Orochimaru returned to the front lines, his expression unreadable as he relayed Jiraiya's decision to Tsunade and the rest of the Konoha forces. Uchiha Kiyo, standing among them, absorbed the news in silence. Jiraiya had chosen to stay behind and teach three orphans from the Land of Rain.
"The wheel of fate is still turning," Kiyo muttered under his breath.
Despite Jiraiya's absence, the battle against Hanzo and the Hidden Rain Village forces continued to rage on. However, Yūren Village failed to gain any advantage in the conflict. Hanzo's offensive may have put pressure on Konoha, but in doing so, he inadvertently contributed to the rise of three new powerhouse shinobi. The legendary Sannin—Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya—had broken through to a higher level during their battle against the infamous Salamander.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Kiyo played a pivotal role in ensuring Konoha's survival. Through his swift and strategic actions, he not only rescued several Konoha ninja from near-certain death but also neutralized Hanzo's poison with the help of Konoha's medical team. Hundreds of ninja were saved due to his intervention, including a senior Jōnin and five Tokubetsu Jōnin.
These contributions alone were worthy of immense recognition—equivalent to the completion of ten A-rank missions. Additionally, Kiyo's overwhelming combat prowess led to the complete annihilation of over two hundred enemy ninjas, the majority of whom had fallen by his own hands. Such feats were comparable to the merit gained from completing three S-rank missions.
Yet, despite accumulating such remarkable achievements, Kiyo remained patient. He chose not to claim his rewards just yet.
Hanzo's decision to personally lead an assault on the Konoha forces indicated that the situation in the Land of Rain was rapidly escalating. A decisive battle was approaching, one that would determine the fate of the entire region.
Kiyo estimated that within a month, the Land of Rain would erupt into a large-scale war involving the three major powers. When that moment arrived, he intended to make even greater contributions—earning far more than what he had already achieved.
Twenty Days Later
As expected, the decisive battle between the Hidden Rain Village and Konoha had begun.
Tens of thousands of ninja from both sides gathered on the battlefield, the sight of their assembled forces stretching as far as the eye could see. The darkened sky cast an ominous shadow over the landscape, amplifying the tension in the air.
As an elite Jōnin, Uchiha Kiyo did not position himself among the regular troops. Instead, he stood at the vanguard alongside the other high-ranking shinobi, ready to engage in direct combat.
High above the battlefield, Hanzo stood atop his massive salamander, looking down upon the sea of shinobi beneath him. With a slow, deliberate motion, he unsheathed his blade and swung it downward.
Orochimaru and Tsunade reacted instantly.
Neither would allow that attack to land.
The battle began in an instant.
Tsunade and Orochimaru engaged Hanzo head-on. Despite their newfound strength, the legendary Salamander's overwhelming power still placed them at a disadvantage. Only when the frontline commander, Senju Taku, joined the fight did the battlefield find some semblance of balance.
Senju Taku, a veteran elite Jōnin from the Senju clan, possessed immense chakra reserves thanks to his clan's natural vitality. His presence was enough to tip the scales, adding an additional layer of pressure against Hanzo.
The battle was far from over.
Kiyo understood the importance of endurance in warfare. Rather than expending all his chakra immediately, he chose to conserve his strength—waiting for the most opportune moment to strike with full force.
Of course, he couldn't simply remain idle.
Picking out an elite Jōnin from the Rain Village, Kiyo engaged his opponent in a controlled battle, ensuring that his target was fully occupied and unable to harm Konoha's forces.
Throughout the battlefield, Konoha's shinobi adopted a similar approach—each ninja pairing off with a suitable opponent, preventing any high-ranking enemy from freely massacring lower-level forces.
However, one factor concerned Kiyo above all else.
Hanzo's poison.
The massive salamander beneath Hanzo was a walking biohazard. If it released its deadly toxins, Konoha's entire army would be at risk.
During the previous skirmish, Kiyo had managed to extract most of the poison from the affected Konoha ninjas, leaving only trace amounts that had to be manually suppressed. Even after Tsunade returned, no perfect antidote had been developed. Unlike the poisons crafted by the Hidden Sand Village, Hanzo's toxin originated directly from the natural venom of his salamander. Its sheer potency made it incredibly difficult to neutralize.
The only available countermeasure was a temporary suppressant that slowed the toxin's effects but did not eliminate them. If Hanzo released his poison in this battle, Konoha would suffer.
Fortunately, the salamander was currently occupied. Summons of equal strength—Manda and Katsuyu—kept the beast engaged, preventing it from unleashing its deadly mist on the battlefield.
The war raged on.
The battlefield became a massive slaughterhouse, consuming the lives of countless shinobi.
One hour passed.
Then two.
Three…
Ten hours later, exhaustion had begun to set in.
Although elite shinobi possessed greater stamina and mental fortitude, even they had their limits. The prolonged battle took its toll, forcing many to fight through sheer willpower alone.
Kiyo observed his surroundings carefully. Most of the higher-ranking ninja had already depleted a significant portion of their chakra reserves. While he possessed exceptional recovery abilities, not everyone shared his advantage.
His eyes sharpened.
Now was the time to act.
Activating his Sharingan, Kiyo weaved a rapid series of hand seals.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Dozens of small but deadly fireballs erupted from his mouth, their trajectory guided by his precise chakra control. Each flame carried enhanced heat intensity, making them far more lethal than the average Phoenix Fire Jutsu.
However, Kiyo wasn't aiming for a direct hit.
Instead, he manipulated their path—using the controlled explosions to redirect an incoming attack from an enemy Jōnin.
With his opponent momentarily thrown off balance, Kiyo capitalized on the opening.
Charging forward, he activated a modified "Earth Release: Tearing Earth Spear."
(A technique where the user forms an earth-based spear directly on their arm—do not misunderstand.)
Unlike the traditional version, Kiyo's variation shortened the length of the spear, making it more suitable for rapid, close-quarters combat.
He thrust the weapon forward.
His opponent barely managed to dodge, twisting his body to the side. Even so, Kiyo's strike grazed the ninja's chest, leaving a deep wound.
Not wasting a second, Kiyo shifted his grip and delivered a sweeping strike, knocking the enemy backward.
The wounded Rain ninja immediately attempted to retreat, leaping back several hundred meters to create distance.
Kiyo wasn't about to let that happen.
Weaving another set of hand seals, he performed "Earth Release: Ninja Tool Creation Technique."
A barrage of stone kunai materialized in the air before him, all aimed at his retreating foe.
At the same time, Kiyo altered the terrain beneath the enemy's feet.
The ground trembled violently.
The Rain ninja struggled to maintain balance, and in that brief moment of instability, Kiyo's kunai struck—multiple projectiles piercing the enemy's body.
Without hesitation, Kiyo finished the job.
"Fire Release: Exploding Flame Bullet!"
A flaming sphere shot forward, detonating upon impact.
The battle continued, and Kiyo wasted no time moving on to the next target.
Again and again, he struck—each attack precise, each movement calculated.
The war showed no signs of ending, but Kiyo was determined.
This was just the beginning.
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