106-110

Chapter 106: The Criminal Kakashi

This was the prison of the Anbu.

Unlike the Konoha prison, which was under the control of the police force and filled with all kinds of criminals—both ninjas and civilians—the Anbu prison was different. Only those who were exceedingly dangerous or of special importance were imprisoned here.

Kakashi Hatake leaned against the railing, reading a book under the dim light in the corridor.

His life here wasn't too bad.

Even though he had committed the grievous crime of attempting to assassinate the former Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, he was prepared to endure severe torture and, eventually, face execution when he surrendered. However, no such thing happened. Only the head of the Yamanaka clan came once to read his memories. Since then, he had been left in this lightless prison for, what, half a month?

He wasn’t entirely sure.

He had only estimated the time based on how often the guards changed shifts.

The first few days had been somewhat boring, but later, someone from the outside brought him a stack of books. In one of them, he found a note from that idiot, Guy. Kakashi didn’t doubt Guy’s ability to break in here, but getting items into the Anbu prison was something beyond Guy’s capabilities.

The meaning behind the books was quite clear.

Kakashi understood that he likely wouldn’t be executed, though he still didn’t know how long it would take before he could leave.

Flip—

He turned a page.

But his eyes were no longer on the book; his sharp hearing picked up the sound of footsteps approaching down the hallway. It wasn’t time for the guards to patrol, which meant this was an unexpected situation. His heartbeat quickened slightly. When he had decided to assassinate Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura, he had prepared himself to die.

However,

if he could live, he wouldn’t seek death.

“Kakashi Hatake?”

Two masked Anbu arrived outside his cell, examining him as he held his book, seemingly confirming his identity.

“That’s me,”

Kakashi nodded.

“Come out! The Hokage wishes to see you.” One of the Anbu spoke as the other stepped forward with keys, unlocking the cell door.

"The Hokage wants to see me?"

Kakashi felt puzzled upon hearing this.

He had no idea why the current Hokage would want to meet a criminal who had attempted to assassinate the previous Hokage. Nonetheless, he put his book down and followed the two Anbu through a maze of hallways until they arrived... at the Anbu cafeteria.

Kakashi’s expression turned a bit odd.

It wasn’t mealtime, and the cafeteria was completely empty. Even during meal times, few people ate here. Having been a member of Anbu himself, Kakashi knew well that Anbu members prioritized secrecy above all else. Unless they were in the same squad, they rarely exposed their faces or identities to each other.

The two Anbu led him through the cafeteria and stopped in front of a private room.

Knock, knock.

The leader knocked on the door.

After about three or four seconds, a voice from inside said, “Come in.” The Anbu turned the doorknob carefully, slowly pushing the door open before announcing respectfully, “Lord Hokage, the criminal Kakashi Hatake has been brought.”

“He’s here? Let him in, and stand guard at the door. Don’t let anyone disturb us.”

The voice was unmistakably that of the acting Fifth Hokage.

Kakashi walked in. As the door silently closed behind him, sealing off the outside world, he saw the acting Fifth Hokage, Torifu Akimichi, sitting at the dining table, wiping his mouth with a napkin. The table was covered with empty dishes, with only traces of oil and soup remaining.

Sitting beside him was Shikaku Nara, who gave a helpless smile and nodded slightly when their eyes met.

“Lord Hokage,”

Kakashi stepped forward and greeted with a bow.

“Kakashi, I have a question for you. Are you aware of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki situation?” Torifu Akimichi wasted no time, asking directly. The abrupt question nearly confused Kakashi, but his quick thinking kicked in, “I’m aware.”

“Do you know that the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is the child of the Fourth Hokage?”

The question was becoming more blunt.

Kakashi paused for a few seconds before nodding, “Yes, I know.”

“Then why have you never visited him?” Torifu Akimichi asked curiously.

This time, Kakashi remained silent for even longer. Fortunately, Torifu didn’t rush him, waiting patiently for Kakashi's response. Shikaku, too, seemed intrigued. After about a minute, Kakashi finally spoke again, “I didn’t know how to face... Naruto.”

Seeing Naruto reminded him of his teacher, then Obito, and then Rin—each loss of someone dear. The pain of those memories made him choose to avoid them, drowning himself in missions and killing to numb his heart.

Until he learned that his father’s suicide had been orchestrated.

The man he had once been proud of had ended his life in such a seemingly cowardly way, leaving a scar buried deep in his heart. When that scar was violently torn open, bleeding once more, his anger became uncontrollable, leading him to do what he did.

“Has something happened to Naruto?” Kakashi asked, his mismatched eyes—one black, one red—revealing no false emotion. The pain still fresh in his heart had finally given him the courage to face Naruto. He had delayed helping his father seek justice for many years; he didn’t want to be late for Naruto as well.

“There’s a bit of trouble.”

Torifu nodded. “Naruto Uzumaki’s situation is complicated, tied to old grievances. I don’t know what was in the Fourth Hokage’s heart when he made his son the Nine-Tails’ Jinchuriki, but... the fact remains. Naruto will eventually have to bear the burden of being a Jinchuriki.”

And what is the fate of a Jinchuriki?

Merely a weapon of war.

Kakashi stayed silent, listening.

“You’ve been out of contact with the outside world, so you may not know this, but a war with the Mist Village broke out shortly after you were imprisoned. The Uchiha Clan Leader is leading an army in battle at the eastern border. I’m planning to send Naruto to witness the realities of war.”

Kakashi abruptly raised his head, a look of uncontrollable shock on his White Fang-like handsome face. “Naruto is only five years old! Isn’t it too early for that?”

“Five is not too young. Most of us were on the battlefield by five or six. You yourself were no different. Besides... don’t underestimate Naruto. Once you meet him, you’ll be surprised by his intelligence.”

Torifu sighed wistfully.

The memories of seeing Naruto yesterday were still fresh. The boy’s intelligence and politeness had left a deep impression on him. What a pity about the Fourth Hokage. If Minato Namikaze were still alive, perhaps Konoha would be a different place.

“I understand.”

Kakashi had no argument.

He had graduated from the Ninja Academy at five, went straight to the battlefield, became a Chunin at six, and a Jonin at twelve—all hard-earned steps achieved through combat. If he could do it, why couldn’t Naruto?

“So, Lord Hokage, what do you need me to do?” Kakashi had an inkling of why he was being called but felt it might be wishful thinking.

The next moment,

Torifu Akimichi’s words confirmed his guess.

“I want you to protect the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki on the frontlines.”

Torifu’s voice was steady and deliberate.

Kakashi was stunned for a few seconds before asking, “Lord Hokage, are you sure it’s okay for someone like me to do this? I’m a criminal!”

“Danzo Shimura was a criminal who deserved execution. You just made a procedural error by killing him outside the proper channels. Imprisoning you is your punishment.”

“I...”

“Enough with the excuses. I’ll ask you one thing: Do you want to take on this mission or not? If you do, put on your gear and prepare. If not, go back to your cell and continue reading your books.” Torifu cut off Kakashi’s protests. The initial charges of attempted assassination were merely mentioned verbally; they had never been formally documented.

On top of that, many people outside were working on Kakashi’s behalf. Even within the Akimichi Clan, some owed debts of gratitude to Kakashi’s father, Sakumo Hatake. After all, the feared White Fang of Konoha had been a fool who abandoned missions to save comrades. Some thought him reckless, unfit to be a ninja.

But others were grateful for Sakumo’s care, even his life-saving deeds.

Guy’s ability to send books to Kakashi was thanks to the help of those people, especially Shibi Aburame, the clan leader of the Aburame.

Torifu Akimichi didn’t want the already weakened village to lose more talent!

He looked at Kakashi, waiting for his answer.

“I understand.”

There was no real choice to make.

Kakashi picked up the mask and gear resting on the chair.

A white fox mask with red markings, and the black multifunctional gear... these were his belongings. Even the small blade his father had given him—the one he used to kill Danzo—was returned to him, untouched.

"Go back and get ready first. Once you're prepared, report to the Hokage building, and someone will guide you on what to do." Akimichi Torifu gave a few more instructions, and only then did Kakashi, carrying the pile of things, say his goodbyes and leave. Left in the room were just Akimichi Torifu and Nara Shikaku.

Nara Shikaku, staring at the door as it closed again, couldn’t hold back his thoughts and asked, "Old man, handing the Nine-Tails… Uzumaki Naruto to the Uchiha clan feels a bit inappropriate." This was already a subtle way of putting it. In his view, it was more than just inappropriate. Giving control of the Nine-Tails jinchūriki to the Uchiha clan was like giving wings to a tiger.

If the Uchiha clan harbored any ill intent, the fate of Konoha could change in an instant.

He really couldn’t understand why Torifu had made such a decision!

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 107: Naruto Prepares to Head to the Frontlines*

“Shikaku, do you think I should suppress the Uchiha clan the same way the Third Hokage and the others did?”

In front of Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Torifu spoke bluntly. The relationship between the Ino-Shika-Cho trio has been an unbroken alliance since the Warring States Period. Though they are three separate clans, they are practically like family, sharing each other's fates.

Their bond truly is one of shared success and loss.

“Suppression isn’t necessary,” Shikaku replied. “The Uchiha today aren’t the same as they were in the past; they’re not easy to bully anymore. But precisely because of that, it’s even more important that we secure key assets like the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails. Otherwise... the Uchiha could become truly unstoppable.”

At this moment, Nara Shikaku was not acting as anyone's friend. He was the head of the Nara Clan and the strategist for the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, thinking purely from the perspective of his clan and the village.

Torifu let out a wry smile.

“Shikaku, you’ve never met the First Hokage or Madara Uchiha. You can’t understand just how terrifying Uchiha Madara was. If it weren’t for the First Hokage, the entire ninja world might have fallen under Madara’s control. Numbers meant nothing before his strength.”

Shikaku furrowed his brow. He couldn’t quite grasp the concept of the invincible power Torifu described.

And also, why bring up Uchiha Madara? Was it because of the intelligence that Uchiha Sogen brought back? The mysterious man claiming to be Madara that only Sogen and the captured Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, had seen?

“Old man, are you worried about that mysterious person claiming to be Uchiha Madara?”

Madara... Could he really be that strong? Just hearing the name made the old man uneasy.

“More or less,” Torifu admitted. The Yamanaka Clan had probed Yagura’s memories, with his cooperation, and although they hadn’t confirmed if the man was truly Madara, he was certainly an Uchiha powerful enough to manipulate Yagura, the Jinchuriki of the Three-Tails and the Fourth Mizukage, through the Sharingan.

With the confirmation that Uchiha Sogen's intelligence wasn’t false, a deep worry began to take root in Torifu’s heart.

The chaos of the Nine-Tails attack five years ago was still fresh in his mind. He had fought in that battle and almost lost his life that night, if not for the timely intervention of the Fourth Hokage. Torifu had to admit, unwillingly or not, that he was likely the weakest Hokage in the village’s history.

He sat as the interim Fifth Hokage only because of his status and the backing of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

In terms of raw strength, he couldn’t compare to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, or even Uchiha Kagami, all of whom were now deceased. At most, he could hold his own against Homura Mitokado or Koharu Utatane. This lack of strength left him feeling insecure.

If that mysterious Uchiha figure were to attack Konoha again and unleash the Nine-Tails, Torifu wasn’t confident that he could handle such a catastrophe.

So, sending Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, to someone who had already subdued a tailed beast and defeated that mysterious figure—like Uchiha Sogen—was a logical choice.

“I know what you’re thinking, Shikaku,” Torifu continued. “I am worried that Madara is still alive, but that’s only one reason for sending Naruto to the frontlines. The other reason is Uchiha Sogen himself.”

Torifu left no room for misunderstanding.

“I see the shadow of Madara in Sogen. While he may not be as strong as the Madara I remember, the problem is, Konoha doesn’t have another First Hokage. As long as Sogen lives, the Uchiha clan will continue to rise.”

At this point, Torifu seemed a bit disheartened.

“Shikaku, don’t think that just because I’m the Hokage, our three clans rule the village. You’re a smart man, the smartest of all. Don’t be blinded by the position of Hokage, which I obtained by mere coincidence. Once Jiraiya and Tsunade return to the village, I’ll have to give it up eventually.”

“Even if, for some reason, Jiraiya and Tsunade don’t want the position, how long can I hold onto it? I’m almost seventy years old. I may only have a few more years left to serve as Hokage. There’s no need for us to make enemies of the Uchiha.”

Shikaku rubbed his face, furrowing his brow further. “I understand, old man. But what if the Uchiha want... an Uchiha Hokage?”

“So what?” Torifu responded calmly, his expression as tranquil as water.

Shikaku was stunned.

Seeing his junior, who had been working so hard he’d started overthinking things, Torifu continued with a gentle tone. “If the Uchiha want the Hokage position, let them fight for it. Even if Sogen becomes Hokage, what’s the worst that could happen? He’s not going to wipe out the Ino-Shika-Cho clans.”

“The Third and the others suppressed the Uchiha partly because of Tobirama’s influence, but mostly to protect their own power. Whether the Uchiha are truly evil, Shikaku, you should be able to make your own judgment.”

Shikaku’s expression shifted, and the tension in his eyes faded, replaced by his usual laid-back demeanor.

“Phew!” He let out a long breath, scratching his head with a wry smile. “Old man, I’ve been so overwhelmed these past few days... I guess I just fell back into the mindset I had when advising the Third Hokage.”

Torifu was right. The Ino-Shika-Cho had no reason to be enemies with the Uchiha.

Suppressing the Uchiha would only create a terrifying enemy for them. Their family was their true foundation, and the Hokage position was merely a bonus. As long as the Hokage wasn’t like the manipulated Fourth Mizukage, it didn’t really matter who held the title.

This was the shared view of most clans in the village.

“As long as you’ve cleared your head!” Torifu sighed in relief. “Everyone makes mistakes now and then, as long as you don’t stay confused forever.”

“Speaking of which,” Shikaku said, adjusting his mindset and refocusing on his duties, “we should start preparing to send Naruto to the frontlines.”

“I would’ve done it earlier if I hadn’t been busy trying to talk sense into you,” Torifu grumbled, standing up swiftly and heading out with Shikaku toward the Hokage Tower.

---

At the village gates, Naruto paced anxiously, his emotions a whirlwind of excitement and fear as he prepared for his first journey outside the village.

Behind him stood Uchiha Genshi, who paid little mind to the boy's nervous energy, hands clasped behind his back as he watched the approaching figures on the rooftops.

Finally, they arrived.

“Elder Genshi, I’m grateful,” Torifu greeted him.

“It’s my duty, Hokage. No need for thanks,” Genshi replied.

Torifu glanced at the exhausted-looking young man beside Genshi—Uchiha Shisui, a renowned genius of the Uchiha clan. He seemed weary, though.

“This is Uchiha Shisui. To ensure Naruto’s safety, he’ll be joining the mission to the frontlines. His genjutsu will be useful in case of any tricky situations. What do you think, Hokage?” Genshi asked.

“Of course. I’m more than grateful for the Uchiha’s assistance.”

With everything set, the group prepared to depart.

Chapter 108: Naruto Uzumaki on the Road

The crackling sound of firewood woke Naruto from his sleep.

He rubbed his eyes, lifted the blanket covering him, and thanked Uchiha Shisui, returning the blanket. The blanket bore the familiar symbol of the Uchiha clan, the fan emblem, known far and wide. Naruto recalled seeing this pattern all over the Fujiwara household as well.

Shisui smiled weakly and took the blanket, but he didn’t have the energy to say much. He just sat on a log, lost in thought. The others had gotten used to this. The Uchiha genius seemed distant and aloof, always silent on the road and often spacing out during rest. No one knew what he was thinking, but after spending two days with him, it was clear that Shisui was a rare, kind soul.

He wasn’t just an anomaly within the Uchiha clan; in all of Konoha, there weren’t many people as genuinely kind-hearted as him.

He was cheerful, open, polite, and always had a smile for everyone. His manner was refreshing, but what was most admirable was that this wasn’t a display of emotional intelligence—it was a reflection of his innocent nature.

Naruto had fallen asleep against his backpack, and Shisui hadn’t forgotten to cover him with the blanket.

"Naruto, get up and wash your face. It’s time to eat," Akimichi Chōza called, stirring a large pot of soup.

As the leader of the Akimichi clan, not many knew that Chōza had decent cooking skills. Cooking wasn’t a family tradition—Akimichi clan members loved to eat, but they didn’t particularly enjoy cooking. Chōza’s skills came from his experience on the battlefield, and only those who had fought alongside him knew about it.

Tonight’s dinner was pork soup with grilled rice balls.

The enticing aroma filled the air, and Naruto’s stomach growled. After a day of travel, he was exhausted, and being a growing teenager, he was always hungry. He hurried to wash his face at a nearby stream, with Kakashi silently trailing behind him like a ghost.

It had been two days since they left Konoha, and Kakashi was still pondering how to talk to Naruto. The connection between them was the Fourth Hokage, but Naruto didn’t know he was the Fourth’s son, and Kakashi didn’t know if he should reveal this secret.

Without this link, Kakashi felt he had no reason to look after Naruto.

He had sought advice from Aburame Shibi and Akimichi Chōza, but neither had given him a clear answer. Should Naruto’s identity be revealed? The village’s leaders were conflicted. They feared that if they kept it hidden, Naruto might one day resent the village, but revealing it now might cause him to lose control…

As the higher-ups sighed, they quietly cursed the Third Hokage for his poor handling of the situation. A valuable jinchūriki, the Nine-Tails host, had been neglected, causing endless trouble for his successors.

"Uncle Chōza, how much longer do we have to go?" Naruto asked as he grabbed a grilled rice ball. It had become a routine question, even though he knew the answer.

"If all goes well, tomorrow we should reach a place where we won’t have to eat in the wild anymore," Chōza replied, holding a bowl much larger than anyone else’s, practically half the size of the pot.

If Naruto were older, they would’ve reached their destination by now. Ninja could travel at astonishing speeds, and those who could manipulate chakra could move quickly without being taught.

"Tomorrow?" Naruto’s eyes lit up.

He would finally see Fujiwara tomorrow. He had so much he wanted to talk about, and the thought of the battlefield didn’t concern him—he didn’t fully understand it yet.

Meanwhile, Kakashi finished his dinner and disappeared into the nearby forest. He drew his small sword, the blade glowing coldly under the moonlight. Like a phantom, he appeared behind a rogue ninja, swiftly ending the man's life. Blood sprayed onto the tree trunks as the lifeless body slumped.

And this was only the beginning.

Kakashi had become a reaper, cutting down the greedy and foolish rogues who had planned to attack and kidnap Naruto under cover of darkness. The assailants didn’t know who had hired them, but after interrogating them to no avail, Kakashi had no choice but to kill them all.

He wasn’t the only one. Uchiha Shisui, silent and deadly, killed even more enemies. Soon, Chōza and Might Guy’s shadow clones joined the massacre.

"Shisui, Kakashi, any clues?" Chōza asked, kicking over a body.

"As before, no idea who hired them," Shisui replied quietly.

This was the seventh attack in two days. Since leaving the village, Naruto’s group had been constantly ambushed. The dark side of the ANBU, Konoha’s elite force, had suffered heavy casualties, and they still hadn’t uncovered the mastermind.

"It’s either the Cloud or Stone Village," Shibi Aburame stated, his real body present since his clan's insect-based techniques didn’t work with shadow clones.

"Most likely the Cloud. They’re the most aggressive."

Everyone nodded in agreement. There wasn’t much need for proof; only a few villages had the nerve to target Konoha’s Nine-Tails jinchūriki. The Sand Village was still recovering, and Mist’s spies had already been wiped out.

That left Cloud and Stone, both capable of gathering intel on Naruto’s route and hiring skilled rogues to attack. Konoha’s ANBU hadn’t fallen so far as to be overwhelmed by mere wanderers.

"One more night. Before we left, the Hokage sent word to the Uchiha clan leader. Reinforcements will arrive tomorrow morning," Chōza reassured the group.

While this wasn’t entirely necessary—everyone here was a seasoned veteran of the Third Great Ninja War—it was still encouraging to hear.

"Don’t worry, Chōza-senpai! Kakashi and I will protect Naruto with our lives!" Guy said enthusiastically, glancing at Kakashi. "Right, Kakashi?"

"...I’ll protect Naruto with my life," Kakashi replied, though he didn’t bother to engage with Guy’s usual energetic antics. Today, however, Guy was right. Having lost so much already, Kakashi was determined not to lose anything more.

---

"Another failure!"

"Wasn’t it expected? Without the Byakugan or Yamanaka’s mind techniques, we’re up against Aburame, who’s skilled with insects. If it were that easy, we’d have to suspect a trap."

"But we’re running out of time. If Konoha’s reinforcements arrive, we’ll miss our chance."

On a distant hill, a group of Cloud ninjas gathered.

Shibi Aburame’s deduction had been correct. It was indeed the Cloud ninjas behind the attacks, rogue agents operating without waiting for orders from the Raikage.

"We can’t act recklessly."

The speaker was a large, weathered man with gray hair. He clenched his fists. "If we attack now, we’ll suffer unnecessary losses. No one makes a move until Konoha’s reinforcements arrive."

"And if they arrive too late?" a younger ninja asked.

"Then capturing the Nine-Tails isn’t meant to be this time. You can’t rush things or you’ll die. If you waste the village’s resources, that’s what’s unforgivable," the older man scolded.

Chastised, the younger ninja fell silent.

Once alone, the older man’s face showed signs of fatigue. He didn’t know if his decision was right, having committed so many resources to this mission. If they failed… he shook his head, trying not to think about it.

If Konoha’s reinforcements arrived in time, they would have to retreat without a fight. But if the Cloud’s support came through, they would have the confidence to act.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 109: Maybe We Should Just Get Rid of the Fourth Mizukage!*

*Kuroshio Castle.*

Sougen flipped through documents he had already read many times, clicking his tongue in admiration. His grandfather truly had a way with words. He actually managed to convince the Fifth Hokage’s substitute to send the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki to the front lines. Wasn’t the old man usually annoyed by young brats hovering around Fujiwara?

Had he suddenly changed his mind?

Yagura Karatachi sat across from Sougen, holding a flawless white chess piece and waiting for Sougen to make his move.

But despite the wait, Uchiha Sougen showed no signs of playing.

“Clan Leader Uchiha, are we going to continue this game or not?” Yagura was getting angry.

Who stops playing in the middle of a game?

“What’s the rush? There's no time limit on this game,” Sougen said, putting the thin sheet of paper back and picking up a piece, considering his next move. “By the way, Lord Mizukage, are you ready? If all goes according to plan, we’ll begin our operation today.”

“...Today?”

Yagura's brow furrowed.

“An operation today? Why am I just hearing about this now?”

“Didn’t I tell you?”

Sougen placed a chess piece, looking surprised at Yagura on the other side.

Suppressing the urge to curse, Yagura's face changed several times before he finally held back the words “Tell me my ass!” and forced a polite smile. “This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

“Oh! Then I must’ve made a mistake. I thought I had already told you, Lord Mizukage. That’s my oversight; I apologize.” Sougen laughed insincerely, showing no real remorse. “But it’s no big deal. Anyway, you don’t have much to pack. You can travel light.”

Yagura’s face twitched as he held back his frustration.

Under the eaves, he had to bow his head.

These past few days, he had tried multiple times to draw upon the power of the Three-Tails, but found that he couldn’t use it at all. The Three-Tails seemed like a stone, not only unable to provide power but also showing no sign of life. No matter how he tried to stir it in the sealing space, it remained motionless.

This made him deeply aware of just how terrifying the Uchiha Clan was.

Although the Three-Tails was still sealed within him, it was no longer his. It didn’t even belong to the Hidden Mist Village anymore!

“So, since the operation is today, does that mean we’ve identified the Hidden Mist command center?” Yagura asked, trying to keep his composure while placing a chess piece. He didn’t have much to pack, but he still needed to prepare mentally. He had been planning how best to swiftly and decisively inform all the Hidden Mist ninja of the village’s surrender and alliance with the Leaf to pursue the mysterious figure.

“Of course, we’ve confirmed it. If we weren’t certain, we couldn’t execute this beheading tactic, could we?”

Just as Uchiha Obito had manipulated Yagura to decapitate the Eastern Border Defense Forces’ command center, Sougen planned to use the same tactic to end this war.

“When exactly are we making our move today?”

Yagura raised his gaze beyond the eaves to the cloudy sky. It was around 9 or 10 in the morning. Judging from Uchiha Sougen’s leisurely attitude, they wouldn’t act right away. Would it be after lunch? Or in the evening? It couldn’t be at night, could it?

“It depends. We’ll set out whenever our guest arrives,” Sougen gave him an unexpected answer.

“A guest?”

Yagura’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at the stack of documents and letters beside Sougen. “Are you waiting for the Leaf’s Nine-Tails Jinchūriki? Just for a mere Jinchūriki... is it worth the wait?” He spoke sincerely; he himself was a Jinchūriki, yet now even his own tailed beast seemed to belong to the Uchiha.

To Sougen, having one more or one less Jinchūriki shouldn’t make any difference.

“It’s a chance for the kid to gain some experience. These big events don’t happen often. If he misses this, who knows when the next opportunity will come? Besides, for a Jinchūriki, witnessing the battlefield early on is beneficial.”

Sougen spoke with a smile.

He didn’t particularly care why the village had sent the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki to him, but since he was now under Sougen’s command, he had his own plans. The Nine-Tails itself didn’t interest him much; at least for now, the tailed beasts were of little use to him.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have left the Three-Tails inside Yagura. It would be more useful as a “summon” or “power bank,” wouldn’t it?

Though he wasn’t interested in the Nine-Tails, he was intrigued by Naruto.

He liked this clever and perceptive Naruto. As for the elusive Asura chakra, he had some interest but it wasn’t his main concern. His focus was still on Naruto himself.

He wanted to see if Naruto could grow up without losing the cleverness of his childhood, and what kind of person he would become.

Would he, under the influence of the Asura chakra, continue to be the sunny, cheerful Naruto, who didn’t seem like a normal person?

Or perhaps, would Naruto follow a completely different path?

“Training the next generation?”

Yagura tightened his grip on the chess piece, his heart full of envy and jealousy.

This was the Leaf, after all—a place where one generation continuously passed the torch to the next. In contrast, his own Hidden Mist Village was nearly bled dry by internal strife. Fortunately, there were still a few promising young talents among the younger generation: Hōzuki Mangetsu, Mei Terumi, Zabuza Momochi, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Ringo Ameyuri. If this group could grow up steadily, perhaps the future of the Hidden Mist could still hold some promise.

---

*Offshore, Nameless Island.*

The island wasn’t large, but it had the rare feature of a fresh water source. That was why, during the third relocation of the Hidden Mist’s command center, they chose this uninhabited and unnamed island. As for the constant relocation of the command center, the Fourth Mizukage explained it as a precaution against the Leaf’s potential use of the same beheading tactic to attack their command.

Frankly, the younger members scoffed at this reasoning.

For instance, the young prodigy of the Hōzuki Clan, Hōzuki Mangetsu, publicly mocked the Mizukage for losing his courage against the Uchiha. Surprisingly, the usually ruthless Fourth Mizukage didn’t punish Mangetsu, instead stubbornly continuing to order relentless attacks on the Leaf ninja.

He seemed to care little about the casualties and didn’t leave the command center, almost as if Mangetsu was right—his spirit had been broken by the Uchiha.

The waves crashed against the rocks. A beautiful woman stood on a boulder, her reddish-brown hair flowing behind her, her emerald-green eyes lively and captivating as she gazed at the approaching small boat.

The boat was indeed small.

It could only carry five to seven people at most.

But the small boat was fast. With Hōzuki Mangetsu, an expert at manipulating water, there was no need for a sail; the boat surged through the waves as if propelled by rockets, quickly reaching the shore.

Hōzuki Mangetsu, Zabuza Momochi, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Ringo Ameyuri disembarked.

Mei Terumi glanced at them. Not bad.

Except for Mangetsu, they were all wounded, but none had suffered severe injuries or lost limbs.

“What are the results of this round?” Mei Terumi asked.

“A mixed bag,” Mangetsu replied, stretching his limbs. “I took out two teams, but they were just small fry—no Uchiha or Hyūga.”

“I was targeted by someone from the Hyūga Clan. Their Byakugan is extremely annoying. My Silent Killing technique was completely useless.” Zabuza, whose face was wrapped in bandages with only his cold eyes visible, complained bitterly. Unlike Mangetsu, who at least had some kills to show for it, Zabuza didn’t get a single one.

“I took down a team of Fire Style users from the Leaf. They weren’t Uchiha, seemed to be from the Sarutobi Clan,” said Kisame, his shark-like face displaying a chillingly fake smile. Zabuza grunted in displeasure beside him.

“Bad luck.”

Ringo Ameyuri, who shared the same reddish-brown hair as Mei Terumi but lacked her social skills, was curt. So curt, in fact, that Mei had no idea what she meant by “bad luck.”

Left with no choice, Mei had to turn to Mangetsu.

“Ameyuri ran into that Uchiha woman again! Her Lightning Style was completely countered by that woman’s Wind Style. If I hadn’t been passing by, Ameyuri wouldn’t have made it back.” Mangetsu clicked his tongue. “The Sharingan’s genjutsu is really nasty. If I didn’t have decent survival skills, I would’ve been slashed by her.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

He was right.

The Uchiha clan’s Jōnin were their most troublesome enemies. The genjutsu from the Sharingan was truly difficult to deal with, and combined with their Fire Release techniques, which could rival ordinary Water Release techniques, even prodigies like Hōzuki Mangetsu and his group had suffered quite a bit in recent fierce battles against the Uchiha.

"Is it... Uchiha Chisao?" Terumi Mei frowned.

Ever since the war between Konoha and the Mist started, intelligence had naturally been flowing between the two sides. Both were aware of the standout young fighters as time went on. On the Mist side, it was undoubtedly Hōzuki Mangetsu and his peers.

As for Konoha, most were from the Uchiha clan, while some were from the Hyūga, Aburame, and other clans.

Uchiha Chisao was one of them. His rare Wind Release techniques were incredibly sharp, and he had taken down many skilled Mist shinobi. Including this time, Ringo Ameyuri had twice nearly been killed by him, but fortunately, different people had intervened to save her on both occasions, preventing a premature death.

"Was it an ambush?"

Considering that Zabuza had recently been targeted by the Hyūga’s Byakugan, it wasn’t hard to conclude that Konoha was deliberately sniping at the Mist’s young talents.

"Is that even a question?"

Hōzuki Mangetsu glanced over, "Does our Mizukage have any countermeasures?"

Terumi Mei pressed her lips together, ultimately saying nothing.

Countermeasures?

What countermeasures? Recently, the Mizukage had done nothing but order the troops to attack without any real strategy.

"That bastard!"

Hōzuki Mangetsu’s face darkened.

The thought he had suppressed several times resurfaced uncontrollably.

"Maybe we should just get rid of the Fourth Mizukage!"

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 110: The Fourth Hokage's Surname Doesn't Seem to Be Uzumaki?*

The signs of a coup in the Village Hidden in the Mist (Kirigakure) were reemerging, and beneath the seemingly calm surface, the undercurrents were growing more turbulent. The war, lacking any semblance of order, caused the number of casualties to rise daily to shocking levels. More and more Hidden Mist shinobi were becoming dissatisfied with the Fourth Mizukage's rule. However, no one was willing to stand out as the first to rebel, as these shinobi, accustomed to betraying each other, waited for someone else to make the first move.

But if no one acted soon, the opportunity might be lost.

After many risks and setbacks, the group escorting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki finally arrived at Black Tide Castle just in time for dinner. Naruto was well-protected and hadn't suffered a scratch. In contrast, the shinobi tasked with escorting him—Kakashi, Shisui, and Guy—showed signs of fatigue, not from visible injuries but from significant chakra depletion.

"Aburame Clan Leader, Akimichi Clan Leader," Sougen greeted the two slightly exhausted clan leaders.

"Looks like the journey wasn't smooth!"

Aburame Shibi remained silent, his sunglasses and high-collared coat concealing his expression, while Akimichi Choza responded with a bitter smile, mixed with anger and relief. "It was quite dangerous. If not for the timely aid of Uchiha Clan Leader's reinforcements, and Shisui pulling me out of harm's way, I might have fallen to those damned Cloud shinobi."

His words were filled with anger and resentment toward the Cloud shinobi.

"As long as it helped," Sougen said. After receiving the letter, he had called for Aburame Shibi and Yamanaka Mokuren to lead a team to meet the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. He himself had to keep an eye on Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage. Moreover, the escort team included Shisui and Guy; unless the Fourth Raikage intervened personally, there shouldn't have been any serious issues.

"Were the attackers really Cloud shinobi?" Sougen asked.

"Yes," Choza answered with a gritted expression, the forced smile fading from his face. "It was definitely those mountain brutes. Their Lightning Style taijutsu is unmistakable. The wandering shinobi from before didn’t provide direct evidence of who was behind the scenes, but several skilled attackers used Lightning Style techniques during the dawn ambush. I nearly got taken out, but thanks to Shisui's Body Flicker Technique, he managed to shield me from a lethal blow. When Shibi's reinforcements arrived, the attackers saw they were at a disadvantage and retreated."

Mentioning Shisui, Choza could only feel deep gratitude. It was a narrow escape—he had almost met the Sage of Six Paths in the afterlife.

From Konoha to the eastern border, the route lay entirely within the Fire Country's heartland, far from the northern borders. Even if Cloud shinobi spies had obtained accurate information, it seemed unlikely they could dispatch skilled shinobi to infiltrate Fire Country in time.

Or could it be that Cloud shinobi had stationed skilled operatives in neighboring countries like the Land of Hot Water or the Land of Frost... or even within Fire Country itself?

It wasn’t an impossible guess. After all, they had successfully coerced Konoha once before, emboldening them to take bigger risks.

"Cloud shinobi... We'll settle this score with them later." Sougen narrowed his eyes, the slit-like pupils glowing blood-red with a murderous aura before he suppressed it. The current priority was to resolve the situation with the Hidden Mist.

"Aburame Clan Leader, Akimichi Clan Leader, please rest for now. I'll take care of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."

Aburame Shibi stood still and then asked, "Uchiha Clan Leader, are you planning to leave?"

He had seen many armed shinobi moving in and out of the castle entrance in a short time, and Sougen himself was now dressed in red armor, carrying the long-lost Uchiha clan's "Flame Fan."

This seemed like preparation for something big.

"That's right," Sougen nodded. "This war has gone on long enough. It’s about time we put an end to it."

Akimichi Choza blinked, not immediately understanding. Aburame Shibi, however, remained silent for a few seconds before continuing, "Ending the war... is this a decapitation strategy? Are you planning to destroy the Mist's command center?"

"Not destroy. I'm going to form an alliance. Don’t forget the trump card we have." Sougen smiled.

A trump card?

Aburame Shibi's eyebrows, hidden beneath his sunglasses, twitched as he recalled a certain name.

"The Fourth Mizukage?"

As he murmured, Yagura, the Fourth Mizukage, appeared before them. The short-statured, baby-faced Mizukage glanced around at the assembled yet incomplete team and frowned. "Still not ready? Too slow."

"Good things come to those who wait. Be patient, Lord Mizukage," Sougen replied calmly.

Yagura didn’t argue. It was pointless, and even winning a dispute wouldn't bring any benefit. He walked over to a shaded area, sat down on the ground, and closed his eyes to rest. Sougen, meanwhile, invited the two clan leaders inside the castle, arranging for Nara Suzaku to welcome them and Guy.

...

Naruto spotted Uchiha Fujika approaching from a distance, pushing a wheelchair. He eagerly waved and ran over. Kakashi hesitated briefly but stayed put, leaving the children to their own interactions.

However, was Naruto’s only friend an Uchiha?

He unconsciously thought of Obito, who was crushed under rocks. He had failed to keep his promise to Obito and couldn't protect Rin. The thought brought a dull ache to his heart, casting a shadow over his mood.

"Fujika, long time no see!"

Naruto beamed.

"Naruto?" Fujika blinked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Yakumo, seated in the wheelchair, was also curious. Though young, she was mature and perceptive. Having read many books and listened to stories from her father, Kurama Unkai, she had a vague understanding that Naruto’s status was not ordinary and that he shouldn't have left the village so easily.

"..." Naruto was stumped by the question.

Why was he here? He couldn’t figure it out. It seemed he had been in the park, met Fujika’s grandfather, and had a brief conversation. Then, Fujika's grandfather had asked him if he was afraid of death. If not, he should see the battlefield.

After that, the Fifth Hokage himself had gotten involved. Naruto didn’t really understand terms like "acting Hokage." He only knew that the Third had died, and this chubby old man was the new Hokage. In any case, a group had been assembled, including some familiar faces like Shisui, and many unfamiliar ones, to accompany him.

He had agreed in a daze. Ideas like ninja warfare and battlefields didn’t concern him much—he just wanted to find his friend.

Now that he’d met her, though, he was a bit embarrassed.

"Sigh! Still the same clueless guy! Don’t you even know why you’re here?" Fujika sighed, feeling exasperated at having such a simple-minded companion. "Oh well, it doesn’t matter. Since you’re here, I’ll look after you."

The little girl boasted confidently.

"Okay!" Naruto scratched his head with a bright smile.

"What are you grinning about? This is a battlefield! Let's see if you can still smile after you see some corpses." Fujika gave Naruto a stern look before pushing the wheelchair toward the castle gate. Both she and Yakumo were to participate in the upcoming mission, which, according to Sougen, would be a rare chance to gain valuable experience by infiltrating the Mist's command center.

Would the presence of the two girls be a hindrance? Certainly not.

While wiping out the entire Hidden Mist village would be challenging, taking down the army led by Yagura was well within Sougen's capabilities. But killing wasn’t his goal; he wasn’t a bloodthirsty maniac. War was not an end in itself but a means to an end.

Rather than annihilate the Mist shinobi, it would be better to tame them.

If they could form a stable alliance, it would not only add a strong ally but also be beneficial in future confrontations with the Akatsuki and Black Zetsu.

Outside the castle gate, ninjas skilled in Earth Style had already leveled the ground at Sougen’s command. The now-flat area was crowded with members from various clans, including Uchiha, Hyuga, Aburame, Yamanaka, Inuzuka, and Kurama.

Fujika and Yakumo easily spotted Uchiha Chihaya among the crowd.

Even amidst the numerous elite ninjas, Chihaya stood out—not just because of her beauty, but due to her aloof demeanor, which made people hesitate to approach her. Few in the Uchiha clan liked dealing with this blunt, unpretentious woman, who often unintentionally pointed out others’ flaws.

"Chihaya-sister," Fujika greeted her politely.

"Yakumo, Fujika, and... the little blonde." Uchiha Chihaya paused for two seconds, unable to recall Naruto's name, so she simply referred to him as "the little blonde." This left Naruto a bit frustrated, and he whispered, "My name is Naruto Uzumaki!"

However, as soon as the topic of names came up, a rumor immediately came to mind.

If she remembered correctly, wasn't the Fourth Hokage's surname different from Uzumaki?

(End of this chapter)