In the Land of Rain, intense battles raged on, but none of the major nations—Wind, Earth, or Fire—had fully committed to the conflict. They were testing each other’s strength, gathering intelligence, and holding back to avoid leaving themselves vulnerable to the Land of Lightning or the Land of Water, which hadn’t yet shown any signs of involvement.

Out of the twenty or so Uchiha sent to the forward camp, only four remained, including Fugaku.

Jin Uchiha had already gathered the names and tent numbers of every Uchiha at the camp—a common practice among the major clans to keep communication organized. The list also included members from other well-known families, like Ning Hyuga, Nozawa Aburame, and Maru Inuzuka.

Fugaku saw this as a chance to get to know his fellow clansmen better. Building strong relationships with them now could help him lead the clan more effectively in the future. While strength was important, he knew that unity and support within the clan were equally valuable. Even Uchiha Madara, despite his power, lost the clan’s support due to his rigid views.

With the list of Uchiha members in hand, Fugaku decided to visit some of his fellow clansmen in their tents.

He started with Tent 25, where Maeda Uchiha, a Chunin with the two-tomoe Sharingan, was stationed. Pulling aside the tent flap, he saw Maeda chatting with his teammates. Maeda immediately stood and walked outside with Fugaku, looking pleased.

“Fugaku,” Maeda greeted him respectfully, “is there something you need?”

“Nothing urgent,” Fugaku replied with a smile. “I just wanted to check in and see how you’re settling in here. How have the past few days been?”

Maeda laughed nervously. “I won’t lie; I was pretty tense at first. This is my first time in a war. But I’m adjusting and trying to keep calm. A lot of others here are also new to battle, so I’m not the only one feeling on edge.”

“I felt the same when I first arrived,” Fugaku admitted. “But after my first mission, I started to adapt. You will too.”

Maeda’s eyes lit up with determination. “Don’t worry, Fugaku. I won’t embarrass the clan. We have Konoha’s strongest bloodline, and I’ll honor it, even if it costs me my life.”

Fugaku could see Maeda’s deep pride in the Uchiha name. Despite his pride, Maeda worked well with his teammates and showed strong loyalty to the clan. This kind of attitude, Fugaku thought, was invaluable for the future.

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After chatting with Maeda and giving him advice on missions in the Land of Rain, Fugaku continued to Tent 36.

Here, he found Ueno Uchiha, a Jounin with the three-tomoe Sharingan. At age 30, Ueno had only unlocked the three-tomoe Sharingan three years earlier, after losing his father. Ueno smiled warmly when he saw Fugaku.

“Fugaku! Didn’t expect you’d stop by. You’ve been busy, and I barely see you around camp. But everyone’s proud of you. You’re only 13 and already a Jounin leading a team. Some of the younger Uchiha look up to you.”

Fugaku smiled. “Thank you, Ueno-san. I’ve been busy with my team and didn’t get the chance to visit sooner.”

“No need for formality,” Ueno chuckled. “I remember when I joined the police force and worked under your father. He taught me a lot; I owe him much.”

Fugaku realized that Ueno had once served directly under his father, which explained his respectful attitude. Just as he was about to speak, Ueno’s tone grew serious.

“Fugaku,” Ueno began, “both your father and I have been through war. We were around for the last great war, and even though we joined near the end, it was brutal. What’s happening here in the Land of Rain is just the start—a way for the nations to test each other. But you… you have a future. You could be the one to lead the Uchiha to prominence.”

“I hope so,” Fugaku replied. “For me, the Uchiha’s rise means Konoha’s rise. Our clan’s strength and the village’s strength are connected.”

Ueno nodded thoughtfully. “It won’t be easy. The Uchiha helped found Konoha alongside the Senju, but after Madara’s actions, we lost our place in the village’s inner circle. The Senju left a lasting legacy, embedding their ideals, like the Will of Fire, deep into the village culture. The Senju name became more than just a clan—it’s a spirit that’s shaped generations.”

Fugaku was surprised by Ueno’s insight. While Ueno might not have been the most skilled in combat, his understanding of Konoha’s politics and history was sharp. Fugaku found himself re-evaluating Ueno’s value.

After their conversation, Fugaku returned to his tent, deep in thought. Ueno’s words sparked new ideas, but Fugaku knew they were somewhat idealistic. The ninja world relied on strength, and Konoha’s leadership had long been influenced by Senju ideals, backed by the village’s trust. But with no heirs left from the Senju clan, Fugaku sensed change was inevitable.

Konoha’s leaders claimed to carry on the Senju legacy, but Fugaku believed their dedication was superficial. He felt that eventually, the village would weaken from internal conflict and power struggles, and when that time came, it might be the Uchiha’s chance to regain influence.

The night passed quickly, and the next morning, Fugaku visited the last Uchiha in camp, Tenzo Uchiha, a 26-year-old with a two-tomoe Sharingan who had recently been promoted to Jounin. Many Uchiha, like Tenzo, reached their ranks through hard work, even if their Sharingan abilities weren’t as developed.

Seeing Fugaku enter, Tenzo smiled. “Fugaku! You’re practically a legend around here. Everyone’s talking about you—I hear your name almost every day.”

Fugaku chuckled, a bit embarrassed. “Me? I haven’t done anything that special.”

“Taking down a Sunagakure stronghold with just an eight-man team isn’t special?” Tenzo replied, grinning.

“It was teamwork,” Fugaku said modestly. “Without the support of my squad, we wouldn’t have done it.”

“You’re too humble,” Tenzo replied. “With your three-tomoe Sharingan and your skill, you can handle tough missions regardless of your team.”