The Hyuga Clan's Plan

"What? The Hyuga Clan has broken through the defense line on the right flank of the battlefield?"

This was the first thing Madara and Shin heard when they arrived at the Conference Hall.

There weren't many people inside, just Third Elder Uchiha Yutaka and a Uchiha clansman covered in blood.

When the Third Elder saw Madara and Shin, he relaxed his guard. He didn't send them away, but pointed to the side and told them to sit down before continuing his questioning.

As the two went back and forth, Shin pieced together what had happened to the Uchiha defense line.

Most of the Uchiha Clan's ninja had been facing off against the Senju Clan on the main battlefield. Only a small force had been sent to hold back the Hyuga Clan, but they were all elite, and nothing had gone wrong in the past two years.

But a few days ago, the Senju Clan realized that continuing to wear the Uchiha down like this wasn't working. They pretended to launch an all-out attack, while secretly sending a squad of Jonin to the Hyuga battlefield to help the Hyuga Clan attack from both sides and break the deadlock.

The Uchiha on that front had been caught off guard and cut off from behind. They'd suffered a crushing defeat.

After hearing this, Shin quietly curled his lip. His uncle's intelligence was seriously questionable. How had he fallen for such a simple feint? With the Uchiha Clan in his hands, it would be a miracle if they could beat the Senju. Even if their strength was evenly matched, his intelligence was a fatal weakness.

"Third Elder, the clan leader is now caught between two fronts, and the situation is critical. Please send reinforcements!" the Uchiha clansman pleaded.

The Third Elder's face turned ashen. He let out a heavy sigh and said helplessly, "I want to send help too, but the clan leader took all our elite ninja to the main battlefield. Apart from the guards we need to protect the compound and the children, we don't have any ninja to spare."

Uchiha Madara suddenly stood up and stepped forward. "Elder, I'm willing to go to the battlefield and help."

Shin's face immediately darkened. Help my ass! Have you never been in danger before? You think being a genius makes you invincible? That's a battlefield—you could die in an instant. Even Jonin aren't safe there. How old are you, and you're already rushing off to fight? And if you're going, then go—but what's with that intense stare? Do you want me to come along and get myself killed too?

He ranted furiously in his head, but Madara's gaze was too sharp to withstand. With no other choice, he steeled himself, stepped forward, and said, "Third Elder, I'm willing to go to the battlefield and help too."

The Third Elder looked at the two boys, overjoyed. They were so young, yet they already knew to share the clan's burdens.

"I'm glad you're thinking of the clan, but you two are the hope of the next generation. Madara is only eight, and Shin, you're just five. It's too early for you to go to the battlefield. Your priority now is to grow stronger. Don't get any ideas."

After a few words of encouragement, the Third Elder told Madara and Shin to get up. Madara looked disappointed, while Shin did his best to look disappointed too. Inside, though, he breathed a sigh of relief. At last, he wouldn't have to go to the battlefield. Madara had the plot protecting him, but he didn't. As expected, a transmigrator like him was better suited to staying behind the scenes and becoming the final boss.

The Third Elder thought for a moment, then said, "We can't send the children from Madara and Shin's generation, but there are still some guards in the clan who can be sent to help the battlefield. I'll lead them myself."

The bloodied ninja was delighted. "Thank you, Third Elder! Thank you!" As he thanked the Third Elder, he lowered his head. In that instant, Shin keenly spotted the faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth—a fleeting, triumphant smile.

"Since that's settled, please act quickly, Third Elder. I'll head back now and tell the clan leader the good news."

The Third Elder nodded. "All right, go ahead. I'll gather the ninja still in the clan and head to the battlefield as soon as we're ready."

The ninja hurried out of the hall and quickly made his way toward the edge of the compound.

Shin frowned. The more he looked at the man's retreating figure, the more suspicious he seemed.

"Madara, Shin, you two go back for now. Remember, don't spread this around." The Third Elder waved them away, then prepared to gather the few Guardian Ninja still stationed in the clan.

Once they were outside the hall, Madara looked disappointed. He didn't even say goodbye to Shin, but headed toward his room.

Shin thought it over carefully, but something still didn't feel right. He made up his mind and chased after the messenger.

In the woods, once he was far from the Uchiha Clan Compound, the bloodied Uchiha ninja broke into a sprint, leaping swiftly from tree to tree. After he'd gotten far enough away, a scornful smile curled his lips. "Some Uchiha you are. I fooled you with just a few words. Just wait until you regret it! Hahaha!"

Just as he was gloating, his foot suddenly slipped. The tree trunk where he'd landed was coated in grease. He also spotted three Explosive Tags stuck beside a branch.

BOOM!

The instant he spotted the Explosive Tags, they detonated. He only had time to gather all his chakra in his hands and spin wildly in midair, forming a chakra shield around himself. It was none other than the Hyuga Clan's Rotation.

Once the explosion had died down, he coughed a few times and shouted angrily, "Who's there? Show yourself!"

"I've been right behind you this whole time. Are you blind?" A cold voice came from behind him. The ninja shuddered and quickly turned around. A five-year-old boy stood three meters behind him—the same child he'd seen in the Uchiha hall. What was his name? He hadn't bothered to pay attention at the time.

I've been exposed!

That was the first thought that crossed the ninja's mind. But as a veteran spy, he was made of sterner stuff. He didn't let his anxiety show and instead smiled warmly. "Well, if it isn't the clan's genius! What's the matter? Did the Third Elder have something else to tell me?"

Even if he didn't know the boy's name, there was no harm in flattering him first. People's guard tended to drop when they were happy.

But Shin wasn't taken in at all. He said calmly, "My name is Uchiha Shin. Don't go throwing around the word 'genius.' I caught up with you because I have a question about a ninjutsu."

The ninja quietly breathed a sigh of relief. So the boy had a question about ninjutsu. "What do you want to know? Ask away. If I know the answer, I'll tell you everything."

Shin nodded and stepped forward. "I heard the Hyuga Clan's Rotation is powerful. Can you teach it to me?"