86-90

*Chapter 86: Bad News and Good News*

The silent moonlight pierced through the thin mist and entered the room through a massive floor-to-ceiling window, casting its glow on an orange mask with black stripes, illuminating a pair of scarlet eyes.

Uchiha Obito’s thin figure stood alone by the window, gazing out at Kirigakure through his single eye.

“The plan isn’t going smoothly, is it?”

A voice from behind broke the silence.

Zetsu, resembling a pitcher plant, emerged from the ceiling, his black-and-white yin-yang face bathed in the cool moonlight.

“Just a minor hiccup,” Obito replied without turning around. “Although it delayed things a bit, after killing a few disobedient ones, they’ve finally calmed down. The war... has begun.”

He spoke lightly, but the situation was anything but simple.

Despite Kirigakure’s power, it had suffered greatly—first during the Third Shinobi War when Konoha devastated them, and later when Obito controlled the Fourth Mizukage, plunging the village into the Bloody Mist era. The village had been bleeding slowly, with over thirty assassination attempts on the Mizukage!

Kirigakure was severely weakened—no exaggeration there.

And now, the Fourth Mizukage suddenly declared war on Konoha. Honestly, most of the village’s shinobi were on the verge of collapse. If not for the Mizukage being a Jinchuriki, the ineffectiveness of using sheer numbers, and the restraints from elders and noble clans, Kirigakure might have fought among themselves before even confronting Konoha.

Yet, when force doesn’t work, deception does. The village’s insincere cooperation had disgusted Obito, forcing him to engage in numerous overt and covert battles. Only after much effort did he barely achieve a fragile balance, gathering enough forces for the Fourth Mizukage to squander in the war.

Yes, squander.

To the elders and noble clans, the now-mad Fourth Mizukage was simply wasting Kirigakure’s already thin resources.

“Obito, I’m sorry to interrupt your moment, but I have bad news,” said Zetsu.

“Bad news?” Obito turned, his scarlet eye locking onto Zetsu.

“What happened?”

“The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is dead,” Black Zetsu rasped.

“Hiruzen Sarutobi... dead?” Obito repeated, frowning beneath his mask. This was undeniably bad news.

Some might see it as Konoha losing a great Hokage, but Obito had hoped Hiruzen would live longer. As long as Hiruzen lived, tensions between the Uchiha and Konoha would persist, and a divided Konoha was the best Konoha for Obito.

Hiruzen’s death extinguished the flames of internal conflict in Konoha.

Now, no one would stand as firmly against the Uchiha as Hiruzen and Danzo had. Though new internal disputes might arise, Konoha could claim temporary unity, especially in the face of external war threats.

In fact, the external pressure might even accelerate the unification of Konoha’s fractured factions.

This realization left Obito in a foul mood. How long had he been gone from Konoha, and Hiruzen was already dead? He had counted on the old Hokage to keep Konoha in turmoil!

“Not just Hiruzen,” White Zetsu chimed in. “Danzo is dead too. According to Konoha’s intelligence, it was the Mist’sJuzo Biwa who assassinated Hiruzen.”

“Juzo Biwa?” Obito narrowed his eyes in confusion.

“How could someone like Juzo kill Hiruzen?” Obito knew Juzo abilities well. While strong, he was nowhere near a match for someone of Hiruzen’s caliber.

“That’s what Konoha’s announcement says,” White Zetsu continued. “I investigated, and Konoha isn’t lying. Danzo was killed by a shinobi named Kakashi Hatake, and Hiruzen was genuinely killed by Juzo blade. Juzo also died at Hiruzen’s hands—it was a mutual death.”

Obito trusted Zetsu’s reconnaissance abilities, so he accepted this as the truth.

Hiruzen had indeed died at Juzo hands. Although the details were unclear, the most important thing now was that this event made the war with Konoha even more challenging.

Not that Obito expected Kirigakure to win the war.

From the start, his true target had been Uchiha Sougen and the Uchiha clan itself. His goal was to destroy the Uchiha using either Kirigakure or Konoha’s forces. The fewer Mangekyou Sharingan users, the better.

“In addition to the bad news, there’s good news too!” Zetsu interrupted.

“Just say it,” Obito snapped impatiently.

“The good news is that the leader of Konoha’s forces this time is Uchiha Sougen.” White Zetsu grinned. “What do you think, Obito? Isn’t that great news? Sougen’s on the front lines, and with some luck, you might get yourself another pair of Mangekyou Sharingan!”

Obito remained silent.

That was good news.

With Sougen on the front lines, it would be easier for Obito to make a move than if he were hiding in Konoha.

For now, Obito preferred not to reveal his identity, whether as himself or as Madara. Being exposed in Konoha, surrounded by old acquaintances and the Hyuga’s Byakugan, would be risky. If his battle with Sougen dragged on, someone might uncover his true identity, which didn’t align with his plans.

“Uchiha Sougen... at least it wasn’t a complete waste. Even Kirigakure’s useless forces can serve a purpose sometimes,” Obito said, glancing at the Fourth Mizukage, who sat motionless in his chair like a lifeless puppet.

“Are you planning to send the Mizukage to the battlefield?” Black Zetsu rasped.

“That’s right. Without the Mizukage, Kirigakure’s forces are no match for Konoha. Even though I don’t expect them to win, I need the battle to drag on long enough to deal with Sougen.”

Obito turned his gaze from the Mizukage to the bright moon in the sky.

One day, he would create a world where Rin existed—a perfect world without conflict or pain, where everyone could live carefree lives in a paradise.

---

end

*Chapter 87: Uchiha Sōgen, On the Battlefield! (Request for First Subscription)*

Late at night,

On a steep seaside cliff, faint lights flickered in the distance. These were carried by a squad of Konoha ninja responsible for night patrol. Braving the icy, cutting sea wind, they slowly approached the cliff's edge, raising their lanterns to illuminate the darkness below. However, this feeble light was incapable of piercing the deep abyss at the base of the cliff.

That said,

Their true "eyes" were not the lanterns, but a Chunin from the Hyuga branch family, who was protected in the center of the team.

The lanterns were merely a decoy. If an ambush occurred, the one holding the lantern would almost certainly be the first target, protecting the "eyes" of the squad. Due to the high risk of holding the lantern, everyone except for the "eyes" took turns carrying it.

"Let’s hope for a peaceful night," the middle-aged man holding the lantern muttered, peering over the dark cliff face as the waves crashed below.

Unfortunately,

People in different places could not enjoy the same moonlit night. Thick clouds blocked the moonlight, making the darkness deeper than usual. The middle-aged man squinted, trying to make out anything below as he extended the lantern farther down.

Behind him,

The Hyuga Chunin activated the Byakugan.

Suddenly,

Through the sound of crashing waves, there was the faint noise of something slicing through the air.

"Careful! Enemy attack!!"

In that moment, the Hyuga ninja saw a bright, torch-like figure of chakra below the cliff. The unfamiliar chakra indicated intruders. But his warning came too late—a kunai coated in anti-reflective material had already slit the throat of the man holding the lantern.

Blood spurted from the deep wound, the red droplets blooming in the night.

The lifeless body, along with the lantern, toppled over the cliff and vanished into the darkness below. The light of the lantern extinguished, leaving the cliff shrouded in complete darkness once again. But the fallen man had served his purpose: he had taken the first, most dangerous strike for the team’s "eyes."

A specialized flare shot into the sky, signaling the onset of war!

The Mist Ninja had arrived!

————

News of the battle swiftly reached Konoha. The village's top officials quickly gathered in the Hokage’s office. Acting Fifth Hokage, Akimichi Torifu, sat behind his wide desk, reviewing the report from the Eastern Border Defense Unit.

The report was simple, stating only that Mist Ninja had appeared on the eastern coast of the Land of Fire and requesting reinforcements from the village.

It was concise to an almost extreme degree.

"Shikaku, is everyone here?"

Akimichi Torifu looked up at Nara Shikaku, who stood beside the desk.

"Everyone except for Uchiha Sōgen," Shikaku replied respectfully.

Indeed,

All the heads of departments and clan leaders had rushed to the Hokage building after receiving the urgent summons from the Anbu. However, the main figure of this meeting, Uchiha Sōgen, was notably absent.

After all,

It had been decided that Uchiha Sōgen would serve as the chief commander of the Konoha forces in this battle against the Mist. Yet, the protagonist of this critical meeting was nowhere to be seen.

Akimichi Torifu frowned slightly, feeling a bit displeased.

But he wasn’t angry—Uchiha Sōgen's immense personal power and the Uchiha clan's strength were enough to excuse this tardiness. Nonetheless, it was still an unpleasant situation.

"This isn’t the first time Uchiha Sōgen has been late!"

Nara Shikaku, standing beside the desk, couldn’t help but recall previous instances of Uchiha Sōgen’s tardiness. Whether it was during Sarutobi Hiruzen’s era or Torifu’s current term as acting Hokage, Uchiha Sōgen had a history of showing up late to meetings.

"——Clang!——Clang!"

A strange sound came from the hallway outside.

"Apologies, Lord Hokage. Please forgive my tardiness; packing took a bit longer than expected." The partially open door of the office swung silently wider, and a fully armored Uchiha Sōgen stepped inside.

Then—

"Uchiha Madara!!!"

Akimichi Torifu abruptly stood, knocking over his chair, his large frame causing the desk to slide two inches forward.

This sudden shift caused Hyuga Hiashi and others waiting in the room to look around in confusion.

Had they misheard?

Uchiha Madara?

Why would that long-buried name be mentioned now?

Akimichi Torifu stood there, staring at Uchiha Sōgen standing at the door, his vision seemingly blurred. The memory of a ghostly figure overlapped with the real person in front of him. The blood-red armor, the black battle robe like that of a grim reaper, and the massive, bandage-wrapped blade on his back—Sōgen’s appearance resembled that of Uchiha Madara to an uncanny degree.

“Hah…”

“Old age is getting to me,” Akimichi Torifu muttered under his breath as he exhaled deeply.

Upon closer inspection, Uchiha Sōgen wasn’t exactly the same as the legendary Madara. His hair was shorter, and the large sword on his back wasn’t the iconic Uchiha fan. His facial features were also softer and more refined.

Shaking his head, Torifu dismissed the strange mirage from his mind.

“Are you all right, Lord Hokage?” Hyuga Hiashi asked, slightly concerned.

“It’s nothing, just an old man’s momentary lapse,” Torifu waved off the concern. After all, most of the younger people like Hiashi and Aburame Shibi had never seen Uchiha Madara, so they couldn’t understand the awe and fear that their generation felt towards him.

In his youth, Torifu had been lucky enough to fight alongside Madara against foreign enemies, witnessing Madara’s god-like power firsthand—a memory that had left an indelible mark on him.

“Sōgen, I didn’t expect you to be so fond of such nostalgic things!” Torifu said, his large hand easily lifting the fallen chair with his partial expansion technique.

"This is tradition!" Sōgen tapped the red armor on his chest, the overlapping plates clinking with a metallic ring.

Although this type of armor had excellent defensive properties, its weight and the noise it made when moving caused it to fall out of favor in recent decades. Modern ninjas preferred lighter, quieter gear for stealth and mobility, sacrificing the defense of iron armor.

"The clan elders prepared this for me. It was hard to refuse their hopeful gazes," Sōgen explained, though he didn’t mention the other reason: he personally liked this style of armor. Compared to the standard green vests, he much preferred the traditional red armor. Besides, his technique, *“A Knight Does Not Die Weaponless”*, allowed him to add D-rank defense to the armor.

It was both stylish and practical, so why not wear it instead of a green vest?

As for whether the elders were reminiscing about Uchiha Madara, that didn’t matter.

What mattered was that Sōgen was now the head of the Uchiha clan. One day, he would completely surpass the influence that Madara, the clan’s previous leader, had left behind. Old ghosts should stay in the afterlife and not steal the spotlight from the living.

Being an elder had its limits; this was no longer the era of the old legends!

"I see," Akimichi Torifu nodded, no longer pressing the issue.

What gear Uchiha Sōgen wore was his own business. Although seeing him in such attire did stir some unease, Torifu realized it was unnecessary to worry about it—he was just a temporary Hokage, after all. Once this war with the Mist was over and Jiraiya and Tsunade were found, it would be time for him to step down. There was no need to create unnecessary conflict with the Uchiha.

“Enough small talk!” Torifu's eyes sharpened as he straightened up and picked up the report from the desk. "This message arrived early this morning. The Mist Ninja appeared on the eastern coast last night, attacking a patrol squad. The war... has begun!"

War had begun.

The weight of those words struck Hiashi and the others, filling the room with a tense pressure.

Even if they were confident in defeating the Mist Ninja, the looming presence of war could not be ignored. The battlefield was unpredictable, and while it might seem that victory was assured, history was full of examples of expected victories turning into catastrophic defeats.

War was a black box full of uncertainty.

Until the moment it was opened, no one could predict the outcome.

At that moment—

"Since that's the case, may I set out now?" Sōgen asked, eager, his expression brimming with a bloodthirsty smile that made Torifu's eye twitch. That eerie smile—why did it overlap with the phantoms of the past? Were all Uchiha like this?

Did they really love war that much?

“Uchiha Clan Head, may your battles be victorious. I will await your triumphant return to the village," Akimichi Torifu stood and solemnly handed over the battlefield command to Uchiha Sōgen, passing the official appointment to Nara Shikaku, who then delivered it to Sōgen. With that document in hand, Sōgen became the rightful supreme commander of the eastern front.

"This battle will be won! Rest assured, Lord Hokage," Sōgen said, his smile growing brighter as the murderous intent in his eyes intensified.

————

Half an hour later, under the command of Supreme Commander Uchiha Sōgen, the army that had been ready for days finally set off, marching toward the eastern coastal region of the Land of Fire. This was a massive army of nearly 4,000 soldiers, not only depleting Konoha's readily available forces but also drawing 1,500 clansmen from the Sarutobi, Shimura, and four other clans.

Of course, this was by no means the entirety of Konoha’s reserves.

Konoha’s resources ran deep! If the village really needed to, it wouldn't be difficult to muster another 5,000 soldiers by recruiting from clans like the Uchiha, Hyuga, Aburame, and the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance.

However, unless it was absolutely necessary, not even the Hokage would dare to make such a drastic decision lightly.

"Sōgen, don’t underestimate the situation! The Mist Village is still one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages. This time, you’re not just responsible for your own life but for the survival of the thousands under your command as well."

At the main gate of Konoha Village, Uchiha Genshi, along with several elders, was seeing off the young clan leader.

"Clan Leader Sōgen! When you get to the battlefield, make sure to take a few more heads off those Mist-nin. Show those fools soaked in seawater the true power of the Uchiha!" Elder Homaru, as always, was blunt and direct.

"The only good Mist-nin is a dead one!" said Uchiha An, the only female elder present.

"Take care of Chihaya!" Elder Ryūji reminded him.

"Shisui’s mental state hasn’t been well lately. Clan Leader, please keep an eye on him on the battlefield," Elder Uchiha Jun said, his face filled with concern for Shisui’s condition.

"… You’re doing well!" When it was Elder Uchiha Kōhei's turn, all the meaningful advice had already been given, so he could only offer a sincere compliment to Sōgen.

"I will return victorious! Grandfather, Elders, please wait at home for the news of our triumph!" Sōgen said with a smile. His calm demeanor eased some of the tension in Uchiha Tōka, who had been nervously clutching the hem of his cloak. She finally let go of his garment.

Hearing his grandson's bold words, Uchiha Genshi could only shake his head with a smile, though in truth, he wasn't too worried. His grandson had already surpassed him in many ways. What concerned him more was the safety of his five-year-old granddaughter.

Glancing at the small figure of Uchiha Tōka, the old man felt a twinge of pity.

"Sōgen, about Tōka..."

"She’s already five. That’s not too young," Sōgen said, cutting off his grandfather’s words with a smile. "Grandfather, you took me to the battlefield when I was five. You can't be playing favorites now!"

Uchiha Genshi gave him a stern look. What did he mean by playing favorites? He was just worried about his granddaughter. But he quickly realized that Sōgen was determined to take Tōka to the battlefield for some real experience.

He gave up on the idea of keeping his granddaughter behind. His eyes drifted over to another small figure sitting in a wheelchair nearby. "Taking Tōka is one thing, but why are you bringing Yakumo as well? Is her health okay? Just traveling will be hard on her."

This time, it wasn't just elite Uchiha troops heading to the eastern front—Sōgen was also bringing along Kurama Yakumo and Uchiha Tōka, two young girls.

Kurama Yakumo, as Sōgen’s disciple, had been living with him recently. Both Uchiha Shinshi and Uchiha Saki treated her like an adopted daughter, and even Uchiha Genshi admired her extraordinary talent in genjutsu, often marveling at the power of the Kurama clan’s unique bloodline limit.

"This is a rare opportunity. If they miss this chance to witness a real war with the Mist-nin, who knows when the next opportunity will come? Life in the village is far too comfortable. Letting them see the harsh reality of the world early on will be good for them."

Sōgen looked up at the walled village of Konoha, his smile fading.

This world is anything but kind. Konoha's peaceful prosperity is an exception, not the rule. Even the richest nation, the Land of Fire, is far from being a land of peace. Just a glance at the endless stream of requests to eliminate bandits at the mission office reveals a small glimpse of the harsh reality of this world.

Sōgen himself had crawled out of heaps of corpses, his experiences of dancing on the edge of death countless times having erased any traces of naivety.

Everything he had gone through made him deeply aware of one truth:

Living well in this brutal world is no easy feat.

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 88: Secret Technique – Super Beast Imitating Drawing*

The Land of Fire and the Land of Water don’t actually share a border. The islands of the Land of Water are quite far from the coastline of the Land of Fire. Between them is a vast stretch of neutral sea. However, given current technology and the ways ninja fight, most battles still take place on land.

Even though ninjas can walk on water, doing so requires chakra, and most ninjas are not willing to waste their chakra on that.

On the rare occasion that naval battles happen, they usually occur in coastal areas, with very few battles fought out in the open sea. Historically, the wars between the Hidden Mist and Hidden Leaf villages have mostly taken place along the long coastline of the Land of Fire.

The Mist ninjas usually take the offensive, while the Leaf ninjas defend.

Even now, with Uchiha Obito backing the Mist ninjas, this pattern hasn't changed.

The unique terrain and political situations of both nations determine this style of warfare.

*BOOM!*

An explosive tag detonates in the mountains and forests.

The smoke rising into the sky signals one thing: ninja are fighting here.

"We can’t keep this up. There are too many Mist ninjas. At this rate, they’ll wear us down," a middle-aged man panted as he tossed another kunai attached to an explosive tag behind him. As soon as he spoke, another explosion rang out.

"Captain, what should we do?"

A young subordinate, his face pale with fear, asked anxiously.

Though fear gripped him, his training in the ninja academy and the border guard helped him suppress it. In this critical moment, he followed orders without hesitation. Even if the captain ordered him to stay behind and hold off the enemy, he would carry out the command to the best of his ability.

This was a patrol squad under the border guard unit.

Originally a team of four, now only two and a half remained. Besides the captain and the young subordinate, there was another teammate gravely injured and unconscious, being carried on the young ninja’s back. As for the fourth member, he was already lost when they first encountered the three pursuing squads of Mist ninjas.

The only reason they survived the ambush from three Mist squads was thanks to their 'half' teammate.

The teammate carrying the Uchiha fan had always been arrogant, looking down on others. But despite his annoying attitude, the young subordinate had to admit that this guy was reliable in battle. He had single-handedly held off the attacks from the three Mist squads, giving the others a chance to escape.

If only the other teammate hadn’t been so unlucky, getting blown up by an explosive tag in the first wave of attacks, they might’ve escaped together!

"I’ll hold them off. Kagemiya, you take Akifusa and run."

The captain, a middle-aged man, gritted his teeth and felt the few remaining explosive tags he had left. Finally, he made a difficult decision. It was time to make a choice—dragging things out any longer would only lead to their entire team being wiped out.

"Captain?" Kagemiya’s eyes widened.

"This is an order! Take Akifusa and go! I don’t know how long I can hold them off. If things get worse, leave Akifusa behind and keep running. No matter what, you must get the message back about the Mist ninjas breaking through the defense at Ogasaki."

Once the captain made up his mind to die, he actually became less tense.

As a seasoned Special Jōnin, his talent wasn’t top-tier. Otherwise, he wouldn’t still be stuck at Special Jōnin at his age. But time hadn’t dulled his courage.

He would rather sacrifice himself than leave the younger ones behind. If he could buy them more time, it would be worth it.

"Think you can escape? I’d like to see where you plan to run!"

A voice from high up in the trees chilled the hearts of the two Leaf ninjas, snuffing out any remaining hope they had of survival. Another Mist ninja squad had encircled them from the front.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, the captain’s face turned grim. He gripped his kunai tightly and resolved that he’d rather die than fall into enemy hands. Before that, though, he’d have to put his unconscious teammate out of his misery, and destroy those Sharingan eyes.

"Seems like we’re in luck today. Didn’t expect to get our hands on a pair of Sharingan."

The Mist ninjas in the trees eyed the unconscious Uchiha Akifusa greedily, thinking about how they could obtain the Sharingan without damaging them.

At this moment, both the Mist and Leaf ninjas were so focused on each other that none of them noticed a small black mouse scurrying through the grass. The little mouse quickly returned to its starting point—a small clearing in the forest. It neatly re-entered a white scroll laid on the ground.

The mouse reverted to ink and recorded the information it had gathered in the form of text on the scroll.

"Sixteen Mist ninjas, huh?"

Sōgen picked up the scroll and quickly scanned the gathered intelligence.

"And an Uchiha? I didn’t expect to run into a clansman in trouble. As clan leader, I can’t ignore this."

With that, Sōgen picked up a brush and began drawing on the blank part of the scroll.

In just a few strokes, a majestic eagle appeared on the paper. Sōgen put the brush away, gave the scroll a slight shake, and the eagle suddenly broke free from the confines of the paper. Its flat form inflated as though filling with air.

In an instant, a giant black eagle, large enough to carry three to five people, appeared in front of him.

This was the *Secret Technique: Super Beast Imitating Drawing*.

After obtaining this Yang Release technique from a member of the Root, Sōgen had immediately started studying it. With ample information he had extracted from the Root member's mind, and the abundant energy provided by Samehada, Sōgen was able to master the technique in less than half a month.

Though it seemed fast, in truth, the time and effort Sōgen had invested were far more than what met the eye.

He had been training in Yin Release and Yang Release ever since obtaining Samehada. His progress in Yin Release had been smooth, especially with the Sharingan being so closely tied to it. By the time he awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, he had nearly grasped the essence of Yin Release.

Yang Release, however, had been another story.

It wasn’t that Sōgen lacked talent in Yang Release—he simply needed a key to unlock its potential. Unfortunately, there weren’t any satisfactory records of Yang Release techniques in the Uchiha Clan’s archives. Although the village had some research materials, they weren’t accessible to someone like him.

That changed when he acquired the Super Beast Imitating Drawing technique.

He finally unlocked the secrets of Yang Release. His deep foundations quickly bore fruit. He was no longer merely using this power crudely but had learned to wield it with greater finesse.

Of course, mastering a single secret technique didn’t mean he fully understood Yang Release, but it was a good start. He had gained valuable insights into the use of Yang chakra.

"Fujika, Yakumo, come over here."

Sōgen climbed onto the eagle’s back and beckoned his sister and student to join him. He was going to take these two youngsters to witness some action. Sixteen Mist ninjas would be a decent appetizer!

"Hey, Sōgen, I want to ride, too!"

Uchiha Chisaya eagerly called out.

She wanted to fly through the sky on the eagle as well. Flying was a distant dream for most ninjas. Even the Uchiha Clan wasn’t an exception.

Fully-developed Susanoo could fly, but how many Uchiha had mastered the complete form of Susanoo? Many clan members didn’t even know what the Mangekyō Sharingan and Susanoo were!

So, flight held a significant allure for the Uchiha as well.

After seeing Sōgen fly using the Super Beast Imitating Drawing technique, Uchiha Chisaya had tried to learn the technique herself. Sōgen hadn’t kept it to himself, patiently teaching her. However, she failed.

Without knowledge and experience with Yang Release, mastering the technique would be nearly impossible for her, even in ten or twenty years.

Secret techniques were notoriously difficult to pass on.

Bloodline limits were different. As long as a person had the necessary genes, they had a chance to awaken the ability. But secret techniques required careful cultivation, exceptional talent, and years of dedication. These stringent requirements filtered out 99% of practitioners. That’s why, despite its vast resources, the Root had only one person who successfully learned the Super Beast Imitating Drawing technique. Out of 50 children, only one mastered it.

Such was the difficulty of mastering secret techniques.

As for the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans, their secret techniques had evolved over generations to the point where they were almost like bloodline limits.

The Nara clan members were naturally intelligent and quick-witted. The Akimichi children were born heavier than usual. And the Yamanaka clan had powerful and active mental energy from birth. These traits were the result of countless generations of effort to perfect their secret techniques.

In fact, the Yamanaka Clan could one day become a bloodline limit family like the Kurama Clan at its peak.

"You already flew once this morning."

Sōgen sighed with a slight headache, but in the end, he nodded and agreed. After all, there was still enough room on the eagle’s back, and it wasn't fully loaded. As Uchiha Chihaya eagerly squeezed on, Sōgen directed his gaze toward the only one left on the ground—Uchiha Akitaro.

"Akitaro, if anyone catches up, tell them I’ll be back soon."

The nearly 4,000-strong ninja army didn’t march in a long, snake-like formation like the typical samurai armies of the Daimyo’s palace.

In fact, ninja warfare follows its own set of rules.

The rapid speed of movement, large-scale offensive jutsus, and the incompatible battle tactics between ninjas make it rare for them to act in groups larger than a hundred unless they are dealing with a massive creature like a tailed beast or attacking a barrier-protected defensive outpost.

Even in war, the ninja’s small-team combat style doesn't change.

Sōgen’s force of nearly 4,000 ninjas had been split into numerous small squads, each moving separately. As the highest commander, Sōgen naturally led the charge at the front, with his troops left chasing closely behind him.

“I understand, Clan Leader!” Uchiha Akitaro nodded in acknowledgment.

In the next moment, the giant black eagle spread its wings and soared into the sky, swiftly flying toward their destination under Sōgen’s guidance.

“So cool!” Uchiha Fujika stood on the eagle’s back, her eyes shining as she looked at the mountains and forests below shrinking in size. She felt the strong winds blowing in her face, and instead of fear, she was so excited that she almost shouted out loud.

Even though it wasn’t her first time flying, her excitement had yet to subside.

Uchiha Chihaya felt the same.

She unsheathed her long blade, gently brushing the sharp edge. Tiny wind blades spun at her fingertips as she became absorbed in her practice of wind-style jutsu.

In contrast, Kurama Yakumo, who looked pale and had trembling legs, seemed to be the most “normal” of the group.

“The Uchiha bloodline, huh?”

Sōgen glanced at his childhood friend and younger sister, both showing unusual reactions, and then looked at Yakumo, whose response was more typical for an ordinary person.

He could only chalk it all up to the arrogant and combative nature of the Uchiha bloodline. The special nature of chakra can indeed influence a person’s temperament, and it wasn’t just prejudice that the Uchiha’s Sharingan chakra gave off an unsettling vibe.

It’s only natural, after all.

The power born from extreme emotions wouldn’t be calm and peaceful. Having an air of hostility is normal.

Sōgen didn’t dwell on these trivial details for long. Lowering his gaze to the forest below, he saw an explosion from a paper bomb that helped him pinpoint the location. He lightly stomped his foot, and the giant black eagle quickly began descending at high speed.

When they were close to the treetops, Sōgen grabbed the two kids beside him and leaped downward like a missile toward the ground. As for Uchiha Chihaya, while his childhood friend might be a bit strange, he was still one of the top talents of their generation—not so fragile that Sōgen needed to worry about him all the time.

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 89: Forgotten!*

Boom!!!

A dark figure descended from the sky, kicking through a thick tree branch and crashing into the ground like a meteor.

The sudden noise interrupted the battle between the Mist and Leaf ninjas.

"Who's there?"

The Mist ninjas halted their advance, turning their blades and cautiously watching the billowing dust.

Clang! Clang!

The sound of armor clashing echoed through the forest.

Sōgen waved his hand, dispersing the dust in front of him, revealing himself to the Mist ninjas.

Dressed in black battle gear and red layered armor, his old-fashioned attire puzzled the Mist ninjas. They couldn’t see a Leaf forehead protector, leaving them wondering who this person was. Was he a Leaf ninja? Or some strange individual?

Just then, someone shouted:

"Careful, it’s a Uchiha. Don’t look at his eyes."

From his vantage point in the trees, one of the Mist ninjas noticed the small flame-fan crest on Sōgen’s collar.

At those words, even though Sōgen hadn’t activated his Sharingan, the Mist ninjas quickly lowered their heads, moving in unison as if trained to avoid eye contact with him. Instead, they focused on his hands and feet, slowly inching forward, preparing to strike first.

Kunai laced with explosive tags and a rain of shuriken flew towards Sōgen in a probing attack.

"So, you don’t recognize me? After only five years, you’ve forgotten my name?" Sōgen sighed, somewhat disappointed, just before the Mist ninjas attacked. He let go of the two young captives' necks and made a simple "tiger" hand sign.

Then—

*Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation*

He gathered a massive amount of chakra in his throat, releasing it in a tsunami of flames. The blazing firestorm blew away the shuriken, and the explosive tags were detonated prematurely, their flames and shockwaves instantly consumed by the overwhelming blaze.

From above, it looked like a red ocean had swallowed half the forest.

"Water Style, quick, use water...!"

"No, it’s no use, it won’t stop it...!"

"Run, everyone run! I remember now, it’s the Flame Demon! He’s the Flame Demon!!!"

The screams of the Mist ninjas proved they couldn’t escape the colossal fire jutsu. Some tried to counter with Water Style, but before they could finish their hand signs, the flames had already engulfed them.

This terrifying Fire Style finally jolted the Mist ninjas' memories awake.

*Flame Demon—Uchiha Sōgen.*

*Body Flicker—Uchiha Shisui.*

These two young Uchiha had humiliated the Mist ninjas repeatedly during the Third War, building their fearsome reputations atop countless bones. Sōgen, in particular, had used his unparalleled mastery of Fire Style to defy the elemental disadvantage, suppressing the Mist ninjas’ Water Style and leaving them with deep psychological scars.

Even the Mist ninjas who managed to escape the firestorm weren’t spared from the swift, deadly white blade that followed.

Sōgen's landing had been so disruptive that the Mist ninjas didn’t even notice the arrival of Uchiha Chisaya. By the time they realized a blade was behind them, it was too late. They were effortlessly cut down.

The battle ended in an instant.

Actually, calling it a battle would be an overstatement; it was more like a one-sided massacre.

Sixteen Mist ninjas, not a single proper Jonin among them. Four Special Jonin, but in the face of a real Jonin, they were useless. They had been bullying Konoha's patrol teams, who lacked Jonin-level fighters, but today, they were unlucky enough to run into Sōgen and Uchiha Chisaya.

Even without Sōgen, Uchiha Chisaya alone, with his fully matured Sharingan, mastery of Wind and Fire Styles, and swordsmanship, would have been enough to deal with these Mist ninjas.

"Ugh—"

Seeing the bodies falling one after another in the sea of fire and smelling the nauseating stench of burning flesh, Yakumo Kurama couldn’t hold it in any longer. She leaned against a tree and vomited, expelling the remains of her breakfast.

The pampered young lady had never witnessed such a brutal scene.

"It smells awful!" Uchiha Fujika's face was pale.

Though she didn’t throw up like Yakumo, she was visibly shaken, standing there silently, watching the burning sea of fire and the silhouettes of the fallen bodies.

Through the flickering flames, the disfigured corpses could be seen burning. If the fire lasted any longer, it would turn them into ashes on the spot.

"Excuse me, are you from the Uchiha clan?" a middle-aged man cautiously approached, maintaining what he believed was a safe distance as he inquired about Sōgen and the others’ identities.

"I am Uchiha Sōgen, current head of the Uchiha clan and commander of the Konoha Police Force."

Sōgen took a step forward.

The armor on his body clanked loudly.

He opened his crimson Sharingan, staring at the middle-aged man.

"The head of the Uchiha clan?" The man looked at Sōgen in shock, as if he had seen a ghost. A clan head this young? What kind of joke was this? Wait, he vaguely recalled hearing Uchiha Akifusa mention that the Uchiha clan had recently appointed a new leader.

At the time, Uchiha Akifusa had smiled with an excitement rare for a man his age.

The Border Guard Unit was a highly isolated group. To ensure its members weren’t tempted by the outside world, they operated under strict, enclosed management, including control over information. As a result, many in the unit hadn’t yet learned about the Uchiha clan’s leadership change.

However, the appointment of Akimichi Torifu as the acting Fifth Hokage was well-known.

"Forgive my rudeness, I am..."

"Is this Akifusa?"

Sōgen walked over to the unconscious Uchiha Akifusa.

"Yes, yes, that’s Akifusa!" responded Kagemiya nervously, failing to realize that Sōgen hadn’t been asking him.

Sōgen didn’t mind. He inspected the unconscious Uchiha Akifusa and, confirming that his clan brother wasn’t in any mortal danger, finally relaxed.

Uchiha Akifusa was one of Sōgen’s peers.

Unlike Sōgen, who had returned to the village after the Third War, the less talented Akifusa had chosen to stay with the Border Guard Unit to sharpen himself in battle, hoping to awaken his Sharingan. His hard work had paid off, earning him a two-tomoe Sharingan after much blood and sweat.

"Tell me, what happened? How did a simple patrol squad end up being hunted by four elite Mist ninja squads?" Sōgen interrupted the man’s self-introduction, his attention now focused on the secret this group was carrying.

"The Mist’s assault unit broke through the defenses at Okawa Point," the man explained, worried that Sōgen might not understand the location. "Okawa Point is only seven kilometers from the Black Tide Mountain command post. If the Mist launches a surprise attack, the command post’s defense might not hold."

Sōgen understood.

The Mist was executing a decapitation strategy, aiming to cripple the defense along the long coastline by taking out the command center.

Without the command post's coordination, the defense line would fall into chaos.

"They figured out the location of the command post so precisely..." Sōgen murmured softly. If Uchiha Obito and Zetsu weren’t involved in this, he wouldn’t believe it. Only Zetsu’s unmatched infiltration skills could uncover the location of the Border Guard Unit’s command post without being detected.

Now, the question was:

What were Uchiha Obito and Zetsu really up to?

Could they really be trying to lead the Mist to victory over the Leaf?

Sōgen frowned slightly. His instincts told him something was very wrong.

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 90: Uchiha Obito's Gift! (Vote for me!)*

"Obito, the fish is already in the net." The pitcher plant-like Zetsu had just poked its head out from the roof, but White Zetsu hurriedly spoke first, an exaggerated grin stretching across its half-pale face. "Though, aren't you being a bit hasty? Striking so soon?"

"This is just a greeting."

Uchiha Obito sat on the rooftop, resting his chin on his hands propped up on his knees. He gazed down at the ground below, which was gradually becoming stained crimson. The Fourth Mizukage and his elite guards were slaughtering without restraint. One after another, the Leaf Village ninjas were falling, and the chakra signatures left in the castle were becoming fewer and fewer.

By the time the last warehouse manager of the border defense command was killed, the entire command center of the Leaf Village's eastern border defense was completely wiped out. The castle was filled with the intense stench of blood.

In the sky, vultures were circling, drawn by the smell, but hesitant to descend. Their instinctive fear sensed danger below, but their hunger made them linger, unwilling to give up such a rare feast.

"It would be rude to not properly greet the host when arriving somewhere new. I remember my teacher telling me that when you visit someone’s house, it’s best not to arrive empty-handed. So, I’ve prepared a special gift for our clan leader. How about it? Thoughtful, right?"

Below,

The Fourth Mizukage and his guards were carrying the bodies from the castle to its front gate, piling them into a gruesome mountain of corpses—Obito's carefully prepared "gift."

"…I doubt Uchiha Sōgen will appreciate your gift," White Zetsu said, unusually sincere.

"No worries. If he doesn’t like this gift, Yagura can ask him what kind of gift he prefers. If he thinks this one is too light, I’ll just prepare more. In any case, in war, there’s no shortage of such things." Obito spoke calmly.

White Zetsu pouted but fell silent.

With that, White Zetsu had nothing left to say.

However, while White Zetsu quieted down, Black Zetsu spoke up.

"Using your trump card this early…" Black Zetsu's raspy voice carried over as he watched the busy Fourth Mizukage below. "Obito, you might be rushing things. Uchiha Sōgen isn't someone to be taken lightly."

It wasn’t just White Zetsu who thought Obito was acting hastily. Even Black Zetsu believed this plan was risky. Who plays their trump card right from the start? If Uchiha Sōgen isn’t killed and the Fourth Mizukage’s involvement is exposed, the Leaf Village will likely send more reinforcements.

And then there’d be less room to maneuver!

The Mist Village had no more forces to spare. Even though the Fourth Mizukage was a powerful piece on the board, if the Mist Village was pushed too hard, they might turn against the Mizukage at any cost. From the beginning, Obito's resources were limited. Losing one meant losing it for good.

It wasn’t like Uchiha Sōgen, backed by the Leaf, with a steady supply of fresh troops.

"This is the best opportunity."

Obito held a completely opposite view.

"Rather than waiting until Uchiha Sōgen is surrounded by thousands of troops, now is the perfect time—before the Leaf Village can regroup. I want to test his strength, and if the opportunity arises, eliminate him."

Black Zetsu furrowed its non-existent brow slightly.

Hearing Obito’s words, it couldn’t help but doubt the plan. Over its thousand-year existence, Black Zetsu prided itself on being a good judge of people. Of all the notable figures of the Uchiha clan it had encountered, Uchiha Sōgen ranked in the top ten in its eyes.

Such an accomplished figure wouldn’t be easy to trap.

However,

Since Obito had already made up his mind, Black Zetsu didn’t bother to argue further. Wasting time and energy on this wasn’t worth it. At worst, they’d have to give up on using the Mist Village—a piece that had already been losing its value. Uchiha Madara had initially extended his reach into the Mist Village to train his chosen successor.

When Obito had donned the mask and agreed to take Madara’s place on the surface,

Madara had, with Zetsu’s help, erased all his traces from the Mist Village and discarded the piece without hesitation. But Obito, unable to let go of his resentment toward the Mist, had taken over and continued to stir trouble there.

So,

Since Obito had made up his mind, Black Zetsu decided to let him proceed.

After all, Black Zetsu was merely a manifestation of Madara’s will, a support, not the commander. It was enough to offer advice. Doing more would overstep its role.

Just then,

A White Zetsu emerged from the rooftop, grinning widely, and shouted, "Obito! They’re coming! The guest you’ve been waiting for is about to arrive."

To keep track of Uchiha Sōgen's movements, Obito had deployed numerous White Zetsus to monitor the Leaf Village’s army. These spies, blending into the foliage, allowed him to orchestrate this play perfectly.

At the right moment, Obito launched a surprise attack on the border defense command center, a location he had precise intelligence on. During the assault, he deliberately let a few patrol ninjas escape, who then encountered Uchiha Sōgen on their way to the front lines.

All of this—

Was arranged to lure Uchiha Sōgen here!

Strictly speaking, this plan wasn’t particularly clever. So many coincidences would naturally raise suspicions. But Obito didn’t care if flaws were noticed. This was an open scheme. Unless Uchiha Sōgen was willing to ignore the fate of the border defense command center at Black Tide Mountain, he’d have to investigate.

And,

The longer he delayed, the greater the risk to the command center. This left Uchiha Sōgen little time to gather enough manpower to act.

"So, he's finally coming? And so soon!" Obito raised his head, squinting his single eye to spot Uchiha Sōgen, who was walking steadily up the gentle slope leading to the castle. Dressed in crimson armor and black battle gear, Sōgen's appearance caused Obito’s disfigured face beneath the mask to twist into an odd expression.

If he remembered correctly,

Uchiha Madara had a similar set of armor. Madara had also left behind some of his old weapons—scythes, fans, and the like.

"Interesting! Is he imitating Madara?" Obito let out a low, raspy laugh, the crimson light in his single eye flickering ominously. "Well then… let's see if Uchiha Sōgen has Madara’s power!"

Before the words had fully left his mouth,

Obito's body disappeared into thin air, as if he had never been there. Beside him, the pitcher plant-like Zetsu disappeared even earlier, using the Mayfly Technique to hide, ready to watch the action from some hidden corner.

Inside the castle,

The Fourth Mizukage suddenly paused as he carried a corpse. Letting it drop like a piece of trash, he turned to face the front gate of the castle.

"Prepare to engage the enemy!"

"New prey has arrived!"

At his command, the fourteen remaining members of his elite guard immediately moved into action.

Originally, the Mizukage's guard had twenty members, but during the attack on the castle, they encountered fierce resistance. Even with the Mizukage leading the charge, six elite jōnin, utterly loyal to the Mizukage, were taken down by desperate Leaf ninjas using suicide tactics.

That loss,

Would be painful for any Kage.

However, the Fourth Mizukage had no choice in the matter. His own life was no longer his own. He couldn’t afford to care about the fate of his subordinates. In fact, under Obito’s genjutsu, the Mizukage wasn’t even aware that six of his closest aides had been lost.

Led by the ice-cold Fourth Mizukage, the group quickly moved to the front gate, where they saw Uchiha Sōgen standing outside.

(End of Chapter)