Chapter 140: An Iron Law
After Kamishiro—the man who was once Yahiko—disappeared into the misty landscape of the Land of Waves, Kagenori returned to the Konoha base. He felt a measured sense of calm regarding his new collaborator. He wasn't overly concerned about the boy running straight to Nagato. For a person like Yahiko, his comrades were his entire world. The moment their safety became the bargaining chip, his caution would override his impulses.
But if he did… if he broke their agreement and sought them out, then he would have proven himself untrustworthy. He would cease to be a collaborator, a companion. And if he was no longer a companion, Kagenori would have no choice but to let Nagato experience the soul-shattering pain of losing his best friend all over again. Though, he mused, he likely wouldn't even need to lift a finger. The shadowy presence of Black Zetsu, lurking deep within the machinations of fate, would never allow a living Yahiko to soften Nagato's heart. What it needed was a broken, extremist Nagato, not a kind one.
Kagenori released a slow breath, a silent wish sent into the void. Follow the plan. Build the organization.
"I hope you won't disappoint me, Yahiko... no. Kamishiro."
...
Several days passed. The Uchiha reinforcements arrived in the Land of Waves in staggered groups. By the seventh day, the full contingent had assembled.
Ninety-eight Uchiha clansmen. A formidable force: twenty Jounin, forty-five Chunin, and twenty-three Genin. It was a display of a Great Clan's底蕴 (heritage), and this was merely a fraction of their total strength.
Once the last of them had settled, Kagenori immediately called for a general assembly of all Konoha forces.
On the training ground, the division was stark. The Uchiha stood as a single, proud bloc, their posture and expressions radiating a palpable sense of superiority over the other Konoha shinobi who stood separately.
Kagenori stood at the front with Nara Kubota at his side. His gaze, cold and assessing, swept over the Uchiha ranks. He picked out familiar faces: Uchiha Fugaku, of course. And then Uchiha Kyosuke, Keiichi, and Ryuhei—the three who had once been forcibly assigned to his command and broken to his will. Their eyes remained fixed on the ground, unable to meet his. And there was Uchiha Kazuo, the man he had humiliated and manipulated into near-certain death years ago. Kazuo's eyes burned with undiminished hatred.
Uchiha Fugaku's expression was complex, a mixture of respect for Kagenori's rank and power, and deep-seated apprehension. The rest of the Uchiha, however, looked upon Kagenori with open contempt. To them, he was still the clan's cast-off, the stray, no matter what legendary feats he had accomplished or what rare eyes he possessed.
"Listen carefully," Kagenori's voice cut through the murmurs, sharp and commanding. "The Uchiha contingent will be operating under my direct command. All Jounin among you, step forward and form a line."
Uchiha Kyosuke, Keiichi, and Ryuhei moved with immediate, almost reflexive speed, stepping out of the formation and standing at attention. Fugaku followed a moment later, taking his place beside them. The remaining Uchiha Jounin, however, exchanged lazy, insolent glances before shuffling forward with deliberate slowness.
Beside Kagenori, Nara Kubota kept his eyes firmly fixed on the dirt at his feet, mentally distancing himself from the impending storm. He had a very clear idea of what was about to happen, and the Nara clan's wisdom dictated he be nowhere near the center of it.
A cold sneer twisted Kagenori's lips as he watched the laggards. "This is the arrangement. Each of you twenty Jounin will form a three-man cell with two Chunin. The Genin will form their own auxiliary squads. Starting at dawn tomorrow, you will commence offensive operations. Your sole objective is to hunt down and eliminate every Kirigakure shinobi operating within the Land of Waves."
He then turned his head slightly towards the non-Uchiha shinobi. "The rest of you will maintain your current defensive positions. No one is to move from their posts without a direct order from me. Is that clear?"
A wave of stunned silence, then murmurs of disbelief swept through the ranks. Nara Kubota alone did not react; this was precisely the kind of ruthless move he had anticipated.
Uchiha Fugaku stepped forward, his voice urgent. "Kagenori! Reconsider! I am familiar with the situation here. Forcing a direct engagement with the Mist ninja under these conditions, without support… the casualties will be catastrophic!"
Kagenori's reply was merciless, his voice dropping to a dangerous, quiet tone. "I am your commanding officer. The strategy is mine to decide. My decisions are iron law. Your only role is to obey. You do not have the right to question my orders."
Fugaku's frown deepened. This was his worst fear realized. Kagenori was using his authority to enact a vendetta.
Uchiha Kazuo could no longer contain his fury. "This is revenge! Plain and simple!" he shouted, pointing an accusatory finger. "The clan cast you out, and now you seek to get back at us by sending us to our deaths!"
Fugaku's sense of dread spiked. "Kazuo! Silence!" he barked.
But the dam had broken. A sarcastic smile played on Kagenori's lips. "The clan 'cast me out'?" he repeated, his voice dripping with mockery. "You should ask Fugaku, or your esteemed Clan Head, Uchiha Masaki: Was it the Uchiha who rejected me, or I who rejected the Uchiha? 'Cast out' implies I was ever one of you. I was never a member of your precious clan."
His eyes hardened, sweeping over the entire Uchiha contingent. "I will ask this once, and only once. Do you, or do you not, follow my command?"
Kazuo, his mind clouded by years of resentment, took the bait. "We all know what you are! A bastard orphan! Why should we listen to this suicide order?!"
"Kazuo, that's enough!" Fugaku pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice. It was too late.
Kagenori's gaze fell to the ninjato at his hip. "A final chance," he said, his voice deceptively soft. "Swear your obedience to my command. Kneel. Now. And I will consider this insubordination forgiven."
Nara Kubota winced, his focus intensifying on a particular crack in the ground. He's not giving them a chance at all. Asking an Uchiha to kneel was an impossibility. This was a pretext.
"YOU DREAM!" Uchiha Kazuo roared, his pride utterly consuming his reason.
In the space between one heartbeat and the next, it was over.
There was no grand flourish. Only the sharp, metallic shing of a blade leaving its sheath, a burst of lightning-charged chakra that stung the air, and a blur of motion. Kagenori reappeared behind Uchiha Kazuo, his posture unchanged, his ninjato already securely sheathed.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, Uchiha Kazuo's hands flew to his throat, clutching at the thin, precise line that had opened there. A torrent of blood welled between his fingers, a crimson waterfall that defied his grip. His eyes, wide with shock and the final dregs of hatred, stared into nothingness before his body crumpled to the muddy ground, lifeless.
The field was utterly, deathly silent.
💫 Liked the chapter?You can read 100+ extra chapters on Patreon, including the current
Patreon Chapter 240:Equilibrium and Office Politics
👉 Patreon.com/KudosNey
Your support helps me write more and update faster 💖And don't forget to drop a Power Stone ⭐ — it really motivates me!
Special thanks to All our patreon members : DCor,Joe Mamma,C99mnt,RobbieRay,BuddySchlym😎
Thank you for reading and supporting! 🙌✨