Iwagakure Mobilizes

Aside from their routine evil deeds of peddling intelligence to both sides and trafficking the descendants of bloodline limits, the Grass Ninja were best at researching, using, and cracking other nations' ninjutsu. Although the Ninja World had no such thing as ninjutsu patent laws, Kusagakure was the only ninja village that engaged in such large-scale theft and imitation of others' techniques.

Even Uchiha ninja, who excelled at copying others' ninjutsu with the Sharingan, had no goodwill toward Kusagakure.

So when the Uchiha used mission rewards as bait to put the Grass Ninja to work, the Konoha ninja were all bewildered: Since when did you have to pay Grass Ninja to make them work?

In the past, both Konoha and Iwagakure had been remarkably consistent in how they handled the Grass Ninja: they made them do all the dirty and exhausting work, and occasionally dragged them off to fill trenches. And if the vile Grass Ninja caught an injured ninja alone, they would kill and rob them regardless of which side they belonged to.

The Land of Grass, a small country wedged between great nations like the filling of a sandwich cookie, existed in the first place to serve as a buffer zone for the major powers. Whenever the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth went to war, the two Great Ninja Villages would treat the place as though no one lived there, turning it into a battlefield while their combat troops moved freely across its territory.

Just as now, Konoha's Border Defense Force had marched straight into the Land of Grass and begun a large-scale purge of spies, scouts, intelligence agencies, and the like from every nation. The Grass Ninja only dared to tremble in a corner and watch the two giants ravage and slaughter each other on their land, letting the flames of war destroy their homes...

Then they prayed for the war to end as soon as possible.

Lord Tokimitsu is truly merciful.

Uchiha Tokimitsu treated the Grass Ninja "equally" and rewarded those who rendered meritorious service. Once word spread, the Grass Ninja prowled throughout the country like hyenas, hoping only to find some trace of a clue to exchange with the Uchiha clan members for bounty money.

Just like this, driven by profit, over a thousand Grass Ninja from Kusagakure voluntarily searched with all their strength. One underground nest after another was uncovered, and Konoha's Border Defense Force dispatched corresponding combat troops to purge them according to the intelligence. In just one month, Konoha's garrison in the Land of Grass issued seventy-three A-rank Missions, eighty-seven B-rank Missions, and two hundred and twenty C-rank Missions. Most of the B-rank and C-rank Missions had been exchanged for intelligence by the Grass Ninja.

Although Uchiha Tokimitsu settled the Grass Ninja's missions at the minimum standard for each rank—for instance, the guaranteed reward for a B-rank Mission was fifty thousand ryo—and included confiscated various types of ninja tools as part of the payment under the name of "payment in kind," the B-rank Mission bounties reported to the village ranged from one hundred thousand to one hundred and fifty thousand ryo. By openly bleeding the ninja dry and skimming the difference, Uchiha Tokimitsu, Uchiha Kamon, and Nara Kohei all made a fortune. Their subordinate ninja army, whether Uchiha Clan ninja or regular border guards, also received a sizeable cut.

"Lord Tokimitsu is truly one of the finest people in the Ninja World."

Whether Konoha ninja or Kusagakure ninja, everyone sang Uchiha Tokimitsu's praises.

As far as Uchiha Tokimitsu was concerned, the village paid the bounties anyway. As long as everything stayed within the established standards, there was no problem. Besides, the Grass Ninja could hardly run to the Hokage's Office Building in Konoha to seek justice.

After leisurely raking in money for a month, the Uchiha Clan truly understood what it meant that "when the cannons roar, gold flows by the thousands." Every one of them eagerly devoted themselves to generating revenue and improving efficiency. All manner of unsavory figures in the Land of Grass were purged, and under Uchiha Tokimitsu's secret instruction, the leader of Kusagakure persuaded the Daimyo of the Land of Grass to reward and entertain Konoha's garrison camp in the Land of Grass. They made another huge haul together.

The Land of Grass, surviving in the cracks between great nations, endured as tenaciously as weeds!

If its ninja village lacked ninjutsu, it stole and copied it. If it lacked missions, it took on the dirty and exhausting work subcontracted by the Five Great Shinobi Villages. It relied on reselling intelligence between the Lands of Fire, Earth, and Wind to earn meager bounties while enduring every kind of deduction. Though the diplomatically adept Land of Grass was deemed "shameless" by the great powers, that was also the helpless reality of small nations under the Five Great Nations system. The Land of Grass could only play both sides, trading information from every country for chances to survive and materials for development.

"Lord Kamon, Lord Tokimitsu, thank you for your support and assistance to the Land of Grass. We ninja of this small nation are truly grateful beyond words..." A warm and joyous banquet was underway inside a tent at the Garrison Camp.

As the leader of Kusagakure, Leader Susuki naturally spoke far more elegantly than ordinary Grass Ninja. He kept placing one flattering hat after another upon the Uchiha clan members. Even the proud Uchiha, who held considerable prejudice against the Land of Grass, could not help becoming intoxicated by it.

"Leader Susuki, you are too polite. As a responsible great nation, the Land of Fire naturally has both the duty and ability to safeguard peace in the Ninja World..." Uchiha Tokimitsu launched into a stream of official platitudes. "...As one of Konoha's founding clans, the Uchiha Clan has always regarded upholding 'One Country, One Village' as our highest standard of action. All Along, we have firmly protected the stability and peace of every nation through practical action. And as the Number one clan in the Ninja World, it is only right that we support and assist the Uchiha Clan's friendly allies..."

The Land of Fire and the Uchiha Clan appeared constantly in Uchiha Tokimitsu's words, while Konoha and the Hokage were never mentioned at all. Nara Kohei, seated at the banquet, felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles. But Uchiha Tokimitsu had already dragged him into this, so he had No Choice and did not dare Say more.

The other Uchiha clan members also strongly approved of Uchiha Tokimitsu's speech. They believed that, as the Heir of the Radical Faction, Uchiha Tokimitsu truly was a once-in-a-generation genius of the Uchiha Clan. Not only was he immensely powerful, but he could also spout a politician's polished rhetoric the moment he Opened mouth. The revival of the Uchiha Clan was clearly just around the corner.

Just as the conversation was growing lively, an Uchiha ninja entered the central tent and gave Uchiha Kamon a meaningful look. Leader Susuki was a tactful man as well, and he took the opportunity to excuse himself.

"What is it?" Uchiha Kamon asked.

"Lord Kamon, Young Lord Tokimitsu." The Uchiha ninja Came forward and Handed over a scroll to Uchiha Kamon, then greeted both men. "According to the Intelligence Squad's report, Iwagakure has assembled roughly three thousand ninja and is marching toward the Land of Grass. They are expected to reach the Border region tomorrow afternoon."

"Is the intelligence reliable?" Uchiha Kamon frowned tightly.

"The Ninja Cat Clan has verified this intelligence."

"Where did the intelligence originate?" Uchiha Tokimitsu interjected.

"Our Headquarters Reconnaissance Troops were the first to discover and report Iwagakure's military movements."

"Tch!" Uchiha Tokimitsu looked disdainful. "It seems the village's Anbu are nothing but a bunch of useless trash. They failed to obtain advance intelligence on an enemy ninja army mobilization like this. I truly don't know what use there is in maintaining the Anbu."

"Staff Officer Kohei." Uchiha Tokimitsu turned to Nara Kohei. "Report this intelligence back to the village as well, so they can make preparations."

"Yes!" Nara Kohei did not dare Say more and hurriedly agreed.

"Also, because of the coming battle, our Headquarters has an Urgent need for Byakugan users from the Hyuga Clan to join the Reconnaissance Troops, so we can grasp the situation and progress of the war more quickly. Have the village mobilize personnel to support us." Uchiha Tokimitsu thought for a moment, then added, "The Anbu's Bureaucrats are mediocre and incompetent. We must rely more on ourselves! Gather and transport all types of supplies at three times the normal amount as well."

"Yes!"

Uchiha Tokimitsu looked toward Uchiha Kamon. Seeing him shake his head to indicate there was nothing else to instruct, he waved Nara Kohei away.

"Tokimitsu-kun." The expression on Uchiha Kamon's face gradually turned savage and bloodthirsty. "It seems our vacation in the Land of Grass is over. Are you... ready?"

"I have looked forward to this war for a long time..." Uchiha Tokimitsu's expression remained as cold as ever, but the ferocity in his eyes was completely undisguised.

"However, the Granite Heads of Iwagakure have only deployed thirty-seven Jonin on the surface. The rest of their ninja army consists mainly of Chunin and Genin, so their overall strength is average."

Uchiha Kamon Handed over the intelligence scroll to Uchiha Tokimitsu.

Uchiha Tokimitsu took the intelligence and Started Reading.

"It even has Iwagakure's troop numbers and the specific list of Jonin being mobilized?" Uchiha Tokimitsu was somewhat surprised. "The Ninja Cat Clan is actually this capable!"

"Our alliance with the Ninja Cat Clan has continued since the Warring States Period. Although the Ninja Cats themselves are relatively weak, their intelligence-gathering capabilities may be the greatest among all Summoning Beast clans. Furthermore, the clan's arms business is conducted through the Ninja Cat Clan, which comes forward to sell our goods abroad."

"Then... Uncle Kamon, is your Summoning Beast also a Ninja Cat?" Uchiha Tokimitsu became interested.

"Uh... yes." Seeing Uchiha Tokimitsu's interest, Uchiha Kamon asked, "Want to see?"

Uchiha Tokimitsu nodded repeatedly.

Although Ninja Cats were relatively weak, they were still cats. Cute and adorable—what Uchiha did not like them?

"...All right."

Uchiha Kamon reluctantly formed hand seals.

"...Summoning Technique!"

With a bang, a cloud of smoke rose up. Accompanied by an energetic "Meow!", a White Cat leaped onto Uchiha Kamon.

"Lord Kamon, you finally remembered me." The White Cat rubbed herself all over Uchiha Kamon. "I want Dried Fish and catnip..."

Uchiha Tokimitsu watched the Ninja Cat acting spoiled and was left somewhat petrified.

"Hey! There are people here. Stop messing around!" Uchiha Kamon awkwardly pulled the Ninja Cat off himself.

"Um... Tokimitsu-kun, this is Hanamaki..." Uchiha Kamon introduced his contract Ninja Cat with slight hesitation.

A White Cat named Hanamaki?

Uchiha Tokimitsu found it rather amusing. His hands were also beginning to itch, as though his Cat-Petting Soul were awakening.

"Young Lord Tokimitsu, I have long admired your name." Having jumped down from Uchiha Kamon, the Ninja Cat Hanamaki now appeared poised and dignified, nothing like her clingy behavior from before.

"Hello... Hanamaki." Uchiha Tokimitsu Replied.

"I am one of the Twelve Cat Samurai of the Ninja Cat Clan and Lord Kamon's subordinate. I hope for your guidance in the future." The gentle and refined Ninja Cat Hanamaki nodded respectfully to Uchiha Tokimitsu.

"...You are too polite. Allies should naturally watch over and help one another."

It was Uchiha Tokimitsu's first time encountering a talking animal. Though the Ninja World was full of strange things, he had never encountered a high-level talking Summoning Beast while staying in the village before, so he could not help feeling curious.

"Tokimitsu-kun, you have not yet formed a contract with a Summoning Beast, have you?" Seeing Uchiha Tokimitsu's great interest, Uchiha Kamon asked, "Do you plan to sign a Summoning Contract with the Ninja Cat Clan?"

"Sure!" These words were exactly what Uchiha Tokimitsu wanted to hear.

"Hanamaki, go back first and tell Cat Grandma to prepare the Summoning Scroll." Uchiha Kamon scratched the Ninja Cat's head.

"Meow~" Ninja Cat Hanamaki let out a pleased cry, then turned into a cloud of smoke and departed.

"The Ninja Cat Clan's intelligence has always been well-informed. And Hanamaki just said that Iwagakure did not make much effort to conceal this troop deployment. The Jonin they dispatched were publicly announced within the village as well."

"When did Hanamaki say that?" Uchiha Tokimitsu asked in surprise.

"Um... at close range, Hanamaki can transmit her voice through the air. It is very discreet. Ninja Cats often possess different special abilities as well."

"Oh... but if the deployment was public, how could the village have failed to receive this intelligence in advance? Why did we learn of it first..."

"It is nothing more than some filthy business. The Hokage Faction is only capable of this much." Uchiha Kamon scoffed.

"Still, this is good. We can use this opportunity to let Monkey see the strength of our clan!"