After half a month of continuous fighting, Mabui had grown increasingly accustomed to her role as a commander.
Under her careful planning and coordination, the Cloud ninja squads under her command achieved victory after victory.
As a result, even though Mabui herself was not particularly strong in direct combat, the Cloud Village ninja had no objections whatsoever to her decisions.
The terrain of Yamabuki Ridge was complex, overgrown with wild grass and trees, though the elevation itself was not very high.
Under the observation of dozens of Hyuga clan members using their Byakugan, the positions of the Konoha ninja hidden across the ridge were quickly confirmed.
Yugito transformed directly into the Two-Tails, forming a Tailed Beast Bomb in her mouth and firing it toward where the Konoha ninja were hiding.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
…
As a series of deafening explosions rang out, rocks tumbled down Yamabuki Ridge as the ground shook violently.
More than a dozen Tailed Beast Bombs completely shattered the will of the Konoha ninja who had still been thinking of putting up a last stand.
Immediately after, guided by the Hyuga clan members, the Cloud Village ninja efficiently and cleanly wiped out every last Konoha ninja on Yamabuki Ridge.
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"Lord Shikaku, Yamabuki Ridge has fallen!"
Hearing the report from the front lines, Shikaku wearily waved his hand.
This war was far more difficult than he had anticipated.
In just half a month, the Cloud Village had already broken through the three defensive lines he had laid out, seizing hundreds of miles of northern territory.
In front of the Cloud Village ninja, Konoha's forces were like fresh recruits—often collapsing at the first contact, unable to mount any effective resistance.
Under such circumstances, even he had no good solution.
Inoichi said in confusion, "Shikaku, this time is different from before. All the ninja fighting on the front lines are from our major clans. No matter how strong the Cloud Village ninja are, it shouldn't be this one-sided."
Hearing this, Shikaku let out a sigh. "According to the intelligence coming back from the front lines, the Cloud Village ninja seem to be equipped with something called wireless headsets."
"Through these headsets, the command center can maintain instantaneous, uninterrupted communication with the frontline squads."
"Combined with the terrifying insight of the Hyuga's Byakugan... often, by the time the enemy appears, they have already formulated a plan to encircle and annihilate us."
Inoichi couldn't help but suck in a sharp breath. "Something like that actually exists?"
The Yamanaka clan had always been famous for their secret techniques. During the first two Great Ninja Wars, they had secured their clan's status in the village through the Mind Transmission Technique.
After all, the ability to communicate in real time with frontline ninja across vast distances was simply too important on the battlefield.
Commanding a single squad was easy—but coordinating ten squads, a hundred squads, or even a thousand was an entirely different matter.
"No wonder the Cloud Village ninja work together so seamlessly. So that's how it is."
That wireless headset invented by the Cloud Village was actually even stronger than the Yamanaka clan's secret techniques…
For a moment, an inexplicable sense of unease welled up in Inoichi's heart.
"That's not all," Shikaku continued. "The most critical issue is the combat power displayed by the Uchiha clan in this war."
"Inoichi, back when the Uchiha were still in Konoha, could a single Three-Tomoe Sharingan user easily kill three jōnin who were attacking him together?"
Inoichi shook his head. "We didn't interact with them much back then, but probably not."
"Killing three jōnin at the same time isn't an easy thing."
Shikaku said gravely, "I used to think the same way—but now I realize how terribly wrong I was."
"According to the intelligence gathered over the past half month, the Uchiha ninja are absurdly strong. Every single one of them has the ability to fight at least three opponents alone."
"Not just one genius—but every Uchiha!"
Even the usually calm Shikaku was starting to grow restless.
Genin and chūnin aside—many powerful kekkei genkai users or prodigies could manage to fight multiple opponents.
But jōnin were different.
Every jōnin possessed immense strength, firm resolve, rich combat experience, and last-resort survival techniques…
To be able to kill all three jōnin in a coordinated assault and still retreat unharmed…
If every Uchiha with a Three-Tomoe Sharingan truly had such strength, then he honestly didn't know how this war could be won.
After a long silence, Shikaku continued, "Now that Yamabuki Ridge has been taken, the northwest has no natural defenses left."
"Not far ahead lies Kigi Village. Please secretly contact them and have the clan members stationed there surrender."
Kigi Village used to be territory belonging to a Fire Country noble family—the Hanatsuki family—and was rich in precious medicinal herbs. It had once been a partner of the Nara clan.
After the daimyō's rule was overthrown, the Nara clan took control of it.
To keep things running, many Nara clan members were stationed around Kigi Village.
At this point, retreat was no longer possible. Surrender was the only option.
Inoichi nodded. "I'll notify them immediately."
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"Surrender?"
After hearing Mabui's report, Shisui sneered coldly.
Back when Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Hokage faction were in power, they had excluded the Uchiha for their own interests. Now that the Uchiha were reclaiming Konoha, they wanted to surrender?
How could things be that convenient!
Shisui said coldly, "When Clan Head Yuzuru went to Konoha, he only brought back the Hyuga clan. That alone proves the other Konoha ninja were never qualified to become our companions."
"Charge with me. Kill everyone in Kigi Village and all nearby Konoha ninja!"
Itachi suddenly stepped in front of Shisui and spoke in a low voice, "Brother Shisui, I think we should accept their surrender."
Shisui froze for a moment, memories of that illusionary world's Itachi flashing through his mind.
His expression darkened slightly, but remembering that Clan Head Yuzuru did not exist in that illusion—and that the real Itachi had been raised and taught by Yuzuru himself—he suppressed his anger and said, "Itachi, you were pampered growing up. You've never seen how sinister the outside world can be."
"Showing mercy to the enemy is cruelty to yourself. Back when we Uchiha were in Konoha, not a single one of them was willing to stand on our side."
"Before the war, Clan Head Yuzuru never said that any Konoha ninja should be treated specially. That means every Konoha ninja we encounter can be killed."
"As the son of Clan Head Yuzuru, you should know how much he despises naïve compassion."
Hearing this, Itachi revealed a gentle smile. "Brother Shisui, you've misunderstood."
"Father said that we are rulers, not plunderers. After occupying the Land of Fire, we must develop it just as we did the Land of Lightning."
"I checked the records. Kigi Village produces valuable medicinal herbs and has complete supporting facilities. It would be a real waste to destroy it in the war."
"So what I mean is to use their surrender as bait—lure them all out, then wipe them out in one sweep."
"That way, we can save a great deal of manpower and resources for the future."
Seeing Itachi's harmless expression, Shisui hesitated. "Itachi… isn't that a bit too much? If word gets out, won't it damage the Uchiha clan's reputation?"
Itachi waved his hand. "Brother Shisui, as long as we kill all the enemies, how could any news leak out?"
"War is about using every means necessary. Even if Konoha accuses us, we can simply say it's a fabrication."
"Father said that as long as you possess absolute power, you can have everything."
"Honor is no exception."
Shisui took a deep breath and couldn't help saying, "Worthy of being Clan Head Yuzuru's son."
"Itachi, you've truly impressed me."
In Shisui's eyes, Itachi had always been a kind-hearted, upright person—especially gentle toward his younger brother.
He never imagined that when facing enemies, Itachi would be even more ruthless than him, the so-called hardliner.
Seeing Shisui's shocked expression, Itachi secretly let out a bitter smile.
Brother Shisui… you probably have no idea just how many beatings I've taken from Father since I was little…