Chapter Eighteen: Changes at the Stronghold

The army is already assembled, its ambitions reaching the clouds; how could the cries of children compare to the bitterness of snow-covered resentment? Though this was merely a vanguard of a thousand men, far less grand than the thunderous march of tens of thousands, the spectacle of departure was much the same.

The streets were lined with those bidding farewell, their gazes filled with worry and reluctance. Uchiha Li, too, was moved by this atmosphere, yet he did not turn back. What use would it be to look behind? It would only deepen his sense of loss, serving no purpose; better to leave swiftly and return soon.

Moreover, compared to the average person, he was far better off. The Mangekyo Sharingan had granted him the power to control his own destiny.

“All units, forward!”

Standing outside the main gate of Konoha, Uchiha Li looked upon nearly a hundred gathered clansmen, a sudden surge of pride rising within him. No need for ceremonial oaths—one simple command, and the orderly ranks marched forth.

The Land of Hot Water lay in the northeastern corner of the Land of Fire, wedged between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning. With such geography, should war break out between Fire and Lightning, Hot Water would inevitably become the chosen battlefield.

Ninja from Konoha and the Hidden Cloud were intimately familiar with this region, each having established garrisons along the border. Typically, battles occurred between these outposts; rarely did fighting extend beyond them before a stronghold fell.

Yet this was not absolute. Konoha and the Cloud could, if they wished, bypass Hot Water entirely and attack each other's heartlands directly. Such cases, however, were exceedingly rare. There was an unwritten rule among the five great ninja villages: wars must be fought within the borders of the smaller nations. Thus, no matter how fierce the conflict, its impact on their own lands remained minimal. As for the devastated small countries, no one cared—this was the stark reality of a weak nation having no voice.

“But this time, only minor skirmishes should occur; a true war is unlikely to break out.”

In Uchiha Li’s view, though the chaos of the Nine Tails had inflicted heavy losses on Konoha, it remained the foremost ninja village, its foundation deep and strong. Without confirmation that Konoha was truly weakened, even the famously hot-tempered Fourth Raikage, Ay, would not commit excessive force.

This was mainly because little more than a year had passed since the Third Great Ninja War ended, and all the villages had suffered significant casualties. The Hidden Cloud fared somewhat better, escaping with fewer losses, but the death of the Third Raikage—a top-tier combatant—had nonetheless sapped their strength.

So, despite the tense situation at the border, it was merely a surface symptom. The Cloud’s actions were meant to probe Konoha’s vulnerability. Once they confirmed that Konoha was truly weakened, not only the Cloud but all the ninja villages would launch their wars.

The Third Hokage understood this clearly, which was why his response was so resolute—he increased troop deployments without hesitation. Moreover, he issued strict orders: no outpost was to be abandoned lightly; unless a retreat was commanded, they were to fight to the end.

After a long journey, the reinforcements had now reached the border of the Land of Fire. Just as the troops were about to split up and head for their assigned strongholds in Hot Water, they suddenly halted.

Uchiha Li signaled his clansmen to be patient, silently waiting as Nara Shikaku, the commander, approached.

After scrutinizing the head of the Nara clan, Uchiha Li did not speak first. Shikaku produced a map and said, “This is the location where the Uchiha are to be stationed. Please confirm it.”

Uchiha Li’s brow furrowed as he took the map. He examined the marked locations and said in a low voice, “This isn’t right, Nara clan leader. According to our prior arrangements, our clan’s assigned outpost isn’t here.”

There had been a strategy meeting before leaving the village, at which each clan’s outpost was decided. The Uchiha outpost was to be near the border, at the center of the frontline. Yet the map Shikaku now presented placed their station at the very edge.

This seemingly routine reassignment would multiply the pressure on the Uchiha several times over. It was hard not to suspect a plot against them.

Facing Li’s doubts, Shikaku remained calm and replied, “Li, please understand, this is not targeting the Uchiha. The frontline outposts are under immense pressure; we must reinforce them.”

He paused, then continued, pointing at the map, “Besides the Uchiha, the main forces of the Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans will also be stationed here.”

Known collectively as the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, these clans were staunch supporters of the Hokage and deeply trusted by the Third. Shikaku was well aware of the Uchiha’s current status within Konoha. He was not fond of them—he saw too many flaws: their arrogance, their disdain for others, their tendency to resolve matters by force.

But personal feelings aside, Shikaku had no intention of deliberately targeting the Uchiha. The reassignment was made with the bigger picture in mind. Though the arrangement implicitly served to monitor and test the Uchiha, so long as they behaved, no action would be taken.

Before setting out, Sarutobi Hiruzen had privately spoken at length with Shikaku, urging him to pay special attention to Uchiha Li and not push him too hard.

“I understand. Since this is the village’s decision, the Uchiha will comply.”

Having heard the explanation, Li no longer objected and agreed without hesitation. His principle remained unchanged: whatever he did, when dealing with the village and the Third Hokage, he would follow the greater good and the law.

As long as he held firmly to this, no matter what unexpected events occurred, neither he nor the Uchiha needed to fear.

The new outpost arrangement would indeed increase the pressure on the Uchiha, but it was not without its advantages. Greater pressure meant greater merit, and, most importantly to him, greater autonomy.

Even if the situation became dire, Li was confident that, with the power of his Mangekyo Sharingan, he could ensure his own safety.

“Since you agree, please lead your team and follow me,” Shikaku said. “If you need anything, send someone to report to me. If the request is reasonable, I will not refuse.”

Seeing that Li had accepted so readily, Shikaku’s attitude softened considerably. After all, the Uchiha were part of Konoha; as long as there was no rebellion, they were comrades. Caution was prudent, but treating them as enemies would only bring grief to allies and delight to foes.

“All right.”

Li replied in a flat tone, then led his team to follow Shikaku and the Ino-Shika-Cho unit. To him, whether this change of station was a conspiracy or not, in the face of absolute strength, it was all meaningless.