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Kumogakure Camp
A reconnaissance ninja hurriedly arrives.
"Raikage-sama, Jiraiya-sama's troops have withdrawn, and they have been replaced by Kyomu's troops," says the Kumogakure ninja in a rush. "Moreover, nearly the entire Uchiha clan has been mobilized, led by the current clan head, Uchiha Fugaku."
"Kyomu has arrived, and so has the Uchiha clan," the Third Raikage stands up, "Good! Finally, a chance to really stretch my muscles. They excite me more than Jiraiya!"
"Raikage-sama, there's another peculiar situation," the Kumogakure intelligence ninja continues. "Aside from the Uchiha ninjas, all the others in Kyomu's troop are fresh graduates from the ninja academy."
"Oh?" the Third Raikage frowns. "Is Konoha underestimating us, or do they place too much trust in Kyomu and the Uchiha clan?"
After pondering for a moment, the Third Raikage suddenly grins, "The news about Kyomu, the entire Uchiha clan, and the higher-ups of Konoha not getting along seems to be true, and the conflict among them has deepened significantly recently.
Since Konoha's higher-ups have arranged it this way, such a grand gesture is something we must respond to.
Order all troops to prepare; we will advance the entire army in one hour. Let us meet this Kyomu who subdued Rasa, and also meet the foremost bloodline clan of the ninja world, the Uchiha!"
As the order is issued, the Kumogakure ninja spring into action, and Kyomu's newly swapped troop is also immediately notified.
"Fugaku-senpai, are you confident?"
"Heh, we Uchiha have never feared anyone in battle," Fugaku states coldly. "Especially the Kumogakure ninjas, and particularly the Third Raikage's Yotsuki clan, the Uchiha have taught them lessons more than once."
Fugaku speaks the truth. During the Warring States period, the Uchiha clan fought battles from north to south, against clans such as the Yotsuki, Kaguya, Chinoike, and others, thoroughly besting each one.
If not for Hashirama from the Senju clan, the Uchiha might have dominated the Senju for many more decades.
The title of the Uchiha as the foremost bloodline clan in the ninja world is not self-proclaimed but earned through battle after battle.
Arrogant? Certainly, but they have the strength to back it up. Even though not as powerful as in the past, the prestige of the Uchiha name remains the highest in the ninja world, unparalleled.
"Fugaku-san, the great do not dwell on past heroics, but what I want to know is, can you activate Susanoo?" Kyomu asks straightforwardly.
After being questioned, Fugaku falls silent for a moment before seriously looking at Kyomu, "Kyomu-kun, what do you mean?"
"This war will be tough, but I do not wish to retreat any further. I want to turn the tables with our strength, relying on us here to drive the Kumogakure back to their homeland."
Kyomu harbors the ambition to spread his fame across the entire ninja world, and the Uchiha clan is his greatest support.
Indeed, Kyomu has now developed a space-time bloodline limit and created corresponding techniques and ultimate moves. However, the consumption and range are substantial weaknesses.
Currently, Kyomu's teleportation has a maximum distance of only fifteen meters, and his Dimensional Slash covers only ten meters. His ultimate move can make escape impossible within a ten-meter radius, but it completely drains him of all his chakra afterward.
His armor can supplement this, but chakra is not meant to be used this way. After eliminating one or a few enemies, what about the rest, and what about his teammates behind him?
Moreover, Dimensional Slash is a secret move Kyomu reserves for emergencies, also prepared for people like Hiruzen. It's not yet appropriate to reveal it.
Hiruzen is still near his peak, and along with Danzo, Homura, and Utatane, ensuring their defeat without pain or effort requires hidden strategies.
Therefore, whether Fugaku can use Susanoo is crucial for Kyomu's tactical planning.
"Fugaku-senpai, what do you think?"
Fugaku doesn't speak, and in the blink of an eye, the three tomoe in his Sharingan begin to rotate rapidly, connecting end-to-end to form a unique pattern, exuding an oppressive aura.
Pointing at his eyes, Fugaku is spirited, "With these eyes, what do you think, Kyomu-kun?"
"The glory of the Uchiha will shine anew on this battlefield!" Kyomu grins, "Fugaku-senpai, by revealing your trump card so early, don't you feel..."
"The times are different now. I believe, no matter what happens in the future, Kyomu-kun will stand with us, the Uchiha.
Likewise, no matter what happens, we Uchiha will stand with you, Kyomu-kun."
"Good!" Kyomu shouts, standing up. "Everyone, rest here for now. Soon, Fugaku-senpai and I will meet the Kumogakure army head-on!"
No one questions him; responses to Kyomu come in waves of shouts.
In the shadow of a tree, a man's reputation is established. On the battlefield, every command and decision made by Kyomu is seen as correct in the eyes of the Konoha ninjas.
He says he will face the Kumogakure army alongside Fugaku, and so it must be possible, without any mishaps.
This trust is something Kyomu has gradually built up through past wars and victories, forming the most important foundation of his power.
But if Kyomu fails even once, his invincible aura will shatter. However, Kyomu will not fail.
"Fugaku-senpai, may I ask which stage of Susanoo you can activate?" Kyomu whispers to Fugaku.
"...Kyomu-kun, you understand us Uchiha well," Fugaku glances at Kyomu. "Without considering the cost, I can maintain a complete Susanoo for three minutes."
"Three minutes... that's a bit short."
Fugaku's brow twitches, tempted to punch Kyomu to wake him up.
"A complete Susanoo, do you understand what that means?" Fugaku points to a distant hill. "It only reaches up to the shoulders of a complete Susanoo, and a casual strike from a complete Susanoo has more power than the strike you made in the Land of Wind.
If I go all out, leveling the mountains on this battlefield and turning the terrain into a basin is quite easy.
So, Kyomu-kun, do you still think three minutes is short?"
Kyomu awkwardly laughs, "Thinking about it that way, indeed, it isn't short. But what's the cost?"
"It's not a secret, just eventual blindness," Fugaku admits candidly. "I estimate I can use the complete Susanoo five times before blindness."
"That's very strong." Kyomu is curious again, "Fugaku-senpai, since you have these eyes, why..."
"I have them, but my clan does not. The elderly, weak, and sick among us don't," Fugaku states pointedly. "And these eyes will go blind. After that, the Uchiha will become lambs to the slaughter.
After all, there are as many coveting our Sharingan as there are those coveting the Byakugan.
Now is the era of ninja villages, not of independent ninja clans. If we do not band together, what awaits the Uchiha is nothing but collective attacks and the division of our Sharingan."
Kyomu falls silent, understanding why the Uchiha have always been oppressed and reluctant to rebel until absolutely necessary.
The era of ninja clans has passed. If they do not seek shelter under the big tree, or unless the clan possesses more than five Mangekyō Sharingan, if the Uchiha ever leave Konoha, they will face the joint encirclement of the five great ninja villages.
Everyone desires the Uchiha bloodline.
"Fugaku-senpai, I only need you to hold off the two Jinchūriki of Kumogakure. The rest, leave to me."
Fugaku looks Aragami Kyomu up and down, "Kyomu-kun, I feel underestimated by you."
Kyomu rests his hand on his blade, Yoei, at his waist. "Fugaku-senpai, let's not beat around the bush. Your strength is not equal to mine."
"Heh, I'll be watching," Fugaku is not convinced. "When you can't hold out, I'll lend a hand, and... don't be shy."
"I like it when Uchiha talk tough," Kyomu laughs heartily, though Fugaku's expression becomes a bit unnatural.
Finding the right way to interact with the Uchiha makes communication and making friends very simple. Of course, you have to be stronger than them; otherwise, it's all for naught.
Pausing, Kyomu looks back at his troops and then stares at Fugaku, "Fugaku-senpai, want to hear something harsh?"
"Speak, and I will listen," Fugaku responds.
"The Uchiha are born for battle. The Sharingan are eyes rich in emotion but also windows to curses and madness. Going forward, your clansmen will..."
"It's inevitable," Fugaku's eyes harden. "Hiruzen is desperate, violating Tobirama's wishes and actively breaking the shackles imposed on the Uchiha."
"But I hope that the evolution of the Sharingan, meant to protect, does not become blinded by power and turn into nurturing parasites," Kyomu says earnestly. "This is something you must be careful of, Fugaku-senpai, or else...
This will mark the beginning of the breakdown of our alliance."
"Kyomu-kun, you really are kind," Fugaku shakes his head and scoffs, feeling uncomfortable.
No explanation given, but Kyomu's words are a knot in Fugaku's mind.
The Uchiha are reluctant to explain, just as they are to be misunderstood, and if their friends or allies misunderstand them, the Uchiha become even more extreme.
This is how their stubbornness originates.
However, since Kyomu understands how to communicate with the Uchiha, these are not issues.
"I know you won't, and neither will your clan. But many things still need to be made clear. Otherwise, those recently graduated Genin who just sacrificed themselves will open their eyes, or evolve their Sharingan, and this might cause those who don't understand to overthink," Kyomu says, finishing his thought.
Fugaku's expression becomes unnatural again, "We Uchiha do not need the understanding of the weak; their opinions do not concern us."
"Just letting you know, sometimes explanations are necessary," Kyomu smiles slightly. "Shall I handle it?"
"Kyomu-kun, you really do like to meddle," Fugaku turns away, not wanting to look at him, his heart filled with mixed feelings. "We Uchiha do not need it!"
"But I need you, Uchiha," Kyomu is sincere. "The better you become, the stronger our alliance will be."
"Hmph, that has nothing to do with me. You are the commander, Kyomu-sama, make the decisions yourself."
Such tsundere behavior.
Kyomu shakes his head and stops talking, instead gathering his troops of a thousand ninjas, informing those newly graduated Genin who were abruptly brought to the battlefield.
Listening to Kyomu's speech, the Uchiha feel extremely embarrassed, feeling the shame intensely.
Uchiha do not need friends!
If you act this way, even the Genin look at you differently.
Eh~
Get lost, don't look at the proud Uchiha with that kind of gaze, we don't need friends, we don't!
The Uchiha in the troop feel uncomfortable, but deep inside, they feel a sense of belonging.
Though they won't admit it, they are grateful that Kyomu understands them.
After all, to deal with such proud Uchiha, you must know what they truly need.
And no matter what words or actions they use to hide, knowing to give directly and speak directly is the way. Sincerity and intelligence are the ultimate techniques to handle tsunderes.
Ah, the army's spirit is usable.
Moreover, these excellent Uchiha employees have officially joined the company, just waiting for Kyomu to distribute some startup equity, and they will follow him to the death.
Mad, or neurotic?
That's because you haven't given enough, not enough care for the employees, not that they can't do it.
"Alright, you Genin, if you don't want to become cannon fodder, stick close to the Uchiha. I think they say they dislike it, but deep down, they care," Kyomu says.
"Aragami Kyomu!" Uchiha Fugaku can't stand it anymore; the Uchiha have never been treated this way.
It's truly hard to accept at the moment.
"Focus on arranging strategies and tactics, and stop talking nonsense!"
Glancing at Fugaku's awkward expression, Kyomu laughs happily. If Itachi, that big idiot, followed along, Kyomu would definitely need to reshape his worldviews completely.
"Alright, the strategy is simple," Kyomu clears his throat. "Fugaku-senpai and I will do our best to intercept the main Kumogakure force and their elites, while the fish that slip through the net will be for you to practice on.
But these days won't last long. Continuous combat is very draining on energy and chakra. You may not have more than a week to grow.
So, work harder, learn more, and be more determined. I don't want to find, when the war intensifies, that I, the youngest commander in the village's history, have to bend down and personally collect your corpses!"
"Ha ha, don't worry, Kyomu-sama, we won't bother you!"
The mood is somewhat jovial, but Kyomu still shakes his head.
War isn't like what you learn in books, nor is it playing house.
"Kyomu, the Kumogakure main force is coming."
"Good, let's meet the Third Raikage," Kyomu says, hand on his sword hilt, striding forward.
"Aragami Kyomu, come and fight!" the Third Raikage challenges.
"This battle, you might die."
Greeting him is Kyomu's dazzling sword flash, along with a distant, misty voice, and a handsome face suddenly appearing in the Third Raikage's line of sight.
"Such speed, and it seems... the power of space!" The Third Raikage's eyes sharpen, readying himself with utmost focus.
At the same moment, the giant Susanoo that had been dormant in the ninja world for over fifty years rises from the ground with Fugaku's laughter, declaring the return of the Uchiha's peak power.
(End of chapter)