Uchiha, the Little Puppy

Konoha.

News that Princess Tsunade of the Land of Fire had found herself a little puppy—and an Uchiha at that—swept through Konoha like a hurricane.

For a time, discussions erupted everywhere. More importantly, the Uchiha Clan had stepped into the spotlight.

Although the Uchiha Clan considered Uchiha Yoru's actions disgraceful, they had also benefited from them: a signal had been sent.

Tsunade's status was anything but ordinary. This seemed to tell the outside world that relations between the Senju and Uchiha had eased.

As a result, quite a few clans within the village began reaching out to the Uchiha.

The Uchiha had been isolated not only because they were too proud, but because of what they had done. The Uchiha had to take the blame for the First Hokage's death, didn't they?

Uchiha Setsuna had even rebelled during the Second Hokage's administration!

Who among them had the nerve to touch such a massive landmine as the Uchiha? Everyone feared violating a taboo.

But things were different now. Even if Princess Tsunade really was keeping a little puppy, there was no need to display it so openly, was there? None of the Major Clans were fools.

It was obvious that this had been deliberate. As clans with good relations with the Senju Clan, they naturally understood the message and began contacting the Uchiha.

Uchiha Clan Compound.

"Yoru, the clan will not forget your sacrifice and contributions!"

Uchiha Fugaku was clearly in a good mood. He even smiled as he looked at Uchiha Yoru.

"Yoru, do you know? The clan has already established contact with the Aburame Clan. One of our forests on the outskirts of the village has been handed over to the Aburame Clan..."

As Uchiha Yoru listened to Fugaku, the corner of his eye twitched, and he was left speechless.

It was as if I had sold my body to support the clan.

"Captain Fugaku, this is all for restoring Uchiha glory!"

Though he despised it inwardly, Uchiha Yoru put on a solemn expression and spoke firmly, looking as though he were willing to sacrifice everything for the clan.

Uchiha Yoru's words snapped Uchiha Fugaku out of his excitement. Seeing his expression, Fugaku immediately felt awkward.

This truly was a major matter for the clan. At the very least, it counted as the first good beginning.

But for Uchiha Yoru, it was not a good thing at all!

"Yoru!"

Uchiha Fugaku hesitated, wanting to offer some comfort, yet not knowing what to say. He hurriedly changed the subject in embarrassment.

"Yoru, the situation at the front isn't good. There have been signs of movement from a shinobi corps in the direction of Iwagakure. The village has decided to deploy a shinobi corps to garrison the Land of Grass..."

The Land of Grass lay between the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth, and it also bordered the Land of Rain.

From a geographical standpoint, Iwagakure's movements meant the village was guarding against unforeseen events. If war truly broke out, then the battlefield would have to be placed on the Land of Grass's territory.

That was the logic behind how, when great powers went to war, small countries could suddenly cease to exist.

"Is war about to begin?!"

After hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Uchiha Yoru's expression turned grave.

This was a real Shinobi World. The records in Naruto were far too sparse, especially concerning the three great wars of the Shinobi World. There was only scattered information.

Thus, he could only make deductions based on the limited fragments of intelligence available to him.

Seeing Uchiha Yoru's grave expression, Uchiha Fugaku assumed that he was worried about the war and comforted him.

"Yoru, the true battlefield is still the Land of Rain. At most, the Land of Grass will see covert action between the great powers, acts everyone tacitly understands. After all, this shinobi corps is far from ordinary."

Under Uchiha Yoru's doubtful gaze, Uchiha Fugaku said solemnly:

"The commanders at the front this time are Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru. Among the shinobi corps mobilized from the village are the Hyuga Clan... the Nara Clan..."

Upon hearing Fugaku's words, Uchiha Yoru immediately understood. So it was a team being polished up for growth.

The younger generation of Konoha's clans still needed to grow, and compared to the front lines, the situation in the Land of Grass was much better.

"I see."

After hearing the identities of those members, Uchiha Yoru understood.

No, wait!

The Land of Grass was defending against Iwagakure!

Suddenly thinking of something, Uchiha Yoru frowned and said solemnly:

"Captain Fugaku, I understand why the two nations would place the battlefield in the Land of Grass, but you said Iwagakure has reinforced its shinobi corps at the front?"

"According to intelligence, Iwagakure has only deployed a little over five hundred shinobi to the border of the Land of Grass. The number isn't large. Compared with the two, the Land of Rain is also a small country, but it is the one worth paying attention to!"

When great powers went to war, they first dragged the smaller nations in. If you refused to obey, then they would sweep you up along with everything else. Before anyone knew it, that small nation would be gone.

"Yoru, I will personally lead the team this time."

Uchiha Fugaku's words practically indicated that the second generation of every major clan would be in the shinobi corps at the Land of Grass border.

And because of the matter with Tsunade, he had naturally become one of the key candidates within the clan to build up his résumé and gain experience.

"The enemy this time is Rock Shinobi!"

In the original story, during the Second Shinobi World War, the Legendary Sannin had been surrounded by a large number of Rock Shinobi. Had reinforcements not arrived in time, Jiraiya, who had been seriously injured among the three, would definitely have died.

Moreover, the location at the time had not been within the Land of Rain at all!

At that moment, Uchiha Yoru was secretly alarmed. It seemed this mission to gain experience would be dangerous.

War was far more than simply settling matters in the Land of Rain. In conflicts between great powers, they could be fighting until their heads bled one moment, then act as if nothing had happened the next.

"Captain Fugaku, when do we depart?"

"Three days from now. Gather outside the village. The clan will provide you with the appropriate wartime supplies and equipment."

Uchiha Fugaku had come to find him today to notify him of this mission and to show him how highly the clan valued him.

How could Uchiha Yoru not understand the hidden meaning behind it? Having awakened One-Tomoe, the clan would directly provide him with the clan's standard equipment meant for Two-Tomoe or even Three-Tomoe.

Yet at this moment, Uchiha Yoru was speechless.

"Understood. I will make preparations."

Uchiha Yoru nodded solemnly. War! He had already experienced the cruelty of war in the Shinobi World while stationed behind the front lines in the Land of Rain.

This time, he would likely have to face an even crueler war directly.

After Uchiha Fugaku left, Uchiha Yoru stood outside his home and gazed at the magnificent Hokage Rock overlooking the village, narrowing his eyes.

"Unknown danger... this feeling of having no control over my own life is simply awful, especially when I'm being forced into it!"

"But passively taking hits has never been my habit. If I want to turn passivity into initiative, my strength cannot improve rapidly for now. I can only rely on external power!"

As he thought of this, Uchiha Yoru slowly turned his head toward a direction within the clan compound, a smile curling across his lips.

"Elder Setsuna, Clan Leader, I am the bridge of trust between the clan and the village. You need to do your best to protect me."

Before you had enough power to lead and shape this world, you had to learn to blend into it and use every force available to strengthen yourself.