"Uncle Fugaku, you have to be careful. The higher-ups in Konoha are black-hearted—there's nothing they won't do."
"While I'm away fighting, send me updates about the village at regular intervals. If anything changes, I'll rush back immediately."
Uchiha Yusuke warned Uchiha Fugaku with great seriousness.
On this expedition, he would take more than half of the clan's elites, leaving the Uchiha emptier than ever before.
He couldn't guarantee that someone like Danzō—restless and itching to act—wouldn't take the opportunity to strike at the Uchiha.
Of course, the Third Hokage also had to be guarded against.
At least Danzō caused trouble with open weapons, but the Third was best at hidden arrows and ambushes.
Sarutobi Hiruzen cared about his public image and wouldn't stir trouble openly.
But he held the Hokage's authority and controlled all logistical support for the army.
At any time, he could trip Yusuke up. Extra caution was necessary.
"Don't worry, Yusuke!"
"With me holding the rear, nothing will go wrong."
Uchiha Fugaku nodded solemnly.
After Yusuke's guidance during this period, Fugaku now had a completely new understanding of the Konoha higher-ups led by the Third Hokage.
Though he had once been from the compromise faction, he still cared deeply about the rise and fall of the Uchiha.
That trait was also inherited by his younger son, Sasuke.
Even after the Uchiha were wiped out, Sasuke still kept thinking about restoring the clan's glory.
The "Second Pillar" treated this as his life creed and carried it through from beginning to end.
Fugaku had been to war and had once been clan head. Since he had chosen to stay behind, he naturally knew what needed to be done.
When two armies confronted each other, the supply of strategic materials—food, weapons and equipment, medicine—was of utmost importance.
If any of these had problems, it would directly affect frontline combat.
Aside from guarding the clan, Fugaku's most important mission was to keep a close eye on Konoha's higher-ups.
He had to prevent them from sabotaging supplies.
Of course, the Konoha higher-ups weren't fools.
At the start of the war, they definitely wouldn't harbor crooked intentions—otherwise it would be digging their own graves.
But once Yusuke led the army to gain an advantage, the higher-ups' attitude would become hard to read.
Containing the Uchiha was their basic policy.
If the Uchiha showed unknown variables, those people would definitely be unable to sit still.
Doing something dirty behind the scenes would be perfectly normal.
Two days later, the three-thousand-shinobi allied force finished assembling.
At Konoha's main gate.
Sarutobi Hiruzen came with the two advisors to see the army off.
Before departure, the Third Hokage walked over to Uchiha Yusuke with a smile.
He patted Yusuke on the shoulder and spoke earnestly.
"Yusuke, this expedition will be hard on you."
"Once you reach the front line, be careful everywhere."
"While defeating Kumogakure, also strive to ensure your own safety."
"Reduce losses as much as possible, and bring back more comrades safe and sound!"
On the surface, Sarutobi Hiruzen seemed very concerned for Uchiha Yusuke, but in truth he wished Yusuke and Kumogakure would fight to the death on the battlefield.
Without Yusuke, controlling the Uchiha would become much easier.
Just push up a puppet clan head who leaned toward Konoha, and all their worries would vanish immediately.
After all, not every Uchiha was as troublesome as "Flame Demon" Yusuke!
Once the Uchiha returned to their control, squeezing the Hyuga would be a matter of minutes.
In the eyes of Konoha's higher-ups, dying on the battlefield was the best destination for Uchiha Yusuke!
But given Yusuke's abilities, it would hardly be easy for Kumogakure to kill him.
Thinking of that, the Third felt another headache coming on.
Uchiha Yusuke… really was difficult to deal with.
Facing the Third Hokage's poisonous "chicken soup," Yusuke also put on a polite, insincere smile.
"Thank you for your concern, Third Hokage-sama."
"As a Konoha shinobi, this is what I should do."
Yusuke looked calm on the surface, but inwardly sneered.
My own safety is also important? Yeah, right—haha!
Dying on the battlefield is what you most want to see, isn't it?
After exchanging a couple of pleasantries with the Third Hokage, Yusuke turned to face the army of shinobi.
"On this expedition, we must strike Kumogakure hard and raise Konoha's prestige."
"The army moves out—depart!"
With Uchiha Yusuke's order, three thousand shinobi surged forward toward the front line in a mighty procession.
No amount of speeches mattered—only clashing for real would produce results.
Kumogakure had come aggressively this time. Konoha would surely face a fierce battle ahead!
Uchiha Yusuke leapt continuously among the trees, not moving too fast, occasionally stopping to observe the terrain.
Though the front line was still far away, war required adapting to the environment in advance.
Yusuke carried the responsibility of overall commander. Next he would have to deploy troops and arrange formations, so he naturally needed sufficient understanding of the shinobi under his command.
The Hyuga shinobi, led by Hiashi, marched at the very front, responsible for reconnaissance.
The Uchiha followed immediately behind. After that came the secret-technique clans such as Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi in order.
Not long after leaving Konoha, Uchiha Shisui suddenly stepped up to walk alongside Yusuke.
"Clan Head…"
Shisui looked hesitant, as if wanting to speak but stopping himself.
He hadn't wanted to participate in this war.
However, both Yusuke and the Third Hokage selected him while appointing personnel.
Shisui was now very confused—he couldn't sort out his identity.
He was an Uchiha, yet he had received the Third Hokage's order to monitor Yusuke.
Shisui couldn't understand why Konoha's higher-ups would do this.
Yusuke was strong in style, but he had never committed any act of betraying Konoha.
Shisui believed Yusuke's dream—like his own—was to become Hokage.
There were many people in Konoha with that ambition. Could wanting to be Hokage be a crime?
Why could others aim for the Hokage position, but the Uchiha clan head could not?
Weren't the Uchiha also Konoha's comrades?
Despite many doubts, Shisui still hadn't forgotten the Third Hokage's instructions.
As a descendant of Uchiha Kagami, Shisui had also been "brainwashed" by the Will of Fire to some extent.
From the moment the team set out, Shisui had looked heavy with worry—Yusuke had actually noticed it long ago.
Yusuke smiled slightly and didn't expose it.
"Shisui, you don't look too well."
"Is something on your mind?"
Shisui stared straight at Uchiha Yusuke, as if trying to read his heart.
"Brother Yusuke, why did you provoke this war?"
"You've been on the battlefield too—don't you understand how cruel war is?"
The corners of Yusuke's mouth lifted in faint mockery.
"War is cruel? Heh…"
"Before we marched out, the Third Hokage talked to you, didn't he?"
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