93. Warfare Wisdom: Planning for the Eastern Front (2)

93. Warfare Wisdom: Planning for the Eastern Front (2)

After delving into discussions on broader themes of warfare, the geopolitical landscape, and Konoha's overall readiness for the impending conflict, the trio shifted their focus more directly to their immediate concern: the strategy for the Eastern Front they were tasked to lead.

To facilitate this detailed strategic planning, they spread out a map across the table, complemented by various figures representing troops, terrain, and key locations. This visual aid was crucial for their planning, allowing them to conceptualize their strategies with precision.

Hiashi, taking the lead in this segment of their meeting, turned to the Fifth Elder, Takumi, with a question that would set the foundation for their tactical discussions, "Fifth Elder, how do you think we should structure our front?",

He inquired. This question was not just about troop deployment but encompassed broader considerations of defensive positions, potential points of attack, and how best to leverage their unique strengths against the enemy.

Takumi, drawing from his wealth of experience, laid out a comprehensive strategy for structuring their forces along the Eastern Front.

"I believe it's best to divide our forces into three primary groups, each responsible for a specific segment of our front: the southern, central, and northern areas. The northern group should position itself in the Land of Hot Water, utilizing it as a strategic buffer between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water.",

"This location can serve as a critical point of defense and control...", He explained, pinpointing the geographical advantage they could leverage.

Continuing, Takumi detailed the positioning of the central forces, "The central segment should be firmly established in the Land of Fire, specifically along the coastline facing the Land of Water, near the former Uzushiogakure. Given the sea's separation, this area's defense is crucial."

Lastly, Takumi addressed the southern strategy, "The southern force should focus on contesting the Land of Water's continental territory. This small but strategically important area represents a significant vulnerability for them, given its isolation from their main landmass.",

"By intensifying our efforts here, we can exploit this weakness, leveraging our continental advantage to pressure them further."

Hikari, weighing in with his tactical insight, supported Takumi's framework with a strategic emphasis on the Southern Front, "Considering the geography and strategic value, our strongest force should be deployed to the Southern Front...",

He suggested, analyzing the map laid out before them, "If we succeed in infiltrating and seizing control of the Land of Water's Continental territory, it would not only be a significant victory in itself but also serve as a pivotal launching point for future operations against their island territories, including the main island."

His finger traced the critical points on the map as he spoke, highlighting the potential routes of advancement and areas of strategic interest.

Hikari's suggestion to prioritize the Southern Front was rooted in a long-term vision for the war, aiming to establish a foothold that could dramatically shift the balance of power in Konoha's favor.

By focusing their most capable forces on this critical juncture, they could create a domino effect, opening up new opportunities for offensive maneuvers across the Land of Water's territories.

This strategic approach underscored the importance of not just winning battles but positioning themselves advantageously for the entirety of the war.

Scouts and sensory-type shinobi would be rapidly mobilized to locate the infiltrator, employing a blend of pursuit and strategic counter-maneuvers designed to either directly engage the enemy or cleverly guide them into prepared traps and ambushes.

This approach underscored the shinobi forces' training in adaptability; they were drilled in the art of constant movement, ensuring they were never static targets.

The very structure of their deployment allowed for quick repositioning, ensuring that units could be redeployed based on the latest intelligence on enemy movements.

Such fluidity in tactics ensured that avoiding a direct engagement didn't translate to a tactical advantage for the enemy.

Instead, it might lead them into a more disadvantageous position, caught in a meticulously planned counter-attack.

Hikari's realization highlighted the depth of strategic planning inherent to shinobi warfare, where every evasion and pursuit was a calculated move within a larger game of deception and strategy.

The emphasis on mobility, surveillance, and the strategic use of terrain and sensory abilities painted a picture of a battlefield that was ever-changing, where victories were secured not just by brute strength but through cunning, agility, and the intelligent use of resources and terrain to one's advantage. It was just like what was expected from the force called "ninjas".

The unique capabilities of Minato's teleportation jutsu, in Hikari's analysis, played a pivotal role in disrupting traditional shinobi warfare tactics.

Minato's mastery of the Flying Raijin made the conventional lines and strategies of engagement virtually irrelevant to him.

With the ability to appear and strike anywhere at will, he could bypass enemy defenses and control the flow of battle, turning the tide in Konoha's favor seemingly single-handedly during this Third Ninja World War in the original story.

Recognizing this, Hikari saw an urgent need to establish and secure merits and glory for his faction before Minato could fully develop and utilize his teleportation to its utmost potential.

"Then you two will also become the Vice Commanders of our Divisions...", Then Hiashi began further defining the roles within their strategic framework.

He proceeded to detail the structure of other leadership roles within their front down the chain of command.

He named Tsume Inuzuka, Shibi Aburame, Ryosuke Gekko, and Isamu Sumi as leaders within their respective areas, leveraging the strengths and unique abilities of their clans in the war. Meanwhile, the remaining small clan shinobi, of their faction, went to the Uchiha's Suna front.

That was also why, for example, Hikari, Hiashi, and Takumi, all, secretly understood that the composition of their forces offered a strategic advantage over the Hokage's Faction in this war for both their and Uchiha's front.

While the Hokage's Faction could boast a larger number of shinobi overall, their force was 'bottom-heavy,' comprising more civilians and lower-ranking shinobi, with only clan shinobi being from the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans.

This discrepancy in the distribution of power, especially in terms of the number of Jonin, was a critical factor that the trio believed could be used to tilt the odds in their favor during this war, fortunately, and why they planned to even try and influence the other fronts later.