The three villages dividing the Uchiha was, against the backdrop of the Uchiha rebellion, only a tiny footnote.
It was much like the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan years ago. Most surviving Uzumaki had fled to Konoha, but some had still ended up in other shinobi villages.
Kusagakure, for example.
As for how to make the best use of these Uchiha, Rasa had not decided yet.
There was no rush. He could think it through later.
For now, he had something more important to deal with.
Repelling Kirigakure.
Driving Konoha into internal chaos had only dragged Sunagakure up from rock bottom. It had not truly solved the village's situation.
As long as Kirigakure remained, Sunagakure would know no peace.
"Breaking through from the outside is difficult… but I can start from within."
Rasa looked at the [One-Day Ninja Experience Card (Kirigakure Chunin Edition)].
"With this card, I can infiltrate Kirigakure perfectly and gather intelligence there."
"It's far more convenient than any spy or sleeper agent."
Not long after, Rasa had already decided on the character he would create.
"Name: Hozuki Gengetsu."
"Gender: Male."
"Age: 16."
His reasoning was simple.
Within Kirigakure, the Hozuki Clan was a famous shinobi clan. The Second Mizukage had come from the Hozuki Clan, one of the current Seven Ninja Swordsmen also carried the Hozuki name, and in the future there would even be a prodigy known as Hozuki Mangetsu.
A chunin alone might not be strong enough to access major intelligence or reach the inner circles.
Then he would make up for that lack of strength with status.
As Rasa finished setting the parameters, an appropriate character image immediately appeared on the card.
After arranging the next day's matters, Rasa returned home and spent a little quiet time with Karura.
Then he went to the study on the third floor.
Doors and windows shut.
"Use."
[Use successful!]
In the next instant, Rasa felt his body abruptly vanish, as if his consciousness had been torn free and sent hurtling away at incredible speed.
Very quickly, he had left Sunagakure behind.
But this time, not by much.
"This is… the border of the Land of Wind?"
"Kirigakure's army encampment?"
A flicker of delight rose in Rasa's heart.
Compared to Kirigakure itself, this was where he would rather appear.
An enormous number of Kirigakure shinobi were stationed here.
Rasa gave it a rough estimate—at least six thousand.
In the Fourth Great Ninja War, that number might not have meant much. After all, the Allied Shinobi Forces had numbered over eighty thousand.
But now, after a long war, after every major village had already suffered serious losses, that number was enough to show exactly how seriously Kirigakure regarded this war against Sunagakure.
Perhaps not their full strength—
but certainly the bulk of their main force.
"I've arrived."
Rasa opened his eyes.
Before him stood a shabby, battered tent. There were few ninja tools inside, and even the clothes were old and worn.
He stepped out.
This was clearly one of the outermost areas of Kirigakure's encampment.
The shinobi around him were scattered and low-level.
Rasa could not help freezing for a moment.
Was this really the Hozuki Clan?
He had deliberately given himself the identity of a Hozuki. Even if he was only a chunin, he still bore the name.
This was one of Kirigakure's great clans.
Compared to Konoha, it should have been on the level of the Uchiha or Hyuga.
No bloodline limit, yes—but their Hydrification Technique was comparable to one.
"What is this?"
"A Hozuki shinobi this miserable? Reduced to this, and pushed so far to the fringe?"
A gaze turned toward him.
"Hozuki Gengetsu, what are you doing? Why aren't you resting? If you don't rest, how are you supposed to perform tomorrow when you're sent to the front? Or are you planning to let your condition worsen on purpose so you can use that as an excuse not to go?"
Rasa returned to the tent.
The situation before him was completely different from what he had expected.
"This isn't right."
"Something is wrong inside Kirigakure."
"According to Sunagakure's intelligence, the Hozuki Clan hasn't suffered any obvious changes. They're still considered one of Kirigakure's major clans. So why would even an ordinary ninja dare treat a Hozuki this way?"
"The Hozuki Clan must have run into trouble."
His eyes flickered.
"And for Sunagakure… this might be a breakthrough?"
The man outside kept talking.
"That Hozuki Gengetsu is nothing but trouble. Does he really think it's still the old days?"
"If the higher-ups hadn't forced him into my squad, I'd never have taken him."
"Best if he dies on the front line tomorrow."
Someone beside him gave a quiet reminder.
"Captain, keep your voice down. If Hozuki Kumokiri hears about this, he might cause trouble for you."
The captain gave a cold snort.
"Cause trouble for me? Hozuki Kumokiri doesn't care about these things. If he did, the Hozuki Clan would never have ended up in its current state."
"All he cares about is the swords. Other than the swords, he doesn't care about anything."
"And besides, Hozuki Gengetsu is the one with the problem. I'm only doing what a captain should."
The squad member gave an awkward laugh and said no more.
But it was obvious enough—
his captain was targeting Hozuki Gengetsu on purpose.
Maybe because bullying someone with the Hozuki surname made it feel more satisfying.
After all, in Kirigakure, those two characters—Hozuki—had once stood high above the rest.
Inside the tent, Rasa analyzed what he had heard.
"Most likely, the Hozuki Clan has declined. I don't know why, but from the way the other shinobi treat them, the fall must have been severe."
"Hozuki Kumokiri… one of the current Seven Ninja Swordsmen, wielder of the twin blades Hiramekarei."
"He should be the highest-ranking Hozuki still active in Kirigakure. But judging from what that man said, Kumokiri doesn't involve himself in clan matters. His heart belongs only to the swords."
That brought to mind the crushing defeat the Seven Ninja Swordsmen would one day suffer at the hands of Might Duy.
"His heart belongs only to the swords… but he doesn't seem that strong either."
Rasa parted the flap of the tent and looked outside.
"With Hozuki Gengetsu's identity, I probably won't get access to any other useful intelligence. In that case, before this identity vanishes, I should at least remove a few enemies for Sunagakure."
"I'll start with that captain."
"I've used the Hozuki surname. Killing him can count as a little repayment to the Hozuki Clan."
Just then—
a figure approached at incredible speed.
"Squad Thirteen, on orders—assemble immediately! Urgent mission!"
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