[Western Front]
"Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win", Sun Tzu, the Art of War
Strategy.
The world of Naruto knew its share of wars, but none of them could compare to the horrors of Earth. The scale was just different. However, numbers alone were not enough to explain the wins or losses of armies. Logistics mattered immensely, as highlighted with Napoleon's achievements, or the second world war.
Sun Tzu had also understood it.
This is how I came up with the idea of striking not the main army, but reinforcements, to slowly drain Iwagakure's numbers.
"Yukiko, you are a sensor in addition to a kenjutsu expert, is that right?", I asked
"Yes, Danzo-sama"
"Good. You will stay next to me at all times during the operation. Relay this message, everyone in the clan is to meet in the training compound in the evening. They are to sharpen their blades, purchase any number of tags or shurikens they need. More importantly, they have to buy at least 6 months' worth of soldier pill rations"
"Six months? Isn't the mission going to last one or two weeks?"
I smiled: "Why do you think I asked for 100 million Ryô upfront, and a fee of 10 million Ryô per week on the Iwagakure front? I proposed this strategy not just because it was an efficient use of our force. I proposed this strategy because it is the easiest way for us to control the battlefield"
Yukiko stuttered: "But...But won't it affect the clan's reputation. The quicker we stabilize the battlefield, the more honour we will receive, don't we?"
I shook my head: "Honour, reputation...Why does it matter so much when we can strengthen our members? The longer the operation, the stronger our clansmen will become. Additionally, the longer the conflict, the more achievements we can accumulate"
Yukiko thought inwardly: 'This...This is machiavelic, and extraordinary...I would have never thought so deeply about a strategy. As expected, Danzo-sama is wise beyond his years...I must serve him well'
Obviously, Danzo's aura did not come from his words alone. His relentless training of the younger generation, the policies set in place, the show of absolute power...He alternated between rewards and instituting fear among clansmen. Most saw him as a benevolent tyran, rightfully so. Some loathed his character. Others found his policies too drastic, especially since they were retiring from the village's political schemes in times of need, reducing the one thing the clan specialised in: politics.
However, everyone had grown to trust Danzo as a leader.
He was not charismatic per say.
But if you were to ask a clansman, he would say the Shimura Patriarch is beyond reliable. He had become a pillar of the clan already.
"We don't have any blood ties, do we?"
Yukiko titled her head: "No, why?"
'Danzo never married, did he?', I judged, 'Eventually, it would not be so bad to show a united front to the rest of the family and elders. Yukiko is not a bad party either...'
I did not answer the question.
Back to the laboratory, I looked at the pristine equipment and sighed.
"I don't have time to brew enough Shimura Elixirs for the whole clan...If only I had more time to automate the industrial process, the clan would grow so much stronger. That's it, with the funds we are going to earn, I am going to build an underground factory to supply the clan with the elixir. It must not leak either, or Hiruzen will share it with everyone..."
*SWOOSH*
Injecting the elixir into my muscles, I sighed. The pain was quite unbearable, but I could handle this much. It was not the same elixir as i gave to the other clansmen. To be effective on an elite jonin like myself, it was much more potent. The blue liquid turned my veins translucid and with each heart pump, a purple flow could be seen.
'This is it...', I thought to myself as I saw my chakra reserves increase by roughly 2%.
It was nothing compared to the first injection, but it was progress nonetheless. The battle would prove an excellent catalyst to test out my strength. As I had said to the rest of the clan, the risks were minimal. With no Kage-level on the front, this was the perfect opportunity to test my formations and individual strength. The training given to the rest of the clan was decent too, so they should perform 20 to 30% better than their old selves. Together though, they were incomparably stronger.
Whether they survive or die a nameless death...It would depend on my leadership.
Some were young. Some were kunoichi. All had family.
Such was the reality of this world. If I wanted the Shimura clan to prosper, such sacrifices were necessary. Thankfully, I had controlled the settings of this war for the dangers to fall on the main Konoha forces. We were just the sword that would cut their reinforcements.