Naruto: Chronicles of a Fire Ninja-Chapter 350 - 346: Change of Plans

In the heart of Kumogakure, within a dimly lit council chamber, the Fourth Raikage, A, sat at the head of a long table, his expression tense as he reviewed the intelligence reports before him.

"This is troubling," he growled, tossing a scroll onto the table. "Our intelligence confirms that Konoha has significantly reinforced their borders. Kakashi of the Sharingan has been spotted along our primary trade routes, and Shisui of the Body Flicker is patrolling the eastern corridors. Even though they are only targeting the bandits in the area."

Elder Masashi, one of Kumo's senior advisors, leaned forward. "That's not all. Our sources indicate that Jiraiya of the Sannin has returned to Konoha. And even the number of ninja on the border outposts of Konoha have also been increased. Though finding exact numbers is difficult, this level of mobilization suggests they might have caught wind of our plans."

"Then perhaps we should reconsider our strategy," suggested another elder, her weathered face creased with concern. "Engaging in conflict with Konoha while their elite forces are on high alert would be unwise."

"Cowardice!" thundered Elder Hideki, slamming his fist on the table. "Backing down now would make us appear weak in front of Iwa, and all of the preparation will be for nothing! We also can't ignore that our reputation would suffer irreparable damage."

The Raikage's brother, Killer B, who had been unusually quiet, spoke up. "Yo, if direct confrontation's too hot to handle, why not strike where they least expect, that's the smart way to dismantle!"

The room fell silent, considering B's words despite his unconventional delivery. Normally he would be out on the valley practicing and would not participate in such meetings, but today was one of the rare occasions he chose to attend one.

Elder Masashi's eyes lit up. "B might be correct. Konoha has reinforced their borders facing us and Iwagakure, but what about their other frontiers?"

"Our intelligence suggests their southern outposts, particularly those near Sunagakure and the sea, are not as active as others. Even though they still got some reinforcement, it is not at the same level as the one at our side," one of the intelligence officers reported, shuffling through his documents.

The Raikage stroked his chin thoughtfully. "The sea route... It's further from our territory, but that very distance might work to our advantage. They wouldn't expect an attack from that direction."

"The terrain would be favorable as well," added another council member. "Our lightning-style users can be particularly effective over water, and the coastal outposts typically maintain smaller garrisons."

Elder Hideki nodded approvingly. "And striking there would still send a clear message without risking direct confrontation with their elite forces. It's both strategic and face-saving."

"But sending such a big force over water couldn't be hidden and Konoha will become alert if they found out about it. Also, the plan of sending our forces in smaller batches couldn't be achieved either; they will simply eliminate them individually considering they are already alert," Masashi pointed out.

"What about Sunagakure?" asked one of the younger advisors. "They're Konoha's allies. So Konoha will not think of an attack from their side."

"The desert poses its own challenges," Elder Masashi replied. "But if we move swiftly through it, we can strike before either Suna or Konoha can mount an effective response. The key would be speed and surprise. Also, Suna will not do anything even if it finds out about it either."

The Raikage stood, his decision made. "Send word to Iwagakure. We are going to follow this plan."

...

In Iwagakure, the Tsuchikage, Onoki, hovered above his seat as he listened to Kumo's proposal. The message had arrived via their most secure channels, and now the Iwa council debated its merits.

"It's an interesting proposition," Onoki mused, his back cracking as he shifted position. "Attacking from the sea route would certainly be unexpected but will be difficult to complete. Though sand, though difficult, is easy to hide."

"Our earth-style users can move through the sand easily as well, getting a better terrain advantage," one of his advisors noted. "And we've maintained several hidden bases in the desert as well. They would also come in handy now; they could provide support."

"The risk would be significantly lower than engaging their forces directly," another council member added. "Especially with Hatake and the Uchiha positioned along our usual approach routes."

Onoki nodded slowly. "And there's another advantage – even if the attack doesn't achieve all our objectives, it will force Konoha to redistribute their forces towards Suna's side as well, effectively weakening their overall border security."

After several hours of deliberation, Iwagakure's council reached their decision. A messenger hawk was dispatched to Kumogakure, carrying their agreement to the plan.

The message was brief but clear: "Proposal accepted. Proceed with Operation Desert Strike. Our forces will be ready to move within three days."

As the hawk disappeared into the cloudy sky, neither village could anticipate how their carefully laid plans would reshape the political landscape of the shinobi world in the days to come.

Back in the Raikage's office, A read Iwa's response with satisfaction. "Send word to our desert operatives," he commanded. "Tell them to prepare for incoming forces, and begin gathering detailed intelligence on those outposts. We'll need to know exactly what we're dealing with."

"Yes, Lord Raikage," his assistant responded, quickly departing to relay the orders.

A turned to gaze out his window at the cloudy peaks of Kumogakure. 'Soon,' he thought, 'Konoha will learn that they are not the strongest village they once were.'

...

The desert sun beat down mercilessly as Yomi and Ryota followed Isao Yamanaka through their new posting. The outpost rose from the sand like a natural formation, its sandstone walls nearly invisible against the desert backdrop until you were almost upon it.

"This isn't like the training outposts you've seen before," Isao began, his voice carrying the weight of experience. The tall Yamanaka, who had been Yomi's instructor in sensing techniques, gestured broadly at the structure before them. "This is one of our critical defensive positions along the Suna border."

"It doesn't look very impressive," Ryota remarked, earning a bark of agreement from his companion Kiba.

Isao smiled knowingly. "That's exactly the point. What you're seeing is just the surface—literally." He led them to what appeared to be a simple door set into the sandstone. After a series of hand signs, the door revealed a steep staircase descending underground.

"Most of our actual facilities are below ground," he explained as they descended. "Cooler, safer, and much more extensive than what appears above. The whole structure is reinforced with chakra-infused materials to prevent collapse."

They emerged into a surprisingly well-lit corridor. "The real heart of our operations is down here. Living quarters, medical facilities, communication center, and supply storage—all protected from both the elements and potential enemies."

"What about monitoring the surface?" Yomi asked, her training in sensory techniques making her particularly interested in surveillance methods.

"Ah, good question," Isao replied, leading them to a room filled with various monitoring equipment. "We maintain a constant chakra detection barrier around the entire outpost. Any unauthorized chakra signature triggers an alert. Plus, our watchtowers are equipped with specialized telescopic devices for long-range observation."

He pointed to a chart on the wall showing shift rotations. "Everyone here has specific roles, but we all need to be flexible. As new arrivals, you'll start with basic defense team duties—maintaining traps, checking barriers, that sort of thing. But you'll also train to fill other roles as needed."

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"How many people are stationed here?" Ryota asked, noting the various names on the rotation chart.

"We typically maintain a force of about twenty-five shinobi, led by our station commander. That includes scouts, defense teams, medics, and runners. Speaking of which—" Isao turned to Yomi, "—your sensing abilities will be particularly valuable here. We'll be integrating you into the scout rotation once you're familiar with the basic operations."

They continued their tour, passing through the living quarters—sparse but comfortable rooms carved into the rock—and the medical bay, where a medic-nin was organizing supplies.

"One thing you need to understand," Isao said, his tone growing serious, "is that while we're technically in allied territory, we're still a forward operating position. We maintain constant vigilance. Every shift, every patrol, every maintenance matters. One slip in attention could mean—"

A sudden alert from the chakra barrier interrupted him. The outpost sprang to life as shinobi rushed to their positions. Isao's expression hardened.

"Well," he said grimly, "looks like you'll get to see active operations sooner than expected. Follow me, and stay alert. This is where your real training begins."

The alert turned out to be a false alarm—just a large desert creature passing too close to the barrier—but Isao seemed pleased with how the new arrivals had responded to the situation.

"Remember," he said as they returned to their posts, "out here, we're not just watching for enemy ninja. The desert itself can be just as dangerous. Speaking of which—" he checked the rotation chart again, "—you two are on evening patrol with me. We'll start your desert navigation training then."

Yomi and Ryota exchanged glances, the reality of their new assignment finally sinking in. This wasn't a training exercise anymore—this was real border defense, and they were now part of it.