The curtain on the Third Great Ninja War had finally been lifted.
The moment Uchiha Ran heard that Iwagakure had launched a surprise attack on Sunagakure, he knew—
the war had officially begun.
As for why Konoha would later be dragged into it as well… that was anyone's guess.
Still, Ran had a strong feeling that this war spreading to Konoha probably had something to do with their ever-so-beloved Lord Danzo.
No matter what the blame was, just toss it onto Danzo first—
you'd never be wrong.
Knock, knock.
"Is Ran-sama in?" A voice came from outside the door.
"Oh, Inabi. Long time no see. Handing the Public Relations Department over to you really was the right call. Lately, the villagers' hostility toward the Uchiha has noticeably eased."
"Ha, that's thanks to Ran-sama's guidance. Though it's a shame—you've been slacking lately and practically abandoned the PR work."
There was a faint hint of dissatisfaction in Uchiha Inabi's tone.
Ran quickly apologized, explaining that he'd entered a critical phase of strength improvement and had been busy practicing blade meditation.
And this time—he wasn't lying.
A zanpakutō was an essential weapon of a Shinigami, each blade possessing its own unique form and power.
From the moment he transmigrated, Ran understood why he had been granted a zanpakutō.
This was the mercy of that great being.
Ran firmly believed that in the ninja world, his zanpakutō would continue to evolve—breaking past the limits of the Shinigami system itself—until one day, he could cross into the world of souls and grant liberation to the Soul King.
So gentle… truly too gentle.
Ran was so moved he nearly cried.
Once he achieved enough power, he would free the Soul King.
Back to the point.
Blade meditation was the state in which a zanpakutō wielder harmonized mind and soul with their blade, achieving unity that allowed transcendent slashes and power beyond the ordinary.
Its essence lay in focusing the spirit, fusing the soul's strength with the blade itself, amplifying speed and might to produce peerless strikes.
By fully merging one's will with the zanpakutō, the wielder entered a realm beyond the physical, condensing overwhelming cutting power.
That, however, was only the most basic function.
In truth, ever since his zanpakutō awakened into Shikai, Ran had grown accustomed to relying on Fleeting Life, Dreamlike Illusion.
It fit him too well.
Using it felt instinctive—like a fish returning to water.
"Inabi."
Ran suddenly called out.
"Yes, Ran-sama?"
"The publicity work can be put on hold. Let the civilian branch of the clan handle it. Your priority now is improving your strength."
"The ninja world… the wind has started to blow."
"…What do you mean by that?"
Looking at the still-confused Inabi, Ran sighed and instead asked,
"Inabi, I heard you have a younger brother?"
"Yes! To be honest, Tekka's way too noisy—he's basically a little tyrant at home."
Though he complained, the smile on Inabi's face gave him away.
Uchiha clan members—
all natural little-brother addicts.
"Then don't die."
Ran's voice was calm, but firm.
"A great war won't let Konoha sit safely on the sidelines. Sooner or later, we'll be dragged in too. I don't want to see a day where your brother Tekka comes crying to me, looking for his big brother."
Ran knew this well.
The Land of Fire and Konoha Village had always been the center of attention on the ninja continent.
Located at the heart of the world, they possessed unparalleled advantages:
the best land, the largest population, the strongest economy, and overwhelming military power.
Once a ninja war broke out, conflicts between villages would only intensify.
No matter what sparked the war, the outcome was almost inevitable—
Konoha would become the most tempting piece of meat in everyone else's eyes.
If every other nation was locked in brutal conflict while Konoha continued to grow peacefully, it would naturally become the common target.
In the first two ninja wars, Konoha had demonstrated terrifying strength and unity, earning both envy and fear from the rest of the world.
Ran estimated that it wouldn't be long before Konoha—situated at the crossroads of the war—would be jointly targeted by multiple villages.
After hearing Ran's analysis, Inabi finally realized how grim the situation truly was.
Konoha might look calm now, but the future was anything but optimistic.
"Damn it—! I was so caught up catching up that I forgot to pass on the clan head's message!"
Inabi suddenly slapped his forehead.
"The clan head said there's a meeting this afternoon at the Naka Shrine. It's probably related to what you just said!"
"Then why are you still standing here talking?"
Ran shot him a look.
"Move it."
…This kid's head really isn't working, is it?
Don't tell me it's completely full of 'little brother' thoughts…
Ugh. Gross.
By the time Ran and Inabi arrived at the Naka Shrine, they were almost the last ones there.
The Uchiha had already divided themselves—clearly—into factions.
The Clan Head Faction, led by Uchiha Fugaku, with Uchiha Ryūka standing beside him.The Elder Faction, led by Uchiha Yashiro, with Uchiha Chiyo and Uchiha Masamune at his side.And finally, the Neutral Faction, represented by Uchiha Kaji.
"You're here, Inabi. Over here."
Yashiro beckoned him over the moment he arrived.
Ran noticed—such a small clan, yet already split into three factions.
Because of Mikoto, however, Ran walked straight over to Fugaku and Ryūka, greeting them naturally.
Inabi hesitated.
He wanted to follow Ran, but Yashiro was his uncle.
In the end, he obeyed Yashiro and moved to the elder faction.
Yashiro nodded in satisfaction, then narrowed his eyes slightly toward Fugaku.
Ran watched the scene and couldn't help but think—
What a bunch of idiots.
At a time like this, they're still busy with internal strife.
Looks like Fugaku really isn't up to the task.
Trying to lead the Uchiha with people like this… how could anything ever improve?
Ran made up his mind.
When the time was right—
He would reforge the Uchiha clan from the ground up.
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