After leaving the Hokage building, Namikaze Mirai immediately returned to the Uchiha clan grounds to start the mobilization effort.
“Mirai, are we really going to participate in the war?”
Fugaku Uchiha’s expression was serious.
Kumogakure’s declaration of war with such fanfare meant they would certainly deploy a large number of ninja.
Given Konoha’s current weakened state, engaging in a hasty battle would lead to unpredictable outcomes.
He worried that this battle could harm the vitality of the Uchiha.
“Fugaku, I understand your concerns,” Namikaze Mirai smiled at him. “But isn’t this also an opportunity?”
“Moreover, it’s not you and I who want to fight.”
Not you and I?
Fugaku’s eyes showed confusion.
What did Mirai mean by not you and I?
“Follow me, and you’ll see.”
Namikaze Mirai led him in a certain direction.
Fugaku Uchiha’s confusion deepened. This direction led to the Uchiha training grounds. What was Mirai planning?
Entering the training grounds, Fugaku saw rows of Uchiha clan members standing in formation, and he was shocked.
“Mirai, this…”
His eyes showed astonishment.
When did so many Uchiha clan members gather here?
He saw some familiar faces among them.
Uchiha Yatsushiro, Uchiha Inabi, Uchiha Tekka, and Uchiha Setsuna…
And then he saw an unexpected person.
“Itachi, why are you here?”
Fugaku asked in surprise.
“Father, I have decided to accompany my teacher to the front lines.”
“But this…”
“Father, you don’t need to persuade me. I have made up my mind.”
Itachi’s eyes were resolute.
With a sigh, Fugaku stopped trying to convince him. He knew Itachi’s personality; once he made a decision, he wouldn’t change it.
Uchiha Setsuna’s hawk-like eyes gleamed with a smile.
“Fugaku, haven’t you noticed the flames in these clan members’ eyes?”
Fugaku’s expression froze as he glanced at the Uchiha members behind Itachi.
In their eyes, it seemed like something fiery was burning intensely.
“Fugaku, as the clan leader, you’ve always suppressed the pride of the Uchiha.”
Behind him, Namikaze Mirai spoke calmly.
“But you’ve overlooked the fact that being an Uchiha means that inherent pride in our blood cannot be trampled on.”
“The oppression from Hiruzen Sarutobi, the exclusion by the high council, the discrimination by the villagers… All these have been building up the Uchiha’s anger.”
Namikaze Mirai took a deep breath.
“Uchiha, go forth and fight! Restore the glory of the Uchiha!”
The Uchiha clan members’ eyes turned red, and their breathing became heavy.
Thunderous roars echoed throughout the training grounds.
“For the glory of the Uchiha! Fight! Fight!”
“Fight! Fight!”
These shouts made Fugaku’s blood surge, and his breathing quickened.
Now he understood the meaning behind Namikaze Mirai’s earlier words.
As the clan leader, he didn’t understand his clan members as well as Namikaze Mirai did.
This battle was the Uchiha clan’s chance to restore their glory!
Fugaku, deep in thought, met Namikaze Mirai’s serious gaze.
“Fugaku, I need you to do me a favor.”
Fugaku’s eyes turned serious.
“Tell me, Mirai.”
This was the first time he had seen Namikaze Mirai with such an expression. He knew that if it wasn’t something extremely important, Mirai wouldn’t ask for help.
“Here is a list. I need you to find everyone on this list, without missing a single person.”
Taking the list from Namikaze Mirai and seeing the names on it, Fugaku’s pupils trembled, his voice filled with shock.
“Mirai, these are…”
“They were once subordinates of Minato and me.”
Namikaze Mirai’s blue eyes showed a proud smile.
“During the Third Shinobi World War, these people fought alongside Minato and me. Now, it’s time to bring them back!”
Fugaku looked at the names on the list, many of which belonged to once-famous ninjas.
Since Namikaze Mirai’s disappearance and Minato’s death, many of these ninjas had gradually faded into obscurity.
Now, was Mirai finally going to bring them back?
This thin piece of paper suddenly felt incredibly heavy in Fugaku’s hands.
“Rest assured, Mirai, I will find every single one of them.”
Fugaku solemnly accepted the list.
…
At Konoha’s gate, Genma Shiranui, with a senbon in his mouth, leaned against the wall with his hands behind his head.
“So boring, truly boring.”
Day after day of the same routine, looking at the unchanging scenery outside Konoha’s walls, Genma felt like his bones were turning to jelly, and his very soul seemed to be rotting.
“I, Genma Shiranui, once had my glory days too.”
For some reason, memories of the past resurfaced.
Genma felt nostalgic.
Back then, as part of the Fourth Hokage’s guard team, he was in the limelight.
Even his clan took pride in him.
With the Fourth Hokage’s protection, the Shiranui clan might have risen from a small clan to a major one in Konoha.
But who could have predicted what would happen?
Genma’s eyes darkened.
After the Nine-Tails attack, the Fourth Hokage and his wife sacrificed themselves, and his brother disappeared too.
The renowned Namikaze brothers vanished almost simultaneously.
With the Third Hokage’s return, those loyal to Minato and Mirai were sidelined and marginalized.
Politics is that cruel.
Genma suddenly recalled his days as the Fourth Hokage’s guard and couldn’t help but feel melancholic.
“I wonder how Raidō and the others are doing?”
Suddenly, Genma sensed someone approaching and immediately took a defensive stance, watching the person coming closer.
The Uchiha clan’s fan symbol was unmistakable.
An Uchiha?
“Genma Shiranui, do you want to continue rotting away, or go wild one more time?”
“What do you mean?”
Genma held his breath.
“That person needs you.”
His pupils shrank.
Could it be…
Meanwhile, Iwashi Tatami lay on his bed with a troubled look, not having received any good missions in the past half month.
If this continued, his expenses would become a major issue.
As he brooded, a knock came at the door.
With a curious heart, Iwashi opened the door.
It was an unfamiliar Uchiha face.
“Iwashi Tatami, that person needs you.”
Almost simultaneously, the same scene was unfolding throughout Konoha.
The former subordinates of Namikaze Mirai and Minato finally received the call after three years.
“Raidō, that person has returned.”
“Kiba, Mirai needs you…”
“Shino, Mirai is calling…”
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