Fugaku's decision

Of his ten simulation attempts, Uchiha Yan had used only four. It was not that he did not want to use them, but that he did not have enough.

Six attempts might seem like a lot, but for the difficulties in his plans, such as the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, sealing jutsu, the Ōtsutsuki, and other problems, even seven simulation attempts might not answer a single question.

Before he had properly developed the system, he did not want to waste any simulation attempts.

While Uchiha Yan was lost in thought, the Third Hokage and the others were reading the books Kakashi had brought back, their expressions thoroughly strange.

"Kakashi, did you bring the wrong ones? These contain ninjutsu for treating mental illness?"

"I don't know."

Kakashi shook his head. "But Uchiha Itachi confirmed that following what the books said really did make his chakra recover faster."

"Hiruzen!"

Mitokado Homura kept his eyes on the scroll, surprise flickering across his face from time to time.

"If you don't like it, let me read this book. Cultivate oneself to bring peace to the people-how well written! It's much better than the Will of Fire! I-"

"Homura!"

The Third Hokage sharply interrupted him, his eyes full of exasperation. Was that something an adviser should say?

Mitokado Homura covered his mouth, looking embarrassed, then silently returned to reading.

Both the sentences in the books and their translations seemed easy to understand, but the Third Hokage knew putting them into practice would be difficult.

If nothing else, few people could reflect on their own actions every day.

Even if it's not easy to do, they would still be good for teaching children. At least they would know what they should and shouldn't do.

With that thought, the Third Hokage smiled and said, "Homura, if you like it, make a copy to take home and see whether it can speed up chakra recovery.

"Kakashi, thank you for your hard work! You still have to leave for the Land of Rain tomorrow morning. Go home and rest!"

"Yes!"

Early the next morning, Team Kakashi escorted more than a dozen ninja whose chakra had been sealed out of the village. At the same time, the Third Hokage issued an announcement.

The villagers believed the contents of the announcement. Clashes between the Uchiha and Root were nothing new, but this was the first time one had grown so large.

There was just one thing they did not believe: that a twelve-year-old child could devise these plans and even know what others were thinking well enough to make his enemies cooperate with him. That was impossible even with a spy's help.

"Is that true? That Uchiha kid is that clever? What do you think, big brother?"

"I'm looking with my Byakugan. Taichi once said Uchiha Yan could see through people's hearts. Perhaps it's true.

"I heard he awakened his Sharingan yesterday. Uchiha Jinyan was so stupid that he awakened it out of sheer anger.

"We really ought to thank Uchiha Jinyan. Otherwise, no one would have known the Uchiha had someone so clever hidden among them."

"Tsk, tsk. Awakening his eyes because someone else was stupid-that's a first."

"Danzo is going to the Land of Water battlefield, and most of the Hyuga Clan's forces will go with him. Be careful. That man will do anything to win a war."

Hizashi Hyuga looked utterly unconcerned. "Would he actually dare lay a hand on me? Don't worry!"

"I'm afraid someone might target Shinkō. He's also from the Main Family. Even for Neji's sake, we can't let anything happen to him.

"You know how stubborn those old men are. If anything happens to Shinkō, we won't even be able to buy any more time."

At those words, Hizashi's expression instantly darkened. "Don't worry, big brother. I won't let anything happen to Shinkō."

"Uchiha Yan will also be going to the Land of Water battlefield. You can ask him if anything comes up. Be careful with everything."

"All right!"

Hiashi was not worried about what lay outside the village. After all, everyone knew that only the Hyūga branch family appeared on the battlefield. No one would deliberately set a trap for branch family members.

He was afraid of Danzo. Others might not know Shinkō belonged to the Main Family, but Danzo certainly did.

I hope I'm overthinking this.

Hyuga Hiashi glanced at the surrounding villagers, then turned and left.

Of Konoha's two thousand-year-old ninja clans, the Uchiha and the Hyūga, the Uchiha Clan Head fought on the battlefield, while the Hyūga clan head could only remain in the village. How could that not be torment for Hiashi?

Each had his own worries. Anyone who became a clan head at least had a grasp of the bigger picture.

After receiving Xiaren's letter, Uchiha Fugaku wished he could return to the village immediately, roast Xiaren over a fire, and sprinkle him with cumin.

"Clan Head, what happened? Why do you look so upset?"

"Read it yourself!"

Fugaku handed over the letter, cursing nonstop. "Idiots! A bunch of idiots! Too stupid to even know it. No wonder Yan was so angry he awakened his Sharingan.

"If I were Yan, I'd probably have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan out of anger.

"It was a perfectly good plan, but they just had to create complications, and in the end they even endangered our clansmen's lives."

Inabi quickly scanned the letter, and his expression instantly darkened. "They're bullying Yan because he doesn't have three tomoe..."

Halfway through speaking, Inabi suddenly seemed to remember something and could not continue.

"What is it? Why stop halfway?"

"Nothing! I was thinking that if this isn't handled properly, we really might end up with rogue ninja. Should we just launch an attack?"

"No! Wait for news from the village."

No sooner had he spoken than footsteps sounded outside the tent, and a Yamanaka clansman entered.

"Clan Head Fugaku, word from the village. Adviser Mitokado Homura has already set out. He will be commanding the Land of Lightning battlefield."

"Really!"

Fugaku shot to his feet. "Any other news? What happened to Uchiha Jinyan and the others?"

"They will go to the Land of Rain to track down the culprit who killed the Fourth Hokage, with a three-month deadline.

"They're all right. There's still hope for them! What a shame... sigh!"

"What is a shame?"

Fugaku froze, a faint sense of foreboding rising in his heart. "Did the Uchiha cause more trouble?"

"No!"

Yamanaka Yun shook his head. "Uchiha Yan took responsibility for everything. He'll follow Danzo to the Land of Water battlefield to atone through service. He'll be a one-man team. Kakashi and Hyuga Taichi won't be going with him."

"Why doesn't he just die? Why doesn't Jinyan just die?"

Fugaku roared, "How does he have the nerve to keep living? Making a twelve-year-old child take the blame for him-how does he have the nerve?"

"Clan Head, let's find a way to transfer Yan here first!"

"Clan Head Fugaku, you should leave it."

Yamanaka Yun gently tried to dissuade him. "Clan Head Inoichi was also at the Hokage Building yesterday. Uchiha Yan wanted to take responsibility himself. No one else was to blame.

"Originally, the Third Hokage and the others wanted to kill Jinyan and all the rest. It was Uchiha Yan who brought up the culprit behind the Nine-Tails' Attack, and that was why they received a lighter punishment.

"If you transfer Uchiha Yan away now, everything he did will have been for nothing."

Fugaku rubbed his brow, sorrow flashing across his face. He had little personal attachment to Uchiha Yan; it was because it was rare for the Uchiha to produce someone clever.

Ever since the Night of the Nine-Tails, Uchiha Yan had consistently kept Danzo in check and made him suffer several setbacks. That had never happened before.

No! An Uchiha willing to give his life for his clansmen cannot be allowed to die like this.

At that thought, Fugaku instantly made his decision. "Inabi, have someone send him a Summoning Contract. Go speak to Cat Granny yourself and ask her to select the finest ninja cat."

"All right! I'll go right now!"

"Wait! Make a copy of the forbidden jutsu in the ancestral shrine and send that forbidden jutsu to Yan."

Inabi's eyes widened, disbelief filling his face. "Clan Head, he only just awakened his eyes. He can't see the contents of the scroll.

"Besides, even with enough ocular power, he might not be able to learn it. I couldn't.

"Rather than that, we should have Team Shisui support him on the Land of Water battlefield."

"Oh! I forgot Shisui and the others were also on the Land of Water battlefield. Write Shisui a letter, and send the Genjutsu Scroll over as well."

"I'll get to it right away."