The War Began

At the Uchiha Fugaku residence, Uchiha Fugaku used chakra to make himself look pale and bloodshot-eyed. After taking a deep breath, he stumbled inside, looking dazed.

In the living room, Uchiha Mikoto was cleaning. She had just been about to scold Uchiha Fugaku when she noticed her husband's pallid face and dazed expression. Her anger softened, and she went over to gently help him onto a cushion. "Fugaku, what's wrong?"

"Nothing?"

Uchiha Fugaku put on an especially weak expression. Looking at his wife with eyes full of guilt, he said remorsefully, "It's all because I've had too much work. When I think of my beautiful, gentle wife and our sweet, sensible son at home, and then remember I haven't been back for days, I hate myself!"

"I've been working as hard as I can, hoping I could come home sooner."

"Cough, cough."

"Mikoto, I can't forgive myself. You can scold me all you want."

Uchiha Mikoto had long since covered her mouth. Her eyes reddened, and she choked out, "That Obito kid is so heartless. I'm going to get Kushina to teach him a lesson!"

Seeing his wife's expression, Uchiha Fugaku secretly breathed a sigh of relief. I'm in the clear.

Just then, Uchiha Itachi came out of his room with a camping backpack on his shoulders. Seeing his father, he bowed respectfully. "Father."

"Mm."

Uchiha Fugaku nodded, looking a little weak, then eyed his son's outfit curiously. "Itachi, are you going camping?"

"Didn't you tell Itachi to take Obito as his teacher?"

Uchiha Mikoto came out of the kitchen with a bowl of soup and set it in front of her husband. She explained gently, "Obito invited Itachi to go camping with him and teach him along the way."

"What?!"

Uchiha Fugaku sprang up from the cushion, furious. "He said it was a major matter concerning the Uchiha Clan, and even swore by Lord Madara! That bastard—he's gone too far!"

Uchiha Mikoto gave Uchiha Fugaku a look that was half amused and half skeptical. Her calm voice carried an icy chill. "Fugaku, you've recovered awfully quickly."

Uchiha Fugaku realized his mistake. He stiffly turned to look at the cold glint in his wife's eyes and offered a sheepish smile. "The moment I saw my beautiful, gentle wife, all my exhaustion disappeared."

Uchiha Itachi watched the scene with a calm expression and shook his head helplessly. He could already imagine what would happen next.

Beside a crystal-clear stream, with lush grass and a blue sky overhead, Obito, Kurenai Yuhi, Rin, and the others had already arrived.

Obito was by the grill, tending to a rabbit roasting over the coals. Every so often, he turned it over and brushed on some oil.

Kurenai Yuhi and Uchiha Izumi stood on either side of the grill, staring hungrily at the increasingly fragrant rabbit.

After breathing in the delicious aroma, Kurenai Yuhi looked at Uchiha Izumi with an agonized expression. "Izumi, I'll give you one rabbit leg, okay?"

Uchiha Izumi stared at Kurenai Yuhi in astonishment. "No way. We split it in half."

"You—"

Kurenai Yuhi stared at Uchiha Izumi in shock, spread her arms protectively in front of the grill, and shook her head fiercely. "Obito roasted this for me. I already agreed to let him pinch my cheeks."

Uchiha Izumi puffed out her cheeks and glared at Kurenai Yuhi, about to retort that Obito pinched her cheeks all the time too. Then her eyes suddenly lit up, and she ran toward the road.

"Itachi, you're so late!"

Uchiha Izumi looked delighted to see Uchiha Itachi, her little hand twisting the hem of her clothes over and over.

Uchiha Itachi was a little surprised, too. Obito had told him they were going camping, but he hadn't mentioned that Uchiha Izumi would be there.

Uchiha Izumi noticed Uchiha Itachi's confusion and pointed at Obito, who was grilling. She said softly, "Obito's my cousin."

Then she glanced at Kurenai Yuhi, who was standing by the grill, and gave a cold snort. "Though it looks like someone's about to steal him away."

Uchiha Itachi gave Obito, who was sprinkling on seasoning, a strange look. Remembering what his father had said in anger, he suddenly felt that he was still too young and not cautious enough. This teacher didn't seem very reliable!

Uchiha Izumi happily pulled Uchiha Itachi over to Rin and Kakashi, who were sitting off to one side, and introduced them cheerfully. "Rin, this is my good friend, Uchiha Itachi."

"Itachi, this is Rin. She's really nice!"

"That's Kakashi, the one wearing a mask. He's a little cold, but he's pretty nice, too."

Uchiha Itachi had always been a polite child. He bowed respectfully. "Rin, Kakashi."

Rin smiled at the two children. Thinking of Kakashi and Obito when she had first started school, she nodded warmly. "What a handsome boy."

Kakashi merely gave a cool nod, then lowered his head and went back to daydreaming.

"Everyone, come eat!"

Obito came over carrying a big pile of skewers.

Uchiha Izumi glared at Kurenai Yuhi, who had claimed the whole roasted rabbit for herself, and shouted, "Obito, I want some roasted rabbit too!"

"You're supposed to call me Big Brother Obito. Did you forget what you promised me last night?"

Obito flicked Uchiha Izumi on the forehead and gave Uchiha Itachi a pointed glance, smiling as he teased her.

Remembering how she had begged and acted cute to convince Obito to let her and Itachi join the camping trip, Uchiha Izumi quickly put on a sweet smile and said coquettishly, "Big Brother Obito, I want some roasted rabbit too..."

"Sure. I'll make you some right away."

"That one was just the one I promised Kurenai."

Obito smiled gently and rubbed Izumi's hair. Then he looked at Kurenai Yuhi, who was eating with grease all over her mouth, and shook his head helplessly.

Watching the scene, Uchiha Itachi felt a deep warmth and smiled without realizing it. He felt a little regretful. If only I had a younger brother or sister. I'd dote on them so much.

Elsewhere, at a border camp in the Land of Earth, the jōnin Mahiru, who was commanding the operation, looked at the many imposing Stone Ninja before him and smiled with satisfaction. He called out, "Are you confident about this war?"

"Yes!"

The Stone Ninja shouted in unison, their morale high.

"Good. Lord Tsuchikage has given the order: we'll launch a surprise attack on the Hidden Leaf's defensive line tonight and begin an all-out war."

"All participating ninja, write your farewell letters and get yourselves ready."

Mahiru narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the crowd, then gestured to Taiseki, who stood at the front. "Taiseki, you're skilled in the Camouflage Invisibility Technique. Take a group around to the rear and launch a surprise attack on the Hidden Leaf's field hospital. Kill all the medical ninja."

"I've received reliable information that Tsunade has been transferred from the front lines. No one at the field hospital will be a match for you. Kill everyone you find."

"Yes."

Taiseki was never one for many words. He quietly acknowledged the order.

"Hiruko, take a group to the right flank. Once we engage the Hidden Leaf Ninja, move in and split them apart."

Hiruko gave a sinister smile and rasped, "No problem."

"The rest of you, follow me and attack the Hidden Leaf camp head-on!"

"Dismissed. We'll meet at eight."

"Yes!"

After watching everyone disperse, Mahiru looked up at the clear sky and murmured with a complicated expression, "The war has begun!"