Chapter 9: War Breaks Out!

It was nothing more than a symbolic beating.

Uchiha Kagami only landed two light punches before walking through the courtyard and entering his home. The house was simple and unadorned in its layout—the living room and dining area were combined, with a master bedroom on the first floor and three additional bedrooms on the second.

Hanging on the wall of the first-floor living room was a black-and-white framed photograph.

Inside the frame was a young girl, around fifteen years old, with delicate features, large eyes, and a high ponytail that made her look especially adorable.

The moment he saw the photograph…

Uchiha Kagami froze completely, his memories surging through his mind.

The girl in the memorial photo was none other than his wife—who had passed away ten years ago. She had only just turned fifteen when she died.

Her cause of death was simple—she perished during a mission.

Though the ninja world had enjoyed twenty years of peace, that didn't mean there were no conflicts between villages. Espionage, infiltration, and assassinations had never ceased.

The year she died, their son, Shifū, was only three years old.

He had little memory of his mother, but Kagami's words over the years had instilled deep respect for her.

At the same time, he also felt sympathy for his father.

"Father, I know you still can't let go of Mother."

After a brief hesitation, Shifū continued, "But she's been gone for ten years now… Haven't you ever felt lonely all this time? With war on the horizon, my strength is far below yours, and Suso has always been frail.

"I truly worry that one day, Suso and I might pass before you, leaving you to grow old alone. But given your current status in the clan, there's no way you wouldn't find a suitable partner."

Kagami raised an eyebrow. "And what age do you think would be suitable?"

"Uh… That depends on your preference. After all, you've awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, and your prestige has already surpassed Uchiha Fugaku's. If even he could marry a fourteen-year-old, you finding someone younger wouldn't be an issue…"

Bang!

Before he could finish, a fist landed squarely on his head, leaving a noticeable lump.

Kagami said sternly, "Fugaku is a beast. I am not."

Shifū clutched his head, looking aggrieved. "Then why did you push me to marry early and have a child? I don't believe it was just for the future of the Uchiha clan."

"You don't understand a thing! It really was for the Uchiha's future."

Kagami scoffed. "Have you forgotten the coup attempt a few years ago? The Second Hokage spared us only because of my influence. But what if both he and I were gone?"

"For example, if I don't return from this war, do you think Hiruzen and Danzō would show mercy to the Uchiha just for the sake of a dead man?"

"But… What does having children have to do with that?" Shifū was still confused.

"You really are hopelessly dense."

Kagami sighed in frustration. "The Uchiha are naturally rebellious. Those warmongering elders—despite their lack of strength—never stop clamoring for a coup, demanding the Hokage seat they believe is rightfully ours.

"If both the Second Hokage and I were to die—whether by accident or assassination—another coup would be inevitable. When that happens, countless Uchiha will die, and the worst-case scenario? Total annihilation."

"Total annihilation? No way!"

Shifū was stunned.

He had never considered such a possibility.

The Uchiha were one of the founding clans of Konoha, alongside the Senju. Even if a coup happened, it wouldn't lead to their extermination… right?

"You think I'm exaggerating? This is the truth."

Kagami's voice was heavy. "That's why the Uchiha need a genius leader, someone who transcends blind clan loyalty. I had originally pinned my hopes on you—but your talent is mediocre. At best, you might scrape by as a Jōnin."

"Since you're useless, I have no choice but to bet on the next generation. That's why I urged you to marry and have children quickly. But just transcending clan ideology isn't enough—we need the strength to suppress the urge for rebellion."

"And I believe that Shisui has the potential to achieve this!"

"…"

Shifū scratched his head and cautiously said, "Even if your future grandson does live up to your expectations, Father, you've already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. Fugaku has no chance of competing with you for the position of clan leader."

"Once you become the head of the Uchiha, with you overseeing things, there won't be any more coups. So why the need to pin hopes on the next generation?"

"Because no one lives forever. And I may not always remain the leader. Grooming successors is still essential." Kagami explained.

"…Fine."

Shifū felt like his father wasn't telling him the whole truth.

But he was smart enough not to ask further. His father's perspective was beyond his own, and he saw no reason to worry unnecessarily.

And indeed—Kagami was hiding something.

He was well aware of the looming chaos in the ninja world. The Infinite Tsukuyomi was just the beginning.

Soon, Ōtsutsuki would be everywhere—even Kaguya would seem like a minor boss in comparison.

He had to strengthen himself as quickly as possible. The Mangekyō Sharingan was merely the starting point. Only when his power surpassed the Ōtsutsuki could he truly be in control.

At that point, things like being clan leader or Hokage…

They would mean nothing. He could leave such titles to his descendants.

As for why he hadn't sought a new partner, it wasn't just because modern sensibilities had influenced him, making teenage or even twenty-something marriages seem premature.

More importantly—there was no time for distractions.

After all, desire was a blade hanging over one's head.

With war on the horizon, he needed to focus on gaining influence and increasing his strength.

Women? They would only slow him down.

—

—

Konoha, Year 37.

The Land of Fire simultaneously declared war on the four other great nations.

Uchiha Kagami killed Kinkaku, and his fame began to spread.

Fortunately, before the war broke out, Kumogakure paid Konoha fifty million ryō in reparations and issued a bounty of fifty million ryō on the rogue ninja Ginkaku.

One had to admit…

Kumogakure was incredibly shrewd. Instead of paying the full sum, they put half of it as a bounty on Ginkaku—whether or not anyone could actually claim it was another matter.

A month into the war.

Though the fighting continued, every side exercised restraint.

No one wanted to reveal their trump cards at the outset.

As per tradition, each village first sent out waves of reconnaissance and skirmishing squads.

These vanguard units usually consisted of a Jōnin leading a hundred-man team, with about thirty Chūnin and seventy Genin.

The battles took place at the borderlands—Amegakure.

As the initial skirmishes wore on, weaker factions would eventually lose patience and deploy elite Jōnin squads.

At this level, the battles were small-scale but intense, with no quick resolution.

But as the war escalated, those who survived—whether through victory or defeat—would become increasingly renowned.

And in time, they would carve their names into history as legends of the ninja world.

....

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