"According to intelligence from our scouts, it is possible that the Hidden Mist has mobilized their Tailed Beasts. They have set out from the Land of Water," Hiruzen Sarutobi said slowly.
The Hidden Mist possessed the Six-Tails and the Three-Tails. While these two were not as powerful as the Nine-Tails, the Hidden Mist had used that to their advantage, gaining better mastery over them. Recently, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki had demonstrated stable control over his Tailed Beast, which was not good news for the Hidden Leaf.
Kushina was still too young, and the power of the Nine-Tails was far too immense. Without a sealing barrier, she ran the risk of losing control. If she went berserk on the battlefield, she might injure allies or break free entirely. The Nine-Tails was a deterrent; the Leaf could choose not to use it, but they had to have it.
"Kiyoshi Uchiha, you are the only ninja in the Leaf who knows flight ninjutsu. This mission belongs to no one but you."
Danzo Shimura's lone eye was fixed on Kiyoshi. He felt no psychological burden using the Uchiha; the more dangerous the mission, the better it was to assign it to them.
"Kiyoshi... we have always asked you to perform the most dangerous tasks. But this time, we must trouble you again to scout for intelligence," Koharu Utatane added, preparing to lecture him on the "Will of Fire."
"Koharu-sama, and all of you lords—the Leaf has reached a moment of life and death. How could I hide in the rear and live a cowardly life? I will surely complete this mission."
Kiyoshi delivered a textbook "Will of Fire" speech, appearing as though he had become a pure, devoted ninja of the Leaf.
"Good, very good," Hiruzen smiled with relief.
Kiyoshi Uchiha, this "good Uchiha" born with the Will of Fire, had never let him down. He was now fully comparable to Shisui's grandfather, Kagami Uchiha.
"Depart in three days. You will march with another unit," Hiruzen instructed.
The Land of Water and the Land of Fire were far apart, and reaching the front lines in the Land of Grass required a long detour. This window allowed the village's ninjas some rest and gave time for new ninja tools to be forged and distributed.
"No problem, Lord Third," Kiyoshi nodded.
This saved him the trouble of applying for battlefield duty himself. After Kiyoshi took his leave, Hiruzen gazed at the Hokage Rock outside his window. Kagami's grandson, Shisui, was also growing up; it was time to see if he inherited Kagami's excellent bloodline.
The more Uchiha turned toward the Leaf, the better the village could control the clan. The Uchiha were a double-edged sword—dangerous, but their ability to consistently produce elites was a massive boon.
The strength of the hidden village was the foundation of the nation.
***
The Hyuga Estate.
Under the strain of the escalating war, very few Hyuga clan members remained in the village. Their unparalleled scouting abilities were in high demand at every outpost. At this moment, the elders of the Main House were holding a meeting.
In the center of the room stood the couple Hiashi Hyuga and Hinayuki Hyuga, along with... Hizashi Hyuga. The atmosphere was heavy, as if a somber topic had just been discussed.
"Hiashi, you know your own situation."
At the head of the table, an old man with snow-white hair and beard sat in a chair, leaning both hands on a cane. A trace of pity flashed across his wrinkled face. Hinayuki Hyuga turned to look at the gloomy Hiashi, her heart filled with sorrow.
"Elder, I..."
Hiashi opened his mouth but couldn't find the words. It was too humiliating to speak of. The staggering destructive power of the [Tailed Beast Bomb] had sent him flying.
During the blast, jagged rubble had struck his lower body. At the time, he only felt a piece of flesh fly away before the overwhelming agony caused him to black out.
When he woke up, the medical ninjas were hesitant to speak. It wasn't until Hiashi tried to use the bathroom that he realized what he had lost. He had lost his dignity as a man.
This news had been immediately suppressed. Regardless of the injury, he was the Head of the Hyuga Clan. According to clan rules, the leader's descendants would inherit the title. Unless an accident occurred, another member of the Main House would take over.
"You need not worry. We have seen your talent and your painstaking governance of the clan. The rules will not be broken. For the next generation of heirs, we only need Hinayuki and you to make a small sacrifice," another Main House elder said, stroking his long beard.
The so-called "sacrifice" meant ensuring the bloodline of the Clan Head continued. Hiashi was maimed, but he had a twin brother. Both were descendants of the previous Clan Head. Hizashi was born second, so he became a member of the Branch House. But the bloodline was identical.
As long as Hinayuki sacrificed a bit of her pride, any child born would still call Hiashi "Father." Currently, everyone in the room besides the three key figures were high-ranking Main House elders. The secret would not leak.
"No!" Hinayuki refused instantly. Her excitement strained her weak body, causing her to cough. After a moment, she continued slowly, "It would be better to let Hiashi take another wife."
Hinayuki could not stomach such an insult. She would rather be divorced by Hiashi or even demoted to the Branch House. Seeing her agitation, the elders didn't push. The important ones were Hiashi and Hizashi.
"Hinayuki..." Hiashi clenched his fists. What man could endure such shame?
"Brother, elders, this matter is indeed too..." Hizashi shook his head. He had someone he loved and wanted no part in this. He offered an alternative: "Brother is still young, there is no rush. We can ask the Princess of the Senju to try and heal him."
"Tsunade... she rarely treats patients anymore," the elder shook his head. "However, we can give you a deadline. Three years. If there are results within three years, we will drop the matter."
"...Fine," Hiashi said with great difficulty.
With those words, the meeting concluded. After everyone left, Hiashi remained standing. He could walk now, but he was forbidden from strenuous exercise.
"Hiashi, are you really going to agree to them... *cough*... if there's no result in three years..." Hinayuki looked at him with grief and indignation.
"Hinayuki, I..." Hiashi sighed deeply. He wanted to refuse, but he was the Clan Head. He couldn't let his lineage end with him. Choosing a new Main House line was not a simple matter; it could trigger internal strife. This was why the ancestors fixed the lineage and never changed it.
Hiashi reached out, wanting to take Hinayuki's hand. To his shock, she took a light step back, avoiding his touch. He froze.
When Hiashi was still a "whole" man, he had been focused on governing the clan. Combined with the war and Hinayuki's frail health, they had never consummated their marriage. He had been afraid she might die from the strain. He intended to wait until things stabilized. Today he wanted to reach out, only to be shunned.
Was it because of the topic just now, or his current body? Hiashi's expression darkened. Hinayuki saw his face and realized she had hurt him. She felt a wave of guilt. Because of her health, they had never truly lived as husband and wife. She sighed softly and said:
"Tomorrow, let's go find Tsunade together."
With that, Hinayuki dragged her weak body away.
"Hidden Mist..." Hiashi had never hated the Mist more than he did at this moment. If not for that accident, how could it have come to this?
***
Tsunade's Residence.
"Oh? Treat *that*?" Tsunade's expression was bizarre.
"Princess Tsunade, this is our only request," Hiashi bowed deeply. For the sake of his dignity, he showed the utmost sincerity. Hinayuki stood by, her sickly pale face mirroring his plea.
"By the way, could she step out first?" Hiashi pointed to Shizune, who was standing beside Tsunade.
"Shizune is my assistant; she won't reveal anything. You can rest assured on that," Tsunade shook her head. Hiashi's request was a first in her decades of medical practice. Regenerating a lost limb was unrealistic. IVF might be possible.
However, she had stopped treating people long ago. Her last surgery was for Jiraiya's student, Minato Namikaze.
"Hiashi Hyuga, you should know that I no longer treat patients. I suggest you seek help elsewhere," Tsunade refused. She had hemophobia, which was why she stayed away from surgery. Helping Minato had mostly been Shizune's work under her guidance. But she didn't want to get involved with the Hyuga. They were neither kin nor friends; why bother?
"Princess Tsunade, this is a small token of our appreciation."
Hiashi, being a Clan Head, understood social graces and how to appeal to someone's interests. He had spent the previous night researching Tsunade's habits. She loved alcohol and gambling. Both required "money." Hiashi produced a sealing scroll packed with cash.
Tsunade intended to refuse, but when she saw the sheer volume of money inside, her light brown eyes darted around. A smile played across her refined features.
"I can't perform the surgery myself," she said. "However, I can introduce you to an excellent medical ninja. He should have a way."
"Princess Tsunade, who is this person...?" Hiashi was puzzled. Who else deserved such high praise? The Hokage's wife, Biwako Sarutobi? The departed Nono Yakushi?
Hinayuki lifted her pale face, curious about who Tsunade was referring to.
"Him? He's from the Uchiha clan. His name is Kiyoshi."
Tsunade pushed Kiyoshi forward, her mind already calculating her little scheme. Kiyoshi didn't care for wealth but was always willing to lend her money.
When the time came, they could split the fee—Kiyoshi takes 80% for the treatment, and she takes a 20% finder's fee. Then she'd have Kiyoshi lend her some more. Her gambling funds for the near future were secured!