Outside the gates of the Uchiha compound, Hiashi Hyuga stood with a furrowed brow and tightly clenched fists. Anxiety churned in his chest as he recalled the message delivered by the Anbu just hours ago—the Third Hokage had officially ordered the Hyuga and Uchiha clans to jointly intercept the advancing forces of Kumogakure. No other Konoha clans were to be dispatched. Just them.
To Hiashi, it felt like a cruel joke.
Even if both clans boasted ancient bloodlines and formidable strength, how could they possibly stand alone against an entire shinobi village? Times had changed. This wasn't the Warring States Era anymore. The modern shinobi village was a complex mix of bloodline elites and civilian-trained ninja, all bonded by loyalty to the Hidden Village system. Facing down an entire village's worth of shinobi was more than a strategic error—it was a death sentence.
And it was becoming clearer by the hour: the Hokage's decision might not have been born of tactical need, but political retaliation. Perhaps the fallout from the recent confrontation involving his younger brother had sparked this. But Hiashi wouldn't let his family become scapegoats—not again.
He needed options. He needed allies.
And right now, the only other clan forced into this suicidal mission was the Uchiha.
As he waited tensely outside the Uchiha compound, a member of the clan arrived and gave a respectful bow.
"The Patriarch awaits you. Please, this way."
Inside the Uchiha reception hall, Fugaku Uchiha sat beside Ryouske Uchiha—the enigmatic young genius whose meteoric rise had already shifted the clan's internal power dynamics. A steaming pot of green tea rested on the table between them, and two porcelain cups sat half-filled. One was left untouched—the other, Ryouske sipped with the calmness of someone unaffected by looming war.
Fugaku himself seemed unusually composed. Whether that was his natural temperament or a reflection of Ryouske's stoic presence, even he couldn't quite tell.
Moments later, Hiashi Hyuga was led in by another clan member.
Fugaku rose slightly in greeting and gestured to the empty cup.
"Hyuga-dono, I've just poured some tea. Please join us."
Hiashi nodded in appreciation but wasted no time. He sat down and cut straight to the point.
"Fugaku-dono, I presume you've also received the Hokage's orders?"
Fugaku took a deliberate sip before replying.
"Of course. And I assume this visit is about that very matter?"
Hiashi was briefly taken aback by Fugaku's composure. Had he not grasped the severity of the situation?
"Then you understand how reckless this is," Hiashi said sharply. "He's sending just our two clans to face off against an entire village. That's not war—it's a culling. Shouldn't we push back, demand support from the village?"
He paused, gauging the expressionless faces before him.
"Even if my brother's actions provoked this situation, this is Kumogakure's aggression. If we lose, the entire Leaf Village pays the price."
Fugaku said nothing at first. Instead, he glanced at Ryouske. The youth hadn't spoken a word since Hiashi entered, yet Fugaku's confidence seemed to hinge on him. Then he spoke, firmly.
"Hiashi-dono, we don't intend to request support from the Hokage."
Hiashi's expression stiffened.
"You… intend to fight them as is?"
Fugaku nodded, his tone unwavering.
"Yes. Just the Uchiha and Hyuga."
Hiashi couldn't believe what he was hearing. He glanced at Ryouske, now recognizing the youth from rumors. The one who had awakened a fearsome Eight Gates technique—a style even Might Guy held in reverence.
Could this boy be the hidden card?
Fugaku continued, "Even if we begged for help, we'd receive none. The village council has made their intentions clear. This mission is not a strategic operation—it's a political maneuver meant to test, or even eliminate, us. But if we succeed…" He let the words hang. "The prestige our clans would regain would be incalculable."
Hiashi remained skeptical. "You're assuming we'll win."
Fugaku's eyes darkened slightly, but not with fear—with certainty.
"We will win. Ryouske will ensure that."
That statement held weight. After all, Hiashi had read the confidential report: this young Uchiha had already opened the Fifth Gate—a feat surpassing even Might Guy at the same age. If true, that made him a super-kage level combatant, able to crush high-tier opponents singlehandedly.
Hiashi remembered the tale of Might Duy—the man who sacrificed himself and opened all Eight Gates to kill four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. That level of power could change the course of a war.
Was Ryouske the same kind of force?
Suddenly, the proposal didn't seem so suicidal. It seemed bold—dangerously bold—but perhaps calculated.
"…Very well," Hiashi said after a long pause. "If that's your clan's stance, then the Hyuga will stand beside you. We will fight."
Fugaku gave a respectful nod.
"Excellent. Then we will gather our elites today and move out by dawn tomorrow. Agreed?"
Hiashi stood up, his mind already spinning with logistics and formations.
"Agreed. I will begin preparations immediately."
He turned and left the hall, but not before giving Ryouske one last thoughtful glance. Something about the boy unnerved him. Not in a bad way—but in the way one might regard a loaded weapon.
After Hiashi departed, Fugaku turned to Ryouske.
"Was that acceptable?"
Ryouske nodded.
"It was. Let the Hyuga prepare their troops. I'll deal with the real threat."
In truth, Ryouske had little interest in field maneuvers or military tactics. His philosophy was simple: cut off the head, and the body would follow. If he could defeat Kumogakure's commander—perhaps even the Fourth Raikage himself—the battle would be won before it truly began.
For most ninja, war was strategy.
For Ryouske, war was a series of duels waiting to be won.
And with the power of the Fifth Gate coursing through him, he had no intention of losing.
read with no limits on Patreon: patreon.com/Zefyrus (+60 chapters availabe now)