Killer B was clearly unhappy that he hadn't been sent to the front line, so he launched straight into an awkward rap.
"Big bro looks so cool when he makes decisions,
Didn't pick me—now I'm sad, I could cry for real!"
"Baka yarō… kono yarō…"
The Fourth Raikage slammed a palm over Bee's face.
I'm already irritated—stop running your mouth.
Bee rolled his eyes, still trying to mumble something.
The Raikage didn't give him the chance and suppressed him on the spot.
Having a little brother like this was honestly exhausting.
Couldn't he learn from Darui and be a quiet, handsome guy for once?
Inside the Land of Frost
The Kumogakure coalition led by Yugito had arrived at the battlefield, taking a stance directly opposite Konoha.
Konoha Coalition Camp
After several days of rest, Konoha's allied force had built a solid fortified camp.
At the center stood a luxurious tent—the command center.
Inside the command tent, Uchiha Yusuke, Hyuga Hiashi, Nara Shikaku, and other key figures gathered.
Yusuke sat in the main seat, expression solemn.
"Hiashi. What's the situation?"
Hiashi's face was just as serious.
War wasn't a game—everyone's nerves were tight.
"We've finished scouting. Kumo has about three thousand as well."
"The one commanding their front line appears to be Yugito Nii—the Two-Tails jinchuriki."
The moment "jinchuriki" was mentioned, an invisible pressure settled over the room.
To ordinary shinobi, tailed beasts were nightmares made flesh.
Konoha's Nine-Tails disaster still haunted everyone's memory.
Even a powerhouse like the Third Hokage could only drive the beast out of the village.
To truly defeat a tailed beast?
One word: difficult.
Hearing that Kumo had brought out a jinchuriki right from the start, Yusuke remained calm.
"Yugito Nii… the Two-Tails jinchuriki."
"Interesting."
He looked around the table.
"Let's hear it."
"What should we do next?"
Then his gaze landed on Shikaku.
This was exactly the moment for a high-IQ man to step onto the stage.
Shikaku, appointed as the frontline strategist by the Third Hokage, wasn't someone Yusuke intended to rely on completely—after all, he was close to Konoha's leadership.
But listening to basic strategic input never hurt.
Shikaku cleared his throat.
"I think we should be cautious."
"Send a team to probe them first."
Yusuke nodded slightly.
"Agreed. We'll do that."
He moved immediately and began assigning roles.
"Uchiha, Hyuga, and the Ino–Shika–Cho trio."
"Each will send one jonin to form a squad and test Kumo's depth."
"If you encounter Yugito, you're allowed to disengage and retreat."
"No objections?"
Hiashi responded instantly.
"Yusuke's plan is sound."
"The Hyuga agree."
Shikaku had initially wanted to keep things low-profile—but with Uchiha and Hyuga already agreeing, he had no reason to object.
Intelligence was everything.
And hiding real intelligence was basic shinobi discipline.
Kumo claimed Yugito was in command—but who could say what was actually hidden behind that?
If they walked into an ambush blind, it would be too late to regret it.
Among the entire coalition, the only people Yusuke truly trusted were his own clan.
So the reconnaissance team had to include an Uchiha.
Hyuga—with Byakugan—were ideal for observation, so they needed one too.
And since Ino–Shika–Cho operated as a unit, sending them together made sense.
Yusuke swept his hand decisively.
"Everyone else stays on standby."
"Maintain high alert—Kumo will probably send scouts too."
"Every time the patrol shifts change, update the passcodes."
"If Kumo infiltrators slip in, I want them caught immediately."
His handling was calm, methodical—full commander presence.
Even the veterans couldn't help but nod quietly.
The Third Hokage had called him "too young."
But looking at this now… that didn't hold up at all.
From what they'd seen, Yusuke was careful, decisive, and disciplined—no less capable than the older, war-seasoned men.
The war had only begun.
Both sides were still in the probing phase.
Whoever gathered better intel first would gain the initiative later.
Konoha's chosen operatives were mostly seasoned shinobi who had seen war.
Many tasks didn't even need Yusuke's explanation—they executed them smoothly on their own.
Ino–Shika–Cho Camp
Shikaku pulled his two old friends aside for a private talk.
"Choza. Inoichi."
"I think our three clans should start drawing closer to the Uchiha."
Choza frowned, confused.
"Why, Shikaku?"
"You used to push us to stay close to the Third Hokage."
Inoichi sighed, sounding like he already understood.
"The Third is old."
Shikaku nodded heavily.
The once-feared "Professor" had entered the twilight of his era—
while Uchiha Yusuke rose like a new star.
Konoha's leadership still held power for now.
But who could guarantee Yusuke wouldn't rise the same way Minato had—fast, decisive, unstoppable?
Shikaku's political instincts were razor sharp.
The Nara had always maintained good relationships with successive Hokage.
Supporting Yusuke quietly carried almost no risk.
If Yusuke became the next Hokage, early goodwill would pay dividends.
Their three clans had no realistic shot at the hat themselves.
If they wanted their families to thrive long-term, they needed to be smart—align early with those who might take power.
Hyuga already seemed to be building ties with the Uchiha.
Ino–Shika–Cho couldn't afford to fall behind.
Konoha's top brass already had friction with Uchiha and Hyuga.
They wouldn't pick a fight with Ino–Shika–Cho too—especially not now.
Even if the Third Hokage learned they were quietly supporting Yusuke, he would likely pretend not to see it.
And if the Uchiha collapsed completely?
Then they'd simply offer goodwill to whoever rose next.
That was how you survived.
Hold the Hokage line—
and keep an eye on every other potential future leader too.
Black and white. Left and right. Balanced. Safe.
That was true stability.
And Shikaku's instincts told him something else:
If Konoha won this war, Yusuke would rise hard.
And once that happened, it would become far more difficult for the old guard to suppress the Uchiha again.
Give it two or three years, and the Third might be forced into retirement.
If Jiraiya refused to return—
then the Hokage seat would have only one real candidate left.
Shikaku had a strong feeling:
The leadership centered around the Third Hokage… would not be able to outplay Uchiha Yusuke.
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