With the gathering of the Ninja Alliance Army, the various divisions of Konoha also followed suit and assembled.
Konoha Camp.
Uchiha Fugaku held the hand of a child with tear lines under his cheeks, speaking with a solemn expression: "Itachi, don't forget the scene you just witnessed, this is the Ninja World, this is war..."
"You wanted to offer a sip of water to that dying Hidden Rock ninja, but he wanted to kill you just because you are a child of Konoha."
"You carry the future of the clan on your shoulders, you need to grow up quickly!"
Uchiha Itachi listened blankly to Fugaku's words, feeling a complex mix of emotions in his heart.
As a child who hadn't even attended Ninja School, Uchiha Fugaku had brought him to the battlefield, and just earlier, he had taken him to witness the most brutal Hidden Rock war zone of this war...
When Uchiha Itachi saw the ground littered with scattered corpses, shattered earth, and the deep red soil seemingly soaked with blood, he was hit by a strong mental shock.
Is life really such a fragile thing?
Then what is the meaning of being alive?
On the way back, Uchiha Itachi encountered a dying Hidden Rock ninja. Hearing his desperate plea for water, Itachi initially wanted to help, but was attacked once the Hidden Rock ninja saw his Konoha insignia, forcing him to counterattack.
All the things he had seen and experienced made Uchiha Itachi's mind feel very chaotic...
He felt that there was something wrong with the world, but couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was.
Uchiha Itachi wanted to seek help from Uchiha Fugaku, but his father told him—this is something he must endure, because the fate of the clan and the Ninja World needs him to change it...
Just as Uchiha Itachi was overwhelmed with confusion and was about to ask Fugaku again...
He was surprised to discover that his usually confident father had turned pale and was extremely tense, even his hands and feet became awkward.
Because Aomi was walking toward them.
"Fugaku, is this your son?"
Aomi greeted Uchiha Fugaku familiarly, slightly bending down to pinch Uchiha Itachi's cheek: "He's quite plump, but why bring such a young child to the battlefield?"
Uchiha Itachi wanted to dodge, but Aomi's large hand seemed to have magic power, making it impossible for him to evade...
"I want Itachi to mature as early as possible..."
Uchiha Fugaku was very tense inside, even though his Dojutsu told him Uchiha Itachi was the one to lead the clan and the Ninja World to new glory, it was just a prophecy.
Aomi's immense martial strength, however, was an undeniable reality.
The power, status, and increasingly subtle relationship between the two made Uchiha Fugaku worry that Aomi might settle scores with him one day...
And with his family.
After all, Aomi was becoming more and more like Senju Tobirama, even his hair had inexplicably turned white...
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, the inept disciples of the Second Hokage, Uchiha Fugaku found hard to deal with...
"Mature as soon as possible, huh?"
Aomi repeated Uchiha Fugaku's answer softly, nodding his head: "Fugaku, you have ideas..."
"Come on, join me in the strategy meeting."
Aomi patted Uchiha Fugaku's shoulder and glanced at Uchiha Itachi: "A little genius of the clan... I support the idea of nurturing a child early."
"Bring the little one along, let me, as a senior, teach him how war is fought..."
Uchiha Fugaku blinked in confusion, what does this mean?
But on careful thought, allowing Uchiha Itachi to be exposed to high-level battlefield command at such a young age was beneficial no matter how one looked at it...
After all, even as the clan leader of the Uchiha Clan, he was not qualified to attend the core meetings of the Hokage's faction...
Uchiha Fugaku's mind raced, and he promptly agreed: "Thank you, Aomi!"
Aomi smiled noncommittally, signaling them to follow behind him.
To Aomi, the evaluation of Uchiha Fugaku was of no significance anymore.
Uchiha Itachi, on the whole, was a genius capable of unlocking the Mangekyo, possessing some potential...
But the years required were still too many; for now, he was just a little kid.
However, since Uchiha Fugaku had the thought of hastening growth, Aomi didn't mind lending a hand to this father, letting Uchiha Itachi see what true war was like...
As for how Uchiha Itachi would perceive Aomi, what he would think...
Aomi didn't care, as long as he could stir his emotions, it was better than nothing, a leisurely move in the grand scheme.
Konoha Battlefield Command.
When Aomi brought the Uchiha Fugaku and his son in.
Tsunade was curiously surveying the surroundings and asked Jiraiya: "Why isn't Orochimaru here? Hasn't he been staying in the camp recently..."
Jiraiya shrugged: "I don't know either, maybe that guy got caught up in his research again?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and shook his head beside them.
These were his three disciples, each following their own whims.
At least for now, while he was still Hokage, Aomi wouldn't punish the ninjas disobeying orders too harshly...
But if the teacher returned, Tsunade might still be manageable, but if Orochimaru and Jiraiya continued doing things behind Konoha's back, they would face thunderous repercussions...
When Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up, he was startled by the sight of Aomi with a full head of white hair, his heart skipping a beat: "Teacher, are you progressing this fast..."
"Everyone, sorry to keep you waiting."
Aomi walked straight to the main seat, gestured for Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi to sit aside, and said in a deep voice: "First, let me announce a piece of infuriating and grievous news, Orochimaru has defected from the village!"