Half a day later, under Namikaze Minato's leadership, the Konoha ninja clan allied army officially arrived at the temporary rest base built by Orochimaru.
With the arrival of 2,001 people, the already small temporary base instantly became crowded.
Namikaze Minato brought Inuzuka Ryoha, Aburame Shiken, Senju Hideki, Uchiha Kamito, Hyūga Hiyasu, and the leader of the Ino–Shika–Chō formation, Nara Shikakaku, to meet Orochimaru.
When Orochimaru saw youngsters like Uchiha Kamito, he was momentarily stunned, but quickly understood.
"As expected of you all. You're already capable of leading your clans at such a young age."
"Orochimaru-sama, do you have a map? We need a sealed-off open area," Aburame Shiken said.
Oh? Does the Aburame clan have some kind of trump card?
Orochimaru tossed the map in his hand to Aburame Shiken.
During the past year of mentoring, he had come to understand this student of his—Shiken never did anything without reason.
Aburame Shiken rapidly scanned the map while Orochimaru turned to ask Minato.
"Did Sarutobi-sensei send Sakumo-senpai over?"
"Sorry, Orochimaru-sama. The Hokage said Sakumo-sama has another, even more critical mission."
"That's fine. After all, this isn't the only battlefield."
Orochimaru nodded.
He hadn't held much hope that Sakumo-senpai would come anyway. After all, Kage-level combat power was extremely precious.
That's right—during the past year of leading his team, Hatake Sakumo had successfully broken through to Kage-level.
"Orochimaru-sama, when will we roughly be able to start another large-scale battle with the Hidden Rain?" Aburame Shiken asked.
"A large-scale battle could happen anytime. But Shiken, a full-scale clash would greatly increase the effectiveness of Hanzō's poison gas attacks. We currently have no good countermeasure for that, and Konoha can't afford the losses anymore."
Orochimaru tried to discourage him. Against Hanzō, it was better to rely on small units infiltrating the Rain ninja positions. That way they could minimize casualties from large-scale poison gas attacks.
"Orochimaru-sama, as long as you can hold Hanzō back and prevent him from joining the main battlefield, I guarantee that not a single Rain ninja who comes will return alive."
"Oh? Tell me your battle plan in detail."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama. But first, I need to set up a few preliminary steps."
"Ryoha. These places—these, these, and these. Bring me some corpses from there."
"How many?"
"The more the better."
"Hehe… I'll make sure you're satisfied."
Inuzuka Ryoha revealed a bloodthirsty grin and walked out of the command room.
"Eimaru, call the others."
"Woof! Woof!"
The Inuzuka clan quickly assembled and followed Inuzuka Ryoha as they rushed out.
"Hiyasu, these places—these, these, these, and these. I need constant surveillance over them," Aburame Shiken continued assigning tasks.
"No problem. Leave it to me."
Hyūga Hiyasu walked out and found Hyūga Hiashi.
"Hiashi, bring a few people who've learned it. I need them."
"Understood."
Hyūga Hiyasu looked at the few people in front of him.
Well… their overall literacy level still needed improvement, but it would do for now.
"Come on. I'll take you to work."
"Yes, Hiyasu-sama."
"Kamito, go have your clan members learn Wind Release: Great Breakthrough. You understand the three-stage strike tactic, right? Teaching your clan members shouldn't be a problem."
Aburame Shiken said.
"If those idiots can't learn it, they shouldn't be on the battlefield."
Uchiha Kamito sneered and walked out. He was going to whip those useless clan members into shape.
Finally, Aburame Shiken looked at Nara Shikakaku.
"Go find Shikaku. Tell him about today's matter—he'll know what to do."
Nara Shikakaku thought to himself: It feels like you don't respect me very much… but if it means I can slack off, I'm fine with it. Next time you should just let him come directly so I don't have to make an extra trip.
Orochimaru watched as Aburame Shiken organized everything in an orderly fashion.
At this point, it felt like there was no need to hear the full plan anymore.
Just watching the arrangements already made it seem extremely promising.
He had seen the locations Shiken pointed out on the map.
They formed something like a giant pocket.
Are you really planning to swallow all the Rain ninja in one bite?
How bold.
"Orochimaru-sama, let me explain the detailed flow of the plan."
"You should just call me sensei."
"But this is the battlefield."
"It's fine. I'm allowing it."
"…Alright, Orochimaru-sensei."
"If you changed that cold tone of yours a little, it would sound even better."
"Orochimaru-sensei, if you changed your voice a bit, it would sound better too."
"Shiken, the two of us work well together."
"Orochimaru-sensei, the plan is like this…"
Uchiha Kamito: So, sensei… I'm not your favorite student anymore?
...
Temporary Uchiha encampment.
Uchiha Kamito looked at the three hundred Uchiha standing before him and slightly curled his lips into a smile.
"What? Still not convinced?"
"Come on, let's keep going. Back in the Police Force I already said it—I'm an Uchiha. Beat me, and everything goes your way. Likewise, since I beat you, you listen to me. If you're not convinced, we can keep going. There's still a whole night left. We've got plenty of time to play."
The three hundred Uchiha instantly began trembling.
That day…
More than five hundred members of the Police Force had fought this man.
One man, one blade, and one pair of Sharingan.
From dusk until dawn.
That overwhelming figure sweeping through everything had been burned deeply into their minds.
And it made them feel something—
This is what a true Uchiha looks like.
"Chief, whatever you say, we'll do it. No objections."
The former Police Force captain, Uchiha Raiden, spoke.
He had been completely beaten into submission by Uchiha Kamito.
This… was a real Uchiha.
"Good. Open your Sharingan and watch my hands carefully."
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough."
A violent gust burst from Uchiha Kamito's mouth, snapping several large trees in front of him.
Kamito turned around to face three hundred pairs of Sharingan.
Most had two tomoe.
A small number had three tomoe.
And an even smaller number had one tomoe—those with little background who had simply been sent here to fill numbers.
"Well? A tiny C-rank ninjutsu shouldn't be too hard for Uchiha clan members, right?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Uchiha ninja began forming hand seals one after another and unleashed Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
This was the convenient thing about the Uchiha clan.
As long as someone awakened a two-tomoe Sharingan and unlocked the copying ability, learning techniques became as easy as playing a game.
Of course, those few with only one tomoe could only watch anxiously.
"Those with one tomoe—don't participate in tomorrow's operation. Also, another thing: a new rule for the Uchiha Police Force. When you return, notify everyone."
"Before I fall in battle, no ninja is allowed to engage in close combat ahead of me. Before all the three-tomoe Sharingan users fall, anyone below three tomoe cannot enter close combat. Before all the two-tomoe users fall, one-tomoe users are forbidden from close combat."
"Anyone who hasn't awakened the Sharingan doesn't deserve to step onto the battlefield."
"Understood?"
Everyone immediately realized that Uchiha Kamito was actually protecting them.
Uchiha Raiden spoke up.
"Chief, that's too dangerous for you."
"If it's someone I can beat, you don't need to lift a finger."
"If it's someone I can't beat, you rushing in will just get you killed."
…That actually made a lot of sense.
But why hadn't I thought of that?
Does that mean I'm not a qualified Uchiha?
"Who asked for your protection?! We came here to kill enemies too—not to be protected by you!"
A young girl with a one-tomoe Sharingan jumped out and shouted.
Even though she knew he was protecting them, the feeling of being looked down on was truly unpleasant.
Uchiha Kamito casually pointed at a two-tomoe user.
"Defeat him, and you're two-tomoe level."
Then he pointed at a three-tomoe user.
"Defeat him, and even as a three-tomoe you'll become part of my personal guard."
Finally, he pointed at himself.
"Defeat me, and I'll listen to you."
"The number of tomoe in the Sharingan doesn't completely represent combat power, but it's the simplest way to categorize strength. If you think you're a genius, prove it to me."
"The Uchiha clan worships strength. When the strong speak, they're always right. But we don't like people who just talk big."
Finally, he looked at all the Uchiha.
"If you're dissatisfied with your level, start now."
"My time is precious. I've got other things to do in the second half of the night."
A pair of scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan quietly opened.
They stared directly at the three hundred Uchiha in front of him.