Front Line

Recently, however, they had been taking C-rank missions with increasing frequency and had hardly taken any D-rank missions at all.

Meikyō guessed that part of the reason was undoubtedly that their strength had steadily improved, prompting Dan Katō to raise the difficulty of the missions he accepted. On the other hand, the situation at the front was probably not looking good.

This batch of Rogue Ninja was already the seventh group they had hunted down this month.

Since quite a bit of unrest had gradually begun appearing within the Land of Fire, Meikyō suspected that the unfavorable battle situation at the front had made others think Konoha lacked the strength to respond, tempting them to find ways to make a profit.

Moreover, Meikyō would occasionally hear that ninja units from enemy nations had infiltrated the Land of Fire. The village had repeatedly dispatched people to suppress them, with both successes and failures. Many production and storage sites for supplies and weapons within the Land of Fire had been destroyed, further encouraging those Rogue Ninja to fish in troubled waters.

Meikyō did not know whether they would be sent to the battlefield, but one thing was certain: top-tier fighters like Dan Katō would probably be transferred to the front very soon.

The reason Dan Katō had been able to lead them for nearly half a year was mainly because he had suffered fairly serious injuries on the Land of Wind front half a year ago. That was why he had returned to Konoha to recuperate. At the same time, Hiruzen Sarutobi had found him the easy job of leading a Jonin squad, squeezing as much labor out of him as possible.

Yet more than a month ago, Dan Katō's injuries had already mostly healed. He might be transferred to the front as soon as tomorrow.

"Forget it. What good does thinking about that do? Don't worry about so much. All we can do is work hard to improve our strength and complete our missions seriously. What happens beyond that is the business of the big shots in the village. You're a Genin just like me, so don't worry about the Hokage's job."

Faced with the new topic Meikyō had raised, Inuzuka Ryo merely laughed and patted him on the shoulder.

This time, it was his turn to comfort Meikyō.

Dan Katō really was about to head to the front.

Not only him—even the three Genin of Kato Squad would be going as well.

"Is the village's situation really this dangerous? Even Genin like us, who only graduated half a year ago, have to go to the front?"

Meikyō was genuinely surprised.

After all, they were rather different from ordinary Genin.

Right after graduation, for one reason or another, they had been assigned under Jonin for training. That showed Konoha truly regarded them as the village's future. Even if they did not become Jonin someday, they would most likely become Konoha's backbone.

If cannon fodder were really needed, ordinary Genin would usually be sent first.

Dan Katō sighed helplessly and explained,

"The village is currently fighting on three fronts. On the western front, Sakumo-senpai can still keep Suna suppressed. On the northern front, Third Hokage-sama is deadlocked with the Third Raikage. The Land of Rain direction has sunk even deeper into the mire of war. On top of that, the village must guard the eastern coastline against Kirigakure. With years of war already behind us, we are indeed short on manpower."

"However, you are all important to the village's future. Unless it becomes necessary, the village will not send you to the Front Line battlefield. If it truly comes to that, it means the village has completely run out of options and can only gamble on victory at the risk of consuming its future potential."

Dan Katō's tone was exceptionally grave, but he quickly changed it.

"Fortunately, your assignment at the front this time should be transporting logistical supplies and food, as well as guarding the village's strategic resources. You will not be sent to the Front Line to fight the enemy so soon."

Dan Katō forced some spirit into his voice and patted his three disciples on the shoulders.

"Go home this afternoon and say goodbye to your families. Gather at Training Ground 1 at six tomorrow morning. Remember to prepare your ninja tools and medicine."

Meikyō and the others nodded, each harboring different thoughts as they returned home.

Uchiha Clan Compound.

"Even you are going to the front?"

Uchiha Yu still sat in his usual place, wiping the ninja blade in his hand.

"Yes. Master Dan said that although we're going to the front, we'll actually be staying on the second line, handling missions such as transporting logistical supplies. We won't be going directly onto the battlefield."

Uchiha Yu finally set down the ninja blade in his hand and looked at Meikyō.

"Once the people on the first line are all dead, it will be your young people's turn to go up and die."

As he spoke, Uchiha Yu could not help shaking his head again.

"Compared to the previous two Hokage, and Madara as well, the current Third Hokage is indeed far inferior. Not just in strength, but in breadth of mind. Even Tobirama would never have allowed children like you to step onto the battlefield before his own death."

"Unfortunately, Third Hokage seems to be the only person currently capable of supporting Konoha. Even if he can only barely hold it up."

Having lived from the era of Uchiha Tajima and Hashirama Senju to the present, Uchiha Yu's wealth of experience allowed him to see things very clearly.

Today's Konoha appeared incomparably powerful and peerless in its glory, but to him, it was like oil poured onto a raging fire.

Without fresh fuel, the blaze would eventually die down. Yet in order to maintain the grand flames on the surface, Hiruzen Sarutobi had thrown newly sprouted shoots straight into the fire.

And yet, Konoha truly had no one but Hiruzen Sarutobi who could hold up the position of Hokage. Perhaps Hatake Sakumo could do so in the future as well.

But Uchiha Yu felt that although the Konoha White Fang lacked neither strength, War Merit, nor prestige, he lacked a proper background, and his personality was too rigid. His final fate would probably not be a good one.

At the very least, he could not outplay Third Hokage.

Just like Madara back then, he had been forced by Tobirama's political tactics into being unable to take the position of Hokage, and had ultimately left Konoha.

Sooner or later, Third Hokage, as the Second Hokage's disciple, would use the same methods to persecute Hatake Sakumo.

"Perhaps..."

Uchiha Yu turned his gaze toward Meikyō.

If Meikyō could awaken eyes like Madara's and Izuna's, then with the Uchiha Clan's support, he might have a chance to sit in that position as well.

The question was whether he could survive until that day.

That meant whether he himself could live to see that day, and whether Meikyō could live to reach it.

"Meikyō."

"Grandpa Yu, I'm here."

"Once you're on the battlefield, remember not to disgrace the Uchiha name. And... come back alive. You are the clan's future."

"I understand!"

Winter, Year 35 of Konoha.

On the street leading from Training Ground 1 to the village entrance.

Uchiha Yu stood among the crowd, silently watching the departing group ahead.