A Transmigrator’s Story in the Hyuga’s Main Branch

148. The Current State of Affairs on the Battlefront (1)

At the same time, in a quite different area in this general vicinity, the landscape was marred by the chaos of battle where Sunagakure's forces clashed violently with the armies of Konoha.

The battlefield, a stark contrast to the quiet intimacy of Pakura and Hikari's current location, was a whirlwind of dust, shouts, and the clash of ninjutsu.

Led by the Uchiha and Hyuga clans, Konoha's shinobi were fiercely engaged in combat, their techniques slicing through the air and ground with deadly intent.

The Uchiha fighters, with their Sharingan activated, were adept at predicting their opponent's moves. Their fire-based attacks swept across the enemy lines, turning the tide.

Meanwhile, the Hyuga members used their Gentle Fist techniques to disrupt their opponents' chakra networks, causing devastating internal damage without extensive external injury.

The Sunagakure forces, known for their proficiency with wind release and the unique techniques of their desert environment, fought back with equal ferocity.

The vast battlefield was dominated by two towering figures made of chakra—Susanoo, the colossal avatars of the Uchiha clan's Mangekyo Sharingan users.

Fugaku's Susanoo glimmered a fierce gold, a massive protective aura that shimmered with power.

Nearby, Kiyomi's Susanoo was a stark black, emanating menacing energy as it cut through the battlefield with devastating ease. 

Both avatars appeared intermittently, surging into existence to unleash waves of destruction before dissipating, allowing their users a brief recovery period or switch of fighting tactics.

Konoha strategically chose this battleground, which lay in a narrow valley that bottlenecked the advancing Sunagakure forces, maximizing the effectiveness of the ambush.

The Hyuga clan's expertise in the survey had identified this location as ideal for leveraging their sensory abilities and ensuring that the enemy was caught off-guard.

The terrain, featuring rocky outcrops and sparse vegetation, provided little cover, making it perfect for the Uchiha's visual prowess and the large-scale attacks of their Susanoo.

As the battle raged, the front lines remained relatively static due to the strategic advantage Konoha had gained.

After the initial surprise attack, which had disrupted the Sunagakure troops and forced them into a defensive stance, the fighting had evolved into a more open and chaotic melee.

Konoha's forces, now intermingled with the enemy, were fighting fiercely in small groups or sometimes in individual combat.

They relied on the periodic intervention of the Susanoo to swing the momentum back in their favor whenever Sunagakure began to regroup or counterattack.

On a specific part of the battlefield, a bunch of Uchiha clan elites moved in a coordinated formation, each member with either two or three-tomoe Sharingan fully activated.

Central to this group was Fugaku, whose Mangekyo Sharingan featured a unique spiral design that set it apart.

He used one of his two special Mangekyo abilities, Kagura Shingan, a supporting type ability that enhanced the capabilities of those around him.

Upon activating Kagura Shingan, a vivid red aura enveloped Fugaku and spread to the other Uchiha in formation.

This aura significantly boosted their physical strength and chakra levels, causing their Sharingan to glow with an ominous intensity.

The effect transformed them into what seemed like "red-eyed demons," striking fear into their opponents presently.

This ability allowed the Uchiha to navigate the battlefield with increased agility and power, their movements swift and their strikes forceful.

It also heightened their sensory perceptions, giving them the ability to react to threats with exceptional speed and precision. But, most importantly, above all, it gave them even more chakra potency and reserves.

Fugaku's technique was vital not just for its combat effectiveness but also for boosting the morale of his troops.

The enhanced unity and strength it provided made these Uchiha fighters particularly daunting, reinforcing their role as key players in Konoha's strategy against Sunagakure.

As the battle raged on, Fugaku maintained his position at the center of the Uchiha formation, conserving his strength and strategically using his Susanoo.

His golden avatar, a massive and imposing presence on the battlefield, only intervened occasionally.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

While he appeared outwardly calm, a slight frown marked his usually impassive face.

At that moment, sensing the need to communicate with one of his shinobi who was outside the immediate combat zone, once again, Fugaku expertly maneuvered a massive arm of his Susanoo.

The arm extended beyond the swirling melee, reaching out to the designated Uchiha, who seemed to have an update on the information.

With a precise and controlled movement, the Susanoo's hand gently grasped the shinobi, bringing him swiftly and safely through the chaos to Fugaku's side.

Once the shinobi was securely beside him, Fugaku's gaze remained fixed on the battlefield, yet his attention was fully on the newcomer.

In a voice that carried no hint of the turmoil around them, he inquired straightforwardly, "Still no sign of Hikari Hyuga anywhere?"

"Still no direct signs of his presence, but several Hyuga clan members have pinpointed an area where intense chakra fluctuations were detected. Not surprisingly, this area coincides with reports of a major confrontation...",

The Uchiha shinobi reported with precision, " And it was also the area that was of interest from the beginning of the clash, and we already informed you about it at the start..."

Like every other Uchiha clan member, he looked completely awestruck and with respect and pride at Fugaku's glowing Mangekyo.

Fugaku's expression remained impassive, yet his interest was clearly piqued as he probed further, "How did you conclude that Hikari was also involved there, and who else was implicated in this conflict then?"

The Uchiha informant responded, detailing the findings, "There was evidence of a significant battle, and some of Hyuga reconnaissance specialists recognized techniques characteristic of Hikari Hyuga's style.",

"Additionally, they identified the Pakura and Sasori of the Sunagakure in the mix. What's more puzzling is the discovery of substantial traces of Iron Sand, a technique historically associated solely with the now-missing Third Kazekage."

Fugaku paused, his mind racing to connect the dots as he processed the short intelligence relayed to him. His brow furrowed deeper, a rare show of concern etching his usually composed features.

The mention of Iron Sand was particularly troubling—it was not a technique to be taken lightly, especially given its associations with the formidable Third Kazekage.

Compounded by the fact that Hikari had been unaccountable during the entire skirmish, Fugaku's worry deepened from the beginning.

Despite their extensive search across the battlefield, the Hyuga's Byakugan did not provide visual confirmation, suggesting something unusual.

The possibility that Hikari might have been caught in a Sunagakure ploy loomed in his mind.

Narrowing his eyes, Fugaku addressed the Uchiha shinobi once more, his voice carrying a sharp edge of command mixed with concern, "That area of interest—is it currently under the control of Sunagakure?"

"Yes, it's currently under Sunagakure's control. They seem willing to commit heavily, both to seize and now to maintain this area, even at the cost of substantial losses. Their strategy is unusually aggressive and is actually benefiting us.",

"Additionally, there appears to be some silent, internal strife brewing among Sunagakure's forces, particularly around that area.",

"It's unclear if this is directly related to this same situation, but there appears to be some reports of some instability within their ranks, and something is very fishy in our estimate. All of this is shifting the balance of the battle gradually in our favor more...", The shinobi added.