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Time had progressed into the 31st year of Konoha's founding, just after the New Year celebrations.
Yuta was constantly by Kiko's side, her advanced pregnancy making even simple walks a challenge, requiring his steady support.
One afternoon, as he was carefully assisting Kiko during a gentle stroll in their yard, an Anbu operative suddenly appeared before them.
"Yuta, the Hokage requests your immediate presence in his office. This is urgent!" With the formal pronouncement delivered, the Anbu vanished as swiftly as he had arrived.
"Why would the Third Generation need you? Has something happened? You should go and see," Kiko said, a hint of unease in her voice, though she urged him to attend to the Hokage's summons, fearing it concerned a critical matter.
"No matter how urgent it is, I need to help you back inside first. Otherwise, I'll be too worried." Yuta insisted, taking his time to carefully guide Kiko back into the house.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" A series of sharp knocks echoed from within the Hokage's office.
"Enter!" The Third Hokage's voice was no longer its usual gentle tone. The worsening war situation had frayed his nerves, leaving his voice hoarse and strained.
"Squeak!" Yuta pushed open the door to find the office crowded with figures. Not only was Danzo present, but also the patriarchs of the major ninja clans, including the Uchiha clan leader.
Their solemn expressions immediately signaled a shift in the war's trajectory.
The Third Hokage saw Yuta enter, waved him forward, and then addressed the assembled clan leaders, his gaze sweeping across the room.
"I believe everyone here is familiar with this individual? He will be the captain of the reinforcement team this time. I trust everyone feels a measure of relief with Yuta leading the charge, wouldn't you agree?"
Yuta stood before the Third Hokage, a sense of confusion washing over him at the Hokage's words. Captain of the reinforcement team? He had no intention of heading to the battlefield now. Kiko was on the verge of giving birth, and his place was at home with her.
Before he could voice his refusal, the Third Hokage removed his pipe from his mouth, tapped it firmly on the desk, and then turned to Yuta, his expression grim. "I know this is a difficult time to ask, but I have no other choice. This is the battle report that just arrived today. Take a look!" He picked up a document from the table and handed it to Yuta.
As Yuta began to read, the Third Hokage continued addressing the clan leaders, seemingly ignoring Yuta's presence. "Now that we have a leader chosen, the next step is to assemble the reinforcements. I'm sure everyone is aware of the precarious situation Konoha currently faces. Don't hold back your thoughts. How many personnel can your clans realistically send?"
The clan leaders exchanged glances, their eyes briefly flicking towards Yuta as he absorbed the contents of the battle report. The Nara clan leader was the first to speak.
"Everyone here understands the current state of the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance. We have already dispatched a significant number of our members to the front lines. Only the elderly, the infirm, and the very young remain within our compounds. However, this time we will be led by Ninja Tanaka, and fortunately, several of our previously injured members have recovered and can be deployed. But the total number we can contribute is a mere seven."
The Ino-Shika-Cho clans, staunch allies of the Third Hokage, were the first to step forward and offer their limited support.
"You are still hesitating at a time like this? If Konoha falls, those clansmen you've left behind will be slaughtered without mercy!" Danzo stood up, his cold gaze sweeping across the assembled clan leaders. "With the exception of those truly unable to move and those who are not ninja, every other member of the Shimura clan will be deployed this time."
"How ruthless!" A murmur rippled through the room as the clan leaders exchanged uneasy glances. Danzo's willingness to sacrifice his own clan members painted a chilling picture of his potential treatment of others.
Danzo, unfazed by their fearful gazes, turned his attention to the Uchiha clan leader, his voice slow and deliberate.
"In this war, we have all sent a considerable number of our clan members to the front lines, even deploying newly graduated children. Yet, some ninja clans have not contributed a single member to the war effort. They have remained within the village, enjoying the peace bought with the lives of others. Isn't it time these ninja clans finally made a meaningful contribution?"
By this time, Yuta had finished reading the battle report and finally understood the urgency behind the Third Hokage's summons. The situation was far more dire than he had imagined.
The Raikage and the Tsuchikage, for reasons unknown, had ceased their own conflict immediately after the New Year.
Instead, they had both turned their formidable forces towards Konoha's war fronts, launching a devastating offensive that had forced Konoha's two strategic advisors into a desperate retreat towards the Land of Fire, where they were attempting to establish a new defensive line along the border.
However, with no one capable of stopping the combined might of the Raikage and the Tsuchikage, even these newly established lines were in imminent danger.
Urgent letters had been dispatched to the village, pleading for immediate reinforcements, stating that without them, the defenses would surely crumble.
The Third Hokage had initially intended to send two of his three students to the front lines, hoping to provide them with an opportunity to accrue significant military merits.
But then, a new, even more alarming war report had arrived. The Sand Ninja had deployed Chiyo, along with her son and daughter-in-law, to the border of the Land of Fire, engaging Hatake Sakumo in fierce combat along the two nations' shared boundary.
Simultaneously, the Third Kazekage himself had personally entered the Land of Rain, joining Ebizo and effectively pinning down Konoha's forces in that theater.
There was no other option; this time, they had to deploy Yuta. Not only did Yuta need to go, but the Third Hokage himself would also have to join the fray; otherwise, one of the defensive fronts would inevitably be breached by the enemy's overwhelming power.
However, Konoha's ninja forces were already stretched to their breaking point. Aside from some civilian-trained ninja, they had exhausted their reserves of elite shinobi. Thus, the Uchiha clan had also been summoned, the message clear: it was time for them to contribute their strength.
Hearing Danzo's pointed words, the Uchiha clan leader flushed with anger. "Boy! You are far too presumptuous! We Uchiha are, after all, one of the founding clans of Konoha. How can you question our willingness to contribute to the village? There are matters we choose not to discuss openly, but do you truly believe we are so easily intimidated?"
"Alright! We are here to discuss troop deployment, let's not deviate from the topic. Uchiha clan leader, this time the village's hopes rest heavily on your clan. The other clans simply cannot spare many more personnel." The Third Hokage swiftly intervened, cutting off the escalating quarrel between Danzo and the Uchiha leader.
He then looked at the Uchiha leader expectantly. Yuta couldn't help but inwardly exclaim, "Brilliant!" This classic good cop/bad cop routine, the harsh words followed by the appeal, was truly effective! And they hadn't even offered any explicit incentives, effectively forcing the Uchiha clan into a corner.
"In addition to our necessary guard force, our clan can provide 700 ninja. These ninja can be deployed, but I request that they be assigned to Yuta's command."
"Impossible! If they all go to Yuta, what about the other front?"
"Yes, no matter which direction Yuta's ninja are sent to support, the other defensive line will be left vulnerable. Wouldn't that be counterproductive?"
"Bang! Bang!"
Observing the growing discord, the Third Hokage slammed his hand twice on the table, his voice sharp.
"Enough! Stop arguing! Sending all the Uchiha to Yuta is out of the question. The situation is critical. What is your absolute minimum contribution?"
"At least 500! Otherwise, the clan members will never agree." The Uchiha clan leader considered the village's dire straits, met the Third Hokage's gaze, and stated his bottom line. Sending too many Uchiha under the Third Hokage's direct command would breed unease within the clan.
"Agreed!" The Third Hokage conceded without hesitation, then turned his attention to the other clan leaders.
"We Hyuga can contribute seven individuals. My apologies," the Hyuga clan leader stated calmly, offering a perfunctory apology after delivering the meager number.
"Old fox!" Several other clan leaders cursed silently. The Hyuga clan boasted numerous branch families, yet the main family had made no significant contribution.
Their previous excuse had been the necessity of the branch families protecting the main family's safety.
The Third Hokage ignored the Hyuga leader's calculated stinginess and continued to address the remaining leaders.
In the end, the assembled clans managed to muster a thousand ninja. Combined with a thousand civilian-trained ninja, the decision was made: Yuta and the Third Hokage would each lead a thousand-strong force to reinforce the front lines.
Considering the critical state of both defensive fronts, the Third Hokage would personally lead troops to support the Land of Earth, while Yuta would head towards the Land of Lightning. They would depart the following day; the urgency of the military situation left no room for delay.