Uzumaki Ryoma

The white-haired boy was named Hatake Kakashi. His father was the late Hatake Sakumo, the renowned Konoha master known as the "White Fang." He was now a student of the "Yellow Flash," Namikaze Minato. In a battle against the Iwa Ninja in the north, he had inherited a Sharingan from his fallen teammate, Uchiha Obito, setting a precedent for someone outside the Uchiha Clan to legally possess a Sharingan.

In short,

the boy was famous.

Of course,

in Hyuga Ritsu's mind, Hatake Kakashi's appearance on the eastern battlefield meant something far more complicated. The hidden hand lurking in the Shinobi World might already have begun secretly manipulating everyone's fate.

Ultimately, Hyuga Ritsu saw this war between Konoha and the Mist Ninja as nothing more than a stage set by the mastermind behind the scenes to achieve some goal.

Otherwise, it was hard to explain why the Mist Ninja kept attacking despite one defeat after another. Even after their renowned Jonin group, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, had been crippled, they still refused to back down, as if they meant to fight Konoha to the bitter end.

"Weakness is a sin!"

Hyuga Ritsu murmured to himself.

Kakashi, walking ahead and leading the way, stiffened for an instant. A moment later, he returned to normal, silent as a scarecrow in a field, and led Hyuga Ritsu to a tent.

"Lord Ryoma, I've brought the Hyuga Clan Head!"

Kakashi reported from outside the tent.

"Hyuga Clan Head, come in!"

A deep voice came from inside.

The tent was bare, with no unnecessary furnishings. There was only a table, a chair, and a man sitting in the chair, wearing a long black hooded coat that kept his face hidden in shadow.

His name was Aburame Ryoma, a skilled member of Konoha's renowned Bug User clan. He specialized in fighting with insects and was also a trusted aide to the Hokage's assistant, Shimura Danzō. He had a poor reputation in the village, and it was said that even the Aburame Clan themselves didn't care much for him.

But his poor reputation didn't change the fact that he was now the deputy commander of the eastern front, ranking just below Lord Orochimaru.

"Deputy Commander Aburame, what can I do for you?"

Hyuga Ritsu called Orochimaru "Senior" because of his connection to Teacher Hiruko. Though the two weren't particularly close, they did have a connection.

But he didn't know Aburame Ryoma at all; they'd never interacted before. Naturally, he addressed him politely and formally.

"Hyuga Clan Head, the Mist Ninja's counteroffensive is fierce. Many squads have suffered casualties, leaving their ranks depleted and making it difficult for them to continue their missions. We need to disband the understrength squads and reorganize them."

"We hope to assign your clan's new reinforcements to those squads. With the Byakugan, they can greatly reduce casualties."

Aburame Ryoma skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point.

"Of course."

Hyuga Ritsu nodded.

It was a perfectly reasonable request.

Hyuga Clan shinobi were usually assigned to different squads. That was the best way to make use of the Byakugan. There was little point in having the clan's shinobi travel together; it would be a complete waste of resources.

Distributing his clansmen among different squads would also help ensure they weren't deliberately targeted during missions. Those qualified to serve alongside Hyuga shinobi were usually members of other clans or talented shinobi from civilian families.

Ordinary cannon-fodder squads weren't qualified to have a Hyuga Clan member assigned to them.

That was why the Hyuga Clan was considered a cornerstone of the village. By comparison, the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan had no such tactical value. It could greatly enhance its wielder's strength, but it was far less important to the village than the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan.

"However, I'd like the two elders of my clan to help review the assignments when my clansmen are placed."

Hyuga Ritsu stated his request.

He wasn't worried that Aburame Ryoma would play tricks and endanger his clansmen, but it was still important to take proper precautions.

"That's only right. With the two elders advising us, I'm sure we can make more suitable arrangements." Aburame Ryoma readily agreed.

If Hyuga Ritsu had insisted on being involved in the process himself, he would have refused without hesitation. But there was no need to refuse when it was only the two elders of the Hyuga Clan.

His objective in coming to the front was perfectly clear.

Lord Danzo had ordered him to deal with Hyuga Ritsu, not the other members of the Hyuga Clan. Besides, Orochimaru had warned him not to act recklessly and disrupt the situation at the front.

So,

he could only target Hyuga Ritsu. He couldn't interfere with anyone else.

"Hyuga Clan Head, I'm sorry to ask this of you, but there's a very difficult mission that needs your help. We'd planned to see if someone else could handle it, but right now, we don't have anyone qualified. The situation is urgent, and we simply can't afford to hesitate..."

"So I'll have to trouble you to make the trip, Hyuga Clan Head!"

Aburame Ryoma spoke politely, but his voice was so flat that it betrayed no emotion at all, as though he were reciting a speech he'd prepared in advance.

"Sounds like I don't have a choice."

"We truly have no other option. Lord Orochimaru said he could go, but if he leaves the main camp undefended, we'll suffer heavy losses if the Mist Ninja attack. We can't rule out the possibility that this is a diversionary tactic."

"So what's the mission?"

Hyuga Ritsu asked calmly.

"Reinforce the Shigushan Mountain defense line."

"Is the fighting there that bad?"

"The Mist Ninja have launched an all-out assault, regardless of the cost. If Shigushan Mountain falls, there'll be nothing but endless plains and forests behind it. We'll lose the advantage of the terrain when we fight them. And if they plunder and occupy several cities, the Daimyo's Mansion will be shaken, and we'll all be held responsible."

In the end, a war fought by shinobi was still a war. Adding "shinobi" to the name didn't change its nature: slaughter and plunder remained its defining features.

The Mist Ninja couldn't invade the Land of Fire without causing widespread destruction. After all, the war had begun because of an imbalance in resources. Konoha and the Land of Fire weren't under attack because of hatred; it was simply that they held the best land and the richest resources.

That was why

Konoha's shinobi had established defensive lines along the many strategic points of the long coastline, holding the Mist Ninja's main force at bay and preventing it from advancing into the nearly endless plains and forests in the heart of the Land of Fire.

"How many people am I taking with me?"

Hyuga Ritsu asked.

But

Aburame Ryoma fell silent.

Hyuga Ritsu caught on and frowned. "Am I going alone?"

"Not quite. Someone else will accompany you."

"Who?"

"Uchiha Shisui."