bioinnovel Chapter 506 Stationed at the border, is Fugaku trying to trick me?
Chapter 506 Stationed at the border, is Fugaku trying to trick me?
Just as he was overjoyed, the system's cold, mechanical voice sounded again.
"Ding, main quest updated. Please raise your Daoist partner, Uzumaki Huiyi's, favorability to 100% as soon as possible. Quest reward: Uzumaki Immortal Body."
"Uzumaki Megumi?"
He frowned slightly, quickly searching his mind for information about the name.
Combining the lineage of the Uzumaki clan, the traces of the surviving clan members, and the current timeline, a thought quietly emerged: "Could it be Karin Uzumaki's mother? If it really is her, according to the timeline, she should be in Kusagakure. Kusagakure isn't too far from this border region, and it's convenient to travel back and forth."
"It seems I need to find some free time to go to Kusagakure, find her first, figure out her personality, preferences and current situation, and then slowly increase my favorability towards her."
He even began to imagine that after possessing the Sage Body of the Uzumaki, he could completely get rid of the side effects of his eye technique and take his combat power to the next level. At that time, he would be more confident in protecting his clan or establishing himself in Konoha.
"Brother Sanfeng? What's wrong? Why are you spacing out?"
Uchiha Ami's voice rang in my ears, and then my shoulders were gently shaken a few times.
Uchiha Mitsunori instantly snapped back to his senses, withdrawing his consciousness from the system space. What came into view was Ami's clear eyes, filled with worry.
Yui Aoyama turned to look at him with concern, her eyes filled with doubt.
"It's nothing, I was just thinking about the meeting later and got a little distracted."
He raised his hand and rubbed Ami's cheek, temporarily suppressing his thoughts and the secrets of the system.
Then, he lay down on the couch, pulled the blanket over himself, and said, "I'll rest for thirty minutes first. I have a meeting to attend later, so wake me up then."
"Okay!"
Uchiha Ami nodded immediately, her worry largely dissipating. She carefully laid out soft bedding for him, afraid that he would catch a cold.
"Brother Sanfeng, get some rest. I'll stay by your side and wake you up on time."
After she finished speaking, she even pulled up a small stool and sat down on the edge of the couch, placing her hands on her knees and sitting quietly, like a well-behaved little guard.
Uchiha Mitsunori felt a warmth in his heart, and leaned down to place a gentle kiss on Ami's smooth forehead, carrying a faint aroma of coffee and tenderness.
He then squinted and quickly fell into a light sleep.
At the same time, he quickly familiarized himself with the techniques of using Tsukuyomi and Kamui Intangibility, from basic power mobilization to practical application in combat. He repeatedly rehearsed every detail to ensure that he could master them skillfully in meetings and subsequent missions without revealing any flaws.
Thirty minutes passed in the blink of an eye, and the afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window into the room, casting dappled light and shadow on the floor.
Seeing that it was almost time, Uchiha Ami gently shook his arm, her voice as soft as a feather.
"Brother Sanfeng, it's time to go to the meeting. Don't sleep, or Chief Fugaku will scold you, and the elders will be waiting impatiently." Her tone was slightly coquettish, but she didn't dare to be too forceful, for fear of waking him who hadn't had enough rest.
Uchiha Mitsunori opened his eyes, the fatigue in them largely gone, replaced by clarity and sharpness. The kaleidoscope pattern deep within his left eye flashed by so quickly it was impossible to catch.
He raised his hand and pinched his swollen nose bridge, then slowly sat up. His chakra had recovered to more than 70%, and his newly awakened eye power was quietly circulating within his body, bringing an unprecedented sense of fullness.
Yui Aoyama brought over a basin of warm water, wrung out a hot towel, and gently wiped his face from his forehead to his chin with light and skillful movements, wiping away the lingering weariness on his face. Her voice was gentle: "It's good that you're awake. Quickly wipe your face and be more refreshed for the meeting."
"Yui, thank you." Uchiha Mitsunori grasped her wrist, feeling the cool touch of her fingertips, his heart filled with warmth and peace. He looked at the two people who were treating him so gently, his eyes filled with appreciation: "With you two here, I can always recover quickly, I feel completely back to normal."
This warmth was his strongest support on the brutal battlefield, and something he was willing to do everything in his power to protect.
Yui Aoyama straightened his collar, smoothed out the wrinkles on his clan robe, and gently brushed her fingertips along the lines on his shoulder. Her tone was calm but carried a delicate admonition: "Listen more and speak less in the meeting, leave room for maneuver in everything, don't clash with the elders, and don't easily reveal too much of your strength."
"We'll wait for you here to come back and leave you some hot food." Her words were simple and unadorned, yet full of concern, showing that she had long kept his safety in mind.
Uchiha Mitsunori took a deep breath, stood up, opened his arms, and embraced Ami and Yui on either side. He lowered his head and placed a deep kiss on each of their lips, a kiss filled with tenderness and determination, his tone sincere.
"It's so good to have you all here. Don't worry, I'll be careful, protect myself, and come back on time." The warmth in his arms made him feel incredibly safe, and it also strengthened his resolve to protect them and the Uchiha clan.
After releasing the two, he turned and walked out of the residence, his steps steady and firm, his aura already back to its peak.
Deep within his left eye lies the crimson pattern of a kaleidoscope, where the power of Tsukuyomi and Kamui's ethereal transformation quietly circulates within his body.
With the confidence gained from his newfound pupil technique and the determination to protect those around him and his people, he took each step with firm and powerful strides, causing the ground to sink slightly under his feet.
The ninjas along the way sensed the change in his aura and cast respectful glances at him, instinctively giving way, with no one daring to approach and disturb him.
The atmosphere in the camp's meeting room was somewhat somber. Five people were already seated around the long wooden table: the Eighth Elder of the Uchiha clan, the Kurama clan chief, the Kazami clan chief, the civilian commander Mimura Yomi, and the commander-in-chief, Uchiha Fugaku.
These people are all key decision-makers in this Battle of Hidden Rocks.
When Uchiha Mitsunori lifted the curtain and pushed open the door, all five people's eyes fell on him.
Then he realized that he was the last one to arrive, and a hint of embarrassment crept onto his face. He subconsciously slowed his pace and nodded slightly to the others.
The Eighth Hokage tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his gaze fixed on him, pondering for a few seconds.
He smiled slightly, conveying the expectations and guidance of an elder for a younger generation.
"Sanfeng, although you were not late, try to arrive earlier next time. The meeting concerns the deployment of ethnic groups, the distribution of reparations, and border security. These are all important matters concerning the interests of everyone, and we cannot be negligent or neglect them because of personal matters."
His tone was calm and steady, displaying both the authority of an elder and the tolerance for a junior, without any deliberate attempt to make things difficult.
Uchiha Mitsunori immediately bowed, taking the opportunity to step down, and said in a very sincere tone: "I understand... Eighth Elder... This time it was my oversight. Due to the exhaustion of chakra after the battle, I was delayed for a while during my rest... Next time I will definitely arrive early and will not be negligent, nor will I keep the elders waiting."
After saying that, he quickly walked to the empty seat to the left of Uchiha Fugaku and sat down. He looked at Uchiha Fugaku in the main seat, his aura was well-controlled, neither arrogant nor timid, and he was ready to discuss the matter.
Fugaku Uchiha cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over everyone, before getting straight to the point, breaking the brief silence: "The war has dragged on for a long time... Konoha's treasury is empty... the financial deficit is severe... even the ninja's stipends are almost unsustainable. This time, we have secured 250 billion ryo in reparations from Iwagakure, a huge sum."
He paused, his gaze tentative, and slowly said, "If we can transport this money back to the village intact, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other high-ranking officials... will surely reward us handsomely... and increase our influence in the village... Do you all think this is feasible?"
He had already weighed the pros and cons in his mind, but he wanted to hear everyone's opinions, especially those of Uchiha Sanfeng... After all, the other party was the one who made the greatest contribution in this battle, and his voice should not be underestimated.
Before the words were even finished, Uchiha Mitsunori spoke first, his sharp gaze fixed on Uchiha Fugaku: "Clan Chief, I believe this action... is inappropriate."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying an undeniable certainty: "You are aware that the village is short of funds, and the higher-ups have always been wary of the Uchiha clan and wary of our growing power. Once the reparations are transported back, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, and others will most likely use the pretext of 'filling the village treasury deficit, preparing for subsequent defenses, and appeasing the villagers' to retain most of it."
"It's even possible that this money could be diverted to other uses, such as subsidizing other ethnic groups."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his tone heavy: "At that time, how much will we Uchiha, the Kurama clan who fought alongside us through thick and thin... the Kazami clan and the common ninjas receive...? Probably very little, perhaps only a few words of praise... This is too unfair to our fallen brothers."
His gaze swept over the Kurama clan chief, the Kazami clan chief, and Mimura Yoru, his eyes full of sincerity: "On the battlefield of Iwagakure, everyone fought with all their might, shedding blood and sweat... Many brothers were buried on the grasslands, paying the price with their lives... Those who survived were all wounded... all of them had barely escaped death."
"If the compensation that everyone has paid with their blood and lives is ultimately withheld by the higher-ups, it will chill everyone's hearts... Who will be willing to fight alongside us Uchiha in the future... Who will be willing to risk their lives for Konoha... This will greatly damage the reputation of our Uchiha and may even shake the cohesion of the clan."
"Fugaku, I agree with what Mitsumine said."
The Eighth Elder of the Uchiha clan immediately echoed this and slammed his hand heavily on the table.
"We can't send the money back to the village. We know what the higher-ups are thinking; they all want to control the Uchiha clan. We absolutely cannot let our brothers' hard-earned money be intercepted and misappropriated. We must distribute it to our brothers first. This is what they deserve, and it's the explanation that the Uchiha clan owes them!"
As a hawkish Uchiha, he had long seen through the schemes of the higher-ups, and naturally he would not allow the Uchiha's interests to be harmed, nor would he allow the sacrifices of his clansmen to be in vain.
The clan chief of Kurama nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with approval and gratitude... He hadn't expected the three peaks of the Uchiha clan to be so fair and considerate of their allies in every way.
After a moment's thought, he offered a specific suggestion: "Clan Chief Fugaku, I... also believe that the money should be distributed first... I suggest that this money be divided in two, with half used as compensation for the wounded and killed ninjas, distributed to the families of the fallen ninjas according to their family circumstances, to appease them and ensure their future livelihood; the other half should be distributed as bonuses according to the level of contribution to the war, with the greater the merit, the richer the reward."
"This will not only demonstrate the fairness and magnanimity of the Uchiha clan, but also make everyone remember the good things about the Uchiha clan, thus strengthening our alliance and cohesion. In the future, if there is another war, we will be of one mind and one heart."
Chief Kazami immediately chimed in, his tone firm: "I second that. I agree to distribute the money first. This is the result of everyone's bloody battles, and it should belong to everyone, not be intercepted and squandered by the higher-ups... Chief Kurama's proposal is reasonable, fair and just, and I fully agree with it."
The Kazami clan suffered many casualties, and he naturally hoped to secure the rewards his clansmen deserved to appease their trust.
The civilian commander, Mimura Yomi, also spoke in a deep voice, his eyes full of pleading: "I agree... The civilian ninjas have suffered heavy casualties... Many families are left with only the elderly, women, and children... Without their breadwinners, they are struggling to make a living."
"This compensation is crucial to their families; it's their livelihood and their hope for survival... We implore Clan Chief Fugaku to grant this request, to give our fallen brothers closure, to give the survivors hope... and to let the common ninjas know that fighting alongside the Uchiha clan will not lead to betrayal or abandonment..."
Seeing that everyone was opposed and had good reasons, Fugaku Uchiha's furrowed brows gradually relaxed.
He tapped his fingers lightly on the table, having already made up his mind.
Originally, it was just a test, and he didn't really intend to transport all the compensation money back to the village. After all, he valued the cohesion of the clan and the lives of his brothers more.
"Alright, then let's do it the way everyone wants... Hachidai, you should take the lead in compiling the list of casualties, the list of war contributions, and the corresponding reward schemes as soon as possible. It must be fair and just, and there can be no mistakes. I want to review it tonight... If it is confirmed to be correct, the 250 billion taels will be distributed first thing tomorrow morning... We will never delay or mistreat anyone who has contributed to the war."
"Yes, Chieftain."
The Eighth Hokage of Uchiha immediately agreed, took out his small sheepskin notebook and charcoal pencil, and quickly wrote it down, his eyes full of seriousness.
"I will immediately gather people to verify the information, draw witnesses from each team, and conduct thorough checks at every level to ensure fairness and impartiality. By 5 p.m., I will have all the lists and reward schemes compiled and delivered to you for review. I will not delay the distribution tomorrow, and I will not let down the trust of the clan leader and all the brothers."
Fugaku Uchiha nodded slightly, then changed the subject, his tone instantly becoming serious.
His gaze swept over everyone, and his aura tightened, making the temperature in the conference room seem to drop a few degrees.
"Let's settle the matter of the compensation distribution first. Next, we'll discuss the matter of remaining at the base. This matter is equally important, and everyone must not take it lightly."
Then, he raised his hand and pointed to the border of Taki no Kuni on the map, his tone somewhat heavy.
"Although we have signed a ceasefire agreement with Kumogakure and Iwagakure, the two countries have a long history of grudges and unresolved conflicts. According to intelligence, the two countries have gathered more than 20,000 ninjas on the border of Takigakure. The two major ninja villages are facing off, and a major war is imminent, posing a great security threat to the border of the Land of Fire."
He tapped the map heavily with his finger, his tone heavy: "I plan to leave three thousand men to guard the border, set up a temporary defense base, build fortifications, closely monitor the movements of Kumogakure and Iwagakure, gather intelligence, and prevent any uncontrollable events from occurring."
"To safeguard the peace of Konoha's borders, buy the village some buffer time, and gain the upper hand for our subsequent deployments... But guarding the borders is a tough and dangerous job, so we must choose someone... with strong combat capabilities to lead it."
As soon as he finished speaking, the conference room fell silent. Everyone looked at each other, understanding that staying at the border meant a heavy responsibility and the constant threat of a surprise attack by ninjas from both countries, a life-or-death situation.
A moment later, everyone's gaze turned to Uchiha Mitsurugi without prior agreement.
On the battlefield today, only he and Fugaku Uchiha possess the Mangekyou Sharingan, and the intimidating power of their 80-meter Susanoo is unmatched. In addition, given his formidable combat strength and prestige, the heavy responsibility of staying behind naturally falls on his shoulders.
The clan chiefs of Kurama and Kazami exchanged a glance, both seeing agreement in each other's eyes. In their view, only the three peaks of the Uchiha clan were capable of shouldering this heavy responsibility.
Seeing that no one spoke up, Fugaku Uchiha looked at Mitsumine Uchiha with expectation and trust, but also with a hint of testing. He wanted to see if this junior had the responsibility and was willing to shoulder this dangerous task.
"Sanfeng, I want to appoint you as the deputy commander-in-chief of the front line. You will remain at the border, leading these three thousand men, and will be fully responsible for border defense, intelligence surveillance, and emergency deployment. Are you willing?"
His gaze was fixed on Uchiha Mitsunori, with a mixture of scrutiny and expectation. If the other party agreed, he would be completely relieved.
Uchiha Mitsunori quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. Although guarding the border seemed tedious, and the responsibility was heavy and the dangers numerous, it also had many advantages.
He needs some time to take advantage of the six-fold time flow and abundant natural energy of the secret realm to quickly master the power of Tsukuyomi and Kamui Hollowfication, integrate the new eye technique into actual combat, make up for the shortcomings of the eye technique, and improve his overall combat power. Therefore, staying at the border is also a very good choice.
He rose and bowed solemnly: "I am willing to defend the border and will not fail the clan leader's trust! I will closely monitor the movements of Kumogakure and Iwagakure, and will not allow any foreign enemies to take advantage of the situation, thus safeguarding the peace of this land!"
Fugaku Uchiha nodded in satisfaction and said slowly, "Good! With your words, I am relieved. I will have someone send you the list of supplies, equipment, and personnel needed to stay behind. Familiarize yourself with the situation as soon as possible and make the necessary arrangements."