271-275

*Chapter 271: Breaking Limits, Achieving the Bloodline Elimination of Dojutsu!*

In the nighttime of the Land of Frost,

there lay a dilapidated seaside town.

Due to the recent mobilization of the Kumogakure army, this small town, located on the crucial route from the Land of Lightning to the Land of Hot Springs, had fallen into its current state.

Ruined, desolate, and eerily silent.

Cobwebs stretched from the signs of shops on both sides of the street, trailing to the ground. Valuables had already been looted, leaving only scattered, worthless trinkets strewn about.

There wasn’t a single soul in sight—only seabirds hopping along the ground, flapping their wings before perching on utility poles, tilting their heads as their eyes reflected the image of a visitor from afar.

At that moment,

the pangs of hunger forced Uchiha Shinji to abruptly wake up.

This awakening felt peculiar. He could see nothing, yet it seemed as though he could perceive everything.

His sense of touch, smell, hearing, and taste converged into a unique frequency, painting a vivid image of the world in his mind.

This was the effect of his evolved battle intuition, which he tentatively named:

*Heart’s Eye.*

Uchiha Shinji could clearly sense himself being dragged along the desolate street. The person dragging him didn’t care if he collided with obstacles or sustained injuries. Luckily, the tattered inner armor he wore was durable enough to withstand the friction, producing a scraping sound as it ground against the ground.

Then it dawned on him—

his eyes had been gouged out, robbing him of his sight.

However, Uchiha Shinji couldn’t help but smirk slightly.

Now, what’s the deal with these eyes in my sockets?

Even stranger, why does it feel like there are two pairs—four eyes—in my eye sockets?

This sensation was undeniably bizarre. Uchiha Shinji could feel his previously gouged-out Sharingan reappearing in his eye sockets, but in a translucent, illusory state.

If not for the peculiar eyes stuffed into his sockets, his Sharingan would have likely materialized fully and reappeared in physical form.

And this was the result of the Mangekyo Sharingan ability: *Tenshōnagare (Eternal Stand).*

The act of gouging out his eyes was a disadvantage to the caster. The ability forcibly reversed this misfortune, replicating an identical pair of Sharingan from thirty minutes prior to the injury and returning them to him.

But now,

his Sharingan was fusing with the peculiar eyes implanted in his sockets.

Although, to say it was "fusing" might be inaccurate.

More accurately—

*it was consuming them!*

His three-tomoe Sharingan was devouring the eyes known as "Blood Dragon Eyes," feasting on them!

They were evolving in an unknown, powerful, and even wilder direction than the Mangekyo Sharingan itself.

Every part of the eyes—fibrous membrane, vascular layer, retina, iris, aqueous humor, lens, and vitreous body—was being devoured entirely. Extracting the essence, discarding the dross!

At an even deeper level—at the basic structures and functionalities of life, at the sequences of genetic material, at the molecular and atomic levels—

clashes, collisions, consumption, and assimilation continued endlessly!

Of course, failure and counter-consumption occurred too. But the Mangekyo ability, *Tenshōnagare*, ensured that new tissues regenerated. This allowed the evolution to resume, relentlessly charging forward in this primal war for survival.

It was a battle of existence, born from chance and destined for success.

This was precisely what *Tenshōnagare* promised: "Preserve all outcomes favorable to the caster."

Uchiha Shinji began to grasp the essence of what was happening.

At this moment,

he was awakening a new ability, one that surpassed anything imagined by anyone in the shinobi world. It was the result of a collision between two dojutsu-based Kekkei Genkai, culminating in the evolution of a Kekkei Tōta (Bloodline Elimination).

In this instant, he also understood what Kekkei Tōta truly was.

The answer lay within the term itself:

Kekkei Tōta was the elimination among Kekkei Genkai.

The strong prey on the weak, devouring them to grow stronger. The weak, in turn, band together, like ants overwhelming an elephant, countering and surpassing the strong.

The survivor at the end of this process breaks through all limits and achieves Kekkei Tōta.

No wonder Ōnoki’s Dust Release was so overpowered—it could disassemble matter at the molecular level, slicing through even Susanoo like a knife through butter.

Uchiha Shinji couldn’t help but feel a surge of anticipation.

The evolutionary path and abilities of the Blood Dragon Eyes bore striking similarities to the Sharingan. Both were illusion-based dojutsu. What kind of effects would arise from the fusion of these two dojutsu-based Kekkei Genkai?

A massive amplification of genjutsu capabilities? Or perhaps an enhancement in perceptive acuity, ocular power, or Yin Release abilities?

The pinnacle of the Sharingan was the Mangekyo Sharingan, and two pairs of Mangekyo could achieve the Eternal Mangekyo.

But what kind of spark would emerge from the fusion of the Sharingan and the Blood Dragon Eyes?

One question after another surfaced in Uchiha Shinji’s mind, driving his thoughts into overdrive as he pieced together everything that had happened to him.

---

But very quickly,

his expression changed drastically, his face turning deathly pale in an instant!

It was as if he suddenly realized something, and Uchiha Shinji began trembling all over.

A cold sweat broke out in his palms, and his heart felt as if thousands of ants were crawling over it, biting and tearing, causing unbearable pain!

He remembered!

He remembered!

At this moment, the owner of the Mangekyō Sharingan etched into his body came to mind—a name: Uchiha Shana!

And that old man, in the end, had fallen into the hands of the Third Raikage!

Izanagi failed! And he had forgotten his own Mangekyō Sharingan technique! His final ocular ability was sealed within himself!

In other words...

That old man...

Was dead!?

Dead!

He was dead!

The mere thought of this sent Uchiha Shinji into a frenzy!

“Clack, clack, clack, clack...”

His teeth chattered, his face twitched, his hands clenched into fists, and his features twisted grotesquely in an instant.

In that moment, his face turned sinister, terrifying, filled with murderous intent, yet tinged with deep regret!

Memories of the past, along with all the bitterness, sweetness, sorrow, and joy he had experienced, surged into his heart all at once.

His nostrils and mouth seemed to fill with choking smoke, his mind on the brink of explosion as blood surged uncontrollably through his veins!

The veins on his forehead bulged, extending toward his eyes.

“Raikage...”

At this moment, those newly-formed, uncontrollable eyes beneath his eyelids turned blood red. The square-shaped black pupils of the Blood Dragon Eyes grew sharp.

With the natural energy coursing through his veins, they elongated vertically, transforming into snake-like vertical pupils!

Finally, a pair of crimson eyes appeared, with three black tomoe spinning in a star-shaped cross pattern around their pupils.

“—Boom!!”

A sinister, terrifying, malevolent storm of chakra exploded around Uchiha Shinji, surging upward like a blazing pillar of light that pierced the sky!

The monstrous entity hidden within those eyes was beginning to emerge!

“Hm?”

At that moment, the young man dragging Uchiha Shinji raised an eyebrow, letting go of his collar and tossing him aside.

Then,

Amidst the raging wind, he casually picked up a stylish pair of square sunglasses from the scattered debris on the street, put them on,

and then, Ouyajou En’s gaze darkened abruptly.

His expression also twisted into one of ferocity.

His eyes locked onto Uchiha Shinji’s tightly shut eyes, which were streaming tears of regret and blood. He roared angrily:

“What’s this?!”

“Do you think pulling a face of pain makes you a stray dog worth pitying?!”

“Who are you putting on this act for?!”

“For me? For yourself? Or for the dead? Or is it for the idea that you could charge into your enemy’s home and strike them down?!”

“Enough!”

Ouyajou En suddenly raised a hand, fingers spread wide,

and with a fierce clench aimed at the helplessly enraged Uchiha Shinji on the ground, his eyes turned completely crimson, sclera and all!

The next moment,

a massive Blood Dragon rose from behind him, coiling in the air before diving toward Uchiha Shinji in a terrifying attack!

The ground cracked in layers, and a massive plume of dust shot into the sky!

The impact drove Uchiha Shinji straight into the ground, fifty meters deep, as the blazing pillar of light dissolved in an instant!

“From now on, surrender your thoughts to the Sage of Six Paths and your body to me!”

“Prisoner!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 272: The Third Power, Susano'o!*

Dust and smoke filled the air.

The already dilapidated streets of the small town looked as if they had been swept by a category-eight hurricane. Goods, wooden crates, rotting fruits, and a blanket of dust were flung about, scattering in all directions before eventually crashing to the ground.

The salty sea breeze quietly brushed through the scene.

“Wah! Wah!”

The sudden cry of a baby broke the eerie silence.

Mikuro Shiroyama's face was stern as he held his crying daughter in one arm. His cold gaze fixed on the massive crater he had created with a casual blow.

His eyes were terrifying, their whites and irises dyed in a blood-red hue, leaving only jet-black square pupils—an unsettling sight.

These eyes had surpassed even the Blood Dragon Eyes of Chinoike from the original story. After the suicide of his wife and a massacre driven by overwhelming hatred, Mikuro Shiroyama had unlocked a higher-tier bloodline ability, attainable only by those who endured unimaginable pain: the evolved Blood Dragon Eyes.

This ocular power could manipulate reality through illusions, enabling the power of Yin Release to bloom. Using blood as a medium, it could control various jutsu and illusions that subdued targets without their awareness.

Moreover, through the ocular technique *Blood Dragon Art*, Mikuro could summon colossal nine-headed blood dragons capable of obliterating all conventional jutsu with terrifying ease.

“Such a troublesome little brat,” he muttered, patting his daughter’s swaddle to calm her down. Despite his soothing gestures, his eyes remained cold as they bore into the ground below.

“So... have you realized the reality of your situation now?”

But at that moment—

A deep, malevolent surge of chakra suddenly erupted from underground!

“Hm?” Mikuro’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, his heart skipping a beat.

As the dust began to settle, he finally saw what lay beneath the shattered surface. His pupils contracted sharply.

“What... is that?!”

There, standing amidst the wreckage, was Uchiha Tsunashi. His eyes were closed, and streams of fiery energy floated around him, dissipating slowly.

Suspended between illusion and reality, a translucent, fiery ribcage-like structure encased him. The flaming skeletal frame, resembling human ribs, was gradually fading away.

Remarkably, despite enduring such a devastating blow, Uchiha Tsunashi was entirely unharmed!

Lines of text appeared in front of his eyes:

*[The final evolutionary direction of your Kekkei Genkai has been determined: correcting genetic flaws and tracing back the original power of your bloodline.]*

*[By synthesizing the incomplete body of the Ten-Tails, the Three Tomoe Sharingan, and the Blood Dragon Eyes, your innate abilities have been fused into: the incomplete Six Paths Sage Body (S+).]*

*[Ability: Incomplete Six Paths Sage Body—uniting the powers of the Sage's body and eyes. You can now tap into the same primal strength as the Sage of Six Paths from the past.]*

*[You have unlocked: The Third Power, Susano’o (S, beginner level, ribcage form).]*

*[Due to your mastery of martial arts, your proficiency has forcibly been elevated to: Skilled (partial skeleton form).]*

*[Note: Your eyes are not fully evolved. Progressing further will automatically add the “Extreme Danger” status to all related abilities.]*

*[Note: A new ocular technique seems to be developing within your eyes...]*

In the oppressive silence of the night, amidst the intensifying sea winds—

Uchiha Tsunashi slowly raised a hand, tearing away the black cloth tied around his eyes.

A crimson, sinister glow shone forth!

His Sharingan, now marked by a black cross within the three tomoe, bled ominously as they opened.

Moments later—

Tsunashi tilted his head back slightly, his indifferent gaze falling on Mikuro Shiroyama with a flash of disdain, mockery, and rage.

“You called me... a prisoner?”

His gaze turned fierce in an instant.

The next second—

Flames surged from behind Tsunashi, coalescing into a massive, dragon-like spine! From this skeletal framework sprouted fiery appendages resembling human bones: shoulder blades, humeri, sternum, vertebrae, jawbone, zygomatic bone, nasal bone, frontal bone, parietal bone...

One by one, the skeletal components formed rapidly, growing in size and completeness.

Encasing Uchiha Tsunashi in a towering, thirty-meter-tall partial skeleton structure, the massive figure rose from the crater!

Its enormous skeletal hand pressed against the ground, lifting Tsunashi out of the pit as he ascended into the air. From his elevated position, he gazed coldly at Mikuro Shiroyama below.

In a chilling voice, Tsunashi declared:

“Now, tell me—who is the prisoner?”

His words were accompanied by a storm of malevolent chakra.

The flaming skull lowered slightly, its hollow sockets igniting with golden, sun-like orbs that bore down on Mikuro Shiroyama.

Shiroyama’s pupils contracted into pinpoints as he unconsciously stumbled back a step.

“This...”

The blood dragon behind him looked like a mere toy compared to the monstrous entity before him.

“This is the power that stands above your Blood Pool Clan, a power only those who awaken these eyes can unlock—a power that demands your submission!”

Tsunashi’s voice rang out, calm yet commanding as he looked down at Shiroyama.

“This is the Third Power—*Susano’o*!”

At that moment—

Uchiha Tsunashi, like the Sage of Six Paths a thousand years ago, had awakened this terrifying power with only his Three Tomoe Sharingan.

By forcibly merging the Blood Dragon Eyes—a kekkei genkai akin to the Sharingan and possibly derived from the Sage of Six Paths—with the incomplete body of the Ten-Tails, Tsunashi had achieved an unparalleled ocular evolution.

The result was nothing less than a revolution in the hierarchy of bloodline powers.

Shiroyama drew a sharp breath, his expression turning grave.

“So... it’s true. The clan’s legends were real,” he muttered.

“No wonder you’ve awakened such a forbidden power. That... is the Mangekyō Sharingan, isn’t it?”

Yuyajo Entotsu froze for a moment, as if recalling something, and looked at Uchiha Shinji’s eyes in astonishment.

Looking at the three pitch-black tomoe spinning around the cross-shaped pupils in his eyes, Yuyajo Entotsu suddenly felt a bit dazed.

Wait a second,

Shouldn’t this kid’s eyes right now be the Blood Dragon Eyes I implanted in him? And, although the pattern is a bit strange, isn’t that the Three Tomoe Sharingan?

But… that’s not a Mangekyō Sharingan either!

At this moment, Uchiha Shinji, who had already regained his senses and checked the condition of his body, was starting to panic a little.

Damn it! I’ve already activated the Susanoo skeleton, why isn’t this guy running?!

Susanoo consumes ocular power, and overuse can make you go blind!

Even though my eyes have evolved once, the Three Tomoe Sharingan inherently doesn’t have much ocular power to spare.

Sure, I can activate Susanoo with the Three Tomoe like the Sage of Six Paths, but that doesn’t mean I can keep it up for three days and three nights like he could!

From the moment he woke up, Uchiha Shinji’s physical state had improved somewhat, but he was still very weak, barely able to extract any chakra.

The Ten-Tails form and the upgrade to the Three Tomoe increased his chakra capacity and added a long list of powerful abilities to his arsenal.

Uchiha Shinji had even felt that his current self could easily defeat his former self.

But even the best chef cannot cook without ingredients—right now, he didn’t have the chakra to perform any jutsu!

Uchiha Shinji understood that even if he went blind using up all his ocular power, he might still not be a match for Yuyajo Entotsu.

After all, this guy never made an appearance in the original story. Just like Hozuki Mangetsu back then, he was a complete mystery—a black hole of information!

And there was no real benefit to fighting this bird-brained guy here.

He already had the Blood Dragon Eyes.

His little brother Hidan was waiting for him back in the Land of Lightning, and he still needed to confirm whether Uchiha Setsuna, that old geezer, was truly dead.

On second thought, the chances of the old man still being alive were actually pretty high.

Moreover, the Uchiha clan needed him to step in. Who knows what kind of trouble those people might stir up in his absence?

And how many days had he been unconscious? What was the situation in the outside world now?

These were all urgent matters that Uchiha Shinji needed to deal with immediately!

He didn’t have time to waste on this punk in front of him!

So why the hell won’t you run away already?!

At this moment, Yuyajo Entotsu, who had been staring tensely at Uchiha Shinji, felt a slight tingling on his scalp.

His brain was working rapidly as he considered his options.

As someone from the Clan of the Blood Pool, Yuyajo Entotsu had no understanding of the outside world. He had dragged Uchiha Shinji along mostly to use him as a guide to gather intelligence about the outside world—and to satisfy his own twisted amusement.

But who would’ve thought that he’d randomly capture an Uchiha who could activate Susanoo?!

And ninja battles are battles of information.

It wasn’t just that he didn’t understand this skeleton-wielding brat; he was completely clueless about the vast majority of the ninja world.

While he wasn’t necessarily afraid of fighting this kid, his daughter Chino was still in his arms.

What if she got hurt? She wasn’t protected by a skeleton like this kid was!

For Yuyajo Entotsu, a total doting father, that was absolutely unacceptable.

But for him to yield to someone he had already classified as a "prisoner"? That was a hard pill to swallow.

And so, the two of them, both posturing and trying to outplay each other, ended up creating this awkward stalemate.

It was a true case of being caught between a rock and a hard place.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, their eyes were starting to sting and dry from the prolonged staring contest.

Suddenly, unable to endure it any longer, both of them spoke at the exact same time:

“Hey, kid, let’s make a deal!”

“Hey, old man, let’s make a deal!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 273: The Daimyo's Defense Battle!

“In this battle led by one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, the Third Raikage was injured, the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki critically wounded, the Two-Tails Jinchūriki killed, and the Two-Tails Bijū went rogue. The defenses of Kumogakure crumbled, and a large amount of strategic information was leaked.”

“And—”

“On the same day, the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning was once again assassinated!”

“A week later, the Third Raikage A will take his son to Yunming Castle to offer an apology to the enraged Daimyo!”

“I believe this is an opportunity!”

---

In the Land of Fire, within the Hokage’s office in Konohagakure...

At this moment, only three people were present in the conference room.

Seated at the head of the table was a man in late middle age with a long face, wearing a headdress adorned with three flame patterns resembling a fan. He held a small folding fan in his hand. Though it was nearing June and the weather was growing hot, he leisurely fanned himself to stay cool.

Beside him sat two of Konoha’s most powerful figures: Hiruzen Sarutobi, the current Hokage, and Danzo Shimura, the Hokage's advisor and leader of the Root division.

The identity of the man at the head was self-evident—he was the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

---

“So, Danzo, what are you planning this time?”

The Daimyo glanced at Danzo, his tone indifferent yet tinged with subtle reproach.

“At present, the Land of Lightning has suffered significant losses. A decisive blow now would completely silence them in the Third Shinobi World War,” Danzo said, narrowing his eyes, a cold glint flashing in them.

“And that blow lies in the military funding the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning has promised to Kumogakure.”

“Therefore, I request His Excellency to issue a mission,” he continued.

Danzo’s voice took on a chilling undertone.

“Invite the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning to visit our Land of Fire for a chat.”

“Impossible!” The Daimyo of the Land of Fire’s gaze turned icy in an instant.

Although Danzo hadn’t explicitly stated any intentions against the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning, even suggesting targeting another Daimyo—enemy or not—was a grave disrespect to the institution of Daimyo itself.

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire understood Danzo’s implications all too well.

Daimyos and nobles held their power not through brute strength like shinobi but through their control of political and economic resources. Danzo’s proposal, under the guise of wartime strategy, sought to undermine that very authority, disrupting the balance of power between the classes.

“Hiruzen, it seems you’ve been too lenient with your subordinates,” the Daimyo remarked coldly, pointedly ignoring Danzo as he turned his attention to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who sat calmly puffing on his tobacco pipe.

“Danzo, this matter is not to be discussed further,” Hiruzen said after exhaling a puff of smoke. He was about to explain further, but the Daimyo cut him off with a surprising exclamation.

“Ah, but I must say, this battle was executed beautifully,” the Daimyo said, folding his fan and tapping it lightly on the table.

“To take on three of Kumogakure’s top shinobi single-handedly and create an opening for his mentor to launch a surprise attack on Kumogakure—this child named Uchiha Shinji is truly remarkable!”

“Is he your chosen candidate for the Fourth Hokage, Hiruzen?”

Hiruzen shook his head.

“This battle’s strategy was devised by Orochimaru. As the commanding officer, the credit goes primarily to him. I had intended—”

Before Hiruzen could finish, the Daimyo sighed and cut him off again.

“Even so, while Kumogakure’s losses were severe, I hear Konoha hasn’t fared much better.

“Your disciple Orochimaru and his protégé Uchiha Shinji are both reported missing, yes? Such a brilliant pair of teacher and student, fallen here... What a pity.”

“This matter shall be discussed later,” the Daimyo said curtly before standing and leaving the room without another word.

---

In the now-empty conference room, Danzo’s expression darkened as he glared at Hiruzen.

“Hiruzen, I’ve told you before,” Danzo said with a scowl,

“This soft approach won’t work. That man was never going to agree to such a thing!”

“If you ask me, we should have sent operatives disguised as foreign shinobi to threaten the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning into halting his war funding. That would ensure Kumogakure is completely swept off the board!”

Hiruzen shook his head.

“You still don’t understand.”

“At this juncture, too many people want the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning dead. Moreover, the Daimyo’s comments about Kumogakure’s losses were a veiled message—they haven’t been crippled yet. If blame is shifted to Konoha and the Daimyo’s anger is stoked, Kumogakure might still find the strength for one last stand.”

“The Daimyo of the Land of Fire would never gamble his nation’s resources on such a risky venture.”

“The saying goes, ‘Kings must not meet.’ As long as this principle is upheld, there’s room for negotiation.”

Danzo frowned, then asked, “So what exactly are you planning?”

Hiruzen chuckled, resting his pipe in its holder.

Of course, he wouldn’t tell Danzo that this was all part of his plan to subtly pressure the Daimyo while gauging his stance.

As for the situation on the Land of Lightning’s side...

“There are many people looking to pin the blame on Konoha right now. The remaining forces of Kumogakure still have some firepower left, but who they’ll target next remains uncertain.”

"So,"

"The Daimyō of the Land of Lightning must not die!"

"At least, not before he accepts the letter of apology from the Third Raikage, A."

"Instead, we have to protect him!"

As he spoke, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but narrow his eyes slightly, recalling the top-secret intelligence Orochimaru had sent back the other day and the insane plan originally proposed by Kumogakure.

"This is simply absurd!"

Shimura Danzō's face darkened as he stared coldly at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Knowing Sarutobi as well as he did, Danzō could tell what he was planning just by his expression. It was clear to him that Hiruzen was hiding something.

Bang!

Danzō’s face grew even more grim. With a snort, he turned abruptly, slammed the door, and left, leaving behind a sharp remark:

"Hiruzen, you will regret this!"

---

After leaving the Hokage's office,

Danzō wasted no time, heading swiftly toward the southern wing of the Hokage Building.

He might not know exactly what Sarutobi was planning, but he did know one thing: Uchiha Tsuda and Orochimaru were under his command, and the glory of this victory would reflect directly on him.

Moreover, the Daimyō of the Land of Fire and Hiruzen Sarutobi were on the same side. From Danzō’s perspective, Hiruzen was clearly trying to force him off the board and pave the way for his own disciple.

Because this achievement was simply too monumental!

The success achieved by Uchiha Tsuda and Orochimaru was so significant that it could potentially reshape the entire course of the Third Shinobi World War.

With Kumogakure's strategic defenses, outposts, camps, and attack plans completely exposed, Konoha could now deploy a minimal force to pin down Kumogakure in the direction of the Land of Fields, rendering them completely immobile.

Additionally, the annihilation of the Chinoike Clan meant that Kumogakure’s plan to launch a surprise attack through Hell Valley had been completely thwarted.

This plugged two major gaps in the north: the Land of Fields and the Land of Hot Water. If Kumogakure wanted to invade, they would have to go through yet another country, the Land of Iron. However, as a neutral nation and the designated land of ceasefire, the Land of Iron held a special status.

Furthermore, if they could push the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning to cut off funding to Kumogakure, it would completely neutralize the threat from the north!

This would mean that Root, Danzō’s organization, had achieved the impossible: as a mere subdivision of the Anbu, they would have effectively defeated one of the great nations of the shinobi world.

Such an accomplishment might even give Danzō a chance to ascend to the position of Hokage.

Thinking of this, Danzō’s gaze turned cold.

"The Daimyō? What a worthless obstacle!"

"How dare you stand in my way? Even if you're the ruler, you’ll die if you oppose me!"

At this point, it was unclear whether he was referring to the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning or the Daimyō of the Land of Fire.

While these thoughts swirled in his mind, Danzō’s quick steps had already brought him to a large door adorned with two red-and-white fan crests.

He raised his hand and knocked three times.

This was the residence of the Uchiha Clan’s Chief of Police, the most prominent household in Konoha.

At that moment,

Inside the house, Namikaze Minato and Uchiha Fugaku—the two people Danzō wanted to see—happened to be present.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 274: "We Need a Guide. Oh, Look, One’s Just Arrived!"

"I’m heading to Yunming City to assassinate the Daimyo of the Land of Thunder!"

The campfire crackled brightly, illuminating the desolate surroundings of a small town in the Land of Frost.

The night wind blew gently, whistling through the abandoned huts, producing a mournful sound.

Two individuals, each having withdrawn their unique powers, sat silently around the fire.

Through the other’s eyes and the presence of the young girl with him, Uchiha Shinji had already recognized that the man before him was none other than Miyajou En, the hidden boss in the original story who had slaughtered the entire Chizuchi clan.

At this moment, Miyajou En carefully placed his sleeping daughter onto a makeshift cushion fashioned from tattered clothes. After a moment of silence, he spoke hoarsely:

"Three months ago, my wife was chosen by our clan to deliver a letter of apology to the Daimyo of the Land of Thunder."

"Because my wife was beautiful."

"She had violet eyes, as dazzling as the world’s most exquisite gems. Anyone who saw her would be captivated by her beauty."

Listening to Miyajou En recount his story, Uchiha Shinji couldn’t help but recall a pair of emerald-green eyes that matched the description—eyes like gemstones, like flowing clouds in the sky, or like a tranquil lake shimmering under the breeze and sunlight, full of emotion. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Miyajou En, however, fell silent again. His expression turned vacant and wooden as he continued:

"But she was pregnant with my daughter at the time."

"And yet, she was chosen to go to the Land of Thunder to meet the Daimyo."

"I knew what they wanted her to do."

"I couldn’t refuse, nor could I resist. As the young patriarch of the clan, the only way to show true submission was to send my wife to serve the Daimyo."

"But my wife smiled and comforted me, saying, ‘Hey, Miyajou, we’ll be free soon.’"

"‘Then, we’ll build a big castle for our daughter, named after me. We’ll live happily together as a family for the rest of our lives!’"

"Heh... Haha… Hahahahaha!"

At this point, Miyajou En burst into laughter. His face contorted into a grotesque expression, his skin twisting as he laughed maniacally.

"But I must admit, the shinobi of Kumogakure did something commendable!"

"They intercepted the Daimyo’s envoy on his way back!"

"My wife’s sacrifice was all for nothing. Shortly after returning to the clan..."

"She chose to take her own life."

"That was the day I gained these eyes, surpassing those of any clan member."

"That was also the day I intended to slaughter every last person in the clan."

"But then the son of the Raikage arrived."

"With his so-called ‘Brotherhood Pact.’"

Miyajou En’s expression turned icy, like frozen stone, exuding a chilling aura.

"This world is built on lies."

"The clan deceived my wife. My wife deceived me. The Raikage’s son deceived my foolish clansmen."

"Everyone lives in lies, comforting themselves with the hope that tomorrow will be better!"

"Those at the top, standing high above, enjoy everything without a care."

"But only I—"

Miyajou En clenched his teeth so hard they audibly ground together, his eyes burning with irrepressible rage.

"With these eyes, I saw the truth in my wife’s tears of regret as she died!"

Uchiha Shinji tried to empathize for a moment but couldn’t help shrinking back slightly.

Despite his awareness of the shinobi world’s darkness and having some inkling of Miyajou En’s plight, hearing the tale firsthand was still deeply unsettling.

He stayed silent for a while. As the man told his story, Uchiha Shinji had managed to piece together what had happened to him. After falling unconscious from the cliff, it was Miyajou En who had rescued him—and transplanted a pair of blood dragon eyes into him.

Fortunately, Uchiha Shinji’s body was resilient. His heart, eyes, and other body parts could support all kinds of "ports," making him essentially a walking hot-swappable shinobi.

Had it been anyone else, they might have died on the spot.

This series of coincidences even awakened a power that typically required Mangekyō Sharingan to use—

*Susanoo.*

This was something Uchiha Shinji couldn’t fully comprehend.

If anything, it felt like he owed Miyajou En a favor.

So, Uchiha Shinji lifted his head, looked at Miyajou En, and asked,

"Then why did you save me?"

"You slaughtered an entire clan but spared a Uchiha who had imprisoned you for over twenty years. I can’t understand that."

"You could’ve killed me."

Yuyajo Homura didn’t answer the question, nor did he bother to explain to the brat in front of him why he had softened in the moment. Instead, he lifted his head and spoke indifferently:

“The battle that took place over Hell Valley was only supported by the reinforcements from the Hidden Cloud, as agreed upon by the son of the Raikage and the Blood Pool Clan.”

“If I’m not mistaken, you were likely attacked by Hidden Cloud ninjas and fell off the cliff. That makes them our common enemy.”

“And as it happens, I need a guide.”

“I’ve never left Hell Valley since I was born. I need you to help me understand the outside world.”

“And, of course, to lead me to the capital of the Land of Lightning—Cloudsong City!”

Hearing this, Uchiha Shinji felt invigorated. He didn’t even notice the clumsiness in Yuyajo Homura’s words. After all, Cloudsong City was also where he needed to go! The cultists of Jashin, brainwashed by Hidan's manipulations, had all gathered in the capital of the Land of Lightning. His little brother’s situation was likely dire. At this critical moment, it was up to the elder brother to bring justice from above.

“Thanks,” he nodded, then looked up at Yuyajo Homura, smirking.

“I’m someone who pays back favors. Since I owe you one now…”

“Whether you want to take down the daimyo of the Land of Lightning, the Third Raikage, or even demolish the entire capital, I’ll help you out.”

“I’m not good at much else, but if it’s a fight against the Hidden Cloud, I’m all in!”

Uchiha Shinji patted his chest and grinned broadly as he spoke.

Yuyajo Homura couldn’t help but glance at him in astonishment. Just a moment ago, this guy had been as stubborn as a mule. Now, he was suddenly so agreeable? Homura hadn’t even had a chance to mention the terms of the deal or the payment he could offer, yet this guy had already agreed to everything.

What was with this kid? Why was he both irritating and endearing at the same time?

At that moment, Uchiha Shinji rubbed his empty stomach, feeling the intense hunger gnawing at him on a cellular level. He wanted nothing more than to fly to Cloudsong City and devour a feast large enough to fill ten oxen, replenishing his chakra reserves.

He turned to Yuyajo Homura and asked in surprise:

“Since the misunderstanding’s cleared up—what are you waiting for? Lead the way!”

“Let’s go! Time for action!”

Hearing this, Yuyajo Homura gave him a stunned look and asked incredulously,

“I came to you for guidance, and now you’re telling me to lead?”

Uchiha Shinji froze at the question and exclaimed,

“But the problem is, I don’t know the way either!”

For heaven’s sake, he’d only been in this shinobi world for a little over a year. Aside from Konohagakure, which he’d gotten to know while running missions all over the village, the rest of the ninja world was completely unfamiliar to him.

So, the two, who had just been about to set off, both sat back down in silence.

Yuyajo Homura covered his face, feeling a headache coming on. He’d just wanted to find a guide. How did he end up with someone like this?

So, we’re both directionally challenged?

Staring at the flickering campfire before him, Uchiha Shinji propped his chin on his hand and said seriously,

“I think we need a guide.”

Hearing this, Yuyajo Homura scanned their surroundings. Looking at the desolation around them—a war-ravaged Frost Country town devoid of any sign of life—he fell into deep thought.

“In this barren wasteland, not even bandits would bother setting up camp. Where are we supposed to find someone?”

However, just then, the sound of shuffling footsteps came from the far end of the desolate street.

“Hey, isn’t that convenient?”

The two of them perked up, raising their heads to look toward the source of the sound. At the end of the street, a figure emerged—a boy with short red hair, dressed in a black robe. He looked equally surprised to see them.

“Wonderful! In the middle of nowhere, I actually found two people with decent chakra reserves!”

Sasori’s eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he reached for the pistol hidden under his black robe and stepped forward confidently.

With his revolutionary weapon, these two mere mortals wouldn’t stand a chance against even a single shot.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 275: Sasori—Kid, Times Have Changed!

Leaving aside the two who looked at Sasori as if they had seen a guiding light, at this moment—

Sasori himself was excited.

Ever since he followed Kakuzu’s lead and set off for the Land of Lightning, he had made a discovery—

He was lost.

This was understandable. After all, before he poisoned the Third Kazekage, he had been a recluse in Sunagakure, painstakingly refining new puppet techniques and rarely leaving the Land of Wind. Even after taking down the Third Kazekage, he had mostly lingered around the borders of the Wind Country.

This was his first time traveling such a long distance just to assassinate someone.

Because of that, not long after leaving the Frost Country’s bounty exchange, he realized—he had lost track of Kakuzu, the man he was originally planning to eliminate.

At that moment, he regretted sending away the turbaned ninja he had been controlling with his brain-infiltrating sand manipulation.

At the very least, he should have asked the guy for directions.

Fortunately, unlike the two guys sitting around twiddling their thumbs, Sasori had brought a map.

Following the map’s guidance—

Though he had veered slightly off the main road, he was still heading in the right direction. Soon, he arrived at this dilapidated town beside the Frost-Lightning Path.

However, just as he was about to recalibrate his bearings and bypass the town to continue forward—

A violent surge of chakra suddenly erupted from the town center, followed by a blazing beam of fire shooting into the sky.

The sheer quality of this chakra—its heat and raw power—surpassed most of the prized specimens in his collection. It was even comparable to the top-secret treasure stored in the second scroll strapped to his waist!

This caught his attention immediately.

At a glance, he judged that this had to be one of the most elite Fire Style users in the ninja world!

Then, another sinister, icy chakra presence arose, and an intense battle quickly broke out in the town center!

Sasori’s heartbeat quickened—he recognized this feeling.

Excitement.

Without hesitation, he rushed toward the source of the battle.

Now, the two sides finally met!

“Well, now, what a pleasant surprise!”

Sasori grinned at the two peculiar-looking individuals before him.

One was dressed in an old-fashioned outfit, as if he had walked straight out of a Warring States-era film set, yet he wore a stylish pair of sunglasses.

The other appeared even younger than himself. He was strikingly handsome, almost on par with Sasori, but his eyes were covered with a black cloth—clearly blind.

Sasori’s gaze flickered as he instantly made a decision.

Without hesitation, he drew a pistol with his left hand and lunged forward at high speed.

From his sleeve, he flicked out a long, straight iron spike, raising his gun and aiming directly at Homura Ayakari!

The taller one looked like he might be tougher to deal with. So, the plan was simple: eliminate this guy first!

As for the blind kid—he could be poisoned, interrogated for information, and then disposed of.

*Whoosh!*

The wind stirred Sasori’s short red hair as he charged, his eyes glinting with ruthless killing intent!

At that moment—

Homura Ayakari hesitated briefly.

He had initially thought this “guide” was desperate to help them, but now, seeing him charge forward in a bloodthirsty frenzy, it was clear he intended to kill them instead.

His gaze landed on the iron spike in Sasori’s hand, and his expression hardened.

He was just about to dodge—

And at the same time, his Blood Dragon Eyes silently activated!

The moment Sasori met his gaze—

*Genjutsu: Blood Dragon Eye* instantly took effect!

However, to Ayakari’s shock, the visual jutsu passed straight through Sasori as if it had no effect at all!

Sasori continued charging toward him unimpeded!

*“What the hell!?”*

Ayakari’s heart skipped a beat. “Genjutsu doesn’t work on him?”

Just then, an exclamation burst from Uchiha Shinji:

*“Holy shit?! This guy has a gun???”*

Then, with an odd expression, Uchiha Shinji called out:

“Hey, Homura! Watch out for that guy’s weapon in his left hand!”

“Oh, and keep an eye on those strings too!”

Homura Ayakari frowned slightly.

*Gun? Strings?*

What the hell was this nonsense?

Just as he was about to ask—

*BANG!*

A gunshot rang out!

A light-speed bullet, too fast for ordinary eyes to track, hurtled straight toward Homura Ayakari!

However, the Blood Dragon Eyes were anything but ordinary!

Even before the shot was fired, thanks to Uchiha Shinji’s warning, Ayakari had already taken notice of the strange weapon.

And Sasori’s pistol bullet—while fast—was still within the Blood Dragon Eyes’ tracking capability!

At that instant, Homura Ayakari sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the bullet.

At the same time, he followed Uchiha Shinji’s warning and focused on the nearly invisible strings trailing behind the red-haired youth.

Immediately, he formed the Ram seal with his hands.

*“Water Style: Water Hailstorm!”*

With his left hand gripping his right wrist and his right palm open, a barrage of dense water bullets erupted forward!

The rapid-fire projectiles not only pierced through the red-haired youth’s body—

But also severed the nearly imperceptible threads behind him!

The thread snapped, and the red-haired boy, who had been charging toward Goryokaku Flame, suddenly froze in his tracks, then turned into a pile of sand.

*Plop!*

A finely crafted pistol fell to the ground alongside the sand.

“This is... chakra threads? And a sand clone?”

“Is this kid using the Sand Gate Clan’s puppet control technique?”

Goryokaku Flame’s heart tightened slightly as he finally understood why the genjutsu had failed.

The red-haired boy in front of him wasn’t the real body at all—it was a sand clone controlled by chakra threads. The real body was hidden elsewhere, using chakra threads to manipulate the sand clone to avoid the enormous chakra cost typically associated with sand clones. He even wielded a weapon with rapid-fire speed, capable of launching unexpected attacks without the need for hand seals.

This ninja, launching a surprise attack from the shadows, was incredibly cunning, cautious, and knew exactly how to fight.

Goryokaku Flame felt a sudden urge to curse.

Their Blood Pond faction had been imprisoned in Hell Valley for over a century without stepping foot outside. Now, the ninja world had evolved to become so devious?

If that’s the case... where is the real body?

While Goryokaku Flame felt a headache brewing, the true body of Sasori, hidden in the shadows, also furrowed his brow.

“Those eyes under the sunglasses—some kind of unknown dojutsu kekkei genkai that can actually track the trajectory of light bullets?”

“This guy’s a tough one.”

“And it’s clear he’s unfamiliar with my tactics. It was only thanks to another brat’s warning that he dodged the third shot of my strategy!”

At this thought, Sasori’s gaze fell on Uchiha Shinji, who was gleefully running over and bending down in awe to pick up the pistol.

“Then I’ll take care of you first!”

Sasori acted immediately. Without hesitation, he used Earth Release: Inner Reflection Fish Technique to silently and swiftly approach Uchiha Shinji from underground.

As the distance between them shrank to within seven steps—

“It’s now!”

Sasori leaped out without hesitation, soaring into the air, pulling two pistols from his waist. He aimed them squarely at Uchiha Shinji’s head.

“Even if you possess a dojutsu kekkei genkai that can track bullet trajectories, at this close range, there’s no way you can dodge this attack!”

Sasori’s gaze locked on Uchiha Shinji’s eyes, which were covered with a black cloth, and a cold smile spread across his face.

“Especially since you’re just a blind brat!”

*Bang! Bang!*

In an instant, two deafening gunshots roared!

“Kid, the era has changed!”

(Chapter End)