Threat of the Mangekyō

This war between Konoha and Kumogakure could be called a major event that had drawn the attention of the entire Ninja World.

Originally, according to the intelligence, Konoha had only sent the Ino-Shika-Cho Clan as overall commanders, with Nine-Tailed Enchantress Kushina as support for the ninja forces.

Everyone had thought Konoha might have to wait until Kushina reached the front lines before it could contend with the Kumogakure Ninja. After all, Nine-Tailed Enchantress was currently Konoha's most renowned figure.

But who could have expected a genius to emerge from the Uchiha Clan at the front lines? A thirteen-year-old with the Mangekyō Sharingan had faced Kumogakure's A-B Combination head-on, severely wounded Eight-Tails Killer B, and driven back three thousand Kumogakure Ninja.

Knowing things were bad, Kumogakure immediately mobilized more personnel to the front lines. At the same time, they discovered that Iwagakure's ninja forces had also set out, though their exact location was unknown.

"Damn it! Why does Konoha produce nothing but monsters?!" Raikage A raged at Kumogakure's Command Center in the Land of the Moon.

Killer B's injuries this time were extremely serious.

If not for the Eight-Tails barely keeping Killer B alive, he would already have breathed his last.

And the situation was still dire. Killer B's Chakra was in complete chaos, with a mass of green Chakra rampaging through his body.

Without the Eight-Tails, Killer B would certainly die. Even with the Eight-Tails' Chakra assisting him, no one knew when that green Chakra would finally be worn away.

"Are there no better doctors? Bee must be saved!"

After speaking, Raikage A looked toward his secretary.

"Lord A, I heard that Konoha's Tsunade-hime is highly skilled in medical ninjutsu. Our Anbu also discovered that Tsunade recently appeared at a casino in the Land of the Moon."

"Hm? What a coincidence? Good! We'll go find her immediately! If she refuses to treat him, I'll keep her in Kumogakure!"

After saying that, Raikage A carried Killer B out the door.

Land of Hot Water, Konoha Frontline Command Center.

Konoha's jonin were holding a new strategy meeting.

Because the sudden advantage in this war had made Sarutobi Hiruzen's original plan—an order issued by Shimura Danzō—impossible to carry out.

Therefore, before new orders arrived, Nara Shikaku had to formulate new battle directives. They could not simply wait in the Land of Hot Water for orders from the rear.

That was also the purpose of a ninja army commander: possessing the authority to make decisions on the battlefield.

"This operation was a great success, so we need to press our advantage.

However, Raikage A's location is uncertain. Therefore, the main force will be led by Uchiha Shisui, while smaller units infiltrate the Land of the Moon and search for the current location of Kumogakure's main force.

The smaller units will be divided into fifty teams. Once they discover Kumogakure's main force, they will send back intelligence. Then our main force will strike and crush the enemy in one blow."

The Uchiha jonin present did not object to Shikaku's words.

This strategy was also relatively safe.

After all, aside from Uchiha Shisui, no other ninja could truly handle Raikage A. Even the Ino-Shika-Cho Trio could only barely contend with him, not defeat him.

Body Flicker Shisui's fame had surged after he faced the A-B Combination alone and drove them back head-on, and Kumogakure had widely spread the news.

That's right, Kumogakure was the one spreading it!

After some of Kumogakure's elders and advisors learned about the state of the war at the front lines, they were deeply displeased by the idea of publicizing that their village's Kage had been driven back. But if they had a chance to praise an enemy ninja to death, they would use it.

Especially since their target was a member of the Uchiha Clan, a ninja clan that was a thorn in the Hokage faction's side within Konoha.

Shisui himself was also not in good condition. He had used the second form of Susanoo to drive back the A-B Combination and intimidate the Kumogakure Ninja army, but his eyesight had deteriorated severely.

He needed considerable time to recover. Otherwise, continued use of the Mangekyō Sharingan would cause his vision to worsen even further.

The Uchiha Clan members regarded Uchiha Shisui as someone comparable to Madara Uchiha. Nearly every Uchiha on the battlefield saw Shisui as a leader.

When they heard that Shisui needed to recover his eyesight, they surrounded him protectively, caring for him as though he were blind.

The situation within Konoha Village was even worse.

Sarutobi Hiruzen was distraught. How could he have known such a mess would happen? Although he had handed all the dirty work to Danzo, now that things had happened, he could not make the situation even worse.

Kushina was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. What if she was sent to the front lines and controlled by Uchiha Shisui?

Then the chances of an Uchiha coup would become enormous.

Most importantly, Naruto, the village's Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, was still at the Uchiha Clan Residence.

What if Shisui controlled Kushina at the front lines, then brought two Nine-Tails Jinchuriki to force him from power?! That would truly be disastrous!

"Hiruzen! Recall Kushina immediately! She absolutely cannot be allowed to go to the front lines!"

Utatane Koharu gave the Third Hokage a stern recommendation.

"Hiruzen! You must understand how great a threat it would be if that Uchiha brat controlled the Nine-Tails!"

Shimura Danzō was equally direct. Once he laid out the consequences, Sarutobi Hiruzen understood them as well, but he did not say them himself.

Such dark thoughts could not be raised or spoken by the righteous and glorious Third Hokage himself.

"Third Hokage, we need to contact the other ninja clans and explain the danger posed by the Uchiha Clan. An Uchiha coup would not benefit them either. We absolutely cannot allow the Uchiha Clan any possibility of succeeding in a coup."

Mitokado Homura's proposal practically raised the likelihood of an Uchiha coup to one hundred percent.

"Everyone, listen to me first. First, I cannot recall Kushina. Second, Uchiha Shisui is an inheritor of the Will of Fire. I believe in Uchiha Shisui." After speaking, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the advisors, a trace of darkness flashing through his eyes.

He still could not summon Kushina back to Konoha. He could not continue guarding against Kushina so excessively at a time like this.

Therefore, he could only hope that Uchiha Shisui supported the Will of Fire and would not do anything harmful to the village.

In the end, he was extremely unwilling to accept that the Uchiha Clan had produced someone like Uchiha Shisui.

Why did such an outstanding talent have to come from the Uchiha?

If Shisui had been born a commoner, he might even have supported Shisui's rise to power. After all, Shisui recognized the Will of Fire, was still young, and could be controlled while he held power from behind the scenes.

What a pity...

Although the advisors strongly opposed Sarutobi Hiruzen, he still decided to trust Uchiha Shisui.

To be honest, Sarutobi Hiruzen was deeply tempted by Danzo's warning, but he suppressed all dissent by himself.

"Hiruzen! You will regret this!"

Shimura Danzō stormed out again, slamming the door. The Hokage Office's door tilted once more and fell down.

Door: Why am I always the one getting hurt?!

The Uchiha Clan, meanwhile, began celebrating Shisui's awakening of the Mangekyō.

After all, since Madara Uchiha, Shisui was the first clansman known to have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Naruto was swept along by the Uchiha Clan's festive mood and joined in the celebration. Although he did not understand why they were so excited, children being playful was perfectly normal.

Especially during a celebration, there were so many things to play with.

Obito Uchiha in Amegakure was rather bewildered.

He had heard Shisui's name before, but this was the first time he had heard that Shisui possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Not knowing Shisui's ocular techniques, he did not dare go directly to meet this now-famous clansman.

Orochimaru, stationed at a coastal stronghold in Kumogakure, also received news of the outcome of Konoha's battle with Kumogakure, and his eyes gleamed.

"The Mangekyō Sharingan... I wonder how it differs from an ordinary Three Tomoe. I really want to study it."