Shisui Returns to the Village

Early autumn of Konoha Year 52.

The ninja world was no longer very concerned about the war between Konoha and Kumogakure; the biggest news was the war between Kumogakure and Iwagakure.

This war, initiated by Konoha, had turned Iwagakure into the main aggressor, which was unexpected by other ninja villages.

Sunagakure was the first to mobilize its Shinobi Army towards Iwagakure.

Once Iwagakure truly defeated Kumogakure, Sunagakure would gain absolutely nothing.

In the war between Kumogakure and Konoha, the envoy sent by Sunagakure had not gained any benefits from Sarutobi Hiruzen. Sarutobi Hiruzen had indeed mobilized a thousand Shinobi Army to the border of the Land of Rain.

Now, Iwagakure, which was originally the one condemning Kumogakure, had become the main attacker. Once Kumogakure surrendered, the benefits Iwagakure would gain would be substantial. If they didn't intervene before Iwagakure reaped the benefits, wouldn't they be at a loss?

However, unfortunately, Tsuchikage Ōnoki, like Sarutobi Hiruzen, was unyielding and sent two thousand Shinobi Army to the border of the Land of Rain.

Kazekage Rasa was also helpless.

(?ó﹏ò?)

What kind of operation is it to mobilize troops at the drop of a hat?

If I don't mobilize troops, won't it seem like I'm easy to bully?

But he had already mobilized troops before, and mobilizing again would put considerable pressure on him.

The least panicked was the Land of Rain.

Although the three great nations had mobilized their Shinobi Army to their borders, the Rain Ninja were now under the command of Pain, so they weren't worried at all.

The most peaceful seemed to be Kirigakure in the Land of Water.

However, the Land of Water had once again implemented the Bloody Mist Policy.

The level of cruelty had escalated once more.

Some Kekkei Genkai Ninja found it increasingly difficult to survive in the Land of Water.

The Land of Lightning suffered heavy losses due to the attacks by Iwagakure Ninja.

These losses were not just anything else; the economy alone saw a decrease in income equivalent to several towns.

As for the population, it goes without saying that the small villages near the Cloud Ninja Village suffered devastating blows.

Fortunately, Raikage A returned in time and, together with the ninja clans within the Cloud Ninja Village, launched a full-scale war. The thousand elite Iwagakure Ninja were routed, otherwise the losses in the Land of Lightning would have been even greater.

Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, was the vanguard of the subsequent Iwagakure Shinobi Army. After severely injuring Yugito, he encountered the Shinobi Army led by Kumogakure Ninja Dodai.

After a great battle between the two sides, Kumogakure lost two thousand two hundred Shinobi Army, and Dodai was killed in action, while Iwagakure Ninja Han was severely wounded. The Iwagakure Shinobi Army lost two thousand Shinobi Army. Although Iwagakure was victorious, the casualty rate on both sides was too high, so they temporarily ceased hostilities.

The two sides engaged in combat with small teams.

The Iwagakure Ninja went to support the routed personnel of the thousand ninja, while the Kumogakure Ninja pursued them.

The two sides once again escalated the small team warfare.

More and more battles occurred within the Land of Lightning, which greatly displeased the Land of Lightning Daimyo.

Raikage A was reprimanded by the Land of Lightning Daimyo.

After all, Raikage A didn't intercept the Iwagakure Ninja in time, causing significant losses for the Land of Lightning. Raikage A had to take the blame for this.

As the war changed, Konoha's command post in the Land of the Moon became increasingly tense.

This was because Kushina proposed that Shisui Uchiha return to Konoha.

At the same time, Shisui Uchiha also requested to return to Konoha.

This caused the Uchiha, who had originally planned to achieve greater merits, to calm down and approve Shisui's return.

The most awkward person was none other than Nara Shikaku.

It wasn't that he didn't want Shisui to return to Konoha, but Danzo's Root ninja had been preventing Shisui from returning to the village.

The reason given was that the front lines needed Shisui Uchiha.

However, this reason was completely untenable in front of Kushina.

So Nara Shikaku was in a difficult position.

If he kept Shisui, he would offend the Uchiha and Kushina. If he let Shisui return, he would offend the Hokage faction.

Continuing to attack the main Kumogakure forces was repeatedly avoided by the Kumogakure Ninja. After being ambushed by traps several times, they could only constantly use small teams to penetrate and force the Kumogakure Ninja to defend. At the same time, they had to move the command post forward and dispatch various small teams to guard the supply lines.

Although the supply lines had not been attacked by the Kumogakure Ninja, Nara Shikaku had divided the supplies into small batches. In his opinion, this was a sign that the Kumogakure Ninja were not good at attacking small transport teams.

In reality, the Kumogakure Ninja had indeed not split their forces to attack Konoha's supply lines.

The war in the rear had consumed most of Kumogakure's energy, and they truly had no extra energy to focus on the war with Konoha.

Especially since Konoha was becoming increasingly weak, several retreats and avoidance of battle made Konoha seem to be planning to sit back and watch the war between Kumogakure and Iwagakure.

Sarutobi Hiruzen in Konoha Village also truly had the intention of first sitting back and watching the two tigers fight. He didn't want the Uchiha to gain any more merit. Shisui's sudden rise this time had already made him restless.

"Hiruzen! Shisui Uchiha has requested to return to the village, you absolutely must not agree! It's best to let him die on the battlefield!" Danzo pushed open the door of the Hokage Office without knocking.

Then he saw his old friend looking at the Crystal Ball again. He didn't know what he was looking at, but it didn't matter. He couldn't let Shisui Uchiha return to the village, otherwise the Uchiha would become even more united.

"Danzo, can't you knock before entering?" Sarutobi Hiruzen put away the Crystal Ball and looked at Danzo Shimura with a serious expression. "As for Shisui's return to the village, I have decided that Shisui can return."

"Hiruzen, this Shisui should have died on the front lines..." Danzo was a little agitated just now, but then he slowly stopped talking.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression also changed from serious to gentle. He took a puff of his pipe. "Danzo, you should know that letting Shisui Uchiha return to the village now can reduce the Uchiha's losses and stabilize the Uchiha in the village."

"Yes, yes, Shisui Uchiha should return. I think so too." Danzo turned around.

"By the way, is the number of Root personnel sufficient? Do you need me to increase your funding?"

"Don't worry, I will ask you when things are over. As for now, let's wait a little longer."

Danzo gently closed the door of the Hokage Office, appearing much more polite.

"Danzo, don't disappoint me."

After Danzo left, Sarutobi Hiruzen also sighed. "The Anbu needs more personnel. I hope the other families can understand."

Meanwhile, in Konoha's front-line command post.

Nara Shikaku also received the Hokage's new order.

Shisui Uchiha will lead two hundred ninja to transport all the injured ninja from this war back to the rear.

Following this was another line of orders written differently.

The two hundred ninja must not include clan members, must not reduce the front-line strength by deploying Chunin, and must not include any Jonin other than Shisui Uchiha. In particular, Kushina must not leave the front line. The route back to the village should avoid the supply lines as much as possible to prevent their exposure.

Nara Shikaku understood very well what this order meant.

However, knowing was one thing; he would not object to this order.

The Uchiha clan members were also very happy to learn that Shisui Uchiha would be able to return to the village.

Because returning to the village meant Shisui could avoid the possibility of dying unexpectedly in battle.

However, the fact that Shisui was only taking Genin made the Uchiha clan ninja very unhappy.

This was because most of the Uchiha clan members on the battlefield were Chunin or higher, and thus could not return to Konoha with Shisui.