Inside the Konoha command tent.
"Tanaka-sama, the Uchiha still need to provide support at three more locations," the battlefield commander said, pointing at the map.
"The rest of the reinforcements from the village haven't arrived yet?" Uchiha Tanaka's expression turned grim.
These past few days, the reckless brutes from Kumogakure had been charging in like madmen, launching suicidal offensives that had caused heavy casualties among the Konoha shinobi.
The Uchiha Clan had also suffered considerable losses.
Yet now, the commander was still asking him to send more clansmen to the front lines.
If this continued, the Uchiha's overall combat strength would take a huge hit!
The commander, a member of the Nara Clan, noticed what Uchiha Tanaka was thinking and tried to reassure him:
"Tanaka-sama, the other clans are already on their way. We'll be getting reinforcements soon…"
Uchiha Tanaka remained silent for a moment.
"I'll send our people to support."
With that, he suppressed the dissatisfaction in his heart, flung his sleeve, and left.
Other clan heads were still inside the tent.
Watching Uchiha Tanaka's departing back, they couldn't help but curl their lips.
"Hmph, what, are they the only ones suffering heavy losses?" one clan leader said irritably.
"Just bear with it. The Uchiha are powerful, after all."
"Uchiha Tanaka's just a self-important idiot."
Sensing the atmosphere was turning sour, the Nara commander quickly changed the subject.
"Everyone, let's move on. I'll now assign your respective tasks."
Hearing this, the clan heads stopped their bickering.
...
Uchiha Tanaka left the command tent and found his clansmen, who were resting.
"Tanaka-sama."
Seeing him approach, the Uchiha shinobi stood up one after another to greet him.
"We're heading to the battlefield to provide support. This time, I'll be going with you," said Uchiha Tanaka.
"Understood!" the Uchiha shinobi replied in unison.
"Those who are injured, stay behind. The rest of you, come with me!"
Several dozen Uchiha split into three groups and headed toward their respective battlefields.
No sooner had the Uchiha departed than the other clan heads emerged from the command tent.
Without any hesitation, they too led their clans to support the front lines.
The Nara commander rubbed his brow and murmured softly to himself,
"By my count, reinforcements from the Kirigakure and Iwagakure fronts should be arriving soon…"
Ever since war broke out between Kirigakure and Iwagakure, Konoha shinobi stationed at those fronts had begun heading northeast to provide support.
Some had arrived over the past few days, and the remaining main force was still on the way.
To prevent sudden attacks from Kirigakure or Iwagakure, thirty percent of the forces had to remain behind at each front.
Everyone else, aside from the wounded, was heading here in a steady stream.
Kumo learned of this and launched a large-scale offensive, hoping to seize the northeastern battlefield before the Konoha reinforcements arrived.
Facing Kumo's full-scale assault, Konoha's current forces struggled to hold the line, leading to severe losses.
But the reinforcements were almost here.
Once the main forces arrived, Konoha could begin a counteroffensive.
Thinking of this, the deep furrow on the Nara commander's brow finally began to ease.
...
Inside Kumogakure's command tent.
"Bastards, bastards! Are Iwagakure and Kirigakure full of idiots?!" The First Raikage grew increasingly furious the more he thought about it and couldn't help but roar.
If only Iwagakure and Kirigakure hadn't fallen into internal conflict and instead joined forces to attack Konoha, splitting Konoha's attention and dividing their strength...
Then Kumogakure could have gradually worn Konoha down, eventually taking the northeast with minimal losses.
But because of Hōzuki Gengetsu and Mu's actions, the pressure on Konoha had been lessened, allowing more troops to be sent northeast.
Now the burden had fallen entirely on Kumogakure.
The First Raikage knew that once Konoha's reinforcements fully arrived, it would be nearly impossible for Kumogakure to defeat them.
So he was determined to take the northeast battlefield before that happened, at any cost.
But Konoha's stubborn resistance left him exasperated.
He even sent his personal guards to the battlefield and dispatched two elite elder-level jōnin from the village—Ginkaku and Kinkaku, the brothers.
He had assumed that with those three joining the fight, they would swiftly conquer the northeast.
However, the intelligence his subordinates brought back left him livid—reinforcements from Konoha's other battlefronts were about to arrive.
Which meant that in the short term, they had little chance of defeating Konoha.
The First Raikage grew even more enraged and slammed his fist down, shattering the solid wooden desk.
"I'd really like to know what's going on inside Iwagakure and Kirigakure's heads!"
He now wanted to find Hōzuki Gengetsu and Mu, make them stop fighting each other, and work together to carve up the Land of Fire.
With that, the First Raikage left the battlefield with several guards.
...
Meanwhile, at the front lines, Ginkaku and Kinkaku had just heard the news of the First Raikage's departure from a trusted subordinate.
"Brother, the Raikage has left the camp," said Ginkaku, his eyes flickering. "This is our chance…"
Hearing this, Kinkaku let out a savage grin.
"You're right. If that old fool dies, we can start wars with the other nations ourselves!"
The two brothers were cruel, cunning, and obsessed with war and slaughter.
They planned to assassinate the First Raikage and frame Konoha for the deed.
That way, the war between the two villages would never stop.
Ginkaku and Kinkaku exchanged glances, both wearing smug smiles.
In a corner where no one was watching, the two quietly slipped away from the battlefield.
...
On their way, Renya's team happened to encounter the reinforcements sent by Konoha.
Seeing the hundreds of shinobi, Renya furrowed his brow slightly.
That old bastard Senju Tobirama had actually dispatched such a large support force at once—this could only mean the situation at the front was extremely dire.
Kumogakure's strength was undoubtedly formidable. This war wouldn't be ending any time soon.
Danzo's face didn't look good either. With so many people heading to the battlefield, it meant there would be fewer enemies for him to kill—and fewer merits to earn…
No. I have to kill more enemies on the battlefield!
Danzo clenched his fists, his eyes full of burning desire for military merit.
Every single battle achievement he accumulated now would become a solid stepping stone on his path to becoming Hokage.
After all, the title of Hokage wasn't just about powerful jutsu—it was built on a reputation forged through military accomplishments.
...
Renya's group followed the large force and soon arrived at the battlefield.
The battlefield commander personally came out to welcome them upon hearing the news.
When he saw the number of reinforcements, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.
Renya took note of the spiky-haired commander and found his expression a bit odd.
Could all the battlefield commanders be from the Nara Clan?
After all, two of the four fronts already had Nara commanders.
The other two were likely the same…
Guess you could say smart people were welcome everywhere.
While he was lost in thought, the commander began assigning battle positions.
Time was tight, and the Nara commander didn't give them any time to rest.
A third of the force stayed behind to defend the camp, while the rest immediately went to support the front lines.
Renya's group of three quickly set out for the front lines.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo