The Uchiha's Path to the Top, Starting from Konoha

Chapter 12, 14th Generation Ino-Shika-Cho

After the victory in the localized conflict at the edge of the forest, the Konoha ninja army began to clean up the battlefield.

"Mangkhut, I'm leaving these people to you. Gather intelligence as quickly as possible. I have a bad feeling about this."

Sensing that there were no more outside ninjas around, Yamanaka Santake, the head of the Yamanaka clan and a Kage-level expert, opened his closed eyes and nodded, saying, "I understand, Vice Commander Shikame."

The Yamanaka clan of Konoha are skilled at controlling the minds of their enemies, able to invade and read the memories of the dead, and possess the special ability to communicate with their comrades, along with powerful sensory abilities.

In team battles, they can often achieve a result where one plus one is greater than two.

Because of the straightforward nature of ninjutsu in its early stages, it is like a clumsy wild boar that can only attack along a straight line, making it the "boar" in the classic Konoha "Ino-Shika-Cho" combination.

As a member of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, the Nara clan is known for its strategy, judgment, and high intelligence. In addition, their family forest is home to a large number of Nara deer, which have been protecting the Nara clan for generations and produce many high-quality antlers. Therefore, they are called "deer". In group battles, they play the role of strategists who devise plans.

The first Shinobi World War was led by Nara Shikanaru, the head of the Nara clan and a Kage-level shinobi, who served as the deputy commander of the shinobi army and enjoyed the deep trust of Tobirama Senju.

"Butterfly" refers to the Akimichi clan. The current clan leader is also on the front lines. His name is Akimichi Chouha, and his strength is on par with that of a Kage.

The Ino-Shika-Cho trio, who move in and out together, possess a combined strength that rivals that of the Hyuga clan, the third most powerful clan in Konoha, and who have the Byakugan bloodline.

"After gathering intelligence, do not disclose it to the outside world."

Nara Shikamei emphasized, a hint of worry appearing on his brow—this small war was fought inexplicably.

The two sides, drawn together by the emergency signal flare, met face to face. Without uttering a word, the Cloud Village ninja attacked the Konoha ninja, completely stunning them.

It should be noted that the second-generation leaders of both sides were negotiating an alliance in the forest. This unexpected situation forced Nara Shikamei to conduct a more in-depth analysis and judgment.

"Um."

The taciturn Yamanaka Take immediately began using ninjutsu to invade the minds of captured or killed Kumokage ninjas, searching for information in a somewhat crude manner.

Soon, a look of shock and anxiety appeared on Sanchi Takeshi's usually composed face, and Nara Shikamei's heart skipped a beat when he saw this.

They were among the strongest members who joined Konoha from its inception, having weathered the storms of the Warring States period. Apart from matters of life and death, few things could shake their spirits, let alone someone as steadfast as Yamanaka Takeshi, who was proficient in spiritual magic and could see through deceit and treachery.

"The art of mind-to-body transmission."

Nara Shikamei looked at the hand that Yamanaka Takeshi extended. He was very familiar with the function of this technique—it could not only transmit information, but also make everyone in a designated area hear it.

(Is the information obtained from the minds of the Cloud Village ninjas so important that it cannot be spoken aloud?)

(Could it be that something happened to Lord Tobirama, and the war is about to restart?)

Nara Shikame pressed his forehead against Nara's, his heart heavy, and their spirits began to connect.

Shan Zhongzhu began to succinctly explain the information.

"Luming, our alliance with Kumogakure has been disrupted by Kinkaku and Ginkaku."

"Lord Tobirama is dealing with the transformed Kinkaku and Ginkaku, and his situation is extremely precarious."

"The Cloud Village ninjas who appeared at the edge of the forest are all subordinates of the Gold and Silver Brothers, and are on a mission to hunt down Hiruzen and his men."

"But from their memories, they only saw Toru using the [Super Expansion Technique], and they didn't see him catch up with Hiruzen and the others."

Having conveyed the information he knew, Yamanaka Takeshi lowered his hand, dispelled the [Mind Transfer Technique], and silently watched Nara Shikamei, whose face showed bitterness.

"The First Hashirama-sama has only been gone a short time, and this kind of thing has happened."

"Takefuku is fighting desperately, and we still haven't seen Hiruzen and the others. They're probably in grave danger."

"The current focus remains on Lord Tobirama."

Suppressing his inner turmoil, Nara Shikanaru, as the strategist of the ninja army, knew the importance of time to Senju Tobirama. He quickly got back to his work and calmly made a judgment.

"Mangkhut, immediately notify all Jonin in the first to third divisions of the Ninja Army to form three-person squads. Three squads will form a company, and each company will be assigned one Hyuga ninja."

"If you don't have enough men, draw men from the Fourth Division. You will set off immediately to support Lord Tobirama. Remember, this is a secret mission. Do not spread it around, and do not engage in fighting or lingering battles."

"I will take command of the remaining ninja forces, and I will also notify the village."

After the simple and direct order was given, Sanchiku Yamanaka immediately set off, leaving Shikamei Nara behind, rubbing his temples and gazing at the setting sun that had dyed the clouds a dim yellow, his eyelids twitching.

"I hope everything goes well; these are truly turbulent times."

"The interests of the major ninja clans, the interests of Konoha, the interests of other countries and ninja villages..."

"Eh, if Lord Hashirama were alive, or if he hadn't distributed the Tailed Beasts, Konoha would have possessed the power of all nine Tailed Beasts, or the Senju and Uchiha clans would have worked together..."

"The Ninja World War will definitely not be the only one."

Nara Shikanaru, who understood the true nature of war, shook his head. While preparing the ninja army to guard against a surprise attack from Kumogakure, he carefully chose his words and sent the message back to Konoha.

Time passed slowly, and the squadron to which the mountain bamboo belonged moved silently and swiftly through the forest. Suddenly, a Jonin from the Hyuga branch family, whose eyes had turned completely bluish-white, with bulging veins around his eyes and black marks appearing in his pupils, and who was using the Byakugan bloodstains, made a hand gesture.

The rapidly advancing group silently began to lurk around, leaving only the Jonin of the Hyuga branch family, Yamanaka Take, and the tall and stout Akimichi Choba behind.

"Ahead is a ninja with powerful and evil chakra, very much like the Uchiha clan."

The Byakugan of the Hyuga clan possesses three major abilities: long-range vision, X-ray vision, and keen observation. Even in a dense forest, one can see things within a kilometer, making them natural-born sensory ninjas.

Although its direct combat power is not as good as the Sharingan, it has greater strategic value in group battles. Kumogakure's sneak attacks are often turned into counter-sneak attacks by Konoha, which makes the Kumogakure leaders covet it.

"There aren't many Uchiha ninjas on the front lines. Could it be Uchiha Kagami?"

Naturally forthright and generous, yet with a touch of impatience, Akimichi Chou-wa's face, painted with symmetrical face paint, showed anxiety. "Let's see if my cousin, Touko, is among them?"

After careful observation, the Hyuga branch family Jonin confirmed, "There is only one Uchiha."

"Don't rush."

Meeting Akimichi Chou's uneasy gaze, Yamanaka Santake closed his eyes and began to use his sensory ninjutsu. The chakra-infused aura around him entered his brain, and the familiar chakra fluctuations made him open his eyes.

Then, with a serious look in his eyes, he gazed at the figure that was faintly visible in the forest, and said, word by word, "S-rank rogue ninja [Man Butcher], Uchiha Takehiro!"

The atmosphere instantly froze, and the Konoha team all prepared for battle.

Uchiha Takeo, leisurely strolling into the encirclement, stroked Tachibana's cat head. Tachibana meowed adorably, breaking the deathly silence of the scene.

(End of this chapter)