I Am Fugaku Uchiha

The Third Hokage's decision to position the defense camp against Suna stemmed from a shift in battlefield dynamics.

With the enemy showing no signs of initiating a large-scale assault, it made strategic sense to bolster their defenses with a kage-level powerhouse. This not only ensured greater security but also boosted the morale of other defense lines.

Yet there was more to his decision than mere tactical advantage. Among the defenders stood a significant presence of Inuzuka clan members, with only a handful of Hyūga.

What intrigued the Third Hokage was the proximity of the Uchiha clan members. It presented an opportune moment for him to foster a bond and gather information.

For Itsuki, the attention from the Hokage was both humbling and exhilarating. He found himself engaged in pleasant conversations.

"With the Hokage-sama personally leading us, Suna won’t dare attack us!!" Itsuki remarked respectfully as he carefully led the conversion.

The Third Hokage, affectionately known as Monkey, stood as the epitome of strength and wisdom among the Hokages, despite lacking the unique abilities of his predecessors.

He had earned his professor title through sheer skill and sagacity, a fact widely acknowledged among the Shinobi.

The First Hokage wielded the rare and formidable Wood Release Kekkei Genkai, but Monkey relied solely on his unparalleled brilliance.

With the Hokage's presence gracing the camp, the mere thought of Suna launching an assault seemed preposterous. How could they possibly challenge the hokage at the helm?

Moreover, Rasa, the Kazekage, had lost his advantage fighting outside the desert terrain. It was unrealistic. Besides, there was a secret agreement between Rasa and the clan head that no one knew.

The Third Hokage smiled knowingly and said, "In war, we owe a debt of gratitude to your clan leader for his strength and reputation. Without his support, we might find ourselves vulnerable to a three-front attack, a scenario far from favorable for our village."

Itsuki beamed with pride as he and the Third Hokage strolled around the meticulously arranged camp, admiring the disciplined and efficient layout of the tents.

"What is your name?" the Third Hokage inquired, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

"Itsuki, Hokage-sama," came the respectful response.

"And do you know how your clan leader is related to Minato?" the Hokage continued, probing gently.

"Minato?" Itsuki's surprise was palpable, but he composed himself. "I don’t know much about that, but I believe they are on good terms. I've seen them share dinner together twice before the war began."

The Third Hokage took a contemplative drag from his cigarette, the wisps of smoke curling around him as he pondered Itsuki's words.

-----------

Fugaku reclined on a stone near the camp, clad in ninja attire complete with a Konoha forehead protector. His gaze drifted lazily to the azure sky adorned with wisps of white clouds, a sight that failed to alleviate the boredom gnawing at his senses.

There was a palpable sense of idleness weighing on him. Unless the enemy mustered the audacity to launch a significant assault, he found himself relegated to mere existence, longing for the thrill of action.

Yet he understood the importance of his presence, a silent sentinel amidst the tumult of war.

In Suna, the absence of formidable adversaries rendered Fugaku's presence inconsequential. But here, he had adversaries. However, he couldn’t defeat them by himself.

Yet he harbored no illusions about his ability to triumph single-handedly against the seasoned Onoki and his son, alongside the twelve elite Jonin ninjas who operated with seamless coordination.

Standard ninjutsu proved futile against such adept opponents; only the power of Susanoo, borne from the Mangekyō Sharingan, held the promise of turning the tide in his favor.

Despite his familiarity with his abilities, Fugaku had yet to unleash his full arsenal against his formidable adversaries. His space ninjutsu, the advanced forms of Susanoo, and his wood release techniques remained untapped resources, leaving him feeling somewhat inadequate.

He deemed Wood Release futile in this context, as its limited mastery offered little advantage against foes like Onoki, who could easily evade attacks using the flight ninjutsu.

Feeling the pressing need to augment his strength, Fugaku contemplated delving into sage arts, recognizing it as a path towards greater power.

However, his inability to manifest the complete form of Susanoo posed a significant hurdle.

Despite his mastery of combat skills, this limitation weighed heavily on his mind, especially when contemplating confrontations against formidable adversaries like the Tailed Beasts and Onoki.

Aware of the immense potential of the complete Susanoo, Fugaku also acknowledged his own growth in combat prowess.

Despite wielding only an incomplete form of Susanoo, he eschewed prolonged battles, mindful of the devastating effectiveness of Onoki's dust release, which had effortlessly dispatched Susanoo of Madara.

"Lord Fugaku." Choza's voice interrupted Fugaku's contemplation, drawing his attention to the approaching figure with red hair and a robust build.

Fugaku raised an eyebrow at Choza's presence. "What is it, Choza? Have you found a large army for me to scare away?" he quipped, a hint of amusement in his tone.

His imposing presence had indeed become a source of fear for Iwa Shinobi, often leading to swift retreats upon his arrival.

However, Choza's demeanor betrayed a sense of awkwardness as he handed over two letters to Fugaku. "Actually... Shikaku sent some ninja to scout the camp, and he asked me to deliver these to you," Choza explained hesitantly.

Fugaku accepted the letters with a puzzled expression, wondering about the purpose of scouting the camp.

As Fugaku sifted through his letters, his attention was drawn to one from Itsuki, detailing the Hokage's deployment to defend against Suna and requesting Fugaku's presence at the defense line against the Mist.

"Hey, Choza, are you kidding me? You want me to head to the Mist battlefield?"Fugaku's incredulity was evident.

Fugaku felt a sense of relief knowing that the Hokage had departed against Suna, but he could guess what the old man was up to.

But why did he have to go to the Mist battlefield? What was going on?

"The commander of the Mist defense line, Lord Hyuga, is severely injured, so you need to take over his position temporarily!" Choza's announcement only deepened Fugaku's bewilderment.

"What? That white-eyed man got injured. How is that even possible?" Fugaku struggled to comprehend the situation.

Hiashi, the esteemed leader of the Hyuga clan and Naruto's father-in-law, had always asserted the dominance of his lineage, often boasting about their prowess in combat and nurturing a longstanding rivalry with the Uchiha.

Despite their strained relations, Fugaku couldn't deny Hiashi's skills, which included mastery of the Byakugan, Gentle Fist, Eight Trigrams Palm, and Revolving Heaven techniques. Hiashi was an embodiment of offense and defense, surpassing even Hyuga Neji, Hinata's brother, in prowess.

The revelation of Hiashi's injury left Fugaku perplexed. How could someone of his caliber fall injured? And who could possibly have inflicted such damage on him?

"White... Eyes..." Choza's discomfort betrayed his recognition of Fugaku's audacious nickname for Hiashi, a moniker that dared to challenge the Hyuga leader's prestige.

"Listen, Lord Fugaku, it's a secret mission. Can you please lower your voice? The details are in the other letter. I won't bother you anymore."

With Choza hastily retreating, Fugaku was left to ponder the implications of the situation.

As he opened the second envelope, his initial confusion turned into excitement. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he realized the true nature of the mission at hand.

"Haha, so that's what happened! Well, well, well... young man..." he murmured to himself, intrigued by the unexpected turn of events unfolding before him.

Translation notes: Kurotsuchi is Onoki's granddaughter's name. There has been a mix-up with the name of Onoki's son, which is Kū. We will correct this mistake going forward. Thank you.

-----------------------

For access to the early 40+ chapters, join us on Patreon.

patreon.com/StylishSlayer