Prelude to War

From Konoha Year 28 to Konoha Year 30.

Over those two years, turmoil and conflict in the Ninja World intensified further. What had begun as ninja from different factions trading a few insults when they met escalated into throwing shuriken and Explosive Tags, then into sizing up the situation and seeking chances to Act Ruthlessly whenever traces were found. Relations among the Great Ninja Villages had likewise gone from somewhat tense to the brink of collapse.

Though Uchiha Tokimitsu was young, his strength was not to be underestimated. With decent ninja talent, exceptionally advanced Chakra manipulation, and the Radical Faction led by Elder Setsuna sparing no effort in stuffing him full of instruction, Uchiha Tokimitsu had become one of the clan's "outstanding talents of his generation."

As someone in the Uchiha Clan with at least some strategic sense, and as an unstable element within the Hokage's Office Building, Uchiha Tokimitsu was bound to be unable to avoid the coming Ninja World War.

The clan needed a hero with illustrious achievements to step forward and carry its banner, to make the Uchiha Clan's name ring out. That would restore both its prestige within the village and its influence in the Ninja World, while also bringing the clan more private commissions. Meanwhile, the Hokage Faction was looking for a chance to set up a deadly trap and throw the unstable elements into it to wear them down, removing the thorn in their throats and the grit in their eyes.

From the moment Uchiha Tokimitsu began receiving the clan's training and was intentionally or unintentionally treated as a standard-bearer, he had understood that he would have to step up for the clan and serve as its "artillery piece." Like an enforcer cultivated by a gang, he had to come forward and win a few brutal fights before others would respect him.

Of course, as the young face of the Uchiha Radical Faction, he had no need to team up with the village's other small fry and throw himself into the meat grinder of the Ninja World War. Perhaps, under the protection of his clansmen, he could even pick off a few crippled enemy Jonin and build up some prestige.

At that moment, Konoha F4 was analyzing the intelligence they had just received in the Hokage's Office Building.

"The Land of Rain's ninja have already mobilized to the border?"

The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed hard on his pipe, his brow tightly furrowed. "It seems war can no longer be avoided."

"Yes. The ninja troops currently deployed by the Land of Rain at the border have already surpassed our Border Defense Force in strength. Once war begins, the Border Defense Force will likely be unable to resist."

Mitokado Homura, who was responsible for intelligence work in the Land of Rain direction, spoke.

"Where is Hanzo?"

"The Old Man with a Respirator is still in Amegakure. The one leading the deployment to the border is his trusted Jonin."

Danzo interjected.

"When all is said and done, you are simply too weak! You actually let a mere Amegakure act so brazenly! Hiruzen, you should have listened to me long ago. If we had deployed in time, the Border Defense Force could have launched a Proactive Attack and wiped out those Amegakure rabble! They would never dare act rashly again!"

Danzo glared darkly at Sarutobi Hiruzen with his beady eyes, mocking him without restraint.

"Where would we get the men? The village has so many missions that we can barely keep up. Are we supposed to throw all of your Root over there?"

The Third Hokage gave Danzo a sarcastic reply.

"What about Mimura Hamaki? The troops under his command should be able to eliminate this group of Amegakure, shouldn't they?" Advisor Utatane Koharu frowned, clearly dissatisfied with the performance of the Border Defense Force's military commander.

"A portion of the Ninja army under Jonin Mimura has been moved toward the Land of Rivers to assist Jonin Shirakumo in establishing defenses. Sunagakure has been showing some unusual movements lately." The Third Hokage spoke as he smoked his pipe, looking somewhat weary through the swirling smoke.

"Sunagakure dares to involve itself as well?" Advisor Utatane Koharu said with a trace of disdain and a little caution.

"Hmph. If you had listened to me, Hiruzen, and struck first to defeat that Old Man with a Respirator from Amegakure, none of this mess would have happened. In the end, it is because you are too weak, Hiruzen!" Danzo remained deeply indignant. He only felt that Sarutobi lacked wisdom, Mitokado lacked strategy, and Utatane was mediocre. Konoha F4 was exhausting to support all by himself.

"The ninja remaining in the village rely on missions for their livelihood. Once we conduct large-scale mobilization, the village will have to fully allocate funds for military pay and Ninja tools. With our current finances, it will be difficult to sustain that." Utatane Koharu was also somewhat helpless.

"Then go ask the Daimyo! The Land of Fire is so rich. If they do not allocate funds to us, are they planning to save it for those barbarians to take?" Danzo was still speaking in that indignant tone.

The Third Hokage took a deep drag from his pipe, feeling a headache coming on because of his loose-tongued old friend.

"Homura, make a trip to the Capital City and speak with the Daimyo."

The Third Hokage assigned another old friend and advisor, Mitokado Homura, while ignoring the furious Danzo.

The ever-steady and prudent Mitokado Homura Nodded.

"Koharu, contact the heads of the ninja clans and organize another thousand Elite Ninja Army troops if possible." He turned to Advisor Utatane Koharu. "Also, send out Communication Hawks to recall the Jonin currently away on missions. Reduce the village's mission load by twenty percent as well, gather roughly two thousand Civilian Ninja, and I will have Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya lead this Ninja army to support the Border Defense Force in the Land of Rain direction."

Utatane Koharu oversaw Konoha's Administrative department and had good relationships with all the ninja clans, except for the Uchiha.

"Should we transfer part of the organized police force from the Konoha Military Police Force to participate in the war? After all... after mobilizing so many Clan Ninja, the village's remaining defensive strength..." At the mention of ninja clans, Utatane Koharu first thought of the Uchiha Clan, which had always been at odds with Konoha high-ranking officials. She did not hesitate to poison the well openly.

"The Uchiha Clan is powerful and fully organized. They can be transferred." Mitokado Homura also spoke with seeming impartiality.

"I think it is feasible. Transfer the Uchiha ninja. I will personally lead them." Danzo not only wanted to teach the Uchiha a lesson, but also wanted to seize command of the troops from the Third Hokage's disciples.

The Third Hokage looked helplessly at his three high-ranking officials and old friends. If the Uchiha were so easy to talk to, would they still be the Uchiha? Were the Uchiha Clan's Clan Ninja and police forces so easy to mobilize? Especially Danzo—leading the Uchiha Clan Ninja Army? He might have his head chopped off by the Uchiha and sent to the Black Market for a bounty the moment they set off.

These teammates have no Self-Awareness at all. What would you do without me?

The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a wave of powerlessness in his heart.

"...The Uchiha are also partners of the village. We should still place trust in them."

After hesitating, perhaps realizing that even he did not believe what he had just said, the Third Hokage added, "An appropriate degree of trust... yes, we should still give the Uchiha an appropriate degree of trust."

"Hmph! The Uchiha Clan cannot be trusted at all! Have you forgotten Teacher's teachings, Hiruzen? Uchiha Madara's Radical Faction ideology still runs rampant within that cursed clan. The Uchiha are a hidden danger! If they remain in the village, they will cause a great disaster sooner or later." The old angry youth Shimura Danzō continued venting his dissatisfaction with the Uchiha Clan.

"The Uchiha are Konoha's Uchiha. We cannot be too prejudiced against them." The Third Hokage felt that, as the Hokage and leader of a village, he could not condemn everyone with a single stroke, so he offered a few words in their defense.

"Besides, Kagami was once one of our companions."

"Kagami was different, but the Radical Faction Uchiha truly cannot be trusted." The advisors still held differing opinions. Especially as the war continued to escalate, no one could predict what the mad Uchiha might do.

"Teacher's decision to have the Uchiha oversee the Konoha Military Police Force was a wise one." The Third Hokage no longer beat around the bush. "What if the Uchiha sweep through the Land of Rain in one battle? How would we keep them in check then? Would we have to let them Commanded by another Ninja army?"

These pig-headed teammates! Everyone knows about the Uchiha's strength and disloyalty, but what better solution is there? If we were not truly left with no choice based on strength, which high-ranking official would be willing to tolerate those red-eyed lunatics?

Seeing that his teammates were still unconvinced, the Third Hokage had no choice but to reveal his plan.

"The Uchiha's primary duty remains protecting the ninja village. However, if the war escalates later, I will transfer their Clan Ninja into battle, mainly toward the major nations of Lightning and Earth."

How many people could die in a war with Amegakure? If the Uchiha were not thrown onto the battlefields against major nations, how could they be weakened in a concrete and effective manner? And they still wanted to oppose the Uchiha without understanding that.

The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen silently criticized them in his heart.

The three advisors exchanged glances and reluctantly accepted the Third Hokage's explanation.

"What about me, Hiruzen?"

Danzo spoke up. After saying so much, the Uchiha topic had interrupted them, and his authority had yet to be decided.

"You will handle intelligence work concerning the Land of Rain and the two major nations of Lightning and Earth. I will assign the Anbu Intelligence Squad to you." After some thought, the Third Hokage decided to let Danzo continue with His usual line of work.

"Also, before the village's Support Troops are fully prepared, have the Northern Border Defense Force in the Sunagakure direction send another two hundred men into the Land of Grass to establish a defensive line. Transfer Hatake Sakumo to serve as Deputy Commander in the Sunagakure direction." The Third Hokage was still somewhat uneasy about the war's course, so he made another arrangement.

"That will do. Sakumo's strength and deterrence are sufficient to guard the border in the Sunagakure direction." The three advisors all nodded and unanimously agreed.

"Then, Just like this!"

The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen made the final decision.

Meanwhile, the restless Uchiha Clan was greatly encouraged by the war that was destined to come. The Radical Faction in particular was eager for action, each of them ready to slaughter their way across the battlefield. They intended to use bloodshed and killing to proclaim the Uchiha name through the opportunity presented by war.

Although the Uchiha's Kekkei Genkai, the Sharingan, had been slandered as "cursed eyes," it was also the source of the Uchiha Clan's strength. For the Sharingan, the best way to evolve was to face the dangers of life and death and endure the hardships of blades and war on the battlefield. Only then could its greatest power be forged.

The Uchiha were the most warlike clan. Overseeing the Konoha Military Police Force and dealing with the village's trivial affairs, occasionally catching a few spies, was truly dull for the passionate and battle-hungry Uchiha. It was also detrimental to the growth of individual strength. The Sharingan's evolution still required the nourishment of blood and fire.

After all, the Uchiha were the strongest clan in the Ninja World.

The entire clan firmly believed this.