82. The Konoha’s Wartime General Staff Formation


    Hiruzen, fully aware of the tension and the stakes involved as they moved to discuss themand structure, took a deep, silent breath before addressing the assembly with a sense of resolve.


    "To begin, we must first define the role and participants of our General Staff. This team will primarily operate from within the vige, serving as a strategic reservemand unit.",


    "They''ll be our fallback if any division leaders face unexpected circumstances, ensuring continuity in leadership and decision-making...", He exined, setting the foundational strategy for wartime operations.


    "This general staff will have ess toprehensive data from all fronts, allowing them to analyze and integrate information from our various divisions. This will be crucial in shaping our overall strategy and directing the vige''s efforts efficiently.",


    "Furthermore, all intelligence gathered by ourworks will funnel through this group, ensuring we have a unified understanding of the battlefield situation.",


    Hiruzen continued, "They will also oversee logistical operations andmunications, facilitating seamless interaction between divisions and ensuring that support flows effectively from the vige to the fronts and vice versa. This setup is designed to maximize our strategic flexibility and responsiveness to the evolving situation.",


    By framing the general staff''s role in this manner, Hiruzen aimed to create a centralized hub ofmand and control that could adapt to the dynamic nature of wartime conditions.


    His proposal sought to bnce the need for authoritative leadership with the requirement forprehensive oversight and coordination among Konoha''s diverse military and intelligence assets.


    The leaders of the Anti-Hokage faction exchanged brief, thoughtful nces as Hiruzen outlined his proposal for the general staff''s role. Given the context of impending global warfare, there was nothing in the Hokage''s suggestion that raised immediate concerns.


    It was a standard approach to establishing a centralmand unit, a strategy that recognized theplexities and demands ofrge-scale conflict management.


    Recognizing the necessity of such a structure for efficient coordination and strategic nning, and finding no fault with the logic or intention behind Hiruzen''s proposal, the faction leaders collectively nodded their agreement.


    This silent consensus among them indicated an understanding of the importance of a unifiedmand system, especially in times of war where quick, cohesive decision-making could mean the difference between victory and defeat.


    "Seeing this unanimous agreement on the concept of a general staff, I will take the position of Chief of the General Staff, as in thest world war...", Hiruzen stated, confident in the role he was about to resume,


    "I also name Shikaku Nara for his undeniable strategic prowess and contributions in recent years, high intellect, and fresh perspective from the younger generation, alongside Koharu Utanane and Homura Mitokado for their extensive wisdom and experience, having served since the First Shinobi World War and leading Konoha victorious through the second one alongside me.",


    He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in among the assembly, "Does anyone have any other suggestions?", Hiruzen finished, his gaze sweeping across the room, inviting input.


    "Hokage-sama, given my role as the Jonin Commander during peacetime and my current position as the Supreme Military Commander of Konoha''s standard shinobi forces during wartime, I believe it would be appropriate for me to also hold a position within the General Staff...",


    Sakumo interjected, his voice calm yet firm, breaking his silence in theter parts of the meeting.


    His statement caught many in therge venue off guard, leading to a ripple of surprised murmurs throughout the room.


    Hiruzen turned to Sakumo, maintaining an expression of understanding andposure, yet internally he was taken aback by the request.


    He had anticipated that Sakumo would leverage this meeting to secure a more active role on the battlefield, potentially to amass military merits that could serve as a foundation for a future challenge to the Hokage''s position.


    The idea of Sakumo seeking a seemingly more passive role within the General Staff, and doing so with such confidence, was unexpected.


    However, Hiruzen quickly pieced together Sakumo''s rationale, understanding the strategic depth behind the request.


    It dawned on him that the Hyuga and Uchiha ns, possibly in consultation with Sakumo, or maybe Sakumo himself, had devised a n to keep their most powerful individual, and the only one who could go one-on-one against him, and perhaps even win, from their faction within the vige at all times.


    By having Sakumo stay, they essentially ensured a safeguard against any potential threats that he might pose to their families, assets, and npounds/residences while their main forces were deployed to fight.


    Sakumo''s presence in the vige acted as a deterrent, a powerful counterbnce to Hiruzen''s strength, ensuring the safety of the coalition''s interests, essentially making sure that he wouldn''t be able to "stab them in the back".


    This realization struck Hiruzen with a mix of respect for the strategy and a pang of sadness for the divisions within the vige.


    The thought that Konoha''s ns felt the need to protect themselves from the possibility of internal strife to this extent, was a far cry from the unity and brotherhood envisioned by the vige''s founders, his sensei, and his brother.


    ''Has it reached this point already...'', Hiruzen reflected, contemting the diverging paths between the idealsid down by his predecessors and theplex web of alliances and tensions that characterized the vige''s current state.


    Nevertheless, despite these reflections, Hiruzen quickly regained hisposure, "Very well...", Hiruzen consented, acknowledging Sakumo''s request to be part of the General Staff.


    Having Sakumo take on a stationary role within the vige, rather than umting merits on the battlefield, also presented a strategic advantage for Hiruzen himself so agreed easily.


    With both of them remaining in Konoha, neither would gain additional battlefield des that could shift the bnce of potential contention for the Hokage position after the war.


    In this way, Sakumo''s decision to assume a position in the General Staff, effectively sidelining him from activebat roles, inadvertently leveled the ying field between the two fully.


    This development, therefore, was subtly favorable for Hiruzen, ensuring that both he and his most formidable challenger remained in simr positions of influence without further tilting the dynamics of power.


    He then cast a nce around the room, seeking any further contributions or suggestions, "Is there anyone else with rmendations, candidatures, or requests regarding the structure of our General Staff?"


    In an interesting turn of events, the Uchiha Great Elder Setsuna and Hyuga Patriarch Hirayoshi Hyuga also stood up, at this time, volunteering themselves for roles within the General Staff, at the same time.


    This again raised some murmurs within the venue. Everyone waited to see how Hiruzen would respond this time.


    Hiruzen gave Setsuna and Hyuga a thoughtful kind of look. These two were not just leaders of their respective ns but also the oldest members present, decades older than himself.


    Just as Danzo, who was close by, seemed ready to interject with his own thoughts, Hiruzen decided to address the matter himself,


    "Your esteemed status and the depth of experience you both bring, as the most senior individuals here, undeniably qualify you for a position on the General Staff, so it is only fitting that you join and contribute to Konoha as well...", Hiruzen began, his tone respectful yet firm,


    "However, I must emphasize that theposition of the General Staff as it stands is nowpleted with you two joining, as thest members, as it is already quite extensive. Adding any more members could potentially hinder its functionality, hence, I believe our General Staff, with you two, is nowplete.",


    Hiruzen continued, addressing the entire room, "Additionally, it''s important to note that major decisions, as outlined in the documents provided, will be determined by a majority vote within this body.",


    His statement, while diplomatic, left an unspoken implication hanging in the air — with the currentposition, Hiruzen''s faction would hold a 4 to 3 advantage in any major vote, subtly ensuring that his faction retained a slight edge in decision-making.


    The leaders of the anti-Hokage coalition were not disheartened by that fact. They were keenly aware that, despite this apparent imbnce, the practical dynamics of wartime governance and militarymand were far moreplex.


    The foundational statutes of the vige had Sakumo, the Supreme Military Commander, be given significant powers that often ovepped with those of the General Staff.


    Recognizing this, the coalition leaders understood that for any major wartime decisions to be effectively implemented, there would need to be a tangible coboration between the General Staff and Sakumo.


    This requirement forpromise inherently meant that power was, in reality, more evenly distributed for them than the simple arithmetic of General Staff votes might''ve suggested.


    The strategic importance of Sakumo''s role provided the coalition with leverage to influence key decisions, ensuring their interests could not be easily sidelined. This scenario unfolded precisely as they had anticipated and what they considered to be their best-case scenario.


    This equilibrium of power within the highest echelons of themand structure represented a significant improvement for the anti-Hokage coalition, especially when contrasted with the dynamics of thest Shinobi World War.


    During that period, the Hokage''s faction held sway over the Jonin Council, and the Uchiha n,cking allies and sufficient influence, found itself unable to effectively challenge the prevailing power structure and their decisions.


    The Hyuga n, for its part, remained unassuming andrgely detached from these power struggles. The current situation, however, marked a stark departure from those days, with the Hyuga and Uchiha ns now presenting a united front alongside Sakumo Hatake.


    This shift towards a more bnced distribution of power was not without its detractors. Danzo, in particr, found this development frustrating. His clenched fists and the grim expression that briefly crossed his face as he nced at Sakumo, Hirayoshi, and Setsuna were telltale signs of his displeasure.


    Hikari meticulously pondered the operational dynamics of the General Staff and its implications for both factions.


    He was acutely aware that the flow of critical intelligence, especially high-impact information secured through Hiruzen''s extensiveworks like Jiraiya''s spywork, ANBU, or Danzo''s Root, was unlikely to be shared equitably with the oppositionmanders.


    The strategic advantage of possessing exclusive, actionable intelligence was too significant; thus, Hiruzen''s faction would naturally prioritize their battlefieldmanders with positive intelligence, potentially withholding detrimental intelligence to undermine themand reputation of the opposition.


    Conversely, Hikari recognized that the anti-Hokage coalition, despite having more modest intelligence-gathering capabilities, would likely adopt a simr stance.


    Sharing top-level intelligence with the General Staff, and by extension the rival faction, would be carefully weighed against the potential benefits and risks.


    The dissemination of such information would be highly strategic, aimed at preserving their own interests while navigating theplex intery of shared and opposing objectives within the vige''s leadership.


    Yet, Hikari understood that this calculus of information sharing was not entirely one-sided. There would be instances where the overarching well-being of the vige and the mutual interests of both factions necessitated transparency.


    In scenarios where withholding information could result in catastrophic oues for Konoha, or significantly harm both factions indirectly, the incentive to share intelligence through the General Staff becamepelling.


    This was not a simple zero-sum game; the survival and prosperity of Konoha transcended factional rivalries to some extent. In such circumstances, the well-being of the vige would serve as a unifying force, encouraging a degree of cooperation and information sharing between the factions.


    Therefore, in Hikari''s assessment, the real value of the General Staff in the context of the uing wary in its role in overseeing the management of supply chains and facilitating basicmunication between the Konoha''s two internally dividedrge, ''mega-factions''. These aspects were crucial for ensuring the vige''s preparedness and resilience in wartime.


    The joint management of supply chains, in particr, was identified by Hikari as a critical function that would likely remain untainted by internal rivalries. This was because the allocation and distribution of resources were governed by transparent, quantifiable needs that could be easily verified.


    Any attempt to skew resource distribution for factional advantage would not only be immediately noticeable but would also constitute a grave betrayal of the vige''s collective war effort.


    Such actions would result in severe reputational damage and potentially disastrous operational failures on the battlefield.


    Therefore, Hikari was confident that resources earmarked for both factions''manders would be distributed as intended, ensuring that allbat units had what they needed to seed.


    Moreover, Hikari saw the General Staff as a crucial tform for maintaining open lines ofmunication between the factions.


    Even minimal cooperation in this area could prove beneficial, facilitating the exchange of essential information and enabling coordinated efforts where vige-wide interests were concerned.


    While deep-seated mistrust might limit the depth of strategic sharing, the existence of a formalized channel formunication could avert misunderstandings and foster a minimum level of operational cohesion.


    The logistics and operational details of the General Staff meetings overall were also, thoroughly outlined in the documents provided.


    Beneath this imposing structure of the Hokage''s Rock, a secret chamber had also been designated exclusively for matters rted to the General Staff. This space was intended to serve as a strategic hub, facilitating the coordination of Konoha''s war efforts.


    Given the palpable tensions and mutual distrust among the vige''s leading figures, it was impractical to expect key members like Hiruzen, his advisors, and the leaders of the Hyuga and Uchiha ns, along with Sakumo, to coexist in this space continuously.


    The likelihood of these individuals, many of whom harbored deep-seated animosities or rivalries, working side by side daily was slim. As a workaround, most would delegate their assistants to upy the room permanently.


    These representatives would effectively stand watch over the operations, ensuring that their respective leaders'' interests were safeguarded and that duties were carried out faithfully.


    The primary members would only then make some periodic visits to this underground hub, overseeing the broader strategic direction without the need for constant physical presence.


    Hikari, observing these arrangements, surmised that the brunt of the operational workload—and indeed the true leadership within the General Staff—would likely fall to Shikaku Nara. Known for his exceptional strategic mind and organizational skills, Shikaku would be the linchpin holding the General Staff''s efforts together.


    Despite Hiruzen''s nominal role as Chief of the General Staff, it was Shikaku who would be orchestrating the day-to-day management of Konoha''s wartime logistics and strategies.