While Kakashi and Kabuto were chatting idly in the Root, the Uchiha clan district next door was bustling with activity.
Upon hearing that Fugaku Uchiha had been appointed as the deputy commander of the frontline, the Uchiha clansmen erupted with excitement. A deputy commander was still a commander, and in the past, only core members aligned with the Hokage had ever held such a position.
The fact that the upper echelons of Konoha had now entrusted Fugaku with the role of deputy commander meant that the Uchiha clan was one step closer to the Hokage seat. All that was left was to defeat the invading Hidden Cloud forces, and with the weight of that victory, they could push forward to contest for the position of Hokage.
Moreover, after experiencing the life-and-death trials of war, many among the clan would likely awaken the Three Tomoe Sharingan.
While the Uchiha doves felt deeply uneasy about the clansman's reaction, fearing war and the loss of loved ones, they couldn't deny that this war had been provoked by Kumogakure Village. Surrendering without a fight was not an option.
As a result, the clansmen and doves of the Uchiha clan united for the moment. In just half a day, the Uchiha organized several elite squads to join the main forces headed to the frontlines.
Shisui Uchiha was naturally a member of one of these squads. As one of the strongest within the clan, he couldn't avoid the Hokage's orders, and his loyalty to the village left him no room to back down.
However, after his recent conversation with Itachi, the words of Byakuya kept echoing in his mind:
"The Uchiha will never become Hokage. Any Uchiha who dreams of becoming Hokage is doomed to unhappiness..."
Shisui tried to forget those words, but whenever he saw the fervor for war among his clansmen, they resurfaced in his mind.
He sighed softly, pulling himself from his wandering thoughts.
Although he personally had no desire to become Hokage, he couldn't force his clan to give up on that dream. After all, how many shinobi in Konoha didn't aspire to become the Hokage?
The Hokage title not only represented glory but also the power to lead the entire village.
At that moment, his teammate Tekka noticed Shisui's troubled expression and approached. "Shisui, you don't look well. Is something on your mind?"
The third member of their team, another Uchiha, also chimed in, "If something's bothering you, feel free to share. Maybe we can help."
Shisui glanced at the two of them before replying, "I do have some concerns. I've been thinking that maybe the Uchiha don't need to pursue the Hokage position. As long as we remain in the Police Force, that should be enough. Also, it's not good for the Police Force to be exclusively controlled by the Uchiha. We should let more shinobi from other clans join."
Hearing this, Tekka frowned, his expression turning serious. "Shisui, do you realize what you're saying? Our Uchiha clan co-founded this village with the Senju. How can we give up on the Hokage seat? And the Police Force was a reward given to us by the Second Hokage. It rightfully belongs to the Uchiha.
Besides, have you ever seen the Third or Fourth Hokage inviting Uchiha members into their ranks? The departments of the Hokage are also controlled by their allies, not to mention the medical and intelligence divisions, which are monopolized by other clans.
Shisui, you may be talented, but you're still too naive with these idealistic thoughts."
Shisui opened his mouth to speak but closed it again only to speak finally, "If the Uchiha don't open up the Police Force, we will remain isolated from the village. If this continues, we'll be pushed to the edge."
Tekka shot Shisui a dark look and said, "Why do you always side with outsiders? With our Uchiha strength, we deserve more."
With that, Tekka quickened his pace, clearly no longer interested in discussing the matter.
Seeing the reactions of his teammates, Shisui sighed inwardly. He had anticipated this outcome. His clansmen would never understand his feelings.
Moreover, Tekka was wrong about one thing.
The Uchiha were nowhere near as strong as the Hokage's faction. Even if the clan were united, they might barely match the strength of one of the legendary Sannin, but standing against the combined might of all those aligned with the Hokage? There was no hope of winning.
The three of them, all Jonin, quickly made their way to the borders of the Land of Fire.
A few days later, when they were about ten kilometers from the national border, Shisui sensed something and signaled his teammates to halt.
After a few moments, they spotted a squad of shinobi in the distance.
The squad wore Konoha headbands, but their cautious demeanor suggested they were no ordinary group. Judging by their movements, they seemed to be around Chunin-level in strength.
Seeing this, Tekka was puzzled. Normally, when encountering allies, they would go over and greet them, right?
Shisui gently shook his head and explained, "The only Konoha shinobi on Kumogakure frontlines are either support squads like ours or defensive squads stationed at the front. Neither type of ninja would be moving so casually. Unless I'm mistaken, this group is likely a Hidden Cloud unit that has infiltrated the Land of Fire."
After hearing Shisui's analysis, Tekka's expression became grim.
The three of them exchanged glances before activating their Sharingan and stepping out from the cover of the bushes.
At that moment, the enemy squad also noticed them. The instant they saw the Sharingan, their faces turned pale, and without hesitation, they turned and fled.
They had only just been assigned the mission to infiltrate the Land of Fire, but they were unlucky enough to encounter Uchiha shinobi.
The Uchiha, with their innate Sharingan, were nearly invincible in one-on-one combat at the Chunin and lower levels.
The Sharingan's genjutsu made it dangerous to even look them in the eye, and its dynamic vision gave Uchiha shinobi a significant edge in taijutsu. On top of that, their Uchiha bloodline endowed them with considerable chakra reserves.
The Uchiha were often regarded as perfect shinobi with no apparent weaknesses.
Additionally, the disguises the enemy squad wore might fool regular Konoha ninjas, but not Uchiha or Hyuga shinobi. The bloodline of their dojutsu (eye techniques) significantly enhanced their perception abilities, making it nearly impossible to deceive them.
As the suspected Hidden Cloud squad attempted to flee, Shisui and his comrades exchanged glances, each selecting a target. In a flash, they vanished from their positions.
Tekka and Yakumo activated their Sharingan genjutsu, immediately trapping two Cloud ninja in illusions, rendering them motionless. As for the Chunin squad leader, he stood no chance against Shisui. With a single strike severing his Achilles tendon, Shisui captured him effortlessly.
The entire skirmish was over in less than half a minute.
After such a swift victory, Tekka boasted, "They say Kumogakure is the second most powerful village after Konoha, but these Cloud ninjas aren't much of a deal. Fighting the bloodline limit shinobi of the Hidden Mist was far more exciting."
Shisui smiled slightly but chose not to burst Tekka's bubble. Their squad consisted of Jonin with fully matured three-tomoe Sharingan. Unless they encountered legendary figures like the Sannin or the Kage, they could hold their own in most battles—especially against mere Chunin.
Approaching the captured Cloud ninja, Shisui used genjutsu to control the squad leader, who had been attempting to commit suicide. However, during the interrogation, Shisui's expression became serious. This wasn't just any Cloud ninja squad; they were members of Kumogakure's Anbu, and their minds had been sealed with a forbidden jutsu that erased vital information. Forcibly removing this seal would destroy their brains.
Tekka frowned. "Can we extract any intel?"
Shisui nodded grimly. "The squad leader's mind is sealed. It'll be impossible to crack in a short time. The others likely have similar seals."
Upon hearing this, Tekka raised a kunai, ready to stab one of the prisoners through the heart. But just as he was about to strike, one of the Cloud ninja broke free from the genjutsu and shouted, "Don't kill me! I don't have any seals! I know some important information!"
Tekka glared at him impatiently. "Tell us, and if the information is useful, we might let you live."
Before the Cloud ninja could speak further, Shisui immediately used his Sharingan to read his memories directly.
After processing the intel, Shisui's face turned grave. "Tekka, Yakumo, we need to find Jiraiya-sama and Commander Fugaku immediately. The Two-Tails' jinchuriki, Yugito Nii, has already infiltrated the Land of Fire!"
As soon as these words left his mouth, the Uchiha squad's expressions changed, and they quickened their pace.
---
Three hours later, Shisui arrived at the front-line command center.
Inside, only a few people were present: Jiraiya, the front-line commander; Fugaku Uchiha, the deputy commander; and the clan heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, and Inoichi Yamanaka.
Seeing Shisui enter with such a serious expression, Fugaku immediately asked, "Shisui, is there an urgent matter to report?"
Without wasting any time, Shisui relayed the information they had extracted.
Upon hearing that the Two-Tails jinchuriki had infiltrated the Land of Fire, Jiraiya, Fugaku, and the other leaders' faces all turned grim.
For Fugaku and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, dealing with a jinchuriki wouldn't be impossible. The secret techniques of the Ino-Shika-Cho were powerful enough to hold their own against Kage-level opponents in the short term, and the Uchiha had plenty of skilled Jonin with fully developed Sharingan who could join the fight.
However, this was only true if they had prior preparation. In a sudden encounter, they would likely be overwhelmed.
The most terrifying aspect of a jinchuriki was their destructive power. If the Two-Tails fired a Tailed Beast Bomb at a city within the Land of Fire, the devastation would be catastrophic.
Though the likelihood of such an event was low, they couldn't afford to dismiss the possibility. Konoha currently lacked a jinchuriki of their own to balance the scales, making this a highly asymmetric conflict.
At this point, Choza and Inoichi turned their gazes toward Jiraiya. All their hopes rested on him, as he was the only one in the camp who could face a jinchuriki in one-on-one combat.
If Jiraiya could step in and neutralize the threat of the Two-Tails jinchuriki, the situation would be resolved quickly.
During the last Shinobi World War, Orochimaru had managed to assassinate Kumogakure's Eight-Tails jinchuriki, which had turned the tide of battle in Konoha's favor.
Jiraiya looked down at the report, deep in thought.
During the war with Iwagakure, he fought against the Four-Tails and Five-Tails jinchuriki multiple times. Based on his experiences back then, neither he nor Minato could defeat them in their full Tailed Beast forms.
The reason was simple: while they could suppress the jinchuriki, they couldn't penetrate the defenses of a fully transformed Tailed Beast. As the battle dragged on, they would run out of chakra and lose the advantage.
It wasn't until Minato developed the Rasengan, inspired by the principles of the Tailed Beast Bomb, that they gained a fighting chance against jinchuriki in direct combat.
Now, several years had passed, and Jiraiya's strength had improved considerably. With the aid of the toad elders, Fukasaku and Shima, he could enter Sage Mode, which further boosted his power. Facing a young jinchuriki like Yugito Nii wouldn't be too difficult.
But the pressure on Kumogakure front wasn't just from the Two-Tails jinchuriki. There was also the fearsome duo known as the "A-B Combo."
"A" was the Fourth Raikage, Ay. In his early thirties, Ay possessed strength and chakra reserves comparable to a Tailed Beast. Meanwhile, "B" was Killer B, the Eight-Tails jinchuriki, whose power was on par with that of the Five Kage.
Compared to the teenage Yugito Nii, these two were the real backbone that empowered Kumogakure to dare to wage war.
Jiraiya couldn't think of anyone in the shinobi world capable of matching the A-B Combo, unless Tsunade and Orochimaru were willing to team up again to recreate the glory of the Sannin.
With that thought, Jiraiya sighed lightly, uncertain of how to face the current challenging situation.
Perhaps they could only wait for the old man or Orochimaru to arrive with reinforcements; otherwise, this frontline camp wouldn't hold out much longer.
Shikaku saw through Jiraiya's thoughts and spoke slowly, "Lord Jiraiya, you must remain here at the command center to prevent the Fourth Raikage from launching a surprise attack. You won't have the opportunity to deal with the Two-Tails' jinchuriki. For now, we can only report this information to the Third Hokage and request additional reinforcements."
Shikaku's suggestion was sound, and it garnered agreement from Jiraiya and the others. Their main objective was to stabilize the front line and keep the conflict as close to the border as possible.
Once the other forces arrived, they could counterattack Kumogakure.
After hearing Shikaku's proposal, Fugaku frowned, his gaze shifting repeatedly over the sand table and the map.
Shikaku truly was from a 'military strategist' family; his advice was prudent.
As long as they could solidify the front line, Kumogakure would eventually seek peace talks if they couldn't achieve any significant victories. After all, wars are fought for gains, not merely to vent frustrations.
However, this strategy was not favorable for the Uchiha.
The Uchiha needed accomplishments; they required impressive achievements to alter the villagers' perceptions of them and to gain more influence through their contributions to the war.
If they secured victory in this manner, the Uchiha would receive no credit at all.
Should they maintain stability and ultimately miss the opportunity, or should they strive to seize a slim chance for themselves?
After much contemplation, Fugaku had found his answer. He took a deep breath and said to Jiraiya, "Lord Jiraiya, Shikaku, leave the task of capturing the Two-Tails' jinchuriki to the Uchiha."
"We will capture Yugito Nii alive and use her as leverage in negotiations with Kumogakure Village."
The moment Fugaku made this declaration, Jiraiya and Shikaku turned to him with surprised expressions. Jiraiya couldn't help but caution him, "Fugaku, defeating a jinchuriki isn't simple, and capturing one alive is even more challenging. Are you really willing to take on this task?"
Fugaku nodded slightly and replied, "Don't worry, Jiraiya. Although the jinchuriki is powerful, she fears the Sharingan genjutsu. In front of the Uchiha, she won't be a threat."
Upon hearing this, Shisui's expression changed slightly.
Why was Fugaku taking on such a task? Not to mention that the clan had never fought a jinchuriki before, the Sharingan could suppress tailed beasts, but it couldn't completely neutralize a jinchuriki.
Fugaku paused briefly before continuing, "Furthermore, as long as she's within the Land of Fire, the safety of its citizens is at risk. The Uchiha will not allow this situation to continue."
Seeing Fugaku's resolute demeanor, Jiraiya didn't want to dampen the morale of the meeting.
Sticking to the principle of steady and careful planning, Jiraiya reminded him, "While I entrust the task of dealing with the Two-Tails' intrusion to you, I won't make this mission public. It's okay if it isn't completed. If you do succeed, I will certainly commend you to the old man."
"Don't worry, Lord Jiraiya. The Uchiha will definitely capture the jinchuriki alive."
With that, Fugaku walked toward Shisui, intending to discuss strategies for capturing the Two-Tails' jinchuriki immediately.
Witnessing this exchange, Nara Shikaku had a look that suggested he was watching a fool. He couldn't fathom why the Uchiha would take on such a mission.
Didn't they realize how poor their standing was within the village?
Even if they succeeded in capturing the jinchuriki, it wouldn't benefit the Uchiha much; after all, if the Sharingan could control the Two-Tails' jinchuriki, controlling the Nine-Tails' jinchuriki wouldn't be a stretch either.
This could potentially lead to the Uchiha being blamed for the previous Nine-Tails incident.
If they failed, their reputation would suffer even further. Couldn't they see that being appointed as deputy commander was merely placing the blame on them?
Shaking his head inwardly, Shikaku chose not to voice his concerns.
The Uchiha's power struggles with the Hokage's faction had nothing to do with him. As the leader of the 'military strategist' clan, he understood that the best strategy was to stay neutral. That way, he could always position himself on the winning side.