"Sakumo requested additional personnel—what do you think?"
Inside the conference room of the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi brought up Sakumo's request for reinforcements.
"With his strength, is he still not enough to deal with the enemies lurking within the Land of Fire's borders?"
Advisor Utatane Koharu furrowed her brow, clearly dissatisfied with Sakumo's request for further manpower.
"The opponents include two Elite Jonin from the Hidden Sand Puppet Corps. There are also three more Jonin in their group, and one of them can use large-scale Earth Style techniques."
"But there's no direct evidence that they're from Hidden Rock Village."
Koharu said.
Hiruzen tapped his pipe and spoke: "I don't believe Onoki would sit by and do nothing at a time like this. We can't just conclude anything simply because there are no changes in Hidden Rock Village's mission movements."
"If you put it like that, then Hidden Cloud and Hidden Mist are just as suspicious,"
Advisor Mitokado Homura glanced at Hiruzen.
"That's why, when the Third Kazekage moved, I stayed in the village to prevent other villages from interfering and making the battlefield even more chaotic."
"Then, what do you plan to do? We can't trust the Uchiha Security Team. Right now, Danzo is leading Root on a secret mission and isn't in the village either. Leaving just two Anbu units to guard the village is already extremely risky for us."
Homura's eyes held a probing look.
"Homura has a point. Even at the height of a crisis, we would leave three full Anbu squads behind. Keeping only two squads now is gambling with our odds."
Koharu clearly shared the suspicion toward the Uchiha as well.
"The Uchiha are still part of Konoha. We shouldn't harbor prejudice against them—they're Kagami's clansmen."
Hiruzen continued, blowing out a ring of smoke, his face grave.
Leaving the Security Team's duties to the Uchiha Clan—that had been the arrangement of his late teacher, the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama.
There were many reasons for this: part caution, part desire to keep the Uchiha's authority limited to the Security Team.
Because only the Uchiha Clan had the ability to handle Security Team matters properly.
The performance of the Uchiha Security Team was commendable. Admittedly, a few with questionable minds liked to stir up trouble, but some Uchiha ninja truly did want to preserve Konoha's internal peace.
Hiruzen felt he couldn't tar everyone with the same brush.
Besides, his teacher had also wished to fully integrate the Uchiha into Konoha, not keep them excluded.
Unfortunately, the outbreak of the First Ninja War took his teacher on the battlefield, leaving Uchiha affairs unresolved.
Over all these years, everyone could only drag things along.
Thanks to his efforts as Hokage, relations had indeed improved, but real progress was minimal.
"Kagami is Kagami, and Uchiha are Uchiha. They're at different levels entirely. Within the Uchiha Clan, many have inherited the radical views of Madara Uchiha. As a clan, they all carry latent danger."
In the end, the advisors didn't trust the Uchiha—or more precisely, they couldn't trust Uchiha ninja awoken to the Sharingan, bearers of the Curse Power.
"Then let's compromise: dispatch two more Anbu squads. Only once we eliminate the old rat hiding in the Land of Fire can Sakumo head to the frontlines and counterattack Hidden Sand."
"But..."
"If the Uchiha show any abnormal behavior, I'll step in myself to resolve any chaos. You can rest assured on that count, can't you?"
A powerful, unassailable aura surged from Hiruzen—so much so that even Homura and Koharu felt an unprecedented weight pressing down on them.
This was Hiruzen's way of assuring Homura and Koharu: with him as Hokage, the Uchiha would remain in their place, conducting the Security Team's duties, and not a single mishap would occur.
That innate self-confidence was carved deep into Hiruzen's expression.
"Since you're saying this, Hiruzen, then so be it."
"We must never be careless with the Uchiha—they're a clan born of evil. We have to be on guard at all times."
In the end, Homura and Koharu warned Hiruzen once more before temporarily shelving their concerns about the Uchiha.
"Aside from partners, we're short on supplies for the front lines. Koharu and I need to visit the Daimyo's Mansion to discuss collecting resources with the Daimyo."
Homura and Koharu exchanged a glance, and Homura spoke first.
"Short on supplies again?"
Hiruzen paused mid-smoke.
"Yes. We are especially lacking in medical supplies, though we still have enough soldier rations pills and ninja tools."
"The sooner you go, the sooner you'll return."
Any ninja leaving the village required written permission from the Hokage—including advisors. Without it, leaving would be a violation of the rules, and in severe cases could be considered going Renegade Ninja.
Homura and Koharu obtained the Hokage's signed papers for travel, then left the meeting room.
◎
At an outpost in Konoha's northern sector, around twenty Konoha ninja kept watch—it could also serve as a temporary supply point for Sakumo's squad.
Fortunately, this outpost included a basic medical room.
Hakushi carried the severely wounded Konoha ninja they'd rescued at another outpost into the new station's medical room to rest.
Though he was still unconscious, he was now out of danger—a blessing amid the misfortune.
Ruri and Ayane were negotiating with the Konoha ninja at the outpost, obtaining vital supplies such as food, water, and medical goods.
Before long, Hakushi and the others were ready.
Sakumo stashed away his scroll and announced, "There's good news—the Hokage has authorized reinforcements: an expert in reconnaissance. Still, we can't let our guard down here. Now that we're stocked up, let's move out."
"Yes, sir!"
The three of them replied as one and set off with Sakumo once more.
Currently they were in the south-central region of the Land of Fire. The route ahead would take them eastward across the Land of Fire.
That region bordered the Land of Hot Water, a country famous for its hot springs.
If not for wartime, it might be a place to relax. But for now, the mission came first.
They patrolled for two days in succession and found nothing unusual—not even the shadow of a Hidden Sand ninja.
But considering this was the Land of Fire's heartland, it was unlikely Hidden Sand ninja would be stupid enough to cause trouble here. Of course, Sakumo was thorough—he wouldn't overlook any area, just in case.
On the third day, when their packs were empty, they stopped at the nearest Konoha outpost to resupply.
"So young and already joining Jonin Sakumo on such a dangerous mission—you three are really exceptional."
The squad leader at this outpost was a well-known Konoha Jonin, a mature man in his thirties. Seeing how young Hakushi's group looked, he couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
"Actually, our help isn't much. Most of the time, we rely on Sakumo-sensei's care."
Hakushi responded with humility.
"I know how Sakumo Jonin is—if you hadn't earned his approval, he'd never break his principles and bring you along for such a dangerous task. In other words, your abilities convinced him. He's the sort of man who truly cherishes his comrades."
The Konoha Jonin seemed to recall something as he spoke.
"Senpai, you know Sakumo-sensei?"
"We've been on missions together in the past. Back then, he seemed cold, but in truth, he was deeply kind—and easily embarrassed, too. To enemies he was the merciless Konoha White Fang; to his allies, the one you could entrust your back to without fear."
"So that's what Sakumo-sensei was like before. Hard to imagine now."
Maybe he'd grown a lot over the years, so they never saw that shy side of Sakumo anymore.
The three could only guess as much.
"Tenchiku, what kind of strange ideas are you feeding my students now?"
Sakumo came over then.
"Just sharing some ninja experience as a senpai," replied Jonin Tenchiku.
"For the record, this guy's a pervert."
Sakumo interjected abruptly.
Ruri and Ayane immediately shot Tenchiku a wary look and scooted back a step.
"Hey!"
Tenchiku's face went beet red.
"—Especially when it comes to men."
Hakushi noticed Tenchiku was standing closest to him. The smile on his face froze.
Ruri and Ayane exhaled in relief. In that case, there was nothing to worry about.
Just then, from a dense patch of grass near the outpost, a Konoha ninja covered in blood suddenly burst out, barely running a few steps before collapsing in a grievous heap.
"Be careful, there's... an enemy..."