Mikami's words fell like a stone into still water, sending ripples of shock through the room.
"Ridiculous. You speak with such arrogance, yet you have no grasp of true strength. Do you even understand what war is? I can tell you very responsibly—war is no child's game."
Though his initial statement had a startling impact, it quickly provoked a sharp rebuttal. To Mikami's surprise, it was Tsunade who spoke first, her tone dismissive and aimed directly at him.
Damn it, woman, you wouldn't be so smug if I knocked you flat on your back!
Countless curses stampeded through Mikami's mind. He glared darkly at Tsunade. You think I don't understand war? What about you?
Was he, a transcender from another plane of existence, really being looked down upon by a native of this two-dimensional world? What gave her the right?
Suppressing his irritation, Mikami shifted his gaze past Tsunade, locking eyes with the Third Hokage. His voice was calm and measured.
"War is the continuation of politics, and politics is inseparable from economic interests—which includes geopolitics. The terrain and positioning of Konoha and Sunagakure have destined the two to be eternal rivals."
He paused, his gaze growing distant, as if peering through centuries of history.
"At its core, war is about plunder and being plundered. It is an unavoidable chapter in human development, a collision of competing interests."
"Konoha is the wealthiest shinobi village on the continent. Its neighbor, Sunagakure, is poor, its climate harsh, its resources inferior in every way. Naturally, they covet what Konoha has."
Mikami spoke with the weight of ancient wisdom, his pupils deep and contemplative. He glanced at Tsunade, who stood shrouded in a fog of confusion, her face blank and uncomprehending. A flicker of smug pride rose in his heart. If I hadn't studied Sun Tzu's Art of War, you'd never appreciate the profound depths of my original culture.
Damned native.
But before his pride could settle, Tsunade shattered it with a single sentence.
"That all sounds very impressive. I didn't understand a word of it."
She blinked, her beautiful eyes clear as autumn water, holding not a trace of deliberate malice.
Mikami stared, speechless. He looked at Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and the Third Hokage—only to see the same expressions of polite bafflement on their faces. The realization hit him like a physical blow.
If you don't understand, just say so! You're hurting my pride here!
"Mikami," the Third Hokage interjected, his old face a mask of bewilderment. "Could you perhaps… explain in simpler terms? Use your mouth, not a textbook."
No culture. It's truly tragic.
Mikami took a deep breath, reorganizing his thoughts. "Fine. Sunagakure has committed almost 80% of its ninja force to this invasion. Their village interior must be nearly empty. We should take this opportunity to strike Suna directly."
He stopped there. If they couldn't grasp the implication now, then the title of Hokage was truly wasted on the old man.
"I agree with this plan!"
Jiraiya was the first to speak up, seizing the chance to score points against Orochimaru. He wouldn't let such an opportunity slip by.
"Truly excellent."
The Third and Orochimaru exchanged a glance, their eyes glinting with interest. Mikami's proposal had struck a chord—it was the kind of obvious, yet overlooked, tactic that could change the course of the war. With Suna's remaining defenders likely consisting of the young, the elderly, and the infirm, this was a golden opportunity.
"A successful raid on Sunagakure would force their frontline army to withdraw in disarray," Mikami continued, his voice cold and precise. "If we then harry their retreat, we can shatter their offensive in one decisive blow and secure total victory."
When a person had emotional attachments, it meant they had weaknesses. Shinobi might be cruel and merciless on the battlefield, but none could completely ignore the families they left behind in their villages. Not everyone in this world could be as detached as Mikami.
The tactic was underhanded, even despicable. So what? The victor writes history. Even the most deceitful strategies are praised by posterity as brilliance.
More importantly, in the shinobi world, the word "despicable" held no weight. There were no gentleman's agreements here.
"What a shameless schemer."
Tsunade looked at Mikami with undisguised contempt, her lips pressed into a thin, bitter line. The hatred in her voice was palpable, and she made no effort to hide it. In a way, it was understandable—her younger brother, Nawaki, had also died because of a conspiracy. Tsunade's hatred for those who wielded deceit ran deep.
"A schemer?"
A cold, mocking smile touched Mikami's lips. His voice, sharp as a blade, cut through the silence of the Hokage's office.
"Just because your brother died by conspiracy, you hate all who employ strategy? Senju Tsunade… you are truly naive."
Oh no.
Orochimaru's eyes widened slightly as he saw Tsunade's face instantly darken. The death of Senju Nawaki was a wound that had never healed, a shadow over her heart that no one dared to touch. For Mikami to rip it open so casually… Tsunade was sure to snap.
"You bastard—DIE!"
Just as predicted, Tsunade exploded into motion. She lunged forward, her delicate yet powerful fists—capable of shattering stone—coiled with chakra and aimed directly for Mikami's torso.
Foolish woman.
"Susanoo."