Uchiha's personal opinion

"Is that so..."

Hanzo, the salamander, seemed lost in thought.

Although the Land of Water he spoke of and the Hidden Mist Village mentioned by the envoy seemed to others to be two sides of the same coin, Hanzo the Salamander still grasped a different meaning.

"...What are General Deguang's objectives for this battle?"

After dismissing his attendants, Hanzo the Salamander asked the shogunate envoy a question.

"The general intends to take his place."

The shogunate envoy had received instructions from Uchiha Tokumitsu before his trip, so he spoke frankly.

"Is that so..."

Hanzo the Salamander gasped, his gas mask making a rapid, gurgling sound.

Kirigakure is, after all, one of the five great ninja villages. Although it has suffered several major defeats, its outstanding performance in the recent Kumogakure campaign has refreshed the impressions of the ninja world.

Moreover, the phrase "replace" is truly shocking.

But since the shogunate's envoy had spoken so directly, Hanzo of the Salamander had no way to find an excuse to refuse. Otherwise, regardless of whether the shogunate would continue to attack Kirigakure, Amegakure would become a thorn in their side afterward.

"I see……"

Hanzo the Salamander composed himself and replied to the messenger, "I will personally lead a thousand Rain Ninja to participate in the battle within two days. Please ask the shogunate troops stationed along the way to assist in concealing our whereabouts."

"Thank you for your support, Mr. Hanzo!"

The shogunate envoy readily agreed.

The reason why Uchiha Tokumitsu did not directly transfer the northwestern border defense forces of Uchiha Himon was to have them cover the movements of the Rain Ninja and to have Hanzo of the Salamander take charge of the western region of the Land of Rain, so that Hanzo of the Salamander could launch a full-scale attack without any worries.

……

As Hanzo of the Salamander decided to go to war, armories throughout the shogunate were opened, and ninjas carrying huge sealing scrolls delivered massive amounts of military supplies to Fubuki Castle and then transported them to the southern islands.

The affiliated ninja clans under the United Company also received a personal letter from Uchiha Tokumitsu and began to assemble their clan ninjas under orders.

Although the shogunate tried its best to conceal the process of assembling the ninja army, some people still noticed it; both Hatake Sakumo and Uchiha Yomo were somewhat confused.

"What is this, Lord Deguang...?"

Sakumo Hatake asked Yoshikazu Uchiha.

Although Uchiha Tokumitsu, as the governor of Konoha, naturally possessed military power over Konoha, theoretically, he did not need to consult with Hatake Sakumo, the rotating chief governor, unless a general mobilization was implemented.

However, such a large-scale mobilization of ninja forces inevitably raises many questions.

"...Perhaps something happened in the Land of Water."

Although Uchiha Shimo was the clan head and the chairman of the Konoha Senate, he had never been able to restrain Uchiha Tokumitsu. Even the radical faction within the clan outwardly complied with his wishes but inwardly defied him, so he was not very aware of the inside story of the ninja army's gathering.

"...The issue of gold judgment repayment?"

Hatake Sakumo frowned and recalled the recent uproar in the ninja world about the Water Country's debt crisis: "Even if the Water Country's daimyo defaulted on his debts, it wouldn't be necessary to mobilize such a large-scale ninja army, would it?"

"……I don't know either."

Uchiha Yomo replied somewhat embarrassedly, "However, I will send an envoy to the shogunate's headquarters later to inquire about Tokumitsu-kun's specific plans..."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Mr. Sifang..."

Hatake Sakumo originally intended to go to the shogunate in person to discuss matters with Uchiha Tokumitsu, but due to his duties, he had to deal with extremely complicated political and administrative affairs, and he simply couldn't spare the time. In addition, there were rumors from all sides of the Uchiha clan that they would send envoys to inquire, so he gave up the idea of ​​going east in person.

……

"Lord Tokuko, the Shogunate's ninja army has now assembled more than 3,000 men, and another 1,500 clan ninja from the United Company, 1,000 Amegakure ninja, and more than 400 western border troops are still on their way."

Inside the main hall of the shogunate, a ninja attendant reported to Uchiha Tokumitsu.

"Has the troop transport been completed?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu asked casually.

He then casually issued an order to transfer 70 billion yen to the Land of Water for the redemption of gold.

This was also the last and largest sum of money that Uchiha Tokumitsu raised, intended to completely destroy the financial system of the Land of Water before the war.

"They have all been stored separately in the Southern Islands and Midway Island, and can be released at any time!"

The attendant ninja replied.

"Where are the warships?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu issued another military exercise order.

"All seventy-two ironclad warships have completed maintenance and are ready to set sail at any time!"

The Uchiha ninja in charge of the shipyard quickly stepped forward to answer.

"very good……"

Uchiha Tokumitsu nodded. "Then, let the assembled ninja army take the ironclad ships out to sea for exercises. At the same time, it can also intimidate the daimyo and nobles who are currently massacring the Land of Water, and make them obediently hand over the gold jutsu!"

"As ordered!"

The attendant ninja immediately obeyed and left.

Uchiha Tokumitsu knew that the large-scale mobilization of the ninja army could not be completely kept secret from everyone, so he deliberately leaked the ninja army's whereabouts.

Although seventy-two ironclad warships are considered an invincible force in the ninja world, it is not unreasonable to use them as a backing to deter the Daimyo of the Land of Water from paying out his gold.

Whether Kirigakure has other concerns is beyond Uchiha Tokumitsu's consideration.

If they can successfully cross the sea and return to the Land of Water, then Uchiha Tokumitsu might as well just find a tofu block and kill himself!

After arranging the affairs of each department, Uchiha Tokumitsu once again came to the Uzumaki Research Institute.

This time, Yagura Karatachi, whose mind was sealed by Madara Uchiha and who became a "researcher" after being captured, might be of some use.

Previously, in order to avoid alarming Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Tokumitsu only added countless vortex sealing talismans to Yagura Karatachi and used him as an experimental subject and energy source to extract tailed beast chakra. Now that they are going to completely reveal their hand, it is only natural to break Uchiha Madara's seal and restore Yagura Karatachi's self-awareness.

Moreover, if Yagura Karatachi were willing to defect, it would also help to undermine Kirigakure's fighting spirit.

……

"Now that the ninja army is almost at Yunlei Gorge, why is the daimyo so eager to withdraw his troops?"

Inside the main military tent of Kirigakure in the Land of Lightning, the Third Mizukage asked with a grim face.

The group of Kirigakure Jonin all had murderous intent on their faces, staring intently at Konoe Atsushi, who was standing in the middle.

"The Shogunate's wolfish ambitions are no longer concealed, and the Land of Water has reached its most dangerous moment!"

Konoe Atsushi pleaded, "Lord Mizukage, the Land of Water and Kirigakure are inextricably linked. If the country falls, what good will it do even if the expeditionary force conquers Kumogakure? Kirigakure will still be doomed!"

"Humph!"

The Third Mizukage snorted coldly and threw the daimyo's urgent appeal on the table. "Didn't the daimyo conscript the ninja troops stationed in the village to quell the rioters? Does he think the shogunate would dare to defy the world and attack the Land of Water again?"

"Lord Mizukage... the national treasury is empty, and the shogunate's funds are insufficient to pay out the full amount of gold coins..."

Konoe Atsushi said with a wry smile, "Moreover, His Highness the Daimyo is no longer able to raise supplies to support the front-line operations. If we don't withdraw now, the subsequent supply lines will be cut off..."

The shogunate's financial and economic wars have completely disrupted the order of the Land of Water in a very short time. Although the Kirigakure ninja army, under the leadership of the Grand Minister of State, began to wreak havoc and quell the unrest everywhere, the grassroots organizations of the Land of Water were also completely overthrown in the turmoil. Even if the local nobles were not captured by the rioters, they could only guard their castles and dared not go out.

If the Kirigakure expeditionary force does not withdraw and return to reinforce, the Land of Water will be powerless to resist once the Shogunate launches an attack.

The Third Mizukage picked up the daimyo's urgent appeal and read it again, then turned his gaze to his Jonin subordinates.

The eyes of the Jonin also flickered.

"...Withdraw the troops in three days!"

The Third Mizukage didn't need to consult the Jonin before understanding their thoughts. After hesitating for a moment, he issued the order to withdraw the troops that Konoe Atsushi most wanted to hear.

"As ordered!"

Although the Jonin were unwilling, they still loudly agreed.

"...That wretched brat! How on earth did that little devil Setsuna raise such a lunatic!"

The Third Mizukage was furious, but he also couldn't forget to hate Elder Setsuna, who was living a life of luxury in Konoha.

"Pity……"

After everyone in the tent had left, the Third Mizukage slowly leaned back in his chair.

"Absolutely brilliant!"

An aged and dignified voice rang out from the mouth of the Third Mizukage.

"Lord Madara~ I'm here~"

A strange humanoid creature, pale and covered in bone spurs, emerged from beside the Third Mizukage's feet.

"...Is that brat Deguang planning to attack the Land of Water?"

The Third Mizukage, Madara Uchiha, asked, bowing his head.

"I don't know~ Konoha hasn't started mobilizing yet~"

White Zetsu said with a grin, "Besides, the Shogunate is across the sea, so I can't get there."

"Humph!"

Madara Uchiha snorted coldly, waved for White Zetsu to leave, and then closed his eyes to rest.

"...What an outstanding junior!"

"Pity……"

Chapter 270 Code Name: Myeongnyang!

"Dozens of ironclad warships are conducting naval exercises abroad..."

In the central command tent of the Hidden Mist Expeditionary Force in the Land of Lightning, the Third Mizukage once again received military intelligence from the Shogunate back home.

"Has the shogunate taken any unusual actions recently?"

The Third Mizukage put down the intelligence report and asked the ANBU ninja.

"...Konoha's warships also transported 70 billion ryo in paper money to the Kinki region, demanding its exchange for gold..."

"That's what the ANBU ninja replied."