War Objectives Successfully Achieved

In times of peace.

The Uchiha Clan's proud bearing and formidable strength easily made their comrades deeply wary and vigilant of them. But in times of war, the Uchiha Clan became the very symbol of reliability. As mentioned before, Akimichi Motoyasu's unit, which had joined this campaign, consisted almost entirely of Chūnin, without a single Genin among them. These people all had some degree of self-awareness when it came to the Uchiha Clan.

Thus, from the very beginning, they had harbored a certain resistance toward Shōji deep down.

But that mindset.

Had long since vanished after the previous encounter and the current operation to eliminate enemy outposts.

During wartime.

Nothing was more reassuring and gratifying than reliable comrades.

Cruelty toward the enemy was the greatest help and reassurance one could offer one's own comrades.

The stronger Uchiha Shōji was, the more at ease these Konoha Ninja would inevitably feel deep down.

And this was precisely one of the goals Shōji had always emphasized. If he truly wanted to take the internal route, make the village genuinely accept and acknowledge the Uchiha Clan, erase the clan's current predicament, and fully integrate into the village, then he had to let the overwhelming majority of Konoha see the Uchiha Clan's virtues.

They had to see that the Uchiha Clan could bring the village a bright future.

Winning the trust of Sarutobi Hiruzen, or even Shimura Danzō, was incredibly difficult—no different from reaching the heavens. In fact, if they truly claimed they were willing to trust the Uchiha Clan, Shōji himself would become uneasy. The people they could truly win over, and the ones they could make a difference with, were the comrades from the other Ninja Clans in the village.

As long as more people were willing to believe in the Uchiha Clan and stand at their side, then no matter how much Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō disliked the Uchiha Clan, they would be unable to lay a hand on them!

This had been one of Shōji's original objectives.

Volunteering for the mission.

Coming to the front lines to fight the Kumo Ninja had been the most crucial step in it.

As had been said before.

As long as there was even the slightest possibility, Shōji was unwilling to give up on resolving the conflict between the clan and the village peacefully. In this regard, Shōji and Shisui were alike. The only difference was that compared to Shisui, Shōji was more ruthless and decisive, and he would prepare a second plan behind the first.

This trip to the front lines was not only for the first plan; it could also serve his second plan.

One always had to prepare for both possibilities.

Only those who planned ahead were qualified to truly win in the end, weren't they?

Whoosh!

Bang!

A flashing slash descended.

It directly executed the last Kumo Ninja.

"Clean up immediately. We're heading for the next outpost at once!"

Shōji lightly wiped the blood splashed across his cheek. The Three-Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes slowly turned, carrying a frosty glint as he spoke gravely to his "temporary subordinates."

"Yes, Lord Shōji!"

The words slipped out instinctively.

Although in name Shōji was merely a Chūnin like them, and the youngest among them at that, this was a world where the strong preyed on the weak, where strength commanded respect.

Shōji had already displayed power far beyond that of an ordinary Jōnin.

This reconnaissance outpost, staffed by seven Kumo Ninja, had been almost entirely eliminated by Shōji alone. These Konoha Ninja had every reason to respect him.

The change in how they addressed him.

Was perfectly in line with the "truth" and "common sense" of this world!

After eliminating the first outpost.

They headed for the second reconnaissance outpost farther to the left.

However, when Shōji led his men there, the place was already deserted. All that remained was the burning ruins of the outpost.

Though it was something he had anticipated.

The sheer speed of the Kumo Ninja's retreat still left Shōji slightly surprised.

"Lord Shōji, there are no signs of any living people inside. Judging from the remaining traces, the Kumo Ninja should have left twenty minutes ago and retreated toward the northern region."

A Chūnin responsible for reconnaissance jogged up to Shōji and reported softly with a hint of deference.

"They retreated outright? Smart of them, I suppose."

Shōji shook his head with a smile.

"Return immediately. We'll rendezvous with Captain Motoyasu!"

In this attack.

Their primary objective was still to eliminate as many Kumo Ninja as possible, then remove these outposts.

At present.

One of the two outposts had been completely cleared, while the other had been abandoned by the Kumo Ninja themselves.

Even if the Kumo Ninja wanted to return and rebuild the outpost later, they would have to expend another batch of resources.

The task assigned to him had already been completed.

It was time to return and rejoin Akimichi Motoyasu.

Motoyasu's side was the main assault position.

There might even be unexpected Kumo Ninja reinforcements.

"Yes!"

The three or four Konoha Chūnin around him answered in unison.

Shortly afterward.

Under Shōji's lead, the group sped toward the deeper northeastern region.

The smooth and successful elimination of outposts.

Was not limited to Akimichi Motoyasu, Uchiha Shōji, and their group.

Although the other three squads that had been dispatched encountered some minor difficulties, they all completed their assigned tasks relatively smoothly.

It had to be said that Nara Suzaku had chosen his timing exceptionally well.

Kumogakure's Frontline Commander had never expected Suzaku to launch such a massive offensive on the very day after arriving with reinforcements.

In the first moments.

He had been completely unable to react in time.

Not only did the outposts scattered throughout the Land of Hot Springs suffer sweeping attacks, but even the main outpost—the Southern Fortress—was assaulted by more than two hundred Konoha Ninja. Fortunately, the Kumo Ninja stationed in the fortress had always maintained thorough combat readiness, and every one of them was highly experienced. They could not exactly be called caught off guard.

At least after enduring the initial impact.

During Konoha's subsequent attacks.

The Kumo Ninja were able to gradually stabilize the situation and make adjustments.

Suzaku, who had failed to break in with a single push, was not in any hurry. After all, the main objective of this counteroffensive was to eliminate as many Kumo Ninja outposts in other regions as possible and expand Konoha's operational space as much as they could.

If Kumogakure's Southern Fortress had truly been so easy to capture.

Konoha would have pushed the front line to the stretch between the Land of Frost and the Land of Lightning long ago.

Therefore, Suzaku was not at all surprised that their attack had been stopped.

Instead, he deliberately controlled the pace and scale of the clash.

After receiving word that the dispatched Raiding Squads had achieved considerable results, destroying nearly ten outposts of varying sizes.

Nara Suzaku decisively ordered a retreat.

Konoha's main force withdrew in alternating formations.

Leaving the Kumo Ninja unable to find the slightest opening to pursue.

They could only watch helplessly as the Konoha Ninja retreated safely.