After their victory in a minor clash at the edge of the forest, Konoha's Ninja Army began clearing the battlefield.
"Yamato, leave these people to you. Find out what you can as quickly as possible. I have a bad feeling about this."
Sensing that there were no foreign ninjas nearby, Yamato Yamanaka, Clan Head of the Yamanaka Clan and a Kage Level fighter, opened his closed eyes and nodded. "Understood, Deputy Commander Shikamei."
Konoha's Yamanaka Clan excelled at controlling their enemies' minds. They could invade the minds of the dead and read their memories, and they also had a special ability that let them communicate with their comrades. They possessed powerful sensory abilities.
In team battles, they could often make one plus one greater than two.
Because their early ninjutsu tended to be straightforward, like a clumsy wild boar that could only charge in a straight line, they were the "Ino" in Konoha's classic Ino-Shika-Cho trio.
Another member of Ino-Shika-Cho, the Nara Clan was known for strategy, judgment, and exceptional intelligence. Their family forest was home to many spirit beasts—the Nara Deer—that had protected the clan for generations and produced many fine antlers. For this reason, they were called "Shika." In group battles, they served as strategists who devised plans.
During the First Shinobi World War, the Nara Clan Head and Kage Level fighter, Nara Shikamei, served as deputy commander of the Ninja Army, earning the trust of Senju Tobirama.
The "Cho" was the Akimichi Clan. Its current Clan Head was also at the front: Akimichi Chohane, whose strength was likewise at Kage Level.
The Ino-Shika-Cho clans always advanced and retreated together. United, their strength rivaled that of Konoha's third-greatest clan, the Hyuga Clan, whose members possessed the Byakugan kekkei genkai.
"Once you've gathered the intelligence, don't spread it around."
Nara Shikamei stressed, a trace of worry appearing between his brows. This small-scale war had broken out for reasons that made little sense.
The moment the two sides, drawn by an emergency Signal Flare, laid eyes on each other, the Kumogakure ninjas attacked Konoha's forces without saying a word, catching them completely off guard.
The two leaders were negotiating an alliance in the forest. Faced with such a sudden turn of events, Nara Shikamei couldn't help but look for a deeper explanation.
"Understood."
Taciturn Yamato Yamanaka immediately set to work. He used ninjutsu to invade the minds of the captured or slain Kumogakure ninjas, searching for intelligence with somewhat rough methods.
Soon, shock and urgency appeared on Yamato Yamanaka's usually composed face. Nara Shikamei's heart lurched at the sight.
They were among the powerful shinobi who had joined Konoha at its founding. They had weathered the turmoil of the Warring States Period, and nothing short of life-or-death matters could unsettle them. That was especially true of Yamato Yamanaka, who was skilled in mental techniques, had witnessed endless schemes and betrayals, and possessed a heart of iron.
"Mind Transmission Body Technique."
Nara Shikamei looked at the hand Yamato Yamanaka held out. He knew the technique inside and out—it could not only convey intelligence, but also let everyone within a designated area hear it.
Was the intelligence taken from the Kumogakure ninjas' minds too important to speak aloud?
Could something have happened to Lord Tobirama? Was the war about to begin again?
With a heavy heart, Nara Shikamei pressed his forehead against Yamato Yamanaka's, and their minds linked.
Yamato Yamanaka began to relay the intelligence concisely.
"Shikamei, Kinkaku and Ginkaku disrupted our alliance meeting with Kumogakure."
"Lord Tobirama is facing Kinkaku and Ginkaku, who have undergone Tailed Beast Transformation. He's in grave danger."
"The Kumogakure ninjas who appeared at the edge of the forest are all Rogue Ninja under Kinkaku and Ginkaku. They're carrying out a mission to hunt down Hiruzen and the others."
"But their memories only showed Takefu using Super Expansion Jutsu. He hadn't caught up with Hiruzen and the others."
After passing on what he knew, Yamato Yamanaka lowered his hand and released the Mind Transmission Body Technique. In silence, he watched Nara Shikamei's pained expression.
"Lord Hashirama hasn't been gone long, and something like this has already happened."
"Takefu's already fighting for his life, and we still haven't seen Hiruzen and the others. Their chances are probably slim."
"For now, our priority is still Lord Tobirama."
Suppressing his agitation, Nara Shikamei, the Ninja Army's strategist, knew how crucial time was to Senju Tobirama. He swiftly turned to his duties and made a calm, measured decision.
"Yamato, immediately gather all the Jonin from the First, Second, and Third Divisions into three-man squads. Combine three squads into a company, and assign one Hyuga ninja to each company."
"If there aren't enough people, draw reinforcements from the Fourth Division. Head out at once to support Lord Tobirama. Remember, this is a confidential mission. Don't spread the word, and don't get bogged down fighting."
"I'll take command of the remaining forces and notify the village."
After issuing his clear, direct orders, Yamato Yamanaka immediately set off. Left behind, Nara Shikamei massaged his temples and stared at the sunset, which was turning the clouds a dusky yellow. His eyelid twitched.
"I hope everything goes smoothly. What a troubled time."
"The interests of the great ninja clans, the interests of Konoha, the interests of the other countries and hidden villages..."
"Ugh, if only Lord Hashirama were still alive. Or if the Tailed Beasts hadn't been distributed, and Konoha had the power of all Nine Tailed Beasts. Or if the Senju and Uchiha could work together..."
"There'll certainly be more Ninja World Wars after this one."
Nara Shikamei, who understood the nature of war, shook his head. As he organized the Ninja Army in case of a surprise attack from Kumogakure, he carefully chose his words and sent a message back to Konoha.
Time passed, little by little. The company Yamato Yamanaka belonged to hurried silently through the forest. A Hyuga Branch Family Jonin, whose eyes had turned pale blue, whose temples bulged with veins, and whose pupils bore black markings, was using the Byakugan when he suddenly raised a hand signal.
The moving squad silently took cover in the surrounding area. Only the Hyuga Branch Family Jonin, Yamato Yamanaka, and the tall, heavyset Akimichi Chohane remained behind.
"There's a ninja up ahead with powerful, sinister Chakra. He looks a lot like someone from the Uchiha Clan."
The Byakugan possessed three abilities: long-distance vision, X-ray vision, and keen observation. Even through the dense foliage of the forest, it could see things a kilometer away. Hyuga were natural sensors.
Though the Byakugan was inferior to the Sharingan in direct combat, it was more valuable in the strategic setting of team battles. Kumogakure's surprise attacks were often turned into counterattacks by Konoha, which had stirred covetous thoughts among Kumogakure's leaders.
"There aren't many Uchiha ninjas at the front. Could it be Kagami Uchiha?"
A hearty, bold man with a bit of a short fuse, Akimichi Chohane looked worried beneath the two symmetrical streaks of face paint on his cheeks. "Can you see if my cousin Takefu is with him?"
After a careful look, the Hyuga Branch Family Jonin confirmed, "There's only one Uchiha."
"Don't worry."
Meeting Akimichi Chohane's anxious gaze, Yamato Yamanaka closed his eyes and began using Sensory Ninjutsu. The Chakra signatures around him flowed into his mind. A familiar Chakra signature made him open his eyes.
Then, staring gravely at the figure appearing and disappearing among the trees, Yamato Yamanaka spoke each word distinctly: "S-rank Rogue Ninja, the Butcher of Humans—Uchiha Takeyasu!"
The atmosphere instantly grew tense, and the Konoha shinobi readied themselves for battle.
Uchiha Takeyasu strolled into the encirclement at his leisure, stroking Tachibana's head. Tachibana let out a cute meow, breaking the silence.
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