This time, the Uchiha clan was not only represented by Uchiha Fugaku but also accompanied by two Uchiha elders.
Among the 5,000-strong force assembled, half were Chunin, with ninja from various clans making up the ranks. The sheer combat power of this force was not to be underestimated. Clearly, Kirigakure's unusual movements had caught the attention of the Third Hokage, prompting him to take the situation seriously.
Upon reaching the designated assembly point, Danzo quickly noticed that every clan had its own Jonin representative. This was a stark contrast to the battlefield against Sunagakure, where Tsunade had been the sole voice of command. Here, decisions were made through discussion and compromise, largely dependent on the commanding officer's ability.
So far, Uchiha Fugaku was proving to be a competent commander. His task allocations were met with little resistance, and the troops cooperated without major objections.
Danzo refrained from interfering with the chain of command. Avoiding unnecessary conflicts suited his interests, and this hands-off approach was a relief to Fugaku. Given Danzo's reputation following the war with Sunagakure, his influence among Konoha's ninja was undeniable. If he had chosen to oppose Fugaku, things might have become much more complicated.
After all, the Uchiha clan, responsible for Konoha's Military Police Force, had made their fair share of enemies over the years and had never been on particularly good terms with other clans.
Fugaku's first strategic decision was clear:
"Push the battlefield beyond the Land of Fire."
With this goal in mind, Konoha's main forces began advancing toward the Land of Water.
As they entered the war zone, Danzo's expression darkened. Everywhere he looked, villages lay in ruins, their remains engulfed in flames. The stench of death filled the air, with charred corpses strewn across the land. Fields of unharvested crops stood abandoned, their owners long since reduced to decaying flesh.
Compared to the peaceful journey before entering the war zone, this place felt like an entirely different world.
It was a stark contrast to the battlefields against Sunagakure. Back then, civilian casualties were minimal—many commoners had already fled. But this time, Kirigakure's forces had pushed deep into the Land of Fire, leaving nothing but devastation in their wake. Every village they passed was ruthlessly slaughtered and plundered, leaving behind only chaos and despair.
Konoha's main forces avoided engaging scattered enemy forces that had already infiltrated the Land of Fire. Instead, they pressed forward toward Kirigakure's main base in the Land of Water, forcing the marauding Mist ninja to withdraw in defense. Any remaining enemy forces within the Land of Fire would be dealt with later.
Danzo took on the responsibility of eliminating these remnants, a task Fugaku was more than happy to let him handle. To aid him, 200 Root members were assigned to his command, along with an additional 200 regular ninja.
...
In a ruined village, flames flickered in the darkness, and occasional screams echoed through the night.
"These women break too easily… Keep searching! There must be more hiding somewhere. Kill the men, bring the women to me!" A cruel, exhilarated voice rang out. The speaker had an unsettling appearance—his pale face and muscular frame seemed mismatched.
"Lord Kaguya, we can't carry any more supplies… Should we retreat? The commander has issued a recall order."
"Say another word, and I'll kill you." The overwhelming killing intent sent a chill down his subordinate's spine.
A handful of bone needles shot past the man's face, narrowly missing him.
Swish! Swish!
Hidden in the shadows, Danzo sidestepped the projectiles and revealed himself.
"I thought the Kaguya clan was full of reckless brutes. It seems the rumors were mistaken."
His gaze swept across the room, lingering on the three bloodied, lifeless bodies on the floor. His voice grew colder.
"But tonight, you won't be leaving this place."
The Kaguya clan warrior sneered. "A one-eyed old man talking big? If you think you can kill me, go ahead and try!"
With a sudden motion, sharp bones protruded from his joints as he assumed a battle stance.
"Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Seedling Fern."
Countless bone spikes erupted from the ground, impaling the nearby Mist ninja who had been unfortunate enough to stand too close. Their bodies were skewered like pieces of dango.
The deadly forest of bone forced Danzo to retreat from the building.
In mere moments, the house he had stood in was transformed into a nightmarish structure, its walls and roof pierced by countless bone spikes.
Danzo scanned the area with a frown. "Gone already? That was quick."
Swish! Swish! Swish!
A dozen ninja landed around Danzo.
"Lord Danzo, it's done," one of the Root members reported. Several others carried sealed cocoons—prisoners restrained with powerful fūinjutsu.
Danzo turned to a particular Root member. "Zensuke… I'll leave this to you."
Hyuga Zensuke bowed respectfully. "It will be done… Byakugan—Activate."
...
After an hour of pursuit, Danzo stood over his captured prey.
The Kaguya elite Jonin, now bound and helpless, stared at him with wide, fearful eyes.
Danzo's voice was calm but chilling. "An excellent specimen. If my former subordinate were still alive, he would have liked you."
The restrained shinobi trembled as sealing bands tightened around him, ensuring complete immobilization.
Danzo looked down at the cocooned prisoners, his mind weighing the cost of war.
War turns people into monsters.
Once, he had been repulsed by the idea of human experimentation. Now, it seemed foolish to simply kill them. He required vast amounts of material, and these prisoners were the perfect source.
In just three months, he had amassed an invaluable collection: one Kaguya elite Jonin, five Jonin, twenty-four Chunin—including one with the Ice Release kekkei genkai.
The war's rear lines had been thoroughly cleared. The few remaining stragglers dared not reveal themselves, forced into hiding like rats in the shadows.
At the same time, Fugaku's command had proven effective. Not only had he managed to pin down Kirigakure's forces in the Land of Water, but Konoha's side had also begun to gain the upper hand in battle.
The Uchiha clan's reputation as fearsome warriors had been reaffirmed.
Among the ranks of the Mist ninja, an unspoken rule had begun to spread:
"If your strength is not significantly superior, never engage an Uchiha in single combat."
And so, once again, the title of the Uchiha—one of the two great clans that once stood equal to the Senju—echoed across the war-torn lands of the shinobi world.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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