Oh No, That's at Least Three Years in Prison!

Sendō dropped straight to his knees. "Please, save the Chinoike Clan!"

"Kumogakure has imprisoned our entire Chinoike Clan in Hell Valley! They're holding our clansmen hostage to force us to risk our lives for them!"

Minato scratched his head. He, too, felt sorry for the Chinoike Clan.

But as the frontline commander, he couldn't let his emotions dictate his decisions.

He looked troubled. "Well, Konoha is stretched thin on the front line. Diverting personnel to rescue them would likely spread our fighting strength too thin."

"So..."

Although Minato left the sentence unfinished, his meaning was clear.

Konoha couldn't rescue the Chinoike Clan.

Just as Sendō was sinking into disappointment, Fugaku stepped forward. "Leave it to us Uchiha!"

Seeing everyone's surprise, he immediately explained:

"Our Uchiha Clan was the one that locked them in Hell Valley for money back then. It's only right that we atone now!"

Although Fugaku's words sounded noble, he had something else in mind.

The reason lay with the Uchiha Clan itself.

Though powerful, the Uchiha Clan had no friendly ties with any other shinobi clan in Konoha.

The entire Uchiha Clan stood isolated and without support in Konoha.

But if they rescued the Chinoike Clan from Hell Valley and arranged for them to settle in Konoha...

Then the Uchiha would have an ally within the village.

Moreover, the Uchiha Clan wouldn't have to fear the Chinoike turning against them, because the Uchiha's Sharingan could completely counter the Chinoike's Ketsuryūgan.

After speaking, Fugaku turned his gaze toward Yūto.

Yūto was also deep in thought.

He was considering the Elder's charge to revitalize Konoha.

Just like Fugaku, Yūto was considering the feasibility of rescuing the Chinoike and strengthening the Uchiha.

Noticing Fugaku looking at him, he immediately stepped forward. "Clan head, let me go!"

"Good!"

A pleased smile appeared on Fugaku's face. His continued high regard for Yūto hadn't been misplaced.

He turned to Minato. "Don't worry. We'll send only him. It won't affect our frontline defenses."

Minato shook his head helplessly. He had a rough understanding of Yūto's strength as well.

Sending Yūto alone on the rescue mission did seem somewhat feasible.

"All right, Yūto. I'll entrust the mission to you."

"But be careful on the way. The Land of Lightning has deployed large numbers of ninja along its border. Take care when crossing it."

Before Yūto could speak, Tsukimi objected.

"No! It's too dangerous! What if you go alone to rescue them and get surrounded?"

There was a trace of anxiety in her voice. If something happened to Yūto, she didn't know how she would go on living.

Seeing this, Tsunade thought for a moment before speaking:

"Tsukimi has a point. Why don't I accompany Yūto on the rescue mission? My Medical Ninjutsu and combat experience will allow me to handle unexpected situations."

Tsukimi's expression changed at once.

Tsunade had already dared to secretly drug Yūto right here in camp.

If they went on a mission together, Tsunade might well devour him completely.

She absolutely refused!

Because of Kumogakure's sudden attack earlier, she hadn't even gotten to go on her date with Yūto!

Her tone was sour. "Lady Tsunade, you'd accompany him personally? Then that-that's even worse!"

Her cheeks puffed out slightly, her eyes darting between Tsunade and Yūto before finally settling into a glare at Tsunade.

Seeing Tsukimi's firm stance, and remembering that her earlier drugging of Yūto did leave her in the wrong, Tsunade cleared her throat.

"All right. Since you're so worried about Yūto, Tsukimi, the two of you can go investigate together."

Tsukimi's eyes lit up, and she immediately nodded with delight. "Okay! I'll make sure to protect Yūto!"

She clenched her fists, brimming with fighting spirit.

Yūto, however, frowned.

Crossing the border wasn't exactly safe work, and he had promised the Elder that he would take good care of Tsukimi.

If Tsukimi died at the hands of Kumogakure, he would have a hard time answering to the deceased Elder.

After pondering for a moment, Yūto shook his head. "No, this mission is too dangerous..."

He paused, his tone firm. "It would still be safer for me to go alone."

Tsukimi immediately grew anxious. "What do you mean? Do you think I'd hold you back?"

Her eyes reddened slightly, her voice carrying hurt and stubbornness.

Faced with Tsukimi's questions, Yūto began to explain. "It's not about holding me back. Crossing the border is too dangerous. I don't want you taking that risk."

Tsukimi clenched her fists, her voice suddenly rising. "You're always like this! You decide on your own to keep your companions behind you and face danger all by yourself!"

Her eyes were red, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "In your eyes, am I only capable of hiding behind other people?"

Fugaku frowned and stepped forward to interrupt. "Enough."

He glanced at Yūto before his gaze finally settled on Tsukimi. "Tsukimi has already awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. In terms of resistance to Genjutsu and actual combat ability, she's stronger than most Jonin."

His tone brooked no argument. "If she couldn't even protect herself, she wouldn't deserve the Uchiha name."

Yūto froze and looked at Tsukimi. She held her head high stubbornly, three tomoe slowly turning in her eyes.

Only then did he realize that the girl he had once shielded behind him had long since grown into a ninja capable of standing on her own.

"...All right." Yūto finally relented, raising a hand to rub between his brows. "But you have to follow my orders. At the first sign of anything unusual, retreat immediately."

Tsukimi's expression instantly brightened, the anger in her eyes immediately giving way to a watery sheen.

Her lips curved in triumph. "That's more like it! Don't worry, my Sharingan won't miss a single clue!"

The front line was a long way from the Land of Lightning's border, so there was no need to leave at night.

After they discussed it, Minato made the final decision.

"Yūto, you and Tsukimi will carry out the rescue mission, with Sendō guiding you. You'll leave first thing tomorrow morning!"

Yūto nodded and rubbed his eyes. "Since we're not leaving until tomorrow, I'll go back and rest. I need to be well rested to deal with the enemy."

He turned to Tsukimi. "Tsukimi, you should get some rest early too. Don't stay up late."

Tsukimi pouted and muttered, "I know..."

On the way back to the tents, she quietly glanced toward Tsunade.

Once Yūto had left, Tsukimi immediately sidled up to Tsunade and asked in a low voice, "Lady Tsunade, um... do you have any of that drug left?"

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile curling her lips. "Oh? Weren't you condemning me so righteously earlier? Now you're getting ideas yourself?"

She deliberately drew out her words, looking at Tsukimi with amusement.

Tsukimi's ears instantly burned bright red as she stammered in protest:

"I-I'm just worried Yūto won't sleep well! He has a dangerous mission tomorrow. He needs to get enough sleep!"

Her voice grew quieter as she spoke, until it was barely louder than a mosquito's hum.

Tsunade chuckled and took a small glass bottle from her sleeve, clear liquid sloshing inside.

"Here, take it. But..."

She leaned closer to Tsukimi and lowered her voice. "Don't go overboard. You have real work to do tomorrow."

Tsukimi snatched the bottle and hurriedly stuffed it into her Ninja Tool Pouch, straightening her back in a show of composure.

"O-of course! I'm very serious about this!"

With that, she turned to leave, but nearly tripped in her haste.

After returning to her tent, Tsukimi dripped the drug into the hot water she had prepared. She gently swirled it, then carried the cup to Yūto's tent.

Yūto was sitting beside his bed sorting his ninja tools. Seeing her enter, he looked up in confusion.

"Have some hot water. You have a mission tomorrow," Tsukimi said, handing him the cup with feigned composure.

Suspecting nothing, Yūto thanked her, took the cup, and drained it.

Before long, his eyelids began to grow heavy, and his body swayed slightly.

"That's strange... why am I suddenly so sleepy..."

Before he finished speaking, he collapsed onto the bed and fell fast asleep.

Tsukimi held her breath and leaned closer to confirm that his breathing was steady, then quietly lifted a corner of the tent flap to look outside.

After making sure no one was approaching, she bent down with a flushed face and gently pressed her lips to Yūto's.

But just as she lost herself in the kiss, her consciousness suddenly began to grow hazy.

Tsukimi was startled. She had been too hasty and forgotten that some of the drug was still on Yūto's lips.

But by the time she tried to get up and escape, it was already too late.

Her body went limp, and she fell directly onto Yūto, drifting into a deep sleep as well.

Early the next morning, Yūto opened his eyes. When he saw the girl sleeping soundly beside him, he sucked in a sharp breath.

Oh no, that's at least three years in prison!