Naruto: Starting with Creating a Genius Persona

Chapter 212 War Resumes

After returning to Konoha from her mission in the Land of Craftsmen, Tsunade only had less than three days to rest before receiving an urgent order to set off again and return to the southwestern front against Sunagakure.

She originally intended to stay in the village to watch her two disciples, Shizune and Kurenai, participate in the Chunin Exams in two weeks and witness their growth.

However, according to the spies from Konoha who have infiltrated the Land of Wind, as well as the numerous reports sent back by the frontline reconnaissance teams, the recent resource allocation, ninja gatherings, and border activities of Sunagakure are showing obvious abnormalities.

All signs point to an imminent large-scale offensive far exceeding any previous one.

Faced with this situation, especially with Sunagakure possessing Chiyo, a formidable master of poison, Konoha must have Tsunade, a top-tier medical and detoxification expert, on the southwestern front to stabilize morale and minimize casualties.

Therefore, Tsunade had no choice but to bid a hasty farewell to her disciples and, with a group of Konoha ninja who had just completed their rotation and rest and recovered their strength, hurriedly set off to return to the southwestern front.

Originally, the Third Hokage considered sending Shinichi to the southwestern front as well.

After all, with Shinichi's current ability to launch surprise attacks, his tactical wisdom, and his superb medical ninjutsu skills, he can undoubtedly play a huge role on the battlefield against Sunagakure.

However, the situation in the southeast has become increasingly unpredictable recently, with the ninja gatherings and reconnaissance infiltration activities of Kirigakure becoming more and more frequent, and their restless signs are becoming increasingly difficult to conceal.

Based on comprehensive assessment, it seems that Kirigakure's large-scale intervention in the war is imminent, and the long southeastern coastline of the Land of Fire is about to face a severe test from the sea.

After three days of deliberation, the Third Hokage made his decision.

He temporarily kept Shinichi, this trump card that had repeatedly created miracles, in preparation for deploying it on the impending southeastern front.

He hoped that this young man, who had achieved amazing results in the battles against Sunagakure in the southwest and Kumogakure in the northeast, could achieve miraculous results again in the upcoming war against Kirigakure.

On the same day that Tsunade set off to return to the southwest, another main force of the northeastern army, led by Orochimaru, also returned from the north.

With Iwagakure officially declaring war on Kumogakure, the main force of Kumogakure was firmly tied up on the northern battlefield and was completely unable to look south.

The Konoha Northeast Army, which had fought for more than half a year, was finally able to withdraw most of its troops back to the village for a valuable rest, leaving only a small number of elite troops to continue to carry out guard and surveillance duties on the border.

As soon as Orochimaru returned to the village, he tried to contact Shimura Danzo to prepare to continue the secret experimental plan on the First Hokage's cells and Wood Release, which had been temporarily suspended due to the war.

However, he received an unbelievable message from his contacts at the root.

Without any prior warning, and especially without informing his most important collaborator and the lead researcher, Shimura Danzo unilaterally terminated all preparations for the Wood Release experiment.

This news infuriated and puzzled Orochimaru, who knew Shimura Danzo's thirst for power, especially after losing his right arm and right eye.

Didn't Danzo Shimura understand that in-depth research into the mysteries of the first generation of cells might be the immediate solution to his own disability?

Is this the only way to gain greater power?

Why give up suddenly?

Did he find another faster and more reliable method?

Orochimaru's anger and confusion did not last long, as a new appointment letter was delivered to him.

Given the escalating unrest and increased pressure on the Sunagakure front in the southwest, the village decided to dispatch Orochimaru to the southwest to join Tsunade and Jiraiya.

The three legendary Sannin will reunite after many years to jointly confront the Sand Village's next, larger and more intense offensive.

At the same time that Orochimaru received his transfer order, Shinichi, who had just finished a day of training, also received a new transfer order.

"Jonin Shinichi Higashino, in light of the current situation, and after deliberation by the Hokage's office, you are hereby ordered to, three days from now, along with Jonin Minato Namikaze, Jonin Fugaku Uchiha, and Jonin Hiashi Hyuga, each leading your respective headquarters' deployments, to swiftly reinforce the Southeast Front. Upon arrival, you will be immediately incorporated into the Southeast Area Army's operational order of battle, under the unified command of Elder Koharu Utatane, the frontline commander. Specific defense zones and operational tasks will be personally overseen by Elder Utatane..."

'

The Third Hokage was truly a master of mediating disputes.

After taking the document and reading it for a while, Shinichi chuckled to himself.

In terms of the merits made since the start of this war, Shinichi Higashino is undoubtedly the one who deserves the most credit. Although Minato Namikaze also has outstanding achievements, especially in mobile support and tactical assault, he is slightly inferior in overall comparison.

However, Minato Namikaze was older, more experienced, and had served as a Jonin in the village for a longer time. He had also participated in the last Shinobi World War, and his title of "Yellow Flash" was equally renowned in the shinobi world.

As for Fugaku Uchiha and Hiashi Hyuga, as the current heads of two of Konoha's most prestigious clans, their status and position are extraordinary. Even if their battle achievements are not as great as Shinichi and Minato's, it is impossible for either of them to be ranked below their peers or even younger generations.

Thus, the troops supporting the southeastern front had four battalion commanders, all of equal rank, without a commander-in-chief.

It acknowledges both Shinichi and Minato's achievements and abilities, while also respecting the dignity and power of the two powerful families.

Shinichi closed the transfer order document, walked to the window, and looked towards the southeast.

Even the head of the Hyuga clan, Hiashi, is going to be on the front lines.

The village is currently facing a severe shortage of military personnel.

Although in terms of overall national strength and the number of ninjas, Kirigakure is certainly inferior to Iwagakure and Kumogakure, and far inferior to Konoha.

However, Kirigakure has a unique characteristic that the other four great ninja villages do not possess, which is both an advantage and a disadvantage: it is isolated overseas.

This means that, unlike the ninja villages on the mainland, they do not have to fight a powerful enemy while also constantly guarding against attacks from other directions.

At this moment, the only continental countries that the Land of Water faces directly at sea are the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.

With Kumogakure currently bogged down in the northern battlefield by Iwagakure, Kirigakure, if determined to join the war, could almost effortlessly concentrate most of its forces along the long southeastern coast of the Land of Fire!

Moreover, the current strength of Kirigakure is arguably at its peak since the village's founding.

The older generation includes the elder Yuan Shi, who has existed since the first Mizukage; the middle generation includes the three Mizukage; and the new generation includes Yagura Karatachi, as well as the three great clans of Kirigakure and the renowned Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

And the Six-Tails Jinchuriki and the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, who are always shrouded in mystery and whose information remains unknown.

Shinichi frowned slightly at the thought of Jinchūriki.

In the vague records of the Third Shinobi World War in the original timeline, the Jinchuriki of the other four major ninja villages had more or less clear information, and some were even directly used as strategic weapons on the battlefield. However, for the Hidden Mist Village, there was almost no information about its Three-Tails and Six-Tails.

Apart from the "Three-Tails Implantation Incident" that led to Rin Nohara's death and Obito Uchiha's corruption three years later, there is almost no news about the Three-Tails and the Six-Tails.

After Shinichi came to this world, he tried to look up some relevant information, but the answers he got were still shrouded in mystery.

Forty years ago, when the First Hokage distributed the Tailed Beasts, the Three-Tails and the Six-Tails were indeed assigned to Kirigakure.

But how exactly has Kirigakure used these two tailed beasts over the decades? Were they successfully sealed inside their jinchūriki? Who are the jinchūriki? Are they male or female?

Whether or not there are Jinchuriki remains a mystery.

"Could it be that the Jinchuriki are nearing their limit? Or, does Kirigakure have some insurmountable flaw in its tailed beast sealing and control techniques, making the Jinchuriki extremely unstable and unable to be used as regular combat forces?"

Shinichi speculated that the fusion of a Jinchuriki and a Tailed Beast was no easy feat, and given Kirigakure's brutal Blood Mist policy, their attitude towards Jinchuriki was unlikely to be any more lenient.

If the Jinchuriki's condition is extremely unstable, it makes sense that Kirigakure would keep them hidden as a last resort. This also explains why Kirigakure didn't use this card in the first two Shinobi World Wars.

However, this is just speculation. At this time, the Hidden Mist Village may have a Jinchūriki of the Three-Tails and a Jinchūriki of the Six-Tails, or they may not.

Like Schrödinger's cat, anything is possible before it's opened.

"It's a pity, though. If only Kirigakure could have waited another month."

Shinichi gathered his thoughts, feeling a deep sense of regret.

Because soon, his clone Isshin will make his official debut at the national tournament in the Land of Iron, which brings together swordsmen from various cities and schools of swordsmanship.

After the tournament, Shinichi will acquire a brand new job title, the [Sword Master] title, and will also be able to draw a brand new purple title.

In addition, entries related to Lightning Release or other aspects can be promoted to the blue level based on performance during the competition.

At that time, Shinichi's strength will be further enhanced.

With this slight regret, the three-day deadline arrived in the blink of an eye.

Konoha Village, main gate.

As dawn broke and the thin mist lingered, a large ninja force was completing its final assembly in the open space at the village entrance. At the forefront of the force stood four figures side by side—the four captains who had come to reinforce the southeastern front. The four exchanged a few brief, hushed words, confirming the marching route, communication methods along the way, and other basic matters. Then, they turned to their respective units and simultaneously ordered them to depart.

Meanwhile, in the Land of Water, at a port in the southwest.

The massive Kirigakure fleet had assembled on the coast, and the decks and surrounding area were packed with Kirigakure ninja.

On a slightly elevated spot in the port, two figures stood side by side, looking down at the silently gathering army below.

One of the figures was petite, with green hair and purple eyes, yet his baby face showed no trace of childishness; he was none other than Yagura Karatachi, who had been appointed as the commander-in-chief of the southwestern front.

The other person was an elderly man with white hair and a weathered face. He wore a simple Kirigakure ninja uniform with a dark cloak over it. His body was hunched, and his eyelids were drooping, as if he were indifferent to everything before him. "Senior," Yagura Karatachi said respectfully, turning slightly to the old man. "All units have assembled, supplies are loaded, and we are ready to depart at any time. What do you think?"

The white-haired old man didn't even lift his eyelids, and squeezed out a dry voice from his throat: "Yagura, you are the general officially appointed by the Mizukage, the commander of the entire army. I am just an old man who wants to do my part for the village in the last moments of my life. You decide what to do, there is no need to ask me."

Yagura Karatachi paused for a moment, then turned to the silent army below and shouted, "Fellow countrymen! Set out! Destination: Land of Waves!! Let Konoha, let the entire ninja world hear! The raging waves of the sea are coming!"

"oh!!!"

After a brief silence, a deafening roar erupted, sweeping across the port like a tsunami, and countless Hidden Mist ninjas' eyes flashed with bloodlust.

Yagura and the white-haired old man walked down the platform side by side toward the fleet. After taking a few steps, the white-haired old man suddenly spoke.

"Yagura, you mentioned to me before that you wanted to become a Jinchūriki?"

Yagura paused slightly, then resumed his normal pace and nodded: "Yes, senpai, I do have that idea."

Why?

The white-haired old man finally raised his eyelids slightly and looked at Yagura's youthful profile: "You should know very well what it means to become a Jinchuriki. The people in the village will fear you, reject you, and regard you as a monster."

"More importantly, the Mizukage values ​​you highly. With your talent, you could have competed for a higher position in the future. However, once you become a Jinchūriki, you may never have that position again. Do you understand all of this?"

Yagura was silent for a moment, then he smiled. The smile on his baby face was exceptionally pure, yet also exceptionally firm.

"I understand, senior. Perhaps becoming a Jinchūriki means losing a lot, but if this power can better protect the village, then I think it's worth it. Personal honor and loss are insignificant compared to the survival and prosperity of the village."

The white-haired old man listened quietly, his face expressionless. After a long while, he chuckled softly.

"Is that so? Then so be it."

The white-haired old man continued walking forward, his voice carried on the wind: "In the future, if there is an opportunity, I will propose to the Mizukage that you be the candidate for the next Three-Tails Jinchuriki. However, whether the Mizukage will agree, I do not know."

Yagura did not respond, but simply followed silently behind the old man.

Three days later, in the southeastern part of the Land of Fire, in the coastal city.

This is a large coastal city built on a coastal cliff, guarding a key land route to the heart of the Land of Fire, and facing the Land of Waves across the sea.

At this moment, this once bustling trading city has been completely transformed into a massive military stronghold, the temporary headquarters of the Southeastern Army of Konoha.

Meanwhile, the Land of Waves, a small island nation without its own ninja village or any military force, has been occupied by the vanguard of the Hidden Mist Village under various pretexts such as missions, assistance, and leasing.

In response, the official forces of the Land of Waves simply gave up resistance, hoping that the Hidden Leaf Village on the other side could display its might and drive out the Hidden Mist Village.

During this period, Konoha and Kirigakure engaged in countless covert battles under the guise of missions, centered around the Land of Waves and its surrounding waters, resulting in continuous bloodshed.

At this moment, outside the core command post of the Konoha headquarters in Linhai City, Koharu Utatane, the supreme commander of the Southeast Area Army, and two advisor elders, Homura Mitokado, who was in charge of overall logistics and material allocation for the entire army, were already waiting. An ANBU ninja appeared instantly beside Koharu Utatane, knelt on one knee, and whispered, "Elders! Jonin Higashino, Jonin Namikaze, Jonin Fugaku, and Jonin Hiashi, the four captains and their respective units, have arrived five kilometers outside the city and are meeting up with our support personnel. They are expected to arrive at the command post in ten minutes!"

Koharu, who was turning over the dorm, nodded and said in a deep voice, "Understood, tell them to go directly..."

'

Before she could finish speaking, she stopped and turned to Mitokado Homura, saying, "Homura, let's go greet them together."

Mitokado Homura smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay!"