Setsuna sped forward and asked, "Fugaku-san, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Thank you for saving me, Commander." Fugaku struggled to maintain his composure as he dispersed his Susanoo. Blood and tears mingled in his crimson Mangekyo Sharingan.
He felt his vision was much blurrier than usual, as if veiled by a thin red film, but this was nothing compared to the agony in his heart.
"It's me, it's all my fault." The usually authoritative Uchiha Clan's head knelt on the ground like a helpless old man, his fingers digging deep into the soil. "I shouldn't have brought Itachi to the battlefield. I'm the one who caused his death."
Seeing this Uchiha Clan's head, who always showed a stern expression, finally showing such rich emotion, Setsuna also felt a pang of sympathy.
Under the moonlight, Fugaku's figure appeared especially hunched, as if he had aged ten years in a single day.
"Let's talk after we return." Setsuna said softly, then noticed Fugaku's body beginning to tremble uncontrollably.
Under the dual blows of the Mangekyo's side effects and emotional collapse, this father finally fell unconscious.
Inside the camp, Uchiha Mikoto had already been waiting anxiously at the entrance.
When she saw Setsuna carrying her unconscious husband back, a complex emotion flashed in her eyes.
She should have been full of resentment towards this incompetent husband who insisted on bringing their son to the battlefield, ultimately leading to Itachi's death.
But now, looking at Fugaku's pale face and blood-stained eyes, all her resentment turned into heartache.
"Commander-sama, thank you for saving him." Mikoto bowed deeply, her voice choked with emotion, both for her husband's safe return and for her son who would never come back.
Setsuna handed Fugaku over to the medical team and sighed lightly, "My condolences."
After Mikoto left with the medical team, Setsuna surveyed everyone, his voice carrying throughout the entire camp: "Everyone, increase your vigilance. The sensory unit will monitor in 24-hour shifts. That monster will likely return."
Night fell, and a tense atmosphere pervaded the camp.
Setsuna stood on high ground, gazing into the distant forest swallowed by darkness, his brow slightly furrowed.
For some reason, the roar Satori let out as it fled during the day gave him a strange sense of familiarity.
'Could it be Mu from Kusagakure?' Setsuna pondered silently. Mu was the future warden of Hozuki Castle, so it wouldn't be strange for him to know the secret of the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
But there was one thing he couldn't understand: Where did Mu obtain the massive amount of Chakra needed to open the Box of Ultimate Bliss?
'And that monster's strength-' The light in Setsuna's eyes flickered uncertainly.
According to the original setting, this monster, which could read the fear in its opponents' hearts, could suppress Naruto, Killer B, and a group of Konoha's top fighters immediately after being unsealed.
Although this was mainly due to Satori being able to predict attack trajectories by reading the fear in its opponents' hearts, it still demonstrated this monster's power.
Especially since this monster could grow by absorbing fear. This Great Ninja War was undoubtedly the perfect breeding ground for this monster's growth.
A dark glint flashed in Setsuna's eyes. A sinister idea gradually took shape in his mind: 'If I allowed this monster to rampage across the Ninja World, letting it grow into a common threat to all villages, and then I stepped in as the savior-'
He had always avoided causing too much slaughter because he planned to conquer the Ninja World in the future, calling on everyone to provide Chakra for the God Tree together.
If too many people opposed him, he would have to expend enormous effort to suppress rebellions, which wouldn't be worth it.
But if this Great Ninja War could produce a common enemy for all humanity, like the Fourth Great Ninja War in the future, and he finally appeared as a savior to quell all wars...
Then he could completely use his prestige to facilitate an alliance, becoming the de facto ruler of the Ninja World.
'No need for deliberate guidance. Just don't actively pursue Satori, and whenever it appears, 'drive' it towards the territories of other Ninja Villages.' A slight smile appeared at the corner of Setsuna's mouth.
The most wonderful part of this plan was that he wasn't some mastermind behind the scenes, nor did he need to personally act to increase casualties. He only needed appropriate inaction.
'Of course, the prerequisite for achieving this is not to overplay my hand. But is that even possible?' Setsuna scoffed. After all, for that monster to grow stronger than him in a short time was simply impossible.
…
Early the next morning, the atmosphere in the central command tent was heavy.
A Konoha's Jonin slammed his fist on the table, angrily requesting to fight: "Commander, Iwagakure took advantage of our absence, raided our base, and took the captives. This is a blatant provocation against us. We must retaliate."
"That's right. That old bastard Onoki must pay the price."
"Commander, please give the order. Let's attack the Iwagakure's camp immediately."
Setsuna sat upright in the main seat, his slender fingers lightly tapping the tabletop. After everyone's anger subsided slightly, he slowly began to speak: "No, we cannot go to war with Iwagakure for now."
Everyone was stunned, then became even more anxious: "Commander, are we just going to let them get away with this provocation?"
Setsuna shook his head: "Yesterday, I learned that the monster is an ancient demonic beast sealed by the Sage of Six Paths inside the Box of Ultimate Bliss, named 'Satori'. This kind of monster can grow by absorbing our human fear."
"Every battle it experiences strengthens its power. If left unchecked, it will quickly grow to a level even Tailed Beasts would struggle to contend with. Until that monster is eliminated, we cannot allow the war to continue."
Everyone was shocked. They never expected Setsuna to have figured out the monster's identity so quickly.
"There's actually such a monster that can grow by absorbing fear."
"Why didn't the Sage of Six Paths just destroy this monster? Leaving behind this [Box of Ultimate Bliss]... the name itself doesn't sound very proper."
"But what if Iwagakure takes advantage of our restraint and launches a full-scale attack on us?"
Setsuna said: "That's why I will write to inform Iwagakure, warning them to be careful of that monster."
Some felt indignant. Although they understood Setsuna's reasoning, knowing was one thing… the feeling of having to warn Iwagakure about the monster after Iwagakure just raided them was really unpleasant.
Setsuna stood up, looking towards the gloomy sky outside the tent: "War between humans should not take precedence over the survival of humanity as a whole. If we obsess over retaliating against Iwagakure and ignore this monster, the price we ultimately pay may be something none of us can bear."
Rasa stood up at the appropriate moment: "Commander-sama's magnanimity is far beyond what we can aspire to."
Admiration flickered in his eyes: "We are still calculating grudges between villages, while the Commander is already considering the safety of all humanity."
Fugaku slowly rose to his feet. His injuries were not yet healed, but he still insisted on attending this meeting: "I understand the terror of that monster better than any of you. If we allow it to continue growing, I fear humanity truly may face the danger of extinction."
With Fugaku's firsthand testimony, the remaining dissenters finally agreed.
"Hmph, Iwagakure is really getting off easy. Let's hope they take our warning seriously."