Chapter 88: It's All About Self-Satisfaction.
(3rd Person POV)
As soon as the contact was lost with the vanguard, a meeting was called from the Hokage, albeit only consisting of the highest active commanders in this conflict.
-Shikaku Nara, who was responsible for the strategic management of the eastern border, facing the Hidden Cloud and Mist.
-Hiashi Hyuga, leading the forces against the Mist, joined by most of the Hyuga clan.
-Choza and the Akimichi clan, using their special Jutsu to counter the possible clash with the Biju's long enough for reinforcements to arrive.
-Shibi Aburame, the Aburame clan head who was responsible for guarding the north-western front against any invasion attempt by the rock, backed by most of his clan and tasked with slowing down said force while it treaded deep inside the Land of Fire.
-Shikamaru Nara, leading the reserve force in charge of ensuring Konoha's defense.
-Inoichi Yamanaka and the Yamanaka caln, in charge of coordination and communication.
Granted, this lineup did not include the smaller leaders, the medical division commander, or the anbu division commanders, who led tasks vastly different from the combat divisions. They were only going to be given the information required to complete their duties to the best of their abilities… or so was the official explanation. In truth, the only person currently suitable for the medical division was Tsunade, who had made her stand quite clear with the Hokage.
The anbu commanders were experienced, but only on small engagements tactics and covert operations, otherwise taking their orders directly from the Hokage. They could not be recalled from their active duties to simply chime in on a discussion they could likely not be of any help in. It didn't hurt that this helped the excuse in place for keeping Tsuande out.
Can you complain when the senior anbu commanders don't make a noise? It would merely start to lower her standing amongst the shinobi, something she desperately needed now that the one amongst the civilians was already in tatters.
Looking at the streets of Konoha, Shikaku's attention was brought back as the door opened, the Hokage walking in with his default smile on his face. The commanders fell to one knee
"Quite the view isn't it?" – The Hokage asked as the commanders kneeled.
"It's… peaceful. Almost like the war outside is just an illusion." – Shikaku replied as he rose.
"And who's to say it isn't? For the civilians, war is an illusion and peace is the reality, for shinobi, it's the opposite, war is the reality and peace is but an illusion." – Kei spoke as he looked at the civilians walking happily down the street.
Only his back was visible to the commanders gathered in the room, hiding his blood-red eyes filled with what seemed to almost be… pity, from them.
After a moment, a smile rose on Kei's face. Naruto, Sasuke… as well as other members who took part in the final battle. Their intentions and choices had always puzzled Kei. For all of them to fight against infinite Tsukuyomi, it didn't make sense, as some had to at least agree with Madara. A life without pain was the holy grail for shinobi.
It was an integral part of understanding how they thought, after all the offer was more than enticing enough, with no reason for every single one to refuse. After months of contemplations, Kei believed to have found the answer he was looking for, further cementing his belief in his plans, as well as his confidence on… swaying certain individuals much more easily from this moment.
'In the end, humanity's reality will always be what best suits their desire and need. It is quite an amusing situation really. Naruto saved the world from peaceful life inside an illusion… but how many really wanted to be saved from that fate?' – A chuckle escaped Kei as he turned his back to the window, turning towards his seat at the head of the table.
'This is feudal Japan on a global scale we are talking about here… and despite the romanticism, it is one of the worst periods for the common populace, if you exclude Konoha that is, given the liberties that the populace here has. It is a weakness I used to climb up quickly, as well as one I continuously use to make sure things move quickly… but once the people change their minds about me… I can see myself bumping into obstacles just to move the troops from one border to another. Kumo, for example, doesn't have this problem, at least not as long as I don't completely terrify the populace.' – Kei thought as he sat down, leaning back into the chair as it creaked slightly, his commanders still remaining on their knees.
'Less than 80.000 shinobi… no, just a handful of them. Individuals who had experienced loss and overcome it, special individuals, each of whom, despite their reputation as killers and thieves, were thousands of times above the average man and woman in every category. These were the ones who decided that an illusion wasn't the "right" choice. But of course, it wasn't the "right" choice for them. How could people who had lost so much and struggled to finally overcome it… accept that all that pain and loss could be solved so simply. In the end, they needed all their suffering to be worth something, to mean something. In a Genjutsu world, all that would be for nothing.'
'Granted, it was likely not a conscious thought, but definitely, something that the mind worked out on its own, to protect themselves at the very least. A hero who saved the people… from spending their life in a happy dream, simply because for him, it wasn't "real". Honestly, there are too many ways to spin a story.'
"Now then, take your seats. Shikaku, I believe you have managed to identify the source of our recent setback?"
As the words were spoken, the commanders took their seats, leaving only Shikaku standing as he spoke.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. We believe it to be a more advanced version of our own Chakra Diffusion Cannon. The mist clearly doesn't have such capabilities.. so it must be Kumo. The output is much higher… and the range of attack…" – He stopped as the rest went unsaid.
"We believe that an attack of such scale if focused solely on one point… can destroy the entire village. Based on that, taking out the cannon should be a priority. The village might be the next target…" – Shikaku continued to explain as he was suddenly interrupted.
"It won't be. Given the time they had, as well as their element of surprise, the first attack would be for maximum effect. It means they don't have the accuracy at range to attack Konoha, or they would have moved the weapon as close as possible to decimate us. Though this also means the weapon is not in Kumo, creating an opportunity for us to destroy… or acquire it."
"But determining its location…"
"Will be easy. It is simple targeting with a broad range, likely one-directional, not unlike a wide scale, powerful, but relatively simple Jutsu. Given the fact that it struck the entire east coast… it leaves us with only three possibilities. First, that it's in the Mist… clearly unlikely from the fact that it would be stupid to move it further with the restricted accuracy. Second, that it's mobile, likely on a boat… also unlikely given the recoil something of this magnitude would create. It would already be at the bottom of the sea. Lastly… the weapon is on Uzushiogakure, the only landmass on the east close enough for all the conditions to be feasible."
As the Hokage spoke, eyes widened around the table. While the Uzumaki village was dead and gone, the land itself proved to be an indispensable strategic location that gave the perfect foothold to both the Mist and Cloud to initiate their advance into the Land of Fire. Of course, going to the length of desecrating a fallen ally of Konoha, spoke to the lengths this enemy intended to go in this war.
(A.N: Midterms are next week so the next chapter will be in 2 weeks.)
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