Chapter 35 — Aburame Ryōma
The white-haired boy was Hatake Kakashi—son of the late Konoha legend "White Fang" Hatake Sakumo, and now the disciple of the "Yellow Flash" Namikaze Minato. Not long ago, during a northern battle against Iwagakure, he inherited the Sharingan of his fallen teammate, Uchiha Obito—becoming the first non-Uchiha to legally possess a Sharingan.
In short—
Kakashi was no ordinary brat. He was already a name that echoed across the shinobi world.
Of course, to Hyūga Ritsu, Kakashi being here meant something far more complicated.
The unseen hand that manipulated the fate of the shinobi world… might have already started tightening its strings.
To Ritsu, this war between Konoha and Kirigakure felt less like a natural conflict and more like a stage, constructed meticulously by some hidden puppeteer for an unknown objective.
After all, how else could one explain the Mist's irrational persistence?
They had already suffered crushing defeats, lost the infamous Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and yet they attacked again and again—relentless, rabid, as if sworn to die with Konoha.
It made no sense… unless someone wanted it this way.
"The weak really do live in sin…"
Ritsu murmured.
Kakashi, walking in front, stiffened for a split second.
But his composure returned instantly.
Without a word—cold and silent as a scarecrow standing in a storm—he led Ritsu to a solitary command tent.
"Ryōma-sama, the Hyūga Clan Leader has arrived."
Kakashi spoke from outside the canvas.
"Let him in."
A deep, muffled voice replied from within.
Inside the tent, the space was barren.
No decorations, no clutter.
Only a table, a single chair—
and the man seated in it.
He wore a black hooded coat, long and heavy, the shadows concealing his face entirely.
This was Aburame Ryōma—a master of the "bug users," a formidable shinobi, and one of Shimura Danzō's most trusted operatives.
His reputation was… unpleasant.
Rumor said even the Aburame clan itself wanted little to do with him.
But reputation mattered little here.
He was now Deputy Commander of the Eastern Front—a position second only to Orochimaru's.
"Deputy Commander Aburame," Ritsu said calmly. "To what do I owe the honor?"
He called Orochimaru senior out of respect through Hiruko.
But he had no relationship—none whatsoever—with Aburame Ryōma.
So his greeting remained polite and distant.
"Hyūga Clan Leader,"
Ryōma began without a hint of small talk,
"the Mist's counterattacks have been fierce. Many squads have suffered casualties, leaving their formations incomplete and unable to continue missions.
We intend to disband these damaged squads and reform new mixed units."
His tone did not waver.
"We request that the reinforcements your clan has brought be assigned among them. Having Byakugan users in the field significantly reduces casualties."
Ritsu nodded.
"Of course."
This was reasonable.
The Hyūga had always been scattered among various squads—one Byakugan per team was a massive tactical advantage. Keeping Hyūga shinobi clustered together was wasteful.
Besides, being placed among elite squads prevented malicious targeting.
Anyone worthy of teaming with a Hyūga was usually a clan prodigy or a skilled civilian ninja—not cannon fodder.
This was why the Hyūga were considered a pillar of Konoha.
Sharigan improved the individual.
Byakugan improved the whole army.
"I have no objections," Ritsu continued, "but I would like two of my clan elders to assist with the assignment process."
One could never be too cautious.
"That is acceptable,"
Ryōma replied immediately.
"With two elders advising, the arrangements will naturally be more thorough."
If Ritsu himself had demanded to oversee the restructuring, Ryōma would have refused without hesitation.
But letting two Hyūga elders help?
No problem.
He had come to the front lines with a very clear objective.
Lord Danzō wanted Hyūga Ritsu eliminated—
Ritsu, and only Ritsu.
Not the other Hyūga.
And Orochimaru had warned him personally:
No reckless actions.
No destabilizing the eastern front.
So—
He could only make a move against Hyūga Ritsu.
No one else.
---
"Hyūga Clan Leader," Aburame Ryōma began, voice calm to the point of emotionlessness, "I'm afraid a rather troublesome mission has arisen—one that requires your personal intervention."
He spoke politely, yet his tone was flat, like he was reading from a script prepared in advance.
"We initially hoped to assign someone else, but we currently lack any shinobi qualified for the task. And the matter is urgent—too urgent for hesitation…"
Ryōma lowered his head slightly.
"So we must trouble you to make the journey yourself."
Ritsu let out a soft breath.
"Sounds like I don't have the luxury of refusing."
"We are truly at an impasse," Ryōma replied without shame. "Orochimaru-sama has offered to go himself… but without him protecting the camp, a Mist assault would cost us dearly. It may even be a feint—an attempt to lure him away."
"I see," Ritsu said coolly.
"So. What is the mission?"
"Reinforce the Ishigoryu Mountain defensive line."
"That front is in critical condition?"
"The Mist are launching a full-force assault without regard for casualties. If Ishigoryu Mountain falls, the land beyond is nothing but flat plains and open forest. We'd lose all terrain advantage—and if they pillage even a few inland cities, the Daimyō's court will be shaken. The repercussions… would be disastrous for all of us."
No matter how the world dressed them up, ninja wars were still wars.
Murder, plunder, arson—those were constants.
If the Mist broke through into the Land of Fire's rich heartlands, they would not behave with restraint. These conflicts always came down to resources. Konoha and the Land of Fire were simply too rich—too fertile.
That was why they were surrounded by enemies.
Thus the Hidden Leaf deployed wave after wave of shinobi along the long eastern coastline, fortifying every natural chokepoint to prevent the Mist from spilling into the inland expanse of forest and fields.
---
"How many people am I taking?"
Ritsu asked.
Ryōma did not answer.
The silence itself was the answer.
Ritsu's brows tightened.
"…You want me to go alone?"
"Not entirely. There will be one more joining you."
"Who?"
"Uchiha Shisui."