After delving into discussions on broader themes of warfare, the geopolitical landscape, and Konoha's overall readiness for the impending conflict, the trio shifted their focus more directly to their immediate concern: the strategy for the Eastern Front they were tasked to lead.
To facilitate this detailed strategic planning, they spread out a map across the table, complemented by various figures representing troops, terrain, and key locations. This visual aid was crucial for their planning, allowing them to conceptualize their strategies with precision.
Hiashi, taking the lead in this segment of their meeting, turned to the Fifth Elder, Takumi, with a question that would set the foundation for their tactical discussions, "Fifth Elder, how do you think we should structure our front?",
He inquired. This question was not just about troop deployment but encompassed broader considerations of defensive positions, potential points of attack, and how best to leverage their unique strengths against the enemy.
Takumi, drawing from his wealth of experience, laid out a comprehensive strategy for structuring their forces along the Eastern Front.
"I believe it's best to divide our forces into three primary groups, each responsible for a specific segment of our front: the southern, central, and northern areas. The northern group should position itself in the Land of Hot Water, utilizing it as a strategic buffer between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water.",
He explained, "This location can serve as a critical point of defense and control...", pinpointing the geographical advantage they could leverage.
Continuing, Takumi detailed the positioning of the central forces, "The central segment should be firmly established in the Land of Fire, specifically along the coastline facing the Land of Water, near the former Uzushiogakure. Given the sea's separation, this area's defense is crucial."
Lastly, Takumi addressed the southern strategy, "The southern force should focus on contesting the Land of Water's continental territory. This small but strategically important area represents a significant vulnerability for them, given its isolation from their main landmass.",
"By intensifying our efforts here, we can exploit this weakness, leveraging our continental advantage to pressure them further."
Hikari, weighing in with his tactical insight, supported Takumi's framework with a strategic emphasis on the Southern Front, "Considering the geography and strategic value, our strongest force should be deployed to the Southern Front...",
analyzing the map laid out before them, he suggested, "If we succeed in infiltrating and seizing control of the Land of Water's Continental territory, it would not only be a significant victory in itself but also serve as a pivotal launching point for future operations against their island territories, including the main island."
As he spoke, his finger traced the critical points on the map, highlighting potential routes of advancement and areas of strategic interest.
Hikari's suggestion to prioritize the Southern Front was rooted in a long-term vision for the war, aiming to establish a foothold that could dramatically shift the balance of power in Konoha's favor.
By focusing their most capable forces on this critical juncture, they could create a domino effect, opening up new opportunities for offensive maneuvers across the Land of Water's territories.
This strategic approach underscored the importance of not just winning battles but positioning themselves advantageously throughout the war.
Hikari's analysis complemented Takumi's initial structuring, together forming a cohesive strategy that leveraged geographical advantages for maximum impact.
After listening to Takumi and Hikari's analyses, Hiashi nodded in agreement: "Fifth Elder, Hikari, I agree with your takes. Then it seems that this Southern part of our front should be left to Hikari too, as he is the strongest one amongst us..." He concluded. This decision, while significant, was made with confidence, reflecting Hisashi's trust in Hikari.
Hiashi, with a clear sense of command and strategic oversight, continued to delineate responsibilities: "Fifth Elder, you should oversee the operations in the Land of Hot Water area. It's important to note that we might face Kumogakure shinobi there, so preparedness for such encounters is also crucial..." he advised, additionally highlighting.
"I will take on the responsibility for the central part of the front and also act as the central coordinator between your two groups...", Hiashi declared, affirming his role as the linchpin.
As Hiashi outlined the distribution of their forces, Hikari reflected once again on the unique nature of warfare in this shinobi world, contemplating what it means for him to actually 'lead' a part of their front.
He recognized a stark contrast between the large-scale, fixed battles of his previous world and the fluid, dynamic confrontations of the shinobi landscape.
In this world, where a few thousand shinobi, on average, could be engaged on each front between the villages, the approach to warfare was fundamentally different.
The absence of fixed positions or fortifications on the frontlines meant that the battle strategy relied heavily on mobility and adaptability.
Understanding that the threat of enemy shinobi infiltrating one's territory was a constant concern, Hikari appreciated the necessity of spreading forces out in a wide net.
This formation, composed of numerous smaller squadrons dispersed across the front, was designed to create overlapping layers of defense.
Each team, particularly bolstered by sensory shinobi, played a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of this defensive network. Without them, everything would fall apart quickly, so Hikari now understood that this was also another helpful role of the civilian shinobi of this world.
However, even though it was good for the village, that shinobi specialization had the most casualties on the front then because they could barely fight, as they spent decades only developing their sensing of chakra.
These sensory shinobi, with their ability to detect breaches in the formation, were indispensable for early warning and maintaining situational awareness. They used special flares and communication scrolls to notify everyone else to come and help if needed, especially if there was contention around some strategic objective.
Hikari realized the vital importance of sensory, mostly civilian-origin, shinobi in this context. Their specialized training focused nearly entirely on enhancing their sensing capabilities, supporting their role in surveillance and reconnaissance over combat.
Despite their broader sensing range compared to the precise but more limited scope of the Hyuga's Byakugan, sensory shinobi served as the long-range eyes of the army. In contrast, the Hyuga, for example, with their Byakugan, excelled in closer-range reconnaissance, offering detailed intelligence within their line of sight right before actual engagements.
Hikari further understood the critical importance of pursuit and counter-maneuvers in shinobi warfare. The nature of combat in this world demanded not just readiness to fight but also agility in response—both in chasing down an enemy and evading pursuit.
If an enemy managed to slip past the initial line of defense, it wasn't merely a matter of defense but an immediate shift to offensive tracking.
Scouts and sensory-type shinobi would be rapidly mobilized to locate the infiltrator, employing a blend of pursuit and strategic counter-maneuvers designed to either directly engage the enemy or cleverly guide them into prepared traps and ambushes.
This approach underscored the shinobi forces' training in adaptability; they were drilled in the art of constant movement, ensuring they were never static targets.
The very structure of their deployment allowed for quick repositioning, ensuring that units could be redeployed based on the latest intelligence on enemy movements.
Such fluidity in tactics ensured that avoiding a direct engagement did not give the enemy a tactical advantage.
Instead, it might lead them into a more disadvantageous position, caught in a meticulously planned counter-attack.
Hikari's realization highlighted the depth of strategic planning inherent to shinobi warfare, where every evasion and pursuit was a calculated move within a larger game of deception and strategy.
The emphasis on mobility, surveillance, and the strategic use of terrain and sensory abilities painted a picture of an ever-changing battlefield, where victories were secured not just by brute strength but through cunning, agility, and the intelligent use of resources and terrain to one's advantage. It was just like what was expected from the force called "ninjas."
In Hikari's analysis, the unique capabilities of Minato's teleportation jutsu played a pivotal role in disrupting traditional shinobi warfare tactics.
Minato's mastery of the Flying Raijin made the conventional lines and strategies of engagement virtually irrelevant to him.
With the ability to appear and strike anywhere at will, he could bypass enemy defenses and control the flow of battle, turning the tide in Konoha's favor seemingly single-handedly during this Third Ninja World War in the original story.
Recognizing this, Hikari saw an urgent need to establish and secure merits and glory for his faction before Minato could fully develop and utilize his teleportation to its utmost potential.
"Then you two will also become the Vice Commanders of our Divisions..." Hiashi then began further defining the roles within their strategic framework.
He proceeded to detail the structure of other leadership roles within their front down the chain of command.
He named Tsume Inuzuka, Shibi Aburame, Ryosuke Gekko, and Isamu Sumi leaders within their respective areas, leveraging the strengths and unique abilities of their clans in the war. Meanwhile, the remaining small clan shinobi of their faction went to the Uchiha's Suna front.
That was also why, for example, Hikari, Hiashi, and Takumi secretly understood that the composition of their forces offered a strategic advantage over the Hokage's Faction in this war for both their and Uchiha's front.
While the Hokage's Faction could boast a larger number of shinobi overall, their force was 'bottom-heavy,' comprising more civilians and lower-ranking shinobi, with only clan shinobi being from the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans.
This discrepancy in the distribution of power, especially in terms of the number of Jonin, was a critical factor that the trio believed could be used to tilt the odds in their favor during this war, fortunately, and why they planned to even try and influence the other fronts later.