Chapter 112: 108: War and The Mangekyou Sharingan (1)
The outbreak of war occurred suddenly.
The Land of Fire shares its border with the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain. Almost all of the ninja units stationed there were annihilated. Only a small contingent of Konoha ninjas managed to escape the carnage and relayed news of the Sunagakure's attack back to Konohagakure.
Though they were furious that the Sunagakure had dared to challenge the Land Of Fire, the Konoha leadership, led by the Third Hokage, swiftly initiated war preparations. They deployed village ninjas, forming squads to march toward the border in support.
At this moment, the peace treaties between nations were nothing more than scraps of paper.
Compared to the seasoned ninja who had experienced the Great Ninja War, the newly graduated genin had a less acute sense of danger. Despite knowing that war brings death to many, they held a naïve and optimistic attitude, completely unaware of the kind of hell they were about to face.
In the hell called war, even chuunin were in constant danger of losing their lives, and jounin faced the grim possibility of being surrounded and meeting a heroic death on the battlefield.
Whether it was shurikens and kunai flying from unknown directions or explosive tags reducing their bodies to ashes, in large-scale wars between ninja villages, even the strongest ninja could not guarantee their survival.
As such, most Konoha ninjas viewed war with pessimism. Once war broke out, it meant parting from family, lovers, and friends.
Yet, even amidst their pessimism, they would rush out to the frontlines, ignoring their own safety, to fight to the bitter end for their village, their nation, and against the enemy.
...
The sudden outbreak of war cast a somber atmosphere over the streets of Konoha. People were praying for the safe return of their loved ones who were heading to the battlefield.
"Ruri, are you heading out now?" Shiraishi asked, approaching Ruri as she prepared to leave.
"Yes, I have a patrol mission, and it will be around the village perimeter."
"Will you be back tonight?" Shiraishi inquired with a brief pause.
"My shift ends around 8 pm, so I should be back by then. Is something the matter?" Ruri sensed that Shiraishi had something to discuss, as he seemed hesitant.
"It's nothing pressing. I just wanted to talk to you about something. Since you're occupied now, we can discuss it when you return tonight." Shiraishi replied.
"Alright, take care." Ruri said, knowing that Shiraishi's patrol duty in a time of war was not without its dangers, despite his formidable abilities. She couldn't help but remind him.The initial instance of this chapter being available happened at N0v3l.Bin.
Observing Ruri's departure, Shiraishi paused at the door for a moment, then returned to his room to rest.
Around 1 o'clock in the afternoon, Shiraishi set out for a walk. His stroll seemed aimless, as though he sought relaxation without a specific purpose.
'Everything seems to be in order here' He thought.
At each location he visited, he used his sensory jutsu to inspect the areas where troublemakers might attack or cause disturbances, checking for any potential vulnerabilities.
While patrol teams in these places appeared unchanged and followed their previous routes, even the times for shifting and changing positions every half-hour remained the same, there was something different.
However...
As Shiraishi glanced in a certain direction, he could clearly sense an increase in guards by four individuals.
A squad of Anbu.
Including the initial Anbu squad, there were now eight Anbu ninjas in total. Due to the war, it seemed that the security measures for that area had been enhanced.
Shiraishi continued his rounds to other locations. Around 3:30 in the afternoon, he made his way to the academy.
The academy remained unaffected for the most part. graduates from the past few years were simply not fortunate enough to evade this era of war.
Regardless of whether they were laughing or crying, the moment they became genuine ninjas, they carried the obligation to go to the battlefield.
However, this had no bearing on Shiraishi, a Chunin working as a logistical medical ninja in Konoha. He hadn't received any orders to transfer from the village.
Currently, his superior was Tsunade, who was serving at the academy. Oddly, there were no indications that she planned to go to the front lines.
Although Shiraishi was puzzled by this, considering the war, he believed that Tsunade would likely be heading to the battlefield, as her medical ninjutsu skills would be highly valuable there.
So, why was she still stationed in the village?
Moreover, there hadn't been any transfer orders from the village's higher-ups, which struck him as quite strange.
Was there a specific reason for this? He couldn't help but wonder.
Even though he was quite curious about this, it was precisely because of this that he was able to rest easy in Konoha for now.
He had already prepared his excuses but had not expected to use them at all.
"Shiraishi-senpai"
A voice called out as he wandered the streets.
Arriving at the school office, Shiraishi first spotted Shizune and offered a smile and nod of acknowledgment.
"You're here."
Tsunade, seated at the desk, looked up. Her face was flushed, a clear sign that she'd been drinking.
"Tsunade-sensei, is it wise to drink at a time like this?" Shiraishi questioned.
"It doesn't matter. It won't affect the class." Tsunade waved dismissively. She assured him that she was only lightly inebriated, with a clear mind that wouldn't hinder her teaching.
"I'm not concerned about that. It's just... considering the impending Sunagakure threat and the front lines..."
Shiraishi's face showed concern.
Shizune hesitated for a moment on the side but decided not to speak up. After all, this was highly classified information within the village, and it shouldn't be casually revealed to unrelated individuals.
She only knew about it because she lived with Tsunade. This was top-secret information in the village.
"I've said it's fine, so don't worry. With their abilities, Orochimaru and Jiraiya should handle Suna. Frankly, I'm tired of fighting. This teaching job was thrust upon me by Sarutobi-sensei."
Tsunade cleverly changed the subject, gazing out of the window, lost in thought for a moment.
Although she maintained composure on the surface, her inner concerns about Orochimaru and Jiraiya were evident.
To avoid causing trouble and annoyance for Tsunade, Shiraishi dropped the topic and started preparing his lessons. Shizune went to make two cups of hot tea and placed them on the table in front of Tsunade and Shiraishi.
.....
By 5:30 in the afternoon, the school day had ended. After fielding some student queries related to medical treatment, Shiraishi left the school and continued wandering the village.
He roamed until darkness had fully settled in before making his way back to the Uchiha clan.
Today's inspection duties were complete, and as long as he revisited the plan before their official operation tomorrow night, everything should proceed smoothly.
However, the biggest challenge lay in how he would explain his departure to Ruri tonight. Shiraishi wasn't entirely certain whether she would leave Konoha with him.
The ties between the Uchiha clan and Konoha ran deep, and Ruri was an Uchiha ninja. Thus, the connection between the Uchiha and Konoha was also the connection between Ruri and Konoha.
Regardless of the outcome, he resolved to accept it calmly.
It was time to bid farewell to this village.
Shiraishi had arranged for the Purple Rose Company's representative to train medical ninjas for Konoha on behalf of the organization. Additionally, he'd handed over valuable drug research data as a parting gift to Konoha.
He decided to rest briefly and then wait for Ruri's return from her patrol mission to break the news of his departure. This had become Shiraishi's unwavering choice.
"It's already half-past seven..." he remarked. Ruri had mentioned she'd be swapping shifts with another team around eight o'clock, leaving him with half an hour to prepare.
A wry smile crept onto Shiraishi's face as he found himself oddly anxious, despite knowing that it was a manageable situation. Regardless, he couldn't shake this unease even before Ruri's return.
'Calm down' he told himself mentally organizing his thoughts. He decided to start by washing his face before Ruri returned.
Light from the corridor illuminated his path as he walked toward the bathroom. Approaching him was a maid carrying a tray of food.
"Dinner is ready. Would you like to dine now?" the maid asked.
Rindo's anguished screams echoed through the hallway.
Ruri stood expressionless before him, her arms crossed over her chest. Rindo, on the other hand, appeared in a pitiful state, with dull eyes, drool at the corners of his mouth, and his entire body twitching uncontrollably.
"Answer me. What's your purpose? Depending on your answer, I might spare your life."
"...no...can't say...I...can't say...kill me...Ruri...kill me..."
Rindo's words came out in stuttered fragments, as he begged Ruri to end his life.
Ruri frowned, anger flickering in her eyes.
Kill him? It couldn't possibly be that simple.
Truth be told, she had endured these fools for far too long. It was also for the sake of the village and her clan. Why did these people insist on testing her patience?
Whether it was the Root or the Hokage, now it seemed that even some members of her own clan were involved.
Fortunately, there were a few level-headed individuals among them.
Ruri's patience had worn thin, and she raised her palm as if to use a jutsu. However, someone stopped her by holding her wrist.
It was Shiraishi who had intervened.
Ruri's face registered a hint of displeasure. "What are you doing?"
"Let's just pretend this never happened. After all, he's still a member of your clan. If you continue with your illusions, he'll suffer a mental breakdown and die."
Shiraishi suggested.
Shiraishi had originally planned to confess his intentions to Ruri that night, but he didn't want to jeopardize her relationship with her clan over this matter.
Ruri pulled her arm away from Shiraishi's grasp with a frosty expression. "It's best for trash like this to die. I endured the Root, and I tolerated the absurdities of the Third Hokage. But these idiots are my clan members, and as the clan's top ninja, I have the right to know the truth. Are you going to stop me?"
Seeing that Ruri had made up her mind, Shiraishi knew there was no changing her course of action.
Rindo's kneeling body slumped forward and hit the ground with a heavy thud, losing consciousness.
"Dispose of this trash for me. I'll be back shortly." Ruri said icily, then vanished with a burst of instant body technique.
"What are you doing, causing such a mess..." Shiraishi began, but his words trailed off. Why had someone from the clan tried to assassinate him at this particular moment? It was confusing.
Looking in the direction Ruri had left, Shiraishi let out a sigh.
Hopefully, nothing serious would happen.
But with Ruri's aversion to being taken advantage of, he could only hope that she wouldn't stir up any trouble.
.....
Naka Shrine
As the war raged on, the Uchiha clan had an obligation to contribute their strength to Konoha. To decide who would be sent to the battlefield, numerous Uchiha elite gathered here for an urgent meeting held at night, following the orders of the radical leader of the clan, Uchiha Sora.
"The beginning of this war has both advantages and disadvantages for us. While many may perish, it also brings us one step closer to the position of Hokage." Uchiha Sora, seated at the forefront, addressed the assembly with a calm demeanor despite his aged countenance.
"The Third Hokage is approaching the age of retirement. To accumulate enough prestige to become the Fourth Hokage, I hope that all of you will work together."
"Yes!"
"The era of the Senju leadership will eventually come to an end. The future of Konoha belongs to us, the Uchiha."
Uchiha Sora's gaze swept over each of the Uchiha ninjas present, seeming to approve of their determination and strength. He nodded with satisfaction.
These were the clan's elites, a powerful force to safeguard the clan and deter outsiders.
"Some foolish rambling, much like a child talking about becoming Hokage." an abrupt voice interrupted the proceedings.
The words reached the ears of the Uchiha jonin, inciting anger. They turned toward the source of the voice in surprise and annoyance.
From the shadows emerged Ruri. Her arrival left everyone puzzled and astonished as she walked toward the front, her intentions unclear.
Elder Sora, with wrinkles etched across his face, displayed some movement.
Ruri approached him in silence.
Then, there was a collective gasp as the unexpected unfolded before their eyes.
Ruri swiftly grasped Uchiha Sora by the throat, pressing him against the wall and creating a deep depression. The elder's face contorted in pain as he struggled to breathe.
"Wait, Ruri, what are you doing?"
"Don't act recklessly!"
"Release Elder Sora immediately!"
"Are you attempting a rebellion, Ruri? Let go!"
Jonins stood up one after another, either attempting to dissuade her or threatening her with force. They urged Ruri to release Elder Sora.
"...no...not right..." Elder Sora managed to utter these words, his face contorted in pain.
"No? Are you implying that I falsely accused you?" Ruri's tone was filled with menace.
Ruri paid little heed to the appeals and threats coming from her fellow clan members.
"...your eyes.... are ...wrong..."
Elder Sora, in his cloudy but still piercing gaze, focused on Ruri's three-tomoe Sharingan. He uttered words that left Ruri puzzled.
Her eyes? What was wrong with them?
"So that's it... even a medical ninja can't fix it... That failure of a mission..." Elder Sora's face suddenly lit up with understanding, as if he had grasped something significant.
"Stop your senseless babbling, change the subject! You've thoroughly infuriated me, old man." Ruri snapped, her threat still hanging in the air.
Confronted with Ruri's aggression, Elder Sora turned his head indifferently and addressed the Jonins who had been about to intervene.
"All of you, leave."
They exchanged puzzled glances. They couldn't fathom why Elder Sora had issued such an order.
"Go. I need to speak with Ruri alone."
After a moment's hesitation, the jonin decided to follow the elder's orders. As they left, they cast threatening glares at Ruri, warning her not to go too far.
Although they didn't know what conflict had occurred between Ruri and Elder Sora, it wasn't a valid reason for her to attack him without cause.
Once the Jonins had left the meeting room, only Ruri and Elder Sora remained.
"Cough...."
Ruri released her grip on Elder Sora, allowing him to gasp for air desperately.
"Have you caught your breath now?"
To Ruri, this was all a show.
Elder Sora gazed at Ruri deeply, a sudden sigh escaping his lips. "It's a pity... if you'd just come in and killed me, that would have been better."
Ruri regarded Elder Sora with a confused expression. "What do you mean?"
"It's because... you haven't awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, Ruri."
Elder Sora's cloudy yet still brilliant eyes held endless regret as he uttered these words.
