Throne Of The Uchiha

Different Investigation Methods (Revised)

It was nearly impossible to fully eliminate the diehards within the Uchiha clan. Every evolution of the Sharingan marked a leap in strength. With such a powerful and unique dōjutsu—one that verged on being a "cheat" in the eyes of many—it was inevitable that arrogance would take root among some clan members.

Fugaku's previous strategies for managing this internal extremism weren't a cure, but they helped temporarily shift the clan's atmosphere. After all, the environment in which one is raised can profoundly influence their worldview.

Why did Uchiha Itachi, years later, feel compelled to collude with outsiders and participate in the massacre of his own clan? Why not simply persuade the Konoha leadership or even his father, Fugaku? The answer lay in the entrenched tensions—too severe, too longstanding. Even someone like Itachi, with his exceptional intellect and empathy, couldn't reverse the momentum of conflict.

Every time an Uchiha perished in war, their sacrifice brought honor to the clan—and often triggered the awakening of a new Sharingan among surviving kin. War fueled evolution.

If even one member awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, the loss would be justified in the eyes of the elders. Following the end of the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars—two decades of bloodshed—Fugaku had seen enough to understand how to plan long-term.

As the head of the clan, Fugaku needed to wear many masks. Outwardly, he was the youngest Uchiha prodigy in generations—a shining hope for the clan's future. Inwardly, he harbored plans that no one would ever know. He would never allow himself to be remembered as the man who betrayed his own blood.

A group of Uchiha elders had just finished a closed-door meeting, where they vented their dissatisfaction—mostly toward Uchiha Tenka. Yet none dared to speak of purging their own. To even raise such an idea was to court exile or worse—branding as the family's traitor.

When the elders finally dispersed, only Fugaku and his father remained.

"I heard you were summoned by the Sandaime Hokage today," said Uchiha Tenjo, Fugaku's father. "I assume he assigned you something important?"

Fugaku nodded, hiding nothing.

"He wants me to infiltrate the Land of Earth and eliminate a high-ranking logistics official. In return, I've been promised a position as a temporary jōnin-sensei after the mission."

Tenjo's eyebrows lifted slightly. "The Sandaime is clearly grooming you. But be cautious—operating deep in Tsuchi no Kuni during wartime is dangerous."

"I understand," Fugaku said calmly. "I'll come back alive."

---

The Next Day

At dawn, Fugaku left the Uchiha compound, geared up with precision. He headed for a training ground that had once been meant for clan assemblies. As he arrived, four shinobi appeared, one after another.

Fugaku surveyed them swiftly. All experienced jōnin, selected carefully for their diverse skillsets.

"This mission takes us deep into enemy territory," he began. "Survival depends on absolute unity. If anyone has doubts or wants to back out, speak now. I won't allow hesitation on the battlefield to endanger the rest of us."

No one spoke. Clearly, they had already reviewed the mission profile. Backing out now would bring shame.

"Good. Our first destination is the border between the Land of Grass and its neighboring nations."

---

The war-torn Amegakure region was the crucible of all shinobi teams. Anyone who couldn't survive the trek across the Rain Country would never make it through to Earth Country alive.

The team moved out. Hinata Ning activated his Byakugan, his pale eyes scanning wide fields of chakra flow.

Even within the Land of Fire, enemy shinobi squads could infiltrate to assassinate key figures or ambush patrols. Espionage, assassination, and ambushes were standard tactics in the ongoing Great Ninja War.

The journey remained uneventful for three days. Whenever they saw allied Konoha shinobi, they avoided contact—stealth was essential. A single overheard sentence might compromise their cover.

---

At the Border of the Land of Grass

Rain fell steadily. The group made camp just short of the Rain Country's oppressive borders. While the Rain always fell in Amegakure, the Grass Country offered drier respite.

"We'll rest here today," Fugaku ordered. "Set up perimeter watch in shifts. Hinata Ning, Gekkō Shūichi, Yamashiro Kiyokawa—you three, scout the surroundings. Do not engage. Avoid alerting anyone."

Each of them had their own reconnaissance specialties:

Gekkō Shūichi activated Meisaigakure no Jutsu (Hiding with Camouflage Technique), using his chakra to bend light and temperature, rendering himself nearly invisible. The technique was extremely chakra-sensitive—any flare or jolt would disrupt the illusion.

Yamashiro Kiyokawa summoned a flock of crows with a few silent hand seals. They scattered into the sky—perfect for gathering information.

Hinata Ning, his Byakugan fully activated, disappeared with the Shunshin no Jutsu, scanning the terrain from afar, searching for chakra signatures.

These three made up an exceptional recon team. Clearly, the Konoha upper brass had assigned top-tier talent to this mission.

---

Two Hours Later

When they returned, Fugaku's eyes opened.

"Report."

"The area's relatively calm," said Hyūga Ning. "There's a village ahead where we can restock rations."

Yamashiro added, "Along the western border, my crows overheard snippets of Sand and Rock ninja movement. They've been sneaking into Grass Country to rest between campaigns. The constant downpour in Amegakure seems to be taking a toll on morale."

Fugaku nodded. Even elite Konoha squads used the Land of Grass as a place to recover between missions—it was neutral, but far from safe.

"I overheard a squad of Sunagakure shinobi," said Gekkō Shūichi. "They mentioned developing a new strain of poison—highly lethal, meant to coat puppet weapons."

Fugaku raised an eyebrow. That was unexpected—but not entirely concerning.

Tsunade, even at this stage, had already developed a prototype antidote pill strong enough to neutralize most known toxins. And her abilities, both as a medic and as a combat shinobi, rendered most of Sunagakure's puppeteers ineffective against her.

Still, the information was valuable.

"Kiyokawa," Fugaku ordered, "Send word back to Konoha. Report the Sand's research on poison. Even if Tsunade's medicine counters it, the intel may save lives."

Kiyokawa nodded and began preparing the encrypted message.

Even if the danger seemed manageable, Fugaku understood: in the shinobi world, it was often attitude—not ability—that decided who lived and who died. Showing vigilance kept others alert, and sometimes that was enough.