"So… so powerful."
Kurenai stared at this scene in a daze, her eyes filled with wonder.
The ability to make Chakra almost materialize like this represented something terrifying.
Her father was a Jonin, and thanks to this, Kurenai knew a lot of information about Jonin. Among Jonin, very few could do what Kiyoshi did.
"Quick, go to Jūzō."
Kiyoshi spoke, his pace not fast, but carrying a commanding authority that oppressed people's hearts.
Even though his ocular power far exceeded the three tomoe, it still hadn't reached the threshold of Mangekyo, so controlling the Six-Tails was indeed a bit strenuous. A Tailed Beast's tails could largely determine its combat power. Just half of the Nine-Tails could fight on par with any Tailed Beast other than the Eight-Tails.
The final Ten-Tails completely surpassed all Tailed Beasts.
While Kiyoshi was restraining Utakata, Hizashi handed Hiashi to a Hyuga Clan member and quickly went to support Fugaku.
With Utakata restrained and Ringo slacking off the entire time, the Konoha ninjas, who had a numerical advantage, began to gain a one-sided upper hand.
"Got it!"
Jūzō was momentarily caught off guard, his clothes were shattered by Hizashi, and the sealing scroll tumbled to the ground, allowing Hizashi to quickly snatch it away.
"It's all because of that Kiyoshi." Jūzō gritted his teeth, his chest heaving violently.
He had clearly held the advantage, but this Uchiha had forcibly turned the tide. This was Kirigakure's closest chance to acquire the Byakugan bloodline, but it was ruined in an instant.
Without hesitation, Jūzō made a decisive move, quickly hoisted kubikiribocho, and dashed into the distance. He was an ambitious man, he would never tolerate dying here like this.
"Jūzō-sama is retreating! Fall back quickly!"
"All forces, retreat!"
A Kiri ninja shouted, and like a lit fuse, the ranks collapsed and fled.
With the first Kiri ninja to retreat, there came a second, and a third.
The war between ninjas and ordinary people was essentially the same, the difference being that ninjas possessed more power and could cause greater destruction. The feelings of bewilderment, fear, and conformity that humans possess, ninjas also experience.
"Mei, are you alright?"
During the retreat, Miru saw Mei collapsed in a puddle of water.
Her lips were cracked, her face pale, showing signs of dehydration. If Mei hadn't occasionally shivered, Miru would have almost thought Mei had died on this battlefield.
Miru quickly carried Mei on her back and walked away.
"Miru…?"
Mei's empty, watery eyes gained focus, and a voice as faint as a mosquito's hum drifted from her throat.
Later on, due to extreme dehydration, her body had stopped responding. Now, even the strength to speak was as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
She looked at the person carrying her and formed a faint impression. Mei remembered that Miru was one of Kisame's squad members.
"Did we lose?"
"Utakata-sama is temporarily sealed, and those guys are attacking him, but with the power of a Tailed Beast, he'll break free soon, they can't hurt him." Miru turned her head and said.
If they didn't leave before this mist completely dispersed, they would truly have no chance at all. Utakata had a way to escape, but they would definitely be captured.
"Is that so…"
Mei no longer had the strength to speak, she could only murmur in her heart.
Out of the corner of her eye, she looked at Kiyoshi, who was hovering in the air behind her, his greenish-blue outer robe extending into several illusory spirit snakes that coiled around the Six-Tails.
That's right. She was too weak. Her weakness caused her body to be desecrated each time these comrades died. Kiyoshi was strong, and she was weak, which led to the current situation.
Acting recklessly was the right of the strong!
Mei finally understood this painful truth.
Thinking of her humiliating experience just now, a flush spread across her cheeks. It was hard to tell if it was anger or shame, but the desire for power was incredibly clear at this moment. It wasn't her who was wrong, but this world.
One day, she would correct this wrong world, just as she would correct the wrong Blood Mist Policy. Kiyoshi was the person she absolutely had to correct.
Miru, who was carrying Mei, naturally didn't know the turmoil in Mei's heart. She only felt that Mei's body was sticky. It had soaked her back, and when the cold wind blew, she felt a chill. This made Miru quicken her pace.
At the next stronghold, powerful members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist like Fuguki, Jinpachi, were all there. Her teammate from the same period, Kisame, was also there.
"You… are very good. I've remembered you."
After the Kiri ninjas retreated, Utakata also understood that the tide had turned. He took a deep look at Kiyoshi, knowing that a new star would soon rise in Konoha. Unfortunately, there was no opportunity to eliminate Kiyoshi from his cradle, allowing Kiyoshi to gain some momentum. To deal with him, he would have to prepare in advance.
"Six-Tails!"
Utakata roared, and the Chakra within him erupted like a mountain flood. The massive Tailed Beast body rapidly shrank and transformed, turning dark blue. Like a winding, twisted, small snake-like form, it quickly disappeared into the distance.
"Is that a unique ability of the Six-Tails?"
Kiyoshi did not pursue. The others also chose not to pursue. This mission was already quite successful. Not only did they prevent the outflow of the Hyuga bloodline, but they also effectively occupied this stronghold.
By now, the remaining Kiri ninjas in the buildings behind were all fleeing.
"The Byakugan wasn't recovered."
Hizashi frowned, looking at Nobuhiko, whom Homura was carrying on his back. Nobuhiko's eyes had no eyeballs, only empty sockets. The Byakugan stolen by Kirigakure was still in Ao's right eye. Kirigakure would likely transplant the other Byakugan to another ninja.
At that time, Kirigakure would have two Byakugan users, which was not good news for the Hyuga clan. It was bad enough that the Byakugan was stolen, but his elder brother was also severely injured.
"Medical Ninja!" Hizashi shouted.
Two medical ninjas ran over to provide emergency treatment to Hiashi.
Before long, Fugaku began to order ninjas to take over the Kirigakure stronghold.
Looking at the ravaged land, he sighed.
Several Uchiha ninjas had died. If he hadn't held back, perhaps the casualties wouldn't have been…
No, if not for that, the Uchiha clan would be viewed with suspicion. This power had to be saved for the very end. He would have to issue more condolence payments when they returned.
Fugaku's gaze fell on Kiyoshi. Perhaps Kiyoshi could be supported as an overt combat force. With one overt and one covert, the Uchiha clan could continue to thrive steadily.
"Kiyoshi, if your new ninjutsu wasn't so difficult, I'd want to learn it too."
Kurenai immediately ran over, taking out her water bottle and handing it to Kiyoshi.
Kiyoshi's clothes were tattered from the intense battle just now. The strong outlines of his muscles were inadvertently revealed.
Kurenai unconsciously gulped.
Kiyoshi took a drink.
"Eh, wait…"
Kurenai suddenly thought of something. Wouldn't that be an indirect kiss?
"What's wrong?"
Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow, intending to tease Kurenai, and took another drink from her water bottle.
"Ah, nothing." Kurenai shook her head continuously.
Kiyoshi, who was taller than Kurenai, could easily look down at her. So he saw Kurenai's small ears, red beneath her curly black hair. Not only that, the fine downy hairs on her fair neck were also red, making her look incredibly cute. Kurenai was very red right now.