Naruto: Aizen's Shadow in Konoha

As they marched, Namikaze Minato's gaze drifted over the shinobi under his command. Their ages varied widely—from battle-hardened veterans in their fifties to fresh Genin as young as twelve. The sight filled him with unease, the lines of worry deepening on his usually calm face.

The weight of responsibility pressed heavily on him. His thoughts circled back to the forces Sarutobi Hiruzen had assigned the day prior. Though the allocation had likely been discussed at length by the village's top brass, it still felt woefully insufficient.

"Minato," Aizen's calm voice cut through his thoughts, "you're wearing that worried expression again. Are you still thinking about the battlefield?"

Minato nodded somberly, his fingers absentmindedly plucking a leaf from a passing branch. He turned the leaf over in his hand as he replied, "Aizen, do you truly think we can hold the Western Front?"

Minato's doubt wasn't born of cowardice or insecurity, but of the stark reality he faced. Their forces were undeniably lacking.

Elite Jōnin: 6 Jōnin: 23 Special Jōnin: 31 Ordinary Genin: Over 4,000

Many of the Genin were inexperienced and unremarkable—far below Konoha's usual standard. The more capable Chūnin and Genin had already been deployed to other fronts. What remained could scarcely be called a fighting force.

By contrast, Konoha's Western Front faced Sand Shinobi Village, which fielded over 10,000 troops, including 20 Elite Jōnin and several hundred Special Jōnin and Jōnin. Their top-tier combatants included legends such as Chiyo, Ebizō, Rasa, Pakura, and the One-Tail Jinchūriki.

Even with Konoha's inherent advantages as the wealthiest and most resourceful of the five Great Nations, their Western Front forces amounted to less than one-tenth of Konoha's total military strength. It was a mismatch by every metric.

"Of course," Aizen replied smoothly, his tone brimming with calm certainty.

Minato blinked, surprised by the unwavering confidence in his friend's voice. "Aizen, how can you say that so confidently? The odds are clearly against us."

Aizen offered him a faint smile, the kind that revealed nothing but hinted at everything. "Minato, you underestimate the tools at our disposal."

Aizen gestured subtly toward the convoy of medical-nin traveling alongside them. Dozens of carts followed closely behind, each one heavily laden.

"Minato," Aizen asked, his tone casual, "do you know what those are?"

Minato glanced at the convoy. "Medical supplies, I assume. Bandages, antidotes, the usual. Why?"

Aizen's smile widened, though his eyes remained sharp and calculating. He leaned in, lowering his voice. "Not quite. Those carts are filled with medical scrolls—most of them intermediate level, but many are advanced as well."

Minato froze, his blue eyes widening in shock.

Minato glanced around nervously, ensuring no one else was within earshot. His voice dropped to a near whisper as he leaned toward Aizen.

"Aizen, how did you manage this?!" Minato's tone wavered with disbelief. "Since the war began, medical scrolls have been listed as restricted items by the upper echelons. The production process is controlled and overseen exclusively by Anbu. This… this is fifty full carts of intermediate and advanced medical scrolls!"

The weight of Minato's shock was evident. He knew the Northern Front, Konoha's most critical battlefield, likely didn't have a supply this abundant.

Aizen's lips curled into a faint, dismissive smile. "Minato, do you think being the head of the medical department is just for show? Over the years, I've been quietly stockpiling these scrolls precisely for a situation like this."

Minato's eyes widened as Aizen continued, his tone calm yet laden with calculated intent.

"Over a year ago, I began cultivating a team of secret medical-nin, trained specifically to produce these scrolls in secrecy. So don't fret—we have a steady supply. This batch is merely the beginning."

Minato swallowed hard, his throat dry. "But… isn't this risky, Aizen? What if the upper management finds out?"

Aizen rolled his eyes, a hint of condescension slipping into his voice. "Minato, you're too naïve. Do you think I'm the only one bending the rules?

"Those in charge of logistics? They divert extra supplies to their clan's troops. The personnel department? They assign the strongest shinobi to their own families. This isn't unique—it's standard practice."

Minato blinked, stunned into silence.

"The real reason Third Hokage appointed me as your deputy commander," Aizen continued, his voice soft yet piercing, "was to ensure the medical department's resources were funneled to the Western Front. Without this arrangement, the numbers you saw on paper earlier would have sealed our fate before we even set foot on the battlefield."

Minato's jaw dropped. His time in Anbu had exposed him to Konoha's darker underbelly, but this revelation took his understanding of the village's inner workings to a new level.

"I… I had no idea it went this far," he murmured, more to himself than Aizen.

Seeing Minato's overwhelmed expression, Aizen let out a sigh, though it carried more amusement than sympathy. "Minato, don't dwell on this. Focus on the task ahead.

"Even with the medical department's special support, the gap between our forces and Sand Shinobi is enormous. If we rely solely on the overall strategy decided by the upper brass, we'll lose.

"We'll need to adapt. And you, Minato, are uniquely suited to think outside their rigid framework."

Aizen's words snapped Minato out of his thoughts. He straightened, a serious expression returning to his face.

Konoha's strategy was clear, though it was born of necessity rather than brilliance: leverage the sheer size of the Fire Country's population and resources, which far exceeded the combined might of the other Great Nations, to endure a protracted war of attrition.

The plan was ruthless. By dragging the other nations into a prolonged conflict, Konoha hoped to exhaust their manpower and supplies, forcing them into submission.

But this approach came with a heavy cost.

Konoha's infrastructure, reserves, and ninja forces would be stretched to their breaking point. Even if victorious, the village would be left vulnerable, its strength significantly diminished.

This very strategy had been Konoha's undoing in the past. The Third Ninja World War had taken a severe toll, and the Nine-Tails Rebellion had only exacerbated the damage. Over time, these events eroded the village's dominance, allowing other ninja villages to close the gap.

The current leadership was fully aware of these risks, yet they had no alternative. Faced with the combined aggression of four Great Nations, Konoha had no choice but to rely on its one undeniable advantage: endurance.

Minato couldn't shake the weight of this reality as they marched toward the Western Front.

After days of grueling travel, Minato and Aizen finally reached the Western Front.