The Land of Fire, Konoha.
The village, untouched by the flames of war raging on the front lines, remained peaceful and serene. Those who had never experienced that atmosphere could never truly grasp how cruel reality was. They were enjoying a peace forged through blood.
"Good!"
The calm was suddenly broken by a sharp, excited voice echoing from inside the Hokage Building.
His hands trembled slightly. The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, gripped the intelligence report tightly, his face alight with emotion.
Beside him, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had just returned to the office, turned his gaze toward the bloodstained scroll after hearing Minato's outburst. He couldn't help but wonder what could have made the usually composed Minato react like that.
But the moment he saw the contents, the hand holding his pipe trembled involuntarily.
"Team Night Owl infiltrated deep behind enemy lines, disrupting Kumogakure's supply routes at will. Preliminary reports estimate over a hundred enemy ninja have been killed."
"At the border, Kumogakure's forces are retreating. Hizashi Hyūga is pressing forward, applying constant pressure."
"It's confirmed that Kumogakure's focus has shifted entirely to Team Night Owl, significantly reducing the strain on our front lines."
"Hakken Yoru, Itachi Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake, Shisui Uchiha."
"All of this is thanks to these four."
They had succeeded!
Though Minato was puzzled by the unexpected mention of Uchiha Shisui in the report, the news itself was undeniably uplifting. The effects of the surprise attack were already showing.
Now, as long as Team Night Owl continued to spread chaos, the pressure on Kumogakure would only grow heavier. But on the other hand, their own situation would become increasingly dangerous.
There was no time to hesitate. Minato's gaze hardened with resolve. This elite squad could very well decide the outcome of the entire war.
That day in his office, he hadn't revealed the entire plan to them. Not because he didn't trust them—but because this first step was the most critical. The stalemate needed a team like theirs to break it!
Once the tide began to turn, he would send additional forces to the front lines. Then, with Kumogakure unable to capture Hakken, they would be caught between two fronts, utterly overwhelmed. At that point, a ceasefire would be inevitable.
Breaking the deadlock first, then negotiating when both sides held equal leverage—that was Minato's grasp of the situation. Just moments ago, he and the Third Hokage had been discussing reinforcement strategies. This time, Minato was determined to free Konoha completely from the grip of war.
"They've done well."
Letting out a long sigh, a faint smile of relief crossed Hiruzen Sarutobi's face. No matter how many times he had turned a blind eye to Danzō's secret schemes, Hiruzen's heart still belonged to Konoha.
The war at the border had weighed heavily on the village, and this turn of events filled him with genuine joy. That simple praise also changed his impression of the young man who had once stormed into the ANBU holding a blade.
I really am getting old.
In the end, Konoha will have to rely on the younger generation to protect it.
With that thought, Hiruzen sighed again. Then, as if remembering something, he looked up at Minato.
"The reinforcement plan you mentioned earlier—it's now feasible."
"But Minato, you know how much the Third Shinobi World War drained Konoha."
"We don't have many ninja left to send to the front."
It wasn't an excuse or an attempt to hide their remaining strength. Konoha had truly reached its limits.
"No!"
Minato's gaze hardened as he rose to his feet and looked out the office window.
"Konoha has never lacked those willing to sacrifice themselves for the village."
"And the Third Hokage overlooked those who patrol Konoha day and night."
"Their clan possesses extraordinary combat prowess!"
You mean...
Hiruzen sprang to his feet.
The Uchiha clan!
"Precisely, the Uchiha clan."
A peculiar expression crossed Minato's face. "During the Third Shinobi World War, though the Uchiha clan suffered losses, their casualties were minimal in the decisive battle against Kirigakure."
"Though I don't know why they were pulled back from the battlefield just as they were about to crush the enemy, it's certain their combat strength is formidable—and they have surplus ninja."
The Uchiha clan who returned from the battlefield revealed little about that war. Because it concerned the secrets of their clan.
The Mangekyō that bloomed on the battlefield—Fugaku's eyes!
It was the appearance of the Mangekyō that had turned the tide of battle.
This fact remained unknown to Konoha's leadership.
Yet Minato's next words made Hiruzen Sarutobi feel a pang of shame.
Yes. After the tide of battle had turned, the village decided to withdraw the Uchiha clan from the front. The official reason was that Konoha needed the Uchiha patrol units to maintain stability.
But Hiruzen knew the real reason.
"To prevent the Uchiha from earning too much credit. It's time, Hiruzen."
Those had been Danzō's exact words.
"Minato, regarding the Uchiha clan…"
The phrase echoed suddenly in his mind, prompting the Third to open his mouth to speak.
But before he could finish, Minato shook his head, cutting him off.
"Lord Third, I know what you're about to say."
"But from my interactions with Itachi and Shisui, I don't believe the Uchiha are truly an evil clan."
After a brief pause, MInato's face softened into a warm smile.
"Unlike you, I trust them."
I believe in them!
Those words—how many years had the Uchiha clan longed to hear them?
"Attendants!"
The office door swung open as Yamanaka Inoichi entered and dropped to one knee.
"Hokage-sama's orders!"
"Engrave Team Night Owl's achievements on Konoha's bulletin board. Effective immediately, the Uchiha Guard Unit is to be deployed to the front lines to reinforce the border!"
"Yes, Fourth Hokage!"
As Inoichi rose to leave, a discordant voice suddenly rang out from behind him.
"This old man disagrees!"
When that familiar figure appeared with two other aging comrades, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed wryly, a hint of a headache forming.
The head of the Root Division, Danzō Shimura.
And the two Hokage Advisors—Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
"We disagree as well."
Homura's gaze was cold. "If the Uchiha clan goes to the border, who will protect Konoha?"
"Exactly. If the enemy bypasses the front lines and attacks, who will defend the village?"
It was those three again.
But this time, I'm not unprepared.
Facing the advisors' objections, Minato's expression turned resolute.
"If enemies truly appear—"
"Not unless I'm dead! No one will cause any harm to Konoha!"
"Any further questions?"
...
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