Shuji did not participate in the deep Grass Country infiltration disguise operation. Iwa had only withdrawn the Five-Tails jinchūriki. The Four-Tails jinchūriki Rōshi remained on the frontline.
He had to stay.
Yamato's Wood Release also had lethality. But his suppression of tailed beasts was genuinely average. In the original work, suppressing Uzumaki Naruto's tailed beast transformation still required the necklace the First Hokage left behind.
Ultimately, those executing this dangerous disguise mission were Kakashi, Yamato, and an elite Hyūga branch family jōnin responsible for long-range reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance.
What truly gave this squad confidence to maneuver behind enemy lines and even hold off a powerful enemy like Kitsuchi was the fourth member: Jiraiya.
Yes, Jiraiya went along.
Two reasons:
First, when rear outposts were attacked, the cleanup force Ōnoki dispatched would have a commander of formidable strength.
Second, Sarutobi Hiruzen had arrived.
The current Sarutobi Hiruzen was still the Professor of Konoha whom Orochimaru said could easily kill him. With him present, Konoha's frontline combat power was sufficient.
Precisely because Jiraiya went along, Kitsuchi could not completely annihilate or drive away Kakashi's squad. Intelligence that he himself was not at the frontline was transmitted back to Nara Shikaku through Mount Myōboku's contact toads in time.
That led to today's offensive.
"I thought you would die of old age in Konoha, Hokage." Ōnoki said coldly.
"You remain vigorous in old age. I cannot be too delicate, Tsuchikage." Sarutobi Hiruzen still wore that kindly appearance. "Now only you remain. So I came to see."
"Will you come down for a chat? We have not met in a long time, Tsuchikage."
Both Kage's appearance made the originally white-hot battlefield instantly cool. Rōshi withdrew his tailed beast cloak, sitting cross-legged on the high platform. Yet his gaze always remained on that animal-masked Anbu.
Shuji retreated to Sarutobi Hiruzen's side, unconcerned by Rōshi's gaze.
Ōnoki slowly descended, facing Sarutobi Hiruzen with over ten meters between them.
"Do you plan to kill this old man here, Hokage?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen said sincerely, "War has lasted too long, Tsuchikage. Withdraw. Return to Earth Country. Konoha never held intent to eliminate Iwagakure. Concluding peace is the best outcome for both sides."
The Third Tsuchikage only sneered. "Of course good for Konoha. No benefit to Iwa at all, Hokage. Enough of this high-sounding nonsense."
"How about it? You quoted Sunagakure a price, gave Kumogakure a price. Give this old man a price as reason to spare Konoha."
Sarutobi Hiruzen only looked at Ōnoki without speaking.
Not that he did not want to negotiate. There was no way to negotiate.
Iwagakure raised too many shinobi.
Konoha could negotiate with Suna, could negotiate with Cloud. Only could not negotiate with Iwagakure.
The over twelve thousand shinobi roster was Konoha's total from over fifty years since founding. The ten thousand Iwa shinobi who surrounded the Raikage were the actual enlisted numbers under Ōnoki's rule at Iwagakure. That was not even all!
Konoha sitting on the most fertile Fire Country dared not raise that many active shinobi. Earth Country's Ōnoki dared raise them. He raised so many shinobi precisely to attack outward. They also had to attack.
Any price given to Ōnoki would ultimately only become nourishment for Iwagakure's outward expansion.
"Jiraiya has already penetrated deep into Grass Country's heartland." Sarutobi Hiruzen said flatly.
Ōnoki's graying eyebrows twitched imperceptibly. The crisscrossing wrinkles on his face seemed deeper. He struggled to control facial muscles, maintaining surface composure.
"Kitsuchi has not returned yet."
Words reached this point. Naturally no more needed saying.
Jiraiya's elite squad might have already reached some tacit understanding with Kusagakure in the rear. Kitsuchi's whereabouts unknown, situation uncertain. The frontline here could not break through. Sarutobi Hiruzen was here. The Wood Release user was here. Konoha had assumed a posture of fighting at all costs.
Just two brief sentences conveyed enough information for Ōnoki to weigh at length.
After a long while, Ōnoki emitted an extremely light, ambiguously meaningful snort from his nostrils. "Hokage, you are not old yet either."
Sarutobi Hiruzen met his gaze and answered, "Until sunset tomorrow, Konoha's offensive will pause."
Having given his promise, the Third Hokage personally stood at the battle line, supervising as Ōnoki issued a series of orders, watching Iwa forces begin orderly withdrawal from the Kannabi Bridge line.
Not until reconnaissance and barrier teams repeatedly confirmed the forward area held no large numbers of hidden traps did Konoha shinobi forces cautiously advance forward, taking over this blood-soaked land.
Kakashi's squad and Jiraiya returned at noon the next day.
Before the deadline Sarutobi Hiruzen promised—the second day's sunset—Ōnoki ultimately led Iwa's main forces completely out of Grass Country's borders.
That afternoon, Kusagakure's envoy arrived at Konoha's frontline command, paying respects to the Third Hokage.
Sarutobi Hiruzen did not mention Kusagakure's prior silence and observation throughout the entire conflict. He only smiled, expressing that Konoha always respected and was willing to support Kusagakure's interests.
Subsequently, both sides dispatched personnel to jointly establish outposts on the border between Grass and Earth Countries, building new defensive postures.
The western line, for now, came to a temporary conclusion.
"Shikaku told me you remain as sharp as ever, Shuji." In the temporary command tent, Sarutobi Hiruzen privately received Shuji who had removed his Anbu gear. "If not for your proposed strategy of disguising as Kusagakure to apply pressure, forcing that old stubborn Ōnoki to yield would absolutely not have been so smooth."
"The strategy was only proposed by me. Greatest credit belongs to Kakashi-senpai. Without his risky deep penetration exploring Iwa's withdrawal intent, all subsequent deployments had no foundation."
Shuji's tone was calm, utterly uninterested in claiming credit. For him, after promotion to jōnin, simply accumulating war merits was no longer primary. With the power and background he possessed, someone would record his achievements. More important now was demonstrating judgment and value convincing enough to others.
That way opinions he raised would receive greater emphasis and recognition.
"Young people need not be overly modest."
"Capturing fleeting opportunities in rapidly changing battle situations and proposing feasible plans is itself extraordinary talent." The Third Hokage looked at the youth before him, gaze carrying appreciation and some complexity. "This Anbu mission ends here. You may return to jōnin ranks. However, if necessary subsequently, you may still need to act as 'Mori.'"
"Kakashi and Tenzō have other missions. Shuji, you may return to the village first to rest."
Speaking to this point, Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed to suddenly remember something. His face showed a trace of apologetic helpless smile.
"Though somewhat awkward to say, but... your two squad members seem quite concerned about this arrangement leaving them behind alone."
Now Shuji was genuinely bewildered.
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild