Three Days Later
A force of over 500 ninjas gathered in the forest just outside the village. When Shirou appeared, he drew quite a few stares. So recognized him, while others didn't. The gazes carried a mixture of curiosity and disdain—an effect of the rumors swirling around these past few days.
"Shirou!"
From the crowd, Uzumaki Kushina smiled and waved at him.
Shirou ignored the stares of the others and responded with a wave and a cheerful smile.
"Kushina, you're here too."
His sunny smile lit up his handso face, while Kushina, with her usual prideful deanor, responded in a way that seed playfully mocking to onlookers.
"Shirou-kun, you're sothing else! Who knew you were aiming for Tsunade!" she teased, though she knew the rumor wasn't true. Even so, she couldn't resist poking fun, knowing how Uchiha pride rarely allowed such accusations to pass unchallenged.
Especially since Mikoto had told her it was all for show—so what was Shirou really up to? It almost seed like he was using Kushina to mask his supposed interest in Tsunade, which only fueled the gossip.
Shirou squinted his eyes with a sly smile.
"Kushina, you can't just say whatever cos to mind."
anwhile, whispers rippled through the ninja around them. Many muttered that the Uchiha clan was despicable, resorting to seduction to curry favor with Tsunade and gain advantages. Even among the elite Uchiha, so looked visibly awkward, clearly understanding the implications of the surrounding gazes. Many were silently relieved it wasn't their reputation on the line.
Fugaku, watching from a distance, sighed inwardly. Shirou's sacrifices are too great. The clan owes him too much.
As the young clan leader-in-training, Fugaku was privy to certain secrets. If Shirou had acquired such inside knowledge, it surely ca at a cost. Selling his emotions—or even his body—for the sake of the clan and their mission... Shirou was like a candle burning itself to illuminate the way forward for the Uchiha.
For the family, Shirou was nothing short of admirable.
"Shirou-kun, it seems the Uchiha clan's reputation isn't faring too well," Kushina teased, baring her small tiger-like teeth. Her gaze flicked toward the surrounding ninjas who were laughing and mocking them.
Shirou shrugged, smiling indifferently.
"Can't be helped. It's all for the clan and the village."
After all, without such tactics, who knew how long it would take him to grow strong? Ninja developnt depended not only on talent but also on countless resources. Shirou knew his circumstances better than anyone. While he had access to certain forbidden techniques, relying solely on steady progress could take years—ti he didn't have.
Leveraging the Uchiha na had already brought him resources and opportunities. Others didn't even have such chances. And knowing the future as he did, Shirou would seize every opportunity to grow stronger.
As for changing the future or avoiding its path? Why would he bother? Only a fool wouldn't take advantage of his knowledge.
The thought of the Uchiha's bleak future and the village's decline ignited a flicker of anger in Shirou. The village was built by the Senju and Uchiha clans. Without the Uchiha, what village would there be?
All his actions were for the clan. For the village.
"All right, prepare to move out!"
At that mont, Jiraiya and Tsunade appeared. Their arrival silenced the forest as countless ninjas erged from the shadows of trees and bushes, their faces respectful.
Since they were heading to the battlefield, everyone was outfitted in silver-gray armor with reinforced chest plates and arm guards for added protection. In large-scale battles, such armor was invaluable. Even Jiraiya and Tsunade wore such gear.
"Haha! Looks like everyone's morale is high!"
Jiraiya joked, his humor easing the tension. Tsunade, on the other hand, remained composed, casting a subtle glance in Kushina's direction.
"Check your equipnt and prepare to depart!"
"Yes!"
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru—yet to earn their title as the Legendary Sannin—were already renowned elite jonin. At Tsunade's command, the gathered ninjas shouted in unison and made their final equipnt checks.
This force, clad in uniform armor, comprised only chunin and jonin—proof of the seriousness of their mission.
Monts later, at Tsunade's sharp command, the dense forest ca alive with countless black shadows darting through the trees, heading swiftly toward the Kusagakure. From a distance, the swarming movent resembled an army of fleas.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Silhouettes flickered in the forest.
"Shirou-kun."
A blonde figure kept pace beside him, their movents synchronized.
Seeing the sunny smile on the newcor's face, Shirou returned it with one of his own.
"Minato."
It was none other than his classmate, Namikaze Minato. Around them, ninjas naturally ford groups with those they knew, maintaining formations that allowed for quick, coordinated responses in ergencies.
"Shirou-kun, it's been a while. I didn't expect so many of our old classmates to be here."
"Indeed, it's rare for us to fight together."
Familiar voices joined the conversation, and Shirou greeted them with warm smiles and nods. Uzumaki Kushina, Namikaze Minato, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, Akimichi Choza, Hyuga Hiashi, Hyuga Hizashi, and Abura Shibi—they were all from the sa generation.
Though separated by a year or two in so cases, they had all been acquainted during their ti at the academy.
"Kushina-san," Minato said, nodding to Shirou before greeting her with a cheerful smile.
Kushina, however, still considered Minato to be a bit timid, recalling how he once stood by when she was bullied. She acknowledged him with a calm nod, though only because of the crowd; otherwise, she might have simply snorted in disdain.
"This mission to the Kusagakure border should be less intense, but we must also prepare to support the battlefront in the Agakure. We're all comrades fighting together," Minato said sincerely, his words helping to build camaraderie.
Minato's warm and genuine deanor, paired with his natural charisma, made him easy to like. His role as Jiraiya's student further elevated his reputation among the group.
"Of course," Shirou replied with a faint smile, eting Minato's gaze before addressing the group with equal poise.
"Shikaku is our battlefield strategist. As we form squads, I'm sure we'll be together. With Hiashi and Hizashi's Byakugan, we'll have a strategic advantage."
Though the Uchiha were proud, not all of them were arrogant. Shirou, for one, had gotten along decently with his classmates back at the academy.
Hearing Shirou's remark, Shikaku gave a small smile, complaining about the drag but still appreciating the recognition.
"Hey, Shirou! Just because we have Byakugan doesn't an you can overlook the Inuzuka clan!" protested Inuzuka Tsu, her face marked with red streaks of wild energy.
Shirou chuckled.
"I'd never forget the Inuzuka clan's ninja dogs or the Abura clan's insects. But strategy isn't my strength."
Recognizing his limitations, Shirou avoided trying to take charge in unfamiliar areas. He understood that in ninja warfare, missteps in command could cost lives. Professional tasks were best left to the experts.
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