Mimura hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Lord Hokage, while your arrival was timely, our losses remain significant. We've lost around 500. If we engage the enemy again, won't our forces be too depleted?"
The Fifth Hokage had once defeated the Fourth Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki—his strength was unquestionable. But the Kiri ninjas weren't without formidable warriors of their own. Judging from Toshiro's tone, he intended to launch an attack as soon as the wounded recovered.
Wasn't this too hasty?
Toshiro, however, remained composed.
"Your concern is valid, but… I've already made the necessary preparations."
He appreciated that his subordinates were thinking critically rather than blindly following orders. It was a sign of intelligence, not defiance. If they were all mindless followers, he'd have to micromanage everything—and he certainly didn't have time for that.
He stood up, voice firm.
"Besides, this war with the Kirigakure has dragged on long enough. It's time to bring it to an end."
Due to Obito's interference, tensions between Konoha and the Kiri had never truly settled. Skirmishes of varying scale had persisted for years, keeping the border in a constant state of unrest.
Toshiro's gaze swept over the clan leaders and frontline commanders before him, his eyes gleaming with determination.
"The day after tomorrow... we will crush the enemy in a decisive battle!"
His voice carried an infectious energy as he continued.
"Once we defeat them, they will have no choice but to sign a real peace treaty with us. Konoha will finally know true peace, and our families in the village will no longer have to live in fear."
Toshiro had no grand ambitions of unifying the ninja world. To him, such an endeavor was not only a thankless task but also an exercise in futility.
He was no saint—bringing peace to the entire world held no real benefit for him. The process would be grueling, with little reward, and he had neither the interest nor the motivation for it.
Besides, there was a fundamental misconception. Being the strongest did not equate to ruling the world.
Ninjas were elusive and highly destructive. If they resorted to guerrilla warfare, even if the Sage of Six Paths himself were resurrected, he would likely find the task insurmountable.
As for persuading everyone—he had neither the patience nor the ability to satisfy every opinion.
Perhaps this was also why the First Hokage never attempted to unify the entire world.
"Truly ending the war!"
Toshiro's words left everyone momentarily stunned. Mimura, the clan heads, the ordinary ninjas, and even Sarutobi Hiruzen himself were momentarily at a loss for words.
For the border ninjas who had been away from Konoha for years, their eyes burned with emotion. Some clenched their fists; others exhaled sharply as if releasing years of pent-up tension.
"We will give it everything we have!"
Toshiro nodded, satisfied with their resolve.
"Go and make your preparations."
He cast a sweeping gaze over the determined faces before him. The sight pleased him.
"After this battle... I'll take you all home."
Leadership was simple—set a goal, paint a compelling vision, and lead by example. Reward those who excelled, and together, forge the future.
That was how a team thrived.
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
Just as Toshiro was delivering his pre-war address, a heated argument erupted in the Kiri camp.
"Terumi, why did you order a retreat?!"
Kaguya Kaito's voice was sharp with frustration as he glared at Mei, who sat calmly in the main seat. "This was the perfect chance to crush Konoha's defenses in one decisive strike!"
The battle had been going in their favor. With just a little more effort, victory might have been within their grasp. Yet, at the crucial moment, this woman had given the order to fall back.
Damn it!
Mei let out a weary sigh. "Did you not see their reinforcements arriving?"
Her tone was measured, but there was a hint of exasperation. Too many of her allies were blinded by their thirst for battle, eager to push deeper into the Land of Fire without pausing to consider the actual situation.
"So what?" Kaito scoffed. "It's just one man and a summoned beast. At most, we'll lose some expendable soldiers, but we can still overwhelm Konoha's forces before their main reinforcements arrive!"
Toshiro was formidable, yes—but he was just one Uchiha. They had fought against the Hyuga Clan and other powerful foes before. If nothing else, they could simply grind him down through relentless combat.
To Kaito, it was a risk worth taking.
"Ao, show our logistics list to this esteemed guest from the Kaguya clan," Mei Terumi said, rolling her eyes.
She had no patience for warriors like Kaguya Kaito, who only thought about fighting and killing without considering the bigger picture.
"Is the Yondaime... insane?"
Kaito's eyes widened as he skimmed through the list Ao had handed him. His voice carried a mix of disbelief and alarm.
What was this?
Medicines, weapons, explosive tags, ration pills, and food—every single category of war supplies was nearly depleted.
Even the usually fearless Kaguya, known for their unwavering resolve, had a thin sheen of sweat on their foreheads.
Mei sighed, her tone laced with exasperation. "I don't know if he's crazy or not, but if this battle drags on any longer... I might be the one to lose my mind."
The Fourth Mizukage's order had been issued in haste, and to make matters worse, the bloodthirsty clan leaders within Kiri had eagerly fueled the flames of war.
The Kiri ninjas were woefully unprepared for this war.
How dire was the situation?
Food? Less than half a month's supply remained. The only provisions available—ration pills, hemostatic bandages, and other essential items—were whatever each ninja carried. Once those were depleted, there would be no replacements.
Explosive tags, ninja swords, kunai? They weren't entirely out, but the stock was so low that calling it 'supplies' would be an overstatement.
Ninjas from prominent clans fared slightly better, but the civilian ninjas, those without clan support, had nearly exhausted their personal reserves.
If supplies weren't replenished soon, another battle or two would leave them fighting Konoha's forces with nothing but their bare hands.
Kaguya Kaito's expression was tense as he lifted his gaze toward Mei, his voice tinged with uncertainty and a fragile sense of hope. "I heard the Yondaime will be arriving on the battlefield soon… He must be bringing logistical reinforcements, right?"
Kaito had received word that the Mizukage had secured a batch of supplies, currently en route across the sea and expected to arrive at the camp soon.
"That should solve our problem, then!"
However, instead of relief, Mei's expression darkened, her uncertainty evident.
"What's wrong?" Kaito asked, sensing her unease.
She hesitated before answering. "I received information that these supplies… might have been tampered with. The actual quantity could be far lower than expected."
If Kaito had heard about the incoming supplies, Mei Terumi certainly had even more detailed intelligence. And what she knew was deeply troubling.
A report had reached her stating that only one-tenth of the stockpile—painstakingly gathered through immense effort—remained.
But… how could this be possible?
These shipments were personally overseen by the Yondaime himself. There was no reason for him to allow such a blunder—or worse, orchestrate it.
Her sharp eyes filled with doubt and confusion as she tried to make sense of the situation.
In the end, she could only shake her head. The Fourth Mizukage would arrive soon. Once he did, she would finally learn the truth.
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