The Greatest Contributor

If he couldn't deal with the legendary "Susanoo," then rather than waste his strength here, he might as well return home as soon as possible...

With that thought, he raised a hand and signaled to the Kirigakure Ninja.

"Retreat?"

The Kirigakure Ninja looked at one another, scarcely able to believe that Karatachi Yagura had given the order.

"Retreat!"

At last, someone took the lead. The others stopped hesitating and followed.

Watching Karatachi Yagura lead his men away, Shisui finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He hadn't been sure he could win if the fight had continued...

He had left the main force behind and rushed here as fast as he could. His stamina and chakra were both nearly depleted. The only thing keeping him going was sheer determination.

"Shisui!" Itachi ran over and looked up at the towering green figure.

Shisui glanced down at him and managed a faint smile. Then Susanoo slowly faded away.

He dropped to one knee and gasped for breath. Blood ran from his eyes down his cheeks, dripping onto the beach in tiny crimson spots.

"Shisui!" Uchiha Zongye came over, supported by his younger brother. Relief at having survived was written all over his face. "How did you know we were here?"

Instead of answering, Shisui asked, "Is everyone all right?"

The others who had gathered fell silent.

Uchiha Zongxin lowered his head, his shoulders trembling slightly. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles had gone white.

Uchiha Zongye opened his mouth, but found he couldn't speak. He looked out at the distant sea, its surface shimmering as if nothing had happened.

Hyuga Hiroshi stood to one side. His cracked goggles hid his eyes, but his trembling lips betrayed his feelings.

Itachi lowered his head and said nothing.

"I heard Naoki was the team captain. Where is he?" Shisui asked again.

Uchiha Zongxin spoke with a tremble in his voice. "Naoki... he's dead..."

"No!"

A voice suddenly rang out, and everyone turned toward it.

Uchiha Setsuna came over, dragging his injured body. His graying hair hung in disarray over his shoulders, and a deep wound exposed the bone in his chest. Blood was still seeping from it, and his face was deathly pale, yet his voice remained strong.

Uchiha Zongxin hurriedly asked, "What do you mean?"

"It's true that Naoki fell into the sea, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's dead."

"When he fell in, I summoned my contracted beast to save him. I lost contact with it because of Karatachi Yagura's Water Release, but I think it should have taken Naoki somewhere safe."

"Let me take a look!"

Hyuga Hiroshi was the first to react. He activated his Byakugan and scanned the surroundings.

After a long search, he slowly shook his head at the others.

Uchiha Zongye said, "In that case, let's search. I believe Naoki is still alive. One day, we'll find him!"

Seven days passed. Uchiha Setsuna's octopus had been found, but there was still no sign of Naoki. Large numbers of Konoha Ninja searched the surrounding waters repeatedly, nearly draining the sea, yet they couldn't find a single clue.

In the end, Sarutobi Shinnosuke arrived and ordered wanted notices to be issued across the coastal countries.

Ten million for finding Uchiha Naoki!

The search continued, of course, but they no longer committed as much manpower as before.

At Izumo Camp, Hyuga Akira, commander of the Southern Border Battlefield, received orders from Konoha.

He then instructed his subordinates to summon Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Shisui.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke arrived first.

After entering the tent, he asked, "Have we heard from Konoha?"

It was only natural for Sarutobi Shinnosuke to ask. A week earlier, he, Hyuga Akira, and Shisui had jointly submitted a report to Konoha detailing the results of the Southern Border Battlefield. Konoha's reply should be arriving around now...

"That's right." Hyuga Akira nodded.

Seeing that the other man had nothing more to say, Sarutobi Shinnosuke realized they would probably have to wait for Shisui.

He wasn't in a hurry, so he sat in a chair and closed his eyes for a nap.

Over the past few days, he had more or less confirmed Hyuga Akira's plot. But aside from reporting it to his father, he hadn't told anyone else.

After all, this was an internal matter for the Hyuga Clan. Although Itachi and the others had been dragged into it, no major trouble had come of it. So he had reported it secretly without drawing attention to the matter. How it would be handled wasn't his concern.

As for Hyuga Hiroshi, the person directly involved, Sarutobi Shinnosuke didn't feel any particular sympathy for him. He could fend for himself.

Shisui arrived soon after.

After inviting Shisui to sit, Hyuga Akira said, "The Hokage's orders have arrived. Shisui and I are to lead part of the army back to Konoha, while you, Shinnosuke, will remain in the Southern Border to mop up the remnants of the Kirigakure forces."

Sarutobi Shinnosuke had already been expecting this.

As Sarutobi Hiruzen's eldest son, he knew full well that he would probably have to stay in the Southern Border for a long time before his elderly father stepped down as Hokage... After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen, having reclaimed the Hokage position for a second time, needed his eldest son stationed in the Southern Border to prove he had no intention of making the office hereditary...

When news of the Southern Border Battlefield reached Konoha, some rejoiced while others were troubled.

Danzo, for instance, was delighted.

A long time had passed since the Nine-Tails Incident, and word had gradually begun to spread about who was behind the Uchiha Clan's sudden decision that night. Danzo had also learned who had been behind the Uchiha's defiance of Sarutobi Hiruzen's orders and their unauthorized participation in the battle against the Nine-Tails.

After all, nothing stayed secret forever in Konoha. And as for the Uchiha, it was already quite an achievement that the matter had stayed hidden for so long.

As he made his way to the Hokage Building, Danzo listened to his subordinate's report on the Southern Border Battlefield.

"After routing the Kirigakure forces, Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Hyuga Akira led the army south. In just three days, they reached the coast..."

He waved a hand.

"Don't tell me that. What use is that to me? Those aren't my achievements!"

"What happened to Uchiha Naoki?"

"Yesterday, this subordinate received a secret report. Karatachi Yagura and his men pursued Uchiha Naoki all the way to the eastern coast of the Southern Border, where they knocked him into the sea. His life or death is unknown."

A Root shinobi standing nearby chimed in, "Good. His life or death is unknown? That means he's dead!"

"Good riddance." Danzo was overjoyed. "Now I can do whatever I want with those brainless Uchiha!"

Danzo hurried happily toward the Hokage Building, only for Sarutobi Hiruzen to pour cold water over his excitement.

"Uchiha Naoki was the greatest contributor to this war against Kirigakure? What did he do to deserve that?"

"Of course he was," Mitokado Homura explained before Sarutobi Hiruzen could speak. "Afterward, Shinnosuke, Hyuga Akira, and Shisui all looked into it. It was because Naoki and the others successfully raided Kirigakure's transport ships, luring Karatachi Yagura into repeatedly pulling elite forces away from the front to hunt them down. That gave the three of them the opportunity to break through the Kirigakure army's defenses!"