Chapter 130 - Preparations

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"Ninjutsu Unit, over here!"

"Sealing Unit, Medical Unit, gather here!"

"Assault Unit, this way!"

Along the coast of the Land of Whirlpools, three successive commands rang out. Groups of Uzumaki clan members quickly organized into three separate formations.

Each of Akio's three disciples was placed in charge of one unit, while Akio appointed himself as the Supreme Commander of Operations.

Initially, Akio hadn't intended to mobilize the Uzumaki clan—he believed he alone was enough to handle the situation. But to his surprise, Yuna had taken the initiative, insisting the clan participate. According to her, the average strength of Uzumaki ninja had declined by an entire level over the past two decades. If they continued to live in peace, they risked becoming a second-rate shinobi clan.

Akio had hesitated for a long time but ultimately didn't say, "Leave it to me." As shinobi, they had to face danger—he alone couldn't shield them from everything.

The scene was a bit chaotic as logistics personnel handed out weapons. In addition to standard kunai and explosive tags, there were various specialized weapons Yuna had developed over the years.

Unfortunately, chakra-conductive metal was still scarce in the shinobi world. Even though the Uzumaki had been collecting it over the years and had bought some at "friendship prices" from Konoha, they only had five tailed beast-class Chakra Dispersal Cannons. There were about a dozen smaller, less destructive versions. Then there was a mix of miscellaneous gear—modified hand cannons and even a couple of devices resembling air rifles.

Akio had tested each one personally. Most were effective against Genin and Chūnin, but had little impact on Jōnin.

Still, they were perfect for Uzumaki clan members who specialized in sealing techniques but lacked the strength to use them effectively in combat.

"Sensei, the ninja units are assembled. Don't you have something to say?"

Izuko came to Akio's side and asked. Akio was momentarily taken aback. "Say something?"

He walked to the front of the crowd and slowly floated into the air, looking down at the somewhat anxious shinobi below. He sighed.

"Maybe Izuko's right. As shinobi, we need courage. Without it, we'll only fall into decline."

In his eyes, only about a dozen shinobi in their forties and fifties remained calm—they had lived through the Warring States era in their youth and had far stronger mental resilience than the younger generation.

As the younger ones whispered among themselves, Akio's expression hardened, and a pressure swept through the gathering.

It wasn't just presence—Akio had activated a force field, expanding it through subtle use of Sage Mode.

The noise died instantly. Everyone turned their eyes toward him.

Akio withdrew the force field, and the crowd felt the pressure lift. But his stern expression still kept them silent and focused.

"I don't need to explain why we've gathered here. You all know," Akio said loudly. "In the past month, Kirigakure has sent multiple scouts. We've already captured nearly ten. Who knows how many more slipped past us. Thanks to my presence in the village, they can't hide from our sensory net—but the situation around the Land of Whirlpools has likely already been exposed."

"More importantly, it's been a week since the last scout was caught. I personally patrolled the coastline and found nothing. That means Kirigakure has finished its reconnaissance phase."

"In other words, they're preparing to attack!"

As Akio's words rang out, murmurs rippled through the crowd. Few could remain composed.

Akio sighed. He had thought of many stirring speeches, but in the end, he chose action to lift their spirits.

A massive surge of chakra erupted from him. Even those without sensory training could feel the overwhelming pressure—this time, it was pure presence.

Akio turned toward the ocean.

"Senpō—Jinton: Genkai Hakuri no Jutsu!" (Sage Art: Dust Release—Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!)

A blinding white crystal shot from his hand, striking the sea miles away.

Unlike on land, there was no earth-shaking explosion. But the calm ocean surface instantly erupted into raging waves. At the point of impact, a massive whirlpool formed with a diameter of over a kilometer. The sea swirled downward as if being drained. Despite it being high tide, the water receded drastically.

After more than ten minutes of stillness, the sea had retreated by several kilometers. Those standing at the shore suddenly felt as if they were deep inland.

Akio turned back to the stunned shinobi force and nodded, satisfied with their silent awe.

"Did you see that? As long as I'm here, Kirigakure is nothing to fear!" he shouted.

The crowd remained silent, still dazed by the overwhelming power they had just witnessed.

At last, someone shouted excitedly, "Great Elder! Great Elder!"

Akio waved a hand, and the group quieted instantly.

"With me here, victory will be ours. But war is unpredictable. All of you must stay alert."

"We will!"

"No problem!"

"Don't worry, Great Elder!"

…

Voices rose in unison. Their morale had clearly risen after witnessing Akio's strength.

Izuko stepped up beside him with a wry smile. "Sensei, in the end, we're still relying on your protection. Weren't we supposed to let the clan experience war for themselves?"

Akio blinked and shook his head. "I can't just stand by and watch. As long as I'm here, I have to protect them. I had planned to take care of the enemy myself, but letting the clan participate isn't a bad idea. Still… I wonder how many will be lost this time."

Izuko's expression dimmed. "Sensei, as long as there's war, there will be casualties. You can't protect the entire Land of Whirlpools by yourself."

Akio nodded. "Have you placed the elite patrol units?"

She nodded back. "I've scattered them across all the squads. Hopefully, they can save a few in critical moments."

Izuko had proposed involving ordinary clan members in battle with a clear plan in mind. Most of them only had minor mission experience and lagged behind shinobi from other villages. Thrown into a real battle, they might struggle to reach even seventy percent of their potential.

To prevent unnecessary deaths, she had distributed elite patrol members across the units, each assigned to protect certain individuals—training the clan while minimizing casualties.

"Sensei, as long as you keep all S-rank or higher enemies occupied, I'll join Nanako and Hitomi in defending the clan. It should be enough."

Akio nodded. "Training the clan through war—clever thinking. With the three of you playing guardian, things should go smoothly. We'll do it your way."

As he watched Izuko return to command the units, Akio sighed.

"She's grown a lot since Ashina died in battle."

"…Speaking of which, wasn't I supposed to be the battlefield commander? Why do I feel more like a political officer…"

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