Chapter 210: There, the Slaughterfield of Flesh and Blood
Fugaku had once again petitioned for the Uchiha to be sent to the front lines, and Hiruzen's headache returned with a vengeance. He knew exactly what Danzō was planning for the Uchiha Clan, how could he not?
He was more aware than anyone else.
While the plan had originated from Danzō, it had been approved with his consent.
Otherwise, when drafting the reinforcements list, he would have already included the Uchiha among the units being deployed.
Bang!
Hiruzen, his head pounding, slammed his hand onto the desk and roared in frustration:
"I didn't summon you all here to quarrel or to debate whether the Uchiha should be deployed!"
"We are here to decide how we will deal with Sunagakure's next move, whether or not to approve Orochimaru's proposal to retreat and hold the line at Mount Kikyo!"
Caught off guard by his display of Hokage fury, Fugaku and Danzō fell silent.
After a long moment, Hyūga Hiashi, from the Hyūga Clan, calmly voiced his opinion:
"Lord Third, I support Orochimaru-sama's proposal. We should withdraw and fortify Mount Kikyo."
Though Hiruzen's deliberately feigned anger hadn't yet faded, he turned to Hiashi and asked:
"Hiashi, let's hear your reasoning."
Holding his temples, Hiruzen spoke in a low voice:
"My reasons are simple," Hiashi replied.
"I fully agree with Veigar's assessment. One of Sunagakure's elders was slain on the battlefield by Veigar's hand, there is no possibility that they will abandon their thirst for vengeance."
"Our intel confirms it. The unrest within Sunagakure lately points to one outcome: their next offensive will be utterly ferocious."
"For the sake of victory, we must be willing to make sacrifices."
From a public standpoint, Hiashi's argument was airtight, logical and grounded, leaving no room for rebuttal.
But if Hiruzen agreed to this retreat, it would fall to him to explain to the Land of Fire's daimyo why territory had been lost to the enemy.
Privately, Hiashi had another reason.
His twin brother, Hyūga Hizashi, was among the frontline commanders. No matter how slim the odds, he couldn't bear the thought of losing him.
Hiruzen nodded slightly. He could barely accept that reasoning.
"What about the rest of you?"
Turning to the others, Hiruzen awaited their input.
The Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans, longtime supporters of the Third Hokage, exchanged glances. Nara Kakuto, representing his clan, stepped forward and said:
"Lord Third, the implications of a retreat to Mount Kikyo are immense."
"If we retreat, we must account to the daimyo."
"If we do not, our comrades at the front risk total annihilation."
"Please, consider this thoroughly."
As expected of the sharp-witted Nara Clan, Kakuto's words were tactful and politically polished, noncommittal, insightful, and deferential. He laid out the consequences of both actions without overstepping the Hokage's authority. Simultaneously, it subtly reaffirmed their unwavering loyalty.
In doing so, regardless of Hiruzen's final decision, the Nara would remain unscathed.
Because…
Well, if you really listen to his words…
Kakuto said everything and nothing at all.
Nara Kakuto, the Slick Strategist.
The doors of the Hokage Residence's war room remained shut the entire afternoon. At last, Hiruzen made his decision:
Withdraw the frontline troops. Hold Mount Kikyo at all costs.
Half an hour after the meeting concluded, Hiruzen signed the formal order to retreat, dispatching it to the forward command at Mount Kikyo.
He didn't explain anything more in the document, but attached a new appointment decree.
...
Land of Rivers, Sunagakure Forward Command.
Rasa, Chiyo, and the One-Tails jinchūriki, Bunpuku, sat in solemn conference. Standing before them were Suna's elite jōnin, including Sōichirō.
Surveying their gathered might, Rasa's expression was grim as he spoke:
"Everyone, you've been summoned here for an important announcement."
He turned toward Chiyo and nodded:
"Elder Chiyo, I'll leave the rest to you."
As Rasa finished speaking, the jōnin turned their attention to Chiyo.
Her eyes downcast, Chiyo addressed them in a calm but firm voice:
"Our next strategy is simple: continue the assault."
"But this time, it will be unlike anything before. We are committing everything, the full force of Sunagakure, to seize Konoha's forward base and claim the Land of Fire's soil."
"Return to your units. Prepare for total war. Are there any objections?"
The jōnin snapped to attention, voices booming in unison:
"No, ma'am!"
Their smoldering rage found fuel in this new strategy.
With the death of Ebizō, the whole of Sunagakure cried for vengeance. And for these frontliners, the thirst for Konoha blood burned strongest. They would offer it up to appease the soul of Ebizō in the afterlife.
The moment they heard that another attack on Konoha was imminent, they could barely contain their excitement.
What they didn't know was this:
Rasa and Chiyo had secretly withdrawn most of Suna's remaining forces from within the village, leaving it dangerously undefended. Should the operation fail, or should Konoha somehow pin down their offensive, the entire village could fall.
That was why Rasa had initially opposed Chiyo's plan.
The risks were monumental.
Should word of this deployment leak, Sunagakure would become a target for every rival hidden village.
"You'll receive the final deployment orders just before we march," Chiyo added coldly, hiding her own rising turmoil. In her heart, only one thing mattered now:
Avenge Ebizō.
"Konoha…"
"Yes, ma'am!"
After the jōnin left, Rasa turned to Chiyo and said:
"Elder Chiyo, everything is in place now, all we need is the eastern wind."
Chiyo nodded:
"Indeed."
Her gaze drifted past the command post, toward the Land of Fire, toward the Leaf's forward base.
There.
That place would become a slaughterfield of flesh and blood.
Only the blood of Konoha shinobi could cool the fire in her heart.
Only Veigar Koshima's death could appease Ebizō's spirit.
And anyone who dared stand in her way...
Would be torn apart by her wrath.
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