Chapter 93: A Decision That Defies Tradition

"Candidate selection?" Yamanaka Inoichi pondered for a moment before continuing. "You, me, Hayate Gekko, and Shirakumo Hayama." "What about me? I can do it too!" Might Duy interjected eagerly. When it came to other matters, he might lack confidence, but in terms of speed, Might Duy believed he was second to none—even compared to Kyoichi. Before, he never dared to put himself forward because he didn’t realize his own strength. Or, as Kyoichi might put it— A powerful warrior born with the temperament of a coward. But now, things were different. Especially after interacting with the Jonin. He had a clearer sense of his actual capabilities, and his confidence had soared. "Duy-senpai, since we know each other well, I’ll be straightforward. Your strength and speed are undoubtedly exceptional, but this mission is about disruption—strict discipline, tactical flexibility, and knowing when to strike or retreat. In this regard, you’re still lacking." To put it bluntly— Might Duy had more than enough raw power, but his strategic thinking and adaptability still needed improvement. Once engaged, he tended to charge straight ahead without considering alternative approaches. This mission wasn’t about direct combat—it was about hit-and-run tactics. Sёarch* The Nôvelƒire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bringing him along simply wasn’t necessary. Might Duy looked disappointed but understood Kyoichi’s reasoning. He had spent years as a Genin, mostly completing minor D-rank tasks like farming and fetching water, with little battlefield experience. He was simply unsuited for this kind of fluid combat. So, he didn’t insist. "Kyoichi-sama, how exactly did you capture Hozuki Chikage? And could you explain your battle strategy in detail?" Hyuga Tō asked curiously. Kyoichi glanced at him, feeling a quiet appreciation. Why do the Hyuga clan maintain good relations with the other major families in Konoha? Because of their branch system. Unlike the haughty attitude often seen among the Uchiha, the Hyuga’s branch members weren’t prideful for the sake of pride. They respected true strength, acknowledged ability, and held themselves to rigorous standards. Seeing that everyone was interested, Kyoichi paused briefly before saying, "I wouldn’t call it a strategy. It’s really quite simple—I move faster than his Water Release, and my blade strikes faster than his Body Flicker and Substitution Jutsu." "Uh..." At first, everyone thought he was just bragging. But— When they thought it over carefully, they realized Kyoichi was simply stating the truth. Wasn’t that exactly how it worked? If you were faster than your opponent, you could always maintain an advantage and exploit their weaknesses. Even if you knew Lightning Release countered the Hozuki clan’s Hydrification Technique, it would mean nothing if you couldn’t actually land a hit. They silently admired him. The Hozuki clan hadn’t been seen outside the Land of Water in a long time. Few in Kyoichi’s generation had encountered their Hydrification Technique firsthand. Yet, Kyoichi was well-prepared, clearly having studied their techniques in advance. The Third Hokage hadn’t appointed him just because of "connections." "Then, about your strategy... 'Fight if we can, run if we can’t'—what exactly does that mean?" "It means exactly what it sounds like. If we can fight, we fight. If we can’t, we retreat. If they pursue us, we keep them engaged just enough to disrupt their formation. Then, when they are weakened or unprepared, we strike. And if they try to run, we chase them down." Kyoichi smiled. "This approach is particularly effective against Kirigakure’s forces. Against the other two nations, we would need different tactics." "Oh? And why is that?" Yamanaka Inoichi was intrigued. Kyoichi’s strategy sounded excellent—he was already considering adapting it for use in the other battlefronts. But Kyoichi had seemingly anticipated this thought. "Inoichi-sama, it’s simple. Against Kumogakure, we might not be able to outrun them. Against Iwagakure, we have to deal with Onoki—if we encounter him, we might not escape at all." This time, Kyoichi didn’t need to elaborate. Hayama Shirakumo coughed lightly and followed up. As a former ANBU member, he quickly grasped the core of the strategy. Kyoichi sighed internally. What a missed opportunity to teach something. Unfortunately, his "students" were answering questions on their own now. "Besides that, Iwagakure’s Earth Release techniques can drastically alter the terrain, allowing them to set up ambushes and explosive traps. They’re not easy to deal with." Kyoichi left some parts of his reasoning unsaid—he was particularly wary that Iwagakure might adopt similar guerrilla tactics. If both sides relied on hit-and-run skirmishes, the battles could drag on indefinitely with neither side gaining a clear advantage. By comparison— Kirigakure was the least threatening. Naval battles wouldn’t affect Konoha’s infrastructure, and even if Kirigakure suffered heavy losses, the Land of Water’s leadership would remain rational enough not to push for mutual destruction. "I understand. Kyoichi-sama, when do we set out?" "First, we eat. We depart this afternoon." Kyoichi left behind a Shadow Clone in the command tent and summoned Katsuyu, splitting her into several smaller slugs. He distributed them to Hyuga Tō, the other sensory ninja, and his own squad. "This afternoon, we’ll launch our raid. The scouting team will continue recon and patrols. Any developments must be communicated immediately." "Yes!" Hyuga Tō’s expression was serious. Even Yamanaka Inoichi straightened up, treating this as a crucial battlefield order. Tactical coordination in warfare was of utmost importance! "If you encounter combat within three kilometers, notify my clone. It will handle healing. However, I’ll need those staying behind to assist in managing chakra distribution." Kyoichi didn’t state it outright, but everyone understood. He was talking about supplying chakra. It was an unusual request, but considering it was for the team’s survival, there were no objections. As for the deployment at Nagano Mountain, Kyoichi didn’t interfere. That wasn’t his area of expertise, and meddling would only invite ridicule. However— After Kyoichi’s strategic briefing, morale had noticeably improved. Kirigakure didn’t seem so fearsome anymore. Outside the tent, Asuma, Shisui, Kurenai, and the rest were gathered with Might Guy’s squad. "What do you guys think our task will be this afternoon?" Asuma was itching for action. Although they had fought earlier, he hadn’t felt involved enough. Now, he was eager to clash with the enemy. Shisui and Kurenai didn’t say it aloud, but they shared the sentiment. Only Might Guy... He sat quietly, looking somber. As the others grew more excited, he finally spoke. "We won’t have much to do this afternoon. This is war—people die. Usually, the senior shinobi fight on the front lines while we stay behind." "Why?" Asuma was taken aback, as if his expectations had been shattered. "You keep talking about the Will of Fire, don’t you?" Might Guy’s tone was neutral, but he didn’t elaborate further. In his last team, aside from himself and his Jonin instructor, everyone had died. And the instructor had been gravely wounded and left disabled... The battlefield wasn’t as simple as they thought. "According to the First and Second Hokage’s original vision, you weren’t supposed to enter battle until you were at least twelve. The Third Hokage has already made a decision that defies the will of his predecessors. Do you think he’ll let you charge into the front lines?" A voice interrupted them. Everyone stood up instantly. Kyoichi had appeared on a tree branch above them. A few leaves fluttered down— The next moment, he was standing right in front of them. "Sensei!" "I have a solo mission this afternoon. You two squads will stay with Duy-senpai and coordinate with each other." "Yes!" They had many thoughts, but there was one thing Kyoichi was confident about— Kyoichi was confident that when he gave instructions, they would listen. Kurenai glanced toward the camp and asked, "Sensei, are you planning to take the initiative and attack?" "Oh? The little girl is getting good at analysis. Not bad. While I’m away, make sure to guide them well." Kyoichi enjoyed teasing Kurenai. Her reactions were always amusing—like now, where she furrowed her brows and turned her head away, pretending to be indifferent. But the slight curve at the corner of her lips betrayed her amusement. She was nothing like the composed, mature woman she would become in the future.