Night fell like ink across the ninja world.
Konoha — Hokage Tower
Two urgent war reports arrived in succession. Every line carried the same desperate message from the front lines: Iwagakure was pressing forward step by step in the northwest, while Kumogakure's offensive surged like a rising tide in the northeast.
And just as the situation reached its most critical point, a third urgent message from the eastern coast arrived.
The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi read it, he abruptly rose from his seat.
The ships of Kirigakure had already set sail from the Land of Water, cutting through the mist as they raced westward.
Three fronts under attack.
The Land of Fire stood on the brink.
The Third Hokage—once known as the Hero of the Shinobi—suddenly felt as if invisible spikes had grown from his chair. He could not sit still.
Hiruzen took a deep drag from his pipe and exhaled thick smoke. The flickering ember illuminated the deep lines etched into his brow.
They could not wait any longer.
"Send the order!"
"Urge the Uchiha again—assemble immediately and depart for the eastern front!"
"Stop the enemy at the borders of the nation!"
This was already the third order issued tonight.
Hyūga Clan Compound
Deep within the Hyūga clan compound, the main house hall was brightly lit.
After an entire day of clan meetings, the Hyūga Clan Head still sat upright.
Now alone, exhaustion finally showed across his face.
By this point, most of the branch family ninja had already been dispatched to the frontlines. Those remaining in Konoha were mostly genin and children.
If the war continued to deteriorate and casualties increased, the Hyūga—whose fate was deeply tied to Konoha—might soon be forced to send even members of the main house onto the battlefield.
What path lies ahead for the Hyūga clan?
The heavy question weighed upon him like a mountain.
His gaze dropped to the document before him—the official notice that had spread throughout Konoha.
The decree permitting the Uchiha clan to form an independent army.
Uchiha…
What exactly gives you the confidence to revive the old Warring States system and form your own army now?
The Mangekyō Sharingan?
But the Asura of the ninja world and the God of Shinobi were legends of the past.
This was no longer an era where a single clan could dominate the world.
The Hyūga Clan Head stared at the bold inked characters spelling Uchiha.
Even his Byakugan, capable of seeing through deception and battlefield tactics, could find no answer.
Only a deep sense of unease remained.
And fear.
If the main house members were forced onto the battlefield, the Byakugan—a bloodline coveted by every village—would become an irresistible target.
During the Warring States era, the Hyūga had relied on their noble status to maintain influence among the great clans.
But the one country, one village system had destroyed that balance.
On the black market, a single Byakugan now commanded a staggering price.
If not for the branch family's Caged Bird Seal and the main house's strict isolation from foreign lands, Byakugan eyes might already be scattered across the world.
The thought of a Byakugan falling into enemy hands—of the clan's sacred bloodline no longer belonging solely to the Hyūga—made his mind restless.
Then a thought arose.
One that had previously been unthinkable.
Should we cooperate with the Uchiha?
After witnessing the sharpness and strength displayed by the Uchiha youth in their confrontation with Hiruzen Sarutobi the previous night, the Hyūga Clan Head felt something he rarely admitted—
Envy.
In every era, the Uchiha seemed to produce astonishing geniuses who carried the clan's banner forward.
Bright.
Unrestrained.
In contrast, the Hyūga's most outstanding talents were his two sons.
In times of peace, they could be called exceptional.
But in this storm of war—
Could they truly carry the Hyūga clan forward?
"…What troubled times."
The Hyūga Clan Head sighed deeply and forced the chaotic thoughts aside.
If he wanted to understand the meaning behind the Uchiha army—
He would have to participate.
He summoned his second son, now a branch family member:
Hyūga Hizashi.
Soon, the study door slid open.
Hizashi entered quietly and knelt respectfully.
"Father, you called for me."
He wore the standard branch family attire. His posture was humble, his long hair loose. Even at night, he still wore his Konoha forehead protector.
The Hyūga Clan Head looked at him calmly.
This son, whose talent rivaled that of his elder brother—but whose birth order condemned him to the branch family.
Without wasting words, he pushed the document toward him.
"The Uchiha have been permitted to form an independent army. They will soon depart for the eastern front."
"The clan has decided to send you with a branch family squad to join the Uchiha army and depart with them."
Hizashi's head snapped up in shock.
Join the Uchiha army?
Not Konoha's eastern army?
The order completely exceeded his expectations.
He looked at his father, searching for deeper meaning in those calm Byakugan eyes.
"Do not be surprised," the Clan Head said slowly.
"If the Uchiha dare to separate from Konoha's command structure and form their own army, they must possess hidden confidence."
"Your task is to see it with your own eyes."
"Experience it personally."
"The Hyūga must leave open more possibilities for the future."
"Do you understand?"
The obvious question remained unspoken.
Instead, Hizashi asked quietly,
"What if the Uchiha refuse the Hyūga?"
The Clan Head answered calmly.
"Hizashi."
"On the battlefield, no one refuses the assistance of the Byakugan."
Hizashi bowed deeply, his forehead touching the cold floor.
"Yes, Father."
Uchiha District — Anlan's Residence
Within the Uchiha district, Anlan's residence shone brightly under the night sky.
Inside the spacious tatami hall, the elite of the younger Uchiha generation had gathered.
At the head sat Uchiha Anlan.
Beside him were:
Fugaku, calm and steady.
Mikoto, gentle yet composed.
Yashiro, Inabi, Tekka.
And the youngest among them—
Shisui, whose clear eyes already revealed extraordinary talent.
If someone dropped a Planetary Devastation here right now, even the Uchiha would need twenty years to recover.
The air carried quiet tension, like a rocket awaiting launch.
From the kitchen came the sound of a frying pan being tossed, oil sizzling against ingredients. The warmth of cooking added a hint of homely comfort to the tense night.
Uchiha Hazuki entered with a scroll.
"General," she said respectfully, bowing to Anlan.
"The Hokage's third order has arrived. He demands we depart tomorrow."
Inabi immediately sneered.
"That old bastard. He orders us today and expects us to leave tomorrow?"
"Does he think the Uchiha don't need time to prepare weapons?"
Shisui hesitated.
Serving the village was something he believed in.
But…
Isn't everyone here a little too disrespectful toward the Hokage?
Even if the Hokage made mistakes, shouldn't ninja place the mission first?
Looking around at the calm expressions of his elders—even Fugaku seemed unconcerned.
Shisui decided to remain silent.
Tekka elbowed Inabi.
"Do less talking, more observing."
"Inabi, the general hasn't spoken yet."
Inabi shut up immediately.
All eyes turned to Anlan.
He looked toward his deputy.
"Yashiro, what about the assembly of the clan?"
Yashiro reported confidently.
"General, the two hundred Red Guard troops have been fully assembled."
"Thirty elite ninja possess three-tomoe Sharingan."
"Twenty experienced jōnin."
"The remaining one hundred fifty are chūnin. Over thirty have awakened the Sharingan."
His voice carried unmistakable pride.
"All personnel have completed equipment inspections."
"Kunai, rations, explosive tags—everything is prepared."
"The clan's remaining stockpiles could arm another two hundred-man Red Guard at any time."
Years of clan business had funded enormous military preparation.
Even the explosive tags showed the difference.
A normal Konoha ninja might carry ten tags.
Each Red Guard soldier carried two bundles of one hundred explosive tags, plus ten high-grade tags worth ninety thousand ryō each.
Each soldier was essentially a walking fortune worth over a million ryō.
Because they were family.
And Anlan spared no expense.
Yashiro continued.
"Many younger clan members wish to form a third Red Guard unit."
Anlan nodded.
"Their enthusiasm is good."
"But war is not a game."
"The clan homeland also requires protection."
"Our roots are here."
"If home stands, our hearts remain steady."
"Understood," Yashiro bowed.
"I will explain this to the clan after dinner."
Mikoto smiled slightly.
"This kind of task should belong to the intelligence division."
"Calming emotions and guiding public opinion are our responsibilities."
Hazuki nodded.
"Ever since the death of the White Fang, I've remembered what Anlan-sama taught about public opinion guidance and ideological unity."
"I will prepare a statement tonight."
"It will inspire pride while explaining the importance of staying behind."
"Tomorrow, every household will receive it."
Anlan turned to Mikoto.
"And the external situation?"
She unfurled a scroll.
"Kirigakure's fleet arrived near the Land of Waves today."
"Three hundred vanguard troops attempted a landing this evening and clashed briefly with coastal defenders."
Anlan smiled faintly.
"No wonder the Hokage is so impatient."
"In that case, the Uchiha will give him face."
"Order:"
"At dawn tomorrow, the Red Guard will assemble at the clan gates."
"At the Hour of the Dragon, we depart."
"Let Konoha—and the world—see this."
"The fire of the Hokage burns through the flames of the Uchiha."
"Yes, General!"
War spirit surged in the hall.
At that moment, the kitchen curtain lifted.
A rich aroma filled the room.
Several plump orange cats walked upright, carrying enormous trays with their front paws.
Golden tempura.
Grilled fish.
Steaming miso soup.
One cat shouted through a mouthful of dried fish.
"Dinner time! Dinner time!"
"Tonight's my special farewell feast!"
"Eat well and beat those Kirigakure bastards tomorrow!"
Anlan sat first, lifting his chopsticks.
He raised a cup of milk tea and smiled.
"To the clan."
"To the future."
Candlelight flickered across the young faces.
For a brief moment, they set aside the burdens of tomorrow's war and enjoyed the final peace before battle.
Outside, the moon hung high above Konoha.
On a nearby balcony, three elderly Uchiha watched Anlan's brightly lit house.
Uchiha Hokaku grumbled unhappily.
"Letting those youngsters charge into battle while we old bones stay home guarding the gate…"
"What nonsense is that?"
"Does that brat Anlan think we're useless old men?"
"Hmph!"
Uchiha Setsuna immediately sneered.
"The kids are being considerate of our age."
"And you complain instead of appreciating it?"
"You've grown more childish with age!"
"You—!"
Hokaku exploded with anger, nearly leaping across the table to grab Setsuna's collar.
The Clan Head quickly intervened.
"Honestly, Setsuna wanted to go even more than you did."
"Anlan refused him."
"He's just taking out his wounded pride on you."
"What?!"
Hokaku's anger doubled.
"You shameless old man!"
"You got rejected and now you're venting on me?!"
Setsuna bristled.
"So what if I did?"
"At least I dared to try!"
"Unlike someone who just sulks!"
"I only didn't want to make things difficult for Mikoto!"
"Oh really?"
"Why not sneak out then?"
"I'm not that kind of man!"
Watching the two old rivals nearly start a fight again, the Clan Head sighed and calmly sipped his sake.
Soon enough, the two stopped arguing and simply started drinking together.
From afar, laughter drifted through the night.
And beneath the moonlight, their cups clinked softly together.
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