Chapter 90 - 89: Preparing for War
If it weren't for Ōnoki's sudden antics, Jinghang truly wouldn't have wanted to initiate this war prematurely. It wasn't out of fear, but rather because there was still too much work left unfinished: the reorganization of the standing army, the transformation of the Hourglass Group, the development of the Yuexi Peninsula... Once war broke out, many of these projects would have to come to a halt.
However, faced with such an unexpected provocation, there was no time to consider these matters. If they didn't retaliate, it wasn't just about Jinghang's own pride—what would other factions think of Sunagakure? Wouldn't it embolden everyone to take liberties with the village? Internally, it would be even worse. With Sunagakure's fierce and unyielding culture, the citizens would surely revolt, and Jinghang's position as Kazekage would be untenable.
Since war was inevitable, Jinghang decided to go all out and make a strong statement. "Deliver one decisive blow to prevent a hundred retaliations!" After announcing the declaration of war, Jinghang immediately ordered Sunagakure to enter a wartime state and established the General Staff Headquarters for unified command and coordination, appointing Rasa, the Minister of Intelligence, as the Chief of Staff.
The standing army, the newly formed troops from Yuehu New District, and even parts of the Hourglass Group's factory guards were rapidly mobilizing to designated locations on the Wind-Earth border. Factories in Yuehu New District and the Land of Rain began working around the clock to produce war supplies, while military contracts with the Land of Earth were decisively terminated. Sunagakure's massive war machine began rumbling to life, with preparations proceeding at a feverish pace.
At the same time, Jinghang issued diplomatic communiqués to Kumogakure and Konohagakure, seeking alliances to completely isolate Iwagakure on the "international" stage.
But this was a large-scale war, not a brawl between street gangs. It wasn't a matter of grabbing machetes and steel pipes, picking a spot, and going at it. It required time to mobilize personnel and resources and to develop sound strategies and tactics.
Jinghang sat in the General Staff Headquarters, attentively listening to the staff officers' analyses of the strategic situation and their operational plans. He remained silent throughout the presentations. Only after all the reports were concluded did he stand up and begin issuing instructions over the sand table in front of him.
"It's too early to discuss strategy and tactics now."
Everyone in the room was taken aback.
"The logistics department has just calculated that mobilizing 10,000 troops and their supplies will take at least three months. In three months, what changes might occur in the international landscape? What might happen in the Earth-Lightning conflict? What might happen in Iwagakure? We don't know any of this. So, these plans can only remain as contingency measures, confined to paper."
Jinghang observed the reactions of those present. Seeing no objections, he continued.