How to Survive as an Uchiha

158 – Preparing the Battlefield

The Land of Rice Fields, as a neighboring country of a great nation, was relatively fortunate.

It only bordered one great nation—on its left was the neutral Land of Iron, and on its right was the Land of Hot Water, which technically had a ninja village but was functionally irrelevant.

After the First Great Ninja War, the five major powers of the shinobi world, seeking to reduce friction between themselves and simplify post-conflict reconciliation and negotiations, established a policy to avoid directly bordering one another. This left smaller countries to act as buffer zones.

Following the Second Great Ninja War, the five great nations began actively weakening and dividing the smaller nations around them to prevent scenarios like the rise of Ame.

By the time of Masashi, these so-called buffer zones had become stages for tragic theater: suppressed and exploited during peacetime, and devastated during conflicts.

Yet, the level of suffering varied. Countries like the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain were among the worst hit.

The Land of Rice Fields, however, was not a disaster zone. Its geographical luck meant it avoided being the primary scapegoat for the costs of war when Kumo and Konoha clashed, thanks also to the neutrality of the Land of Iron nearby.

However, during conflicts between Kumo, Konoha, or Suna, the Land of Rice Fields was still at risk of becoming collateral damage. Unlike the Land of Hot Water, which wholeheartedly aligned with the Land of Fire, the Land of Rice Fields was too cautious to offend anyone—even though it was formally an ally of the Land of Fire.

So when the Raikage asked to use the Land of Rice Fields as a meeting ground, it didn't dare refuse.

When A and his elite guard stepped into the country, his first thought was of his father, who had passed through here during the Third Great Ninja War.

Kumo's decision to fight Suna during that war had surprised many—no one expected Kumo to travel so far to engage Suna in a conflict, even if it was for a tailed beast.

Compared to other villages, Kumo's combat style heavily leaned on ninjutsu and taijutsu, with limited battlefield control techniques. Thus, the power of tailed beasts was critical. Like Konoha, Kumo invested heavily in jinchūriki re

"Please summon the elders, the Advisor, Masashi, and the ANBU Commander," Minato instructed the ANBU member. Then, after a moment's thought, he added, "Also, I need to know the Raikage's recent activities. Please investigate."

"Yes, Hokage-sama."

Once the ANBU disappeared, Minato didn't immediately open the letter. Instead, he took out the draft plan Masashi had previously given him.

It was a simple, straightforward outline on a single sheet of paper:

Minato felt it—Masashi didn't just dislike Kumo; it was as if they had personally desecrated his ancestors' graves.

He sighed silently, then heard footsteps approaching.

The office door opened, and the invited guests entered.

Leading the group was Hiruzen, already dressed in full battle gear.

"Minato, are we ready to move out?"

"No, Sandaime-sama, Kumo's letter just arrived. I haven't read it yet," Minato replied with a wry smile.

Because he also saw another retired heavyweight: Torifu.

This was a true veteran.

A member of Tobirama's squad, he had once demonstrated unparalleled power on the battlefield with his Partial Expansion Jutsu. After Hiruzen became Hokage, Torifu managed the village's defense.

Though slightly younger than Hiruzen, he was still quite strong despite his age.

Seeing his stern expression, Minato wanted to sigh again.

But he understood.

If Jiraiya had been harmed, he wouldn't have been able to forgive it either.

"What does Kumo say, Hokage-sama?" Masashi asked.

He had been summoned straight from the training grounds and arrived instantly using the Flying Thunder God.

"Let me take a look." Minato opened the letter and skimmed it.

"The Raikage agreed. The negotiations will take place in the Land of Hot Water. He didn't reject our proposed location but stipulated that each side can bring no more than five people."

"Five people, huh…" Masashi frowned. "That's not enough to split up."

"Fugaku, I'll have to trouble you to stay and guard the village," Minato said.

"Understood." Fugaku nodded. "I know what's at stake."

Minato then turned to Masashi.

"I won't fully comply with Kumo's demands. You'll come with us—we'll take six people."

"Sandaime-sama, given the current situation, we should have Jiraiya-sensei return to the village."

"Yes, I've already asked someone to contact Jiraiya," Hiruzen said with a nod. "And if Tsunade could return as well, that would be ideal. But I'm afraid she still can't let go of her pain."

At this, Hiruzen's expression grew somber. As her teacher, he felt responsible for Tsunade's suffering.

Hiruzen clenched his fists.

The jutsu Muzo had taught him—this time, he would use it.

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