I Am Fugaku Uchiha

As the war continued to unfold, reaching into the 45th year of the Konoha calendar, the four great nations of Earth, Lightning, Wind, and Fire found themselves ensnared in an unyielding stalemate.

The conflict had taken a toll on each nation, with no clear victor emerging on the horizon.

Amidst the tense atmosphere, a shocking revelation disrupted the delicate balance. News reached Konoha through its spy network in the Land of Water: the Hidden Mist village was plotting to enter the ongoing conflict. This unexpected development sent ripples of uncertainty throughout the already strained Konoha force.

In the heart of Konoha, the Third Hokage, a seasoned leader, found himself grappling with a dilemma. The prospect of the Hidden Mist village joining the fray added a layer of complexity to an already intricate situation.

Questions echoed in the minds of the Konoha council: how had the Land of Fire, previously untouched by the ravages of war, become a sudden target? What unseen forces were at play, reshaping the dynamics of the conflict?

The Third Hokage, known for his strategic acumen, now faced the challenge of deciphering the motives behind the Hidden Mist village's decision to enter the war.

With 7,000 ninjas entrenched on the Suna front, Konoha found itself in a precarious situation. The forces of Iwa and Kumo, once numbering 15,000, had dwindled to 11,000 after a grueling year of warfare.

Strapped for resources and unable to divert any reinforcements from the Suna front, the Hokage faced a dilemma.

The shortage of manpower in Konoha became palpable, as even the village's resident Shinobi were assigned crucial tasks like delivering intelligence and supplies. Faced with the stark reality that they couldn't afford to lose ground on any front, the Hokage had to make a difficult decision.

In a desperate move, the Hokage reluctantly decided to tap into an unconventional solution: the Chunin exam. With no time to spare and the urgency of wartime pressing down, the usual month-long exam was condensed.

The criteria were simple: as long as the Genin showcased sufficient combat skills and theoretical knowledge, they would be swiftly promoted to Chunin.

In just a matter of days, a select group of Genin managed to meet the stringent requirements and were hastily promoted to Chunin status. With their newly acquired rank, they were immediately dispatched to the battlefield.

The Hokage knew that time was of the essence, and the need for skilled warriors outweighed the luxury of traditional promotions.

As the intensity of combat raged on at the other fronts, an unexpected scene unfolded on the Suna front.

Rather than being marked by the chaos of warfare, the atmosphere here was decidedly different—almost leisurely, if not exactly peaceful.

However, 'peaceful' seemed an inadequate term. Perhaps 'leisurely' captured the essence more accurately.

Amid the camp, a peculiar incident drew the attention of many Uchiha clansmen. Someone had taken the audacious step of practicing the Kirin technique, though on a much smaller scale than the awe-inspiring display once conjured by Fugaku.

Not every member of the clan, it seemed, possessed the mastery required for such a formidable jutsu.

Despite the diminished scale of the dark clouds, mastering the technique proved elusive for some. Some Uchiha lacked the finesse to guide the lightning element, while others struggled to control the direction of the strike.

A few even found themselves bedridden for a week due to mishaps during their attempts.

Within Konoha's medic tent, there were indeed some injured individuals, but the majority had fallen victim to their own attempts at mastering the Kirin technique.

Of course, a handful had suffered minor wounds from the rigors of practicing ninjutsu or engaging in sparring sessions.

Around the camp, a small crowd had gathered, consisting mainly of Uchiha clansmen who were engrossed in a curious spectacle.

"Jeez, Akihiko, do you even know how to play? We're both kids; why are you messing with me?" Seike complained, trying to make sense of the unfolding card game.

Akihiko snorted in response, "Who are you calling old? Who's a kid, you? You mean the noble, right?"

"Huh? Noble? Really?" Seike, momentarily bewildered, noticed a nodding Rei next to him and chuckled, "Heh, sorry, I'm new to the game. Go easy on me, haha!"

"Pfft, use your Sharingan and see for yourself. Is this a noble hand? Three with one, it's over. Pay up!" Akihiko declared confidently.

"What? No way..." Seike grumbled, reluctantly taking out four hundred ryo. "Here, take it,… Three wins in a row. Did you cheat with your Sharingan or something?"

"Stop whining and making excuses, okay? You think you can cheat?!" Akihiko snapped, enjoying the banter.

They were engrossed in a card game—a pastime introduced by none other than him to alleviate the pervasive boredom that accompanied the tension of war.

Fugaku was wearing his ninja outfit and vest, watching them from afar, and smiling to himself. It was good to relax once in a while, especially during the war.

Fugaku, dressed in his ninja outfit and vest, observed the game from a distance, a smile playing on his lips. It was a welcome respite, a chance to relax amidst the ongoing conflict.

Despite the absence of fighting in this specific area for over a year, tension prevailed elsewhere, making these moments of camaraderie and diversion all the more precious.

"Uncle! What are you laughing at?" A brown-haired boy ran up to Fugaku, curiosity lighting up his eyes.

Fugaku shook his head, his gaze fixed on the boy, who had transformed into a skilled medical ninja. A sense of wonder swept over him.

Over time, combined with his understanding of his situation, Fugaku had deduced that Orochimaru's experiments required an assistant proficient in healing ninjutsu. This person needed not only unwavering loyalty but also the ability to gather intelligence.

Urashi, with his natural talent for espionage and an admiration for Nono as his role model, displayed remarkable potential in both medical ninjutsu and spying skills from a young age.

For over a year, Fugaku and Nono, along with some Uchiha clansmen, had been clandestinely training Urashi. The plan was to make him a spy.

However, Fugaku couldn't help but wonder if Orochimaru, deprived of his right-hand man, the medic-nin Kabuto, could find another child like Urashi to replace him.

Kabuto was indispensable for Orochimaru's experiments and research projects, serving as a spy, a medical ninja, and an assistant in scientific endeavors. Orochimaru owed much of his success to the medic-nin.

Putting aside those concerns for the moment, Fugaku refocused on his own priorities—developing high-level spatial ninjutsu capable of linking two spaces.

Despite mastering his abilities and the Mangekyo Sharingan, progress in this field had eluded him.

"Lord Fugaku!" A voice from afar snapped him out of his contemplations.

Fugaku looked up to see Shikaku approaching from the camp. Politely, he inquired, "What’s the matter, Shikaku?"

Shikaku responded, "We’ve been idle here for too long, sir. Can we go and help out in other places?"

Shikaku's tactful inquiry reflected a palpable sense of boredom that had settled in. Other regions had been embroiled in war for over a year, yet their camp remained inactive, awaiting orders that never came.

The crux of the matter lay in the Hokage's unawareness of the deal he had made with the Kazekage. Nevertheless, they were still Konoha ninjas, and the pervasive feeling of idleness gnawed at them.

Despite manageable skirmishes in previous battles, with occasional challenges posed by the Hidden Cloud and the Hidden Stone, the dynamics had shifted. The involvement of the Hidden Mist added a new layer of complexity to their current situation.

“I know what you mean, but he’s not a daimyo,” Fugaku responded, acknowledging the delicate balance they had to maintain.

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