Inside the camp:
"So, you're saying that this time most of the elite forces will have to be transferred from the rear?"
After listening to the conversation between Tsunade and Shirou, Uzumaki Kushina, standing nearby, showed a look of surprise.
Shirou nodded in response. "Naturally, we'll have to mobilize from the rear. After all, with so many jōnin being moved, a few might not matter, but a large-scale mobilization of jōnin will not escape the attention of the Rain and Sand."
Hearing this, Uzumaki Kushina frowned and voiced her opinion sternly:
"This will create too many variables. The longer we delay mobilizing the jōnin from the rear, the higher the risk of intelligence leaks."
Seeing how much Kushina had grown, Tsunade nodded with satisfaction.
"Not bad. It seems that war has matured you quite a bit, Kushina."
"That's why we need to use another method to maintain cover." As she said this, Tsunade's expression became even more serious.
"When you return, immediately start a sweep operation. Clear out all rogue ninjas and suspicious individuals within the area. At the same time, our frontline ninjas will also be repositioned."
"You must be prepared for war at any moment." At this moment, Tsunade's expression was as grave as ever.
Regardless of whether White Fang succeeds or not, they must launch an attack this time. Otherwise, the longer they delay, the more enemies Konoha will have to face.
"Understood."
Shirou nodded solemnly, but his furrowed brows revealed his deeper thoughts.
Aside from White Fang, Konoha's actions would not escape the notice of the Amegakure and the Sunagakure. These two villages would undoubtedly respond.
The Sunagakure was manageable. Once White Fang made his move, they would be too busy to handle anything else. Based on the intelligence he had gathered, from the perspective of the Amegakure's leader, this would be the perfect opportunity to launch a counterattack before Konoha begins its large-scale offensive—a move akin to striking at their heart.
After all, if they passively endured the attack, the Amegakure-controlled territories would suffer devastating losses.
With these thoughts in mind, Shirou raised his head and looked at Tsunade. Though he maintained a calm demeanor, he took a deep breath, determination filling his gaze.
Finally, it was his time to claim glory!
Now that he had grown to a certain level, all he needed was to establish enough prestige in this war to secure his position.
As for White Fang, who was currently the brightest star in Konoha and the greatest hero of the Second Great Ninja War, he would inevitably fall from his peak.
"In other words, during this period, I need to focus on accumulating my leverage and locking White Fang's political alliances in place. Only then can I inherit the legacy of this renowned White Fang."
Shirou also thought about the clans supporting White Fang. He took a deep breath. The deeper they were tied to him, the better it would be for his plans.
Once the towering mountain that was White Fang fell, the clans that needed shelter would naturally seek a new protector. At that point, only the Senju and Uchiha would remain as viable options.
The Senju Clan had declined, but with Tsunade still around, their influence was not to be underestimated. After the war, under the weight of great achievements, her reputation would rival that of White Fang.
"Sister Tsunade, the ninjas following White Fang this time belong to various clans, right?"
Hearing Shirou's confident tone, Tsunade was momentarily stunned, then revealed a look of realization.
"Shirou, you're not planning to persuade the other clans, are you?"
But Shirou simply smiled and shook his head.
"There's no need to persuade everyone. Convincing just the Hyuga and Aburame clans to take action will be enough. After all, there's also the Senju Clan, led by you, Sister Tsunade."
Tsunade's involvement was already a clear indication of the Senju Clan's stance. However, she was reluctant to approach the other clans herself. After all, during the First Great Ninja War, the Senju Clan had taken the lead. Although they had won, the clans of Konoha had suffered heavy losses.
But this time was different. If the Uchiha Clan entered the fray and persuaded the Hyuga and Aburame clans, the other families would undoubtedly feel the pressure.
If the Senju, Uchiha, and Aburame clans—two major clans and one minor—were all investing in the future Hokage, the others would have no choice but to follow suit.
"Shirou, you're quite cunning."
Hearing Shirou's words, Tsunade immediately revealed a sly smile.
Hyuga Hiashi and Aburame Shibi, the young leaders of the Hyuga and Aburame clans, were both in a nearby town. It would be hard for them not to show their support.
It's difficult to help someone in desperate need, but easy to add to their success.
White Fang was already riding on a wave of momentum. As long as this battle succeeded, his prestige would soar to unprecedented heights.
For Tsunade, since they were all on the same boat, tying their interests closer together was naturally better.
Shirou smiled and nodded, then pointed to the map of the Land of Rain and said seriously:
"However, if I were the leader of the Amegakure, I would never let enemy ninjas bring the war to my territory again. After all, with the current state of the Land of Rain, Hanzo the Salamander only controls about a third of its land."
Shirou spoke gravely, presenting a potential scenario. His finger lightly tapped on Konoha's warzone interior.
Tsunade immediately understood his implication. She frowned and said gravely:
"Would the Amegakure take the initiative to launch a decisive battle? But that's not an easy thing to do!"
...
The next day, the Rain and Sand discovered Konoha's large-scale movements. Ninjas were being mobilized, and elite units were starting to clear out unstable elements within the warzone.
Sand Command Post
"Konoha is getting impatient and preparing for an all-out assault."
Elder Chiyo smirked confidently and immediately issued an order:
"Notify all Sand ninjas to prepare for a defensive battle. Konoha may be in a hurry, but we Sand ninjas are not. The longer we drag this out, the more likely Iwa, Kumo, and Kirigakure will join the fray."
Chiyo, envisioning another scenario of the four great villages teaming up to attack Konoha, caused the elite jōnin in the command tent to smile widely.
"Let Konoha panic; we Sand ninja can take our time."
"Exactly. The Land has resources that we Sand ninjas desperately need. The longer this drags on, the more we can plunder."
"Defense is to our advantage!"
The Sand Ninja immediately began reinforcing their defenses and setting traps, fully preparing for a defensive war of attrition.
...
Amegakure Headquarters
The Amegakure leader, Hanzo the Salamander, received the news. Wearing his breathing apparatus, he frowned deeply.
"Konoha is preparing to attack, and the Sunagakure is planning a defensive war of attrition…"
Though the information seemed favorable, it only fueled Hanzo's anger. No matter how the battle played out, it would take place on Land of Rain soil.
"The Land of Rain has already been ravaged. With the infiltration of all these major villages, the dream of becoming the sixth great ninja village has been shattered. But I will not allow the Amegakure to be trampled any further!"
Hanzo admitted that his ambition had brought disaster to the Land of Rain, but his intentions had always been to lead the Amegakure to prominence as the sixth great nation.
"Sand! Konoha! I don't care what you're planning—this chaos in the Land of Rain must end!"
Amidst the devastation of his homeland, Hanzo suppressed his fury and stared at the map with a heavy gaze. At last, he spoke in a low voice:
"Deploy frontline ninjas to defend against Konoha's attack."
"Yes!"
After his trusted aide left, Hanzo's eyes turned cold and sinister.
"Gather the village's elite in secret and announce that I will personally head to the frontlines to confront Konoha."
"Hanzo-sama is going to the frontlines?!" The loyal ninja was filled with excitement. Despite the chaos in the Land of Rain, Hanzo remained the god of the Amegakure.
Hanzo didn't reply, only nodded silently. When his aide left, his expression grew even more solemn as he stared at the Land of Rain map, his finger tapping a specific location.
"Konoha… this war must end."
The point he tapped was deep within Konoha's warzone. On the surface, it seemed he would need to travel through the Land of Grass to reach it, but that route would be far too wide.
"I'm the master of this land. You outsiders could never understand the underground waterways of the Land of Rain."
Hanzo's face twisted into a cold smile. There was no need for him to take the long way around.
No one knew the terrain of the Land of Rain better than him, including the intricate network of underground waterways.
However, Hanzo's confidence in his plan failed to account for one thing—there was someone who understood the Land of Rain's terrain even better than he did.
…
Deep Underground
In a dark cavern, Uchiha Madara listened to White Zetsu's report. The thrill of manipulating the ninja world had initially entertained him, but over time, his eyes had grown dull with boredom.
"This so-called demigod of a minor village does have some skill, thinking of infiltrating through the underground waterways. But for Shirou, a youngster with such foresight at his age… not bad for a Uchiha."
Hearing White Zetsu praise Shirou's vision, Uchiha Madara couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.
After all, this was a descendant he deemed worthy.
"Lord Madara, last time we lost a clone without even having the chance to recover it. So, this time, should we provide some information to Uchiha Shirou?"
With a mischievous tone, White Zetsu spoke hoarsely. Hearing this, Uchiha Madara raised his head, revealing his single Sharingan with three tomoe, radiating an unparalleled arrogance.
A smile unique to the Uchiha clan appeared on Madara's lips.
"Heh heh, let's secretly expose the underground river and see how far Uchiha Shirou can go!"
Madara was no babysitter. While he could offer some assistance within a certain range, it didn't mean he would help Shirou overcome every danger.
At most, he would provide a hint. Whether or not Shirou could uncover the truth would depend on his abilities.
Hearing this, White Zetsu tilted his head, revealing a peculiar smile.
"Lord Madara is never wrong."
In the dim cave, Uchiha Madara's distinctive laughter echoed. This was far more entertaining than simply watching that kid who carried his Rinnegan all the time.
Hidden behind the scenes, observing the changes in the ninja world, and watching an outstanding descendant grow—just like himself in the past—was far more exciting. Under Madara's control, this descendant might even grow to surpass the heights Madara had once reached.
"Such a pity!"
However, as the laughter faded, a trace of regret appeared in Madara's single Sharingan.
Shirou would probably only reach the level of an ordinary Mangekyō Sharingan at best.
...
The Town.
In the midst of crackling lightning, the sound of Chidori echoed continuously. Shirou frowned as arcs of electricity flickered in his palm.
"Chidori involves both chakra nature transformation and shape transformation. The user concentrates the high-intensity currents of Lightning Release chakra into their hand, combining it with a thrusting motion to pierce the target. The original intent of this jutsu is to thrust!"
Looking at the jutsu, which was still incomplete, Shirou nodded silently. Ninja techniques created by individuals were often tailored to themselves, making them the most compatible.
"White Fang developed this jutsu with the idea that, if he lost his blade, his hands would become the sharpest lightning blades under this technique. In this way, it's somewhat similar to the Lightning Release Chakra Mode of the Kumogakure's Raikage."
"But this jutsu focuses solely on extreme speed."
In the forest, as the lightning in his hand dispersed, Shirou slowly raised his head and squinted at the dark clouds looming over the skies of the Land of Rain.
"This jutsu is still incomplete, but it's sufficient as a guide. However, it's also more dangerous."
"Lord Shirou!"
At that moment, a hurried voice came from the distance. The arcs of lightning in Shirou's hand disappeared instantly as he turned around. He saw Konan and Nagato approaching quickly, one after the other.
"Lord Shirou!"
The two arrived, panting. Nagato followed silently behind Konan, while Konan wore a serious expression and said,
"Lord Shirou, Nagato and I discovered a collapsed pit while patrolling the back mountain…"
Listening to Konan's report, Nagato—who had gradually accepted Shirou as his mentor over the past few days—hesitated before adding in a soft voice,
"This pit is very deep, and we heard the sound of water coming from below."
Hearing their report, Shirou was slightly surprised. "The sound of water? A collapsed pit?"
He quickly followed the two to the back mountain of the town.
Sure enough, at a low-lying area in the back mountain, there was a massive, bottomless pit. Rainwater from the mountain continuously flowed into the hole, and the sound of rushing water could be heard from within as if the pit could never be filled.
"This is an underground river. Is the collapse caused by years of rainwater and the erosion of the underground river below?"
As he relaxed his frown, Shirou suddenly thought of something. His pupils shrank instantly.
"No! That's not right!"
He sensed a faint trace of chakra. Although it was very weak, it made Shirou remain calm and composed as he looked at the pit.
Since absorbing a White Zetsu clone recently, Shirou had gained access to all chakra natures. Over the past few days, it had also awakened his sensory abilities.
The ability to sense chakra was a rare and highly useful skill among ninjas.
This faint chakra signature felt familiar, which allowed him to notice it—it was White Zetsu in hiding.
"There's no need to worry. This is just a natural collapse caused by the underground river flowing through here for years," Shirou said calmly, though he seemed to have pieced something together. He didn't say much in front of the two but clasped his hands together.
Shadow Clone Jutsu.
With a puff of smoke, two shadow clones appeared. Shirou casually instructed the two to return to the town, while the clones leapt into the pit to investigate.
As Shirou led Konan and the Rinnegan-wielding Nagato back to the town, a face slowly emerged from the trunk of a tree.
Watching the shadow clones disappear into the pit, White Zetsu let out a raspy laugh.
"He figured it out so quickly."