'What is the meaning of this, Fugaku Uchiha?' Shinnosuke thought. Was Fugaku implying he wasn't even as capable as an elementary student at the Ninja Academy? He was the dignified son of the Hokage, a top student in the academy! He had never heard of such an absurd rule.
Fugaku had to be making things up just to embezzle the Sarutobi clan's armor and ninja tools. Thinking of this, Shinnosuke Sarutobi snorted coldly.
But just as Shinnosuke was about to voice his retort, he noticed the surrounding ninja clan leaders staring at him in sheer confusion. Seeing their bewildered expressions, Shinnosuke hesitated. 'Did I really misremember?'
Seeing Shinnosuke's faltering expression, a cold sneer tugged at the corner of Fugaku Uchiha's mouth.
The rule certainly existed; it just wasn't taught in the Ninja Academy. In fact, it wasn't a formal rule at all, but rather an unspoken tradition passed down among the major ninja clans. Before entering the battlefield, every shinobi was expected to prepare their own gear. Only by using weapons and armor they were intimately familiar with could they fight comfortably and exert their maximum combat power.
Looking at Shinnosuke's clueless demeanor, Fugaku was absolutely certain of one thing: Hiruzen Sarutobi had never intended for his son to set foot on a real battlefield.
To the Hokage, the lives of others were expendable, but his own bloodline was precious. The fact that a man with such a mindset could become the Third Hokage made Fugaku seriously wonder if the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had ever slammed his head in a door.
Fugaku couldn't be bothered to babysit this greenhouse flower. "Everyone, return to your camps and prepare. We launch the first attack in half an hour."
With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the gathering.
"Wait! What about our clan?" Shinnosuke anxiously blocked Fugaku's path.
"I can't help you there," Fugaku said flatly. "Perhaps you can ask around and see if any other clan brought an extra set of armor. Maybe someone will be generous enough to lend you a set. But unfortunately, the Uchiha clan has no spares for you."
Shaking off Shinnosuke, Fugaku headed straight toward the Uchiha clan's encampment.
The logistics unit had yet to arrive. Right now, the entire ninja army was relying entirely on their own personal marching supplies for food and equipment. Even if Fugaku wanted to help, his hands were tied.
Not that he had any desire to help in the first place. After all, a significant reason to wage this war was to target the Sarutobi clan and the Konoha Elder Council.
"I almost forgot," Fugaku paused at the doorway, glancing back. "Every single ninja must head to the frontlines. We need to clear a wide, safe perimeter for the logistics unit when they finally arrive. If any clan secretly hides and avoids the battlefield, don't blame me for treating it as an act of desertion."
Dropping that final warning, Fugaku walked out.
"Damn Fugaku Uchiha! Damn the Uchiha clan!" Shinnosuke gritted his teeth. He wasn't stupid; he knew those words were directed entirely at him. Refusing to fight meant being branded a traitor. His Sarutobi clan was the family of the Hokage! Even if the entire Uchiha clan rebelled, the Sarutobi could never be caught deserting.
After struggling with his anger for a moment, Shinnosuke stormed back to the Sarutobi encampment. They weren't in Konoha anymore. He didn't dare gamble on whether Fugaku would actually follow through on his threat.
Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye. The entire army was fully geared up and ready to march—except for the Sarutobi clan. Standing among thousands of ninjas clad in battle armor and bristling with weapons, the Sarutobi shinobi, dressed in casual cloth and entirely empty-handed, looked glaringly out of place.
Right up until the attack was ordered, Shinnosuke hadn't managed to borrow a single piece of armor.
Fugaku didn't even spare them a glance. He raised his hand and roared, "Attack!"
"Attack!"
The four-thousand-strong ninja army roared in unison, surging forward like a massive, suffocating cloud toward the distant Kumogakure encampment.
"Lady Mabui, Konoha has launched their offensive," a scout reported inside the Kumogakure command tent.
"So they've come," Mabui nodded, her face calm. She had anticipated this. If she were commanding the Konoha forces, she wouldn't let such a perfect opportunity slip by either.
"Lord Raikage is still lying in the hospital," the scout continued, "and given Lord Killer B's severe injuries, it isn't safe to move him abruptly."
"Retreating now would clearly be the wiser choice," Mabui sighed softly. "Assemble the troops. Our primary focus is defense. Tell them not to risk their lives trying to maximize enemy casualties; prioritize self-preservation above all else."
She turned to a tall, dark-skinned shinobi nearby. "Darui, with Lord Raikage indisposed, you will act as the temporary battlefield commander. Remember, if the situation turns sour, order an immediate retreat. Staying alive is what matters most."
"Don't worry, Mabui," Darui said, flashing a bright, easygoing smile. "Until Lord Raikage gets back on his feet, I absolutely won't lose to Konoha."
With that, Darui stepped out of the tent and led the Kumogakure army to meet the incoming Konoha forces.
It didn't take long for the two massive armies to violently clash within the borders of the Land of Hot Water. When enemies met, their eyes burned red with hatred. Without waiting for further orders from their commanders, the ninjas tore into each other. Instantly, the Land of Hot Water was engulfed in the fires of war.
For a small nation wedged between two great powers, becoming a collateral battlefield was a tragic, commonplace reality. Unlike ordinary skirmishes, ninja warfare unleashed devastating ninjutsu that decimated the landscape. Naturally, neither side wanted to destroy their own nation's resources, making neutral ground the perfect sacrifice.
Meanwhile, miles away from the frontline carnage, Jie Uchiha stood atop a small hill boasting a perfect vantage point. He calmly surveyed the warring armies below.
Without the Fourth Raikage present, there was absolutely no one in the Kumogakure ranks who could match him. If he stepped onto the battlefield right now, the war would instantly become a one-sided slaughter. However, doing so would completely defeat his purpose: using this war as a bloody crucible to temper his clansmen.
So, he opted to play the spectator. He stood by, watching the drama unfold, silently evaluating the strength and potential of the Uchiha shinobi. If any of them faced a genuine life-and-death crisis, he was perfectly positioned to intervene and save them.
'That strike was good. Beautiful!'
'Who is that idiot? How could he miss a slash at point-blank range? When we return, I'm making him practice Uchiha Style Kenjutsu a thousand times a day.'
Jie mentally critiqued his clansmen's performances one by one.
"Well, well. There's actually a Konoha ninja hiding up here? And it's just a brat!"
Suddenly, a Kumogakure ninja materialized right behind Jie. Showing no mercy, the enemy shinobi let out a maniacal laugh and drove his kunai straight toward Jie's back.
"I'm just spectating," Jie sighed, not even turning around. His voice was flat and entirely devoid of panic. "Why do you have a death wish? Isn't it nice to stay alive?"
He had noticed this Kumogakure ninja creeping up the hill ages ago, but simply hadn't bothered to acknowledge him.
But since this enemy had eagerly delivered himself to his doorstep with such obnoxious arrogance, Jie figured he might as well do him a favor. He would personally send this Kumogakure ninja to meet their Third Raikage.
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