**Chapter 27: His First War**
When Suzaku led the reinforcements to the Hot Spring Mountain stronghold, it was evident that the Konoha ninjas who were originally stationed there all breathed a sigh of relief. The commander of the stronghold, a senior ninja from the Kaze Festival clan named Ida, had already come to the main gate of the stronghold to greet him. When he saw that the number of reinforcements was as high as three or four hundred, this senior ninja of the Kaze Festival clan felt completely relieved, and the joy on his face was unmistakable.
This was because the casualties at the Hot Spring Mountain stronghold during this period had been too heavy.
Prior to Suzaku's reinforcements arriving, personnel had been drawn from the rear base to bolster the defense of Hot Spring Mountain. Even so, the stronghold was nearly breached. Without reinforcements, the Hot Spring Mountain base might only have lasted another ten days or half a month. It could even be said that once the Cloud Ninja intensified their attacks, the defense would collapse at any moment.
But now, it was different.
Four hundred living forces had joined them.
Many of the ninjas were at the level of Jounin.
Additionally, there was Suzaku, recognized as a wise man from the Nara clan and ranked in the top three. Ida was naturally relieved. Most importantly, if they had reinforcements here, other bases must have them too. Given the current situation, as long as Cloud Village did not escalate the war, the border defense line could be stabilized 100%.
However, as a senior ninja of the Kaze Festival clan, Ida still felt a bit perplexed by the thirty or forty Uchiha clan ninjas who appeared among the reinforcements. Even in the past three Ninja World Wars, the number of Uchiha clansmen sent to the front lines was limited. The village not only needed the combat power of the Uchiha clan but also had to guard against them.
Now, with the recent turmoil of the Nine-Tails Rebellion, even though Ida had not returned to the village for nearly a year, he still had channels through which to know about such significant disturbances.
When the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox rampaged, the Sharingan in its eyes was particularly evident. At this juncture, was it really appropriate to allow the Uchiha clan to support the front battlefield?
As he pondered this, Ida couldn't help but glance at Suzaku again.
As a senior ninja of the Nara clan, he naturally understood the meaning behind Ida's gaze.
At that moment, he gently shook his head, and a faint light flickered in the depths of his pupils at an angle unseen by others.
Ida nodded slightly, as if he had come to a realization.
He did not press the matter further; after all, the reinforcements were real. Since the Uchiha clan could leave the village to support the front line, they must have had the consent of the Hokage. Given that the third generation saw no issue with it, Ida would naturally not dwell on it any longer. The ninja clans in Konohagakure stood most firmly with Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Ninja clans such as Kazesai, Ise, Gekkou, Yamashiro, and Kamatsuki were almost 100% obedient to Sarutobi Hiruzen's orders.
"All members will proceed to their arranged camps to rest. Tonight, there will be specific patrol and preparation tasks assigned. Starting tomorrow, we will carry out the tasks according to the established plan. However, remember that even during non-mission periods, we must not relax. We must carry our combat equipment with us and cannot remove it at any time. Dismissed!"
Even though most of the ninjas sent to the front line to support various bases had experienced the Third Ninja World War, and the same was true for the Genin, necessary explanations were still vital, especially in an important base like Hot Spring Mountain. Even during daily rotations, those who go to rest cannot completely let their guard down. They must always be ready for battle, as they have no idea when the enemy might attack.
"Yes!"
These ninjas were sent to the Hot Spring Mountain base.
In addition to some reconnaissance and medical ninjas who would immediately start working, the rest were led by their leaders and dispersed to the surrounding camps. Only the leaders of each tribe needed to go to the main camp to discuss the subsequent plan. After all, securing the camp is not just about defense; many times, it is also necessary to send corresponding raiding teams to penetrate the enemy's sphere of influence.
The same principle applied to the patrol team. Under normal circumstances, it had to cover the entire area within a 50-mile radius of the Hot Spring Mountain stronghold.
While ensuring the safety of the stronghold itself, it was also necessary to ensure that the supply line from the rear would not be cut off by the Cloud Ninja.
These are key points that commanders must consider carefully.
'Hot Spring Mountain stronghold?'
Just by observing the state of the stronghold, Masashi could roughly guess how intense the conflict between Konoha and the Cloud Ninja had been during this period. At the worst moment, the Cloud Ninja might have even forced their way into the stronghold.
The ravaged areas in the stronghold were the best evidence.
Although this was not the first time Masashi had participated in a war, now, Uchiha Masashi, who had merged the souls of the two, was participating in a war for the first time. He felt an indescribable emotion deep within his heart the moment he entered the territory of the Land of Hot Water.
It seemed to be a mix of expectation, excitement, and a hint of fear.
The fighting gene ran deep in the bones of the Uchiha clan, along with the anxiety of war from the emotions of his previous life.
When the two feelings merged, Masashi noticed his hands trembling slightly.
"Is this fear? Or excitement? Regardless, this is 'my' first battlefield. Cloud Ninjas, I will use you to test my capacity and limitations!"
Masashi took a deep breath, gazing at the setting sun outside, and whispered softly as the evening's afterglow painted the entire camp red.
The first battlefield.
The location closest to the Cloud Ninja stronghold.
This was the first real challenge for Masashi since he came to this world.
So, on the first night after arriving at Hot Spring Mountain, Masashi suffered from insomnia.
Of course, this was not solely due to his own reasons but also because of a sneak attack by the external Cloud Ninja. A large number of Konoha reinforcements entered the territory of the Kingdom of Hot Springs, and the news of the three or four hundred reinforcements added to the Hot Spring Mountain stronghold was impossible and unnecessary for Konoha to conceal. Less than an hour after Suzaku and others arrived, the Cloud Ninja commander in the southern fortress of the Hidden Cloud Village, on the north side of Konoha's Hot Spring Mountain stronghold, received the first-hand news.
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(End of this chapter)