediately dispatch all search units in the western region!" Shin directly ordered. "Focus on this valley area and conduct a thorough search for me!"
His hand heavily traced the continuous mountain ranges in the western part of the map. "I want you to not let even a single mouse escape!"
"Yes!"
Nara Shikaku did not hesitate, loudly affirmed, and turned to give the order.
"Wait!"
Shin called out to him.
Pointing to the area between the capital and Konoha, he said. "Send out a unit to quickly sweep this area!"
"I need absolute security!"
"Understood!"
Nara Shikaku nodded heavily, veins bulging on his forehead.
He understood the daimyo's meaning.
The daimyo had not only located the enemy's hiding place but was also guarding against the enemy's dangerous trick of hiding in plain sight!
This careful thinking made even him, who prided himself on his intelligence, feel ashamed.
"Minato."
"My lord!"
Minato stepped forward, his expression serious.
He no longer had any trace of his pride as Hokage. His heart was filled only with worry for the village's safety.
From the daimyo's arrival to discovering the loophole, and then calmly responding.
Less than half an hour had passed.
To find the enemy's hiding place in such a short time, his role as Hokage was truly...
At this moment, there was no time to consider the other party's emotions. Shin directly stated. "From now on, all of Konoha's intelligence must be reported to me immediately."
"The authority to deploy all units will also be temporarily taken over by me."
Shin's voice was firm and unyielding. "Do you have any objections?"
Minato knelt on one knee without hesitation, lowering his proud head. "Konoha, respectfully obeys the daimyo's command!"
This kneel represented the temporary transfer of the Hokage's authority.
This kneel also represented that the entire Konoha, in this crisis without precedent, would obey the young daimyo's command!
The Konoha shinobi in the office, upon seeing the Hokage's action, also knelt on one knee in unison. "Respectfully obeys the daimyo's command!"
The unified voice echoed in the office, but Shin's face showed no ripples.
He turned back to look at the map.
Kumogakure's surprise attack had disrupted his original rhythm.
Taking control of the daimyo manor, subduing the Guardian Shinobi, gradually eroding Konoha's power... All of this should have been accomplished in a more stable and leisurely environment.
But reality had given him a harsh slap.
It stung fiercely.
For a long time, his foreknowledge of this world's trajectory had given him a false belief.
An arrogance that everything was predetermined.
He forgot that every decision he made since coming to this world, like the flapping of a butterfly's wings, was changing the world's trajectory.
He was arrogant after all.
This was a warning.
A painful lesson, paid for with the survival of the entire Konoha.
This world was no longer the anime world he remembered, where he could follow a predetermined path.
Kumogakure... Shin's eyes were sharp.
They had taught him an invaluable lesson with a daring gamble.
Then this tuition fee... shall be repaid with your Raikage's head.
Night fell.
Instructions cut through the silence, rapidly reaching every corner of the village.
Countless Anbu figures flashed across rooftops, disappearing at the end of alleys.
The Uchiha family compound, the Hyuga family compound, Sarutobi, Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka... whether they were prestigious families or civilian shinobi scattered throughout.
They all received orders from the daimyo.
Yuhi family.
The mansion was brightly lit, and the atmosphere was warm.
Kurenai Yuhi was recounting what she had seen and heard in the capital.
"...Father, the capital is truly prosperous, much livelier than Konoha..."
"And the daimyo manor, you wouldn't believe how magnificent it is."
Shinku Yuhi's face was filled with fatherly love, patiently listening to his daughter's story, and was about to say something.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
A heavy and urgent knocking suddenly sounded, interrupting the father and daughter's conversation.
Shinku Yuhi's smile faded, replaced by seriousness.
At this time, this knocking... it was the Anbu!
He stood up abruptly and strode towards the door.
Outside the door stood an Anbu wearing a tanuki mask.
"Jonin Shinku Yuhi."
Shinku Yuhi frowned tightly. "What happened?"
"The daimyo has an order!"
The Anbu continued to announce in a completely emotionless tone. "Please proceed immediately to the Hokage building for a meeting. No delays are permitted!"
Daimyo's order?
Shinku Yuhi's pupils suddenly contracted, and he quickly said in a deep voice. "Yes!"
He then turned and rushed back into the house, his expression serious.
He shouted at his startled daughter. "Yuhi, you go back to the daimyo's side now, immediately! Right now!"
After speaking, he immediately put on his shinobi tools and protective gear, and pulled Kurenai Yuhi out the door.
Tonight, no one in Konoha would sleep.