Chapter 374: Doing What I Think is Right! The Idea of Exchanging Prisoners!
Land of Wind, Po Suo Oasis.
Since the battle days ago, Ninja from Konoha, including Fujiwara Tetsuya and Sakumo Hatake, have largely remained at the Po Suo Oasis. They have not taken further action, awaiting news of the Third Kazekage withdrawing his troops.
"Tetsuya… you shouldn't have rejected Hokage-sama's and the Konoha Higher-Ups' proposal."
"Right now, handing the One-Tail Jinchuriki over to Anbu is the best option."
Inside a building with desert gully characteristics, Sakumo Hatake looked at the calm Fujiwara Tetsuya, then glanced at Uchiha Mikoto, who was standing behind Fujiwara Tetsuya, silently massaging his shoulders, and sighed helplessly.
These young people nowadays… have too many tricks up their sleeves.
"Sakumo-senpai, do you really think the Village Higher-Ups' plan is feasible?"
"I don't know what Hokage-sama and the others are thinking."
"To actually fantasize about using the One-Tail Jinchuriki as a bargaining chip to make Hidden Sand Village surrender? They underestimate the Third Kazekage's magnanimity… and ambition too much."
The story dates back two days ago. After Hiruzen Sarutobi, Utatane Koharu, and other Konoha Higher-Ups failed to reach an agreement with the Shinobi Clans regarding dispatching reinforcements.
At Utatane Koharu's suggestion, this outlandish idea was proposed.
In Fujiwara Tetsuya's opinion, this strategy was so low-level it was practically brain-dead.
Not only would it give Hidden Sand Village time to recuperate and regroup, but also… with Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi unable to personally oversee the battlefield, no one could guarantee that the Third Kazekage wouldn't change his mind at the last minute and use the opportunity to swallow up all the main combat forces remaining in the Land of Wind.
"But that is the Village's decision, Tetsuya… don't forget, we are Ninja, and obeying orders is a Ninja's first rule."
Hearing Fujiwara Tetsuya's criticism of the Village Higher-Ups, Sakumo Hatake felt his eyelids twitch and instinctively looked around… afraid that Anbu members might be monitoring nearby.
"Sakumo-senpai, no need to look, those Anbu juniors don't have the guts to wander around in front of you…"
"Sakumo-senpai, actually, regarding the handling of the One-Tail Jinchuriki, I have an idea. Instead of giving it to the Village to execute such an unreliable strategy, why not arrange a meeting with the Third Kazekage and use Bunpuku to exchange all our captured comrades since the war began?"
"I think their comrades and families must be missing them."
Seeing Sakumo Hatake trapped in the confines of established rules, Fujiwara Tetsuya could only choose a different approach… In any case, to prevent the Village Higher-Ups from executing such a brain-dead plan, Sakumo Hatake's support as the front-line commander was indispensable.
"Exchange… the captured comrades?"
Upon hearing this, Sakumo Hatake's eyes widened, and his gaze towards Fujiwara Tetsuya carried an indescribable complexity.
According to past rules, typically, the enemy and allied sides would only consider exchanging prisoners after the war had completely ended.
Because during wartime exchanges, no one could guarantee that some of those prisoners wouldn't betray them and become enemy spies.
Throughout the long history of the Ninja World, similar incidents have indeed occurred, but… several tragic historical events have also made many Ninja Villages increasingly cautious in such matters.
"Tetsuya, do you know… what all these things you want to do truly mean?"
"I know! Therefore, I will request Hokage-sama to send members of the Intelligence Division to the Land of Wind front line."
"Sakumo-senpai, for all of this, I will bear all the infamy—the infamy of disobeying the Higher-Ups' orders, of not trusting comrades… of forcibly having the Intelligence Division investigate those captured comrades."
"Sakumo-senpai, I need your support."
Suddenly, Fujiwara Tetsuya became very solemn. After moving Uchiha Mikoto's fair hands away, he bowed deeply to Sakumo Hatake.
"Tetsuya, can you tell me why?"
Perceiving Fujiwara Tetsuya's resolve, Sakumo Hatake gave a bitter smile, unsure how to refute him.
"Among those captured comrades, there should be quite a few youngsters, right?"
"Since we can't prevent them from getting involved in war, we should at least try to secure another path to survival for them…"
"However, if I really had to say, Sakumo-senpai… you should have noticed, I am a Ninja not bound by the old-fashioned Ninja code…"
"Before I had enough strength, being tenacious, constantly growing stronger, and becoming the strongest Ninja—that was my Ninjutsu."
"But now, I have a new idea, and that is… to do what I believe is right. That is my Ninjutsu."
As he spoke, Fujiwara Tetsuya subconsciously squeezed Uchiha Mikoto's right hand, as if silently expressing something.
"Hoo~ Tetsuya, your idea is very dangerous…"
"However, this time, I will stand by you."
"You're right, since we can't prevent them from getting involved in war, we should at least try to secure another path to survival for them."
"You don't need to bear all that infamy alone; I will stand with you and endure all of it…"
"Really? I thought Sakumo-senpai would just wave his hand and bear everything alone?"
Seeing Sakumo Hatake agree, Fujiwara Tetsuya couldn't help but curve his lips into a slight smile… which choked Sakumo Hatake, leaving him speechless.
For him to bear everything alone… Thinking of Hiruzen Sarutobi's stubborn demeanor, and Utatane Koharu and Homura Mitokado's affected way of doing things, Sakumo Hatake silently shook his head.
That kind of pressure, by himself, he would most likely not be able to withstand it… Konoha.
The news of Fujiwara Tetsuya refusing Anbu to take over the One-Tail Jinchuriki, as well as the prisoner exchange proposal jointly drafted by Fujiwara Tetsuya and Sakumo Hatake, arrived in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hands almost one after another… enveloped in smoke. After reading Sakumo Hatake and Fujiwara Tetsuya's proposals, Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow furrowed deeply.
"Hiruzen, Sakumo and that brat are really going too far. How dare they question the Village's decision?"
Beside him, Utatane Koharu clutched the intelligence scroll in her hand, her face filled with anger.
Handing the One-Tail Jinchuriki to Anbu to bring back to the Village was a decision made by the Konoha Higher-Ups.
How dare those two defy it?
"Koharu, calm down."
"Sakumo and the brat Tetsuya are both heroes of the Village. The Land of Wind cannot do without them. The opinion of the front-line commander… we must consider it carefully."
To some extent, Sakumo Hatake and Fujiwara Tetsuya could both be considered part of the Hokage faction, or powerful Ninja close to the Hokage faction. Deep down, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not wish for Sakumo Hatake and Fujiwara Tetsuya to become estranged over certain matters.
At least, for now.
"Moreover, Sakumo and the brat Tetsuya have already made the corresponding resolve… As the Village's Higher-Ups, what we should do at this time is not to oppose, but to support…"
"I will send members of the Intelligence Division to the Land of Wind, Koharu… let's put the previous plan on hold for now."
"Sakumo and the brat Tetsuya are right, those youngsters captured by Hidden Sand Village… it's time for them to come home."
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