Everyone present looked at Uchiha Kyu in surprise. What was this guy plotting in secret now?
How could someone who never acted without profit truly take on this mess for Konoha's sake?
As the captain of the Konoha Military Police Force and the head of the Uchiha Clan, why would Uchiha Kyu need to personally go to the battlefield to earn merit?
"Minato, since the Uchiha Clan Head is willing to take this matter on, we cannot dampen his earnest desire to protect Konoha."
Just as Minato Namikaze was considering whether to agree, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly spoke.
Minato Namikaze nodded and smiled. "All right. In that case, we'll leave it to the Uchiha Clan Head."
"The war supplies have already been sent ahead, and the personnel needed for support have gathered one after another. In half an hour, the Uchiha Clan Head can lead the troops to reinforce the Egawa Coastal Defense Line."
Supporting the Egawa Coast was a major matter. Even if Konoha's higher-ups were deeply dissatisfied with Uchiha Kyu, they would not cut corners over this.
"Fine." Uchiha Kyu rose and left directly.
After returning to the clan, Uchiha Kyu immediately summoned Uchiha Shisui and the others.
Uchiha Okamoto impatiently requested, "Clan Head, please let me follow you onto the battlefield."
Uchiha Kyu waved him off. "This time, I'll be going alone. All of you stay here."
Uchiha Fugaku knew Uchiha Kyu's purpose for going to the battlefield this time. With a resolute gaze, he promised,
"Since the Clan Head has made up his mind, I'll take care of everything at home."
Uchiha Shisui looked at Uchiha Kyu with complicated emotions and asked uneasily, "Do you really not need me to go with you?"
Though he did not know why Uchiha Kyu had volunteered to reinforce the Egawa Coastal Defense Line, Uchiha Shisui knew this trip to the battlefield would not be simple.
"Once I leave for the battlefield, the clan will need a strong person to watch over it even more. Only if you stay behind can I leave without worry."
Uchiha Kyu walked up to Uchiha Shisui and lightly tapped his forehead with two fingers. His meaningful tone made Shisui seem somewhat flustered.
Uchiha Shisui stared at him in shock, a trace of panic flashing through his eyes.
He had not told anyone about his Mangekyō Sharingan. How did Uchiha Kyu know?
Uchiha Kyu smiled as he patted Shisui's shoulder. Everything was understood without a word.
Because of Uchiha Kyu's appearance, Uchiha Shisui had not revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan to Konoha's higher-ups.
"Can I come too?" The childish voice made everyone turn to look down.
Uchiha Itachi stood there, looking calmly at Uchiha Kyu as though he were asking to go out and play rather than head to a battlefield.
Uchiha Kyu shook his head, crouched down, and tapped Itachi's forehead with two fingers. "Itachi, don't slack off while you're staying home."
Uchiha Itachi lowered his head in disappointment and answered with a heavy, "Okay."
Uchiha Kyu silently ruffled Itachi's hair. After a few days of his guidance, the child had become much more sensible.
Uchiha Itachi could not have been fated from birth to slaughter his clan. Many things were shaped by his later environment.
As long as he was carefully taught, Uchiha Itachi might become a steadfast protector of the Uchiha Clan.
The sense of accomplishment from turning someone who slaughtered his clan into its unwavering protector was something that could only be felt, not put into words.
After Uchiha Kyu left Konoha with the support forces for the front lines, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately secretly summoned the clan heads of victims such as Ino–Shika–Cho for a meeting.
Hyuga Hiashi even arranged main-family ninja to monitor everything around the Three Great Streets.
Hyuga Hiashi stood outside the house, looking up at the night sky as he muttered, "I hope there are no mistakes in your arrangements."
Without Uchiha Kyu, the Uchiha Clan had returned to its former level of strength.
Konoha's Anbu were unusually active tonight, darting across rooftops as though searching for something.
After receiving the news, Huo Uchiha, the vice-captain of the Uchiha Police Force, immediately came to notify Orochimaru.
"So my teacher is finally preparing to look for me?"
Orochimaru let out a sinister laugh without the slightest concern.
Huo Uchiha was worried that this place would be discovered, his expression grave.
"Even the Anbu have been mobilized, but they wouldn't dare search the Security Force headquarters without authorization."
"If there's anything you need, just say the word. Our people will bring it in."
"If things become serious, we'll cover your retreat into the compound. Inside the Uchiha Compound, even the Fourth Hokage would not dare come in and conduct a search."
At this, Huo Uchiha proudly straightened his chest and raised his head.
Orochimaru's gaze remained calm as he gave a cold smile. "If there's nothing else, leave first. I still need to conduct my experiments."
"Then I'll be leaving." Huo Uchiha left the laboratory.
Kabuto Yakushi, mature beyond his years, adjusted his glasses and asked curiously,
"Lord Orochimaru, why would the Uchiha Clan Head leave at a time like this? Isn't he giving the Third Hokage an opportunity?"
Orochimaru focused on the rejection response after the test subject fused with the First Hokage Cells, then spoke with a faintly amused smile. "Is it really an opportunity? I don't think so."
Kabuto Yakushi, who was good at observing and thinking, did not dare ask further. He began carefully recording the changes in the test subject.
The final line of defense along the Egawa Coast was suffering a fierce assault from the Mist Ninja.
Whenever the Mist Ninja attacked, Konoha's ninja had to expend huge quantities of strategic supplies such as Explosive Tags to delay their advance.
However, the Mist Ninja greatly outnumbered Konoha's forces, forcing the Konoha ninja to continually contract their defensive line, trading space for time.
They had to wait for reinforcements. They could not allow the final defensive position to fall completely into the hands of the Mist Ninja.
Hirota Uchiha had also been severely injured and knocked unconscious after facing three Elite Jonin alone.
If not for his Three-Tomoe Sharingan repeatedly mitigating his disadvantage during the battle, Hirota Uchiha would likely have been killed on the spot.
But the results were good. Hirota Uchiha's record was dazzling.
He had faced three Elite Jonin alone, killed one Elite Jonin, and successfully forced back the other two.
Such a brilliant achievement would have been enough for anyone to return to Konoha and claim a reward.
While risking their lives to kill enemies and escort Hirota Uchiha, Uchiha Shin and Uchiha Tadashi had awakened from the One-Tomoe Sharingan to the Two-Tomoe Sharingan.
On the battlefield, fighting could break out at any moment.
At the final line of defense along the Egawa Coast, Konoha's ninja had arranged several squads to conduct patrols.
Late at night.
Uchiha Shin and Uchiha Tadashi, who were guarding Hirota Uchiha's tent, spoke quietly.
"By my calculations, the reinforcements should arrive tomorrow. We just need to hold on a little longer."
"Our clan members have suffered terrible casualties this time. Now that the captain is unconscious, the two of us should take the initiative to shoulder the responsibility of protecting our clansmen."
"How are we supposed to protect them? We're only Chunin right now. We were merely lucky enough to awaken the Two-Tomoe Sharingan. If the two of us join forces, dealing with one Jonin shouldn't be a problem."
Uchiha Shin shook his head, holding firmly to his view.
"No matter what, our Uchiha clansmen should not be scattered among other squads. That won't allow us to bring out the Uchiha's true strength."
Uchiha Tadashi agreed with the idea, but he was worried about another issue.
"But if we gather together, then once we are surrounded, every one of our clansmen on the Egawa Coastal Defense Line could be wiped out."
Uchiha Shin snorted coldly and insisted, "So what? Even if we die, we must never disgrace the clan's name."
Boom!!!
A series of violent explosions suddenly erupted nearby.
A thick fog followed, swallowing the entire camp in mere seconds.
Uchiha Shin's expression changed drastically, and the Two-Tomoe Sharingan instantly appeared in his tired eyes.
"Not good. Quickly gather the clansmen together. I'll take the captain and withdraw."
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