Somewhere in the Land of Fields.
Not far from the river was Konoha's camp.
Tsunade turned in the mission, then brought Natsume, Kabuto, and Shizune to the main tent.
Many people were already there.
"Lady Tsunade."
The first to speak wasn't Uchiha Fugaku, but Nara Shikaku, with his pineapple hair.
He was the father of Nara Shikamaru, one of the Konoha 12, and the Shika of the current Ino-Shika-Cho trio.
The Nara clan was known for their intelligence and usually served as strategists.
This war was no exception.
"Regarding Shitō, I represent the Ino-Shika-Cho trio in thanking you. If you hadn't arrived in time, he might never be a ninja again."
Nara Shikaku looked grateful.
Ino-Shika-Cho had deep bonds.
It wasn't strange for him to thank her on behalf of the still-unconscious Shitō.
"I was just doing my duty," Tsunade waved her hand and got to the point. "What's the situation?"
"Not good."
Uchiha Fugaku said grimly, "In just a week, we've lost thirty outposts and bases."
"They launched a full assault?"
Tsunade already had some intel, but hearing the number still surprised her.
"Yeah."
Fugaku nodded. "We were caught off guard and had to retreat, but Shikaku found something odd."
Outposts and bases were vital in war.
They formed defensive positions against enemy attacks.
Ordinary tents or obstacles couldn't stop jutsu.
Without outposts, you were always on edge.
"Everyone, look at the map."
Shikaku spread out a map of the Land of Fields. "These thirty outposts seem randomly scattered, but we've unknowingly retreated to the southern side, downstream of this river."
He drew a big circle on the map.
"Could it be a coincidence?" Tsunade asked, "The area's so large—ambushes would be hard to pull off."
"That's exactly what's odd," Shikaku nodded. "But the Fourth Raikage's goal isn't just these outposts."
"Right."
Tsunade offered her guess, "The Cloud Village probably wants a big victory to gain leverage in negotiations and win more compensation."
"We think so too," Fugaku glanced at Hyuga Hiashi. "The Hyuga clan's ninja have scouted—the two Jinchuriki are still in Cloud Village."
"Taking out that many outposts in a short time cost them a lot, too," Hiashi said. "There's something fishy. We should send Hyuga ninja behind enemy lines."
Risky, yes, but finding something would mean a big achievement.
"Byakugan is great for scouting, but if discovered, and without enough strength, it could backfire. If the Hyuga clan head wants to go himself, I have no objection," Fugaku said.
He knew what Hiashi was thinking.
To outsiders, the Hyuga and Uchiha were the two great dojutsu clans of Konoha.
But within the Uchiha, they never saw it that way.
Fugaku especially—he knew about the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Mere Byakugan, how could it compare?
Hiashi's expression changed.
He didn't dare go himself.
As the head of the main branch, he didn't have the caged bird seal. If caught, the Byakugan would fall into enemy hands.
In the Third Shinobi World War, a Hyuga elder lost a Byakugan to Kiri's Ao and gave him the title "Byakugan Killer."
That lesson made the main branch even more cautious—every dangerous task went to the branch family.
With the caged bird seal in hand, they had no choice but to obey.
"Then I'd like to hear your thoughts, Fugaku," Hiashi replied stiffly.
"I suggest Lady Tsunade lead a team, with Uchiha Shisui's squad assisting," Fugaku said without hesitation.
Tsunade needed no introduction.
She was the highest-ranking, and one of the top five in strength.
Uchiha Shisui had already earned the nickname "Shisui of the Body Flicker" in the previous war and had become even stronger since.
In terms of personal achievements, he was number one.
Even without Mangekyo, he was far stronger than three years ago.
"I'm fine with that," Tsunade agreed after a moment.
She'd joined the war to train Natsume and the others.
Their previous performance against Toroi had satisfied her.
Though dangerous, infiltrating enemy lines was excellent training.
She felt they were up to the task.
"Yes," Shisui stepped forward and accepted the mission.
He'd always been the shortest among the jonin due to his age.
Natsume noticed him for the first time.
"Shisui, are you leading a team now?" Tsunade asked, "Who are your team members?"
Two squads.
She was confident in Natsume's group, but the other squad was questionable.
Talents were rare.
"I was specially permitted by the Hokage to lead as a jonin," Shisui replied gently. "My team is Orochimaru's three students: Uchiha Itachi, Anko Mitarashi, and Yugao Uzuki."
"Orochimaru's students, huh?" Tsunade raised her eyebrows. "That guy never leaves the village, but sends his students out?"
Shisui stayed silent.
Big-shots' quarrels, none of his business.
In fact, he hadn't chosen them because of Itachi.
Orochimaru had assigned him.
Why, he still didn't know.
"In that case, I'll leave it to you, Lady Tsunade," Fugaku said as soon as the chat ended.
He glanced at Shisui and Itachi—no words, but the message was clear: perform well.
Because of upheaval within the Uchiha, Fugaku realized how dangerous things were.
He was trying to balance appeasing the radicals while learning about the village high-ups' moves through Shisui and Itachi.
Two-pronged approach.
Fugaku didn't want to rebel.
In the original, he was forced to lead, then met Itachi, surrendered, didn't resist, let him slaughter the clan.
His thinking was hard to understand, even absurd.
As for now—
Fugaku wasn't a good clan head or father, so he had no idea what Shisui and Itachi really thought.
His inaction only sped up the Uchiha's demise.