The camp at the Iwagakure frontline had undergone a complete transformation.
The hidden outposts along the border had been repurposed into a defensive stronghold against Iwagakure's forces. No longer did they shift locations incessantly; now, they stood firm in one place.
Previously, their role had been to scout for enemy shinobi entering the Land of Fire. Now, their mission was to bar their entry entirely. Naturally, the methods had changed.
Uchiha Kin entered the command camp alone. Namikaze Minato and Kushina were still holding the defensive line. Kin's primary purpose here was to hand over his duties, allowing others to take his place in Team Seven's defensive formation.
Inside the command tent, several jōnin were gathered around a terrain model, analyzing potential routes. Some advocated for an aggressive offensive, while others insisted on holding their ground.
"If we keep defending passively, we'll be at a disadvantage! We should drive Iwagakure back once and for all!"
"Do you even know how many traps the enemy has laid ahead? A reckless attack would cost us dearly!"
The debate grew heated, with the jōnin arguing fiercely. Ultimately, however, the final decision rested with Jiraiya, who stood frowning at the map. His gray armor bore numerous scars, burns, and dark, dried bloodstains.
Hearing the tent flap open, Jiraiya looked up and spotted Kin. The other shinobi barely glanced at the newcomer before resuming their argument. Jiraiya approached Kin.
"Jiraiya-sensei, what's this about the Sunagakure frontline summoning me?" Kin asked quietly, eyeing the near-brawling jōnin.
Jiraiya recalled the orders from the village—all frontline deployments were dictated by Konoha's higher-ups. He had learned that the Sunagakure front was struggling.
"Sunagakure has developed a complex poison. They want you to develop a jutsu that can counteract it."
"Isn't that Tsunade's specialty?" Kin had confidence in his ability to create such a technique—his deduction interface already displayed several poison-resistant jutsu. But he wasn't a medical expert; this was Tsunade's domain.
Though her proposal for a dedicated medical corps had been rejected, no one could deny that Tsunade was the finest medical-nin in the world. Even Kin had to admire her prowess.
"You're the backup plan. Tsunade is the primary choice—the village has already ordered her to the Sunagakure front," Jiraiya said with a smile. "If you don't want to go, you don't have to. I can refuse on your behalf."
Privately, Jiraiya preferred to keep Kin close. His student's potential darkness needed careful guidance, but war left little room for such efforts.
Kin rubbed his chin thoughtfully, then posed a question. "Jiraiya-sensei, if I solve Sunagakure's poison problem, can I earn the right to view the Scroll of Seals?"
In Konoha, anyone who used his Basic Internal Energy Technique unwittingly surrendered their jutsu to him—except for those recorded in the Scroll of Seals. So far, only the Soul Transformation Technique seemed to elude him.
Jiraiya hesitated. "I can put in the request, but accessing the Scroll requires the Hokage's approval."
"Is that so?" Kin mused.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, that old bastard, would likely refuse. After all, when Kin's Basic Internal Energy Technique was adopted by the village, all he received was a footnote in the credits—no other rewards. Most shinobi contributed techniques selflessly, but Kin wasn't so generous. If not for the ability to glean others' jutsu through his technique, he'd never have handed it over.
On the surface, he'd been slighted—and he wouldn't forget it. Sooner or later, he'd repay Hiruzen in kind.
For now, his goal was clear: accumulate enough merit to glimpse the Scroll's secrets. This mission might be his chance.
"Leave it to me," Kin agreed.
Sunlight streamed from the sky as Kin stepped out of the command tent, raising a hand to shield his eyes. The camp was sparsely populated—fewer than the original outpost's numbers. Most present were severely wounded shinobi, no longer fit for combat.
He headed to his tent to gather his belongings before departure, but a familiar figure intercepted him.
"Hyūga Hizashi."
"Uchiha Kin."
Hizashi's expression darkened as he lowered his head. His current state was pitiful: one eye bandaged, an arm slung across his chest, his neck wrapped in gauze, and a crutch under his remaining arm.
"You look..."
"Like I barely survived, right?" Hizashi finished Kin's sentence, his grip on the crutch turning his knuckles white. Yet his tone remained eerily calm.
"Is your eye...?" Kin changed the subject. The Hyūga, like the Uchiha, relied heavily on their eyes. Losing one would be catastrophic.
"It's fine. A few days of rest will heal it." Hizashi touched the bandage lightly.
If only the enemy hadn't discovered his blind spot, he wouldn't be in this state! His remaining hand clenched into a fist.
Kin exchanged a few more pleasantries before hastily excusing himself. The Hyūga had their own brand of madness.
The encounter reminded him of his future subordinate.
"Hyūga Kiyoshi must be at the Rain Country battlefield by now. I wonder if he'll survive."
Shaking off the thought, he returned to his tent. He had little to pack—just essential tools, all stored in a backpack. He summoned a reverse-summoning creature to send it to Ryūchi Cave. Little White would guard his belongings.
With that, he left the camp.
Outside, the dense forest swallowed the camp from view—not due to invisibility, but the genjutsu barrier that diverted attention. In the distance, explosions rumbled. The frontline was alive with clashing jutsu, their colorful flashes visible even here.
Iwagakure's forces pressed relentlessly, but Konoha's shinobi held the line. Though their casualties were fewer, many had still fallen.
"Sunagakure can't be more dangerous than this... right?"
The odds weren't reassuring.
"But with my current strength, death shouldn't be a concern."
After half a year at war, Kin had grown accustomed to shinobi combat. In terms of power, he was jōnin-level now. Early on, he'd lacked experience, but now—though not a veteran—he could at least avoid being outmaneuvered to death.
He leapt into the trees, vanishing swiftly into the forest.
...
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(End of Chapter)