I Am Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 311 311 Onoki's Worry

On the desolate desert bordering the Land of Earth and the Land of Stars, several rock fortresses built into the mountains served as Iwagakure's forward outposts.

The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood and the lingering smell of smoke from explosives.

Crushed rock and damaged weapons lay scattered across the ground. The bodies of several Iwagakure's Ninjas rested in dark stains, silently telling the story of a recent assault.

In one corner of the outpost, a severely injured Iwagakure's Ninja leaned against the rock wall, his breathing labored and ragged.

His forehead protector was shattered. Multiple wounds on his body still seeped blood, darkening the earth-colored fabric of his flak jacket.

His eyes were wide with a mix of pain and defiance as he watched three figures approach. They wore the deep blue uniforms of Star Ninja, their forehead protectors bearing the distinct five-pointed star.

"You... you Star Ninja..." The wounded man managed to gasp out, his voice trembling with effort and fury. "Are you trying to start a war?! Iwagakure will not let this stand!"

The lead 'Star Ninja' wore a mask covering the lower half of his face. Above it, a pair of scarlet eyes with three swirling tomoes were clearly visible.

Kakashi, disguised as a Star Ninja, raised his sword. The blade was still wet with blood, catching the cold light of the setting sun.

In a deliberately altered, slightly rough voice, he spoke clearly:

"Mere Iwagakure..."

Before the words had fully left his mouth, his blade flashed.

Squelch!

The sword found its mark with precision, piercing the Iwagakure's Ninja's heart and ending his life.

The light in the man's eyes faded rapidly, finally settling into an expression of frozen disbelief and hatred.

"Captain, all resistance within the outpost has been neutralized," One of the Konoha's Anbu, also disguised as a Star Ninja, reported in a low, muffled voice from behind his mask.

Kakashi gave a slight nod. His gaze, seemingly casual, swept over a pile of collapsed rock rubble nearby, where the sound of faint, suppressed breathing could just barely be detected.

He deliberately raised his voice, addressing his two subordinates. "Clean this up. Make it look like the work of those Sunagakure's scum. Be quick about it!"

"Understood!" The two Anbu's members moved with practiced efficiency.

They began repositioning the bodies, strategically placing a few poisoned shuriken of a type commonly used by Sunagakure, and carefully altering certain battle traces to point the blame toward the Land of Wind.

After a short time, Kakashi signaled. The three of them swiftly withdrew from the bloody outpost, vanishing into the vast expanse of the desert.

A long time passed after their departure. Only then did a faint, chattering sound emerge from behind the pile of rubble.

Two young Iwagakure's Ninjas, their faces smeared with dust and their eyes wide with the terror of a narrow escape, were huddled tightly in a narrow crevice.

They had survived by hiding in a concealed ventilation shaft.

"A-are they... are they gone?" The younger one whispered, his voice shaking.

"Don't move! Wait longer!" The slightly older, marginally calmer Iwagakure's Ninja hissed, his hand clamping down on his companion's shoulder. His own heart was hammering against his ribs.

He had seen those chilling red eyes clearly through a crack in the rocks… an image now burned into his mind like a nightmare.

Sure enough, after what felt like the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, the sound of cutting wind returned.

Kakashi's figure reappeared. He moved swiftly through the outpost, his sharp eyes scanning every corner. Only after a final confirmation that no living witnesses remained did he truly depart.

The two survivors endured several more hours of fear and torment, hidden in the rocky crevice as the sky grew fully dark.

Finally, a routine Iwagakure's patrol, discovering the outpost's silence, entered with lit torches to investigate. The two young Ninja scrambled out, clutching at their rescuers like lifelines, and tearfully reported everything they had seen and heard.

The patrol leader surveyed the scene of carnage and the two terrified survivors, his face turning grim. He immediately understood the severity of the situation.

"Get them back to the village, now! Report directly to the Tsuchikage!" He ordered in a low, urgent voice. The team moved quickly, forming a protective escort around the two crucial witnesses and setting off at speed toward Iwagakure.

…

On a barren, rocky hilltop not far from the attacked outpost, three figures materialized out of the darkness. It was Kakashi's team, returned once more.

One Anbu's member peered through a telescope, observing the scene below. "Captain, confirmation. The survivors have been recovered by the Iwagakure's patrol and are en route to Iwagakure."

The other member added, "That's the second outpost we've hit on this border. But, Captain... with just two border skirmishes, is it enough to truly provoke a large-scale war between Iwagakure and the Land of Stars? Their Tsuchikage isn't known for acting impulsively."

Kakashi didn't answer immediately. He was meticulously cleaning his sword, the blade already spotless. Finally, he sheathed the weapon.

He then reached up and carefully removed the special contact lens from his right eye, revealing his natural eye.

His expression remained unreadable, his voice calm. "Two outposts are not enough."

"We continue north. We'll create more 'incidents' all along the Land of Earth's border with the Land of Stars. Adjust the frequency and intensity as the situation demands."

His gaze turned toward the distant, mountainous border region.

"We need Iwagakure to believe this isn't random conflict, but a deliberate and sustained campaign of provocation from the Land of Stars. When they can no longer tolerate it and launch a major retaliation, our mission will be complete."

"Understood!" The two Anbu's members responded in unison.

Shortly after, the three figures melted back into the night, moving north along the border in search of their next target for sowing discord.

...

Iwagakure, the Tsuchikage's Office.

That evening, the report of the second border attack, along with the critical intelligence from the survivors, was swiftly delivered to the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki.

The atmosphere in the room was heavy.

Onoki, short in stature but immense in presence, floated in the air, his brow deeply furrowed.

The tall, powerfully built Kitsuchi, and the Jonin in charge of intelligence, Monga, stood at attention nearby.

Kitsuchi pointed to a map spread across the desk. "Tsuchikage-sama, this is the second border outpost attacked in two days. This time, however, we have two survivors. They both claim the attackers tried to frame Sunagakure, and... they provided one crucial detail."

He paused for emphasis. "The leader of the attackers possessed... a three-tomoe Sharingan."

"The Sharingan?!" Onoki and Tsuchi exclaimed almost in unison, their faces hardening.

Tsuchi rubbed his chin, his rugged features creased in confusion. "The Sharingan... that Kekkei Genkai can't be faked. But the Land of Stars has just absorbed three smaller nations and taken in the defected Uchiha and Hyuga from Konoha. They should be focused on consolidating their gains and stabilizing internally. Picking a fight with us now... what's the strategic benefit? It doesn't make sense."

Onoki's wrinkled forehead was knotted in thought. He gestured for Monga to mark the attack sites on the map.

Staring at the marked locations in the barren, mountainous border region, his eyes narrowed.

"I've heard the Land of Stars has been investing heavily in developing the western Yuga Plains, turning marsh and wasteland into farmland," Onoki mused, his voice raspy but his logic sharp. "That's their priority. Our side of the border is mostly rock and desert, far less valuable. Provoking us now is... puzzling."

Despite his often stubborn and conservative nature, Onoki's decades of leadership had honed his political and strategic instincts to a razor's edge. His infamous strategy of besieging the Third Raikage to exhaustion was a testament to his cunning and ruthlessness.

Though he hadn't anticipated the Third Raikage's sheer durability, which cost Iwagakure dearly.

It was for this reason he often employed mercenaries and Missing-Nin… to preserve Iwagakure's own future generations.

Kitsuchi added, "Father, the Sharingan changes everything. Besides the Land of Stars, who else has ready access to that power? Even Konoha likely doesn't have a single active pair left."

They were evidently unaware of Sasuke's status.

Monga agreed. "Kitsuchi-sama is correct. Regardless of their motives, the attacks are a fact. We must respond decisively!"

"I recommend immediately reinforcing patrols and defenses all along the northern border. Simultaneously, we should assemble an elite strike force to retaliate against one or two of the Land of Stars's own border posts. We must show them we won't be bullied, but we must control the escalation."

Onoki floated silently, hands behind his back, deep in thought.

'The Sharingan...'

The word stirred a deep-seated memory, one tinged with genuine fear.

Uchiha Madara.

He felt a deep apprehension toward the Land of Stars's Uchiha Hikari, and that deeply mysterious, powerful figure known only as Shura.

A full-scale conflict with the Uchiha Clan alone would be a nightmare for Iwagakure.

But as the Tsuchikage of a great Ninja Village, to not respond forcefully to such blatant aggression would be a fatal sign of weakness. It would destroy Iwagakure's prestige and embolden the Land of Stars further.

After a long moment of weighing his options, Onoki spoke, his voice firm with decision. "Kitsuchi, do as Monga suggests. You will oversee the dispatch of two elite teams to reinforce the northern border. Form an assault team and find an opportunity to take out a Land of Stars' outpost. Make it clear we will respond, but keep it contained. Do not let this spiral."

"Yes, Father!" Tsuchi acknowledged.

"Monga," Onoki turned to the intelligence officer. "Issue the sternest possible diplomatic protest to the Land of Stars, in the name of Iwagakure and the Land of Earth's Daimyo. Condemn these attacks. Demand an immediate explanation, punishment for those responsible, and compensation for our losses!"

"Understood, Tsuchikage-sama!" Kitsuchi bowed.

As the two men turned to leave, Onoki stopped them. "Wait. Monga, two more things."

"Contact the Five-Tails' Jinchuriki, Han. He is to cease all external missions immediately. He does not leave the village without my direct order."

"Then divert more resources to finding the Four-Tails' Jinchuriki, that stubborn old fool, Roshi! Wherever he's wandering, tell him to get back to the village! This is a direct order from his Tsuchikage!"

The memory of his last heated argument with Roshi, which had ended with the Jinchuriki storming off, still irritated him.

"Immediately, Tsuchikage-sama!" Kitsuchi bowed again and hurried out with Tsuchi.

Alone in the office, Onoki floated in silence.

He rubbed his right eyelid, which had been twitching incessantly. A sense of deep unease refused to leave him.

'It's just one Uchiha... not that monster Madara... Nothing to fear... Right... Nothing to worry about...'

But the self-reassurance did little to calm the disquiet growing in his heart.