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Kikyo Castle, Headquarters.
Returning here after many days, the scene in the command camp was as busy and tense as ever, with staff constantly rushing back and forth carrying documents and various tools.
However, compared to three months ago, the number of staff here had decreased significantly.
It wasn't because fewer people were needed, but because the frontline was increasingly short-staffed. Even the Ninja from the Nara, Yamanaka, and other clans, who were originally supposed to be assigned as staff, were personally transferred to the front lines by Orochimaru, the Commander, to plug various gaps.
In the current Headquarters, from top to bottom, including Orochimaru, the Commander, everyone was doing at least three people's work, busy from morning till night.
Yet, even that was barely enough.
Sawara Kiri didn't say much about it.
The staff in the rear indeed worked very hard, but they only needed to think about how to complete their own work. The combat personnel on the front lines had many more things to consider.
After all, there was a difference between life and death.
"Lord Sawara!"
However, as soon as he walked into the Headquarters, he was called out by a Nara Ninja who was jogging towards the command post with documents in hand. The Ninja quickly said, "Lord Orochimaru has instructed that you and your party proceed directly to the conference room upon your return."
"Alright, thank you."
Sawara Kiri nodded at him and smiled gently.
The Nara Ninja, however, didn't say anything more and immediately ran off with his documents.
He was also very busy.
Sawara Kiri and the others walked towards the conference room, where they were first checked at the entrance to confirm their Chakra before being allowed in.
By the time they entered the room, the meeting had already begun.
Dozens of Jonin, each with various responsibilities, were gathered, all seated in the still somewhat spacious conference room. Orochimaru, as the Commander, stood at the podium at the front, explaining the current situation as simply as possible.
"...Everyone understands the current battlefield situation. The shortage of personnel and equipment has been ongoing for some time. The only guaranteed supplies are food and Ninja tools, but recently, these two have also begun to be specifically targeted. According to current intelligence, in another fifteen days, the second defensive line, which is currently barely holding on, will experience a certain scale of food shortage due due to attacks."
"Not only that, but the recovery and rotation speed of the wounded have also reached their limit."
"Due to the lack of personnel in various places, it's difficult to maintain the existing front lines. Many wounded soldiers in field hospitals are being sent back to the battlefield by their Commanders before they have fully recovered, leading to many unnecessary casualties. Yes, I know this is unavoidable. I am merely stating the problem. Please let me finish."
Orochimaru, after being interrupted, did not get angry but instead offered an explanation.
Once the standing Commander sat down again, he continued, "Therefore, I have decided to completely abandon the second defensive line and concentrate all forces around the Kikyo Castle defense line."
"Whoosh—!"
Among all the Jonin present, a tsunami-like gasp of surprise erupted.
Everyone looked at Orochimaru with incredulous expressions.
One of the Jonin immediately stood up from his seat and sternly rebuked, "Lord Orochimaru, do you know what you are saying right now?"
"Since the establishment of our Konoha Village, there has never been such a precedent!"
"That's right! Even when the Senju Clan fought to their last man, they never gave up an inch of the Land of Fire's land. This is a crime!"
"Not an inch of the Land of Fire is superfluous, even if it means great sacrifice..."
Not just that one person, but many Jonin present also stood up, loudly opposing his decision.
Sawara Kiri silently watched the agitated crowd, saying nothing.
Because of many things that happened in the original story, some said Sarutobi Hiruzen was weak, some said Shimura Danzo was selfish, and others said that none of the Konoha high-ranking officials were good, being either foolish or evil.
But no one would say that the spirit and will of these Ninja, who consistently fought on the front lines for Konoha and the Land of Fire, had any problems.
Where the Konoha leaves dance, the fire will burn on.
The people present were both the dancing Konoha leaves and the fiercely burning fire.
However, their ideas were often not correct.
To demand that they fight a large-scale war with the Ninja spirit of completing missions, not fearing sacrifice, and never retreating, was clearly a contradiction.
Orochimaru glanced at everyone present, saw Sawara Kiri's silence, smiled at him, and did not take their accusations to heart.
After their accusations gradually subsided, Orochimaru clapped his hands and continued, "...After contracting our defenses, the forces gained by compressing the defense will form a desperate expeditionary force, penetrating deep into enemy territory to destroy Sunagakure's entire logistical system."
"We will break through directly from their main base in the Land of Rivers all the way to Sunagakure."
"This is my strategy."
"..."
Upon hearing this, all the Jonin present were stunned.
What did 'desperate expeditionary force' mean?
Destroying the entire logistical system from the Land of Rivers to Sunagakure?
How far was that?
Several Jonin Commanders present instinctively calculated it in their heads and immediately widened their eyes.
Over 1,200 kilometers!
Even if there were only a limited number of logistical bases along that route, all located in the corresponding oases, but...
As they thought about this, everyone present suddenly understood why even someone as cold and rational as Orochimaru would name them the 'desperate expeditionary force.'
Because it truly was a path of One Goes Without Return.
However, Konoha Village did not lack those willing to die.
The entire conference hall fell silent for a moment, then a middle-aged Commander calmly raised his hand and asked, "Lord Orochimaru."
"If I participate, how many men can you allocate to me?"
"My unit has three hundred twenty-five men left, which is not enough."
After his voice fell, the hall was quiet for a moment.
Everyone seemed to finally understand why the Commanders of these mobile units had been summoned here today, and their hearts, surprisingly, settled.
Konoha Ninja could die, but they could not die in humiliation.
One after another, many others raised their hands, beginning to report the remaining numbers of their respective units.
Orochimaru watched them, waiting quietly for a while.
The entire process was as ordinary as choosing a dinner location for the evening, and no one showed any shameful reaction—or rather, precisely because they were such people, they were chosen by Orochimaru for this mission.
The three members of Sawara Squad silently watched this scene.
Similar scenes were not uncommon on the battlefield, and for the three who frequently experienced life and death, it had become somewhat commonplace.
But they still deserved respect.
Only after everyone had spoken did Orochimaru continue, "Since you all have this resolve, I won't say much more. Come draw lots in a moment."
"Only half of you can go."
"The remaining half needs to help me defend Kikyo Castle—this is also a very arduous task."
"As for the leader..."
As Orochimaru spoke, he turned around.
Then, Sawara Kiri saw a familiar figure slowly emerge from a small door behind him.
Upon seeing that person, Sawara Kiri and the others immediately understood why they had been summoned here.
Hatake Sakumo walked out of the small door, covered in dust from his journey. Although his skin was not originally fair, he now looked at least two shades darker than when they last met.
Noticing Sawara Kiri's gaze, he grinned.
Then, he turned to face the people before him and spoke gently, "I am the Commander of this desperate expeditionary force."
"Hatake Sakumo."
Orochimaru nodded at him, then continued his speech:
"Recently, under my command, Vice Commander Hatake went to investigate the entire logistical system operation along the over one thousand kilometers from the Land of Rivers' logistics base to Sunagakure, and he has recorded everything."
"Next, he will lead you to sweep through as quickly as possible."
"This mission can only succeed; failure is not an option."
"Until the last man."
Orochimaru looked at the serious faces before him, his tone still calm:
"Understood?"
"Yes—!"
Everyone responded in unison.
"Oh, long time no see!"
After the meeting adjourned, Hatake Sakumo dusted himself off and casually walked over to Sawara Kiri and the others, slinging an arm around Sawara Kiri and Minato's shoulders, getting dust all over them.
"This period has really exhausted me."
"Hey, what's with those expressions, all of you?"
"Didn't you miss me at all?"
Hatake Sakumo turned to look at the two, a puzzled expression on his face.
Kiri and Minato pinched their noses; not only could they not breathe, but getting too close even made their eyes sting.
"Sakumo-sensei, how long has it been since you last bathed?"
Only Megumi, standing a little further away, could speak while pinching her nose.
Hatake Sakumo finally realized, sniffing his armpit, almost knocking himself over from the stench.
However, he still held onto the two of them tightly, showing no intention of letting go.
"What could I do?!"
"I've been in the Great Desert of the Land of Wind, going back and forth several times to familiarize myself with the routes. I don't even have enough water to drink, let alone to bathe!"
Sawara Kiri said with difficulty, "Let go, speak after you let go."
However, Hatake Sakumo had a mischievous grin: "Oh, and I 'heard' all about your reputation in the Land of Wind!"
"I can't believe you were hiding such a trick up your sleeve?"
"Crimson Blade Kiri, Kakashi Hatake, right?"
"You even tricked my three-year-old son; do you have any conscience? Huh? Huh!"
Hatake Sakumo forcefully pulled the two closer: "Do you know what my expression was when I was in Sunagakure and heard my son was dominating the battlefield? Huh?"
"Later, when your identities were exposed, and they started calling you 'Crimson Blade Kiri,' that's when I finally learned the truth, you stinker."
Seeing that he was not only going to unleash his armpit stench jutsu but also unbutton his shirt a bit, the two were so scared they quickly used the Body Replacement Jutsu to escape.
With a thump, Hatake Sakumo was left holding only two wooden logs.
"Sakumo-sensei, Kiri did it all!"
After escaping, Minato unfaithfully sold out his temporary captain.
Sawara Kiri immediately raised his hands in surrender: "There's a hot spring in the city! There are merchants selling things outside the city! We're having barbecue tonight! My treat!"
Hatake Sakumo's large hand then ruffled his short hair, rubbing it vigorously:
"Now that's more like it!"
Orochimaru smiled quietly from the side, watching the scene unfold.
This boy, only at times like these, does he show reactions appropriate for his age.
However...
Orochimaru's golden snake eyes turned towards the meeting room door.
Among those who just walked out, how many will return alive this time?
For ideals, for the Village, for military achievements, for a surge of courage...
Someone always sacrifices so that others can live.
Life, how fragile it is?
"Pfft—"
"Ha!"
A thick beer mug slammed onto the table, splashing a few drops of water.
His silver-grey hair still slightly damp, Hatake Sakumo, having just come out of the hot spring, couldn't wait to pour himself a large glass of beer chilled in a well, then chugged it down.
He let out a very refreshing sigh of contentment.
Unlike his son, who would be alone for life in the future, always carrying a copy of Icha Icha Paradise, and was nothing but repressed and then overtly perverted.
Hatake Sakumo, if you didn't know him, was a cool, mature, handsome uncle;
If you knew him a little, he would reveal a subtly perverted side to you;
But if you were familiar with him to a certain extent, he would immediately become overtly perverted, as wild as Jiraiya.
A strong person who could invent a peerless taijutsu like the Thousand Years of Death was indeed no ordinary person.
"Another glass! Another glass!"
Perhaps the days of water restriction had been truly hard for too long; now, shortly after returning to the base, Hatake Sakumo began his journey of joyful drinking: "Kiri, you drink too! Why are you looking at me?"
Sawara Kiri said earnestly: "Sakumo-sensei, we're only fifteen, not old enough to drink."
"Nonsense rules."
Hatake Sakumo grumbled irritably about the Second Hokage from back then: "At this age, in the past, they might even have had children already; how can they not be allowed to drink?"
"I don't know what Second Hokage was thinking."
Sawara Kiri thought to himself, probably because the Japanese parliament decided it that way.
On the contrary, Uchiha Megumi, across from him, gulped down half a glass as if it were water, showing no reaction at all.
Noticing Sawara Kiri's gaze, she even gave him a gentle smile.
Ah, this.
Sawara Kiri thought she probably wouldn't get drunk, but it was hard to say if anything would happen to him after she drank.
Namikaze Minato, next to them, skillfully sliced meat and placed it one by one on the grill, sprinkling seasoning with practiced movements, clearly someone who had cooked for a long time.
The meat consisted of two deer legs bought from a merchant outside the city, extremely expensive, almost comparable to the reward for a B-rank mission.
This was also why they risked being ambushed by Sand Ninja to come all this way.
Konoha Ninja, engrossed in various missions, had no time to hunt wild game themselves; they only had too much money and nowhere to spend it.
At this point, they needed these 'kind people' to help out.
As for barbecue restaurants, there naturally weren't any.
Commercial activities throughout Kikyo Castle, except for a small area at the entrance, had basically all ceased, but there were still plenty of seasonings left, more than enough for the few of them to have a picnic.
"Here, Sakumo-sensei."
Once a whole plate of grilled meat was ready, Minato brought it to Hatake Sakumo.
"Thank you, Minato!"
After completing the mission and washing themselves clean, having such a meal on the battlefield was a rare treat, even for a great figure like Hatake Sakumo.
"However, you really did surprise me."
Hatake Sakumo picked up a perfectly grilled slice of meat and put it in his mouth, chewing as he looked at Sawara Kiri: "Although I could imagine you would shine on the battlefield, I didn't expect it to this extent."
"During the time I was infiltrating Sunagakure to scout routes, I heard your names everywhere."
"Especially Kiri-kun!"
"I originally thought you only had that one trick from before."
He was referring to Sawara Kiri's limited five-shot Limitless heavy strike when fighting the Third Raikage.
Listening to his sensei, also a renowned Ninja of the Village, praise him, Sawara Kiri didn't show much reaction.
Instead, from Hatake Sakumo's attitude, he vaguely sensed some inexplicable meaning.
Sawara Kiri also picked up a slice of grilled meat and asked:
"Sakumo-sensei."
"Is the situation over there very bad?"
Hatake Sakumo's action of picking up meat paused, and his originally cheerful tone gradually became a few shades heavier.
Since it had been seen through, there was no need to hide anything—everyone was going to the battlefield together, and they should inform each other.
"Rather than very bad, it's more like very troublesome."
Hatake Sakumo's tone deepened a bit as he pondered: "The Third Kazekage was probably forced into this; news has already spread from the Land of Wind capital that the nobles are collectively demanding tax reductions."
"Whether to prove their worth or prepare for the hard times ahead, Sunagakure must go all out to seize a piece of land."
"The area from the Land of Rivers to the western side of our country happens to be the source of several major rivers in the Land of Wind; it's a place they must take."
"For this strategic objective, the entire Sunagakure has probably mobilized about thirty thousand Ninja."
"Moreover, there are very few people in the rear."
"Do you know what this means?"
Sawara Kiri's expression gradually became more serious: "They're going all out?"
Hatake Sakumo nodded: "They most likely intend to achieve everything in one decisive battle."
"For this battle, Sunagakure has prepared for at least three months; their logistics are sufficient for the frontline personnel to last from the start of the battle until seven days later."
"Now, both sides are betting on whose offensive power is stronger, and whose speed is faster."
Upon hearing this, Sawara Kiri already understood.
Will Sunagakure first capture Kikyo Castle, which serves as the main base of the western defense line, or will Konoha first penetrate the entire logistics system of the Land of Rivers and Sunagakure, cutting off all their supplies?
This is a race against time.
Fast means life, slow means death.
One collapse means total collapse.
join p atreon.com/KeyofStars and become a Sequence 9: Reader for dozens of advance chapters for over a dozen fics | Every 100 powerstones = 1 extra chapter