Arrival at the Mist Front, a Man Named Kaguya Takeori

The next day.

Uchiha Fugaku led his family's twenty jōnin squads to meet up with Hiashi Hyūga, who commanded three jōnin squads from the Hyūga Clan.

Just as the two sides convened, Uchiha Makoto, who had gone to requisition medical-nin, arrived belatedly.

After exchanging pleasantries, the group set off for the border of the Land of Fire.

No fool along the way stirred up any trouble. After all, there were more than three hundred ninja in their ranks.

The only point of criticism was that a journey which should have taken the jōnin only two or three days ended up taking a full five days at Uchiha Makoto's suggestion.

Still, it was understandable. Organized ninja squads joined them from time to time along the way, and during the march, everyone gradually became acquainted and developed better coordination.

By the time the reinforcements led by Uchiha Fugaku arrived at the Mist front, their numbers had already reached five hundred.

Kimori Ichirō, the resident commander of the Land of Water defense sector stationed at the Land of Water camp, had come out early to receive them.

Kimori Ichirō was around thirty years old. He was among the first batch of Konoha ninja trained when the village had first been established, a renowned elite jōnin.

Like the elders who had lived through the chaos of the Warring States period, he deeply worshipped Senju Hashirama, regarding him as a living god who had saved the ninja world. He not only revered the Hokage, but also placed great importance on the bonds between comrades.

For that reason, after the Second Shinobi World War ended, the highly decorated Kimori Ichirō had been appointed resident commander of the Land of Water defense sector.

At that moment, although Kimori Ichirō had long received the Third Hokage's order and knew that the Uchiha would be coming to serve as overall commander, he was still astonished when he saw the nearly five hundred reinforcements.

The more than two hundred medical-nin carrying sealing scrolls in particular made his eyes burn with envy.

"Commander Fugaku... the Uchiha truly are the foremost great clan of the ninja world. With these reinforcements here, the Mist front will surely be impregnable."

"The Kaguya Clan will surely flee at the mere rumor of us!"

Seeing that this reinforcement force consisted almost entirely of elite ninja, Kimori Ichirō eagerly began flattering Uchiha Fugaku.

Inside the Land of Water camp, Uchiha Fugaku and Kimori Ichirō handled the handover.

Kimori Ichirō had long since organized all the relevant documents and intelligence for the handover, leaving only the formal transfer.

The Uchiha and Hyūga Clan each took over a portion, familiarizing themselves with the materials in preparation for their work.

Uchiha Makoto also flipped through the personnel reports, learning about the standing forces in the Land of Water defense sector.

As one of Konoha's four major defense forces corresponding to the four great nations, its routine duties were patrol and vigilance. At full strength, it had four hundred ninja squads, totaling around twelve hundred personnel including commanders at every level.

However, due to the current conflict with Mist Village, especially the Kaguya Clan, two hundred personnel had been severely wounded or killed. Only a thousand remained, and most of them were also understrength.

Moreover, over a hundred severely wounded personnel were barely clinging to life, resulting in serious medicine consumption.

Thus, the Mist front currently had only around fifteen hundred ninja, with more than a hundred seriously wounded who needed to be sent back to the village for better treatment.

In the mission management tent of the garrison camp, Uchiha Makoto clicked his tongue in wonder as he held the repatriation list. Since when had the Kaguya Clan of Mist Village developed the sense to severely wound enemies and accelerate the depletion of their medical supplies?

The hundred or so people on the repatriation list had all survived encounters with the Kaguya Clan, who were known as battle maniacs.

Had the Kaguya Clan actually learned to hold back?

Uchiha Makoto immediately picked up the report and walked over to Uchiha Fugaku and the others.

"Mr. Kimori, may I ask what the Kaguya Clan's current offensive situation is like?"

"I noticed that nearly all the severely wounded personnel on the repatriation list were injured after encountering the Kaguya Clan."

Holding the report, Uchiha Makoto asked curiously. The information about severe injuries from encounters with the Kaguya Clan also piqued Uchiha Fugaku's interest.

This was somewhat different from the Kaguya Clan he knew. The Kaguya Clan members he had encountered truly fought to the death in battle!

Kimori Ichirō, on the other hand, let out a faint sigh and explained, "I heard it was required by the Kaguya Clan's new clan head, Kaguya Takeori. What they're doing has put considerable pressure on our medical side."

"Huh? Why do you all look like that?"

Kimori Ichirō was somewhat baffled as he looked at the Uchiha and Hyūga, whose expressions had instantly turned grave.

"Kaguya? Takeori? Are you sure?"

Hiashi Hyūga asked. He had been reviewing documents nearby, but the sudden mention of those two familiar words startled him.

"Y-yes. Is there some problem?"

Feeling the slightly tense atmosphere, Kimori Ichirō could not help feeling pressured.

"You may not know this, Mr. Kimori."

Hiashi Hyūga said, "During the Warring States period, the Kaguya Clan was called the Bamboo Cutter Clan. They only changed their name to the Kaguya Clan when the Five Great Ninja Villages were established."

"That's why we say the name Kaguya Takeori sounds powerful. He is likely a newly advanced Kage-level powerhouse!"

Uchiha Fugaku added, "That is also why I said you probably haven't seen him make a move on the battlefield. After all, if a Kage-level member of the Kaguya Clan had joined the battle, the casualties would be far greater than this!"

"The situation at the Mist front is critical!"

As his words fell, the atmosphere in the tent became somewhat stifling. Everyone felt immense pressure because of Kaguya Takeori, who had yet to make a move.

Ordinary members of the Kaguya Clan already possessed high attack and defense, often fighting many enemies alone. Much less their clan head.

And he was very likely Kage-level!

They only had a few dozen elite jōnin. If the Kaguya Clan coordinated with the Mist ninja army, then...

"No matter!"

Uchiha Makoto shook his head, drawing the attention of everyone in the tent.

"Judging from these reports, this Kaguya Takeori's attitude toward us seems fairly friendly."

"Even if he truly is powerful, beyond the ability of ordinary ninja to contend with."

Uchiha Makoto paused. His eyes narrowed slightly, his aura surged, and he said sharply, "You must understand, my sword is no less sharp!"

As his powerful chakra erupted, everyone inside the tent felt incomparably heavy pressure. Even ninja some distance away were left in a miserable state, drenched in sweat.

"That vast chakra, like a tailed beast's... Kage-level! He is absolutely Kage-level!"

Kimori Ichirō said with trembling lips, his gaze blazing with fervor.

This was a Kage-level powerhouse!

Such beings were few even within the Five Great Ninja Villages, enough to rival the Kage of any major ninja village!

"The Mist front is saved!"

Just as Kimori Ichirō and the others grew excited, a disheveled young ninja rushed in.

"Reporting to the commander, the Kaguya Clan is attacking!"