[Kawai Niko]

Teachings of a Wise Woman

By: Dare Mo

For my late teacher, Lady Senju Naoko who has taught us so well

For Hotaru-kun and Muteki-sama

For Sennari-chan and Saru-Saru

For my comrades who have served in the AnBu

And for all the citizens and shinobi of Konohagakure who stand for the best of causes

For you

By Sega of Nowhere and Everywhere

[Kawai Niko]

Chapter 1: Fundamentals

It was Naoko-sama who once told me that combat and conflict are of vital importance to a shinobi village. Either via small confrontations on missions, or large-scale wars, combat and conflict prove to be a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to wreckage for nations. This is why, it is a subject in which no aspect must be left forgotten or unaccounted for. We must be in a constant state of seeking survival and new strategies.

Through her years of experience, Naoko-sama has come across recurring themes. She says conflicts are ruled by five perpetual factors that should be taken into consideration during discussions relating to our line of work. They are: Loyalty, Timing, Logistics, Leadership, and Professionalism.

Loyalty causes those who are not in power to be in complete agreement with those who hold power. If a shinobi is truly loyal to their village, they will follow instructions regardless of their own lives, unafraid of the perils which may lie ahead, and understand the significance of their chain of command. It could be said with certainty that a loyal shinobi would not actively work against their village or those who trust them. Konoha shinobi must never forget the tenets of the Will of Fire, its emphasis on listening to our elders, and being kind to our youths.

Timing and Logistics are two factors which often go hand in hand. Timing signifies the changing seasons, when we are in the summer months or in the winter months. When it is night or day. When we are old or young. Logistics are about the best way traversing distances great and small. It is about asking oneself what is the most sensible path to trek the desserts of Kaze no Kuni. Navigating scenarios which entail both danger and safety. Estimating the chances of life and death. Through careful timing and consideration of logistics, one may find themselves at the right place at the right time. Naoko-sama says that approximately 7 out of 8 times such things happen from genuine thoughtfulness. The last eighth occurs from sheer luck.

By Sega of Nowhere and Everywhere

[Kawai Niko]

In the assigning of certain roles shinobi shall take, many factors are considered, but among the utmost important are individuals' Leadership capabilities and their Professionalism. There is no debate - a mere Genin would not be expected to handle the burdens of a Jounin. Ones abilities and experience are certainly important. But Naoko-sama has also taught that one should also look beyond what is written down in ink, or the indicators received from compiled analytics.

Those entrusted with important roles, particularly on missions with high stakes should stand for the virtues of Wisdom, Benevolence, Sincerity, Strictness, and Courage. This is the ideal to be found in our leaders, great and small, so that the right principles will be passed onto their respective wards. A proper approach from those in charge or tacking the lead will often translate to adequate training and instruction to those intended to take their place in the future. There is no greater investment a shinobi village can make other than its youth. This is why it is so critical that leaders be exemplary. The Academy Teacher that goes out of their way to give additional instruction, the Kage who checks the maintenance of roads by which supplies can reach their shinobi and citizens, the shop owner who is willing to give a free plate of food to the weary and displaced.

All of these create a culture of method and discipline truly found in Professionals of their field. If neither of these factors are found in leadership, they are truly no better than feral children.

By Sega of Nowhere and Everywhere

[Kawai Niko]

He who knows these five major factors related to combat and conflict will be victorious; he who knows them not will flounder. Therefore, in your deliberations, when seeking to determine the conditions of your objectives, leaders must Compare, Contrast, and Calculate before they make a decision. For example, take the case of the leader of an Operations Team. He must assess the capabilities of his teammates as he goes forward. He may ask himself: Which among them is the most Loyal in a time when information must be kept secret? If all are capable of a task, which among them is able to complete it the most efficiently? With whom lies the most advantages derived from Timing and Logistics of the scenario?

Leaders should also keep in mind the questions their underlings may ask themselves: How rigorously does he enforce discipline? How much stronger is he? Compared to others, how highly are his underlings trained? What is the constancy in both reward and in punishment?

It is best to make these resolutions apparent ease the mind, and done in a manner which aligns with maximizing assets and minimizing liabilities. Confusion, or uncertainty has the potential to hamper the working relation between subordinate and subordinate, or even subordinate and commander. Naoko-sama once jested that donning office cleavage lies in neither category; It is both high in liability and asset. Leaders must tread such scenarios carefully, and preferably with insight.

By Sega of Nowhere and Everywhere

[Kawai Niko]

The teachings prescribed thus far have been mostly been centered on the self. One who reads this should reflect on which they are best in, and where their shortcomings lie. Listening closely to instruction and acting on what is heard is how promotions are attained. The shinobi who hearkens to this counsel and acts upon it will conquer! Conversely, while heeding to this guidance, avail yourself also of any helpful circumstances over and beyond the ordinary statues and precedents. According as the circumstances are favorable, one should modify their plans.

If you are changing your plans too often, this means you are being fickle. If you are awaiting a change in your situation to fit your plan, you are acting foolish. Naoko-sama was one who treaded a fine line between these two extremes masterfully. Flexibility should be able to applied to most plans. The world around you changes, and it should be played close attention to. Tolerate all degrees of uncertainty, while waiting for the right opportunities to potentially better a scheme to meet an objective. Having a second, third, or fourth plan to fit these changes is ideal. If none come to fruition, at least one would find some comfort in knowing they have tried more than one avenue.

By Sega of Nowhere and Everywhere

[Kawai Niko]

Oneself, and their circumstances have been discussed. These will keep a person aware as to how they carry about themselves, and how they interact with their environment. However, there is one variable that those of us who are not particularly skilled in the art of Genjutsu cannot control or have little control over, and that is the opponent. The five factors which guide combat and conflict have wide applicability that can be used in various walks of life. Those of us who have served in more covert fields operate under an unspoken principle, however, I am of the opinion that it could be taught for even more generalized shinobi exercises. It is: All warfare is based on deceit.

Hence, when able to strike, we must seem unable; when using our abilities, we must appear dormant; when we are close, we must make the enemy believe we are very distant; when far away, we must make them believe we are near. When one is too honest, too forthright, and too transparent they are easily defeated, albeit such people are also very hard to find. If you are a blabbermouth, try to hold your tongue. While we cannot control the opponent, much can be learned from them if your eyes and ears remain peeled. Observance is a powerful weapon to be utilized.

Naoko-sama taught that one should hold out baits to beguile the opponent. Feign disorder, then break them. If they are guarded at all places, be ready for him. If he is superior in physical strength, evade him. If they are of irritable temper, seek to annoy them. Bluff that you are weak, that he may grow haughty. If he is taking a rest, give him no time to lie. Strike him where he is caught off-guard, appear where you are not expected. A combination of vulnerability and weakness can lead to the perfect opportunity.

By Sega of Nowhere and Everywhere

[Kawai Niko]

Chapter 2: Making Assessments

Naoko-sama once said: In the operations of war, an arena of one thousand Jounin, an equal amount of Special Jounin, and ten thousand Chuunin, with supplies enough to last them all to Forge Country, the expenses at home and at the forefront, including entertainment of nobles they may come by, small items such as ninja wire, kunai, blood pills, and amounts spent on flak jackets and katanas, will reach the total of a 10 million ryo a day. Such is the cost of building an army.

When engaged in actual battle, if victory is far out of sight, many shinobi's weapons will grow dull as their zeal begins to dampen. Only the most dedicated and durable would be able to continue. If laying siege to a well defended zone takes too long, energy will eventually be exhausted. Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the village will be able to balance the expenditure. It is at times like these leaders must understand when to stop, or cut their losses short.

I have been told by a certain Sarutobi me that making love is a lot like...waging war. As the duration of the act increases, so does enthusiasm and excitement. But there is also a point of diminishing returns. Going further past this point can only mean declining eagerness.

By Sega of Nowhere and Everywhere

[Kawai Niko]

When weapons have dulled, zeal dampened, energy used up, and treasure spent, other 'bigwigs' will emerge to take advantage of your weakness. Then no shinobi, however skilled or prudent, that will be able to avoid the consequences that must occur. When Naoko taught this, I had always imagined those taking advantage of weakened positions being foreign forces, but history has proven that even forces from within could be the point of contention. A vile village to our West, Iwagakure, is a prime example.

After foolishly exhausting his village's resources, both in money and in lives, Tsuchikage Noihime Kouen experienced massive backlash in the form of insurrection. Albeit more lives and money were lost, it proved successful, and the village now goes under a new mode of operation and potentially wiser leadership. Shortsighted haste into conflicts are well documented, but protracted warfare, or multiple wars have never been associated with cleverness. Cost-benefit analysis should be important to leaders. Actions must go with deep thought if one wants to have a fighting chance. On his part, this was severely lacking. We must learn from such lessons and advance with courage, but also caution.

Those deeply comfortable with the horrors of large-scale battles can thoroughly understand the lucrative way of carrying it on. A war can be gruesome, nasty, and cruel and still have massive potential gains. But it must also be relatively short and decisive.

By Sega of Nowhere and Everywhere

[Kawai Niko]

A village with a poor balance and debts will be of less help to its shinobi than a village in good economic standing. Dedicating their ryo for a distant conflict would only make them further deficient. To fund their campaign, they would most likely have to rely on their citizenry, and this would only drain the sustenance of those just on the border of poverty. With little sustenance citizens would be stricken by any additional orders ar regulations asked by them. Rising inflation with low wages is what leads to poverty. The opposite is a road to plenty. When the times are good is when war should be waged. When a village is inadequate the priorities should be on nation building rather than combat and conflict.

As Konoha shinobi, we must always remember that a village can do without ninja, but ninja cannot do without a village. We live among them every day, but our duty is also serve and protect them. They are our clients, our loved ones, our business partners, or friends. We must try to mitigate as much cost on their part as we can. Rather, we must make it a point to forage on the enemy. The joy of capturing one wagon of the enemy's provisions is equivalent to using ten of one's own. A combination of hustling and using our assets should be mused. In war, make sure to carp everything from the enemy. If the opponent has medical supplies, we must utilize them to tend to our wounded. Those that have useful knowledge must be drained of such so that our leaders can be informed. If they have water, seize it and store it for the future. Efforts such as these may seem incremental, but in the long run they can go a substantial way toward success.

By Sega of Nowhere and Everywhere

[Kawai Niko]

Now, in order to destroy our opponents, our shinobi must be roused to anger, hope, or a sense of unity that there may be advantage from defeating the enemy, they must have their due rewards. In assigning missions, ryo is the typical reward for your shinobi. It is frankly what motivates a significant portion of shinobi to become ninja in the first place. We must make sure that any major conflicts pursued must have some tangible rewards that can be divvied up among its victors. It can also be used as an additional incentive for difficult objectives. For some, these rewards could be beyond mere currency, and should be kept in mind by leaders. Some desire weapons, some the flesh of others....

Naoko-sama told me that once victory is achieved our flags and headbands should be replaced for those of the enemy and weapons and spoils mingled and used jointly with our own. Those who are docile and weak-willed should be kindly treated and kept. This is called utilizing the conquered foe to amplify one's own strength. If assimilation is possible, it should be perused. If those that are defeated can unite with our own forces, conquering will become easier. It should be kept in mind that individuals like these are lacking in the loyalty department. Use them for what they are worth, and do not be in a position where they can double-cross you.

By Sega of Nowhere and Everywhere

[Kawai Niko]

In the midst of large-scale conflicts, the best thing of all is to take the enemy nation whole and intact; to demolish and ravage it is not ideal. While this can be difficult, no matter how vile the opponent, or the wrongs they have committed, we must not let the heat of emotions fog our primary objectives.

This is where our friends skilled in the of illusions may prove very beneficial. Many of us are trained to wreck and demolish. The majority of Ninjutsu aims to release much devastating power as possible. When going over old notes Naoko-sama taught me that it is better to recapture a group of ninja entire than to destroy them, to arrest a regiment, division, or squad than kill them immediately. With a larger path of destruction, one should only expect the spoils of war to dwindle. The opposite is also true. Thus, from a cost-effective position, I believe Genjutsu users are in a prime position to be utilized. They can debilitate a man without laying a wound on him.

Thus, to fight and vanquish in all encounters is not absolute greatness like many would believe. Greatness also consists in breaking the enemy's defiance without even raising a fist.

By Sega of Nowhere and Everywhere

[Kawai Niko]

The leader, unable to control his anger, will send his men to the assault like flocking bats in the night sky, with the result of one third of his shinobi slain, while the objective still remains incomplete. Such are the calamitous effects of an unwise assault. When faced with an annoyance the foolish man freaks out. When the wise man faces the same inconvenience, he ignores his base urges.

Therefore, the skillful leader subdues the enemy's forces with the least amount of fighting, he captures their treasures without breaking containers, he overthrows their kingdom with only small and simple field operations. With forces mostly intact, he will be able to easily depose his opponent, and thus without major losses claim victory. This, I believe is the method of attacking by stratagem. I have been told by a certain kunoichi of relatively low moral standards that seduction and success have one thing in common... It is all about positioning yourself well.

The battle that should be chosen is when one is more numerous in number, when one has the upper hand in tactical nous, and higher quality shinobi. If equally matched the environment should be taken into consideration, but if unequal in every way this should be a sign to flee and fight another day.

By Sega of Nowhere and Everywhere

[Kawai Niko]

Naoko's narrations about fighters of old harped not so much on their overwhelming jutsu, but more so on their disposition. They put themselves beyond the realm of defeat and struck when their opponents were down. She mentioned that being defeated lied in one own hands, whilst victory lies in theirs. Half of the battle is remaining aware, then using your opportunities. These create viable options.

On the other hand, the skilled shinobi protects themselves from defeat, even if they cannot ensure victory. It is wiser to have fought and failed rather to have fought and died; This is the second half of the battle. The reader might at first believe that it implies defensive tactics when in fact it is much more encompassing than that. It may mean attacking from range when the opponent can only land a death blow in proximity. The average fighter would take confidence in battle to be directly related to one's defensiveness and hold the opinion that relentlessly attacking means an abundance of strength, while holding back is a sign of insufficient confidence. Those who possess more developed and can comprehend more nuanced outlooks understand that there are many other factors which are also at play on the field.

By Sega of Nowhere and Everywhere

[Kawai Niko]

These greats also possessed the foresight to see victory not when it was imminent, but so far long into the future, it could hardly be fathomed by those around them. They achieved such talents by not only considering what appeared on paper, but also what was customary and conventional. The Fuuton user would reserve his skill for when he comes across Raiton. Keeping it simple can win day instead of relying on elaborate schemes which have increased likelihood of failure.

To carry a kunai is no indication of ample strength, nor to see the faces etched on Hokage Mountain an indication of acute vision; to hear the playful banter of children on a summer day does not require the caliber of the quick ear. What I had been taught the clever fighter looks like was not the individual who merely wins, but one who does with with relative ease. Their wins skew the perception of others which prevents them from acquiring a reputation for smarts or bravery. A Jounin is not praised for defeating their Genin student, but rather an opponent who stands on their level. But if their wins appear as though they defeat those who are so far beneath them despite actuality saying the contrary, they can remain under the radar. It has been said that modern art looks effortless, but indeed requires true skill. This is the level of skill which should be sought after.

By Sega of Nowhere and Everywhere

[Kawai Niko]

The stresses of being positioned in leadership over the masses took little toll over our wise teacher. Many of us who had been accustomed to leading squads of our own wondered how she dealt with such a momentous task. At times, it appeared she felt we had been like little children whom more was expected from. When I approached her inquisitively about her strategy, she reiterated that control of a large force, the shinobi of Konoha, was not all that much different than being in charge of a ninja squad. It was merely an issue of adequately dividing up the numbers.

She continued, informing me that once the proper signals and institutions were made, the village operated as an efficient team, each arm contributing its part to make the system whole. The most critical aspect had been erecting modes of communication between various branches. Our Medical Corps, Regular Forces, and Anbu each utilize intermodal codes when performing their duties. In collaboration, intramodal means are used either to notify the other about the task at hand or alert them to some rising threat. Communication, however, only goes so far as responsibilities are appropriately delegated. The impact of specialization is also realized within these groups. The shinobi who can concoct poisons should be allowed to do so, as those who can rehabilitate the ill do their job. Without proper allocations, tasks will be assigned haphazardly, without utilizing the comparative advantage of each party, leaving a high opportunity cost for the group as a whole.

By Sega of Nowhere and Everywhere