After Uchiha Su's voice echoed across the battlefield, a heavy silence fell. The hundreds of captured Konoha Ninjas stared blankly up at him, unsure how to respond. His words, simple yet commanding, carried a weight they had rarely encountered.
"Do you choose to die… or do you choose to live?"
From the Warring States Period until now, surrender had rarely been considered. It wasn't that Ninja were inherently stubborn or reckless—it was that no one had ever considered the idea of integrating a defeated enemy. Trust was foreign to the life of a Ninja; the world revolved around secrecy, espionage, and assassination. Betrayal was as common as the wind.
Yet Uchiha Su was undeterred. The hesitation of the captured Ninjas did not concern him. Stealth and deception, he knew, were impossible for them now. Every movement they made could be observed, monitored, and controlled. Any thought of rebellion would be neutralized before it even began.
A few murmurs rippled among the prisoners.
"What… does he mean?" one asked, voice trembling.
"Does it mean we don't have to die?" another whispered.
"I was born a man of Konoha, and I will die a ghost of Konoha!" a third spat defiantly, though his hands were bound.
The emotions were raw—fear, confusion, pride, and anger all intermingled. The air was tense with uncertainty. Uchiha Su remained impassive, waiting as these feelings churned.
"Kaguya Yūsuke, deal with those unwilling to surrender," Su commanded, his tone cold and absolute. "Those who choose to submit… break them into squads and incorporate them into our forces."
"Yes, Young Lord!" Yūsuke responded, bowing deeply before stepping forward with a calculated, almost cruel smile.
Without hesitation, he and his men began separating those who resisted. The unwilling were dragged aside, and with efficient precision, executed in a display that was as swift as it was ruthless. Heads rolled, blood splattered onto the trampled earth, and screams were quickly silenced.
Uchiha Su observed silently, expressionless, taking in the brutality without a flicker of emotion. This was the reality of war—an inescapable truth he had long accepted. Even Uchiha Hikari, standing nearby, remained unshaken. To her, this scene was nothing more than a brief shower in the vast storm of war.
Kaguya Takuma, small and tense, showed surprising composure. He moved swiftly, executing his tasks without hesitation. War, Su thought, truly reshapes the mind. It tempers one's soul while stripping away excess rationality.
How long had this child been on the battlefield to remain so unflinching? Su wondered briefly. The answer was evident: exposure, experience, and necessity. Survival demanded it.
Meanwhile, the surviving Konoha Ninjas—former comrades—watched in horror. Only moments ago, they had fought side by side; now, they were witnessing the deadly consequences of surrender. Life and death, once shared experiences, now separated them with brutal finality.
Satisfied that the prisoners were being managed efficiently, Uchiha Su withdrew from the chaos of the main camp and entered the Commander's Tent. Inside, the tent was mostly intact, save for ashes in an iron basin—remnants of Sarutobi Sasuke's hurried destruction of intelligence before his escape.
Su approached the map of the Ninja World on the wall. The board was marked with troop movements, supply lines, and deployment numbers. The Eastern front of the Land of Fire had been the primary conflict, yet attention to the western front against the Hidden Sand Village was equally crucial.
The Hidden Sand, though a relatively poor nation, had mobilized nearly seven thousand Ninjas. Five thousand comprised the main strike force, while the remaining two thousand operated in small squads, tasked with infiltration, sabotage, and arson within the Land of Fire. Their objective: weaken Konoha's war potential and disrupt supply chains.
Konoha, despite the surprise attack, had responded with precision. Squads were dispatched to eliminate isolated enemy units, while the main forces remained close enough to engage if a major confrontation erupted.
"In the short term, Konoha won't be able to commit significant forces here…" Su murmured, stroking his chin. His dark eyes scanned the map, calculating. "We must act decisively before they can recover."
At that moment, Uchiha Nami entered the tent, documents clutched in her hands. She approached respectfully, bowing slightly.
"Young Lord, the inventory is complete," she reported. "We have incorporated 432 Konoha Ninjas into our forces and executed 132 on the spot. In total, Konoha suffered 352 casualties in the battle. We lost 73 Ninjas, with another 132 wounded. The lightly wounded have been treated on site; the severely wounded have been transported to the Land of Waves for further medical care."
Su's eyes narrowed. "And our current troop strength?"
"Including the incorporated Konoha Ninjas, we now command over 1,700 Ninjas," Nami replied promptly.
"Split the forces into four-man squads," Su ordered, voice cold. "Each squad leader must be at least Chunin level. Spread them across the Land of Fire to secure wealth, resources, and manpower. All resources are to be collected and handed over collectively. Rewards will be distributed upon return to the Village. As for the people… do not harm them unnecessarily. Try to treat them with care, though compliance must be ensured."
Nami hesitated slightly, carefully choosing her words. "And if the people of the Land of Fire resist…?"
Su's expression remained unchanged. "What are we?"
"Ninjas…" Nami answered reluctantly.
"And what are the people of the Land of Fire?" Su pressed.
"They are… not ours to protect," she said, decisively this time.
"Then why even ask me?" Su replied with a faint, cutting tone.
"Yes, Young Lord," Nami said, bowing and leaving the tent to execute his orders.
Su turned his attention back to the map. The matter of seizing resources and manpower had been carefully considered. Konoha's strength lay not only in fertile lands but also in its population—a massive pool of potential recruits. By weakening the population and redirecting it toward his forces, Su could substantially diminish Konoha's long-term war potential.
The Hidden Mist, while strong at sea and in commerce, lacked population. The Land of Water could not match the numbers of Konoha or even the Land of Wind. If Konoha's populace remained intact, they could recover within a few years, restoring their military potential. The Hidden Mist, on the other hand, could not afford such delays.
Su's strategy was clear. Harvest the resources and manpower now, secure the land, and prepare for future conflicts. Every step must be calculated. Any misstep could allow Konoha to recover and return with overwhelming force.
He leaned closer to the map, tracing the possible paths Konoha might take, the locations where they could muster reinforcements, the villages that might provide resistance. Even though Su was strong, even formidable in his abilities, the thought of facing a massive army alone caused a rare tightening in his chest.
"If only I were an adult," he muttered softly, more to himself than anyone else. "Then I wouldn't need to worry about such headaches… about numbers, logistics, and strategy. I could fight, and it would be enough. But age and experience cannot be rushed. And in this world, caution is survival."
A cool breeze stirred the tent flaps. Su's gaze shifted outward, toward the darkening horizon. He envisioned the movement of his newly organized squads, the occupied villages, and the redistributed wealth. Every step forward, every captured soldier, and every gained resource added to the Hidden Mist's growing advantage.
And with each passing moment, the weight of responsibility rested squarely on his shoulders. He was young, yet already a commander and a strategist. Victory was not guaranteed, and failure meant annihilation—not only of himself but of the Hidden Mist forces under his command.
But Uchiha Su did not flinch. His resolve was absolute. The world of Ninja was one of life and death, where hesitation invited destruction. He had made his choice, and he would see it through, no matter the cost.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)