With the conflict with the Uchiha settled, the Sunagakure's delegation's days in Konoha returned to peace.
Those who needed to attend lectures attended lectures; those who needed practical training did practical training.
As if nothing had ever happened, everything returned to how it was when they first arrived in Konoha.
No, there were still some differences.
The Konoha's Shinobi treated the Sunagakure's delegation more politely, and the Sunagakure's delegation members walked with their backs straighter, their heads held higher.
"This change is all thanks to you, sir."
Mentioning this, Karura smoothly sent over a dose of praise.
Well... it's not exactly empty praise, as it's the truth.
Ryuji held his teacup, feeling somewhat pleased inside.
Who doesn't love to hear words of praise?
This was in a teahouse built under a canopy.
Ryuji had made a round at the Academy, checking on the teachers' lecture attendance and also looking for potential targets suitable for replacement by Wood Release user.
During the lunch break, he took the opportunity to find Karura. At this teahouse behind the Academy, he listened to her report on the work progress, and the conversation turned to the change in attitude of Konoha's Shinobi towards their study delegation.
"It's still a matter of strength," Ryuji said, holding his teacup. "Only with sufficient strength can one earn others' respect. The reason Konoha agreed to send personnel from Sunagakure to study was due to circumstances, so naturally, they wouldn't treat us favorably."
"Yes!"
Mentioning this, Karura also sighed. "The longer we attend lectures here, the more we realize the gap between Sunagakure's Shinobi Education System and Konoha's. Starting points are so different; the final strength levels probably aren't even on the same tier."
"So work hard!" Ryuji said with great earnestness. "Your group is the foundation for the village's strength. Only by learning more will the village become more powerful in the future."
After saying this, he finished the cool tea in his cup, placed it on the table, stood up, and continued, "Kuro's body has mostly recovered. I need to go install a prosthetic limb for him, so I won't chat with you further."
"Please convey my regards to Kuro-san."
"Alright!"
Ryuji nodded and turned to walk towards the hospital.
It was summer, just past noon, the hottest time of the day.
The streets were empty, with few people in sight. Only in the shops by the roadside could one occasionally see elderly people holding palm-leaf fans, lying on cool chairs, with teapots and cups beside them for rest, sometimes with dogs lying nearby, also fanning themselves.
"This weather is really too hot."
Ryuji wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked up at the blazing sun.
A hawk circled and soared in the sky.
"That is..."
Ryuji narrowed his eyes.
He had digitized and backed up his memories from his previous life, so even after so much time, he still remembered very clearly. A Konoha's hawk circling over the village was a signal to convene a Jonin Meeting.
'Has the Allied Forces' war against Konoha begun?'
Ryuji pondered slightly.
Jonin Meetings were only convened when extremely important events occurred. The major events Konoha currently faced were only the Chunin Exams and the war that could break out at any time.
But the current Chunin Exams were just internal village selection exams. Though they could be considered significant, they hadn't reached the level requiring a Jonin Meeting.
Therefore, it must be that the war had begun.
However...
'What does that have to do with me?'
The start of Konoha's war was beneficial both for him and for Sunagakure.
Only when Konoha was fighting outside would their higher-ups shift their attention from the Sunagakure's delegation to the war, giving Ryuji more opportunities to act.
…
Hokage's office.
Most of the Jonin still remaining in the village had gathered. The number wasn't large, but they were basically the heads of various departments.
"Is everyone here?"
Hiruzen roughly looked over the group, nodded, and stood up from his chair. Leaning his left hand on the desk, he gestured on a map with his right hand. "We just received news from the front lines. A combined force of 12,000 from Kusa and Iwa has launched an attack on us from the Land of Grass. Kumogakure separately dispatched 11,000 Shinobi to attack us from the Land of Rice Fields."
"What about our defensive lines?"
Hiruzen looked up at the speaker, a captain from the Anbu.
He nodded and said, "The original plan was for Danzo to lead 5,000 to resist the Kusa-Iwa alliance at the Land of Grass's border, while Jiraiya and Orochimaru lead 6,000 to confront the Kumo's army in the Land of Rice Fields. But Shikaku said the people from Kumo are adept at Lightning Release, so sending Danzo, who is skilled in Wind Release, to the Land of Rice Fields' border to confront the Kumo's army would be more suitable, so we made the switch."
Hearing this, everyone frowned.
Inuzuka Tsume asked in confusion, "Why send only 5,000 against the 12,000 Kusa-Iwa alliance, while sending 6,000 against the 11,000 from Kumo?"
"Because the Allied Forces are also internally divided in purpose," Hiruzen explained. "Regardless of whether they've reached an agreement or each have their own schemes, in short, neither Kusa nor Iwa have strong offensive intentions. They seem prepared to let Kumo take the lead, waiting for Kumo to deplete our forces before launching their own attacks."
"But how can we be sure this isn't a ploy by the Kusa-Iwa alliance to make us lower our guard?"
"Their force of 12,000 only has 7,000 deployed at the front lines confronting our defenders. The remaining 5,000 are far in the rear handling logistics."
"…" Everyone was speechless.
'Slacking off so blatantly… wouldn't Kumo be furious to death?'
"Everyone, do not let your guard down," Hiruzen rapped the table. Seeing everyone's attention, he continued, "Even so, we face an absolute numerical disadvantage. In a direct confrontation, we would certainly lose. Although we can rely on terrain for guerrilla defense, that only buys time. Without a solution, we will still lose in the end. Does anyone have any good suggestions?"
Hearing this, everyone fell silent.
Turning weakness into victory… how could that be so easy!
If the opponent gives no opportunities, it's simply impossible.
Hiruzen understood this principle, so he hadn't held much hope from the start.
But truly seeing the result, he couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed.
"Since—"
"Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen looked at the shinobi who interrupted him… a head of dazzling golden hair, a gentle smile on his face.
—Namikaze Minato.
"Minato, do you have any opinions?"
"Since Iwa and Kusa want Kumo to deplete Konoha's strength so they can reap the benefits, why don't we leave a small defensive force behind, concentrate our power to defeat Kumo first, then turn around to deal with them?"
"The risk is too great."
Hiruzen flatly rejected this proposal. "Iwa and Kusa don't want to suffer heavy losses, hence their plan to let Kumo deplete our strength first before taking advantage. But if our defensive force is too small, they wouldn't need to go through the extra trouble."
"So we must deceive them during the troop transfer."