Uchiha Kono

Natsume gulped and deactivated her sharingan. Hinako withdrew her sword and gave her a moment to adjust her condition. "What was your mistake?"

Natsume finished patting herself and thought back to the encounter. She was tempted to say 'facing someone stronger than me' but that kind of excuse wouldn't cut it on the battlefield. It was simply death. She analyzed the fight and could only discover one point at which she made a hasty decision.

"Exposing the clone's position in the trees. As soon as the clone was dismissed, my information was transmitted to the jutsu user. Then, the rest is just simple battlefield strategics as soon as I lost the information game." Natsume's answer was well thought out, eliciting a nod from Hinako.

"What should you have done?"

"Feigned injury and lured out the main body." Natsume answered without hesitation, as she expected the follow-up question. However, Hinako shook her head. Natsume frowned but couldn't figure out what was wrong with her analysis.

"You are correct, in a situation where neither party has information on the other. However, the enemy was waiting for you and ambushed you. Based on the attack, they knew exactly where you'd come. You must destroy the clone. However, the next step must be to hold the trees. The enemy would expect you to come out in the open."

Natsume made an 'ah' expression while Hinako explained. After going over some theories and practical examples, Hinako decided that the rest was sufficient and transitioned into physical exercise. While Natsume runs back and forth across the clearing carrying hundreds of catties worth of rocks, Hinako was giving a lecture. This was all while Natsume had her sharingan active.

"… Chakra is the result of combining the spiritual and physical energies present within the body. As Uchiha, we have extraordinary spiritual energy because of our dojutsu. Therefore, it is imperative that we train our physical strength otherwise the body won't be able to react to the information the eyes capture…"

The lecture encompassed many topics including heraldry, geography, trap making, infiltration, espionage, and many other miscellaneous subjects. These were all vital to be a successful shinobi. It was never known what kind of mission the clan would receive, and without sufficient skill, the clan wouldn't send you out. Although the clan took care of everyone, those with merit from completing missions would receive benefits like high-ranking jutsu and protection for their children.

Of course, there were cases where the clan's needs outweighed their merit, such as Natsume's situation. Sahiro and his two eldest son's had contributed a lot to the clan, so by all rights Natsume should be sheltered and protected to continue his family line in case of complete wipeout.

After several hours of alternating exercises, Natsume felt that her body had reached its limit. Her sharingan had long since deactivated as her chakra bottomed out. Despite her potential, that's all it was currently. In order to become stronger, she needed time, the most valuable resource. That being said, she would easily place in the low-rank fighters of the Uchiha. This meant she could already start taking missions.

"That's enough for today. Tajima-dono requested to see you. Go first, I'll clean up the training grounds." Natsume looked around at the destroyed ground and scattered debris and felt awkward. Most of it was due to her. She made an awkward expression while nodding and returning to the clan. Natsume wasn't given any details about the meeting, so she decided to wash and change into something more formal. When she opened her closet and saw the missing spot where her favorite kimono was, her stomach churned.

After changing into a black and red Kimono, Natsume went straight to the clan head's residence. The various guards outside recognized her immediately and let her through without question. Natsume could tell they had their sharingan continuously active. Most of the battle-ready Uchiha would do this so that they could always fight at any moment. She wondered how long it would take until she could do the same.

"Worry not, Natsume-chan. You will develop into a fine shinobi. We have yet to formally meet, but I have read much about you in my reports." She had already made it to the receiving room while daydreaming. In order not to embarrass herself, Natsume bowed deeply and introduced herself.

"Hello Patriarch-sama, I am Uchiha Natsume!" The formality made Tajima chuckle.

"No need to be so stiff, Natsume-chan, we are all one family."

"Yes, Patriarch-sama!" He didn't comment on the contradiction, but only smiled and sipped his tea.

"Come sit and receive your first mission." Hearing his comment, Natsume felt a tinge of nervousness. However, her resolve was stronger. She stepped forward and unraveled the scroll on the table. After reading the introduction and the mission details, she was confused.

"My wife has recently been ill. After examination, it was discovered that she is pregnant." Tajima explained. Natsume suddenly felt a mixture of emotions. The mission is specified to be a protection detail for one year. The target of the protection was Uchiha Kono and the unborn Uchiha child. Typically, low- and mid-rank shinobi would be assigned to protect the unborn Uchiha children, like Hinako toward Natsume.

"I believe in your potential, Uchiha Natsume. Consider this an opportunity to grow without fear of ending your path early. War is coming."

After realizing what Tajima's intention was, Natsume kowtowed and thanked him.

"You are an Uchiha! You must not lower your head to anyone. Strive to become a warrior deserving of my faith."

"Yes, Tajima-dono!"

Natsume hid the mission scroll in her kimono and left. Based on the details in the mission, she was among a small group that knew of Uchiha Kono's pregnancy. In general, pregnant women were a top secret in a clan. In this time of chaos, the clan's enemies would take any opportunity to weaken them. The first thing Natsume did was visit Kono in the side-wing of the residence.

Knock, knock.

"Come in." A charming voice beckoned Natsume in. This was the first time they had met, so Natsume didn't know what to expect. However, when she stepped into the room, the first thing she saw were several empty jugs of alcohol and an intoxicated lady sitting on the windowsill. Kono stared lazily through the thick tempered glass with a jug in her hand.

"Kono-sama, you shouldn't be drinking given your condition!" Natsume saw the beautiful woman with wild hair that reached the floor. She wore a simple black kimono that was slipping around her chest due to her intoxicated state.

"Haiz, you're so cute Natsume-chan. You're here just in time, this is my last jug." She downed the remaining liquid and threw it to the side. Then, she got up, causing her hair to scatter out around her. Kono puffed at the strands falling on her face in irritation and stepped toward Natsume. This action caused Natsume to unconsciously gulp.

Although Kono wasn't a shinobi, she had an imposing aura of regality about her. This was a strength that went beyond chakra reserves or muscle mass. "Kono-sama, I cannot do that."

"Lighten up, Natsume~chan~! I was just kidding. I just wished to savor the taste while I could. Come here let me examine you."

Natsume didn't know why, but she felt that this would be a very difficult first mission. She didn't dare to move without permission, which allowed Kono to inspect her all over. There were no boundaries for this woman, which worsened Natsume nervousness.

"Very good, I am satisfied. Here is my schedule, please take care of me, Natsume-chan." Kono handed Natsume a scroll which detailed a very strict schedule. Seeing how trapped the wife of the Patriarch was, Natsume began to wonder if becoming a shinobi was a blessing in disguise. Anyone could tell that Kono longed for the outside world.