The two armies faced off across several miles of open terrain.
Konoha's Eastern Army was strong and tightly organized, its soldiers disciplined and resolute. The Hidden Mist forces under Uchiha Su, in contrast, had a thinner line, seemingly stretched across the battlefield. Despite the distance, the tension was palpable; the recruits on their first battlefield trembled, their hands slick with sweat, nearly forgetting the basic hand signs for Ninjutsu.
Yet, veteran Ninjas who had endured the Warring States Period stood calmly among them. Some even chatted casually, their composed demeanor slowly calming the rookies around them. Experience was a powerful balm in the midst of fear.
From a high platform erected at the front of his formation, Uchiha Su spoke loudly, his voice carrying over the wind.
"Sarutobi Sasuke, return the Hidden Mist rogue Ninja to me, and I shall withdraw my troops. Refuse, and we shall fight here in Miwacho. If you lose, the eastern lands of the Land of Fire will be reduced to ruin. Can you bear that cost?"
Sarutobi Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Uchiha Su, you Konoha traitor, evil Uchiha! Those who surrendered to you are former Konoha Ninja, yes—but they endured humiliation under your command, and now they have returned to the light. How could I betray them?"
Responsibility weighed heavily on him. Sarutobi Sasuke could have avoided a full-scale battle by simply surrendering the few returning squads, but he chose defiance. Even at the risk of death, he would not bend.
In the front ranks, a hundred Sarutobi Clan Ninja formed the spearhead of the Eastern Army. The lowest among them were Chunin, while ten were Jonin, representing the elite core of the clan.
"Attack!"
The Eastern Army surged forward, advancing with measured steps. The space between the two formations shrank rapidly.
The Sarutobi front lines moved in perfect synchrony, hands forming seals as they unleashed coordinated techniques.
"Fire Release: Great Flame Technique!"
The sky seemed to catch fire. Flames roared forward from a hundred mouths of chakra, a violent sea of fire that threatened to incinerate everything in its path.
From the Hidden Mist side, Ninja skilled in Water Release stepped forward simultaneously.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Walls of water erupted from the ground, merging into towering, glistening barriers. Fire and water collided, producing a hiss that echoed across the battlefield, sending shivers down the spines of both soldiers and veterans alike.
Squads on both sides surged into the fray, weaving through fire and water, engaging in close combat. The battle had begun in earnest.
Kaguya Yūsuke, bone sword in hand and a feral grin on his face, led the Kaguya Clan forward. With each swing, a life was taken, each strike efficient and merciless. Blood streaked across his face, fueling his frenzy.
The Kaguya Clan's fighting style was pure predation: swift, precise, and devoid of unnecessary movements. Every parry, dodge, and strike was calculated to maximize damage. Their genetic predisposition for warfare—born of countless generations trained in the art of killing—made them a nightmare on the battlefield.
Uchiha Su remained atop his platform, surveying the battlefield like a hawk. He did not join the fight immediately, preferring to command reinforcements and adjust the lines strategically. The battlefield was a living organism, and Su was the mind guiding its movements.
He took note of the Kaguya Clan's brilliance, recognizing their efficiency and precision. Their style was simple, direct, and deadly.
Sarutobi Sasuke, observing from his side, quickly realized the danger. He dispatched reinforcements to intercept the Kaguya Clan, preventing too many Konoha Ninja from falling to the ferocious attackers.
Uchiha Setsuna, posing as Nishikawa Ōzora, stood beside Sasuke, his mind racing. Trusted as a personal guard, he pondered silently.
"If I strike now, would the Eastern Army collapse?"
The temptation was immense. Killing the commander mid-battle could break morale instantly. Yet Setsuna's logic prevailed. Twenty other guards, several Jonin among them, surrounded Sasuke. Success was not guaranteed. He suppressed his impulses and chose patience.
Battlefields rarely offered second chances. Victory, defeat, life, and death were decided quickly, often in the blink of an eye.
From the Hidden Mist side, Kaguya Yūsuke unleashed another attack.
"Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!"
Bone bullets shot from his hands, piercing a Sarutobi Clan Ninja who had failed to evade in time. He fell, lifeless, leaving a crimson stain across the battlefield.
"Die!"
A Sarutobi Ninja responded with fire.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
The flames surged toward Kaguya Yūsuke, but he moved with unnatural speed. Evading the attack, he closed in on the ambusher, drawing a section of his own spine as a weapon. With a flash of bone-light, the Ninja was cut down, clutching his neck in shock and pain.
Kaguya Yūsuke panted heavily. The intensity of the fighting, the constant mental tension, drained his stamina rapidly.
"Shadow Imitation Technique!"
A Nara Clan Ninja struck. His shadow merged with Kaguya Yūsuke's, taking control over his movements. Yūsuke's body became a puppet, forced to act against his will.
"Ha?"
Kaguya's eyes widened. He struggled, but the technique's precision left him helpless. A Kunai in his hand moved of its own accord toward his throat.
The sunlight was warm on his face, a strange comfort amid the chaos. "A good day to die," he thought. "Perhaps the Village will offer compensation… though money means nothing to me."
Then, a flash of light.
A sword appeared, striking the Nara Ninja squarely in the chest. He collapsed, breath leaving his body in a final, gurgling gasp.
Uchiha Su had descended from his platform, standing tall, hand on the scabbard of Shimizu. His presence was commanding, an aura of authority radiating outward even as the scabbard pressed slightly into the soft soil beneath him.
"Kaguya Yūsuke, have you lost your will to live?" Su's voice cut across the battlefield. "That is not the way of the Kaguya Clan!"
Yūsuke's eyes widened in recognition. The adrenaline surged anew. He had been tested, almost broken, but the presence of Uchiha Su rekindled his fighting spirit. With a feral snarl, he resumed his assault, striking with renewed vigor, his movements sharper, more precise, and more lethal than ever.
The battlefield erupted around them. Fire clashed with water. Bone blades met steel. Shadows contorted and danced under the influence of Ninjutsu.
Squad leaders on both sides barked orders, coordinating waves of attacks and reinforcements. Every decision, every tactic, could tilt the battle one way or another.
Uchiha Su, calm and calculating, did not waver. From the high ground, he observed patterns, weaknesses, and opportunities. Every fallen soldier, every miss or dodge, fed into his strategy.
This was not merely a battle—it was a game of chess, played with lives instead of pieces.
The Eastern Army, though strong, began to feel the strain. Losses mounted, and the psychological weight of fighting against former Konoha soldiers who now wielded Hidden Mist loyalties became apparent. Even elite Jonin hesitated, fearing the unexpected precision and ferocity of Uchiha Su's forces.
The first wave of reinforcements from Su's main army arrived, arriving like a tide to support the embattled vanguard. Hidden Mist squads flowed into the gaps, maintaining momentum, cutting off flanking attempts, and pressuring the Konoha lines.
Sarutobi Sasuke barked orders to regroup, but even his voice struggled to pierce the chaos.
Above it all, Uchiha Su's calm eyes scanned the field. He knew the outcome was not yet sealed, but he also knew the truth: strategy, patience, and ruthless precision would win where raw strength alone could not.
And the Battle of Miwacho had only just begun.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)