Chapter 5 - Chapter 5

Chapter 108: The Best Opportunity

There were indeed many unwilling individuals among the Iwa-nin (Rock Ninjas), especially those on the frontlines in the Grass Country battlefield. Such people were not rare.

To them, they would rather die in battle than become bargaining chips for Konoha to gain benefits from their homeland.

So, some of them began to act on their own, and their actions cast a shadow over the ongoing peace talks.

Unfortunately, the Iwa-nin negotiation team was rather secretive. They refused to discuss the issue and also rejected any requests for relevant intelligence.

This made things very difficult for Konoha, so they sent out clean-up teams. But so far, they hadn't achieved much.

That's why Konoha's ninjas were extremely cautious during patrols. Iwa-nin were already trapped in the Grass Country, and even if they crossed the destroyed Kannabi Bridge, it would be hard to return to the Land of Earth.

With total victory within reach, no one wanted to die in this godforsaken place for no reason. So, any Konoha ninja who encountered Iwa-nin would not show mercy.

But at the same time, they couldn't recklessly kill them, as peace talks were still ongoing.

However, Uchiha Kei's team was different. They were on a separate mission. If they encountered threats, they had the green light to take action.

Even so, caution was still required. That's why Minato had lowered his voice when explaining it. He could see the suppressed anger in these frontline ninjas.

That's why he chose to let this "freely moving" team handle it. After all, their chances of running into rogue Iwa-nin weren't exactly low.

Although Kei and the others weren't too happy with this news, they understood and accepted it. They had faced all kinds of dangerous missions before—they were used to it.

If it really came down to it, they would do what Minato said: take them out. Besides, they weren't without backup.

Though honestly, Minato's backup always seemed to arrive late. Kei wondered if Kakashi learned that from him, or maybe they both shared Obito's bad habit—always one step too slow.

"Let's just hope this time is different…"

Led by Fukuhisa Kohei, Uchiha Kei and his team quickly and quietly entered the forest. There were still visible traces of battles in this area.

Some traces were fresh, others old. Some areas were heavily damaged, others had only scattered marks. Dried blood could be seen everywhere, a testament to the brutal fights that once took place here.

But Kei wasn't interested in dwelling on the past. To him, there was no point in mourning. It was better to focus on the present.

"Kei, what do you think the Mist-nin's goal is this time?" Kakashi suddenly asked.

Maybe he wanted to distract himself from the painful memories. Talking seemed like a way to shift his focus.

"No idea," Kei shook his head, though his eyes kept glancing at Kakashi and Rin. "Maybe… they just don't want the war to end like this?"

In truth, this was all aimed at the two of you—and that 'widow' Obito.

But Kei couldn't say that out loud.

Even if he did, who would believe him? And he'd only bring trouble upon himself.

All he could do was wait, and think about what he could do in the future.

He was particularly interested in Obito—or rather, the White Zetsu covering him.

"Breaking the peace will only lead to a bigger war," Rin sighed. "Isn't peace a good thing? Why must we fight?"

"Because of interests," Kei shrugged. "Countries and villages fight or ally with each other for one main reason: benefits. Conflict and hatred are just part of it—they're only the triggers. The real question is, what can they gain from war? Or, what can they gain from other villages fighting?"

"Kei, don't say that kind of thing again," Fukuhisa Kohei, who had been quietly listening, suddenly cut in.

He knew Kei's words were true—this was the essence of war. But they weren't leaders or decision-makers. Talking about such things wasn't wise.

Ninjas were tools. That phrase was enforced thoroughly during wartime. As 'tools,' their job was to obey the 'tool owner.'

They didn't need to think. When the 'owner' said "jump," the 'tool' only needed to answer: "How high?"

Kei understood what Fukuhisa was thinking, so he didn't push it further. He could tell Kohei didn't like talking about such topics.

It couldn't be helped. Kohei was a strong and somewhat intelligent ninja, but his loyalty clearly leaned toward the Third Hokage.

That was just reality. Kohei had risen up as a civilian ninja under the Second Hokage's policies, and advanced under the Third's leadership.

Of course he would favor the Third's side, even if the Third still favored the ninja clans. Kohei had benefited from his rule.

As someone who gained from the system, as a tool, Kohei would never criticize the 'owner.' And he didn't want such dissent in his squad either.

Still, he didn't dare act too harshly toward Kei. He owed him a big favor.

Kei could read people well, and he had a playful thought:

What would Fukuhisa Kohei feel if he learned the real content of the peace treaty the Third signed with the Land of Earth? Would his faith collapse?

Kei still remembered: in the original story, the Third Hokage's agreement with the Land of Earth completely sold out the efforts of the ninjas. He gave up all war reparations and even acknowledged their actions.

Of course, that was in the original story. Kei didn't know how things would go now, since the Kannabi Bridge mission had already taken a different path.

Maybe something had changed—but no matter what, the Third's attitude and actions already revealed his true intent.

In the end, he'd probably choose to step down.

And that would be the best opportunity.

Uchiha Kei silently drew his blade across the throat of an Iwa-nin. It was a clean, precise strike—quiet and lethal. The man collapsed without a sound.

Kei glanced at Imai Kenta, who had already finished his own target. They nodded at each other. Then he looked over at Hyuga Aya, who was signaling "all clear."

Though Aya often clashed with Kei and had a sharp tongue, she was always professional in combat. She knew what needed to be done.

Kei sheathed his blade just as Fujuhira Kohei approached with Kakashi and Rin. They regrouped.

They had already ventured deep into the Land of Grass. Over the past few days, they'd encountered several Iwa-nin.

Some were likely on patrol. Others could have been rogue fighters refusing the ceasefire. It didn't matter to Kei—they were all enemies.

After receiving orders from Minato and taking Kei's advice, Kohei's squad had been eliminating every Iwa-nin they encountered.

Whether to pin the blame on Kirigakure or to send a warning, the outcome served their purpose well.

"Looks like it's all cleaned up," Kohei muttered after scanning the scene. "Let's move. We're on a tight schedule."

"Yes," Kei and the others replied, falling into formation and heading deeper into the forest.

They had been out for nearly three days, but hadn't seen a single sign of the Mist-nin. It was like they didn't exist.

Kohei was getting anxious. The peace talks with Iwagakure were drawing close. If they couldn't find out Kirigakure's true goal, everything could fall apart.

If the Mist were planning something big, it could break the peace between Konoha and Iwa.

Kei, on the other hand, wasn't too worried. He already knew these Mist-nin wouldn't ruin the talks. Still, their ability to vanish so completely was troublesome.

Mist-nin were natural-born killers—especially under the Blood Mist policy. Anyone who survived that system was basically a murder machine.

Their tactics were brutal, cruel, and relentless.

Kei didn't hate them, but he didn't like them either. There was one rogue Mist-nin, however, who had deeply impressed him—Kisame Hoshigaki.

That guy was the perfect embodiment of a tool—a true ninja. Even his death had been clean, efficient, and powerful.

Kei regretted not being able to recruit him. But he wasn't planning to defect from Konoha anytime soon, so that was out of the question.

Just then, Hyuga Aya's voice cut through his thoughts. "Captain, something's up."

Kei tilted his head as she stopped and looked down at a body on the ground—an Iwa-nin.

Kohei approached cautiously but didn't get too close.

The body had been there for a while. Probably five days old. Ninja corpses could give away a lot of information, so checking them was common practice.

And being so deep in Iwa territory, intel was scarce. Every detail mattered.

But there was also a danger—ninja often carried traps on their bodies, like poison or explosive tags. Sunagakure was especially known for its poisons.

And sometimes, traps were deliberately planted on corpses—things like explosive tags.

"I already checked it. It's safe," Aya said calmly, glancing at Kohei.

Thanks to her Byakugan, she could handle things others couldn't. It made her great not just for scouting, but for battlefield medicine, interrogation, and post-combat analysis.

"Alright. What can you tell?" Kohei asked, still keeping his distance.

Aya activated her Byakugan. The veins around her eyes bulged. Her face looked almost fierce.

"Dead for about five days. One strike to the throat. Clean kill. No signs of a struggle. The killer used a blade and was highly skilled. No sign the body was moved. And this location is far from Konoha's patrol routes."

"Mist-nin did this," Kei added as he crouched beside the body and pulled out a map. He pointed at a marked spot.

"Minato-sensei marked this area. It's where patrols last reported Mist-nin activity. It's not exact, but if we consider they're moving…"

"Then we're in the right place," Kohei said, visibly relieved. "Any other signs?"

He was desperate. After three days with no clues, he was feeling the pressure. Finally, they had something.

But Aya shook her head. So did Kei.

"Nothing else. Whoever did this was careful." Kei activated his Sharingan and scanned the area. "We might need to prepare for the worst."

"The worst?" Kohei sighed. "You mean ANBU? Yeah… that'd be bad."

What did normal ninja fear the most?

ANBU.

They might not all be elite, but each one had a specialized skill—scouting, tracking, poisons, assassination, and more.

If the Mist really wanted to disrupt the peace talks, ANBU were the perfect choice.

Just then, a sharp whistling sound tore through the air—kunai!

They were flying toward them—with explosive tags attached.

Chapter 110: Old Friends (New book please collect, recommend~)

"Boom!"

A loud explosion rang through the forest, and thick smoke spread out.

Uchiha Kei looked at the earth walls around him, then glanced at Kakashi, whose hands were pressed to the ground. Clearly, Kakashi had acted fast enough and used Earth Style to block the kunai with explosive tags.

Just moments earlier, when Uchiha Kei had heard the sound of the kunai flying through the air, he had already prepared to use Body Flicker Technique, but when he noticed the earth walls, he stopped.

"Looks like your Byakugan is just at this level," Uchiha Kei remarked, pulling out his kunai. Blue chakra flowed around the blade, and he didn't forget to mock Hyūga Aya a little.

Of course, Uchiha Kei knew it wasn't necessarily her fault. He had already guessed how the Iwa ninjas had managed to approach undetected—Earth Style: Earth Dragon Hiding Technique!

The Byakugan's range is 360 degrees, but don't assume that just because the Byakugan is open, one will constantly be looking in all directions.

Unless there's specific intel on a location or the number of enemies, or when performing reconnaissance, people tend to focus on the immediate area in front of them. Moreover, the range of the Byakugan depends on the user, as continually focusing on distant objects can quickly drain one's chakra.

When Uchiha Kei had once used his Sharingan to evade Hyūga Aya's Byakugan, he had been at the point where everything was intense and chaotic. He knew when to use the Sharingan under extreme pressure.

"In battle, who has time to check on the other person's life or death?" Even if this woman might have caught a glimpse of his unusual chakra, she certainly couldn't replay memories like a computer, carefully reviewing them. This was a human flaw, and since Uchiha Kei hadn't been teamed with her for long, this weakness hadn't been exposed yet.

"Heh, instead of blaming me here, Kei-kun, shouldn't you think about how to deal with this?" Hyūga Aya coldly responded, but then her face grew serious. "They're coming, what now?"

"Let's fight. Kei, you take the left. Kenji, you handle the right. Aya, you cover the rear. I'll take the front. Kakashi, protect Rin," Fukuoka Kōhei said sternly, "But we should be ready to break out at any time. Our mission isn't with them. Also, Kakashi, summon Minato."

"Understood."

Uchiha Kei and the others responded in unison, and as soon as Kakashi's earth wall disappeared, they immediately confronted their assigned enemies. Fukuoka Kōhei dashed forward, blocking the approach of Kōdo and his group.

Suddenly, he formed hand signs, and a giant earth dragon shot out from the ground, charging toward Kōdo and the others, blocking them from getting any closer to Uchiha Kei's group.

The Iwa ninjas numbered over thirty, whereas Uchiha Kei's group had only six, which meant there was a huge numerical disadvantage. But they weren't to be underestimated. Even though Fukuoka Kōhei blocked Kōdo's team, other Iwa ninjas rushed toward them.

Uchiha Kei calmly watched the Iwa ninja charging toward him. In an instant, his eyes turned crimson, and the Iwa ninja suddenly froze. Uchiha Kei's kunai swiftly cut across the ninja's throat!

After that, without hesitation, Uchiha Kei took a step forward, his crimson eyes scanning the battlefield. The next Iwa ninja attacking him was swiftly dealt with.

He ducked under a kunai thrown at him, and the next moment, Uchiha Kei slashed through the arm of the ninja holding the kunai, severing it. With a swift movement, he followed up, his long blade flashing cold as it sliced the back of another Iwa ninja.

Uchiha Kei then yanked the arm of another Iwa ninja who was about to strike him, pulling the ninja into the path of the previous blade. The result: both Iwa ninjas fell with a silent thud, their throats slashed.

His Sharingan rotated again, its three tomoe glowing with eerie power. In the distance, an Iwa ninja performing hand seals suddenly froze.

That moment of hesitation was all Uchiha Kei needed. He quickly formed hand seals and released a torrent of fire. The Iwa ninja, though reacting late, couldn't escape the flames. He screamed in agony as he collapsed to the ground, the fire spreading to nearby areas.

Uchiha Kei took a deep breath. Although he had eliminated five Iwa ninjas in mere moments, he knew they were mostly just Chūnin-level threats.

This left him wondering: Why were Kōdo's team so weak?

He tilted his head slightly, and as if by chance, he realized what was happening. Those powerful ninjas hadn't approached him.

Perhaps it was just luck. Or maybe Fukuoka Kōhei had intentionally set things up because he was holding off at least three powerful Iwa ninjas, buying them time.

At that moment, Fukuoka Kōhei was in trouble. One-on-one, facing Kōdo would be difficult for him. And now the situation was much worse.

Besides Fukuoka Kōhei, the rest of the group was doing okay. Hyūga Aya was nearly done with her opponent, and Kenji was still locked in a fight. However, Kakashi seemed to be the one having the worst luck.

"Bang!"

Suddenly, Fukuoka Kōhei was kicked away by Kōdo, coughing up blood as he flew through the air.

But Fukuoka Kōhei didn't panic. While flying through the air, he quickly formed hand seals, and as he landed, slammed his hands onto the ground.

"Earth Style: Earth Crumbling Collapse!"

With a violent surge of chakra, the ground split open, and a deep fissure surged toward Kōdo's group.

Fukuoka Kōhei was exhausted, but he'd positioned himself between his group and the blast zone, ensuring the attack didn't affect Uchiha Kei and the others.

The Iwa ninjas immediately retreated, and Kōdo began to form hand seals in response.

Fukuoka Kōhei didn't stop there. As Kōdo continued his hand seals, Fukuoka Kōhei gritted his teeth and formed another set, despite the blood trickling down his face.

The effort was immense, but he finally completed the seals for "Earth Style: Stone Flow."

With a mighty punch to the ground, the shattered earth began to shift, with sand and gravel rising like a tidal wave, surging toward the Iwa ninjas.

The entire area was engulfed in smoke and violent tremors.

"Let's go!" Fukuoka Kōhei spat out some blood. "We don't have much time, let's leave now!"

Thanks to the readers Liu Ying Shui and tai12a for their rewards! Thank you so much~!

Chapter 111: Temporary Captain

Fujioka Kōhei's actions left Uchiha Kei feeling somewhat amused. It seemed that he had underestimated the strength of Kei and the others. 

While the number of enemies was large, and there were plenty of powerful ninjas among them, their own team wasn't weak either! 

Perhaps aside from Nohara Rin, none of them were weak. Kakashi needed no mention, and both Hinata Aya and Imai Kenta's strength had been tested in the field. 

However, Fujioka Kōhei had single-handedly held off the stronger Iwa ninjas, including Kōdo, which led him to be injured and vomiting blood within less than a minute of battle.

Nevertheless, Kei didn't oppose his strategy. Fujioka Kōhei was probably protecting them. 

Fujioka Kōhei must have learned about the story between Kei and Kōdo through Minato Namikaze. 

All of Kōdo's teammates had been eliminated by Kei. Although Kōdo went into a rage afterward, almost killing Kakashi, even Kei and Imai Kenta had been at risk! 

Luckily, Minato had arrived just in time to move Kōdo away and saved them.

Looking at Fujioka Kōhei, who was clutching his chest, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, Kei quietly asked, "Do you need treatment?" 

"No, the enemy is too close," Fujioka Kōhei shook his head. "And there's Kōdo with them. There are at least six or seven jōnin. Kakashi, have you summoned Minato yet?" 

"I've already done so, but there's been no response yet," Kakashi said with a shake of his head. "Fujioka-sensei, I think you should get treated. Your injuries don't look good." 

"There's no time. Don't forget we have other missions," Fujioka Kōhei shook his head. "Here's the plan: I'll attract the enemy, and you all scatter and leave." 

Fujioka Kōhei's words made Kei frown. Was he planning to sacrifice himself? 

While it was an effective tactic, Fujioka Kōhei seemed to have greatly underestimated their strength. 

But thinking about it, Kei, Hinata Aya, and Imai Kenta had always acted rather conventionally during the missions with Fujioka Kōhei. 

It seemed like their rank was a reflection of their abilities, and they never displayed any extraordinary skills. 

Also, Fujioka Kōhei was fairly strong and very kind-hearted, so the three of them were more than happy to stay in the shadows. 

Kei didn't have strong feelings either way about Fujioka Kōhei, but he definitely didn't dislike him. If it weren't for Fujioka Kōhei being fully aligned with the Hokage's side, perhaps Kei and he would have gotten along better. 

Shaking his head, Kei stopped thinking about those issues. Life and death had always been close, especially on the battlefield. 

"I understand," Kei nodded. "I'll take care of your brother." 

"Fujioka-sensei," Kei was about to say something when Kakashi suddenly spoke. "You're injured now, but there are still two jōnin in our team, me and Kei. I suggest handing over the captaincy to Kei. He has led teams on highly classified missions before, and he also worked with Minato-sensei on the Kannabi Bridge mission. He is the best choice!" 

"No!" Before Kei could respond, Hinata Aya immediately cut in. "Fujioka-sensei is only injured, and transferring the captaincy shouldn't be done hastily. Besides, even if the captaincy is to be transferred, I think Kakashi-sensei would be more suited for it." 

Hinata Aya really didn't want Kei to take over as captain. Their relationship wasn't great, especially after Kei saw through her. She didn't want to deal with him. 

However, her reasoning was somewhat reasonable. Fujioka Kōhei wasn't dead, just injured, so transferring the captaincy at this moment did seem a bit premature. 

But what Hinata Aya didn't expect was that just as Fujioka Kōhei was about to say something, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, and his face grew even paler. 

"I'm no good. I'm not as capable as Kei," Kakashi shook his head, looking back at the Iwa ninjas who were nearly upon them. He sighed, "We need to act quickly. They're almost here." 

"Alright then, Kei, it seems I'll have to trouble you again," Fujioka Kōhei said with difficulty, clutching his chest. He never expected that the kick from Kōdo would cause such severe damage. 

As a battle-hardened jōnin, Fujioka Kōhei might not know medical ninjutsu, but he could judge his physical condition. 

He knew his situation was critical. Kōdo's kick had likely broken at least three of his ribs, and his internal organs were probably injured as well. 

He couldn't assess the internal bleeding, but he knew that if he tried to lure the enemy away, he wouldn't last a minute. 

At this point, Fujioka Kōhei couldn't help but complain about why Minato hadn't arrived yet. 

"I understand," Kei nodded, but couldn't help but sigh inwardly, glancing at Kakashi. After thinking for a moment, he spoke. "Rin, you take Fujioka-sensei and leave. Stabilize his condition. Kakashi, Kenta, and Aya, we'll head in different directions to cover their escape. Good luck to everyone." 

"Yes, Captain." It felt just like old times. After Kei gave the orders, someone instinctively responded. 

Even Hinata Aya followed suit. As a ninja, even though she wasn't happy with this outcome, she wouldn't openly defy the orders. 

Her little acts of rebellion were within reasonable limits. She knew that Kei probably wanted to make a move against her, but as long as they stayed within the limits and Fujioka Kōhei was around, she was safe. 

However, she had to be cautious around Kei. She had learned enough to understand how Kei was viewed in the village. 

Thus, this cold and calculating guy wasn't someone whose actions could be exposed, especially since she was from a branch family with no freedom. 

Hinata Aya was clear about this, so she didn't want Kei to take over as captain and tried to stay as close to Fujioka Kōhei as possible. However, once Fujioka Kōhei formally named the new captain, she would obediently follow. 

Not wanting to give Kei any opportunity to act against her, nor any chance to be alone with him, this was what Hinata Aya had to do. 

After receiving Kei's clear orders, Fujioka Kōhei looked deeply at Kei before sighing and following Nohara Rin to leave. 

Kei, Kakashi, Imai Kenta, and Hinata Aya exchanged glances before turning in different directions. They would worry about how to reunite after shaking off the Iwa ninjas.

Chapter 112: Hatred (New Book Request for Collection and Recommendations)

The direction that Uchiha Ki chose was a straight line backward, but slightly deviated from Fujiku Kouhei's route.

Moreover, Uchiha Ki intentionally waited a little before setting off because he didn't want the upcoming events to affect Fujiku Kouhei or for his movement to be discovered.

Uchiha Ki had always been a calm and cautious person, but that calmness and caution didn't mean that Uchiha Ki didn't have a temper.

Uchiha Ki firmly believed that the most cautious way to deal with trouble was to completely eliminate its root cause—once the source of the problem was handled thoroughly, it was as if the trouble no longer existed.

It was like a joke he once heard while playing a certain assassin game in his past life—"As long as I kill everyone, no one will know I was here."

At first, Uchiha Ki thought it was a bit of a joke, but now, he didn't think so anymore.

His personal experience before unlocking the Mangekyō Sharingan proved it. Once everyone who had seen his Sharingan was dead, who would know he had such eyes?

Of course, now it didn't matter, since he had the Mangekyō Sharingan, he no longer cared about exposing his normal Sharingan.

The trouble between Uchiha Ki and Kurotsuchi was no longer something simple—it could be said that there was deep hatred between them!

Uchiha Ki had killed Kurotsuchi's close teammates and subordinates, and almost sent Kurotsuchi to his death.

If it hadn't been for Uchiha Ki's low status at the time, not having learned any powerful defense-breaking jutsu, and his limited personal strength, Kurotsuchi might not have been able to bounce back.

Uchiha Ki would never forget how badly Kurotsuchi had beaten him; if not for Imai Kenta saving his life, he would have probably died back then.

Afterwards, Kurotsuchi never intended to let them go. If it weren't for the "delayed justice" of Minato Namikaze arriving just in time, Uchiha Ki and Imai Kenta would have been doomed.

It didn't matter if Imai Kenta died, but Uchiha Ki didn't want to give up his own life. This grudge was deeply etched in his heart.

Taking a deep breath, Uchiha Ki slowed down his pace, leaving a Shadow Clone behind to observe the situation and lure Kurotsuchi.

Uchiha Ki believed that Kurotsuchi shared a similar mindset. Maybe he wasn't as devious, but he certainly wanted revenge for his former teammates!

Sure enough, after running about a kilometer, his Shadow Clone reported back—Kurotsuchi was heading his way.

"Hmph, if you want to die, I'll grant your wish!" Uchiha Ki's face darkened, but he did not stop his steps.

To kill Kurotsuchi, Uchiha Ki needed to maximize his advantages. After searching for a while, Uchiha Ki found a relatively suitable place and quietly waited for Kurotsuchi.

Kurotsuchi, looking at the dissipating smoke of the Shadow Clone, was silent. Behind him, the Iwa Ninjas watched him intently.

They were all like Kurotsuchi—unwilling to accept the failure of Iwagakure's operation in the Land of Grass. None of them wanted to be used as a bargaining chip in the negotiations with Konoha.

As the son of the Third Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi had his own pride and principles. Although the negotiations were unclear, he had to do what he felt was right.

Moreover, he hadn't forgotten that Uchiha Ki killed his teammates, friends, and most trusted subordinates! He also hadn't forgotten Minato Namikaze, who had nearly taken his life!

"Captain, what should we do now?" Just as Kurotsuchi frowned at the vanishing smoke, one of the Iwa Ninjas came up beside him. "They've split into five groups, and at least one person is in each direction. There are two in the center, a total of five teams."

Iwa Ninjas certainly didn't lack sensory ninjas. Every village had such ninjas.

Sensory ninjas were essential on the battlefield because they made many tasks much easier.

After hearing the report, Kurotsuchi nodded and asked, "How many of us are left?"

"The Uchiha kid killed four, and injured one. Several other Konoha ninjas also killed four. We still have twenty-five left." The Iwa Ninja scratched his head in frustration.

The Uchiha kid had left a deep impression on him. Even though the true experts were stopped by Konoha's team leader, one person had still managed to kill four Iwa Ninjas in the blink of an eye. That level of skill was impressive, even if the ninjas attacking him weren't too strong.

"Good, then we'll also split into five teams to find them," Kurotsuchi ordered. "Send a few Shadow Clones to guide the way, no need for you to fight."

"Understood." The sensory ninja nodded. As a sensory ninja, he didn't need to fight directly.

"One last question." Kurotsuchi took a deep breath. "Which direction did the Uchiha kid go?"

"This way." The sensory ninja hesitated for a moment, then pointed in the direction where Uchiha Ki had gone—the exact location where the Shadow Clone had disappeared!

Kurotsuchi darkened his face, nodded, and then picked a few Iwa Ninjas and a Shadow Clone to follow him as they set off.

Kurotsuchi didn't want to bring too many people along, fearing they would be dealt with by Uchiha Ki if he wasn't careful.

However, Kurotsuchi had some other thoughts. Though he felt some reluctance, he didn't speak much about it.

He silently accelerated forward, soon arriving at a relatively open area with four Iwa Ninjas and a Shadow Clone.

"He's here!" The sensory ninja's Shadow Clone suddenly spoke up, but before he could say anything more, a kunai came whizzing through the air.

Kurotsuchi reacted quickly, shooting out a kunai in return. The two kunai collided mid-air and dropped to the ground.

At that moment, all the Iwa Ninjas noticed that the kunai thrown at them had an explosive tag tied to it!

"Watch out, explosive tag!" As the sensory ninja yelled, the Iwa Ninjas immediately scattered.

"Boom!" A violent explosion kicked up countless debris and thick smoke. Though no Iwa Ninjas were injured or killed, it effectively blocked their line of sight.

The sensory ninja's Shadow Clone avoided the explosion, but it was focusing on detecting chakra fluctuations. Suddenly, the sensory ninja's Shadow Clone sensed something unusual and quickly approached.

The Shadow Clone didn't have time to shout. It saw a blade shining with blue chakra cutting through the air toward it, along with a pair of emotionless, crimson eyes.

Chapter 113: Conspiracy

Uchiha Qi had already noticed that this guy was a shadow clone, but what surprised him more was that this shadow clone seemed to be a sensory ninja!

On the battlefield, sensory ninjas were the most troublesome type of ninja, so without hesitation, Uchiha Qi decided to eliminate him first.

What surprised him a bit was that he had been on high alert for an ambush from Huangtu. After all, taking down a sensory ninja was like blinding the enemy.

As long as one wasn't foolish, they would protect such an individual, even if they were only a shadow clone.

However, Huangtu didn't make a move, nor did he even try to stop Uchiha Qi. Uchiha Qi swiftly and easily took down the shadow clone with a single strike.

Though slightly surprised, Uchiha Qi, being a seasoned veteran on the battlefield, didn't miss the opportunity when his enemy lost their vision. He seemed to have guessed something.

His crimson eyes scanned the area, and in a single leap, Uchiha Qi appeared in front of an Iwa ninja. With a powerful twist, he snapped his neck.

Releasing his grip, Uchiha Qi immediately used a Body Flicker Technique and appeared behind another Iwa ninja. With his sharp ninja blade, he pierced through his chest.

Amidst the smoke, the screams of the Iwa ninjas echoed, but Uchiha Qi's crimson eyes saw everything clearly.

As the smoke dissipated, Uchiha Qi stood calmly, looking at Huangtu, a cold smirk on his face. Surrounding him were four Iwa ninjas who were already dead.

Uchiha Qi's speed was too fast. As he gradually got more accustomed to his Mangekyō Sharingan, its traits were becoming increasingly evident.

Moreover, Uchiha Qi had always been an expert at surprise attacks. In this thick smoke, even these mid-level ninjas, or even higher-ranked ninjas, could be killed in an instant if caught off-guard.

"You don't seem to care about your subordinates at all," Uchiha Qi said, shaking his ninja blade, his cold smile directed at Huangtu. "Or should I say, maybe you should thank me?"

"Hmph." Huangtu glanced at the fallen Iwa ninjas and sighed, "Indeed, for Iwa, I should thank you. But for me personally, I will take revenge for them."

"Such hypocrisy." Uchiha Qi sneered and shook his head. "But at least I got some good news from this. You Iwa ninjas are planning to negotiate with Konoha, aren't you? Is it because of the pressure from Cloud Village? Or is it because of the psychological pressure from Captain Minato?"

"It's both, but also neither." Huangtu shook his head and sighed. "You're sharp and intelligent. If you were born in Iwa, we might have been friends. But at this moment, all we have between us is hatred. I will avenge my subordinates, my friends, and the Iwa ninjas who died by your hand."

Though Huangtu's words carried some weariness, the hatred in his tone was unmistakable.

However, Uchiha Qi had learned something interesting. First of all, the Iwa ninjas had decided to accept Konoha's terms and withdraw.

Secondly, Huangtu's role in leading these rebellious ninjas was likely to apply pressure on Konoha, to prevent them from being too harsh.

And there was one more important point—clearing out disobedient ninjas.

It wasn't that these ninjas were loyal patriots; their actions were actually a challenge to the authority of their leaders.

On the battlefield, anyone would despise these disobedient people, as they would follow their own ideas when they felt they were right, no matter the consequences.

This kind of behavior was dangerous and could push the Iwa-Konoha conflict to an unknown edge. These people needed to be eliminated.

But the Iwa higher-ups knew that having these ninjas die at the hands of their own people would cause trouble, and even severely damage morale and shake the foundations of the village.

Therefore, Konoha was the best option. After all, Iwa and Konoha had already clashed, so their mutual hatred had been established.

If these ninjas died at the hands of Konoha's ninjas, it would not only boost morale but also give the Iwa ninjas more motivation to fight Cloud Village. Additionally, it would help clear up internal troublemakers—everyone wins.

"Even executioners will fake a few tears, just like crocodile tears," Uchiha Qi remarked, adjusting his ninja blade, the blue chakra swirling around it. "But enough of the talk, I'll send you to meet your comrades. I hope they'll understand your actions when you meet them."

"No, you will personally go down to redeem them," Huangtu's muscles tensed as he spoke. "This is my redemption!"

With those words, Huangtu vanished in a flash, appearing right next to Uchiha Qi. A surge of chakra ran wild through his body. With a single punch, the ground shattered, and the violent shockwave caused the surrounding trees to collapse!

Uchiha Qi had already dodged. At the age of thirteen, his physical strength was not his strong suit.

But this time, Uchiha Qi wasn't afraid of Huangtu. His Sharingan had grown more refined, and his Mangekyō Sharingan was now at a more advanced level.

The benefits of the Mangekyō Sharingan had begun to show, and his chakra was almost full.

He was no longer the weak, fatigued version of himself from the past; he had undergone a transformation.

Watching Huangtu coldly, Uchiha Qi noticed that though Huangtu was staring at him, he was actually focusing on his body parts, not his face.

He was clearly wary of Uchiha Qi's genjutsu. This made Uchiha Qi's smile grow wider.

If you seek your own death, I won't hold back.

The wind and sand continued to rustle, with scattered gravel drifting onto Uchiha Qi and Huangtu's faces, but neither of them paid any attention to it.

Their auras kept rising, and as the smoke began to settle, both Uchiha Qi and Huangtu moved in unison, like two streaks of light colliding together!

"Open!"

Whether Huangtu was watching him or not, Uchiha Qi had already decided to use the full power of his Mangekyō Sharingan. However, he didn't plan to use any ocular techniques.

The Mangekyō's perception was beyond the normal three-tomoe Sharingan, and his dynamic vision had reached an unimaginable peak. Huangtu's death was already a certainty—Uchiha Qi had made up his mind. He wouldn't hold back!

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Kunai and ninja blades clashed in midair, the sharp metallic sounds ringing in the air. Uchiha Qi had fully engaged with Huangtu!

One fought with immense physical strength, while the other fought with unmatched speed and agility. Their two styles of taijutsu danced like a deadly choreography on the battlefield.

But the difference was that Huangtu was already covered in numerous wounds, blood dripping from his body.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Qi moved like a butterfly, delivering endless danger to Huangtu.

Chapter 114: The Earth Release Technique

At this moment, Kurotsuchi was both astonished and frustrated.

In just a short time, the little brat, Uchiha, had completely transformed. His speed had become even faster, and unlike before, Kurotsuchi could no longer break through his defenses.

If it weren't for Kurotsuchi's own solid foundation and his continuous, stronger attacks against this brat, he might have already ended up as a corpse on the ground by now.

There was no denying that the Uchiha clan's individual abilities were incredibly strong. It was no wonder that this brat managed to kill Karyu and wipe out the Iwagakure team!

But that wasn't even Kurotsuchi's limit. Not only was he skilled in taijutsu, but his Earth Release techniques were truly exceptional.

Watching the electric arcs spark in Uchiha's hand, Kurotsuchi snorted. He couldn't perform such a flawless counter like Guy, but he had enough skill to handle the situation, even if it came at the cost of some injuries.

Kurotsuchi stepped back, his hands rapidly forming seals. In an instant, his hands clapped together, and a giant earthen wall shot up from the ground.

Uchiha inserted his left hand directly into the earth wall, and it pierced right through the entire structure.

However, the wall didn't collapse at all. Instead, under Kurotsuchi's chakra influence, it quickly solidified again.

Uchiha's eyes scanned the wall, and even through the chakra-infused earthen barrier, he could see Kurotsuchi behind it.

With a slight tilt of his head, Uchiha's left hand surged with Chidori, rapidly spreading into a huge electrical net that enveloped the entire wall. Seeing this, Kurotsuchi immediately retreated. After all, Lightning Release was a counter to Earth Release.

A sharp "plop" sound echoed in Kurotsuchi's ears. It wasn't the explosive sound he'd expected, but rather something like dropping a burning cigarette into water.

The earthen wall remained perfectly intact, and the seemingly powerful Lightning Net hadn't left a single mark on it!

Uchiha's move had no real effect!

Pulling his hand out of the wall, Uchiha casually shook off the dirt. He wasn't here to show off his Chidori—he was still waiting for Kakashi to develop that technique for him.

"Hmph!"

Kurotsuchi snorted, filled with deep hatred. He never expected to be outwitted so easily by a brat in the very technique he was most skilled in, Earth Release!

There was no denying that Uchiha had put great pressure on him, and after taking some damage, Kurotsuchi dared not be careless. That's why he missed an excellent opportunity.

Furthermore, Kurotsuchi still vividly remembered Uchiha's sudden burst of speed. His caution was warranted.

Taking a deep breath, Kurotsuchi hurled a kunai and threw a punch toward Uchiha, leaping at him. In an instant, his fist shattered the Earth Release he had just cast.

Boom!

Debris flew everywhere as stones and dirt sprayed toward Uchiha, and countless trees were knocked down by the powerful wind from Kurotsuchi's punch.

Uchiha quickly retreated, his crimson eyes focused on Kurotsuchi as he rapidly formed hand seals. In less than a second, his Fire Release technique was ready.

"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"

As Uchiha controlled the flames, they erupted from the ground just as Kurotsuchi's fist was about to strike. The fire completely separated the two of them!

At the same time, Uchiha's ninja blade shot out, and a surge of blue chakra slashed toward Kurotsuchi's fist!

Unfortunately for Uchiha, Kurotsuchi's fist had already turned to solid rock. The formidable hardness of the earth made Uchiha's blade unable to get through.

However, Uchiha smiled slightly. He knew the Earth Release: Rock Fist technique well. Although Kurotsuchi's hand had turned to rock to enhance his attack and defense, did that mean that a chakra-coated blade wouldn't hurt it?

"Storm Slash!"

Suddenly, Uchiha's ninja blade burst with terrifying electricity. Already burning from the flames, Kurotsuchi was now further shocked by the Lightning Release chakra, making it impossible for him to hold on any longer.

After missing with his punch, Kurotsuchi immediately retreated, his right hand returning to normal but with a new gash on it.

Crimson blood dripped down, matching the color of Uchiha's Sharingan, but Kurotsuchi didn't seem affected. As he retreated, he also released more Earth Release techniques to intercept Uchiha's attacks.

"What a turtle," Uchiha muttered under his breath. He couldn't deny the Rock Ninja's terrifying defense!

Uchiha had been on the battlefield for seven years. He'd fought against the Sand Ninjas in the Land of Rivers, the Cloud Ninjas in the Land of Soup, and finally, the Rock Ninjas in the Land of Grass.

It could be said that, aside from the Mist Ninjas in the Land of Whirlpool, Uchiha had fought nearly every ninja village.

But when it came to defense, the Rock Ninjas were truly the most formidable. While their Earth Release might be weak on the offense, their terrifying defensive abilities made them formidable enough to counter most ninjutsu.

However, Uchiha was not panicking. He had a trump card ready, one he planned to gift Kurotsuchi.

Leaping lightly into the air, Uchiha dodged Kurotsuchi's Earth Release: Great Earthquake technique and began thinking about how to quickly finish him off.

Who knew what was happening on Kakashi's end? Or whether Madara had sent White Zetsu to spy on him? But Uchiha wasn't concerned about that.

He didn't believe that Madara would come after him, especially now that Madara had fully secured Obito's "goodness" in his heart.

"Huh?"

While Uchiha was contemplating, he suddenly noticed that Kurotsuchi's hand-seal speed had slowed down. This made Uchiha wary.

Not daring to be careless, Uchiha quickly pulled out several kunai and threw them toward Kurotsuchi. He had noticed Kurotsuchi's chakra was rapidly boiling within him!

Unfortunately, Kurotsuchi had apparently prepared for this. Even though the kunai collided in mid-air and aimed at his blind spots, they failed to cause any harm.

Just as Uchiha landed, his expression changed. The ground beneath his feet had turned into a mass of sludgy mud!

"Earth Release: Hellish Swamp!" This technique instantly flashed through Uchiha's mind, and even more terrifyingly, he realized that the shattered rock fragments around him had turned into two half-spherical boulders. Under Kurotsuchi's chakra control, they began to rapidly close in on him!

"No one can escape. You'll sleep forever in the gap of these giant mountains!" Kurotsuchi sneered, though he still refused to look into Uchiha's eyes. "You're fortunate to witness this technique. Although it's not perfect yet, it's enough."

"Earth Release: Mountain Earth Technique?" Uchiha looked at the two massive rocks and couldn't help but sigh. "Impressive. With this amount of chakra and this technique, you might even use it to deal with the Tailed Beasts someday."

"Have you resigned yourself to your fate? Uchiha brat, your name is Uchiha Ki, right?"

"Yes, I am Uchiha Ki. But why do you think you've already won?"

Chapter 115: Despicable and Shameless (Special Update for Liu Ying Shui's Protector)

Uchiha Kei's voice was very calm, and there seemed to be a slight smile on the corner of his mouth.

But Huang Tu's face suddenly stiffened. In almost an instant, he gave up on the ninjutsu.

Without caring about the somewhat unstable chakra in his body, his arm once again turned into terrifying rock and punched towards the kunai behind him!

Boom!

This punch directly created a huge hole in the ground. In the moment before his punch landed, a figure had already quietly leaped into the air.

Like a graceful dancer, they skillfully dodged the shockwave created by his punch and swiftly brought down a blade towards Huang Tu.

"Ah, you saw through it?" Uchiha Kei casually smiled. "Your combat experience is truly remarkable. If it weren't for my reminder…"

"You are wrong!" Huang Tu was about to say something when suddenly, his expression changed drastically.

Uchiha Kei had already reached his front, and his blade was easily avoided by Huang Tu as he quickly formed hand seals.

The next moment, 'Uchiha Kei' suddenly expanded, and a violent explosion rang in his ears. Huang Tu's body involuntarily slid backward.

Just as Huang Tu had stabilized himself, he heard the sound of the ninja blade slicing through the air. He had already experienced the sensation of being slashed by a blade before, and he knew that Uchiha Kei controlled lightning release.

Huang Tu roared in anger and, without hesitation, condensed his chakra behind him.

He couldn't move now. Forcing his ninjutsu to stop had destabilized his chakra, and the shock from the explosion had made his body uncomfortable.

So, he decided to endure the blow. Huang Tu was confident that even if the strike could injure him, it would never take his life!

But Huang Tu was mistaken. He realized that once again, he had been tricked by Uchiha Kei!

"Rinche!"

The moment Uchiha Kei's ninja blade, radiating blue chakra, made contact with Huang Tu's body, terrifying lightning chakra surged out. The sharp blade became even sharper under the stimulation of the lightning.

"Lightning beats Earth," Uchiha Kei forcefully slashed, and Huang Tu's body, which was even harder than rock, was sliced open like tofu by Uchiha Kei!

Huang Tu winced in pain. He bent his legs to jump away, but the next moment, his expression turned extremely ugly.

Because lightning chakra had already invaded his body, and his whole body was experiencing severe paralysis!

Despicable, Shameless!

These words immediately appeared in his mind. He had been completely tricked by Uchiha Kei!

Previously, Uchiha Kei had already used this blade technique, but Huang Tu had thought it was just a blade technique that carried the explosive and penetrating power of lightning release. So, this time, he had only prepared himself to be injured.

But now, Huang Tu realized that things were not as simple as he thought. His paralyzed body told him just how treacherous this kid, Uchiha Kei, was!

Huang Tu gritted his teeth and tried to force his body to move, but the moment he did, he collapsed to the ground.

Uchiha Kei showed no sign of stopping. His ninja blade viciously slashed through Huang Tu's left arm! In an instant, Huang Tu's entire left arm was severed from the shoulder!

"Ah!" Huang Tu let out a miserable scream as blood splattered from his left arm, but at this moment, Huang Tu could no longer move.

He could only lift his head and stare at Uchiha Kei, using this way to convey his anger, his hatred, and his pride to Uchiha Kei.

Uchiha Kei had already turned off his Mangekyō Sharingan, returning to the three-tomoe state. Without using his ocular techniques, the consumption of chakra was minimal, and the consumption of ocular power was almost nonexistent.

No wonder Uchiha Madara could last so long with Senju Hashirama before the Eternal Mangekyō, aside from his almost never using ocular techniques, it might also have to do with the Indra chakra in his body?

"I told you, why did you think you had already won?" Uchiha Kei slowly walked to Huang Tu's side, and the ninja blade was planted into the ground in front of his neck. "It turns out I was right."

"Despicable!" Because of the paralysis, Huang Tu's speech became somewhat slurred.

"Ah, thank you," Uchiha Kei smiled. "It would be better if you added 'shameless' as well, but I did warn you not to waste chakra. Why not thank me for that?"

Huang Tu almost swallowed a mouthful of blood, and after a moment, he couldn't be bothered to deal with Uchiha Kei anymore.

He had seen despicable and shameless people before, but he had never met anyone like Uchiha Kei—who not only was despicable and shameless but also treated it as a source of pride!

Uchiha Kei's tactic was actually very simple, and Huang Tu had already figured it out.

Uchiha Kei had used shadow clones while continuously releasing defensive ninjutsu and transformed himself into a kunai.

This guy, with his Sharingan, probably saw the danger in his ninjutsu, so he chose to hide and wait for an ambush.

It was his own fault for being too impatient at the time, because Uchiha Kei had really gotten under his skin. His speed was so fast that Huang Tu could hardly keep up.

And this guy had a Sharingan, so Huang Tu couldn't look him in the eyes. With the Sharingan's help, his movements were always exposed.

That was why Huang Tu had set up that stone shattering technique, hoping to trap Uchiha Kei when he landed, and then slay him!

But he had been too hasty. The Sharingan was truly hard to deal with. It had seen through his hidden intentions and had taken this ambush approach.

He hadn't checked carefully enough, and it was also Uchiha Kei's ruthlessness that got him. The kunai collision had caught Huang Tu off guard, and he had truly believed that there was a real kunai!

Look at the wound on Uchiha Kei's shoulder now; it was obviously caused when he transformed into a kunai.

This guy's so-called "kind-hearted" reminder had only disrupted his chakra, and then Uchiha Kei used shadow clones and the substitution technique, setting off an explosion with the shadow clone, forcing Huang Tu to only defend. He had lost his vision in the smoke from the explosion.

Then came this fatal sneak attack—this damned technique that contained both the explosive power and penetration of lightning release, along with its paralyzing effects!

Huang Tu sighed. Although he cursed Uchiha Kei as a despicable and shameless guy, the truth was—he was still a ninja.

No matter how despicable and shameless someone was, as long as they won, they were the victor.

History only remembers the winners, because they are the ones still alive. The losers are the ones who get buried in history's trash heap, endlessly lamenting their misfortune.

"Any last words?" Uchiha Kei looked at Huang Tu, who had fallen silent, and sneered.

"I... I will... wait for you in the Pure Land..." Huang Tu still spoke somewhat incoherently, "I will... always wait for you!"

"Mm, good night." Uchiha Kei looked at Huang Tu closing his eyes and calmly said.

He grabbed his ninja blade, ready to pull it out of the ground and slit Huang Tu's throat. The next moment, a figure with yellow hair suddenly appeared and grabbed Uchiha Kei's hand.

Chapter 116: Insurance

"Captain Minato?"

When Uchiha Keiji saw Minato Namikaze, his expression immediately darkened. He knew that killing Yellow Earth was now out of the question.

Uchiha Keiji understood the consequences of killing Yellow Earth. It could jeopardize the negotiations and might even halt them completely. After all, Yellow Earth was the son of the Third Tsuchikage!

The Third Tsuchikage wasn't like the Third Hokage. The old man had a bad temper, and Minato had once had the chance to kill Yellow Earth but chose not to for various reasons.

This situation made Uchiha Keiji feel very uncomfortable. Why couldn't Minato be a bit more thorough this time?

"It looks like I can't kill him now, right?"

Uchiha Keiji kicked Yellow Earth's head to prevent him from committing suicide by slashing his throat.

He then pulled his ninja sword out with a cold smile and asked, "All for the sake of the village's negotiations, to avoid more trouble, right?"

"Yes, that's right." Minato Namikaze, looking somewhat embarrassed, scratched his head and added, "Since you understand, Keiji, then I apologize."

Minato actually bowed deeply to Uchiha Keiji.

Seeing Minato bowing, Uchiha Keiji felt a bit troubled.

Keiji hated Yellow Earth deeply, which was why he had set up this whole scene. But Minato's sudden appearance was making things complicated.

Looking at the fallen Yellow Earth, Uchiha Keiji was enraged. After all the effort he had put in, this was the result. He couldn't stand it.

"Is that it?" Uchiha Keiji sighed. "Just let him go like this?"

"Please, Keiji," Minato said, still bowing at almost a 90-degree angle, his posture showing sincerity.

Uchiha Keiji took a deep breath, trying to clear his irritated thoughts from his mind to prevent them from clouding his judgment.

Soon, Keiji calmed down and began to assess Yellow Earth's value.

Although Keiji held a deep grudge against Yellow Earth, he knew the situation needed careful consideration. Killing Yellow Earth now could lead to complications.

On one hand, if he killed him, Keiji might be criticized, despite recently earning the title "Leaf Hero."

On the other hand, Yellow Earth had proven his worth in previous battles and would likely play a significant role in the Fourth Great Ninja War. Of course, the future was unpredictable, especially with Keiji's involvement.

But Keiji couldn't just ignore the immediate gains.

Clearly, the person he needed to consider was Minato Namikaze. If Keiji let Yellow Earth go, he could win Minato's favor. This favor could be leveraged to have a more advantageous conversation with him, one that was more "aggressive" and "pressuring." He needed to plant some ideas in Minato's mind while also leaving a good impression.

Keiji couldn't afford to miss these benefits, as they fit perfectly into his plans.

After a short moment of thought, Uchiha Keiji had his answer. But of course, he still had to put on a show.

Closing his eyes and deactivating his Mangekyo Sharingan, Keiji collected himself, ready to speak with a hint of regret. When his eyes opened, they held a touch of bitterness.

Casually, he sheathed his sword. Even though Minato was still bowing, he could see this movement, and Minato let out a sigh of relief.

"I won't kill him," Uchiha Keiji said calmly. "But I need to talk to Yellow Earth alone."

"Of course, no problem," Minato responded, straightening up with a bright smile. "I'll wait for you over there."

"Aren't you worried I might kill him?" Keiji asked, tilting his head with a somewhat indifferent tone.

"I trust you, Keiji," Minato answered without hesitation, still smiling. "You're not just any ordinary ninja. I trust your judgment, and besides, you are the hero of the Leaf."

"Hero of the Leaf?"

Keiji shook his head internally, but his face remained calm.

Watching Minato walk away, Uchiha Keiji didn't care if Minato was secretly keeping an eye on him, ready to use his Flying Thunder God technique to prevent any sudden attacks.

Turning his back, Keiji approached Yellow Earth. The man really was stubborn. Despite being kicked in the head, he was still conscious and alert.

"It seems like your luck's pretty good," Keiji sneered at him. "You got to keep your life."

"Hmph," Yellow Earth snorted, his voice filled with hatred. "You'd better kill me, or I'll kill you sooner or later!"

"Are you worried I'll expose your plan to eliminate your own people?" Uchiha Keiji suddenly grabbed his neck and activated his Mangekyo Sharingan again. "Even if you deny it, I can't do anything about it. After all, the Iwa Ninjas won't believe a word from Konoha. But, just to be sure..."

"This eye..." Yellow Earth was stunned, his thoughts growing hazy.

Uchiha Keiji stared at him coldly, watching as Yellow Earth nearly came to his senses before deactivating his Mangekyo Sharingan.

Keiji didn't want any unexpected consequences. The best way to ensure that was through a Genjutsu, making Yellow Earth forget about the abnormality in his eyes completely. Though it might seem excessive, exposing his Mangekyo Sharingan to Yellow Earth reassured Keiji, as only this level of Genjutsu could prevent any unpredictable situations.

Standing up, Uchiha Keiji's eyes had returned to normal.

Without looking back at the groggy Yellow Earth, Keiji walked toward Minato, who was waiting by a broken tree. The area around them was completely destroyed from their battle. The power of a ninja could be astonishing — sometimes leaving no trace, but other times changing the terrain completely.

"Done?" Minato asked with his usual bright smile. "Sorry I was late. If I'd been on time, none of this would have happened."

"It's fine, I'm used to it," Keiji shook his head. "Last time, you were also late, and you almost killed me."

"Sorry..." Minato seemed to remember the last incident and the loss of Obito. His mood darkened. "This time it was because of a meeting. Sigh..."

Minato sighed, his exhaustion showing.

Chapter 117: What Can I Gain? (New Book: Please Subscribe and Recommend~)

The reason for Minato's late arrival was indeed due to the ongoing meeting. At the time, Minato was negotiating with the representatives of the Stone Village under the leadership of Jiraiya and Nara Shikaku.

Minato, being the core combat power on the battlefield in the Land of Grass, had significant strategic influence, and his words carried great weight.

Just as he was debating with a representative from the Stone Village, he suddenly felt the chakra from the Flying Thunder God kunai.

He immediately realized that Fukuji, Kōhei, and the others were in trouble. However, he couldn't leave at that moment, as the negotiation was crucial—it directly affected the distribution of future interests and choices.

Despite feeling anxious inside, Minato had no choice but to finish his words. He tried to keep it brief, but even after speaking as quickly as possible, he was still late.

The first place he arrived at was Kakashi, as it was Kakashi's Flying Thunder God kunai chakra that he had sensed. However, by the time Minato arrived, Kakashi's battle was already nearing its end.

Kakashi was undoubtedly a genius. Having regained his sword skills and combined them with his Sharingan and ninjutsu, he was far beyond the typical Jonin.

Though he couldn't casually defeat enemies as effortlessly as Uchiha Kei did, his Sharingan's insight, combined with his strong swordsmanship and the nature of Lightning Release to counter Earth Release, gave him a definite advantage.

Minato helped him kill a Stone Ninja and, after inquiring about the situation, learned it was urgent. He immediately rushed to Fukuji's location.

It was fortunate that Minato chose to prioritize Fukuji, as Fukuji was indeed in big trouble, and Nohara Rin's combat abilities were insufficient to deal with the Stone Ninjas.

Minato easily helped Fukuji defeat the Stone Ninjas, then had Rin treat Fukuji before heading to other Flying Thunder God marked locations.

He visited locations where Imai Kenta and Hyuga Aya were fighting, only to be surprised that, despite his concerns, he might not have been needed.

The two teammates who were with Uchiha Kei seemed to be handling things quite well. Their battles weren't easy, but they were holding their own and even starting to defeat their opponents.

Minato quietly admired the strength of Uchiha Kei's teammates before leaving to find him.

On the way, Minato noticed he hadn't seen Yellow Earth. He had judged that Yellow Earth must have gone to find Uchiha Kei, and this made him worry.

He remembered how both Uchiha Kei and Imai Kenta had nearly been killed by Yellow Earth before, and he knew from experience that Yellow Earth was tricky.

What Minato hadn't expected, however, was that when he found Uchiha Kei, he was just in time to see Uchiha Kei about to kill Yellow Earth!

"It seems Yellow Earth really isn't meant to die today." Uchiha Kei sighed, "Though it's a pity, it can't be helped."

"Sorry, Kei-kun." Minato didn't know what to say, so he could only apologize.

"Can you tell me the result of your negotiation?" Uchiha Kei tilted his head, "Maybe I have some interesting information that could help you."

"The result of the negotiation?" Minato sighed. "The Stone Ninjas are still quite tough, and the third Hokage's bottom line..."

Minato couldn't help but sigh again as he tried to organize his thoughts before explaining to Uchiha Kei.

Minato shouldn't really be divulging the details of the negotiations, but he had a good relationship with Uchiha Kei, especially after Kei had just helped him by letting Yellow Earth go.

Minato also felt that Uchiha Kei was a clever person, and perhaps he could come up with some useful suggestions.

Uchiha Kei quietly listened, his mind reflecting on the changes his arrival had caused.

Indeed, many changes had occurred. For example, the clause that had once been a disgrace—the one demanding the "total denial of compensation by the Land of Earth and the acknowledgment of their actions"—had already been changed.

The third Hokage, who held thousands of Stone Ninjas who couldn't retreat and had the Five-Tails Jinchuriki as leverage, had raised the price this time.

However, for Minato and Konoha's negotiating team, it was still too little. The new condition had become "the Land of Earth must acknowledge their defeat and pay war reparations."

In return, Konoha would "return all prisoners, including the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, and not participate in the Land of Earth's battles with the Stone Ninjas, even providing equipment for free."

While this clause was somewhat better than before, in essence, it wasn't much different.

As a defeated nation, paying reparations was inevitable, and exchanging reparations for prisoners was normal. But the last clause was simply an embarrassing display of surrender.

Providing free equipment might seem like it would make the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning fight each other, but did the third Hokage really think that the Land of Earth could keep fighting the Land of Lightning without a front?

It was clear that the third Hokage knew this, and he also knew that this method meant the Land of Earth was essentially paying Konoha for supplies, while getting back all their prisoners for free!

The core idea behind this was simply to end the war. It was true that the terms looked slightly better than the original treaty, but in essence, it was still the same.

Seeing Minato's troubled expression, Uchiha Kei knew that Minato, having become the Hokage, was fully aware of these issues. His political mind was sharp enough.

"Kei-kun, please don't spread these matters," Minato sighed. "The negotiations are still ongoing, but the third Hokage believes that ending the war is the most important thing..."

"So in the end, aside from gaining the title of 'victorious nation,' we got nothing," Uchiha Kei shrugged. "And after all we've given, we end up with nothing?"

"Kei-kun," Minato immediately interrupted Uchiha Kei, "I don't want this either. Neither does Jiraiya-sensei, nor does Shikaku. But... there's nothing we can do."

Minato truly felt helpless. He didn't want this situation to happen, but what could he change?

He was just a Jonin, and even though he held the position of Jonin Commander, what did that really mean?

Even his teacher Jiraiya was helpless, yet he still persisted, didn't he?

As Uchiha Kei had said, in the end, Konoha gained nothing but the legal title of "victorious nation."

"Captain Minato," Uchiha Kei suddenly smiled, "What if... I say what if I have information that could give you the upper hand in the negotiations and even force the Stone Ninjas to submit?"

"Then, what would I get in return?"

Chapter 118: Do You Want to Be Hokage? (Part 1)

"Ki-kun," Minato Namikaze frowned, feeling somewhat unclear about Uchiha Kishi's attitude.

Uchiha Kishi had obtained intelligence that could help take the initiative in negotiations and even force the Iwa ninja to submit? But now, Kishi was asking for something in return. This made Minato uncomfortable.

Minato was sure Kishi wasn't in a good mood. After all, he was about to kill someone who deeply hated him to reduce future threats, yet was forced to interrupt and give up. This situation would be uncomfortable for anyone. But asking for a trade involving information was something Minato found excessive.

"It's still early, Captain Minato," Uchiha Kishi said, with a smile as he sat on a chopped-off tree stump. "I just happen to have something I want to discuss with you. As for the information, you can observe the surroundings. Maybe you can figure it out without me saying anything."

"What does Ki-kun want?" Minato took a deep breath before asking and then glanced toward the distance.

Unfortunately, after only a brief glance, Minato withdrew his gaze because there was nothing worth looking at anymore.

Although Uchiha Kishi always followed a technical approach and didn't use any particularly terrifying ninjutsu, every strike he made was precise. But the situation with the Iwa ninja was different. The guy, Kurotsuchi, had pushed destructive force to its extreme, and his powerful taijutsu and Earth Style jutsu turned their battlefield into a wasteland.

The bodies of the Iwa ninja had long since disappeared. Even if they searched, they would mostly find severed limbs, not much useful for analysis.

So, Minato turned his attention back to Uchiha Kishi, waiting for him to clarify. He was curious about Kishi's real intentions.

Minato was just a regular Jonin. Maybe he was the Jonin Commander, but he wasn't in a position of great power, so it seemed impossible that Kishi would try to extract something beneficial for the village from him.

"I'd like to ask Captain Minato a question," Uchiha Kishi said, his smile faded slightly as he looked at Minato. "I wonder, Captain Minato, do you have a dream of becoming Hokage?"

"Hokage?"

Minato's pupils contracted when he heard Kishi's words. But he quickly regained his composure and smiled broadly. "Hokage, huh? Every child born in Konoha dreams of becoming Hokage. I suppose Ki-kun shares the same sentiment."

Minato's response was somewhat evasive, but Uchiha Kishi could clearly see the subtle change in his expression. Kishi knew that Minato was wary.

After all, Minato was Jiraiya's disciple, the Jonin Commander, and part of Konoha's core circle. Though he wasn't yet in the highest power circle, Minato was a legitimate candidate with strong connections. His wife, Kushina, was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!

That said, while Minato had access to a lot, he had also learned that the position of Hokage was often a distant dream, one that wasn't easily attainable. It wasn't just about being talented; you had to be chosen by various interest groups as well.

In the original story, Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage out of necessity because no one else wanted the job, and Jiraiya was Konoha's first choice. But Jiraiya didn't want the position, so they had to settle for Tsunade.

This was evident after Tsunade's collapse during her battle, when Danzo took over as acting Hokage, and the major clans made their moves. They didn't even bother distributing the Anbu properly.

Of course, Danzo didn't trust them either, which led to his death at Sasuke's hands, and the villagers didn't even mourn. The incident simply passed.

Kakashi had a slightly better situation. As the Fourth Hokage's disciple, he had strong relationships with his fellow Jonin, and being a former classmate of many, his obstacles were minimal.

Moreover, the older generation of power was wiped out by the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb.

The top power circles were reshuffled, and with Kakashi's connections, he faced the least resistance. Furthermore, the two strongest new-generation ninjas—Naruto and Sasuke—were his students. By the time Naruto became the Seventh Hokage, the top circles were all his friends and brothers, and even the most difficult clan, the Hyuga, was his in-laws.

With his strength and overwhelming support, Naruto's rise was seen as the people's will, fulfilling his long-time dream.

However, Minato's situation wasn't so simple. The Third Hokage still had a firm grip on his position, and Minato's generation was still young.

To be blunt, Minato had no chance right now. It would take at least another ten to twenty years before he had a shot.

"No, I don't want to be Hokage," Uchiha Kishi said with a hint of mockery in his voice. "Besides, the village wouldn't let an Uchiha become Hokage, would they?"

"Ki-kun..." Minato's expression froze, and he couldn't smile anymore. "Sorry, there are some things in the village..."

"Captain Minato, you've apologized a lot today," Uchiha Kishi interrupted Minato. He tilted his head with a meaningful smile. "This isn't your style. I believe you understand what I'm getting at. I'm talking about which generation of Hokage, aren't I?"

...

At this point, Minato fell silent. He looked directly at Uchiha Kishi, unsure of what to do.

He really wanted to leave, but Kishi had valuable intelligence. But if he stayed, Kishi's question left him at a loss for words.

Honestly, Minato wanted to answer, "Yes, I do. I dream about it every night!" But he didn't dare.

Who knew what Uchiha Kishi's purpose was in asking? Minato's obsession with becoming Hokage kept him rooted to the spot. He stared at Kishi in silence.

Five minutes. A full five minutes of silence, with both of them staring at each other.

Watching Minato's demeanor, Uchiha Kishi couldn't help but inwardly curse. Was this guy falling for me?

The struggle in Minato's eyes was hard to bear, but Uchiha Kishi, used to ambushing others and waiting for the right moment, held out.

"Alright, Ki-kun," Minato sighed. "Tell me your thoughts, but there's a precondition."

"Please go ahead," Uchiha Kishi relaxed, smiling. "Actually, even if you don't speak, I already understand. If we can't reach an agreement, I will forget today's conversation. We will have had no exchange."

"What about the information?"

"After we're done talking, whether you accept it or not, I'll still give it to you."

Chapter 119: Do You Want to Be Hokage? (II)

"Alright, what do you want to say, Seeker? I'm all ears."

After receiving Seeker's assurance, Namikaze Minato finally breathed a sigh of relief.

No matter what Seeker wanted to discuss, regardless of the outcome, Minato would still get the intel.

And Minato was indeed somewhat tempted. Deep down, he longed for the chance to step into the Hokage position. Otherwise, he probably would have turned and walked away.

It was this hope that kept him there, and Seeker's guarantee had given him a sense of security.

But Minato found it a bit amusing. Seeker's demeanor seemed as though he had already secured Minato's agreement.

Although Minato acknowledged that he had "taken the bait," he hadn't fully committed yet.

Sighing inwardly, Minato seemed to realize a weakness within himself — he couldn't stop yearning for the Hokage position.

Even though he knew it would take at least another decade or two before he had any real chance, that didn't mean he didn't have thoughts about it now.

"Captain Minato, when you returned to the village, did you hear any interesting news?" Seeker asked, seeing the look on Minato's face and knowing it was time to talk seriously.

"Interesting news?" Minato furrowed his brow, following Seeker's lead in thought. "Are you referring to... Orochimaru-sama?"

Minato wasn't a fool. Although he knew he had no chance, he had been keeping an eye on various developments.

For instance, he knew there were some issues regarding Orochimaru within the village. However, Minato wisely didn't get involved or pick sides.

Whether out of self-preservation or genuine indifference, Minato believed that eventually, everything would settle in a way that everyone could accept.

But now that Seeker had brought it up, it seemed a bit unusual.

Seeker represented the Uchiha clan, and if this had been one or two months ago, Minato wouldn't have thought much of what Seeker was saying.

Back then, Seeker was just a regular "marginalized family member." But now, it was different. He had the three-tomoe Sharingan and was the Vice Minister of the Konoha Guard!

Not to mention Seeker's terrifying power — he had defeated and could even kill a warrior like Ohnoki!

"Yes."

Status determined authority, and although Seeker wasn't fond of this, he knew he had no choice but to go with the flow.

He could tell what Minato was thinking, so he didn't mind. "It's about Orochimaru-sama. I'm sure Captain Minato must know about it."

"Indeed, I know something, but not in detail," Minato replied, more cautious now. "And I believe Orochimaru-sama has been misunderstood."

"Misunderstood? Who knows?" Seeker shrugged, speaking meaningfully. "But this is actually a great opportunity, don't you think?"

Opportunity?

Minato's face remained calm, but inside, a storm was brewing!

Now he understood. Seeker had kept him here to talk for a reason. The Uchiha clan was planning to push him for the Hokage position!

At this thought, Minato already had an answer — a simple one: reject!

Firstly, Minato didn't believe that the Uchiha clan had the ability to make this happen. Secondly, and more importantly, whether the Uchiha had this ability or not, in the end, he would be at odds with his teacher, Jiraiya!

At this realization, a cold smile appeared on Minato's face. This smile didn't match his usual demeanor at all.

Seeker noticed the change and immediately realized what was going on. After thinking it through for a moment, he understood.

This frustrated Seeker. The damn Second Hokage faction had turned the Uchiha clan into monsters.

And the Uchiha clan, damned as they were, had some insane individuals who had tarnished their reputation beyond repair.

"Seeker, I think we should stop talking about this," Minato took a deep breath. "And I still have the chance to become Hokage in the future, even if it takes a long time, but..."

"But you don't want to break ties with your teacher, Jiraiya-sama, right?"

Seeker shook his head, his expression calm as he looked at Minato. "Are you misunderstanding something? Breaking ties with your teacher doesn't benefit us in any way. The opportunity we're offering you is through the most legitimate and hidden methods, allowing the Third Hokage himself to make the decision."

"Is that so?" Minato looked at Seeker with some confusion, feeling completely lost. "But why? Why choose me? And who exactly are 'you'?"

"It's simple, really. I'm sure you know at least a little."

Seeker smiled. "The system left by the Second Hokage forced the Uchiha clan to gradually distance itself from the village. Some people within the clan advocate for more aggressive action toward the Hokage.

If things reach a breaking point... we must choose self-preservation.

Why choose you? It's simple because you're Jiraiya's disciple. You're a member of the Hokage's reserve team. You were born a commoner, and you're the only one who can treat the Uchiha clan fairly and offer us an equal opportunity."

At this point, Seeker paused, and Minato fell deep in thought.

Indeed, Minato, who dreamed of becoming Hokage, was well aware of the village's structure and had noticed many problems.

Among them was the fact that the Third Hokage had essentially inherited the Second Hokage's will, and the way they handled the Uchiha clan was... hard to describe.

Minato had considered the possibility that after he became Hokage, he would try to change everything.

But through Seeker's words, Minato realized that he was still too naive.

The actions of the Third Hokage and his heirs, and the pressure they placed on the Uchiha clan, could eventually lead to an explosion of uncontrollable conflicts.

At that point, no matter what happened, it might not be what Minato had hoped for, and the worst-case scenario was mutual destruction.

Watching Minato fall silent, Seeker smiled. "As for 'us,' there are only two of us. One is the Minister of the Konoha Guard, and the other is the Vice Minister."

"Fugaku, and you?" Minato murmured, coming to his senses.

After a long pause, he sighed deeply, his clear blue eyes locking onto Seeker's. He spoke calmly, "Can you tell me your thoughts, plans, and intentions?"

"Of course," Seeker's smile widened. "After all, we will be partners, won't we?"

The hook was set; the fish had bitten.

Chapter 120: Do You Want to Become Hokage? (Part Three) (For Nan Wulin Wu Jun Luo Hou, additional update)

The fish has indeed firmly bitten the hook. If before, it was just a bite, now it's impossible to pull away.

Uchiha Qi is like a demon who continuously tempts people to fall, step by step leading Namikaze Minato into his rhythm.

The most critical thing is that Minato has already understood Uchiha Qi's intentions and plans, but he simply cannot resist thoroughly. This is what gives Uchiha Qi the opportunity to take advantage.

Minato deeply loves the village, and he naturally does not want things to develop to that point.

Moreover, he has always accepted Jiraiya's advocacy of mutual understanding, so he does not hold any prejudice against the Uchiha clan.

On the other hand, Minato has always hoped to become Hokage. This has been his and his wife Kushina's dream, their most beautiful wish.

When his dream and his principles combine, and he can better influence the future and development of the village, Minato finds it really hard to resist Uchiha Qi's temptation.

Furthermore, the list Uchiha Qi presented is quite interesting. One is Uchiha Fugaku, and the other is Uchiha Qi himself.

Uchiha Fugaku and Minato are old acquaintances. Uchiha Fugaku is his senior, but Uchiha Fugaku's wife, Uchiha Mikoto, is Minato's classmate.

Moreover, Uchiha Mikoto and Minato's wife, Kushina, are close friends, and the two families often interact, so Minato is naturally aware of Uchiha Fugaku's inner thoughts.

Even though they haven't met for some time, Minato believes some things don't easily change.

As for Uchiha Qi, Minato finds him a bit hard to grasp.

But what's certain is that this guy is smart, a genius ninja, and someone closely connected to the village.

From his understanding through Kakashi, Minato knows that Uchiha Qi has a very good relationship with Kakashi, and the progress Kakashi has made recently has been noticeable to Minato.

This progress can be attributed to Uchiha Qi's help, and it seems Kakashi has even found his own path!

Helping a ninja determine a future path that suits him well is almost like being a teacher. Not only that, Uchiha Qi also maintains good relations with other young people in the village.

Furthermore, during missions, Uchiha Qi saved several captives. Although in the end, only Yamanaka Satoshi returned alive, Satoshi spoke very highly and positively of Uchiha Qi.

Not just Satoshi, but other ninjas who benefited from Uchiha Qi's actions in the battlefield all hold him in high regard.

"Actually, my view is quite similar to the clan leader's—that we can no longer accept someone influenced by the second Hokage as the Hokage."

Uchiha Qi took a deep breath and said calmly, "You're our best choice. And to get you into the position, we've already done some necessary things, taking advantage of Orochimaru's recent troubles."

"You should be using honorifics, Qi-kun." Minato sighed. "What have you done? And did Lord Orochimaru really do something he shouldn't have?"

"Maybe yes, maybe no, but it's not important," Uchiha Qi replied calmly. "But if you insist on looking into it, then I can say, there probably was something."

"Probably?" Minato frowned, but he quickly figured out the key. 

It wasn't that he couldn't think of it, but like Uchiha Fugaku, they both didn't think they had much of a chance, so they didn't pay too much attention or give much thought to the whole situation.

However, after Uchiha Qi pointed it out, they both realized something wasn't right. The whole situation seemed a bit suspicious.

Minato doesn't believe that the top candidate for Hokage would cause such a scandal, and the third Hokage would do nothing about it. It's likely that the third Hokage already did something, but it had minimal effect.

In that case, there can only be two conclusions: first, this matter is true, and second, there is someone behind the scenes, someone very powerful, pushing things along!

Minato suddenly woke up. Just as Uchiha Qi had said, whether Orochimaru did these things or not didn't matter—it's crucial that there can be no stains on the path to becoming Hokage!

The important thing is that this is an opportunity, a perfect opportunity, one that could lead Minato to the position he has longed for!

"Qi-kun, what are you planning, or rather, what have you already done?" Minato suppressed his inner excitement.

"It's simple. The conflict between the clan and the village, aside from those in the third Hokage's circle who hold onto the second Hokage's will, there are also internal issues within the clan."

Uchiha Qi smiled. "So, after discussing with the clan leader, we decided to clean up a few people and change the Uchiha clan's image in Konoha."

"Clean up…" Minato's pupils contracted. "Did you do it to Uchiha Yuu?"

"I did it," Uchiha Qi calmly nodded. "As a hardliner, he seemed to be fighting for the clan, but in reality, he was ruining the clan's image in the village and hindering the clan members from integrating into Konoha. So, at the right time and in the right place, I had him removed."

Hearing Uchiha Qi's calm tone, Minato felt a chill run down his spine for some reason.

The so-called right time and place was actually just framing Orochimaru, right?

When Orochimaru's scandal exploded, this event conveniently appeared, and the place where the attack occurred was not far from the security department, making it look like the attacker was very powerful and disregarded the Uchiha clan.

With such strength and Orochimaru's recent bad reputation, he became the prime suspect, even if no one directly said it, everyone would suspect him internally.

More importantly, Minato suddenly realized that this move also gave a sharp blow to the person hiding in the shadows and stirring things up, as described by Uchiha Qi.

It's possible that the third Hokage has already noticed this and might wonder if the person behind the scenes is the one causing trouble.

Minato stared at Uchiha Qi in a daze. He realized this guy was no longer just scary—he was completely different from a poisonous snake lurking in the shadows waiting for prey!

"Actually, you don't need to look at me with such eyes, Minato-kun," Uchiha Qi suddenly sighed. "If it weren't for survival, who would want to do such things?"

Minato couldn't say anything for a long time. Finally, he could only helplessly sigh.

Indeed, according to Uchiha Qi's analysis, the pressure from the village and the internal pressure of the Uchiha clan might lead to terrible consequences.

Winning against the village might bring about turmoil, and if the Uchiha clan loses, they might no longer exist.

Uchiha Qi and Uchiha Fugaku came up with this method, but it was truly just for survival.

And the person they could choose… seemed to be none other than himself.