When news of the large-scale attack by the Cloud Ninja reached Sōgen, he had just finished his morning duties. Uchiha Futaba had brought him lunch, but he hadn't even touched his chopsticks. The sudden news made him realize this meal would have to wait.

"Cloud Ninja... are they really in such a rush to get beaten?" Sōgen sighed.

Immediately, orders for an emergency assembly were given. The Leaf and Mist ninjas, whether they had finished their meals, were eating, or waiting in line, sprang into action. Simultaneously, the commanders rushed into Sōgen's tent.

Jiraiya, Hōzuki Mangetsu, Hyūga Hiashi, Aburame Shibi, Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Shisui, Nara Suzaku, Nara Shiosui, and Zabuza Momochi—just about all the key figures gathered in the tent.

"Time is tight, so I'll get straight to the point. If you have questions, ask them when I'm done," Sōgen said bluntly, scanning the group. Seeing no one object, he continued, "I've just received intelligence that the Cloud Ninja have launched a massive attack. Our frontline troops have already engaged them. Based on the information we have, it's likely they've thrown everything they have at us. Some have already spotted the Fourth Raikage and the Two-Tails Jinchūriki. Although this wasn't part of our original plan... it's clear that if the Cloud Ninja lose this battle, there's a good chance there won't be any more major conflicts. So, this is the final showdown!"

No one questioned the logic of Sōgen's assessment.

From the moment Ōnoki chose to side with the Leaf, Cloud's chances of victory had dwindled. Although Sōgen had always believed Cloud couldn't win, not everyone shared his confidence. Before the Uchiha reinforcements arrived, the Cloud forces had been advancing rapidly, causing many in the Leaf to lose hope. Instead of defeating the Cloud Ninja, they wished for a quick peace to end the war.

But now, things had changed. At least, many of the Hot Water Village ninjas in the camp firmly believed in Leaf's inevitable victory. The capture of the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki had significantly boosted morale for both the Leaf and its allies. With the arrival of Jiraiya and Hōzuki Mangetsu, this confidence only grew stronger.

"Lord Hokage's Advisor, we haven't received any updates from the Iwa ninjas yet," Nara Suzaku pointed out.

After the conflict in the Grass Country ended, Jiraiya had led his army east to aid Sōgen in the Land of Hot Water. Iwa, after choosing to ally with the Leaf, was also determined not to come away empty-handed. Under Ōnoki's leadership, the Iwa forces advanced east as well, but unlike Jiraiya's land route, they went north, taking to the sea with plans to strike Cloud from behind.

"That's unexpected," Sōgen replied calmly. "But I don't think the Iwa forces will come down the coast of the Land of Hot Water to join us. Their target might be the Cloud Village itself, not the elite troops here."

He pointed at the map with his bamboo staff. The distance from the ports of the Land of Earth to the western coast of the Land of Lightning was not much greater than the distance to the northern coast of the Land of Hot Water. Furthermore, the Cloud forces stationed in the Land of Hot Water were their elite, with the Fourth Raikage and the Two-Tails Jinchūriki present. The Cloud Village, by comparison, might be an easier target.

Nara Suzaku remained silent.

When Iwa first declined to take the land route with Leaf, there were suspicions that they had other plans. As one of the key figures in the Leaf-Iwa alliance, Suzaku had to raise the issue now, just in case any future cooperation problems with Iwa fell on his shoulders.

"Of course, that's just my guess. We won't know for sure until Iwa makes a move. But either way, since the Cloud Ninja have brought the fight to us, we can't avoid it. Jiraiya-senpai, do you have any objections?" Sōgen asked.

"None," Jiraiya replied decisively.

Nara Suzaku seemed to want to say something but chose silence after assessing the room.

"How about you two, Mangetsu, Zabuza?" Sōgen asked the Mist commanders.

"We're pros at killing," Hōzuki Mangetsu grinned, showing his sharp, shark-like teeth.

"Good!" Sōgen snapped the bamboo staff in his hand with a sharp crack. His eyes turned crimson, and his intense killing intent filled the tent.

"If there are no objections or questions, that's it. Get moving! Remember, our frontlines are already engaged with the Cloud Ninja. Follow the plan: I'll lead the charge, and you follow behind to sweep them away."

With that, Sōgen kicked over the table in front of him and strode out, pushing through the crowd.

As he stepped outside, his massive red Susanoo appeared, carefully avoiding the tents and the running ninjas as it strode toward the northeast.

The group of leaders who followed him out watched the Susanoo charging northeast, and without a word, they all sprang into action.

...

"Lord Jiraiya, isn't this a bit rushed? The original plan was for us to launch a preemptive strike," Nara Suzaku said, walking alongside Jiraiya.

Throughout the brief meeting, Jiraiya had raised no objections.

"What's the problem? Just turn the attack into a counterattack," Jiraiya replied, glancing at Suzaku without expression. "Or are you saying you think we need to wait for Iwa to coordinate with us before we can engage Cloud in the final battle? I know you want Iwa to play a bigger role in the battle, and to be blunt, that would make your contribution look better. But remember, defeating Cloud is what's most important. Don't let other concerns cloud that goal."

"... My apologies, Lord Jiraiya. I let my personal feelings get in the way," Suzaku forced a smile.

Inside, though, he was filled with frustration. It wasn't so much that he cared about his own credit. The reason he had pushed Jiraiya to challenge Uchiha Sōgen was because, on the surface, it made sense to give Iwa a more prominent role in the battle.

But deeper down, Suzaku didn't want the Uchiha to continue dominating the battlefield.

If things kept going this way, Sōgen's influence would only grow. When the war ended, even the Hokage might struggle to control the Uchiha. Although the Hokage hadn't said it outright, Nara Shikaku had sent a letter subtly suggesting that something should be done to limit Sōgen's growing power.

At this point, no one doubted that the Leaf would once again emerge victorious, just as they had in previous ninja wars.

So now, the main conflict had subtly shifted from external to internal. Even though Sōgen had been a crucial supporter of Chōza Akimichi's bid to become Hokage, as the victories mounted, Akimichi began to worry that his Advisor might be becoming too powerful.

Thus, Suzaku's maneuvering.

The delays in launching attacks on the Cloud were partly due to Sōgen's obsession with studying the Banana Palm Fan, but also because of Suzaku and others' political moves. They had been stalling, hoping for good news from Iwa's sea expedition, planning to strike together, and avoid further boosting Sōgen's prestige.

Unfortunately, no plan can account for every variable.

No matter how carefully Suzaku and his peers tried to delay, they hadn't expected the Cloud Ninja to launch such a massive offensive! In the ninja world, strategy isn't always the answer.

Otherwise...

The Nara clan had long been the rulers of the Hidden Leaf Village, no longer just in a supporting role.

Jiraiya wasn't particularly concerned with all the village's political scheming. He had little interest in the constant power struggles, understanding some things clearly while others were more obscure. But as long as it didn't harm the village, he couldn't be bothered to intervene. Right now, he just wanted the war to end as soon as possible.

Compared to the dull and tedious task of war, he'd much rather travel, write, and search for the Child of Prophecy. Of course, he'd also check in on Naruto's growth from time to time.

Uchiha Sōgen's decision was exactly what Jiraiya wanted!

Unlike the Hidden Leaf's internal power struggles, the situation within the Hidden Mist Village was much simpler. Both Mangetsu Hozuki and Zabuza Momochi had their own agendas, but their shared love for battle and bloodshed was one of the few things they had in common as Mist ninja. The recent battle with the Hidden Stone ended too quickly, though, which meant fewer losses for the Mist Village.

However...

Just as Mangetsu and Zabuza were getting into the fight, the conflict with the Stone Village abruptly came to an end.

"Zabuza, are you going to take command?"

"Don't kid around, Mangetsu. You're our leader. Abandoning your post isn't something you should be doing."

"You bastard, you know I'm in charge, yet you still dare to defy my orders?" Mangetsu was quite displeased. "Besides, don't you aspire to become the Mizukage? Shouldn't you be honing your skills in commanding armies during battle?"

"Cut the nonsense. By the time Mei Terumi steps down, there'll be plenty of younger candidates vying for the position. What chance do I have to get in line?" Zabuza sneered, steadfastly refusing to be swayed by Mangetsu's attempts to convince him.

This offensive, or rather counter-offensive, had a clear strategy.

Sōgen divided his forces into several units, each commanded by different leaders. He led the charge himself using his Susano'o to break through the enemy lines, with the rest of his troops fighting individually behind him. Though it appeared disorganized, ninja warfare often played out like this, fragmented across many fronts.

Naturally, Mangetsu and Zabuza were in command of the 1,300 Mist ninja.

The two, eager for a bloody battle, argued over who should take command.

Finally, unable to reach an agreement, they decided to settle it with a game of rock-paper-scissors. Zabuza, disappointed at his loss, had to suppress his bloodlust, while Mangetsu was nearly jumping for joy, his beautiful, purple, crystal-like eyes brimming with bloodthirst.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Fugaku joined forces. Their unit consisted of fewer than 1,000 elite ninja, centered around the Uchiha clan, all highly skilled. They were assigned a special mission: to target the Hidden Cloud's top fighters and guard against any surprise attacks.

If necessary, both Shisui and Fugaku could enter battle with their Susano'o.

"Elder Fugaku, I'll leave the command to you."

"Leave it to me."

Unlike the bloodthirsty pair of Mangetsu and Zabuza, Shisui and Fugaku worked together in a calm, collected manner. With just a simple exchange, their strategy for the next battle was decided.

Fugaku frowned slightly, feeling a nagging concern.

Quietly, he asked, "Shisui, do you think leaving the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki at the camp is really safe? This time, he's been left behind, and most of our top fighters have gone out to battle, leaving only a small force of Hot Springs Village ninja to guard the camp."

To be honest, Fugaku thought, the Hot Springs ninja had been easily beaten by even regular Cloud ninja. If the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki were to go berserk or if someone tried to steal him, it would be like handing him over on a silver platter.

"Elder Fugaku, trust Sōgen. The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki is his prize, and no one can take advantage of him." Shisui's confidence was unshaken.

Unlike Fugaku, Shisui had a deep understanding of his good friend Sōgen's personality after working with him on several big operations. Sōgen never gave anything away and always made sure to come out ahead.

"But…"

Fugaku still felt uneasy.

"Elder Fugaku, don't forget our eyes. Whether it's a Tailed Beast or a Jinchuriki, it doesn't matter. Honestly, even if the Eight-Tails escapes, what difference does it make? We'll just capture him again," Shisui said, completely fearless.

Having dealt with Jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts many times, Shisui had come to see them as just another part of life. With the Mangekyō Sharingan, whether it was a Tailed Beast or a Jinchuriki, they were no more than a meal for him. Plus, they had three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan among them!

(End of Chapter)