Not everyone in the room acknowledged Shiki's insight, but even so, his words had weight.
"It's exactly because they lack supplies… that they've become desperate."
This time, it wasn't Shiki who spoke—
It was Nara Shikaku.
The genius of the Nara clan understood instantly what Shiki meant.
He folded his arms, eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"Right now, Sunagakure is like a starving jackal," Shikaku continued.
"With nothing left to lose, it's biting straight at Konoha's throat. That's why they even sent their One-Tail Jinchūriki into battle."
He shot a glance at Shiki—one filled with appreciation.
Smart people always recognized each other.
Even if he didn't know Shiki's exact strength yet, Shikaku could tell immediately that this blond swordsman wasn't simple.
"When this war is over," Shikaku asked with a small smile,
"I wonder if Shiki-san will have time to talk?"
"Of course," Shiki replied, smiling lightly.
He had plans that required Shikaku's help anyway.
With the Nara clan head acknowledging Shiki, the other jonin who had doubted him earlier fell silent, embarrassed.
"Ahem! Alright—back to business!"
Tsunade, secretly proud of Shiki, clapped her hands together.
But this wasn't the time for flirting or bragging.
Shikaku immediately shifted back into strategist mode.
"Given their situation, Sunagakure only has one option left," he said.
"They want to smash Konoha in one violent, decisive strike."
Their supplies were exhausted. Their economy was failing.
If White Fang hadn't died, Sunagakure would have surrendered long ago.
His death revived their dying hope—and pushed them into madness.
"Now they've gathered the Third Kazekage, Chiyo the Puppet Master, and the One-Tail Shukaku… it's not a force to take lightly."
"So what can we do?"
Tsunade crossed her arms impatiently.
"I don't want another lecture. Just tell me how to beat them."
"Two options."
Shikaku raised two fingers.
Everyone leaned in.
"The first," he said,
"is to drag things out. Sunagakure is already on its last legs.
If we force a long-term war of attrition, they will surrender."
"Next."
Tsunade didn't even consider it.
She could never watch Konoha bleed soldiers for the sake of patience.
Shikaku nodded.
"The second option is simple:
Fight them head-on.
Defeat Sunagakure in one decisive battle.
Shatter their morale—and the war ends instantly."
It was the straightforward solution.
But not an easy one.
"However…"
Shikaku hesitated.
"With the strongest Kazekage in history, Chiyo's peak-level puppet mastery…
and a rampaging tailed beast…"
He looked around the room, voice tightening.
"A frontal victory… won't be easy."
--
"Chiyo… you should know better than anyone—we no longer have the qualifications to continue this war."
Inside the war council chamber of Sunagakure, the atmosphere was suffocating.
On the main seat sat the Third Kazekage, expression stern but composed.
Beside him stood Chiyo, her face lined with age and grief, yet still carrying that unmistakable sharpness that made even elite shinobi keep their distance.
Around them sat:
Chiyo's brother — Ebizō
Bunpuku — the Jinchūriki of Shukaku
Several elite Sand jonin
And advisors who looked equally exhausted
The war had pushed Sunagakure beyond its limit.
Their reserves were gone. Their supplies were gone.
If not for Chiyo's insistence, the Kazekage would have already ordered a full retreat.
Everyone knew the truth:
In the Sand Village, even the Kazekage's authority didn't completely overshadow Chiyo's.
Her reputation as the puppet master who held the entire village together for decades carried terrifying weight.
That alone was why the Third Kazekage always watched her carefully.
Chiyo finally raised her head.
"Kazekage," she said quietly.
Her voice no longer carried the stubborn fire of an old war hawk.
It was tired.
Tired in a way only someone who had lost both a son and daughter-in-law on the battlefield could be.
"When this battle ends—regardless of victory or defeat—I will resign from Sunagakure's puppet brigade.
I will no longer participate in village affairs."
The entire room stiffened.
Even the Kazekage's eyes widened.
Her quitting was something he desperately wanted but never dared suggest out loud.
So when she said it herself…
"…Is that your final word?" the Kazekage asked carefully.
"Every word is true," Chiyo replied, gaze firm.
"This is not a decision I made in the heat of the moment."
Ebizō's heart clenched.
"Sister…"
He looked at her with worry, but seeing her expression—so calm, so resolved—
he could only sigh softly.
The death of her son and daughter-in-law…
It hadn't just wounded Chiyo.
It hollowed out a piece of her soul.
Bunpuku, the monk-like Jinchūriki, opened his eyes at last.
"For this to be Chiyo's final request…"
He pressed his palms together.
"Bunpuku will naturally assist."
The other jonin didn't speak, but their eyes showed unmistakable seriousness.
Respect.
Sympathy.
A recognition of a leader who had given too much.
All of this made the Kazekage grit his teeth in irritation.
He was the Kazekage.
The leader of Sunagakure.
Their kage.
So why was it Chiyo that everyone naturally looked toward?
Are they rebelling, or what?
Still...
this was the perfect opening to finally remove Chiyo from political influence.
He just needed this final battle to end—one way or another.
The Kazekage nodded solemnly.
"Very well. After this battle… win or lose… Sunagakure will withdraw.
We cannot afford another day of war."
If they continued, people would starve.
Their economy would collapse.
They would cease to exist.
Chiyo simply closed her eyes.
"We will win this battle."
Chiyo's voice carried no hesitation.
It wasn't just determination—
it was vengeance.
A deep, burning need to bury Konoha with her own hands so she could finally rest with her son and daughter-in-law.
The Third Kazekage looked at her for a long moment, expression unreadable.
He didn't argue.
Didn't try to talk her down.
He simply turned away and addressed the waiting jonin:
"Prepare all available forces.
We launch the final assault immediately."
"Yes, Kazekage-sama!"
Sunagakure moved.
This would be their last gamble.
Back on Konoha's frontline.
Shiki's war council room had fallen dead quiet.
Even Tsunade, who usually barked first and thought second, could only stare at the battlefield map with a heavy expression.
Chiyo they could counter.
Tsunade's monstrous strength made her the perfect puppeteer slayer.
The Ino–Shika–Chō trio could restrain the Kazekage for some time with their clan jutsu.
They might not win, but they could stall a Kage.
But the One-Tail Jinchūriki—Shukaku ?
No one in the room could take that head-on.
To throw regular jonin at a Tailed Beast was suicide.
The air grew colder.
Nara Shikaku quietly exhaled.
"We're short one powerhouse. Without someone to face Ichibi… there is no clean strategy."
Silence.
Tsunade bit her lip, frustrated. "Damn it… Do we really have to send bodies to fill the gap?"
Before anyone could answer—
Shiki stood up.
He rested a hand on the hilt at his waist, chin raised slightly, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"The One-Tail Jinchūriki," he said lightly,
"leave him to me."
The room froze.
Even the air seemed to stop moving.
"Huh?"
Shikaku blinked.
"What?"
Chōza's jaw dropped.
"You're kidding, right?"
Even Inoichi couldn't hold it in.
Tsunade exploded instantly.
"Absolutely not!"
She slammed her hand on the table hard enough that sawdust jumped.
"That's a Jinchūriki, Shiki!
A Tailed Beast! You can't just—"
Shiki laughed softly.
Not arrogant.
Not careless.
But with the calm confidence of a man who had already decided the outcome.
"Relax."
He tapped the swords at his waist.
"I'm Shiki — the Golden Lion.
Believe me."
Tsunade opened her mouth again and stopped.
Because the look in his eyes wasn't reckless.
It was the look of someone who knew exactly what he was capable of.
His presence washed over the room—sharp, controlled, kinglike.
Even Shikaku felt his pulse skip.
"…I see," Shikaku muttered, lips curving.
"Then the plan changes."
Tsunade still looked like she wanted to punch him…but the fear in her eyes slowly shifted into something else.
Trust.
"But…" she tried again.
Before she could finish—
A terrified shout rang from outside:
"Tsunade-sama! Shiki-sama! Enemy forces incoming!"
Another voice followed, even more panicked:
"Sand Ninja are advancing in full formation!"
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