I'm Trying to Help You

That night, the Stone Ninja launched a surprise attack on the Konoha camp, causing numerous casualties.

Fortunately, Namikaze Minato and Kushina arrived in time and stabilized the collapsing situation.

Namikaze Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique and Kushina's Tailed Beast Cloak were both perfect for clearing out rank-and-file soldiers on the battlefield. Although the Sand Ninja had superior numbers, their high-level combat strength was at a disadvantage. After leaving behind many bodies, they had no choice but to retreat.

The Sand Ninja forces and Konoha Ninja once again faced off along the border, but anyone with eyes could see that the Great War had begun.

Spies scattered across the region sprang into action, and intelligence soon reached the desks of the Feudal Lords and Kage of every nation.

On a mist-shrouded mountain peak, the Third Raikage read the incoming report. His dark, resolute face broke into a hearty laugh as he slapped the table and cried, "Ōnoki, I'm going to make you pay this time!"

Since the Third Raikage had taken power, Kumogakure had grown steadily stronger. But its geography and resources had placed strict limits on its development, and the Third Raikage, a hardliner, had always sought to expand.

The Land of Fire, rich in resources, would have been the ideal target, of course, but Konoha's strength was simply overwhelming. So the Third Raikage had set his sights on the Land of Earth, several small countries away.

But during the Second Ninja World War, the Third Raikage had gained no advantage against the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki. Now, he would settle old and new scores together.

In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned at the battle report and let out a deep sigh. Turning to Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, he said gravely, "The war has begun!"

Mitokado Homura had always handled communications with the Feudal Lord's Court of the Land of Fire. At this, he nodded. "I'll explain the situation to the Court and ask the Feudal Lord to allocate additional military funds and resources."

"That would be best."

Sarutobi Hiruzen put down the report in his hands and sighed wearily. Though he was only in his forties, in an age when few people lived long, he was already old enough to call himself an old man.

Utatane Koharu coughed a few times, then reminded Sarutobi Hiruzen, "Hiruzen, since we can't reproduce the medicine, we'll have to ease up on the Uchiha. During wartime, the village's safety has to come first."

"Exactly. The Land of Earth, the Land of Lightning, the Land of Water, and the Land of Wind are all desperately poor. They'd all love to take a bite out of the Land of Fire, and the situation this time isn't looking good."

Mitakado Homura looked indignant. Every time there was a war, the Feudal Lord gave him an earful when he went to ask for money. And even if they defeated those wolf cubs, Konoha wouldn't gain anything from those paupers.

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded and turned to look out at Konoha's prosperous streets. His voice was firm. "We'll set internal conflicts aside for now. During wartime, we stand united against outside threats. I've already assigned Danzo and Orochimaru to negotiate with the Uchiha."

Utatane Koharu looked a little uneasy. "Can Danzo really handle something like negotiations?"

Mitakado Homura nodded in agreement, a hint of doubt on his face.

"I want him out in the open, so he can't pull any tricks behind the scenes."

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned to Mitakado Homura and Utatane Koharu with a faint smile. After decades as comrades, the three of them knew one another inside out. Danzo understood him, but how could he not understand Danzo?

"With Orochimaru there, the negotiations shouldn't be a problem."

"If the Uchiha really can mass-produce those medicines, this war might even be an opportunity. The Uchiha must not run into trouble now!"

At the Uchiha Clan Compound, Obito had just knocked out three more clan members. The other Uchiha kept their eyes fixed ahead and worked even faster at making medicine.

Obito rubbed the corners of his eyes, looking a little tired. "Their mental strength isn't very good. They can only hold out for a week."

Though Obito had been studying the manuals he had brought back from the Republic of China World these past few days, he was still taking the medicine-making seriously.

This was the first step in the Uchiha's transformation, and a crucial one. Once they got past this step, the road ahead would be much easier.

Knocking out three people in the medicine-making room every day had almost become a habit for Obito. Unfortunately, most clan members didn't have mental strength as great as Uchiha Kenichi's and couldn't last a month.

Still, after spending what felt like endless days making medicine in the illusion, they could all at least produce effective medicine. Their success rates varied, though. Uchiha Kenichi and Uchiha Aoki had already reached an 80 percent success rate, while some clan members hadn't even reached 50 percent.

Uchiha Kenichi edged up to Obito and asked cautiously, "Clan Head, do we have to keep going? These are the last three."

"Why wouldn't we?"

Obito swept his gaze over the Uchiha with his Mangekyō Sharingan and spoke earnestly. "Don't think I'm doing this to torture you. You've all been through it now, and you know this training really does you a lot of good."

"Do you think I don't get tired from putting you in illusions every day?"

"If you were ordinary people, would I put this much effort into training you?"

"So everyone needs to work hard. How can members of the Uchiha Clan be afraid of a little hardship?"

Seeing the complicated expressions on the clan members' faces, some even tinged with guilt, Obito nodded in satisfaction and continued, "I'll keep helping anyone whose success rate is below 50 percent."

Then he turned to Uchiha Kenichi, whose face had gone ashen. "Kenichi, keep track of the three people with the lowest success rates each day. I'll keep helping them. That's the only way to keep succeeding."

"Yes."

Uchiha Kenichi forced a pained smile. He felt like dying. He, Kenichi, had once been one of the most popular guys in the Uchiha Clan. Now he had practically offended everyone, and wherever he went, people hated him.

And now he had to keep taking notes. He was afraid the clan members getting this "help" wouldn't dare confront Obito and would come after him instead!

It had to be said: without even realizing it, Obito had managed to win over the Uchiha these past few days.

The Uchiha who came here to make medicine had all awakened their Sharingan. They were the clan's most elite members. When Obito had become clan head at such a young age, many of them had been less than convinced.

Now, these Uchiha trembled at the sight of Obito. The illusions had truly scared them out of their wits.

But that wasn't because the Uchiha had changed their nature. The Uchiha Clan had always been known for its pride and stubbornness. If Obito had simply tortured them, few Uchiha would have feared death. They would have fought him to the end.

What was frightening was Obito, smiling as he said, "I'm only trying to help you," while using his Mangekyō Sharingan to treat them to an unforgettable, deluxe package.

The maddening part was that although the Uchiha who had experienced Obito's illusions had become a little sensitive about time, they had to admit that the illusion training really did help.

So Obito had thoroughly won over these Uchiha elites. Even Uchiha Kenichi, usually the biggest troublemaker, bowed and scraped whenever he saw Obito, wearing a look of utmost respect.

Obito had no idea about any of this. Watching the Uchiha work diligently at making medicine, he nodded in satisfaction and murmured toward the Hokage's office, "That should do it. They ought to be sending someone over to negotiate soon."