"Is the Uchiha Clan gathering intelligence on the Senju Clan? Kawadera! I'm going to report this!" Seigetsu Senju said.
"Don't worry. The person I'm reporting to is absolutely reliable. They won't expose your identity.
Go find our teammates, Kureya Inuzuka and Ken Aburame. Our squad will have a new mission soon."
Combining this with Kawadera's earlier warning that someone was plotting against the young clan head, Nawaki, Seigetsu resolved to do something for her clan.
When Kawadera Uchiha found his two teammates, they were already sparring.
Ken Aburame's Taijutsu was quite good, though he was slightly inferior to Kureya Inuzuka, who specialized in Taijutsu.
Looking at the clan crests on his teammates' clothes, Kawadera Uchiha fell into thought.
Unlike the situation decades later in the original story, the Aburame Clan and the Inuzuka Clan were both major clans with considerable strength at this time.
Like the relationship between the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans and the Sarutobi Clan, the Aburame Clan, Inuzuka Clan, and Kurama Clan were also subordinate to the Senju Clan.
After the Senju Clan declined completely, ninja clans such as the Aburame, Inuzuka, and Kurama clans also became second-rate clans in Konoha—or were wiped out altogether.
Kureya Inuzuka invited him enthusiastically. "Kawadera! Want to spar with us?"
Ken Aburame's expression stiffened.
Honestly, he detested Kawadera Uchiha. Even the Kikaichū inside him disliked the aura Kawadera gave off.
Dark, cunning, and seemingly a little hypocritical.
When Kawadera Uchiha looked his way, Ken Aburame quickly averted his eyes behind his sunglasses.
Kawadera Uchiha's Taijutsu was average, and he wanted to test himself against someone, so he took turns sparring with the two of them.
Without genjutsu, Kureya Inuzuka easily had the upper hand against Kawadera Uchiha.
But after Kawadera disrupted him with genjutsu, he was able to defeat Kureya Inuzuka.
His fundamentals were still too poor. He wondered whether Tobirama Senju had any good way to improve his physique and Taijutsu.
As for Ken Aburame, Kawadera Uchiha's genjutsu was much less effective against him.
His body was full of bugs, which interfered with chakra flow and could disrupt genjutsu at any moment.
Ken Aburame hit hard. The man clearly had a problem with him.
Ken Aburame's response had put Kawadera on alert. Genjutsu was his strong suit, but he couldn't rely on it completely. Some ninja always had strange ways of countering genjutsu.
Seigetsu Senju hurried to the center of the camp.
In this war against Kumogakure in the Land of Hot Water, the Commander-in-Chief was the White Fang of Konoha, and her father, Ken Senju, was the deputy commander.
Seigetsu Senju saw that there were many people in the tent. She waited until her father had finished talking with several platoon leaders, then stepped forward. "Father! I have something I'd like to report to you in private."
Ken Senju had a square, dignified face. Remembering the mission Scroll's report that Seigetsu had faced several dangerous battles at the border, he softened and said, "Come on. Let's talk outside."
There were many staff officers in the command tent, and many things couldn't be discussed there. The two left the tent and went to a large tree in the distance.
Ken Senju said, "Seigetsu, the reports from the border outposts have focused on Cloud Ninja incursions. How were the battles you fought? Were they dangerous?"
"When has the Senju Clan ever feared a little danger in battle? Father, what I wanted to tell you about is the Uchiha Clan's unusual movements!"
Ken Senju lowered his eyelids, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Lord Second has died, and the Great Ninja War has begun. Has the Uchiha Clan finally grown restless?" Ken Senju said.
"The village isn't surprised by this. We just don't know when the Uchiha Clan will make its move.
"With Kumogakure invading and Konoha facing enemies on three fronts, their clan head, No Uchiha, picked a good time."
Ken Senju looked at his daughter and said, "The village had anticipated this, but how did you find out?"
Seigetsu Senju replied proudly, "I have my own intelligence network."
Ken Senju recalled the mission Scroll about Kumogakure's invasion and said,
"There's an Uchiha in your squad, Kawadera Uchiha. Unless I'm mistaken, he was the one who told you, wasn't he?
"He used intelligence that sounds alarming but is something the village already suspected to earn your trust. Seigetsu, don't trust people too easily, especially the Uchiha."
Seigetsu Senju had wanted to keep Kawadera's secret, but she hadn't expected her father to see through it so quickly. "It's not blind trust. Kawadera Uchiha is different. Like Kagami Uchiha, he's an Uchiha who has the Will of Fire!
"Father, Cloud Ninja caught up with my reconnaissance squad.
"Our Senju Clan's creed has always been to serve the village—to charge first and retreat last.
"Kawadera Uchiha was the first to step forward and cover our retreat. It surprised me.
"I went ahead with my two teammates, but later we ran into two Cloud Ninja squads led by a platoon leader.
"I stayed behind to cover my teammates. Father, you know that the Senju Clan's honor means I can never retreat. When I was facing certain death, Kawadera Uchiha came to save me again and covered my retreat once more."
Ken Senju said with concern, "You... you should have turned in your squad's mission Scroll sooner."
"I already did. Maybe the staff officers haven't given it to you yet."
Ken Senju felt troubled. He himself wouldn't so much as furrow his brow when dying for Konoha.
But hearing that his daughter had faced danger several times, he understood why there was dissent within the clan.
The Senju Clan suffered the highest casualties in every battle. The Will of Fire, as taught by the First and the Second, was something the Senju Clan had to lead by example in upholding.
Charge first, retreat last. Those eight words had brought the Senju Clan too much death and too many injuries.
Ken Senju continued, "Seigetsu, that Kawadera Uchiha may be powerful and have deliberately covered your retreat twice to earn your trust.
"If covering your retreat didn't put him in much danger, we can't rule out the possibility that he was putting on a show."
Seigetsu Senju knew that if she told him Kawadera had mastered the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, her father's doubts would surely disappear.
The Bringer-of-Darkness Technique was highly classified within the Senju Clan.
The genjutsu was extremely difficult. Even Elder Toma had needed years of instruction from Lord Second to master it.
Lord Second had secretly passed the technique on to Kagami Uchiha, so he could use it against the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan.
Kagami Uchiha had then passed it on to Kawadera Uchiha.
Kawadera Uchiha was isolated and had no support within the Uchiha Clan. She had to protect him by every means possible, so Seigetsu Senju said nothing.
"I understand. I'll keep observing Kawadera Uchiha. Father, there's one more thing," Seigetsu Senju said.
"Nawaki has been attracting a lot of attention lately. I'm worried the Uchiha Clan will target him.
"Father, I want to go to the Land of Grass battlefield and protect the young clan head."
Ken Senju wanted to keep his daughter by his side, where he could at least look after her, but he wouldn't dampen her spirits or interfere with the action she was taking for Konoha of her own accord.
Then he reconsidered. Having his daughter leave before the imminent battle and go to the distant Land of Grass wasn't a bad idea.
"Fine. I'll give you a mission. Take intelligence on Kumogakure's invading forces and deployment to the command center on the Land of Grass battlefield. After that, stay there and do what you think is best!"
Seigetsu Senju nodded happily. Her father's unconditional support warmed her heart.
As she was leaving, Ken Senju watched his daughter's back. Suddenly, he raised a hand and called out to her.
"Seigetsu!"
He wanted to tell his daughter not to be the first to charge in or the last to retreat.
But in the end, his selfish feelings as a father lost to the Will of Fire.
When it came down to it, he changed his words. "Seigetsu, don't trust Kawadera Uchiha too easily."
"I understand, Father."
As his daughter turned away again, Ken Senju suddenly thought that if Kawadera Uchiha could cover her retreat once or twice more, it might not be such a bad thing after all.
Just then, several figures appeared with the Body Flicker Technique.
Seiei Senju, Ken Senju's son, shouted, "Deputy Commander! The Cloud Ninja launched a surprise attack while we were still getting settled!"
Ken Senju's expression changed at once. "Move!"
Seiei Senju lingered for a moment. The others vanished with the Body Flicker Technique, and he turned to Seigetsu Senju.
"Little sister, your squad belongs to the reconnaissance division. Go find your division commander!"
Seigetsu Senju nodded quickly.
"Be careful!"
Seiei Senju wanted to say more, but his sister had already hurried off. He shook his head and went after their father.
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