As Uchiha Takashi watched the messenger ninja leave to spread the news of his appointment as the new commander, he didn't hesitate to dismiss the others.
"You..."
Danzo was truly tempted to lash out.
Even though he was no longer the commander of the army, he was still a village advisor, an elder, and the leader of the Root division. And with his right leg gone, he couldn't even get a seat?
"Danzo, now is not the time for nonsense!"
Koharu Utatane's words almost made Danzo lose his composure.
Was he the one being unreasonable right now?
It was clearly this brat, Uchiha Takashi, who was causing trouble! But Danzo understood that they needed something from him, so he endured the pain in his heart, using his cane to stand up and move to the table (there was only one chair in the office).
He had just lost a leg, and the pain of standing was unimaginable, but he didn't want to miss any of the upcoming decisions, so he didn't go to rest.
The other three knew Uchiha Takashi was doing it on purpose.
But no one pointed it out.
Danzo had made several moves against him in the past, so it wasn't entirely unreasonable for Takashi to vent like this.
If it were someone like White Fang, they might use phrases like "for the greater good" or "for the village" to pressure him.
But Uchiha Takashi, who always talked about the "Will of Fire," didn't actually act according to it.
That's right, he was imitating the Konoha F4, all talk and no action regarding the Will of Fire.
"Alright, Shikaku, explain how we should respond!"
Once Uchiha Takashi sat in the commander's seat, he wasted no time getting to the point.
Before, he would often provoke Danzo, avoiding any serious discussion.
"I think..."
Shikaku Nara laid out the contingency plan he had long prepared.
"Consider defeat before victory!" As Konoha's strategist, he had thought about these things long before the Sand Ninja's attack, so he spoke clearly and methodically, even Danzo had to acknowledge his capability.
In essence, it was about using traps, mechanisms, and barriers to buy time, regardless of the sacrifices.
Time was on Konoha's side, with advantages in reinforcements and logistics. As long as they could hold out, they would eventually be the victors.
"Hmm, well said, but don't say it again!"
Uchiha Takashi gave his evaluation.
"What?"
Shikaku Nara was full of confusion. This was a plan he had carefully prepared.
"Have you considered how many people would be lost following your plan?"
Uchiha Takashi pointed out the crux of the issue.
Yes, the tactics were sound, but the problem was the number of casualties.
Too many! At least half of the cannon fodder and lower-ranked ninjas would die.
It was as if people were not valued as human beings.
But considering this was the harsh and dark ninja world, Uchiha Takashi put away his sympathy. He wasn't a saint; he just disliked unnecessary sacrifices.
"For the village, no number of deaths is too many. My Root division has sacrificed plenty as well!"
Danzo seized the opportunity to jab.
Uchiha Takashi rolled his eyes.
Sure, your Root's high casualties were due to inhumane experiments and training. Did you really think I didn't know?
Neither the kindly-looking Homura Mitokado nor the female Koharu Utatane showed any reaction, as if they were used to it.
They had also emerged from the battlefield and had become indifferent to sacrifice.
"I think, why should we delay for time instead of launching a counterattack?"
Uchiha Takashi questioned.
Yes, that was the key point.
In Shikaku Nara's plan, Konoha was always on the defensive, trading lives for time.
"A counterattack?"
Shikaku Nara's expression turned bitter.
If it were possible, he would have liked to devise such a plan.
The problem was that their side, in terms of both ninja numbers and the strength of their top fighters, was inferior to the Sand Ninja army supported by the Rock Ninja.
"I have a plan..."
Uchiha Takashi revealed his plan.
"No, absolutely not!"
Koharu Utatane instinctively rejected it in horror, because the cost of this plan was too great.
"That's right, the losses would be too severe!"
Homura Mitokado also shook his head.
However, their opposition didn't mean everyone felt the same.
Danzo frowned but didn't voice his opposition.
He thought the plan suited his tastes. If only he had thought of it himself.
However, since it was proposed by this brat Uchiha Takashi, he naturally couldn't voice his support.
"Actually, it's not impossible!"
After a moment of contemplation, Shikaku Nara offered a different opinion.
Because he realized the plan was truly feasible. Although the cost was significant, it was undoubtedly better than his previous plans.
Most importantly, once this plan succeeded, it would ensure that the Sand Ninja would not pose a significant threat to Konoha for a long time.
This point was extremely important for Konoha, which was eyed covetously by several major ninja villages.
"Shikaku, you..."
Koharu Utatane hadn't expected Shikaku to agree with this 'crazy' plan and was about to say something when she was interrupted.
"Are there any issues with execution?"
Uchiha Takashi ignored Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, directly asking Nara Shikaku about any execution problems.
"None!"
Nara Shikaku might not have such 'wild and imaginative' ideas, but he was confident in his execution abilities and gave a straightforward guarantee.
"Alright, the task is yours to handle!"
Uchiha Takashi decisively made the decision.
Unlike the Konoha F4, who would drag out decisions and argue endlessly, often missing great opportunities, he was decisive.
"Yes!"
Nara Shikaku's spirits lifted.
Working with the Konoha F4 was pure torture, so encountering a decisive superior like Uchiha Takashi was a relief.
Fortunately, he still had his wits about him and understood where his loyalties lay; otherwise, he might have lamented, 'Shikaku has not met a wise leader...'
With the tactics set, changes began to occur on Konoha's side.
A series of retreats?
The Sand Ninja army had invaded Kikyo Mountain, forcing the Konoha ninjas to fight and retreat towards the mountain top.
One by one, Sand Ninja infiltrated the fortress.
The long-desired victory was within reach, and everyone was fighting bravely.
Indeed, just occupying Kikyo Mountain, even if they couldn't ultimately breach Konoha Village, would allow them to control the southwestern region of the Land of Fire. For the Sand Ninja, born in the harsh desert, it was worth any sacrifice.
Thus, even Chiyo and Ebizo led the attack despite their exhaustion.
On the other side, Uchiha Takashi arrived at the top of Kikyo Mountain.
Although the several hundred meters high Kikyo Mountain had been transformed into a fortress, only the midsection and base had been modified, leaving the rest primitive and simple.
However, now, Konoha ninjas were continuously arriving at the mountain top.
"What are they planning?"
"No idea!"
"Why won't they let me keep fighting? Does Uchiha Takashi even know how to command?"
...
Some academy students, not yet accustomed to the battlefield, whispered among themselves.
The veterans, though filled with doubts, communicated only with their eyes, remaining silent.
A large number of 'defeated' Konoha ninjas were forced to the mountain top by the advancing Sand Ninja.
In the past, with a fight-to-the-death mentality, being pushed to such a point would have left Konoha with few survivors.
But now? Most of the Konoha ninjas were still present, with academy students, medical ninjas, and administrative ninjas having retreated to the top early.
The low casualties were naturally due to a ninja's characteristic.
Maxed-out evasion!
As long as there was space to retreat, casualties were minimal.
Unless it was a 'last stand' or they were overwhelmingly outmatched.
Now, the Konoha ninjas were exchanging space for survival, retreating when overwhelmed, significantly reducing the casualty rate.
Conversely, the aggressive Sand Ninja and Iwa Ninja, charging too recklessly, fell into traps and mechanisms, suffering a few-to-one loss ratio, losing at least a few hundred men.
But it was all worth it! For the village, no one would back down.
Standing at the forefront, wearing Flame Fist gloves and a black tight suit, looking exceptionally dashing, Uchiha Takashi surveyed his surroundings.
Homura Mitokado, Koharu Utatane, Danzo Shimura, Nara Shikaku, Mito Washi... they were all present.
Behind them were the Jonin, Chunin, and Genin, including his two teammates.
Over a thousand ninjas gathered, an impressive sight.
Uchiha Takashi seriously watched the only path up the mountain below.
Kikyo Mountain was filled with traps and mechanisms; only by taking this path could they reach the mountain top where they stood. Trying to bypass it was suicidal, so they weren't worried about the enemy not taking this route to attack.
Everything was ready, just waiting for the right moment.
At the back of the group.
"Tch, so arrogant!"
Uchiha Obito muttered as he looked at Uchiha Takashi, standing confidently at the front of the ninja army.
And Uchiha Takashi saw the approaching figures.
The Sand Ninja army had arrived.
This meant his crazy counterattack plan was officially underway.
After today, his name would echo throughout the ninja world, and this battle would become legendary.
(End of chapter)
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