War Escalation

Overall, the Ninja Clan Council had yielded fairly effective results.

Although the Uchiha Clan's strength had eclipsed all the other ninja clans.

Although the Uchiha Clan's demands had cost the village even more.

Although the Uchiha Clan had shown obvious disrespect toward the Hokage.

Although, although, although!

Although many problems had arisen because of the Uchiha Clan, with the external situation so pressing, even the Hokage could not afford to provoke that clan of lunatics at a time like this.

After all, he was still counting on the powerful Uchiha Clan to charge into battle.

Even Danzo had restrained himself considerably after seeing just how many Jonin the Uchiha Clan had mobilized.

After all, the Uchiha representatives had produced forty-nine Jonin at the Ninja Clan Council in one go. It was truly terrifying; before the war, Konoha had only around 280 registered active-duty Jonin...

Naturally, the results of the Ninja Clan Council had to be thoroughly absorbed.

In addition to the twenty Jonin and forty-six Chunin handed over to him by the Radical Faction, Uchiha Tokimitsu had also received command over the Konoha Military Police Force's reserve troops and the Uchiha Clan's affiliated ninja clans. Together, they numbered another seventeen Jonin and 110 Chunin. Though they were not as elite as the Uchiha Ninja Army directly under his command, they were all competent fighters. Tokimitsu had just been worrying about his shortage of Chunin to serve as the backbone of his force, and now the gap had been filled at once.

Having obtained command, he naturally had to integrate and train them, forging them into a fighting force as quickly as possible.

Thus, a formidable ninja army of thirty-seven Jonin and 146 Chunin began frequently entering and leaving the village, terrifying Konoha's clans and drawing wary glances from the Hokage Faction. Even the spies lurking in the village could no longer sit still, releasing carrier pigeons and Communication Hawks in an attempt to transmit intelligence. Yet quite a few were rounded up by the Konoha Military Police Force and Anbu, thrown into prison, and harshly interrogated. It was an unexpected gain for the village.

Just like this, a month passed.

Uchiha Tokimitsu's joint drills achieved a certain degree of success. The coordination of the ninja army under his command greatly improved, and through various means, he successfully made his subordinates recognize the authority of their eight-year-old Clan Ninja Army leader—by the simplest method possible: beating them into submission one by one.

Uchiha Tokimitsu's growing prestige not only made the Hokage Faction deeply wary. Within the clan, even the clan head's Main Line faction and the Conservative Faction found this young yet overwhelmingly powerful junior as grating as a thorn in their backs. Quite a few clan members viewed him as a second Uchiha Madara. Within the clan, some believed in him and others hated him, but overall, more and more clan members were leaning toward the Radical Faction. Thus, under the mediation of high-ranking figures, the clan head's Main Line Ninja Army and the Conservative Faction's Ninja Army began to merge, forming the Uchiha Clan's second ninja army. It was commanded by Uchiha Shigenobu, a confidant of Clan Head Uchiha Shifang, with the clan head's legitimate son, Uchiha Fugaku, serving as his deputy.

The Uchiha Clan was showing signs of division, but the Hokage Faction had no time to intervene and muddy the waters, because the war situation was changing far too quickly.

After Konoha's Border Defense Force stationed on the Land of Rain border crushed Amegakure's vanguard, they plundered the Border City. But instead of the Rain Ninja Army rumored to be gathering all its elites and sharpening its forces, what arrived was Sunagakure's Puppet Force.

After a small-scale clash, neither Konoha nor Sunagakure gained an advantage. When Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade arrived with the first batch of Ninja Clan Allied Forces, Sunagakure swiftly withdrew from the front. Before the reinforcements could even catch their breath, the reorganized Rain Ninja Army had already taken over the defensive line again and resumed the standoff.

At the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, Sunagakure's army no longer concealed its movements, appearing with great frequency and in large numbers across the border region. Though Border Defense Force commander Hatake Sakumo was exceptionally strong, the number of ninja under his command was severely insufficient. Furthermore, the two sides had not yet formally declared war, leaving him inevitably constrained. For a time, the border was riddled with gaps, difficult to cover and defend.

Meanwhile, the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning had ended their border confrontation and withdrawn their respective Border Defense Forces. The ninja armies they had assembled during their earlier standoff had also Disappeared. Konoha's Border Defense Force did not dare conduct cross-border reconnaissance rashly and could only send a message requesting reinforcements from the village.

At the Hokage's Office Building, the rapidly shifting situation left the Konoha F4 overwhelmed. Nearly all their previous war preparations had to be overturned and redone, with intelligence from the Land of Lightning and Land of Earth directions being the highest priority.

Inside the Hokage's Office, smoke hung thick in the air as always.

Danzo was reporting the intelligence they had gathered.

"...The Sunagakure force that appeared in the Land of Rain in the middle of the month has now been confirmed as an elite Puppet Force commanded by the son of Sunagakure Elder Chiyo, numbering around sixty. That unit has now withdrawn from the Land of Rain, but its specific mission in crossing the border into the Land of Rain remains unknown. Based on the command style and intercepted internal reports, the Sunagakure Ninja Army facing Sakumo may be commanded by Sunagakure Elder Ebizo. As for the Rain Ninja Army, we have yet to learn the whereabouts of its leader, Hanzō of the Salamander. Whether among the forces he deployed at the front or within Amegakure itself, no trace of him has been found..."

That string of unknowns and uncertainties made Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen's brow furrow ever more deeply.

Still, he could not reprimand anyone. Sunagakure's movements had been far too sudden and completely without warning. Even the Envoy dispatched to make inquiries had been turned away by Sunagakure. Yet judging from the current developments, a major war was unavoidable.

The Third Hokage let out a soft sigh.

Only before these old friends did he dare reveal such weariness.

"What about the Land of Lightning and the Land of Earth?"

Seeing Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen close his eyes in silence, Mitokado Homura spoke up to ask.

"The Land of Lightning's movements remain unclear. However, the Land of Earth has reinforced its garrison forces along the Land of Rain border. What we know so far is that a Stone Hidden Explosive Unit has already set off for the Land of Rain border."

"They certainly have an understanding. Are they all planning to use the Land of Rain as a battlefield?"

Utatane Koharu remarked.

"Hanzo's expansion has gone too far. Not only have the surrounding small countries suffered from it, even the neutral Land of Iron has been invaded by him. In particular, the Rain Ninja Army has also entered the vassal states of the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth..."

The Third Hokage, who had been resting with his eyes closed, spoke slowly.

At the root of it all, the fuse of this war was Amegakure of the Land of Rain, unwilling to remain as it was—especially since its leader was Hanzō of the Salamander, the ambitious and capable man known as the "Demigod."

The Land of Rain was surrounded by the three great nations of Fire, Earth, and Wind, along with their vassal states, and had long endured suppression and exploitation. Its abundant rainfall made agricultural development exceedingly difficult. All Along, it had relied on trading handicrafts with the Outside world to purchase grain, only to be jointly suppressed and exploited by the Wealthy Merchants of the three great nations. Dissatisfaction within the Land of Rain had grown increasingly intense. After Hanzō of the Salamander took power, backed by the Land of Rain's Daimyo, he began actively expanding the military and wantonly invading and plundering neighboring small countries, thereby provoking the three great nations of Fire, Earth, and Wind.

But what Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen could not understand was this: after Amegakure seized the resources of the Land of Iron, it first entered into a border conflict with Sunagakure and was forced back by Sunagakure's suppression. Then it proactively provoked a conflict with Konoha. After Konoha entered the Land of Rain border, Sunagakure's Puppet Force suddenly arrived to probe them. Not long after, Amegakure dispatched a ninja army to confront Konoha, while Sunagakure instead withdrew on its own initiative. Just what was going on with that coordination? And what medicine was Sunagakure selling from its gourd? Why had it also deployed heavy forces along Konoha's border?

With intelligence so lacking, even the seasoned and shrewd Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen found the situation thorny.

"Hmph!"

Danzo snorted. "That old man Hanzo with the respirator is overestimating himself. Acting so recklessly, he is no different from the Uchiha. He is absolutely courting death!"

Danzo, having followed his heart, still did not bother hiding his malice and suspicion toward the Uchiha when no outsiders were present.

"Rather than remain peaceful starving masses, they imitate a mantis raising its arms..." Utatane Koharu sighed with apparent compassion. "They rashly started a war merely for Hanzo and the Land of Rain Daimyo's selfish desires. The people of the Land of Rain are the ones who will suffer."

Those words made Sarutobi Hiruzen and his two old friends feel especially uncomfortable.

Even a cat mourning a mouse did not cry like that.

Mitokado Homura grumbled inwardly.

"When can the second batch of reinforcements for the Land of Rain depart?" Ignoring Utatane Koharu's hypocrisy, the Third Hokage asked Mitokado Homura.

"The day after tomorrow."

"Good. Danzo, I will hand this portion of the ninja army over to your command."

"Yes!"

With command over a ninja army in hand, Danzo did not mind displaying some respect for the Hokage.

"What about defenses in the Land of Earth direction?" Mitokado Homura asked again.

"...Mobilize the Uchiha Ninja Army there." The Third Hokage frowned and pondered for a moment. "Let that brat Tokimitsu lead his people there. I recall there are forty or fifty Jonin."

The trio had no objection to that. Recently, the ninja army commanded by Uchiha Tokimitsu had caused no small amount of commotion at the Training Ground, and the Uchiha's mobilization had kept them constantly tense and unable to relax. They feared that those erratic Uchiha lunatics might one day launch an overthrowing superiors coup under cover of darkness.

"It is good to throw them out there. It is the Land of Earth, after all, which should suit the tastes of those bloodthirsty maniacs." Mitokado Homura was the first to voice support.

"If we send only the Uchiha to the border, should we replace the commander of the Land of Earth Border Defense Force? Kunugi Mokume may not be able to keep those lunatics in check." Utatane Koharu raised the issue from another angle.

"...Transfer Kunugi Mokume to the Land of Earth border to coordinate with Jonin Sakumo. Leave the original garrison in place." The Third Hokage took a draw from his pipe. "As for the commander... isn't the publicly visible leader of the Uchiha Ninja Army Uchiha Kamon, the captain of that old man Setsuna's guard? Let him serve as commander of the Land of Earth Border Defense Force."

The calculating Third Hokage not only intended to have the Uchiha Ninja Army fill the gap in the Land of Earth, but also planned to stir things up politically and make Uchiha Tokimitsu uncomfortable.

"Danzo, what do you think?" Knowing that Danzo had All Along been filled with malice toward the Uchiha Clan, the Third Hokage deliberately asked him again.

"No objections." Danzo had just gained command over a ninja army and had no interest in meaningless disputes. "It would be best if they perished together with Iwagakure's Granite Heads. That would be wonderful news!"

The Third Hokage pretended not to hear Danzo and continued giving orders. "Then proceed accordingly. Issue the orders!"

"Yes!" ×3

Elsewhere, Uchiha Tokimitsu was freely displaying the unique charm exclusive to the Uchiha Clan at the Training Ground.

Standing alone at one end of the Training Ground, he steadily suppressed the combined assault of three Uchiha Jonin with a variety of Fire Style Ninjutsu.

Clusters of flame erupted in scorching, brilliant sparks, and Explosion sounds rang out without end. Under the fierce barrage of ninjutsu, the three Jonin struggled to defend themselves with the Earth Style and Water Style techniques they were not particularly skilled in.

They had never experienced such an oppressive fight.

Uchiha battles were generally highly artistic: begin by suppressing the enemy with devastating Fire Style, force them back with miraculous Tool Manipulation Technique, then close in for melee combat and use Sharingan genjutsu and refined taijutsu to identify the enemy's openings before delivering a decisive kill. That was the Uchiha way.

Since when had the Uchiha Clan produced a ninjutsu artillery platform that resembled the Senju?

"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"

As the three were overwhelmed, a Sea of Fire poured from Uchiha Tokimitsu's mouth and swept toward them.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!" ×3

Their old strength spent and new strength not yet gathered, the three could only use Earth Style once more to barely hold back the attack, preparing to escape with the Body Flicker Technique.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

Seeing the situation, Uchiha Kamon, who had been watching from the side, hurriedly unleashed a Water Style attack at Uchiha Tokimitsu's Fire Style Ninjutsu, intending to weaken its power and prevent serious injuries.

"Boom!"

Water and fire collided. The mutual annihilation of ninjutsu produced a violent explosion and a massive Shockwave, lifting the hems of the spectators' clothes. In the clash, although the Water Dragon Bullet was inferior to the Great Fire Annihilation, it still weakened part of its force. By the time the diminished Fire Style attack shattered the three men's hastily erected Earth Style: Earth Flow Walls, it was already at the end of its strength, allowing the three to evade easily.

"We're done, we're done!" After dodging the attack, the three hurriedly waved their hands in surrender.

"Young Lord Tokimitsu's strength is unmatched. We are convinced!"

The Uchiha clan members present all had their Sharingan activated as they watched the battle, deeply shocked by Uchiha Tokimitsu's profound Fire Style mastery and the immense amount of Chakra he possessed for someone his age.

Even advanced genjutsu, which could only achieve results through years of refinement, was useless before Uchiha Tokimitsu's tremendous ocular power and Spiritual Power.

After the shock came wholehearted conviction.

The pursuit of power and the pursuit of the strong were desires ingrained in the Uchiha Clan's bloodline.

Even the oddities within the Uchiha Clan—the Conservative Faction Uchiha Muggles who had been deeply corrupted by the incomprehensible Will of Fire without realizing it—were likewise tirelessly pursuing even greater power.

And every Uchiha dispatched under Uchiha Tokimitsu by Elder Setsuna was an extremist among the Uchiha Radical Faction. Each was arrogant and self-assured, worshiped strength above all else, and held a faith-like obsession with the power of their own bloodline.

When Uchiha Tokimitsu displayed his transcendent and peerless strength, they forgot the difference in age, forgot their respective seniority, forgot the existence of the clan head and elders. Guided by the throbbing of their Sharingan, they lowered their once-proud heads and submitted at Uchiha Tokimitsu's feet.

As for the affiliated ninja clan ninjas, whether Jonin or Chunin, all were subdued by this natural-disaster-like Fire Style. One after another, they dropped to one knee in a show of respect.

Just as their ancestors had submitted before Uchiha Madara during the Warring States period.