Departure to the Kirigakure Front
It had nothing to do with him anymore.
Uchiha Jin could see it clearly — Ishikawa Itsuki was already a dead man walking. From this moment forward, he resolved to get closer to Nara Kazama and Uchiha Shisui instead.
Taking a deep breath, Kudo Nobu's voice broke the silence.
"Alright, it's settled. From now on, I won't be leading this team. Ishikawa Itsuki will serve as captain. Gather at the village gate at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning. We depart for the Kirigakure battlefield. Go home and prepare yourselves."
"…"
---
The next morning, at dawn, a large crowd of shinobi had already gathered at Konoha's gates.
Most were fresh-faced genin with eyes full of anticipation, unaware of the bloodshed awaiting them. The more seasoned ones — veterans or those from clans with battlefield history — wore heavier, tense expressions.
Time dragged as squads assembled.
Kudo Nobu led Uchiha Jin, Nara Kazama, and Ishikawa Itsuki to the senior commander overseeing their deployment: Miyamoto Yukie.
"Miyamoto-sama," Kudo said with a bow, "Team B, Squad 7, reporting."
"Mm. Go and wait with the others," Miyamoto replied with a curt nod, dismissing them.
Once out of earshot, Kudo spoke in a serious tone.
"Listen carefully. Konoha and Kirigakure have not officially declared war, but we cannot spare reinforcements for other fronts. For now, our orders are to hold the line near the ruins of Uzushiogakure. Miyamoto Yukie-sama will be leading the expedition. Remember this — on the battlefield, orders from your superiors are absolute. Disobedience means death. Until the supply escort team arrives, we wait."
Both Uchiha Jin and Nara Kazama nodded firmly. They understood battlefield discipline well — survival depended on obedience.
But Ishikawa Itsuki crossed his arms and spoke with misplaced confidence.
"Relax, everyone. With me — Ishikawa Itsuki, one of the top three students in our class — you have nothing to fear. I'll protect all of you. Just trust me."
Uchiha Jin and Nara Kazama exchanged looks, their mouths twitching. Their actual leader was still standing there, and yet Itsuki was trying to seize command? Did he not realize how foolish he sounded?
They had seen arrogance before, but this level of stupidity was something else. And in war, fools like him usually died first.
Even Kudo Nobu's expression darkened. He didn't waste words, but deep down he knew exactly how this would play out — reckless shinobi never lasted long.
Suddenly, a blur appeared in front of them. When their vision cleared, a young man stood there with a sword at his side, the Uchiha clan crest emblazoned on his back.
It was none other than Uchiha Shisui.
"Lord Shisui?" several shinobi gasped, quickly bowing.
Though he had not yet earned the title Shisui of the Body Flicker, his exploits on the battlefield had already given him a growing reputation within Konoha. To the Uchiha, he was a rising star.
Shisui greeted them with a polite smile. "I need a word with Jin."
"Captain, I'll step aside for a moment," Jin said to Kudo Nobu.
The older man nodded, granting permission. Shisui and Jin walked off to a quiet corner, while Kazama and Kudo exchanged knowing glances. Their suspicions were confirmed — Jin wasn't just another Uchiha; he had personal ties to one of the clan's greatest prodigies.
---
Out of earshot, Shisui handed Jin a folded garment.
"I forgot yesterday, so I brought this for you today," he said with a serious expression. "The battlefield is dangerous, and this is your first campaign. As your brother, it's my duty to cover your blind spots."
Unfolding it revealed a dark mesh armor.
"This is reinforced inner wear, woven with refined iron and a trace of meteorite ore. Put it on. I want to see if it fits."
Jin frowned slightly. The fishnet-style armor wasn't exactly something he wanted to wear, and he trusted his own abilities enough to feel he didn't need it.
But seeing Shisui's genuine concern stirred something deep inside him. After all these years since transmigrating, this kind of familial warmth was rare.
Shisui was truly looking out for him.
And that only made Jin's heart heavier — because the Uchiha clan's fate was a storm he could not ignore forever.