Uchiha's personal opinion

Sakumo Hatake thought for a moment, then shook his head and rejected the idea.

Even if they could concentrate the strength of the various ninja armies in the east to quickly defeat the first ninja army that came to invade from Kirigakure, the Konoha ninja army would definitely suffer many casualties, and the wounded would not be able to recover their fighting strength so quickly.

Furthermore, fighting at sea is not Konoha's home ground, while the Kirigakure ninja, who are skilled in water, are different. Even if they defeat the Kirigakure army, their escape speed is beyond the reach of ordinary Konoha ninja.

"Furthermore, we can't fight at sea..." Uchiha Tokugawa calculated the strength comparison with the Hidden Mist Ninja Army, "We can only fight them in formation on the road..."

Sakumo Hatake and Muramasa Nara also deeply agreed.

Among the Konoha ninja forces in the eastern region, the most elite ninja unit is the Uchiha ninja army under Uchiha Tokumitsu. However, the Uchiha clan's most proficient fire-style ninjutsu is countered by the Hidden Mist's water-style ninjutsu, putting them at a disadvantage in ninjutsu battles. If they were to fight at sea, the Konoha ninja army would probably all sink to the bottom of the sea and become fish food.

"If all the ninja troops were mobilized... the ratio of their numbers to the Hidden Mist's First Army would be roughly one to three, so their combat strength would be roughly even..."

Sakumo Hatake said.

Uchiha Tokumitsu nodded in agreement, "However, it will be difficult to defeat Kirigakure's First Army in a short time..."

Nara Muramasa's eyelids twitched, but his good mental fortitude prevented him from showing any extra emotion.

As a veteran strategist ninja from the Nara clan, he had never tried to calculate the Konoha ninja army's combat strength as three times that of other major ninja villages.

Are the Konoha ninjas really that strong?

Nara Muramasa, who had served in various border troops for a long time, was very puzzled.

Although he didn't know where Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo got their confidence from, Nara Muramasa didn't dare to use his role as a combat strategist to refute the two commanders' combat strength calculations, considering that one of them had a distinguished military record and the other was a fierce and intimidating figure.

"If the Hidden Mist Ninja Army were to be divided into multiple units for marching and fighting, that would be great..." Sakumo Hatake said with some emotion.

“Impossible…” Uchiha Tokumitsu thought for a moment and felt that Kirigakure would not act in this way. “During the War of the Land of Whirlpools, the Kirigakure ninja army was defeated one by one by the mobile forces because they split their forces. This time they must have gathered a large army to press on the border.”

"really……"

Sakumo Hatake also thought it was unlikely.

"However, the eastern border defense forces are utterly useless..."

Hatake Sakumo picked up the ninja roster again and flipped through it, somewhat annoyed. "If we had the fighting strength of the western border troops, we wouldn't be in such a passive position."

"The village is indeed facing difficulties again..."

Nara Muramasa mustered his courage to defend himself.

"Fortunately, Kirigakure didn't concentrate both ninja forces in one battle, otherwise, it would have been really difficult to withstand more than six thousand ninja troops coming at once..."

Sakumo Hatake sighed.

"Then the only way is to concentrate the ninja forces in the sea opposite the Land of Whirlpools to prepare for war, and then cross the sea to fight after the Hidden Mist Village shows its presence."

Uchiha Tokumitsu picked up a pencil and drew a circle on the map at the location of the Land of Whirlpools and the coastal area of ​​the Land of Fire on the opposite shore.

"But how do we determine the landing location of the Hidden Mist ninja?"

Sakumo Hatake felt things were getting a bit tricky.

"Byakugan!" Nara Muramasa said. "The headquarters has ninety Hyuga ninjas, through whom we can monitor the movements in various sea areas!"

"If the First Army of Kirigakure does not choose the Land of Whirlpools as the intelligence indicates, Lord Sakumo's personal ninja forces and mobile units can quickly move to support them from the opposite bank of the Land of Whirlpools in the east!" Nara Village is planning a marching and combat simulation on the map.

"Moreover, apart from the coastline of the Land of Whirlpools that faces the Land of Fire across the sea, the rest of the coastal area has been abandoned!" Uchiha Tokumitsu snatched the map and began to plan the tactics: "The Hyuga ninjas will split up to ensure that the entire coastline of the Land of Whirlpools is under the Byakugan's surveillance. Once the Hidden Mist Village is spotted, report to headquarters immediately and then retreat quickly..."

After calculating on the map, Uchiha Tokumitsu tossed aside his pencil. "It will probably take about fifty Hyuga ninjas to complete the coastline monitoring!"

"Sixty people, please! I'll give you all the Jonin of the Hyuga clan!" Sakumo Hatake hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and agreed.

“Okay.” Uchiha Tokumitsu had no objections.

More manpower means more strength, and there's no possibility of dissatisfaction.

As for the rivalry between the Uchiha and Hyuga clans for the title of the most powerful ninja clans, such a thing does not exist at the moment.

“In that case, the eastern border defense forces will also need to be deployed to the coastal front…” Nara Muramasa began to play his role as a combat advisor, filling in any gaps in his understanding. “Although Kirigakure is launching a large-scale attack, they may also send small units to harass the Land of Fire’s coastline to hinder our troop movements…”

"All eastern border defense forces will be deployed to the coastal areas!" Sakumo Hatake said, his face darkening. "Even if every single border troop dies, we must hold the border for three days!"

"In the Land of Whirlpools, I will first engage in a skirmish with the vanguard of the Hidden Mist Ninja Army at the former site of the Whirlpool Village. Afterward, I will immediately abandon the position and retreat to the coastal area, while using elite squads to harass and contain the advance of the Hidden Mist Ninja Army!" Uchiha Tokumitsu drew a tactical diagram on the map. "When you receive the battle signal, Sakumo-kun, immediately cross the sea to provide reinforcements. At that time, you and I will simultaneously launch a flanking attack and kill Suigetsu Fuguki in one fell swoop!"

Although Nara Muramasa still doesn't understand where Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo's confidence comes from, from a tactical planning perspective, this tactical deployment is fairly standard.

It takes into account all aspects, including reconnaissance, response, containment and harassment, and frontal combat. Although some problems may arise in the actual execution of the battle, this is the best possible outcome given the limited number of ninja troops.

"In that case, let's proceed accordingly!" Hatake Sakumo stopped arguing and got up to return to headquarters to make specific ninja combat deployments. "I'll head back first. The Hyuga ninja reinforcements will be transferred over soon. The Uzushiogawa defense line is in your hands!"

Although there were concerns about whether Uchiha Tokumitsu could hold off the 3,000-strong Kirigakure army with only a hundred men, since the tactics were proposed and planned by Uchiha Tokumitsu, there was no room for doubt at this point.

This is a fundamental issue of trust.

"Don't worry, we can just sit back and wait for the fog to disappear into our trap!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu casually flicked his wrist, pinning the pencil in his hand to the Land of Water on the map.

Chapter 134 Clash of Water and Fire

Uchiha Tokumitsu did not intend to keep the whereabouts of Kirigakure and his own tactical plans a secret from his ninja army.

Instead, he chose to openly announce his tactics and the possible consequences to all the Uchiha ninjas.

Since they are one's own relatives, there is no need to hide anything, and Uchiha ninjas are not cowards.

"We, the 120 Uchiha, stand here, about to face a battle where our numbers are overwhelmingly disparate!"

After all the Hyuga ninjas who would come to provide assistance were dispatched to the coastal areas for reconnaissance and surveillance, Uchiha Tokumitsu stood on a tree, with 120 Uchiha ninjas and 6 Uzumaki ninjas lined up in front of him, listening quietly.

"As you may already know, the three thousand ninja troops of Kirigakure, led by the ninja swordsman Suigetsu Hobuki, will cross the sea to attack, with their target being the Land of Whirlpools right beneath our feet."

"The enemy outnumbers us twenty-five to one! Their kunai can blot out the sky, their water-based techniques can flood the earth, they are like locusts, trying to tear our flesh apart!"

"Uchiha! I need Uchiha ninjas! To break the backbone of Kirigakure and let those ignorant, uneducated fish know what the true majesty of the number one clan is!"

Encouraged by Uchiha Tokumitsu, the Uchiha ninjas began to breathe rapidly.

"Once, Jonin Sakumo and I led a mobile force mainly composed of our clansmen, and won a series of victories here, defeating the combined forces of the three major ninja villages of Kirigakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure in one fell swoop. At the most critical moment, we turned the tide and allowed our allies in the Uzumaki to escape from the carnage!"

The six Uzumaki ninja bowed in unison to Uchiha Tokumitsu.

"Today, I will lead you to face Kirigakure once again! I need you to use your most proficient Fire Release techniques to show those ignorant fools that there is no such thing as elemental advantage against the Uchiha!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu activated his Sharingan, his crimson gaze sweeping back and forth across the Uchiha ninja army.

"I need each and every one of you to give it your all!"

"I need every one of you to obey my orders!"

Under Uchiha Tokumitsu's crimson gaze and oppressive aura, the Uchiha ninjas involuntarily activated their Sharingan.

"At the same time, we are not alone. Jonin Sakumo is leading the elite troops of the Ninja Alliance on the opposite shore, waiting for the right moment. As soon as Kirigakure lands, he will immediately lead his troops across the sea to come to our aid. At that time, the two ninja armies will attack from both sides and will surely make Kirigakure perish here!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu slowly closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them.

Kaleidoscope Sharingan!

The Uchiha ninja were initially startled, but then overjoyed.

Even though they had never witnessed it with their own eyes, all the Uchiha clan members knew the meaning behind the Sharingan, whose shape was different from the ordinary tomoe.

The most mysterious, greatest, and most violent bloodline limit power of the Uchiha clan!

"In the face of the Mangekyou Sharingan, nothing is to be feared!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu arrogantly pointed to his eyes and said.

I'm not pretending anymore! I'm laying my cards on the table!

"Victory!"

The Uchiha ninja drew his weapon and wildly brandished it while shouting.

After the Uchiha ninja had vented his emotions, Uchiha Tokumitsu raised his hand and pressed it down slightly as a signal.

Even when they were extremely agitated, the Uchiha ninjas immediately composed themselves and obeyed orders with serious expressions.

At that moment, two red plumes of smoke rose from the northern part of the Land of Whirlpools.

Immediately afterwards, two yellow plumes of smoke rose from the eastern direction.

This is a signal from Hyuga ninjas on guard duty at the beach, indicating the presence of enemy forces.

In the northern part of the Land of Whirlpools, traces of two thousand Kirigakure ninja were discovered; in the eastern part, two groups of Kirigakure ninja, each with five hundred men, were also seen spying.

The three thousand Hidden Mist Ninja chose to attack in three separate groups.

Uchiha Tokumitsu almost burst out laughing.

Perhaps when reporting the results of this battle, the greatest credit for this victory should be given to Kirigakure's ninja commander, Suigetsu Hozuki!

……

In the northern seas of the Land of Whirlpools, Kirigakure ninja commander Suigetsu Hozuki, with a gloomy face, unconsciously swung his greatsword Samehada wildly at the deck in his right hand. His close followers were terrified, fearing they might be hit by the blade, but none dared to make a move.

The corpse of a Hidden Mistman, cut in half at the waist, stood nearby, serving as the greatest deterrent.

Suigetsu Hozuki doesn't usually kill to vent his anger; he was just really angry this time.

Besides him, there were also ninjas from the Kaguya and Hozuki clans among the three thousand ninjas from Kirigakure who went on the expedition.

As the ninja army sailed across the sea, a serious conflict broke out halfway through the journey. A Kaguya ninja tore a Kirigakure ninja to pieces after the ninja army accidentally glanced at him, which almost led to a mutiny.

The Hozuki clan ninjas, being from the same clan as the Second Mizukage Hozuki Gengetsu, were extremely arrogant and unwilling to accept the command of Suigetsu Hobuki. As a result, the ninja army could not reach a consensus on the direction of the battle.

Unfortunately, Suigetsu Hozuki couldn't force the Hozuki clan's ninjas to comply with his demands.

Suigetsu Hozuki originally planned to launch a grand offensive, mobilizing three thousand ninja troops to crush the Uchiha garrison in the Land of Whirlpools. However, Hozuki, for some reason, strongly opposed this at the war council, demanding that the troops be pushed across the island from the east of the Land of Whirlpools and then invade the Land of Fire.

Kaguya's ninjas also expressed their unwillingness to associate with the other insect-like Kirigakure ninjas, claiming that doing so would insult the Kaguya clan's bravery and demanding that they split up their forces for battle.

Suigetsu Hozuki understood that the Kaguya clan's demands were purely out of idiocy, while the Hozuki clan's proposal stemmed from their unwillingness to obey the commands of a ninja from a small clan like his.

To avoid further escalation of the conflict, Suigetsu Hozuki had no choice but to agree to the two ninja clans' request to split their forces, and the Hozuki clan then left on their own with their 500 ninja soldiers.

Seeing this, the Kaguya clan was not to be outdone. They forcibly conscripted nearly four hundred people from the Kirigakure ninja army and formed a force no less large than the Hozuki ninja army, and then set up their own landing site.

In this way, the three thousand men became two thousand ninja soldiers.

"My lord..." A Hidden Mist ninja stepped forward cautiously to report.

"Ok?"