V

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Arc V Chapter 2

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"Join my cause, she said."

"Work for me, she said."

"Be my secretary, she said."

"It will be fun, she said."

"See the world, she said ... Wait a moment, I don't think she said that." Fumihiko sighed in disappointment.

The evil overlord in black promoted him to her lackey for all sort of menial tasks. He regretted having accepted her offer. He signed a pact with the devil.

Fumihiko was her official Sherpa, carrying four map scrolls on his back, two under his arms, and a stack of paper. He didn't subscribe to this kind of work, even if his work was apparently of utmost importance, indispensable for the village. At least, that was what Asami told him.

Fumihiko navigated through the Hokage tower, avoiding hitting anything. Staircases and doors were his worst enemy, not to mention masses of careless genin running around.

Fumihiko searched for room No. 3100. Asami gave him the number. She even wrote it down for him. He found the room down the corridor.

Fumihiko opened the door, which proved challenging for obvious reasons. Overloaded, Fumihiko entered the room stumbling right into a heated discussion. Tension filled the air.

Two forces of nature clashed, unyielding, unflinching, uncompromising. Black eyes met black eyes, intellect met intellect as Asami and Shikaku were locked in a staring match.

Asami broke the ice, her frustration palpable. "Shikaku, why are you rejecting my ideas?"

Shikaku deescalated. "I don't reject them. I just find them a little unconvincing, Asami."

Asami rolled her eyes. "So what is your brilliant plan to ensure victory, my friend? I am curious.“

“Sitting back and doing nothing, I assume?"

Shikaku sighed. "Asami, you misunderstand, I never said anything like that. I only recommend adopting a more ... defensive strategy."

Asami's face contorted. "Contrary to your misguided beliefs, I understand very well, Shikaku. Your defensive strategy has only a tiny tiny little flaw."

"And that would be?"

"With all due respect, Shikaku, your defensive strategy is utter bollocks."

Shikaku remained silent. He analysed Asami from behind his desk.

Fumihiko stood on the sidelines and observed . He decided to to use the short truce to flee the scene. He didn't want to get caught in their crossfire.

"Excuse me, I hope I don't disturb you. I will deposit my stuff here and take my leave …" Fumihiko froze. He shivered.

Asami flashed a sweet smile, interdicting his feeble escape attempt. “Where do you think you are going, Fumihiko?“

“You can stay, Fumihiko. You don't disturb at all. Shikaku and I only had a little heated discussion. We merely agree that we disagree on a variety of points." Asami's voice sounded strained.

"Fumihiko, could you please roll out the Konoha map?"

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Maybe this approach would persuade the pencil pusher Shikaku.

Asami wandered across the office. A giant map of Konoha covered the floor, depicting every single street, every corner, every house.

Asami drew her sword. Her blade glid over Konoha's outskirts, easily defendable positions and Shikaku's first choice.

"In your opinion, we should deploy our forces along Konoha's walls to protect the village's civilian population, correct?"

Shikaku crossed his arms. "Correct."

Asami pointed her sword at the main gate. "We will mass the bulk of our forces around the main gate together with most of our reserves."

"According to our assumptions, the enemy will choose the village as their main axis of attack."

"Now decisive question, what's the problem with your plan, Shikaku? What's the flaw?" Asami asked an earnest question without a hint of sarcasm, without a hint of disrespect.

Shikaku leaned back in his chair. "I can't tell. We will defend the village, repel the invasion …"

"That's exactly the problem, we will only repel the invasion.“ Asami interrupted, her words sharp like obsidian.

“It's beyond doubt that we will achieve a decisive victory against Sunagakure and Otogakure, but what then? What will happen afterwards?"

"Will Suna and Oto magically disappear?"

"No."

"Will their forces surrender?"

"No."

"Will the war end?"

"No."

"Will we forget Suna's cold blooded betrayal."

"No!" Asami hammered her words into Shikaku.

"We will win the battle, but not the war. You know how to gain a victory, but not how to use it, Shikaku."

"We won't lose, but we won't gain anything. We only maintain the status quo without achieving decisive victory. The enemy will disengage and retreat. With their forces still intact, Suna and Oto will continue the war."

"If we fight defensively, we will gain nothing but an empty victory, a victory like Kannabi bridge."

Shikaku looked up. He didn't follow. "Kannabi bridge?"

"Yes, Shikaku, Kannabi bridge." Asami started her little history lesson.

"After the battle of Kannabi bridge, the tides of war turned in Konoha's favour. We had Iwagakure on their knees, begging for peace. Kirigakure was in a similar state. Kumogakure wouldn't have surrendered, but they alone couldn't have stopped us.“

“Total victory was in our grasp had we continued the war until the bitter end. The world could have been ours to take, Shikaku."

"But Hiruzen decided otherwise. Unable to cope with the enormous losses, he lost his nerves. Hiruzen wasted a golden opportunity and sued for peace. "

Shikaku and Fumihiko grew silent. They didn't trust their ears. Did they hear right?

"Shikaku, we shouldn't waste the opportunity presented to us. Sunagakure and Orochimaru won't know what hit them when we are finished with them.“

"We know they will attack. We know when they attack. We know where they attack. It's not them, but us who hold all the cards. So let's set up a little trap.“ Asami grinned.

"We will give up the main gate. Instead, we will adopt an elastic defence inside the village supported by strong flanks.“

“We pull back our centre to lure Suna and Oto further and further into the village."

Realisation struck Shikaku. His eyes widened. He finally understood, he finally understood what Asami meant by battle of annihilation. Why didn't he see earlier. It was clear as day. Asami planned an encirclement.

"You want to encircle them?" Shikaku studied Asami. He had underestimated her. The girl wasn't merely dangerous, she was terrifying.

“Indeed, I do. I am glad you understand.“

“The deeper they advance into the village, the more they will be trapped when we close the pocket. Both flanks will link up and cut off their retreat. We will encircle the invasion force, wiping them completely from the face of the earth, each and everyone of them."

Asami's ruby lips smiled accentuated by her pale skin. "Do you support my plans, Shikaku, or do you oppose them? You have the choice."

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