UCHIHA KING OF THE SOULS

Great Changes in Kirigakure

During the battle between Konohagakure and Kirigakure, the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, unexpectedly appeared on the battlefield and launched a fierce assault. The two clan leaders, Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi, commanded the rear guard but suffered severe injuries. Despite being evacuated to the camp, both succumbed to their wounds.

The other prominent clan leaders, including Aburame Shibi and Akimichi Choza, also sustained significant casualties while fighting alongside Konoha's forces.

"I deeply regret such a devastating loss. I bear responsibility for failing to foresee this," the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, declared solemnly.

"What?"

"Father, he..."

Uchiha Shisui and Hyuga Hizashi's faces paled, their eyes widening in shock. Around them, the jonin of both clans—Inuzuka Tsume, Yamanaka Inoichi, and others—exchanged grave looks.

Uchiha Gen, however, felt no particular sorrow at the death of the clan leader, yet he knew he had to put on the appropriate façade.

The gathered jonin bore expressions of deep concern. The Fourth Mizukage's direct involvement indicated that Kirigakure's elite Anbu, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and other high-ranking forces must have also engaged in the battle. The frontline situation had drastically worsened.

"Hiruzen, you cannot blame yourself entirely for this," Homura Mitokado stated.

"In the last war council, we concluded that once Kirigakure found itself isolated, it would retreat, shifting its focus to defending the Land of Water and abandoning its offensive. No one expected them to be this relentless and ambitious."

"This was a collective decision. You do not need to shoulder the burden alone."

Koharu Utatane, sitting on a stone chair, slightly narrowed her eyes.

"The Fourth Mizukage's direct intervention reveals Kirigakure's resolve," she added. "A decisive counterattack is inevitable."

"Kirigakure must be struck with overwhelming force to force their retreat," stated Mitokado Homura, adjusting his glasses with a stern expression.

"The immediate priority is to appoint a new commander and send reinforcements to the Kirigakure front. Reflection can wait until the war is won," Shimura Danzo remarked, leaning back.

Danzo was in particularly high spirits. He had originally intended for the Kirigakure conflict to weaken Konoha's powerful clans, but things had gone better than expected. Not only had both the Uchiha and Hyuga clan leaders perished—elites bordering on Kage-level strength—but other major clan heads had suffered losses. His objective had been achieved beyond expectations.

Listening to the rhetoric of Konoha's elder council, Uchiha Gen lowered his head, smirking slightly. A collective decision? More like the four of them made the decision alone. Sharing blame collectively meant no one was truly held accountable.

"Yes, Kirigakure must be crushed to end this war decisively!" Hiruzen declared.

"So, I have decided that, aside from the necessary forces staying behind in Konoha, we will assemble an elite strike force."

"We will dispatch twenty-five jonin, one hundred and fifty chunin, and five hundred genin."

"Additionally, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Minato will accompany them."

"With this strength, alongside the forces already stationed at the front, we should be able to overpower Kirigakure. Do you all agree?"

Hiruzen's sharp gaze swept across Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Minato.

"Yes!" The four answered without hesitation.

The assembled jonin exchanged glances. Twenty-five jonin—nearly half of Konoha's remaining high-ranking ninja—was a considerable force.

Before the Third Shinobi War, Konoha had around one hundred and ten jonin. After years of combat, even with relaxed promotion standards, fewer than sixty remained. Now, nearly half were being mobilized at once.

With four Kage-level combatants joining the front, it was clear that Kirigakure had enraged the Hokage.

But who would command this force? All four legendary figures were qualified.

"Tsunade will be the commander," Hiruzen announced. "Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Minato will serve as her deputy commanders."

Tsunade-sama? That was indeed the ideal choice. Her lineage, standing, and combat prowess made her the perfect leader, with no factional bias.

"Understood."

The four shinobi nodded in unison.

"Begin preparations immediately. We set out in one hour."

"Yes!" the assembled ninja responded.

The shinobi profession valued efficiency. In Konoha's war room, Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Minato quickly selected the twenty-five jonin who would reinforce the Kirigakure front.

The roster was meticulously reviewed, detailing every recruit's rank, skills, and mission experience.

Within thirty minutes, six hundred and seventy-five elite ninja had been chosen.

The remaining time was spent allowing them to gather supplies and bid farewell to their families before assembling at Konoha's main gate.

By the fifty-fifth minute, all six hundred and seventy-five warriors stood fully armed at Konoha's entrance. Under the command of the three Sannin, they immediately set off for the southeastern front in the Land of Fire.

As for the "Yellow Flash," Namikaze Minato had already dashed ahead, moving at unparalleled speed.

His immediate mission, assigned by Tsunade, was to stabilize the front and curb Kirigakure's momentum.

Among the reinforcements was Uchiha Gen, both a jonin and an Uchiha clansman, as well as Team 7, personally led by Minato.

The assembled force moved swiftly, stopping for only a single rest break before reaching the frontline by 9:00 p.m.

After such an arduous march, the genin's combat effectiveness had declined sharply, while the chunin and jonin were also fatigued to varying degrees. Only the legendary Sannin remained in peak condition.

Now was not the time for battle.

Meanwhile, Minato had executed his mission flawlessly, striking Kirigakure hard enough to halt their advance and stabilize Konoha's position.

Tsunade, having prepared in advance by blocking her sense of smell, walked through the camp alongside the newly arrived reinforcements. Morale, which had plummeted after Konoha's recent loss, gradually rebounded.

With the Sannin and Yellow Flash now on the frontlines, few could envision a scenario where Konoha would lose.

Kirigakure's spies, embedded within Konoha's ranks, covertly transmitted news of the reinforcements back to their commanders.

Tsunade and the others were fully aware of the enemy's intelligence network. In fact, Konoha had its own spies within Kirigakure's ranks.

Allowing the spies to report back was strategic—this would force Kirigakure to adjust its tactics, giving Konoha's exhausted troops time to recover and allowing the reinforcements to acclimate.

Upon receiving the news, the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, immediately convened an emergency war council.

Kirigakure's high-ranking officials were visibly shaken.

The fearsome reputations of the Sannin and the Yellow Flash were no mere rumors—they had been forged through blood and war.

Facing four legendary Kage-level opponents at once, Kirigakure's senior leadership felt an ominous pressure.

Yagura himself hesitated, sensing the difficulty ahead. His resolve to execute Kirigakure's secret Tailed Beast attack plan only deepened.

A new strategy was quickly agreed upon.

A full-scale battle was unwise. Instead, Kirigakure would shift to a defensive stance, buying time to execute the Tailed Beast plan.

By dawn, the entire Kirigakure front had transformed—offensive formations had been abandoned in favor of a solid defensive strategy.

The rank-and-file soldiers, unaware of their leaders' deeper strategy, were bewildered.

Hadn't they suffered only minor losses? Why retreat so suddenly?

Still, orders were orders. Kirigakure's troops worked tirelessly through the night to fortify their defenses.

Back in Konoha's camp, the newly arrived reinforcements settled in, while Uchiha Gen and Uchiha Shisui first paid their respects to their fallen clan leader before turning in for the night.