"Yesterday was Lady Pakura's wedding day, and today she's already leading a squad to the front lines."
"Sacrificing so much for the village..."
A villager clenched his fists, eyes red with emotion.
"Damn the Hidden Mist!"
"I want to kill every last one of them!"
"If only I had the strength..."
...
Night fell. Rasa walked out of the Kazekage Building.
The day's work was done, and he had already arranged everything for tomorrow.
In other words, tonight, Rasa was free to use the [One-Day Ninja Trial Card (Konoha Genin Edition)].
He returned home.
"Husband, has Sister Pakura already left for the front?"
Rasa looked at Karura and nodded.
Karura's expression darkened as she stood at the door.
"Husband, Sister Pakura will be alright, won't she?"
Rasa replied, "She will be fine."
"As long as Konoha doesn't intervene, our situation is difficult, but it's impossible for the Mist to crush the Sand in a short time."
"And as long as Pakura doesn't get surrounded by too many enemies, given her strength, she'll be safe."
"In a one-on-one fight, none of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist are her match."
Rasa glanced at the sky.
"It's getting late, Karura. Let's rest early."
"Alright."
They went to their room and slept in each other's arms.
Feeling the softness in his embrace, Rasa didn't feel sleepy at all.
In the middle of the night.
Rasa got up.
"Karura, I'm going to the study for a bit. I have some things to handle."
Karura opened her eyes groggily.
"Okay."
Arriving in the study, Rasa closed the doors and windows tight.
Then, with a thought.
The next moment.
A semi-transparent card appeared in front of Rasa. In the top left corner was the symbol of Konoha.
[One-Day Ninja Trial Card (Konoha Genin Edition)]
Rasa began the character creation process.
"Name: Dou Uchiha."
"Gender: Male."
"Age: 14."
As Rasa inputted the settings, a corresponding character image appeared on the card.
"Use!"
[Use Successful!]
The next instant, Rasa felt his body suddenly vanish. His consciousness was extracted, moving at incredible speed. He quickly left the Hidden Sand Village and arrived at another village entirely.
"Is this... Konoha?"
The iconic Hokage Rock with three stone faces carved into it loomed above.
Various ninja clans occupied their respective districts.
At this moment, inside the Uchiha compound, one building was brightly lit.
People inside were arguing fiercely.
Rasa felt his consciousness plummet.
When it stopped, he woke up in the body of a young Uchiha standing in the corner of the room.
Dou Uchiha.
A moment ago, Dou Uchiha didn't exist. His name wasn't even in the clan registry. But the moment Rasa arrived, reality filled in the blanks.
It was as if Dou Uchiha had been there from the start.
Rasa looked around.
This was the Uchiha clan's meeting hall.
Seated in the main chair at the front was an old man. Standing beside him was a figure Rasa found somewhat familiar.
"Fugaku Uchiha..."
A young Uchiha stepped forward.
"Clan Head Sangaku, with so much evidence, is it still not enough to prove the problem?"
"Is my personal experience fake?"
"You know exactly how Konoha has treated our clan over the years."
"As the Head of the Uchiha, you still do nothing. What do you care about more? The Uchiha clan, or your position as Clan Head?"
Sangaku Uchiha's face looked grim.
"And there's this!"
The young man pointed to another Uchiha.
That Uchiha produced a letter—specifically, a suicide note.
"This is a suicide note from a Cloud ninja. The name, handwriting, and timeline all match. The contents clearly state what happened to Elder Kagami back then."
"Elder Kagami was betrayed by Tobirama Senju and Hiruzen Sarutobi."
"Clan Head Sangaku, what do you have to say now?"
Sangaku Uchiha stood up.
"Everyone."
"I understand your anger, and I am clear on your demands. But please give me a little time. By tomorrow morning, I will make a decision. I pledge this on my honor as Clan Head!"
The crowd, ultimately giving face to their leader, gradually dispersed.
Fugaku Uchiha watched them leave, speaking angrily.
"Father, those clansmen are out of line. To take that attitude with you..."
Sangaku waved his hand.
"Let's not talk about that. Let's go back."
Back at their home, inside the study.
Sangaku sat down and pointed to the chair opposite him, signaling Fugaku to sit.
"Fugaku, how do you think we should handle this?"
Fugaku shook his head.
"I don't know. Father, what do you think?"
Sangaku glanced at his son and said.
"The only plan for now is to stall."
"Stall?"
"Yes. This time is different from the last. We can't suppress it. Trying to force it down will only backfire."
Sangaku looked outside.
"But with my guarantee as Clan Head, we can stall for a bit."
"If we stall long enough, the problem will slowly shrink. It will be much easier to solve then."
The Next Day.
Dawn was just breaking.
The Uchiha meeting hall was already packed with people.
Some hadn't slept at all the night before.
Sangaku Uchiha arrived at the hall with Fugaku.
Everyone's eyes turned to them in unison.
"Everyone."
Sangaku looked around the room.
"I thought about this seriously all night. Like you, I am angry. I am furious. I want answers. I want the truth..."
"But right now is a critical moment for Konoha. What if these things really are a plot by the Hidden Stone or Cloud? If we cause a scene now, won't we become sinners against the Uchiha?"
"Sinners against Konoha?"
As these words fell, the crowd began to stir with unrest.
They had waited all night just to hear this? They couldn't accept it.
Noticing the shift in attitude, Sangaku quickly added.
"Of course, that is just one possibility!"
"Once the war is over, I will investigate everything thoroughly and get justice for everyone. If I fail to do so, I will resign as Clan Head immediately."
"This is my guarantee to you all."
"At least wait until this current period passes."
The restless crowd quieted down a little.
After all, Sangaku had put his position as Clan Head on the line as a guarantee.
"Maybe... we should trust him one more time."