Inside the war tent, the atmosphere was tense.
Fugaku stood stoically before a large, unfolded map, his expression unreadable as he mulled over their next steps.
On the other hand, Uchiha Inaho was visibly thrilled.
"Fugaku-sama, we've made incredible progress recently," he exclaimed.
"Those Kirigakure shinobi have been slaughtered so thoroughly they don't even dare to show their faces anymore."
Uchiha Hachidai nodded in agreement. "Thanks to Mirai-sama, our Uchiha clan has truly left its mark on the shinobi world this time."
Uchiha Tetsuka grinned. "Have you noticed how many shinobi from other villages look at us with admiration? I've had plenty of them asking to spar with me. Feels like, for the first time in a long while, our clan is living up to the name of a true elite ninja lineage."
Their animated chatter filled the tent, but Uchiha Yakumi coughed lightly to interrupt them.
"Mirai-sama's contributions are indeed monumental," he began slowly, his voice measured. "But victory in war is never the result of one person's efforts alone. It's because of everyone's dedication."
"For instance," he continued, gesturing toward Fugaku, "Fugaku-sama, as the commander, has been working tirelessly, burning the midnight oil daily. Without his leadership, we wouldn't have survived under such overwhelming odds."
The room quieted. Fugaku's face softened ever so slightly, and Inaho, Tetsuka, and Hachidai fell silent, their earlier excitement dampened.
Sitting quietly in the corner, Mirai opened his eyes briefly to glance at Yakumi before closing them again, returning to his meditative state.
Moments later, a Konoha shinobi entered the tent, breaking the stillness.
"Fugaku-sama, Mirai-sama, we've discovered Kirigakure shinobi activity on a coastal island. Our scouts report it appears to be an important stronghold."
Fugaku nodded, dismissing the messenger with a wave of his hand.
"Understood. You're dismissed."
"Yes!" The shinobi bowed and left.
Fugaku frowned deeply as he addressed the room. "Kirigakure has been lying low for some time now. Why would such a critical location suddenly reveal itself? The number of shinobi stationed there suggests a possible ambush."
His cautious nature stemmed from experience—he'd narrowly survived a Kirigakure ambush not long ago. But before he could finish his analysis, Mirai rose to his feet and began heading out of the tent.
"Mirai-sama, where are you going?" Yakumi called after him.
"Didn't you hear?" Mirai replied indifferently, his voice calm but commanding. "If there's a Kirigakure stronghold, we must eliminate it immediately."
Feeling a subtle yet undeniable pressure from Mirai's words, Yakumi hesitated before speaking again.
"But Fugaku-sama just said it could be a trap!"
Mirai paused in his stride, then suddenly burst into laughter, his voice ringing out boldly.
"A trap? Hahaha!" He shook his head, his tone dripping with disdain.
"Only the weak worry about traps."
With that, Mirai left the tent without a backward glance.
Inaho, Hachidai, and Tetsuka exchanged glances, their eyes shining with excitement. Compared to Fugaku's caution, they found themselves far more inspired by Mirai's unshakable confidence and strength.
"Fugaku-sama, we'll go and ensure Mirai-sama's safety," Inaho said, the three of them rushing out after Mirai.
Left alone with Yakumi, Fugaku clenched his fists, struggling to suppress his frustration.
"Yakumi," he said through gritted teeth, "relay my orders. Prepare to attack the Kirigakure stronghold."
"Understood!" Yakumi saluted and quickly exited.
As the tent fell silent again, Fugaku's crimson Mangekyō Sharingan spun slowly.
Despite Mirai's blatant disregard for him, Fugaku had no choice but to follow the man's lead. With Mirai's growing influence, Fugaku knew that opposing him outright—even if it was the right tactical choice—would only alienate the troops.
For now, Fugaku resolved to bide his time.
"Let him enjoy the spotlight while he can," he muttered coldly.
"Even if you gain all the glory now, without your eyes, you'll eventually be swallowed by darkness."
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm. Time, he told himself, would prove that his path was the only way forward for the Uchiha.
...
On the Island
Thousands of Kirigakure shinobi stood at attention, prepared for battle. Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage, stood at the highest vantage point, his robes billowing in the salty sea breeze. Beside him was a woman with flowing auburn hair.
After a long wait, the woman's patience wore thin.
"Mizukage-sama, standing here so openly... Do you really think those Konoha shinobi will take the bait?" she asked softly.
The island, surrounded on all sides by water, was a natural fortress for the Kirigakure shinobi. Their preparations ensured any attempt to land would result in heavy casualties for the enemy.
"Yes, they will," Yagura said confidently, a faint smile on his face. "That man's arrogance won't allow him to ignore this opportunity."
Over the past weeks, Yagura had thoroughly studied Uchiha Mirai's personality and tactics. He was certain the man was the type to charge headlong into battle the moment he sniffed a challenge, even if it meant walking into a trap.
Suddenly, Yagura's smile widened.
"Look. They're here."
In the distance, Mirai sat cross-legged on a platform of golden sand, flying slowly toward the island. Below him, a fleet of Konoha ships stretched across the waves, carrying nearly three thousand shinobi.
The two forces soon came into view of each other, separated by the narrow expanse of ocean.
On the Konoha side, the sight of the heavily fortified island caused many shinobi to hesitate. Storming such a well-prepared position would inevitably result in high casualties.
Fugaku snorted, his gaze fixed on Mirai, who hovered in the air. He was curious—how would Mirai handle this seemingly impossible situation?
Feeling the weight of countless eyes on him, Mirai reached out, summoning a bone blade as long as a kunai into his hand. After etching a Flying Thunder God mark onto the weapon, he hurled it with incredible speed toward the sandy shore of the island.
In the blink of an eye, Mirai vanished.
Kirigakure's forces erupted into chaos as flames engulfed the shoreline.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
The blazing inferno swept through their ranks, followed by Mirai slamming his palms together.
"Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Seedling Fern!"
A forest of sharp white bone spikes erupted from the ground, piercing everything in their path and creating an eerie landscape of death. Within moments, Mirai had torn a massive hole in the enemy's defenses.
"Charge! Take down the Kirigakure shinobi!"
Inspired, the Konoha forces leapt from their ships, racing across the water toward the island.
Watching this unfold, Fugaku clenched his fists tightly.
"Shikotsumyaku… Flying Thunder God… Just how many more secrets is this bastard hiding?!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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