Chapter 3: Victory Is the Only Way to Negotiate
"Pack up and get ready to return to the village. Be prepared—we'll be heading to the battlefield soon," Jinghang instructed as he adjusted his battle attire.
The Second Kazekage had indeed returned, but he came back lying down.
The war in the Land of Rain had been treacherous from the very beginning. Just as Sunagakure and Amegakure were locked in fierce combat, Konoha intervened—not with seasoned veterans like Shimura Danzō or Akimichi Torifu, but with a team led by the younger generation: Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade. Their target wasn't the invading Sunagakure but the besieged Amegakure.
Under this new pressure, Amegakure was forced to shift its focus. Hanzō of the Salamander, the leader of Amegakure, decisively ceded large swathes of territory to Sunagakure and concentrated his forces against the incoming Konoha troops. On the battlefield, Hanzō summoned his salamander, Ibuse, to release a massive cloud of poison, incapacitating many Konoha ninjas. In the end, only Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade remained standing. Impressed by their resilience, Hanzō bestowed upon them the title of the "Legendary Sannin."
Though Konoha emerged victorious in this battle, it was a pyrrhic victory. Amegakure, however, was left with no choice but to align itself with Konoha. Meanwhile, the exhausted Sunagakure forces, instead of pressing their advantage, chose to sit back and watch the chaos unfold, hoping to reap the benefits later. But they underestimated the strength of Konoha's younger generation, who ultimately forced Hanzō into submission.
At this critical juncture, Danzō led Konoha reinforcements to the battlefield, forcing the Second Kazekage, Shamon, to engage in a grueling battle against this new adversary.
The Land of Rain's wet and humid climate was ill-suited for Sunagakure's desert-trained ninjas. The prolonged stalemate drained their resources, and without the promised funding from the frugal Daimyō of the Land of Wind, supplies dwindled. Weapons and tools were in short supply, and when the battle against Konoha began, Sunagakure was immediately at a disadvantage.
Even Chiyo's poisons, once a formidable weapon, were rendered ineffective by Tsunade's medical expertise. Frustrated, Chiyo struggled to find a countermeasure. Shamon, hoping to turn the tide with his exceptional personal strength, found himself evenly matched against Danzō and Uchiha Kagami. Despite his best efforts, Shamon could only manage a stalemate.
Sunagakure's forces suffered heavy losses, losing many elite Jōnin. Their defensive lines were on the verge of collapse.
As the saying goes, "A long defense is bound to fail." Sensing an opportunity, Danzō launched a concentrated attack on Sunagakure's defenses. The lines crumbled almost instantly. Shamon took it upon himself to cover the retreat, but this played right into Danzō's hands.
A group of elite Konoha Jōnin surrounded Shamon. Though his skills were extraordinary, even a tiger cannot fend off a pack of wolves. In a desperate final strike, Shamon managed to take down Uchiha Kagami but was critically injured by Danzō's Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere, which struck his lower back.
Just as Shamon was about to meet his end, Chiyo arrived in the nick of time. She unleashed her ultimate technique, the White Secret Technique: Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets. At the cost of her arm, she managed to rescue the gravely wounded Shamon.
Unfortunately, Chiyo had not yet developed her Reincarnation Jutsu, leaving her powerless to save Shamon's life. By the time they reached the camp gates, Shamon was barely clinging to life. With his final breaths, he muttered, "Find... Jinghang..." before falling unconscious.
Chiyo had no choice but to order a retreat to the border between the Land of Rain and the Land of Wind, while arranging for medics to escort Shamon back to the village for his last rites.
When Jinghang entered the Kazekage Hall, he found the elder council, led by Ebizō, gathered around. Nearly half the seats were empty, a grim reminder of those who had fallen in the war.
Shamon's face was ashen, his lips devoid of color. It was clear he was holding on to his last breath, waiting for Jinghang. When Shamon saw Jinghang step into the hall, a glimmer of light returned to his eyes.
"Jing...hang... It seems... you were right. I was too hasty..." Shamon's voice was barely audible.
"Kazekage-sama, please don't speak..."
"No, I must!" Shamon suddenly opened his eyes wide, summoning the last vestiges of his strength.
"Jōnin Jinghang, with your foresight, unparalleled ninjutsu, youthful vigor, and noble character, you are most suited to succeed me as Kazekage. Does anyone object?" Shamon's voice echoed through the hall as he scanned the room.
The elders raised their hands in unanimous agreement.
"Good... good... good," Shamon said, repeating the word three times before passing away in the Kazekage Hall.
The gathered council members bowed deeply to Shamon's body, paying their respects to the fallen leader. Then, they turned to Jinghang and bowed again, acknowledging him as the new Kazekage.
"What are your orders, Kazekage-sama? How should we arrange the funeral and the succession ceremony?" Ebizō inquired.
"Elder Ebizō, please arrange for Shamon-sama's body to be preserved in the cold storage for now. Maki, prepare the war room. All Jōnin are to convene for a strategy meeting in ten minutes!" Jinghang ordered.
"As for Shamon-sama's funeral and my succession ceremony, we'll deal with them when I return," Jinghang added.
"A strategy meeting? Jinghang, are you planning to continue the war?" Ebizō asked, surprised. He knew Jinghang had been the most vocal opponent of the war.
"There's no other choice, Elder," Jinghang replied, tightening the straps on his wrist guards.
"Victory is the only way to negotiate."
"Currently, Elder Chiyo is leading the remnants of the expeditionary force and fortifying positions near the Night-Singing Sand Sea. Danzō's vanguard has entered the Land of Wind and is expected to reach Elder Chiyo's forces within a day," Maki reported, pointing at the map on the sand table.
"Any updates on Konoha's movements?" Jinghang asked.
"Yes. According to intelligence from our operatives in Konoha, they've decided to send a separate force through the Land of Rivers to attack our rear."
"When was this information received?"
"Three days ago."
"Who's leading the force?"
"Konoha's White Fang, Hatake Sakumo."
The room erupted into murmurs. The name "White Fang" struck fear into even the most seasoned warriors. Hatake Sakumo was infamous for his ruthless efficiency and strategic cunning.
Jinghang stared intently at the sand table, calculating silently. Konoha's move was a direct blow to Sunagakure's vulnerable rear. With Shamon dead and the main forces tied up at the northern border, Sunagakure had little left to defend its western flank. According to the timeline of the original story, this was the battle where Chiyo's son and daughter-in-law perished.
Suddenly, Jinghang pointed to a location on the map. "The Ishi Fortress in the west—we have some forces stationed there, correct? How many? Who's in charge?"
"Yes, a small contingent of about fifty ninjas. The commanders are the Akasuna couple," Maki replied.
Perfect.
"Elder Ebizō, what's the status of the war funds and supplies we requested from the Daimyō?" Jinghang asked.
"After repeated requests, the Daimyō finally approved 15 million ryō two days ago. We've also gathered enough provisions to sustain the current campaign for three months. However, the ninja tools we ordered on credit from the Land of Craftsmen have only been partially delivered. If we don't settle the balance by the end of the year, they'll stop supplying us," Ebizō reported, his tone heavy with frustration.
"Dammit!" Jinghang cursed under his breath. The situation was dire—no money, no supplies, and barely any manpower. The challenges just kept piling up.
Rubbing his temples, Jinghang carefully weighed his options. The northern front, though battered, still held Sunagakure's main forces. While morale was low due to lack of supplies, they were now fighting on home turf. With timely reinforcements, they could hold out against Danzō. The real threat was Hatake Sakumo's western detachment. Jinghang knew he had to act personally to counter this move.
"Orders!" Jinghang barked.
The room fell silent as everyone stood at attention.
"Elder Ebizō, organize the logistics team to deliver all available funds, provisions, and ninja tools to Elder Chiyo's frontlines."
"Understood!"
"Jōnin Rasa, aside from those guarding the Abyss Prison, gather all available Jōnin in the village. Complete the reorganization within two days and prepare to reinforce the Ishi Fortress."
"Yes, sir!"
"Jōnin Pakura, prepare two days' worth of soldier pills for me to take on the road."
"What?!" Everyone stared at Jinghang in shock.
"I have no choice," Jinghang said with a shrug.
"Based on the intelligence, Hatake Sakumo is expected to reach the Ishi Fortress by noon tomorrow. The Akasuna couple won't be able to hold out on their own. If I leave now and travel quickly, I can make it in time."
"But going alone is too dangerous! Let me take a team and set out immediately," Rasa suggested.
"Can you move faster than me?" Jinghang asked with a smile, patting Rasa on the head.
"Besides, the remaining Jōnin in the village are mostly members of the Anbu, academy instructors, or administrative personnel. Their combat abilities vary greatly. Without proper reorganization, sending them now would be like feeding them to the White Fang. We need to regroup them into a cohesive fighting force first. Understand?" Jinghang explained, placing a reassuring hand on Rasa's shoulder.
"Understood. I won't fail you," Rasa said, kneeling on one knee.
"Good. That's settled. I'm heading out now," Jinghang said, taking the water flask and soldier pills handed to him by Pakura.
"Make sure you arrive in three days. Otherwise, I'll go down in history as the shortest-serving Kazekage ever."