Uchiha's personal opinion

Uchiha Tokumitsu's mind grew increasingly agitated.

He inexplicably thought of Yotsuki, a hero from Sunagakure.

It's almost certain that the reconnaissance mission to the Land of Whirlpools will be a huge disaster.

Moreover, it is highly likely that this was a trap set by Danzo!

"I understand. How about we set off under cover of darkness tomorrow night?" Although Uchiha Tokumitsu's heart was churning, he maintained a calm demeanor on the surface.

“No problem!” Sakumo Hatake readily agreed.

The third generation leader nodded with satisfaction.

Upon returning to the Uchiha clan's territory, Uchiha Tokumitsu immediately summoned his subordinate, Uchiha Hatake, the vice-commander of his secret guards.

"Tonight, you will lead your secret guards to infiltrate the eastern border and cross the sea into the Land of Whirlpools tomorrow afternoon!"

Uchiha Hakage rushed over, and Uchiha Tokumitsu didn't stand on ceremony and gave the orders directly.

"As ordered!"

Uchihachi Hatake immediately knelt on one knee to accept the order.

"Remember this! The secret guards must not mention this trip to anyone! Not even their own clansmen!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu's tone was unusually stern.

"Yes!"

"Furthermore, summon two squads from the Red Guard stationed in the Land of Grass to return and infiltrate the eastern border. On their return journey, kill anyone they encounter and do not reveal their whereabouts!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu's tone carried an even stronger killing intent.

"As ordered!"

"Go ahead……"

Uchiha Tokumitsu nodded and dismissed Uchiha Hatake.

"You've been plotting against me, haven't you... Too bad I'm neither Sakumo nor Yokura..."

He planned to use the forces under his command to wipe out the spying forces in one fell swoop!

The crimson Sharingan was exceptionally conspicuous in the darkness, and Uchiha Tokumitsu exuded an incomparably chilling killing intent, as if he wanted to devour anyone who might harm him.

Chapter 116 The Killing Intent Rises Without End

The ANBU, personally commanded by Uchiha Tokumitsu, is a secret armed force of the radical faction of the Uchiha clan. It has always adhered to the principle of secrecy, similar to the ANBU, and its personnel structure, ninjutsu characteristics, and other information are unknown to outsiders.

The total number of the 32-man bodyguard consists of 12 Jonin, Special Jonin and 20 elite Chunin clan members. Although their combat strength may not be the strongest among the various factions of the Uchiha clan, they are definitely the most loyal to Uchiha Tokumitsu.

In addition, with the addition of two squads transferred back from the Tokuko Red Guard stationed in the Daimyo's mansion in the Land of Grass, Uchiha Tokuko will have 250 clan ninja under his command, most of whom are elite clan members who have awakened the Sharingan. Their loyalty and combat strength are both reliable.

Uchiha Tokumitsu had already put the reconnaissance mission to the Land of Whirlpools out of his mind.

He was determined to eliminate the lurking villains in the shadows and the controllers behind them; otherwise, he couldn't find peace of mind.

As a series of arrangements were made and reports were received from various departments, Uchiha Tokumitsu's inner turmoil gradually subsided, but the rising killing intent was impossible to suppress.

……

"Deguang-kun, for this mission, I plan to only mobilize half of the mobile force's combat jonin and the reconnaissance and medical squads from the support ninjas. What do you think?"

Hatake Sakumo noticed that Uchiha Tokumitsu seemed to be acting strangely, so he came to the Uchiha clan's territory again under the pretext of discussing the mission.

"...Sakumo-kun can decide this matter himself." Uchiha Tokumitsu narrowed his eyes slightly, lowered his head to drink tea, and avoided Hatake Sakumo's gaze.

He didn't want anyone to know about his arrangements and orders, even if the person was Shuo Mao.

"Tokumitsu-kun, you don't seem to be in good shape. Are you overworked?" Hatake Sakumo also noticed something was wrong and gently reminded him, "Or, you should take a break for this mission. I can lead the team to carry it out."

"...I'm fine, just a little irritable. I have a feeling that something bad might happen." Uchiha Tokumitsu thought for a moment and decided to give Hatake Sakumo a heads-up.

Sakumo Hatake's expression immediately became serious.

"Deguang-kun, have you noticed something's wrong?"

Sakumo Hatake quickly scanned his surroundings, sensed them slightly, and said in a low voice.

"...No, I'm just unusually irritable." Uchiha Tokumitsu blinked rapidly.

He felt a strange, reddish floater-like sensation appearing around his eyes.

However, he was quite certain that he had not yet awakened the Sharingan.

"...Your eyes feel the same as they did during the Battle of the Whirlpools." Sakumo Hatake observed for a moment, then gave his assessment before lowering his head to ponder.

Uchiha Tokumitsu remained silent.

Strong individuals often possess some inexplicable precognitive abilities, especially ninjas who practice Yin Release. In Hatake Sakumo's eyes, Uchiha Tokumitsu must have sensed something as well, but simply chose not to say it.

As for potentially dangerous locations, the only one is the reconnaissance mission to the Land of Whirlpools that is currently being prepared...

But Sakumo Hatake did not press the matter further.

"Deguang-kun, for this mission, let's just bring my Jonin on the surface. You can arrange the other twelve Uchiha combat Jonin separately."

Although Hatake Sakumo did not say it explicitly, he began to make arrangements based on the premonition mentioned by Uchiha Tokumitsu.

The mobile unit consisted of twelve operational Jonin from the Uchiha clan, and nine other Jonin were subordinates of Hatake Sakumo. On the surface, only these nine were present, but Uchiha Tokumitsu secretly arranged for another twelve Uchiha Jonin as a backup.

"...No need, I have other plans."

After much hesitation, Uchiha Tokumitsu revealed a little more of his plan.

"That's good. All the operational Jonin of the Mobile Force will be deployed!" Sakumo Hatake smiled and then got up to leave. "But... as comrades-in-arms, there are some things we have to share, no matter who the opponent is."

"Is it the same even for water shadows?"

Uchiha Tokumitsu asked tentatively.

"Even the Hokage is the same!"

Sakumo Hatake said firmly.

Seeing Uchiha Tokumitsu's astonished expression, Hatake Sakumo burst into laughter.

“Tokuko-kun, although everyone says I’m a good person, I know I’m not.” Hatake Sakumo chuckled self-deprecatingly. “How can a ninja with blood on his hands be a good person? How can a ninja who can use a technique like the Thousand Years of Death be a pedantic person? I can only say that the world still has a lot of misunderstandings about me.”

"However, every ninja should have their own ninja way, and should resolutely practice it, overcoming whatever stands in their way..."

Although Sakumo Hatake's tone was gentle, it also contained an indomitable will.

"Even at the higher levels?"

"Even at the highest levels!"

Sakumo Hatake's tone remained firm.

“I understand…” Uchiha Tokumitsu smiled and stood up. “Then… let’s be more careful during our trip to the Land of Whirlpools.”

"I understand." Sakumo Hatake nodded, then turned and left.

……

Under the cover of night, Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo led their mobile forces away from Konoha and marched toward the Land of Whirlpools.

Outside the Hatake family mansion in the village, a peddler was loudly soliciting customers by carrying some goods for sale. After someone from the Hatake family went out to buy some daily necessities, they returned to the mansion and closed the door. The peddler called out for a while, but seeing that no customers continued to come forward to inquire about prices, he picked up his load and left.

At this moment, inside the Root base, a Root ninja was reporting Sakumo Hatake's whereabouts to Danzo.

"...According to the intelligence personnel who were monitoring the situation, it has been confirmed that Sakumo Hatake has left the village."

"Start it up." Danzo said calmly without looking up. "All Root combat personnel will come with me to carry out the elimination mission."

"Yes!"

……

Mobile forces can move very quickly.

Under the orders of Uchiha Tokumitsu, the three sensory ninjas of the reconnaissance squad took turns activating their sensory ninjutsu to keep an eye on the surroundings, and even when they were exhausted and pale, they dared not slack off.

"Coming……"

Sakumo Hatake could already smell the fishy smell of the sea breeze.

"Stop sensory ninjutsu!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu issued the order.

The reconnaissance ninja breathed a sigh of relief, stopped using his sensory ninjutsu, and took out a bunch of ration pills from his ninja tool bag and stuffed them into his mouth.

"Perception: The Technique of Thermal Sensing!"

This was the first time that Uchiha Tokumitsu used his sensory ninjutsu in front of others.

This technique was taught to me by Elder Setsuna when I was a child. It involves sensing the heat within the bodies of organic life forms around me to determine the approximate location of the enemy.

"No abnormalities found."

After a while, Uchiha Tokumitsu also stopped sensing.

"Tokumitsu-kun?" Hatake Sakumo asked Uchiha Tokumitsu for his opinion again.

Uchiha Tokumitsu took out a long, thin signal flare from the scroll case and launched it into the night sky.

The members of the mobile unit were somewhat puzzled, but none of them asked. Uchiha Tokumitsu did not explain either, but simply nodded to Hatake Sakumo.

"Cross the sea!"

Sakumo Hatake issued the order.

"Everyone, proceed with combat readiness!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu gave a battle announcement.

Twenty-one operational Jonin, with Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo as the vanguard, and the reconnaissance and medical teams in the middle, advanced together across the water.

"The Art of Concealment!"

Uchiha Tokumitsu activated his second sensory ninjutsu.

The Technique of Concealment is a rare anti-sensory ninjutsu. It mainly combines fire-style power and mental energy to contain human body heat and scent, and distort the surrounding airflow, thereby achieving integration with the surrounding environment.

Under the cover of Uchiha Tokumitsu's ninjutsu, the mobile force successfully crossed the sea and landed in the Land of Whirlpools.