Chapter 37- Meetings

Heguri sat at his desk in the Genin Corps headquarters and racked his brain. It was early morning in Konoha, before the sun had even come up. That being said, Heguri's day had long since started.

The work never ended, and the Hydra of leading the Genin Corps stood strong and menacing before him.

What laid ahead of him seemed like an insurmountable and unenviable task.

He had been commanded to reorganize the Genin Corps into five divisions that would play important roles n the upcoming war.

Village Defense was self explanatory, and the genin he had in his command would be an important force in keeping the village secure.

The village mainly relied on seals over combat to remain defended, so mere genin could man the walls and stop any invasion from destroying the heart and nerve of the Land of Fire

Cvilian Security was a new division. Now that the Uchiha Military Police were being disbanded, something had to take their place.

While the military side of things were being relegated back to the original chains of command, the Uchiha MP had played a large role in solving civilian disputes and evacuating them in times of danger.

Deliveries, Messaging and Operations were where the biggest source of stress came from for Heguri.

He had to send genin beyond the village walls for those divisions.

Deliveries were responsible for protecting supply trains from bandits and civilians. They would travel between the village proper and any military installation. It was usually safe.

However, they had the depressing task of being the canary in the coal mine,

Genin could definitely handle any bandits that may come around, but enemy shinobi were out of the question.

If enemy shinobi were behind the frontlines, the supplies would simply never show up at their destination and the genin would be dead and gone.

When genin didn't show up, the hunter-nin and ANBU would start looking for the saboteurs that had gotten past the patrols.

Messaging was similar though a little more dangerous. Genin would be in charge of relaying messages between military installations and help keep communications flowing.

They would only travel patrolled routes behind the lines of combat, but the proximity of the routes to fighting and the speed at which the fronts would shift meant that danger followed the genin everywhere.

Operations was the worst though. Genin were to be forward deployed with the chuunin and jonin and would actually live at the front lines and be in charge of any menial tasking that would waste the time of a higher ranked ninja.

Things like camp makings, cooking, supply tallying, cleaning, feeding the injured, or similar tasks.

They wouldn't be responsible for fighting, but the problem was that the genin were subject to sieges and ambushes the same.

When a fortification would fall, the genin would die for sure because they couldn't even run away like another ninja might be able to.

And an enemy ninja had no reason to take a genin prisoner, they had no information, were wroth nothing in prisoner exchange, and took up valuable resources as prisoners of war.

So they were simply mercy killed wherever they were found.

The last two wars had had death rates for Operations Genin in excess of fifty percent.

Heguri focused on Konoha doctrine and started planning out how to divide his forces.

Konoha had 5 bases around the country between Konoha and its borders. 3 bases were to defend from Iwa, Suna and the minor villages on the western border, one was for Kumo, and the last was for Kiri.

The bases were the local Command and Control centers, supply depots, and field hospitals. They were the arms and legs of Konoha, and though they operated somewhat independently, they all ultimately answered to the head of the village, the Hokage.

Each base had under its command 5 forts, and each fort had 5 outposts associated with it.

The forts were where the main fighting forces were concentrated, the jonin, and they also served as supply centers for the outposts.

The outposts were forward deployed reconnaissance stations that patrolled the border and increased the fighting force of the forts when necessary.

A total of 5 Bases, 25 Forts, and 125 Outposts.

Heguri looked back at the documents he received overnight, updates on the Chuunin Brigade and Jonin forces deployments and drafts.

It was expected that there were 1000 ex chuunin and ex jonin in the village still under the age of 55, but when the village went around and actually tried to press these people into service, it was found that maybe only half were fit enough to be deployed.

The Jonin Force had gone from ~100 to ~150.

The Tokubetsu Jonin had gone from ~200 to ~300.

Chuunin had gone from ~600 to ~850

The Genin Corps was at 1035 personnel.

1 Tokubetus Jonin, Heguri himself. Not very valuable in combat since his specialization was Ninja Management and Development.

41 Academy Teachers

993 Genin, though 27 of them were jonin-track genin that had just been graduated from the academy.

The current play of deployment was as follows.

1 Tokubetsu jonin pair to each outpost. 50 in reserve, usually acting as hunter-nin and patrol elements closer to Konoha

1 four man jonin squad to each fort. 50 in reserve, mainly manning command structures and bases.

50 chuunin to each base. 600 left.

2 Chuunin to each outpost. 250 left.

2 four man chuunin squads to each fort. 50 chuunin left in reserve and as village defense.

The reserve forces would be in Konoha between missions and deployments, rotating in and out with deployed troops.

Heguri shook his head, there were barely enough ninja to even man the defenses. If Konoha started to take losses, portions of the border would be undefended. They were already spread too thin.

Then came the distribution of Operations Genin.

It was decided that each base would receive 20 genin.

Each fort, 4 and each outpost 2.

Heguri tried to argue against the deployment of genin to the outposts, it was simply too close to the fronts, but the Hokage was insistent.

He said that there would be definitely be a use for the manpower.

That's when Heguri knew that this war would be even worse than the ones before.

The Genin would definitely see combat, and they would be fighting in the fronts the same as chuunin and jonin in some capacity.

20 genin to the 5 bases. 800 left.

4 genin to the 25 forts. 700 left.

2 genin to 125 outposts. 450 left.

A total of 450 genin in the Operations Division, and fifty percent would probably die. 225 genin.

Salt and Ash were all the Heguri could taste as he reviewed his work.

The Deliveries division would need 50 genin in the village, 10 at each base, and 4 at each fort.

A total of 200 genin. only 250 left.

Messaging division, 4 genin at each fort. 150 genin left.

75 genin each in Village Defense and Civilian Security. No genin in reserve. 250 academy students in their last year.

Heguri turned his attention to the 41 academy teacher he had just conscripted.

They were chunnin, yes, but they were former genin corps members like himself. They were not particularly strong in combat.

Most of them were specialized in logistics and management like he was.

Messaging would be controlled by the forts and bases, so he doesn't need any chuunin there to lead the corps members.

Deliveries would need 10 chuunin in the village to manage the scheduling alone, and another 10 out in the bases, 2 at each, controlling Deliveries out there.

Village Defense and Civilian Security both needed 10 Chuunin to organize and lead them.

He only had one academy teacher left to be the captain of the Operations Division.

The division was so spread out among bases, forts, and outposts, so it only needed one captain, someone to train the genin before they went out, and someone to deliver their ashes home when they came back.

Heguri had just the man for the job.

The only Academy teacher with combat experience.

Yama.

A knock sounded out on his door to which he replied 'Enter'.

Yama walked in, and Heguri checked his clock. 0600 already.

Speak of the Devil and he shall appear.

Heguri gestured to a chair in front of his desk and asked Yama to sit.

Yama made himself comfortable, but he didn't mince his words, and cut straight to the point.

"Why am I here?"

Heguri smiled grimly, not exactly knowing where to start, but assuming the best place was the beginning.

He told Yama about the breakdown in communications between nations and the village plans to get back into a wartime state.

He then filled in Yama about the division of troops and Konoha military doctrine and how the Genin corps would be organized.

Yama was stone faced and listened impassively. Once Heguri was done explaining things, Yama asked.

"But why am I here?"

Heguri's grim smile showed up again.

"You're promoted to Captain of the Operations Division.

It'll be your job to get them ready and then get them deployed.

You'll also be in charge of the team assignments."

Yama's face didn't change at all.

"How much time do I have?"

"It'll take an entire month to deploy everyone, and the Hokage wants everyone on station before the end of the year.

So you have the next 30 days to train all of the members of your divisions, and then you send out 5 teams of 20 for the bases.

2 weeks after that, we man the forts. 2 weeks after that, the outposts.

Here is some more information about your roles and responsibilities."

Heguri handed over a large packet of information.

"It also includes a list of all your subordinates, our tentative timeline, and a recommended skill set for all deployed genin."

Yama took the packet into his hands, feelings its heft, and stood up before walking out of the room.

"Then I have no time to waste."

Yama's first order of business took him to the assignment board in the Genin Corps HQ.

He had a secretary put a list of all genin under him onto a poster with the following orders.

Muster in the field at Training Ground 14 by noon today.

If you find your name on this list, read over all other names, and inform as many as you recognize before muster.

Yama had no way of getting his orders out to the 450 genin he had below him by himself, so he would have to rely on word of mouth and numbers for now.

Yama made his way to the training fields and started reading over the recommended skill lists for Operations genin.

It had three separate categories.

Physical

Chakra

Knowledge

Physical was a fairly intuitive section and had a few standards that each genin should meet.

Knowledge of all barehand and kunai forms of Academy taijutsu.

Ability to throw 9/10 Kunai or Shuriken into a 4 inch circle at 25 yards.

Ability to lift 150 pounds.

Ability to run 1 mile in 2 minutes on level ground.

Ability to run 5 miles in 20 minutes.

Ability to run 50 miles in 5 hours.

Ability to hold breath for 5 minutes.

Ability to hold breath for 3 minutes following an 800 yard run in 75 seconds.

Strength and Combat standards made up a few subsections, but the main focus was on stamina and speed.

Speed and Stamina were the tools that enabled a genin to survive.

If a genin encountered anything, they needed to run, and the further and faster they could, the better.

Chakra Skills was the next section.

Academy 3 Jutsu

Chakra Suppression

Tree Walking

Tree Jumping

2 additional e-rank Jutsu

Ability to cast 1 offensive and 1 defensive jutsu 3 times each

This was similar to the physical section in that the skills prioritized were those that allowed a genin to run, hide, and evade death.

Direct combat was the last option a genin should take in almost any circumstance in war.

Knowledge Skills were also as expected by Yama.

Konoha Basic Sign Language

First Aid

Foraging

Konoha Code Deciphering

Konoha Supply Tracking

The skills were fairly simple, and while the first three impacted survival, the last two had to do with usefulness.

Genin weren't good for much in combat, but if they could take the place of a chuunin who was tracking supplies or deciphering a message, that was worth much more since it freed up another ninja to fight.

Most of what genin would do in operations fell into the miscellaneous tasks category, and it showed, even in their training.

With 450 subordinates, Yama knew that he would be unable to train everyone due to time restraints, so he would have to structure the training in the same way that he structured his first order.

It would have to come down to the genin themselves to train themselves, however, he could definitely help them.

Over the course of the morning, Yama worked to turn the large field in training ground 14 into several different stations that each focused on a different skill from the recommended skill list.

When he was finished, it was a few minutes past noon and it seemed like all his subordinates were present.

Yama had left a sign in sheet near a table in the middle of the field, and as he leafed through it, all signatures were present.

Yama put the sign in sheet back down and jumped on top of the table.

The genin were milling about, idly talking in groups of 5 to 10 spread out all over the training ground.

Following a deep breath, Yama bellowed his orders.

"Operations Genin, Form Up! Rank and File 30 Wide and 15 Deep, in front of me!"

The genin were not particularly well drilled, and it took them quite a while to get into formation. Yama noted that, and filed it away in his mind that in a couple week, he should work on team dynamics for the 20 man squads that would be present at the bases.

After about 5 minutes, the genin were finally lined up properly, though hushed voices could be heard. Yama knew that there was little chance for silence to come about, so he decided to continue his speech, figuring that the ninja would stop talking once he started.

Yama didn't show it on his face, but he swallowed his displeasure and fear, and continued anyway.

"I'm sure all of you have heard the news, but Konoha is preparing for war, and we are manning the border defenses.

All of you here are the Operations Division of the Genin Corps, and you will be the frontline genin in the upcoming conflicts. You will be deployed to Konoha's bases, forts, and outposts.

You will be responsible for any and all miscellaneous tasks given to you by your superior officers on site that are better done by you than a more skilled ninja.

This will include things like cooking, cleaning, laundry, camp making, supply tracking, and other menial works.

Hopefully you never see combat, but due to the proximity, some of you will see it for certain."

Hushed and excited whispers broke out, and Yama raised his hands in a plea for silence before continuing.

"I am the Captain of the Operations Division, Yama. You can refer to me as Yama-Taicho, or simply Taicho, and as I will be responsible for your training for the next month or two, Yama-sensei, or sensei is also acceptable.

I will be getting each and everyone of you information packets tomorrow that give you more information, but here is the quick rundown.

Today, we will be self selecting battlebuddies. Your battlebuddy will be your partner for the entire war. They will not change under any circumstance other than death or severe injury, so pick somebody you work well with.

You will be responsible for your battlebuddy's safety, and you will watch your battlebuddy's back for your entire deployment,

You are a team of 2, and your battlebuddy is who will keep you alive in the coming months.

Each one of you will receive a checklist of recommended skills prior to deployment.

You and your battlebuddy will evaluate each other per the standards that I have written in the surrounding training stations."

Yama gestured to the areas dispersed all over the field, a throwing range, a dueling ring, and various pavilions with references insided.

"You are hereby ordered to be here at training ground 14 from 0700 to 1900 every day until your deployment.

When you cannot perform any more physical or chakra training, work on knowledge skills while you rest.

I will punish anyone not training diligently.

We are going to war, and I will not allow you to die due to your own laziness.

This may be the first time many of you are responsible for your own training.

It is best that you take it seriously, or you will die."

Yama looked at the hundreds of faces before him. He recognized a few, many of the jonin-track children from the academy were here, to include all six of his own students.

Ashes and salt were all that he could taste as he took in the young faces of the Genin Corps Operations Division.

Some were excited. Some were hopeful. Most were scared, but hiding it with grim and stern looks.

A few were terrified. Yama was too.

Yama finished up.

"I'll get you all your skill checklists within the hour. While I am away, familiarize yourself with all the training stations.

After I hand the lists out, you and your battlebuddy will evaluate each other on all the skills before going home. Tomorrow is the first day of training.

Each station was beginner, intermediate, and advanced training instructions to help you along your qualification.

Dismissed."

Yama quickly walked away to HQ where he could get the secretaries there started on creating the 450 info packets and skillsheets he would need.

He tried to ignore the chatter behind him, but failed anyway, frowning at the false bravado that children would put up when scared.

He knew he that mentality would lead to their deaths, and he prayed the he would be able to beat it out of them before they deployed.

Yama came back quickly enough and then observed the genin go about their baseline skill testing until after the sun went down.

At the end of the day, as the last few ninja were filtering out of the training grounds to go home, he was stopped by all six of his academy students.

Iruka stood in the back and tried to ignore him, but all the others came in close.

Tsubaki spoke first.

"Wow, sensei! Why didn't you tell us you were gonna be out commander? This is pretty cool, you can teach me some actual fire jutsus now!"

Yama had a tight and false smile on his face.

"I'm sad to say that that isn't possible. I'll be too busy to help out any ninja individually.

I will only be punishing people that aren't training themselves seriously, and I doubt any of you will have a problem with that.

Tsubaki started to whine.

"No fair, sensei~~ We would've been super strong if we stayed in the academy."

Yama almost grimaced.

"That is true, Tsubaki-chan, but duty calls, and shinobi answer."

Tsubaki was going to speak again, but Shimiko put a hand on her shoulder and then spoke herself.

"We understand, Yama-sensei.

Three of us have completed all the the required skills.

What should be doing past that?"

Yama thought for a moment before answering with a grin.

"Continue your self study I guess then.

I noticed a a couple genin were here from the other jonin-track classrooms, Help me publicize the instructions for people that complete like you all.

Which ones of you finished it?"

"It was me, Domaru-kun, and Hikaru-kun"

Yama nodded.

"It makes sense since all of you have very strong foundations from your clan training and heritage.

Who are your battlebuddies? Did you all pair up or branch out?"

"We stayed within the class. Its me and Tsubaki, Domaru and Hikaru, and Iruka and Mizuki.

We think these are the best teams for teamwork and social dynamics."

"Good idea. Teamwork will be the most important thing moving forward. It's how Konoha operates on all levels.

Why don't you go along? I have some business to attend to."

The ex-students, now child soldiers walked away and left Yama to his thoughts.

As Yama walked back to the Hatake compound by himself, a dour gloom came over him.

Something was going terribly wrong.

This war shouldn't be happening. It didn't happen in the past.

Yama thought he had more time before things went of the rails like Shijin predicted.

Yama wasn't stupid though. He knew for certain it was something he did that sparked this whole mess though.

Was it the Bijuu? Was it the Yondaime? it must've been one of the two.

Either way, Yama was responsible, and he had blown on the embers of war, and the embers threatened to relight into a blazing inferno.

Yama thought back to his promise to Nagato again, and he clenched his fists in resolution.

Yama would end the cycle of hatred.

This war was his responsibility, and he would save everyone this time.

There were no other options.

As Yama set his mind on peace and continued his walk home, his thoughts continued to stir.

Kurama was wise, and Yama could probably get some answers out of him if they talked.

Fugaku sat in the seat of honor, and watched the clan members walk into the meeting hall one by one and seat themselves on the floor cushions spread about.

He schooled his expression, giving away nothing, and waited for all Uchiha adults, civilian and shinobi alike to file in.

Once everyone was accounted for. Fugaku finally stood up and addressed the room with an emotionless voice.

"I have called for an All-Hands emergency meeting to disburse a message from the Hokage's office.

We are hereby released from our Clan House Arrest.

The Uchiha Military Police is hereby disbanded.

All Shinobi are hereby conscripted into the normal shinobi forces.

I open the floor to the room."

One of the clan elders quickly stood up. One of the warhawks from the Era of Warring States. Someone who had seen the creation of the Hidden Villages and remembers what is was like before them.

"Does Konoha take us for fools and cowards?

Are we to so quickly roll over and die for them like this?

I find their timing awfully convenient.

Konoha had incurred major losses from the third war, and with the recent Kyuubi attack, even more.

I'm sure anybody with eyes, even if we are locked up in here, has seen the Village getting onto a wartime footing.

This is ridiculous. We have faced decades of persecution, beaten and chained like dogs.

Now that Konoha needs us, we are released from our cages so we can bite their enemies?

They will simply put the chains back onto us after the war is over and we are weakened.

There is no reason for us to die for a village that cares not for its founding clan.

I say we..."

Fugaku quickly interrupted him.

"I have been explicit about forbidding you from voicing your opinions on that matter. Uchiha is still a loyal clan, and we will not be entertaining further discussion of your dare I say near-treasonous views."

The Elder humphed and snorted, not even looking at the Clan Head before sitting back down.

Fugaku continued.

"I open the floor to further discussion."

At this point, Shijin stood up.

"I have not been here long, but I think it is time for me to talk, if I may."

The warhawk elder who had vehemently spewed his rhetoric earlier laughed and interrupted him.

"Sit down boy. You are no Uchiha, You are an outsider.

I don't care if you're adopted. You have no right to speak here.

You are Uchiha in name only, without sharingan, and without the fireball jutsu.

A mere child.

You were only adopted to save face for you whoring father and prostitute mother.

Silence yourself and crawl back to whatever brothel you came from.

The elder dismissed Shijin with a wave, sparing only a single dismissive glance at the youngster.

Fugaku was seething, but didn't show it. Elder Shin was a fucking piece of shit, and though Fugaku's older brother had a character flaw or two, he was still a loyal ninja who died honorably in service.

Fugaku was able to hide his emotion and prevent his outburst, and simply let Shijin rebut, he knew the boy could hold his own position.

Shijin responded quite quickly.

"You seem to misunderstand, elder, I wasn't actually looking for your permission, merely being polite.

I don't care for anything you might have to say on that matter.

I am 16 years of age, and that makes me an adult as a civilian.

Seeing as this is a clan meeting of shinobi and civilian alike, it matters not my shinobi status, I have a right to speak as much as you do.

As for your claims that I am an outsider, they are indeed true in some ways, so I take this time to speak as an outsider.

I have been here in Konoha for a limited time, but I have listened and watched.

I can tell you that the Uchiha are strong, and we have a nobility that is born from that strength.

The Uchiha have a long and illustrious history.

It was we, along with the Senju that founded Konoha, that created the Hidden Village System, the ended the Era of Warring Clans.

The Senju were strong, not even we can deny it.

They were our enemies, our rivals, and they were worthy of it.

They became our eventual allies, and look at them now. There is not a single Senju in the village that we created with them.

But we are still here, we were able to endure.

Where am I going with this you might ask?

We are strong and noble.

But I ask of you, what does it mean to be noble?

Does it mean that we are simply better than others?

Is it simply that the common man is inferior to us?

Are we but an elevated form of life?

All due to our strength?

Is that what nobility is?

What if we look at the Sage of Six Paths?

He was immeasurably strong, and immeasurably noble as well.

But what made him noble?

I can tell you right now that what made him noble is how he used his strength.

He took his strength and he calmed the winds and storms, creating peace for the common man, and giving salvation to all people.

So I say unto you that nobility is not simply being strong.

Were we born to be simple tyrants?

Were we made to be bandit lords?

Were we destined to be the hell of oppression on the neck of every man, woman, and child we are stronger than?

We know we are not destined to such trivial, disgusting, and mundane creatures.

We were not born to be the flies and worms eating the shit and carrion of a world shrouded in despair.

We were destined to bigger and better things.

We are here for reasons that are elevated.

So when you ask about Konoha treating us poorly, disdaining us, hating us, I simply reply, so what?

If they truly wish to do so, we are strong enough to endure it, or strong enough to cast the yoke off our backs.

You called me a child, for it is true that I am unable to use the sharingan or the fireball jutsu.

This is common knowledge, a point of contention in my adoption.

What you may not know is that I was once a ninja, and have since been crippled to mean that I am unable to use chakra in the slightest amount.

But I was still registered as a shinobi when I first entered Konoha.

As such, I am subject to conscription.

Even with my crippled body, I will still serve.

I will answer the call of this village, for right now this is my home.

And I have an obligation to defend it.

I answer the call because the Uchiha are noble, and I would rather die than bring shame upon our name."

The room was quiet, many were taking in the young man's words, and Fugaku took this moment to stand up and speak for himself.

" Elder Shin and Shijin both speak the truth.

We are noble, and we are treated to less than we deserve.

We are going to war, and I willingly admit that I am afraid.

War is terrifying, and the only ones who deny it are but mindless beasts lost in the lust of battle and bloodshed.

I am afraid, and I know that many of you share my same fear.

I am afraid to die in a war.

I am afraid that the persecution of the Uchiha will roar back to life following the war.

I am afraid to send my clansmen to die.

I feel no shame in admitting those facts.

This is because to feel fear does not make you a coward.

A coward is someone who is frozen into inaction.

Someone who knows what they should do, but doesn't have the strength of character to do it.

A coward is a man who lives in the past, always asking What if?

I do not ask myself that question, I ask myself What do I wish to make my future?

I see my son, Shijin, and I am inspired.

He is young, he is crippled, and even he jumps into action.

He does not have the strength of the sharingan.

He does not have the strength of jutsu.

He does not even have the strength of chakra.

But he possesses a different kind of strength.

Strength of character.

I see clearly now that within him dwells a soul of steel, unyielding and adamant.

So when I ask myself

Can I answer the call of duty?

Can I put it all behind me?

Can I forgive?

Can I move forward?

I say unto you, LET IT BE KNOWN!

Uchiha 'Wicked Eye' Fugaku is not a coward!"

Fugaku had practically shouted the last words of his speech, increasing in intensity throughout.

As his last words resounded in the hall, his sharingan spun to life and surveyed each and every face around him.

He reached up with his right arm, taking his left sleeve into his hand, the sleeve that bore the crest of the Uchiha Military Police, the clan crest, a fan, over a shuriken.

And with a quick motion, and a loud tear, he ripped the sleeve off his yukata.

He looked at the symbol for a quick moment before he callously threw the sleeve onto a lit brazier next to him.

He then reached into his undershirt, and pulled a Konoha forehead protector out.

As he gazed down as the hitai-ate, his fingers traced the gentle curves of the Konoha leaf, and he took in the gouges and scratches that marred the surface of the well worn armor.

With nary a word, and with steady hands, Uchiha Fugaku tied the hitai-ate around his forehead.