Naruto: Fate System

Another day of intense, chaotic battles ended.

Shin stood over a large tactical map as he asked the returning captains about their results.

"Has the First Mobile Unit returned? What are the casualties? Was the assault unit's breakthrough successful?" His eyes remained fixed on the map as he spoke.

Even a single title revealed how different the current Akatsuki was from the traditional ninja villages.

Since successfully usurping power, he had been reforming the organization according to his vision.

The first thing he did after taking charge was to decisively overhaul the traditional ninja squad model. He didn't deny that three-to-four-man ninja squads were indeed convenient for carrying out routine missions. Most of the time, they also had excellent complementary roles.

Except, of course, for fostering love triangles among teammates—this squad model had its merits in normal times.

However, from the perspective of large-scale warfare, such a structure was undoubtedly extremely inefficient.

In war, it wasn't necessary for every squad to be a jack-of-all-trades with no weaknesses. War was a clash involving tens of thousands of lives.

Except for rare elite combinations like the three Sannin, no squad could possibly handle every battlefield task, no matter how versatile they seemed. 

At such times, what a squad needed wasn't the ability to do everything but simply the ability to excel at their assigned role. Blindly pursuing complementary abilities within a small squad was foolish. What truly needed to be pursued was broader, large-scale complementarity.

Thus, prior to this, he had restructured Akatsuki's warfare system. Based on conventional ninja squads, he introduced a larger unit—the battalion—and divided them by wartime functionality.

Under his command, the forces were organized into distinct, lethal units.

The First and Second Mobile Battalions were specialized in high-speed mobility, all members proficient in techniques like "Water Body Flicker" and "Body Flicker."

Alongside them, the First and Second Assault Battalions were responsible for frontal breakthroughs, characterized by berserker swordsmanship. Their training grounds were always soaked in blood—their own as much as their opponents'.

Once they drew their blades, they charged with reckless abandon, embracing a mindset of "enter battle, no return."

The First Support Battalion focused on providing long-range jutsu support, consisting of a large number of ninjutsu specialists.

Behind them, the First Reconnaissance Battalion, composed of all sensory-type ninjas within the organization. Their networks of information flowed like water, feeding constant updates to the command center.

In addition to these were a few specialized medical squads. Due to their small numbers, they hadn't been consolidated into a battalion yet and operated as independent teams.

These six battalions constituted the entirety of Shin's force, brought out from the Land of Rain. The structure was unlike anything the shinobi world had seen before—and that was exactly the point.

Although this war was a voluntary call-up, all Akatsuki ninjas who responded were required to unconditionally join one of the six battalions he had organized. Their prior team arrangements were all discarded by Shin without exception. 

Only a leader as "dictatorial" as him could enforce such a radical reorganization of Akatsuki's ranks. Not even Yahiko back in the day could have achieved such unilateral control.

Before today, these ideas seemed too advanced for most people. Even within Akatsuki, they weren't universally approved—opinions were mixed. Some called it madness, others genius.

But the battlefield would be the final judge.

---

"The First and Second Mobile Battalions executed four diversionary missions today, losing sixteen members. The frontline was pushed back to yesterday's dusk position." The battalion commander's voice was steady despite the losses.

Simultaneously, the other reports poured in.

"The First Assault Battalion, utilizing Pain, carried out three enemy-elimination missions," a scarred captain reported. "Killing 86 Konoha ninjas. Even excluding genin, effective kills exceeded 30."

"The Second Assault Battalion broke through the northern defenses," another commander stepped forward, his uniform still stained with enemy blood. "Dismantled all Konoha outposts near the main road, and killed over 200 Konoha ninjas. While most were likely genin, they successfully opened a route to the northern mine."

"The First Support Battalion coordinated with the assault battalions to intercept Konoha's pursuing forces," a woman with chakra burns on her hands reported. "Eliminating 18 Konoha ninjas with Konan's assistance, most of them effective kills."

"The First Reconnaissance Battalion had no independent results, acting in support of other battalions. Report complete."

Compared to their initial entry into the battlefield yesterday, Akatsuki's achievements today were even more spectacular.

The exchange ratio, if made public, would blind every participant on the battlefield.

Granted, their success relied on Pain's overwhelming power and the fact that Konoha hadn't deployed Minato. But even this qualification couldn't diminish the magnitude of their achievement.

Still, for a small nation, to tear such a large chunk from the Five Great Nations' leading village was already a historic achievement.

At that moment, everyone resting in the command center looked at Shin. Their leader was leading them to accomplish a feat no less than what Hanzō once achieved.

---

Around the same time, as the sun set, news of the battle reached Konoha's command center as well. The atmosphere there couldn't have been more different.

Shinno turned ashen-faced as he listened to the preliminary intelligence summary. His hands trembled as he gripped the edge of the command table. "How did it come to this?! As Konoha ninjas, is this how they repay the village when it counts? What happened to their Will of Fire?!"

If yesterday's breach of their defenses could be dismissed as a surprise attack and lack of preparation, then today's results were an outright slap in his face as the current advisor, leaving him no excuses.

Konoha's defenses had been pierced by a group of small-nation ninjas he had once scorned.

Though Konoha had deployed over 10,000 ninjas to the northern front, over 80% of them were genin. Reliable forces amounted to fewer than 2,000.

Now these fewer than 2,000 elites had to hold back Iwa and Kumo while keeping wary like Kusa in check and maintaining pressure on neutral powers like Taki.

The pressure was immense—every jonin and even chunin was an invaluable resource. Shinno's knuckles whitened as he gripped the tactical map, as if he could somehow change reality by sheer force of will.

But in just one day, over fifty of these core ninjas were lost in the direction of the Land of Rain alone.

Without enough elite ninjas to oversee the border, merely throwing genin at the problem was insufficient to hold such an expansive front. The situation was like trying to patch a breaking dam with leaves.

At that moment, Shinno recalled his earlier derision of Minato and felt his face burning.

The reporting ninja lowered his head, suppressing his emotions as he quietly conveyed the request.

"Jonin Inuzuka Hikari, responsible for the defensive line, has requested reinforcements," he said. "He specifically emphasized the need for more Hyūga. The enemy excels at deception and long-range mobility. The frontline urgently needs more sensory and reconnaissance ninjas."

This request only deepened Shinno's frown. "We can't spare any from the other fronts!" he snapped, then immediately regretted his outburst. Father would have kept his composure, he thought miserably.

---

In Akatsuki's forward command post, Shin was poring over a map under lamplight, planning the next day's attack.

He placed a third marker on the map, like placing his third piece on a chessboard.

The first two pieces were Pain and unity—Akatsuki's advantages over Konoha. His unstoppable spear and impenetrable shield.

This third piece, however, was different. It wasn't about Akatsuki's strengths, but Konoha's weakness.

"Ninja clans," Shin murmured softly.

Nowadays in Akatsuki, he was the undisputed dictator, wielding supreme authority. Even Nagato and Konan were his loyal followers. 

In Konoha—or any of the Five Great Shinobi Villages—no one could centralize power like he did, not even the Kage.

This was because the issue of shinobi clans was an enduring historical problem that couldn't be ignored.

The Uchiha clan's massacre in the original story was the most extreme example of this issue exploding. Ironically, for Minato, the Uchiha clan turned out to be the most cooperative shinobi clan he had ever encountered during his time in the war.

This was because the Uchiha clan needed something from him—they wanted to place their bets on him.

Thus, when the Uchiha was still in the north, they were the most supportive of him among all the clans, willing to meet almost any of his requests.

The clan head would often say, "For the future Hokage, the Uchiha clan stands ready to serve," while carefully watching for any advantage they might gain.

Unfortunately, a few months ago, after Shisui attacked Danzō, the Uchiha clan was completely withdrawn from the northern war zone.

They were subsequently reassigned to the south and were now fighting Kiri on the southeastern coast, essentially returning to the trajectory they followed in the original story.

Since then, Minato no longer had the support of such a dedicated and powerful clan. The battlefield reports showed the impact immediately—more casualties, slower advances, weaker reconnaissance.

Although the other shinobi clans didn't oppose him, their interactions with him returned to the previous norms. Every request became a negotiation, every order a debate that dragged on far too long.

Shinobi clans would support the commander's efforts, but none of them had any intention of relinquishing their rights.

"We serve the village," they would say, but their actions spoke differently.

For instance, at this moment, even though Shinno, as a strategist, knew that the demands from the frontlines were reasonable, he couldn't immediately give a reply. Reports piled up on his desk, each marked urgent, each requiring clan approval before action could be taken.

This was because the Hyūga clan was a recognized noble clan in the village—a prestigious one at that.

For the Hyūga clan, whether it was forming teams or carrying out missions, the commander had to consult their clan representative before issuing orders.

Direct orders were out of the question. Every request had to go through proper channels, wrapped in careful diplomatic language.

Shinno frowned deeply and could only ask, "Is Minato-sama in the command center right now?"

A subordinate shinobi replied, "No, Minato-sama has once again ignored objections and gone to the battlefield himself. He's likely still engaged with the forces from Kumo. Last report had him near the northern ridge."

Minato was a diligent and dedicated commander who would personally step onto the battlefield whenever he had the chance, alleviating pressure on his subordinates.

The north had held out this long largely because of his indispensable efforts. Bodies of Kumo ninja littered the battlefield wherever he appeared.

However, at this moment, Shinno would have preferred if his superior wasn't so dedicated.

"Alright… I'll go talk to the Hyūga clan's elder myself." Shinno gathered the reports and stood, already dreading the coming conversation.

His status and reputation were clearly no match for Minato's.

All he could do now was hope that the Hyūga clan deeply understood the Will of Fire.

But unfortunately, things did not go as he wished.

The meeting room was unnecessarily formal, with seven branch family jonin standing at attention behind their elder.

Before Shinno could even start extolling the virtues of the Will of Fire, the Hyūga clan's elder from the main family immediately began complaining.

"Shinno-sama! You're aware of the great sacrifices our Hyūga clan has made in recent battles! The latest batch of shinobi hasn't even arrived at the frontlines yet, and now even the protective forces around me as the elder are thin."

He gestured to the seven jonin behind him as if they were barely enough to keep him alive. "We want to support the village's war effort, but what if—just what if—there's another incident where a Byakugan is stolen on the frontlines after you've pulled away my guards? How could I possibly face the clan head then?"

Critical for whom? The village or just your pride?

Shinno looked at the seven jonin standing behind this "underprotected" elder and felt his face twitch painfully. Each of them could probably handle a squad of enemy ninja on their own.

Not long ago, when the war was going smoothly, this elder was nothing like this.

Back then, he was eager to send every Hyūga clan member to serve under Minato, hoping to share in the glory and achievements. "The Hyūga clan stands ready to serve," he had declared proudly. "Our eyes will guide Konoha to victory!"

But now that the tide of the battle had turned against them, he was immediately finding excuses to preserve his clan's strength.

And unfortunately, his excuses were hard to refute.

After all, the Hyūga clan had indeed sacrificed a Byakugan from a main family member during a previous mission to support Konoha's war effort. The loss had been devastating, not just for the clan but for the village's morale.

That very Byakugan now resided in the eye socket of a Kiri shinobi named Ao, who had appeared on the southern battlefield multiple times.

His presence was like a walking reminder of their failure, each appearance rubbing salt in the wound.

Konoha had so far been unable to recover that Byakugan for the Hyūga clan. Several retrieval missions had failed, costing more lives in the process.

This incident was something the village owed the Hyūga clan.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Shinno had no choice but to fall back on the familiar rhetoric of the Will of Fire. He straightened his back, trying to inject some passion into his words.

"Have you forgotten the teachings of the Will of Fire? We are all leaves of the great tree, and now is the time for us to burn ourselves to protect this tree!"

Unexpectedly, the Hyūga elder gave him a sidelong glance. The branch family members behind him remained stoic, but there was a slight shift in their stance.

"If that's the case, may I ask, Shinno-sama, how many leaves has the Sarutobi clan burned?"

That single question left Shinno speechless, unable to respond.

Had Konoha's issues with the shinobi clans really gone unnoticed or unaddressed all this time?

Of course not.

The First Hokage, though naive, had the courage to make a bold decision when the village was founded: He disbanded the Senju clan, abandoned their surname, and fully integrated them into the village. "Let us be the first to show the way," he had declared. "Let our sacrifice light the path for others."

That was his greatest effort to eliminate divisions among the clans.

Afterward, the Second Hokage continued this work tirelessly. His reforms cut deep into clan privileges, each new law carefully crafted to bind the village closer together.

Yet despite the unrelenting efforts of the first two Hokage, the situation hadn't improved. If anything, it had worsened, leading to extreme incidents like the Uchiha clan massacre.

The blame for this lay largely with the actions of the Third Hokage. His policies, while well-intentioned, had sowed the seeds of future conflict.

Hiruzen inherited his teacher's ideals and made efforts to suppress the influence of clans while promoting civilians. "The village must be more than its clans," he would often say.

Examples of his success included Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and even Minato. Civilian-born shinobi who rose to legendary status, proving that greatness wasn't limited to bloodlines.

But his underlying bias toward his own clan tarnished his accomplishments.

The whispers grew louder with each passing year: "Loyalty? Or nepotism?"

By the time of the Fourth Grreat Ninja War in the original story, the Sarutobi clan had risen to become Konoha's strongest fire user clan, with a well-armed, formidable force. Their compound grew while others shrank, their influence expanded while others diminished.

The implications of how they achieved this wereself-evident. Every favor granted, every mission assigned, every resource allocated— all carefully recorded in the memories of other clans.

If Minato himself had come to request reinforcements, the Hyūga elder might have begrudgingly agreed.

No matter how prestigious a clan was, they would not openly defy the will of the future Fourth Hokage.

But the one making the request was the son of Hiruzen, who had just stepped down from power. There was no reason for the Hyūga elder to show him any courtesy. The seven jonin behind the elder seemed to stand a little straighter, as if emphasizing this point.

You wanted to talk about the Will of Fire? How much did your Sarutobi clan burn? Did you burn completely? Did you recover the Byakugan we lost?

In the end, it all came down to one word: fairness.

When the battle was going well, everyone overlooked losses and gains. The victories were shared, the glory distributed like candy to eager children.

But when the tide turned, who wouldn't want to preserve their clan's strength until the war ended?

Who should be protected, and who should be sacrificed? Who was the tree's trunk, and who were its leaves and kindling? These were questions with no clear answers—an unsolvable, tangled knot.

Thus, the next day, when Shin heard his mobile unit commander mockingly say during an attack.

"The advance is going smoothly! Oddly, the enemy hasn't deployed any Hyūga. Are they idiots? Abandoning their reconnaissance advantage in a mobile battle—these Konoha shinobi must be brainless!"

He couldn't help but smile faintly.

This outcome didn't surprise him, only that it had come so quickly.

The third domino had fallen, and its effects were already showing.

"Konoha's problems," he said, watching the sun set over the battlefield, "are even bigger than I thought." And that makes them so much more useful to me.

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