At his words, Fugaku nodded and did not press the matter further.
"Shinichi-kun."
After walking side by side for a few more steps, he suddenly spoke again.
"This time, our defense sectors are adjacent. If battle breaks out, we'll need to support one another."
The words came out somewhat stiffly. Clearly, given Uchiha Fugaku's status and personality, he wasn't accustomed to taking the initiative to say such things.
Hearing this, Shinichi glanced at him from the side and nodded.
"Naturally. Clan Head Fugaku, you and I are both members of Konohagakure. Since we're both responsible for defending the left flank, coordinating with each other and resisting foreign enemies together is simply part of our duty."
His response was smooth and natural, effortlessly dispelling the slight awkwardness Fugaku had felt.
Fugaku relaxed somewhat.
Though he had long known that the young man before him enjoyed an excellent reputation throughout the village and was widely recognized as gentle and easy to get along with.
He had even privately asked several younger clan members who had interacted with Shinichi before, and the evaluations he received were largely along the lines of "has no airs," "surprisingly approachable," and "very steady and reassuring."
But hearing about it was one thing.
Only through personal contact did he truly experience that spring-breeze-like ease.
"Then I'll be counting on you, Shinichi-kun."
"You flatter me, Clan Head Fugaku." Shinichi smiled faintly. "As a senior, your experience far exceeds mine. If anything, I'll be the one seeking your guidance."
"You're too modest, Shinichi-kun."
Fugaku nodded and fell silent once more.
Neither spoke again. Only the sound of their footsteps mingled with the distant roar of the sea.
After several more steps, Fugaku spoke again.
This time, however, the question was unexpected.
"Shinichi-kun, have you ever considered becoming a jōnin instructor after the war?"
Hm?
A jōnin instructor?
Shinichi's heart stirred slightly.
Don't tell me this guy is already thinking about having me teach Uchiha Itachi?
Itachi should be nearly a year old now. By the time this war ended, the boy would probably be four or five years old—just the age when a child would begin ninja training and build a foundation.
If that was indeed Fugaku's intention, then the Uchiha clan head's foresight was impressive.
"Becoming a jōnin instructor?"
Shinichi pondered briefly before replying, "I have considered it. As for what happens specifically, that will depend on the village's arrangements when the time comes. Why do you ask so suddenly, Clan Head Fugaku?"
"Nothing in particular. Just a casual question."
Fugaku nodded calmly and said nothing more.
In truth, he did have such intentions.
Based on Shinichi's remarkably accurate strategic assessment before the war, this conflict would likely last three to four years.
By the time it ended, his son Uchiha Itachi would be exactly four or five years old.
And the young man before him possessed not only extraordinary strength and astonishing talent, but had also single-handedly pioneered the entirely new system known as Fire Release Nintaijutsu. His reputation as a gifted teacher was frequently mentioned by many people.
Whether judged by strength, potential, or teaching ability, he was an ideal candidate to guide Itachi's development.
Moreover, in Fugaku's eyes, Higashino Shinichi's future was virtually limitless.
Once the Third Hokage stepped down, Shinichi would undoubtedly become one of the strongest contenders for the position of Hokage—perhaps even the leading candidate.
The relationship between the Uchiha Clan and the village leadership had remained delicate and awkward for years.
Now, Uchiha Obito had already become Namikaze Minato's student, while his wife, Uchiha Mikoto, maintained a close friendship with Uzumaki Kushina.
Both Namikaze Minato and Higashino Shinichi were direct heirs of the Hokage faction.
If Itachi could also become Shinichi's student, that would provide a double layer of security.
Whether Namikaze Minato or Higashino Shinichi eventually ascended to the position of Hokage, the Uchiha Clan's standing within the village would improve considerably.
Perhaps, one day, an Uchiha Hokage might even become a reality.
It was truly killing two birds with one stone.
Of course, Fugaku also understood that such matters couldn't be rushed.
After all, his friendship with Shinichi was still shallow. Acting too hastily might easily backfire.
This would require careful long-term planning and a more suitable opportunity.
Minato, you've fallen behind me once again.
Shinichi thought to himself, though not a trace of it showed on his face.
Ever since clearly establishing "competing for the position of Hokage" as his goal more than half a year ago, only a few months had passed.
Yet whether in military achievements, personal connections, or his weight in the eyes of the village leadership, he had quietly and unknowingly begun to surpass Minato.
Now, even Uchiha Fugaku—a key figure who, in the original timeline, had later fully committed himself to supporting Minato's bid for the Hokage position—had begun turning his attention toward Shinichi and was already considering diversifying his investments.
What Shinichi needed to do was maintain that advantage and continue expanding it.
...
The next day, early morning.
Leading the troops under his command, Shinichi arrived at his designated defense sector—White Sand Bay.
The total strength of Konoha's southeastern front amounted to roughly ten thousand shinobi.
Of those, approximately six thousand were stationed at the headquarters and its surrounding core regions.
The remaining four thousand were divided among four battalion commanders, each responsible for defending a lengthy stretch of coastline.
At this moment, only two hundred elite shinobi had accompanied Shinichi to White Sand Bay's main position.
The other eight hundred had been broken down into squads of three to five members and dispersed across the surrounding coastline on both sides of White Sand Bay, carrying out reconnaissance and sentry duties.
This was the core principle behind the elastic defense system—
abandoning the rigid mindset of defending every inch of coastline and instead using forward reconnaissance posts as eyes and ears, while employing mobile forces as the striking fist.
The primary mission of these small squads was not to fight landing forces head-on.
Rather, upon discovering enemy activity, they were to immediately issue warnings, delay the enemy's advance, and relay real-time intelligence.
At the same time, they would use harassment, traps, and small-scale raids to slow the enemy's push inland as much as possible, buying precious time for the main force in the rear to assemble.
Once a warning was received, Shinichi—or the commander of a neighboring defense sector—would rapidly gather mobile forces, create local superiority, and launch precise strikes.
If the number of enemy troops landing greatly exceeded expectations, to the point where the forces under the four commanders defending the left and right flanks could not hold them off directly, then the strategy would move into its next phase—lure the enemy deeper inland.
Through an organized withdrawal and a series of harassing attacks, they would lure the enemy into prearranged battlefield depth, stretch their supply lines, disperse their forces, and then coordinate with troops from neighboring defense sectors or the headquarters to form localized encirclements, launching flanking assaults to crush overextended enemies.
The entire defensive system resembled a highly elastic web.
It appeared loose on the surface, but every part was intricately connected. The moment it absorbed an impact, it could respond with remarkable flexibility, trading space for time and ultimately seeking opportunities to counterattack under conditions favorable to their side.
White Sand Bay was a classic crescent-shaped bay.
Jagged reefs and rocky cliffs extended from both sides, enclosing a broad stretch of silvery-white beach in the center. The terrain was generally flat, while not far behind lay gradually rising hills and woodlands, making it ideal for ambushes and flanking maneuvers.
After arriving with his two hundred subordinates, Shinichi casually swept his gaze across the shoreline and the sea.
Then he formed a series of hand seals.
Poof! Poof! Poof!
A succession of small bursts of white smoke erupted, and more than a dozen Shadow Clones identical to him appeared at his side.
The next moment, a scene unfolded that left all of his subordinates stunned.
The Shadow Clones slowly rose off the ground, hovering in midair as though supported by invisible stairways.
Flying at unhurried speeds in different directions, they headed out toward the vast depths of the sea.
The captain can fly?
Is that an application of Wind Release chakra? Or some kind of special secret technique?
Isn't the captain famous for Fire Release?
A flood of questions flashed through everyone's minds.
But Shinichi gave them little time to dwell on their confusion.
His gaze had already shifted away from the sea, sweeping across every inch of White Sand Bay—the beaches, reefs, and the rolling hills and forests beyond.
With the enhancement of the Piercing Insight Entry, the entire bay's terrain, trees, reefs, and every other feature seemed to break apart into countless streams of clear data, instantly imprinting themselves into his mind before being rapidly assembled and analyzed.
"Reconnaissance Squad! Split into three groups and advance to these three high points to establish observation posts..."
"Barrier Squad, you're responsible for the two chokepoints behind the beachhead..."
"Communications Squad, ensure uninterrupted contact between all teams. Conduct routine confirmation checks every two hours..."
A moment later, Shinichi rapidly issued several orders.
"Yes, sir!"
The shinobi who had accompanied him here were almost all veterans from Shinichi's battalion.
They were already accustomed to his efficient and concise command style.
The moment the orders were issued, everyone's expressions sharpened.
They answered in unison before quickly dispersing to carry out their respective duties, operating like the gears of a precisely crafted machine.
As for Shinichi himself, he remained where he stood, his gaze fixed on the distant sea.
The first light of dawn had begun to emerge.
The sea breeze carried a damp chill and the scent of salt as it blew toward him. Wave after wave crashed rhythmically against the reefs and shoreline.
Watching the tides rise and fall and the wind clash with the waves before him, Shinichi suddenly felt a spark of inspiration.
He slowly walked to the edge of the beach.
Facing the boundless sea, he spread his feet slightly apart and began moving through a series of measured steps and palm movements.
The style was completely different from the fierce, explosive aggression he displayed in battle.
Now, as he raised his hands, traced arcs, and turned his body, every movement was extraordinarily slow.
It was as though he were pushing mountains or parting clouds.
Each motion flowed seamlessly into the next, cycling endlessly between advance and return, as if he were guiding some invisible force through its natural circulation.
The instant he assumed his stance, the sea winds blowing in from the coast seemed drawn by an unseen power.
The previously chaotic air currents gradually began to converge and change direction, surging toward him.
Yet once those winds entered a radius of half a meter around Shinichi, they seemed to collide with a mass of soft clouds.
Instantly, they became gentle and slow, losing every trace of sharpness.
In that moment, countless fine, lingering currents silently swirled, revolved, and flowed around him.
They moved as though alive, following some profound and mysterious rhythm.
Wind was formless and invisible, forever in motion.
It could be soft or fierce.
Slow or swift.
Deflecting.
Shifting.
Guiding.
Neutralizing...
Shinichi's movements grew slower and slower, until they seemed almost frozen.
His mind appeared completely immersed in the flow surrounding him.
Yet at the instant one breath ended and the next began, his movements suddenly changed!
Like a tranquil lake abruptly erupting into towering waves, the gentle circulating currents exploded outward.
As his palms opened and closed, countless wind blades burst forth with shrill cries, cutting and sweeping through everything around them.
Centered on him, they transformed into a raging, howling hurricane!
Its power was fierce and overwhelming, forming a stark contrast to the serene harmony from moments before.
Layers of sand were torn from the beach and swept into the air, forming turbulent, murky vortices.
Nearby waves were driven backward by the violent wind pressure, exploding into clouds of white mist that scattered through the morning light.
But that display of wild power lasted only a few seconds.
The next moment, the storm abruptly ceased.
All that fierce and blazing force receded like the tide, transforming once more into light, drifting currents of wind.
Strength and softness shifted seamlessly with every movement of his hands and feet—at times gentle and graceful as willow fluff brushing across one's face, at others fervent and unrestrained like a hurricane sweeping across the land.
Softness and strength.
Stillness and motion.
Restraint and release...
These seemingly opposing states flowed and transformed through his every gesture, blending into a single whole without any boundary between them.
Just then, a massive wave stirred up by the earlier disturbance in air pressure suddenly surged toward Shinichi's position.
Shinichi neither dodged nor retreated.
He did not even open his eyes.
He merely drew his arms into a slight circle.
The countless currents revolving around him suddenly condensed, then transformed into layer upon layer of endless rotating vortices that spread outward like a sea of rolling clouds.
Flowing Clouds!
The giant wave crashed into this sea of wind and clouds.
It was as though it had plunged into an invisible yet flexible barrier.
The countless flowing vortices dispersed, redirected, and neutralized its force layer by layer.
The immense power was gently diverted in every direction.
In the end, it dissolved into countless streams of water that coiled around Shinichi like nimble serpents.
Like a tamed beast, they obediently flowed according to his will.
Shinichi's eyes remained half-closed.
Yet his palm subtly turned.
The countless streams of water circling him under the guidance of Flowing Clouds suddenly froze for an instant.
Then, following the motion of his palm thrusting forward, they exploded into motion and surged back in reverse!
Flying Snow!
The wind reversed course, borrowing force to return force!
The power of the wave that had just been neutralized and redirected by Flowing Clouds was now wrapped and reshaped by Wind Release.
It transformed into a towering waterspout that rolled back against the sea wind, crashing toward the ocean with far greater sharpness and concentration than when it had arrived.
BOOM!!!
A massive depression exploded across the sea's surface.
Mist filled the sky like drifting snow, refracting countless fragments of rainbow-colored light beneath the morning sun.
Only then did Shinichi slowly open his eyes.
A clear radiance flowed within them, as though wind and thunder flickered in their depths before quickly settling into profound calm.
Learn from heaven and earth; follow the way of nature.
Shinichi had heard such a saying in his previous life.
Though those exact words did not exist in this world, many ninjutsu throughout the shinobi world had originally been created by generations of geniuses who drew inspiration from nature itself.
Standing between sea and sky, listening to the wind and watching the waves, he had immersed both body and mind in their rhythm.
And through that silent dialogue with the sea breeze and rolling tides, he had touched the true essence of wind—its balance of softness and strength, its endless flow and transformation.
From this moment onward, the Six Forms of Shinichi's Wind Release Nintaijutsu had essentially taken shape:
Dream Bullet, focused on explosive impact and burst power.
Tempest Blade, focused on ultimate cutting power.
Swift Step, focused on agility and adaptability.
Sky Dance, granting levitation and aerial maneuverability.
And the two forms he had just comprehended...
Flowing Clouds, the defensive form focused on neutralizing and redirecting attacks.
And Flying Snow, the form that borrowed an opponent's force, transformed it, and returned it in a counterattack.
The six forms complemented one another.
Balancing strength and softness.
Changing freely according to his will.
The sea breeze remained unchanged.
The sound of the waves remained unchanged.
Only the solitary figure standing quietly upon the beach, and the lingering traces of agile wind currents that had yet to fully dissipate from the surrounding air, bore witness to that brief resonance between man and nature.
I really am a genius.
Shinichi sighed inwardly and smiled faintly.
...
That night, at Konoha's Southeastern Front Headquarters.
Commander Utatane Koharu received a classified report transmitted by Shinichi.
"Kirigakure has entered into a secret military alliance with Sunagakure. Within one week, both sides will simultaneously launch a pincer attack on the Land of Fire from east and west."
After reading it, Koharu's eyes immediately sharpened.
Without hesitation, she handed the report to the person beside her.
Nara Shikaku, who had recently been transferred here as Chief Strategist after the fighting on the northeastern front had temporarily subsided.
Shikaku accepted the report and quickly scanned the line of text.
His brow immediately furrowed.
Just as he was about to speak—
Koharu's voice rang out first.
"Shikaku, draft an urgent report immediately and send it back to Konoha for the Hokage's decision."
Wait, that's it?
You're being that decisive, Elder-sama?
Shikaku felt a wave of helplessness.
Even if this intelligence came from Higashino Shinichi.
Even if his strategic predictions had already been proven correct numerous times.
This was still a major piece of intelligence capable of affecting the entire course of the war.
Under normal circumstances, shouldn't they at least verify it through other channels first?
Or at least discuss the possibility for a moment?
They were just skipping all of that?
He couldn't help complaining inwardly.
But none of it showed on his face.
Because he understood that, among Konoha's leadership—and indeed among many people throughout the village—the trust placed in Shinichi had already reached the point of being unconditional.
"Understood. I'll handle it immediately."
Shikaku responded before rising and leaving the command center.
As he walked, however, his thoughts couldn't help but drift.
Higashino Shinichi... is probably already the strongest contender for the future position of Hokage.
His youth should have been a tremendous disadvantage.
But when the talent, achievements, and prestige he displayed had already far exceeded the limits that the concept of "age" could define, that disadvantage had begun to transform into an advantage instead.
People would think:
He's already capable of this at such a young age.
Then what about five years from now? Ten years from now?
For a genius who stood out too much, youth itself could become the most dazzling halo of all.
Shikaku shook his head and suppressed those thoughts.
Half an hour later, the intelligence report had already reached the Hokage Building in Konoha.
After reading the report, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, immediately ordered someone to summon Shimura Danzō.
Danzō hurried over, accepted the report, and glanced through it.
"Just notify Jiraiya and the others directly."
"Agreed."
At the Southwestern Front Headquarters—
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru passed the classified report among themselves.
Jiraiya was the first to look up, his expression grave.
"My opinion is that we immediately place the entire front on the highest state of combat readiness. What do you two think?"
Tsunade crossed her arms and nodded.
"No objections here."
Orochimaru merely smiled faintly.
"If it's Shinichi-kun's judgment... then let's proceed accordingly."
Having said that, he offered no further comments and was the first to turn and leave the command center.
Knowing before the battle.
Planning before taking action.
Could this be considered winning the war from a thousand miles away?
Walking along the silent paths of the camp, a trace of complicated emotion surfaced in Orochimaru's heart.
It seems Shinichi-kun's chances of becoming Hokage are only growing greater and greater.
His parents had died when he was very young.
Throughout those long years, his teacher had been more than just a mentor who taught him ninjutsu and guided his path.
Unknowingly, he had also filled the role of a father.
Because of that, when his teacher placed great expectations upon him and hoped he would become a worthy Hokage successor, Orochimaru had followed those expectations and diligently played the role of the perfect heir.
However, after the Second Shinobi World War, something within him had quietly changed.
He had witnessed far too much fragility and impermanence in life.
Gradually, he lost his desire for the power and responsibility symbolized by the position of Hokage.
In its place grew an overwhelming desire to uncover every mystery and every ultimate truth in the world.
Not desiring it was one thing.
But when he personally witnessed a goal he had spent the first half of his life striving toward potentially being achieved by another youth—someone younger, brighter, and equally cherished by their teacher...
A feeling he could neither describe nor explain still arose within his heart.
After a moment, he let out a soft breath.
Then he turned and disappeared into the deeper darkness beyond the command center.
...
Four days later, at dawn.
A faint line of pale white had just appeared where sea and sky met.
The heavy darkness of night had yet to fully retreat, and the ocean remained shrouded in gray mist.
On the waters outside White Sand Bay, dark figures raced across the waves.
Chakra burst from beneath their feet, sending spray exploding into the air with every step.
They were members of the Kaguya Clan.
At the front, Kaguya Umemaro charged ahead.
His massive frame resembled a maddened beast as he was the first to land heavily upon the beach.
His rough, savage gaze casually swept across the surroundings.
The shoreline was silent.
No one was there.
Only the morning wind drifted across the sand.
"Hahahahaha!"
Umemaro immediately burst into loud, booming laughter that echoed along the coast.
"I told you those idiots from Konoha would never guess I'd come ashore here! Yagura—that brat whose balls haven't even dropped yet—kept telling me to be careful. What the hell does he know? He's just a self-important fool!"
The Kaguya clansmen landing behind him broke into laughter as well.
Their voices were crude and arrogant, echoing throughout the empty bay.
"The clan head's right! Those Konoha cowards are probably still dreaming in bed!"
"What kind of bullshit defense is this? There's not even a damn soul in sight!"
"Let's charge!"
Umemaro waved his hand, his face full of contempt and excitement.
"If we run into anyone on the way, I don't care whether they're shinobi or civilians—kill them all! Let's make Konoha remember the terror of the Kaguya Clan!"
With that, he strode forward, taking the lead as he charged inland.
Behind him, the Kaguya clansmen followed with savage howls, murderous intent surging from them like beasts released from a cage.
However—
The moment Umemaro stepped into a particular stretch of sand ahead of him—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!
A series of deafening explosions erupted without warning.
Blazing flames tore through the dim light of dawn in an instant!