Akaseki finished developing ninjutsu for the day and left the Sacred Spire. When he woke up and went outside, he found the clan compound buzzing with joy.
Although most of the clan members were away fighting on the battlefields of the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain, Akaseki could still feel the festive mood among those who remained.
"Hm? A Jie, did something good happen?" Akaseki stopped Uchiha Jie as he passed.
"Akaseki, good news... uh, I suppose it counts as good news. Our Uchiha Clan just gained command of the front lines!" Uchiha Jie looked a little awkward as he spoke.
Then Uchiha Jie hurriedly explained, "Even though you aren't the commander-in-chief, Akaseki, I'm sure the Hokage Building has another important role in mind for you!"
Akaseki: ...
Only within the Uchiha Clan would everyone take it for granted that "Konoha's Akaseki becoming commander-in-chief" was something that could actually happen.
As for who had been appointed commander-in-chief...
Akaseki naturally knew it had to be Orochimaru.
Aside from Uchiha Orochimaru, no one else in the clan had any chance of becoming commander-in-chief.
However...
What surprised Akaseki a little was that he received no deployment orders. Even on the third day, when Orochimaru was about to leave Konoha, Akaseki was still idle. Clearly, the Hokage Building had no intention of sending him to the front with Orochimaru. When he saw Orochimaru off, Akaseki asked in puzzlement, "Are there any particularly important missions coming up? I have no idea what they're keeping me in the village for..."
Akaseki had not really expected Orochimaru to answer, but Orochimaru replied as though it were perfectly obvious. "Oh, you mean that... actually, I told the Third to avoid sending you out for now."
Akaseki: ...
"You have 'great potential' right now, and there's