Uchiha's personal opinion

The group of Jonin immediately burst into laughter, making the atmosphere even more lively.

However, after the banquet ended, Uchiha Tokumitsu immediately ordered his attendant ninjas to send a telegram to the Northwest Garrison, instructing them to move their troops to threaten the Iwagakure Construction Corps stationed in the northern part of the Land of Frost; at the same time, a telegram was sent directly to Amegakure, ordering Hanzo of the Salamander to lead his troops there.

After deploying the backup forces, Uchiha Tokumitsu fell into a deep sleep.

By noon the following day, the two sides remained in a silent standoff.

However, the Iwagakure faction is starting to get restless.

……

"The ninja forces in the rear probably won't be able to be freed up for the time being..."

Inside the central command tent of the Allied Shinobi Forces, Onoki and the Third Raikage looked at each other and sighed.

In addition to the ninja forces that have already been deployed, Iwagakure has also gathered 5,000 troops in the rear. However, at dawn today, the shogunate's garrison troops stationed on the border of the Land of Birds suddenly set off northward, marching straight into the southern region of the Land of Earth under the pretext of annihilating rogue ninjas, and capturing a county town.

Meanwhile, in the Frost Country, where Iwagakure had deployed a large force, border troops led by Uchiha Himon and recruited ninja from Kusagakure began to gather at the border, seemingly showing signs of taking advantage of the chaos to invade the north.

The northern region of the Land of Frost, controlled by Iwagakure, is a vital passage connecting the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning. If it were occupied, the Kumogakure ninja army would be unable to reach the front lines of the Land of Waterfall to provide support unless they broke through the shogunate's defenses in the various buffer states.

"What difference does it make if more come?"

The Third Raikage retorted, "Do you think our full mobilization can compare to the Shogunate's power, which spans most of the ninja world?"

"..."

Onoki was speechless.

This was also the first time the Third Raikage admitted that his side was far inferior to the Shogunate.

Although there was no one else present at the meeting, this was the first time the Third Raikage, who had never been one to submit to anyone, had admitted his own shortcomings.

What if war breaks out?

"Ohnoki asked."

"Then let's start the war!"

The Third Raikage replied decisively, "We have no way out!"

"The entire Land of Lightning has exhausted its national strength to build this ninja army. If we delay any longer, there will be supply problems next year, and the ninjas won't even have a full meal. So it's better to settle things with a decisive battle as soon as possible!"

"Whether we win or lose, we have done our best. Even if we die and fall into the Yellow Springs, our ancestors will not blame us!"

Onoki remained silent.

He could tell that although the Third Raikage spoke with great passion, he was actually prepared to die in battle.

Moreover, if this battle is a complete defeat, apart from the Cloud Village ninja army brought by the Third Raikage, the remaining Cloud Village forces of the Land of Lightning may very well surrender to the Shogunate without hesitation.

After all, compared to the Land of Earth, the Land of Lightning, already in ruins, was indeed unable to continue.

But what about Iwagakure?

"Then so be it..."

Onoki sighed deeply, his face full of exhaustion.

……

"Fire Gate Garrison! Telegram from the Land of Waterfall Command!"

"Read!"

The Uchiha Shogunate, which was gazing ahead at the northern and southern border of the Land of Frost, also received a direct order from Uchiha Tokumitsu.

"Your unit is hereby ordered to launch an immediate northern expedition, defeat the Iwagakure garrison forces in front of you, and coordinate with your internal collaborators within the company to launch a mutiny in Iwagakure! After this battle, immediately join forces with the northern border defense forces to attack the Land of Lightning's mainland!"

The messenger ninja immediately read the message aloud.

"The war has broken out..."

Uchiha Himon couldn't help but sigh.

As a high-ranking member of the Uchiha clan, he was aware of Uchiha Tokumitsu's plans.

Originally, the plan was to take action against Kumogakure and Iwagakure only after completely annihilating Mount Myōboku. However, the situation changed so quickly, and the decision of Onoki of Iwagakure was unexpected, as was the decisiveness of Uchiha Tokumitsu.

"Fire Gate Guardian..."

His subordinates stepped forward to speak.

"Reply: Headquarters will launch the attack in thirty minutes!"

Uchiha Himon ignored his subordinates and spoke to the messenger ninja instead.

"As ordered!"

The messenger ninja immediately vanished in an instant.

"Further words are pointless!"

Uchiha Hamon coldly replied, "Obeying the orders of the Shogunate is our duty!"

"……clear!"

His subordinates had no choice but to obey orders and leave, and quickly mobilized the ninja army to fight.

As a once semi-independent Uchiha clan, Uchiha Himon naturally had a group of supporters around him.

Although many former commanders of the various ninja armies were transferred after the Fire Gate Shogunate was abolished, there were still many ninjas who refused to submit and chose to abandon their posts and follow.

Uchiha Himon naturally knew what his followers were thinking, but there was nothing he could do about it.

After all, for the Uchiha clan, only strength matters!

"However, I'm still not reconciled..."

Uchiha Himon let out a long sigh.

……

"Lord Tesshi! The Shogunate's ninja army on the other side has already left their camp!"

On the northern frontier of the Land of Frost, Tesshi, who commanded the Iwagakure Construction Corps, was drinking alone in his central command tent, unmoved even when his subordinate ninjas repeatedly entered to report to him.

However, this time his subordinates did not leave after reporting, but remained in the tent.

"...Don't disturb me while I'm drinking!"

After a while, Tie Shi, still drunk, looked up and scolded, "Do I have to teach you how to fight?"

"Didn't Lord Tsuchikage tell you how to deal with the enemy's attack?"

"Are you, the supervising ninja, made of paper?!"

"Go and order them to fight!"

Iron Stone's angry curses made the supervising ninja unable to lift his head.

After the Iwagakure troops stationed in the Land of Frost were reorganized into the Construction Corps, many of Tesshi's trusted subordinates were transferred away. After the Tsuchikage Onoki continuously infiltrated the army, Tesshi's control over the ninja army was much weaker than before. Although he was not completely reduced to a puppet, he was almost no different from a mascot.

"...Lord Iron Stone, the ninja army seems to lack the will to fight. I hope you can urge all units to prepare for war."

The supervising ninja took a deep breath to calm himself down and forced a fawning smile.

"How can we fight?"

Tieshi scoffed.

"The families of the headquarters ninjas in the villages can't even get enough to eat! The food they send back to the villages is stolen by those scum! The equipment of the ninjas in the villages has been replaced time and time again, while the headquarters is even short of kunai and explosive tags!"

"Tell me, how can headquarters fight?"

Iron Stone's angry rebuke turned the supervising ninja's face pale.

At that moment, he realized that something terrible was about to happen!

"Could it be...?"

The supervising ninja stammered.

"I'm not about to surrender!"

Tie Shi snorted coldly.

But before the supervising ninja could even catch his breath, another sentence plunged him into an ice cave.

"However... I can't control what others do if they have ulterior motives!"

"Besides, throwing three kunai into the air in the heat of battle would be enough to repay Onoki's 'kindness,' as for fighting to the death, that's out of the question!"

Tieshi then put down his wine cup, got up and walked out of the tent.

By now, the spies of the United Company should have already coordinated with the various Iwagakure factions that were willing to surrender...

However, despite accepting bribes from the United Company, engaging in large-scale smuggling, embezzling funds, and misappropriating capital, he was still a good hermit.

At least, that's what Tieshi thought in his heart.

Therefore, it would be better to die to repay Iwagakure! That way, I could do right by the village!

"Bang bang bang!"

With a muffled thud coming from ahead, the Shogunate ninja army, led by Uchiha Himon, launched an attack.

"It's finally here..."

Tieshi let out a burp, pulled a kunai from his pocket, ignored his subordinates, and teleported towards the front line.

……

"Chakra Cannon! Three rounds fired simultaneously!"

"Explosive tag launcher, prepare for rapid fire!"

With the commands of the strategist ninjas rising and falling, Uchiha Himon's ninja army officially launched their attack.

However, unlike in the past, this time he did not need to interfere much, as the staff of each department had already arranged the offensive in an orderly manner.

The staff's preparations seemed very procedural and rigid, but even Uchiha Himon, a veteran of ninja warfare, could not find anything wrong with them.

"From now on, just focus on being a Jonin. If all else fails, I can recommend you for a sinecure in the police or internal affairs department. But if you're thinking too much, don't assume that Tokumitsu-kun won't cleanse you up..."

Uchiha Himon patted his subordinate on the shoulder, and then, after the first round of bombardment, personally led the main assault ninja army in an attack!