After annihilating all the Cloud ninja stationed at the harbor and aboard the ships, capturing the Two-Tails' jinchūriki alive, driving back the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki, and even retrieving the stolen Byakugan, Konoha's strike squad had achieved an overwhelming victory.
The capture of the Two-Tails' jinchūriki, in particular, was a monumental success—once again giving Rokuro a living "chakra power bank," upgrading him into what could only be called his Charged Chakra State.
"Rokuro," said Hizashi with a grim look, "we might've come out of this alive, but most of the Hyūga are seriously injured. Our combat strength's taken a massive hit. I don't think we can keep cutting off Kumogakure's supply lines for much longer. Should we pull back?"
Rokuro laughed heartily.
"Uncle Hizashi, we may have taken losses!" but this battle marks the true turning point of the war. From here on, Konoha holds the initiative."
The Uchiha gathered around him blinked in surprise before the meaning of his words began to sink in.
"First off," Rokuro explained, "the way the Cloud ninja responded shows they can't muster a full army anymore. That tells us the front lines are in stalemate—they don't have the manpower to spare, so they could only set traps and send in their jinchūriki to carry out decapitation missions."
"Second, while their tactics went smoothly, the results were disastrous for them. They didn't kill a single one of us—instead, they lost both the Two-Tails' jinchūriki and a number of elite Cloud ninja. With that, Kumogakure's best cards are gone. How are they supposed to fight us now?"
"Most importantly," he went on, "even if our forces are weakened for the moment, we can still sabotage their supply routes. If they can't fix that, how can they continue the war?"
The Konoha ninja nodded one after another. From the enemy's perspective, it was indeed a nightmare. Even sending jinchūriki hadn't worked—what else could they do?
"So," asked one of the Uchiha, "how do you think Kumogakure will respond next?"
"It's simple—they'll shrink their defensive line. They'll abandon sea routes and shift their supplies to land convoys to avoid us completely."
Rokuro unrolled a map and pointed at the Land of the Moon, the small nation bordering the Land of Hot Water.
The Land of the Moon shared a direct border with the Land of Lightning. If Kumogakure abandoned sea transport in favor of overland routes, they would have to pass through the Land of the Moon.
But that would drastically reduce both the length and capacity of their supply lines. To keep the route safe, they would have to retreat, abandoning part of the Land of Hot Water.
In war, national borders meant little. Once Kumogakure retreated, Konoha would push forward—and with that, the scales of war would begin tipping in Konoha's favor.
"When our army enters the Land of Hot Water," Rokuro concluded, "we'll be able to both attack and defend freely—holding complete control over the battlefield."
Hearing his analysis, the gathered ninja all felt their spirits lift.
For weeks, they had fought deep behind enemy lines, living under constant tension. Now, they could finally breathe.
Over the next few days, Rokuro's prediction came true.
After losing the Two-Tails' jinchūriki and learning that Rokuro possessed a technique capable of restraining tailed beasts, Kumogakure had no choice but to pull back—ceding nearly half of the Land of Hot Water.
When the Konoha command center received the report from Rokuro's team, they immediately advanced, occupying the land the Cloud ninja had given up and securing a major strategic victory.
Across the battlefield, Kumogakure continued to suffer defeat after defeat.
Though their military strength had grown since the Third Great Ninja War, even doubling their number of trained ninja, they were still no match for the sheer might of Konoha—especially when Konoha's forces were composed primarily of Hyūga and Uchiha, two clans renowned for their kekkei genkai.
Bloodline warriors could often take on three opponents at once—or more. When they fought together, their strength compounded far beyond mere numbers.
If not for Kumogakure's superior numbers, they would have already lost outright.
But now that their supply lines were severed, their food and weapons cut off, even that advantage had crumbled. Their fighting power dropped sharply, tilting the war decisively in Konoha's favor.
Just as Rokuro had said—the supply line was the watershed moment. From here, the war between the Lands of Lightning and Fire began to swing toward Konoha's victory.
Yet history had often shown that even a perfect opening could still lead to total defeat. And the two nations' overall strength wasn't so far apart to make that impossible.
At that very moment, as news of Rokuro's capture of the Two-Tails spread, the scroll arrived in the Hokage's office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō stared grimly at the battle report. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura had also received copies.
"To think Fugaku's forces achieved this much in under a month… As expected of the great clans," Homura muttered, his tone halfway between admiration and resentment.
Koharu scowled.
"Kumogakure sent their jinchūriki to the field. Do they mean to start the Fourth Great Ninja War!?"
Danzō chuckled darkly.
"Heh, indeed they broke all conventions—but they ran into a wall. Who would've thought that Uchiha Rokuro could wield Adamantine Sealing Chains so masterfully? Not even Kushina could fight two jinchūriki at once and suppress them both."
Homura's praise made Danzō's lip curl in irritation.
"If you hadn't interfered back then—if Kushina had been placed under my supervision instead of being sent to your little Academy—she'd already be a perfect Nine-Tails jinchūriki by now! Do you think Kumogakure would dare provoke us then?"
The old argument flared again. Koharu and Homura exchanged weary looks—they knew even if Kushina hadn't gone to the Academy, she'd never have been given to Danzō's Root.
The jinchūriki were always under the Hokage's authority.
The First Hokage's wife had hosted the Nine-Tails, as had the Fourth's. It was a matter of control, not chance.
When Danzō brought it up again, Hiruzen's patience snapped.
"Danzō, enough of the past. Have you finished the mission I gave you?"
"Hmph. My Root are far more effective than your ANBU. I've already secured an agreement with Iwagakure. Ōnoki intends to strike at the Land of Lightning's western coast while Kumogakure is focused on us. If they seize territory there, they'll have a permanent foothold to threaten the Land of Lightning."
Danzō's sneer widened.
"He's only doing it for leverage—to extort the Land of Lightning for concessions—but once they act, Kumogakure will have to split its forces. Then, we'll have them cornered. They'll withdraw from the Land of Hot Water and come crawling to negotiate."
"When they do," he said coldly, "we'll bleed them dry. Make them pay for starting this war."
Koharu and Homura nodded; it was a sound plan.
Without Iwagakure's involvement, Konoha already held the advantage. With them, Kumogakure's defeat was guaranteed.
"Now that the Two-Tails is in our hands," Homura added, "they've lost half their deterrence. I agree with Danzō's plan."
Hiruzen inhaled from his pipe but said nothing. That silence made Danzō frown.
"Don't tell me you're going to repeat your mistake from the Third War, Hiruzen! You had the advantage then too, and you threw it away for peace!"
"Enough, Danzō!" Hiruzen snapped. "I'm the Hokage. I'll decide what's best for Konoha!"
Danzō scoffed but said no more. He didn't envy the burden—better Hiruzen bear it than him.
He leaned forward again, voice low.
"Still, let me remind you—the victories this time belong to Uchiha Fugaku and Hyūga Hizashi. Even that strike team cutting Kumogakure's supply lines was led mostly by their clans. When this war ends, their prestige will eclipse everyone else's."
"The Hyūga are still manageable under the new head, but the Uchiha…" Danzō's eyes glinted. "They've been producing prodigies one after another. They're growing too strong. If they keep winning, you won't even have an excuse to suppress them anymore."
His words made Hiruzen's face tighten—and Koharu and Homura's ashen.
All four of them had once served under the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. All four had inherited his distrust of the Uchiha.
But unlike Tobirama, they lacked his power. They were aging, insecure—and the Uchiha's resurgence terrified them.
The clan was awakening Sharingan at rates not seen since the Warring States. With the Senju long gone, who could balance them now? Only Tsunade remained, and she stayed far from village politics.
Truth be told, Hiruzen's reason for excluding the Ino-Shika-Chō trio from the last campaign was to grind down Uchiha strength. Yet from the reports, the opposite had happened: the Uchiha had emerged stronger than ever.
After a long silence, Hiruzen finally spoke.
"Order the Ino-Shika-Chō clans to send their main forces to the front in the Land of Hot Water. Uchiha and Hyūga are to return to the village for rest."
Homura and Koharu's eyes widened.
"Hiruzen… changing commanders mid-battle? That's madness!"
But Danzō nodded approvingly.
"It'll be fine. With Iwagakure's move and the Two-Tails lost, Kumogakure is no longer a threat. Let the others take over."
And so, driven by politics rather than strategy, the so-called "Konoha Four" issued the order—sparking uproar across the village.
The Ino-Shika-Chō clans were the first to meet. Their faces were all grim.
"Fugaku and Hizashi were winning! Why change now?" Akimichi Chōza barked. "It'll crush morale!"
Hyūga Hizashi sighed. "This runs deep, Chōza. Politics between the Hokage and Uchiha go back decades. Still… I can't deny the Hokage's decision seems unwise this time. What do you think, Shikaku?"
Nara Shikaku folded his arms. "No matter the politics, we still have a war to win. So we follow orders—for the village's sake, and for the efforts Fugaku and Hizashi have already made."
Chōza and Hizashi exchanged uneasy looks, then nodded. They didn't like it, but they were clan heads first and soldiers second. This was an opportunity they couldn't refuse.
In the Hyūga compound, Hyūga Hiashi's expression was complex when the news arrived. He knew Hiruzen was suppressing them—but part of him was relieved. The campaign had been led by his brother Hizashi; any more glory, and comparisons between them would only deepen.
Back during the Third War, the Hyūga had failed to distinguish themselves—and even lost a Byakugan to the enemy. As clan head, that failure was his.
If Hizashi outshone him now… the shame would be unbearable.
So Hiashi stayed silent.
The Uchiha, meanwhile, erupted in fury.
Even the moderates couldn't defend the Hokage this time.
Their achievements were undeniable—elite-level missions, overwhelming victories, and now the capture of a jinchūriki, something unseen since the founding of Konoha.
When the three elders convened, the dovish Second Elder stayed quiet. The Third Elder slammed the table.
"This is persecution—pure political persecution! Hiruzen and his cronies fear our clan's growing prestige, so they're cutting us out. Second Elder, surely even you can't defend this?"
The Second Elder opened his mouth, saw the angry faces around him, and closed it again. To speak now would be suicide.
The Third Elder turned to the First—Uchiha Setsuna, their ancient patriarch.
"Angry? You should be," Setsuna rasped, eyes sharp despite the haze of age. "But tell me—if you revolt now, can you win? And if you do, will the other clans ever accept an Uchiha Hokage?"
The room fell silent.
With a sudden thud, Setsuna slammed his fist to the floor.
"To achieve greatness, one must endure! Until we possess the strength to overturn fate itself, we hide our true hearts!"
He waved off his attendant's tea.
"Frankly, I'm grateful for this order. It's united the clan and stripped away all illusions about Hiruzen's lot. That alone is worth the loss of a little merit."
He looked around the room, eyes blazing.
"You all know I value Rokuro. His strength has been proven beyond doubt. No one here still questions him, I trust?"
The elders nodded. Even the Second Elder, who had once despised Rokuro as arrogant and unrefined, could no longer deny him—the man who had captured the Two-Tails and driven back the Eight-Tails alone was a hero.
Setsuna continued, voice rising.
"Rokuro once said, 'A true man must strive ceaselessly for self-improvement.' Remember that well. Relying on others will never earn respect. Only strength commands loyalty. This war has tempered every Uchiha who fought—shown the world the true power of the Sharingan. That's what matters most!"
"When we regain the glory of the Warring States era, Hiruzen and the others will be nothing but insects before us. Until then—train harder! Shed the trivialities of the Police Force and dig deep into your potential. Do you understand!?"
"Yes, Elder Setsuna!"
His words unified the clan completely. The few still clinging to the Hokage faction fell silent.
Two days later, when the command transfer reached the front lines, Fugaku and Hizashi were furious.
Rokuro, though equally indignant, couldn't help a dark chuckle.
"Well, on the bright side, this means more Uchiha will undergo Qi Sea Seal implantation. More subjects, more data. In that sense, I should thank Sarutobi Hiruzen for his dirty little move."
He smiled coldly.
"But if he thinks the Ino-Shika-Chō trio can replace the Uchiha and Hyūga on the front… he's in for a rude awakening. Kumogakure isn't some soft fruit you can pluck without losing teeth."
Because the Two-Tails had to be kept under constant Adamantine Sealing restraint, Rokuro had to return to the village as quickly as possible.
Hiruzen and Danzō were eager to seize control of the captured jinchūriki.
Whether they meant to brainwash Yugito and turn her into a loyal Konoha weapon, or extract her tailed beast and implant it in another host—Rokuro didn't care.
As he traveled back, he devoted his time to research—on the Two-Tails' chakra.
"Even extracting ninety-nine percent of its chakra doesn't allow it to manifest clones like the Nine-Tails did… So that means replication depends not only on chakra but on will. The Nine-Tails appeared in my seal space because it wanted to escape."
"By contrast, this cat clearly likes Yugito—it's not willing to abandon her. I suppose that means it doesn't want to work with me. Hmm… can tailed beasts communicate with each other? I've heard theories they can, like telepathy across distances."
"If that's true, then the Nine-Tails probably snitched on me."
Abandoning the idea of using the Two-Tails as a portable battery, Rokuro used his chakra analyzer to decode its unique chakra formula—adding it to his collection.
He now possessed formulas for the Nine-Tails, Eight-Tails, and Two-Tails—three of the nine.
"In the final battle, Sage Mode Naruto outclassed Six Paths Sasuke because Naruto was a degraded version of the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki. If I can gather all nine chakra formulas… could I reach the Six Paths level myself?"
He grinned at the thought. "That's worth researching."
END OF CHAPTER
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