After bringing the bodies of the Kumo-nin platoon to the assassinated noble's mansion to pacify the noble's mother, Yōkō led his team back to the main camp.
Entering Hatake Sakumo's tent, Yōkō first saw a map.
The map depicted the border between the Land of Hot Water and the Land of the Moon.
Various red and blue circles dotted the area around the border. Red circles marked locations where Kumo-nin had appeared, and blue circles marked locations where Konoha had engaged them in battle.
Yōkō signaled White Ram to mark the location of their recent battle.
Once White Ram finished marking it, Yōkō approached Hatake Sakumo.
Their truly important communications were always conducted through the nin-dog Pakkun.
This was just a routine mission debriefing.
Hatake Sakumo said, "Captain Fox, the Kumo-nin's tactics in this phase are difficult to handle.
They aren't focused on killing Konoha shinobi, but are constantly assassinating nobles of the Land of Hot Water.
I cannot disperse our Konoha shinobi to protect the nobles of the Land of Hot Water. Across the two-hundred-kilometer border, the Kumo-nin can easily kill any Konoha squad and retreat at any time.
I want to locate the Kumo-nin main camp as soon as possible and organize an elite raid to end this conflict with Kumogakure decisively with one strike."
Yōkō was taken aback.
The conflict has only been going on for a few days, and you're already thinking about ending it?
We finally managed to seize the overall command of this conflict from Orochimaru, and before it's even warmed up, you want to end it?
Do you not understand 'Nurturing the Enemy to Strengthen Oneself'?
Powerful ministers all start by nurturing their enemies.
If the Kumo-nin appear too weak, I'd consider putting on Kumo-nin uniforms and launching some attacks on Konoha myself.
Hatake "Zhao" Sakumo, you mean well, but you must remain the overall commander of this conflict for at least three months; otherwise, it won't achieve the effects of building prestige and cultivating loyal followers at all.
Although countless thoughts raced through Yōkō's mind, what he said was:
"I will focus on gathering intelligence on the Kumo-nin. Once I find the location of their main camp, I will report it immediately."
Hatake Sakumo nodded repeatedly. Fox was a trustworthy ANBU. He said:
"We have interrogated prisoners for the location of the Kumo-nin camp before, but their camp is constantly moving.
It's roughly about 50 kilometers north of the Land of the Moon's border.
By the time we get there, they might have already relocated or set up an ambush.
Without being able to predict the location of their camp, it's difficult to organize a raid."
'Difficult to organize' is exactly right. If you were to raid the Kumo-nin command today, I would definitely find a way to leak the information and tip them off.
A Konoha squad entered the tent. Seeing their eager expressions, Yōkō stepped aside to let them report.
The squad leader said, "Lord Sakumo, our squad has completed three B-rank missions. You said during the pre-battle meeting that completing three B-rank missions would qualify a squad for a jutsu reward."
"Yes, I am implementing a Jutsu Assessment System during this conflict war," Hatake Sakumo said.
"If any Genin don't know their chakra nature yet, they can get Chakra Paper from the staff officers first.
Jōnin Yamashiro-dera is in charge of the jutsu rewards. He will also give you advice on jutsu."
Yamashiro-dera, standing nearby, patiently waited for the Genin to test their chakra natures.
The living conditions for Konoha's Genin and Chūnin were rather poor. Some had taijutsu skills at Chūnin level but still didn't know their chakra nature.
Just like Naruto in the original story, who only learned his chakra nature was Wind when he was fifteen or sixteen.
After the Genin finished testing their chakra natures, Yamashiro-dera took out a jutsu scroll, opened the index, and helped them select jutsu.
After receiving their jutsu, the squad thanked Yamashiro-dera and Hatake Sakumo, then left in high spirits.
After the squad left, Yōkō said to Hatake Sakumo, "Lord Sakumo, if we do launch a raid, it should focus on depleting the Kumo-nin's effective forces. Ending the conflict in a short time seems unrealistic."
Yōkō turned to leave.
"Fox..."
Hearing Hatake Sakumo's voice, Yōkō turned back in confusion.
Hatake Sakumo hesitated but ultimately didn't say anything.
"Never mind. I just thought of something, but I forgot what it was."
"Oh, I've had that experience too, forgetting what I was about to say right as the words reach my lips."
Not long after Fox left, Gekkō Sō entered the tent and approached Hatake Sakumo.
Gekkō Sō said, "The other shinobi who came to the front lines to deliver supplies also mentioned the matter in the Land of Grass.
A while ago, the Shimura Clan lost four shinobi, including two Jōnin and two Special Jōnin, all Guardian Ninja for the Daimyō of the Land of Grass.
The targeting was very specific; only Shimura Clan shinobi were killed.
Orochimaru personally led the investigation but didn't announce the results.
The perpetrator points to individuals with special statuses that the village cannot publicly name.
The Shimura Clan has dispatched four new Guardian Ninja to replace the four who died."
Hatake Sakumo's intelligence network wasn't very agile; he didn't learn about the Land of Grass incident any earlier than the average shinobi.
He had initially wanted to ask Fox about the Land of Grass matter, but on second thought, decided against it.
What if there really is some connection?
After all he had been through, he was beginning to understand his position.
Some things, even if you have suspicions, are better left alone.
In the middle of the night, when Hatake Sakumo returned to his resting tent, he found Gekkō Sō waiting at the entrance.
He entered the tent with Gekkō Sō.
Gekkō Sō said, "Sakumo, our luck is pretty good.
While the sacrifice of the four Shimura shinobi is certainly lamentable, Advisor Danzo is deeply entangled in trouble, so no one is targeting us for the time being.
I've been carefully observing our surroundings; we only have the Fox Squad here, no other Root or ANBU shinobi.
It feels great to have no one holding us back."
Hatake Sakumo nodded repeatedly.
During the Jōnin Commander meeting earlier this year, he had clashed significantly with the village leadership over the Jōnin recommendation quotas.
Now that Advisor Danzo had his own problems to deal with, the pressure on him had lessened considerably.
He commanded the four battalions on the front lines, and the Jutsu Assessment System was being implemented very smoothly.
Many Genin and Chūnin had obtained the jutsu they desired.
Gekkō Sō said, "Sakumo, although the situation on the front lines is stalemated, hastily raiding the Kumo-nin main camp carries high risks. Furthermore, ending this conflict too early is not conducive to us gathering more comrades..."
"No, if possible, the conflict should be ended as soon as possible," Hatake Sakumo said.
"Our personal gains and losses are not important. It's only been just over half a year since the Great Shinobi War ended. Konoha shinobi should not be stuck in the quagmire of war again.
This conflict between Kumo and Konoha started because of my investigation into the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, Ryūjin. It must also be ended by me.
If we can save even one Konoha shinobi's life, we should."
Gekkō Sō wanted to say something more, but then he realized that the very reason he trusted Hatake Sakumo was because Sakumo valued his comrades.
In his own tent, Yōkō suddenly sensed the contract chakra of the nin-dog Pakkun.
After summoning Pakkun, Pakkun emphasized Sakumo's stance.
Hatake Sakumo would not deliberately prolong the conflict war just to cultivate his own power.
Yōkō said, "Alright, I understand."
It goes in one ear and out the other.
I know, but I don't agree.
The situation within Konoha was still turbulent at this time.
If Hatake Sakumo ended this conflict war too early and returned to the village, he would just become a target again. It was better for him to stay here.
Furthermore, the Kumo-nin main camp wasn't that easy to raid.
If Hatake Sakumo stumbled here and suffered a defeat, it would deal a devastating blow to him.
The higher-ups had failed many times themselves, but if Hatake Sakumo failed even once, they would target him relentlessly.
***
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(End of Chapter)