Uchiha compound" — Temporary Camp of Konoha's Eastern Front
"The Mist launched a sudden attack?"
Nara Suzaku frowned as he read the intelligence report in his hand.
Only a single day after the incident, Shisui had already sent word of the eastern front's situation.
The officers inside the tent exchanged puzzled glances.
"The war is already over. What are the Mist trying to do now? Has something changed?"
They were practically at Konoha's doorstep. If they had to turn back to the battlefield now, the resentment among the troops would be unimaginable.
Suzaku did not respond.
With only the information in his hand, he could not determine the enemy's motive either.
"What does Jōnin Shisui suggest? Is he requesting reinforcements?"
At those words, several department heads fell silent.
If they turned back now, their treatment would be no different from the Uchiha's.
"According to Shisui's letter, Kirigakure has dispatched elite forces—nearly a hundred bloodline shinobi. There may even be additional hidden forces."
Nearly a hundred bloodline shinobi?!
The room stiffened.
Everyone knew that a bloodline wielder's combat power often far exceeded that of an ordinary shinobi of the same rank—sometimes several times over.
"They have already approached the forward camp but were temporarily repelled. They now require reinforcements—particularly field medic."
"If the Mist continue to send troops, they may be forced to abandon the defensive line and withdraw."
field medic…
Kohane Utatane, who had been listening quietly at the side, suddenly paled.
The gazes in the tent subtly shifted toward her.
"The war is over! How could Kirigakure possibly still have that many troops stationed there? Uchiha Shisui must be exaggerating the situation!"
Her words were reasonable.
Everyone wanted Shisui to be exaggerating.
But they also knew the likelihood was slim.
Suzaku ignored her outburst.
After a moment's thought, he made his decision.
"The main force will halt temporarily. Each division will dispatch shinobi to form fifteen squads. Additionally, three squads of field medic will be assembled."
"Utatane Rikito will lead the reinforcement unit and depart immediately."
"Commander Nara!"
Kohane's expression changed instantly.
Utatane Rikito was her nephew—a mere chūnin. If anything happened under unclear circumstances, how would she answer to the clan?
"Execute the order."
"…Yes."
The others watched coldly.
They longed to return home and had no intention of volunteering to lead the reinforcement.
Suzaku rubbed his brow.
The letter was filled with words like "possible," "likely," and "if."
Under normal circumstances, if this report had come from anyone other than Uchiha Shisui, he would not have dispatched reinforcements so decisively.
But Shisui had deliberately included a direct question—
If manpower proved insufficient, should he withdraw?
The responsibility had been placed squarely on Suzaku's shoulders.
If he failed to respond and something happened at the front, the consequences would be his to bear.
And the matter could not be concealed.
He had to respond immediately.
Still—
Just because he had acted did not mean others would remain idle.
Back in her own tent, Kohane summoned Utatane Rikito.
After relaying the order, she spoke earnestly.
"This mission to the front is fraught with danger. Remember Lady Tsunade's field medic principles. Do not stand at the forefront unnecessarily. Even on the way there, proceed cautiously. Watch for hidden dangers."
Though only seventeen, Rikito was calm and understood his clan's position.
"If this is reinforcement, shouldn't we travel quickly? We're already near the Land of Fire. There shouldn't be much danger here. If we deliberately delay, won't they notice?"
Kohane frowned.
"In the shinobi world, there is no such thing as luck. Have they forgotten how Lady Tsunade's brother died?"
"Besides, the Uchiha are Konoha's foremost clan. They will not collapse so easily. field medic, however, are far more vital. You must not come to harm."
"…Understood."
"Go. Be cautious."
Meanwhile, on the eastern front, after a full day and night of reconnaissance, Shisui finally confirmed something.
Aside from the bloodline shinobi already present, Kirigakure had no reinforcements in the Land of Whirlpools.
The two men in the tent fell silent for a long time.
"Teacher… should I send another letter informing Commander Nara of the updated situation?"
Now that there were no hidden forces, reinforcements seemed unnecessary.
At least, that was his thought.
"No."
Sima Yi shook his head.
"Repeatedly revising military orders damages authority. "Doing so will only deepen his dissatisfaction with you."
Shisui nodded—but then hesitated.
Even if it deepened dissatisfaction, what did it matter? Suzaku already stood opposed to the Uchiha.
Sima Yi saw through him immediately.
His gaze sharpened.
"There is an old saying: he who wins the people's hearts may become emperor; he who wins the emperor's heart may become a feudal lord; he who wins only the lords' hearts can be no more than an official."
Shisui blinked, mind racing.
Seeing his confusion, Sima Yi sighed.
"To put it plainly—he who wins the villagers' hearts may become Hokage. He who wins the Hokage's favor may become an aide. He who wins only an aide's favor may rise merely to a department head."
"Now do you understand?"
Ah.
That made sense.
"So you mean—if the villagers support me, I could become Hokage. If the Hokage supports me, I could become his assistant. If his assistant supports me, I could at least become a department head."
"In other words… I must win more people over?"
"Correct."
"Winning hearts is the highest strategy. That principle underlies all our future plans. Never forget it."
"But the Nara clan has always supported the Hokage. Even if we show goodwill, they won't support us, will they?"
Sima Yi laughed, shaking his head.
"Not necessarily."
He picked up a book and began reading, offering no further explanation.
Shisui knew better than to press him.
He resolved to ponder it privately that night.
"The Mist are no longer a major threat. So we simply wait?"
"Monitor both the reinforcements and the Mist's movements," Sima Yi replied without looking up. "The reinforcements will not arrive quickly. Wait for the right moment."
"…Understood."
At the mention that reinforcements would not arrive quickly, unease stirred within Shisui.
And indeed—
Over the next three days, reports from his scouts confirmed it.
The reinforcement force advanced only sixty li {kilomerets} per day—and showed signs of slowing further.
Considering they were merely a dozen squads—not a massive army—this pace was less than half that of normal shinobi travel.
At this rate, it would take at least five more days for them to arrive.
Meanwhile, the Mist did not relent.
Day and night, they harassed the perimeter—yet most of their efforts were thwarted by traps.
Gradually, the surviving Mist shinobi realized something was wrong.
Without reconnaissance, they were fighting blindly.
Citing this, they began clustering closer around Ao for protection.
And by now—
Of the original hundred bloodline shinobi—
Fewer than fifty remained.