XI

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Arc XI?Chapter?2

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Explosions. Jutsu. Kunai. Smoke. Dust. Fighting. Combat. Ambush. Attack. Counterattack. Defence. Cover. Camouflage. Concealment. Manoeuvring. Training ground.?Filed exercise.

Asami observed the battlefield through her pair of binoculars, inspecting Amegakure’s first official field training exercises from afar, from atop her hill.?Her hill granted her a wide field of vision, allowing her to view the entire battlefield.

Amegakure's army?conducted their first large scale live field training exercises.?They were wargaming, pitching blue force?against red force on the company level and above. Her army was busy drilling command and leadership, formations?and?tactics, proper cooperation?and coordination, manoeuvres and movement, communication and initiative, application of firepower?and combat strength,?unit cohesion and dispersal. It was a wonderful sight to Asami who was watching her army grow in size and strength. Training created familiarity. Familiarity created normality. Normality created automatisms. Such automatisms didn’t yet exist. They had to be nurtured and practised. The battlefield had to become a part of her troops. It had to become deeply ingrained in their very soul and psych.

Yet her army?had still much to learn. The officer corps proved lacking?in terms of professionalism and experience. Meanwhile, the rank and file often lacked basic skills and competence. Nevertheless, Asami was satisfied with their results?so far. A content smile crossed her lips.

They made much progress in a matter of a few mere months. An undisciplined and uncoordinated bunch they were, but they made their first steps in the right direction,?as her reforms gradually and slowly began to take effect. Her measures were working, but it would take time to bear fruit. Amegakure’s forces?had to be completely rebuilt and reorganised from scratch. It would take months, years, if not decades?for them to absorb fully her lessons from the highest officers down to the?common soldier. Building an army was a project that?required considerable time and patience, but it was progressing. Their training would and must continue. One day, Amegakure?would reap the benefits of the foundations they had laid today. Her armies would be baptised in the fires of a war that was still beyond?them. The armies of Amegakure would be prepared for the true test, for the crucible of war. They would be prepared for her war.

“Lady Asami.”?Kaoru and her entourage appeared. Of course, Her de facto minister of war was attending and supervising the manoeuvres.

“Ah, greetings, Lady Kaoru, how do you like our little wargames? Impressive, aren’t it?” Asami offered her a benign smile.

Always the stern and serious woman she was, Kaoru didn't share her enthusiasm. “Not exactly impressive ..., but I must say they are a rather unique experience.?I haven't seen anything like this ever before.”

“Unique, but necessary, Lady Kaoru.” Asami giggled with?a faint smile?gracing her lips. “One day, you will witness the merits of our more academic and practical approach to warfare. The battlefield is a dangerous place, extremely lethal,?with death lurking behind every corner. The only way for the common ninja to survive in such an environment?is to think and fight as one, as a unit, as a collective. They must realise their true potential, otherwise they?are?as good as dead. Thus,?it is necessary to familiarise them with the realities of combat.”

“...” Kaoru fell silent. “I see your point, Lady Asami.”

“I am glad you understand.” Asami wore a happy smile. It was wonderful when things were working?smoothly, wasn't it?

Kaoru straightned her back. “Though, I am less convinced?..?of your proposed artillery arm ... I don't see the point in deploying ‘artillery’”

Asami stroked her imaginary beard. “Trust me, Lady Kaoru, artillery will prove a useful asset of the battlefield. Artillery will provide us with indirect fire capabilities. Artillery can strike beyond the line of sight. It is a versatile tool to have at your disposal to take. Especially, if you need to take out hardened structures and fortifications. And all thanks to our superior industrial capabilities. Our forges and factories are able .”

“Yes, but artillery is slow and vulnerable to attacks, Lady Asami.”

“That is why artillery should never come in contact with the enemy. If it does, something went seriously wrong. But the main advantage of artillery is that artillery is mostly an exercise in technology and logistics rather than in manpower. Artillery doesn't require trained ninja to operate on the battlefield. The guns will be manned by civilian personnel and some specialists. That is a considerable advantage, as it frees up manpower for the infantry, who are in dire more need for more ninja. Artillery allows us to amplify our firepower at little cost and at the expense of only ‘civilian’ manpower. I am thus convinced that the induction of artillery will greatly benefit our forces.”

“... Will the?artillery?hit anything, though??Ninja are fast moving targets.”?It was a good question. It was a reasonable question.

Asami took a deep breath. “Lady Kaoru, your concerns are appreciated, but I think the artillery arm will prove its worth on the battlefield, even against trained ninja. Personally, I have little doubt its effectiveness, but let’s do the calculations together. Let’s assume that we have got an average muzzle velocity of 2 050 m/s, which gives us roughly a time of flight of 11 seconds at a range of around 3 000 m. Speed of sound is 343 m/s. That gives us circa 9 seconds at 3 000 m. That is a difference of 2 seconds upwards at most between firing sound and impact. At 6 000 m we have approximately 22 and 17.5 seconds respectively. That is a difference of 4.5 seconds. At 9 000 m we have got 33 and 26 seconds. That is a difference of 7 seconds. Now, 7 seconds are a lot, but find me a ninja able to dodge an artillery shell at 2 and 4.5 seconds. That is a narrow reaction window that would require an excellent reaction speed, or precognition. In practice, at short range, between 3 000 and 6 000 m, range even the most experience ninja will have a hard time dodging an incoming shell. A jonin might accomplish such a feat, but a chunin, or a genin? I don’t see that happening. They can barely dodge a kunai, so how are they supposed to dodge an artillery shell? To the majority of ninja, artillery will represent a credible threat, as far as I am concerned. Granted that it might be hard to hit forces on the move due to their mobility, but trust me, there will be stationary targets. They can't run away forever. There will be positions they must hold. At worst, artillery will have its niche uses as a specialist tool.”

Kaoru folded?her arms?behind her back. “We will see Lady Asami. We will see. I remain sceptical.”

“Fair enough, but it is a small investment, as said”, Aurora deflected. “We can afford it, and I trust in you, Lady Kaoru. The artillery arm is still in its infancy, but I am sure you will lead it somewhere. Are there any issues otherwise? From what I heard, our expansion is progressing well.”

Kauro sighed, the feeling of stress on her voice difficult to ignore. “... More or less, but are already suffering from an acute manpower shortages. Amegakure lacks the population to support an army of 80 000 men. We won't be able to reach our goals. We have the numbers on paper, but even with conscription, most recruits aren't eligible for military service. Most are either too young, lack the necessary chakra, or are otherwise physically unfit.”

“... True, but hardly surprising. 80 000 men?were admittedly on the more optimistic side of things. Don’t worry, though, Lady Kaoru, we are already searching and scouting for alternative manpower sources.”

“Such as?”

Aurora smirked. “Sometimes even the strongest needs help. We will search for allies. They will compensate for our lack of manpower and provide troops. They will fight under our command and thus bolster our numbers.”

Kaoru furrowed an eyebrow. “Allies? I guess that's a solution, but with all due respect, Lady Asami, allies don’t grow on trees. Where are they supposed to come from?”

“Lady Kaoru, Amegakure is not alone. We are not the only village that has suffered injustice at the hands of the five villages. We are not the only ones who detest their hegemony and plot in secrecy their downfall. We are not alone in our quest, Lady Kaoru. At least, I assume so. Other minor villages might join our cause if we are able to persuade them. Be it by the way of defensive pacts, treaties, alliances, bribery, threats, or force, we will bring one village after another into our fold. In fact, we already arranged a series of diplomatic missions. I dispatched Makato and his daughter to the Land of Stone, and Masanari to the Land of Grass, to Kusagakure. Meanwhile, I will soon visit the Land of Iron. So far the shogun and his samurai maintain their neutrality, but if we are able to draw them to our side and gain their support, that would be a huge diplomatic victory of strategic importance. It would strengthen our northern flank and grant us access to 15 000 trained samurai.”

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“Listen Ero-sennin, I would be happier living as a fool than being wise if that is what it needs to be!!! Sasuke might have betrayed Konoha, but he is still my friend!!!” Determination filled?Naruto's voice.?He was?serious, serious like never?before.?Bandaged, injured, beaten, defeated, he was lying in his hospital bed after fighting Sasuke at the Valley of the End, but he meant?what he said.?He would bring Sasuke back.

“... ... ...” Surprise and disbelief were written all across Jiraiya’s face, who was leaning against the frame of the hospital window.

Naruto clenched his fist, his resolve unwavering. “I will train. I will become stronger. I will fight. Trust my word, I will get Sasuke back no matter what!!! By myself, if necessary!”

A sigh of resignation escaped Jiraiya. “The only thing that you will achieve through your stubbornness is getting yourself killed, Naruto ... A fool always remains a fool, but only a moron would do what you are about?to do ... But I guess there is no way to change your mind. When you?have?recuperated from your injuries and leave the hospital, get ready. We will leave the village together and go on a journey. You will become my student and train under my tutelage. As said, Akatsuki shouldn't come after you for the next few years. We should use that time well. You must grow stronger, Naruto, if you truly wish to bring Sasuke back. So see you later.”

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