Uchiha Clan Estate, Military Police Force.
Uchiha Shisui looked out the window at the sky, which was gradually brightening. Dawn's first hints stretched faintly across the rooftops, lighting the silent compound.
"It's almost time to depart." Shisui said, exhaling lightly. "I will apply to Hokage-sama for the Uchiha to arrange a team to head toward the border. They'll be on standby at your disposal at any time."
Yun nodded. "Although we still don't know if a war will truly break out, preparing early is absolutely necessary. Hokage-sama must have already made most deployments last night. He wouldn't wait until morning under these circumstances."
Even while speaking, Yun continued checking the equipment on the desk, kunai, explosive tags, the scroll containing seals for emergency use. Everything had to be perfect. A single mistake at the border could become the fuse for a war.
Shisui watched him for a moment, then asked, "Earlier, at the Nara Clan Grounds, Kakashi said Hokage-sama was ready for war. Is that actually true?"
A faint, cold laugh escaped Yun.
"The Hyuga clan doesn't have that much influence. If all the clans united earlier, it wasn't purely for sympathy, it was because circumstances forced it. And as for Hokage-sama choosing war purely for them… impossible."
Yun tightened the strap on his forearm guard and continued, "Yes, Hokage-sama will hesitate. Yes, he carries responsibility as the leader of the village. But going to war with Kumogakure solely for the Hyuga? It is unrealistic."
He tapped the table with his finger.
"What did Kakashi actually say? He said Hokage-sama contacted Jiraiya-sama and told him to return. That's all. You can interpret it however you want, but the Fourth never explicitly stated, 'Prepare for war'."
Shisui looked thoughtful, brows slightly furrowed.
Yun shifted his gaze toward the window, where the light grew stronger by the second.
"Still, Kakashi's words took half the merit we could have claimed." Yun continued. "From today on, the only people who will definitely obey the Third Hokage are his direct Anbu and the Sarutobi and Shimura clans."
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"No… even his direct Anbu will be split. After Danzo's death and the Orochimaru defection incident, confidence in the Third Hokage is no longer what it used to be."
Shisui stiffened a little at the mention of political fracture. The village had never been simple, but seeing the old power structures crumble was unsettling.
Before Shisui could speak, Yun clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"No need to think too hard. From now on, the Uchiha have officially stepped into the circle of clans. With this connection, the Uchiha will no longer be the isolated Uchiha of old."
He stood up straight.
"And because of that, whether it's Hokage-sama, the Third Hokage, or those two fossilized Advisors, they will all hesitate before making a move against the Uchiha again."
Yun lifted the prepared equipment bag onto his back.
"If war breaks out, you need to request to fight alongside me from Hokage-sama. Use that as the reason to restructure the Military Police Force from the ground up."
Shisui nodded firmly. "Don't worry. I'll remember."
With nothing more to say, Yun formed a seal.
Swish!
Using a Body Flicker Technique, he vanished from the Military Police Force building, heading directly toward Konoha's main gate.
He had already said his farewells at home. His mother didn't know the mission could erupt into war at any moment, but Yun knew very well that every single time he left the village, she would barely sleep until he returned. Izumi had whispered that to him before, half complaining, half concerned and had begged him to take better care of himself.
Swish!
Arriving at the Konoha main gate, Yun reported to the gatekeepers. The morning air was heavy and cold, carrying a quiet tension that had spread across the village overnight.
Not long after, Kakashi arrived with two Kumo-nin wearing grim expressions.
After the formalities and registration, the group finally stepped beyond the massive Konoha gates.
The moment they did, Yun leaned slightly toward Kakashi and asked quietly, "Where are the bodies?"
Kakashi kept his voice low. "Sealed inside a scroll carried by the two in front. After the incident last night, those two sent a message directly to Kumogakure."
He paused.
"And Kumogakure responded with a statement delivered to Konoha through the Heavenly Transfer Technique. These two were ordered to pass it to sensei."
Yun frowned. "What was in the statement?"
Kakashi replied, "They invoked 'Kumogakure secrets', demanding Konoha return the body of the envoy killed by Hyuga Hiashi. They also prohibited Konoha from using any secret technique to read the envoy's memories."
Yun's expression darkened.
Kakashi continued, "The scroll also stated that two other Kumo-nin witnessed the Hyuga Clan Head killing the envoy due to a verbal dispute. Therefore, Kumogakure demands we hand over Hyuga Hiashi."
Yun let out a short, cold laugh.
"They haven't even begun negotiating and they're already blocking us from proving innocence? So, whatever these two say becomes absolute truth?"
He spread his hands in mock frustration.
"If they claim Hokage-sama killed your envoy, does that mean Hokage-sama also has to die? Are they stupid, or do they think we are?"
Kakashi sighed. "That's why sensei deployed his forces so quickly. Kumogakure's objective is clear. And since we've already made our decision…"
Before he could finish, the two Kumo-nin suddenly stopped walking.
One turned around sharply; his face twisted in anger.
"The three of us came to form an alliance on behalf of Kumogakure, yet our companion was murdered by Konoha's Hyuga Clan Head!"
The other clenched his fists. "If Konoha refuses to give Kumogakure an explanation and doesn't hand over Hyuga Hiashi, then the alliance is meaningless! Raikage-sama will definitely seek revenge."
Yun rubbed his forehead as if he'd heard the most annoying nonsense in the world.
Then he looked at them and said calmly, "You two know exactly what happened. Don't pretend to be grieving martyrs."
His eyes narrowed.
"Konoha has never feared war. And honestly? If you keep this up, I might kill you both right here. When war starts, two more corpses won't make much difference."
The two Kumo-nin stiffened slightly, exchanging uneasy glances.
After a moment, one of them regained his composure and sneered, "Regardless of what you say… if Konoha doesn't want war, it must pay the price."
The other added coldly, "And if you choose to fight, Raikage-sama and Bee-sama will destroy your entire Konoha."
Yun stared at them for a long moment.
Then he chuckled.
"Heh. Two small fry dare talk about destroying Konoha? Even Killer Bee wouldn't say something that stupid."
Kakashi's dead-fish eye narrowed. "Those who start a war carelessly won't have a good end. Between Kumogakure and Konoha, the victor isn't decided by your empty threats."
"As an elite ninja, you shouldn't underestimate Konoha… and you definitely shouldn't underestimate war."
The Kumo-nin only sneered.
"It doesn't matter. When you meet Raikage-sama, I hope you keep your arrogance."
They turned and continued forward.
Kakashi and Yun exchanged glances, then silently followed.
As they continued along the road, faint sounds echoed from the forests on both sides, branches rustling, shadows flickering.
Kakashi spoke quietly, "The front-line reconnaissance squads are moving. It's a combined force of the Third Hokage's Anbu and sensei's direct Anbu. They aren't concealing their presence, they're rushing to fortify the border."
Yun nodded. "One night… and they managed to arrange all this."
Kakashi shook his head. "It wasn't only Anbu. Last night, after Hiashi-san reported the truth, messenger hawks were sent to the border. Jonin units were dispatched immediately. Once war starts, time means everything."
Yun took a deep breath.
He had never experienced a Ninja World War himself.
But he could already feel it.
A storm was brewing. A real one.
And this time…
Konoha would not bow.
*****
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✓ Killed For 100 Years in Hueco Mundo, Aizen Invited Me To Soul Society!
✓ Naruto: Senmei Asahi
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