In the thick mist.
Uchiha Yashiro's breathing was labored as he stood with his sword in both hands, his crimson Sharingan darting rapidly to locate any possible Hidden Mist ninja. For some unknown reason, the mist had grown denser, and the edges of his vision darkened.
Yashiro used his sword to make a small cut near his eye, allowing the淤血 (stagnant blood) to flow out. This was an injury sustained during the relentless battle with White Demon—a strike that had nearly split his skull open.
The fierce battle against White Demon and the Hidden Mist ninjas was far from easy. As time passed, Yashiro gradually lost hope of victory. After all, one man alone could not hold his own against a group, especially when one of them was a skilled jonin.
"Did I overestimate myself?"
Though his strength had improved significantly, it still had its limits.
The sound of rushing wind came from behind. Yashiro turned swiftly, raising his sword to block.
Clang!
The blade emerging from the mist was deflected, and White Demon's figure flashed past. Strong currents of water in the mist sharpened into swords, attacking from all directions.
"Stone Breathing!"
"Third Form: Stone Skin!"
Chains of rock and earth coiled around his body, blocking the oncoming water blades. Using "Shave," he quickly retreated from his position. The clashing of swords echoed around him.
"The Six Styles... I'm not very proficient in them."
Yashiro glanced down at his leg, where a fresh wound bled.
"As expected of the Hidden Mist's assassination squad."
He sighed. If this dragged on, defeat was inevitable. The only reason he could hold out now was the substantial amount of chakra he had accumulated through the Basic Internal Energy Technique.
"Still resisting?"
White Demon's voice drifted through the mist.
"How much longer can you last?"
Yashiro fell silent for a moment, tightening his grip on his sword.
"I can fight you all day!"
The chakra stored in his body was his capital for prolonged combat.
A sigh came from the mist. White Demon sounded impatient.
"Full force. Kill him."
The mist reverberated with the command.
"Hey, hey, you've got to be kidding me." Yashiro's expression darkened.
"This isn't even their full strength?"
He had been fighting for his life with everything he had.
Then, suddenly, everything changed.
A violent gale swept through the area, scattering the mist in an instant. The thick fog offered no resistance.
"What's happening?!"
White Demon's figure was now exposed, his face twisted in anger. All the Hidden Mist ninjas were forced into the open. Everyone's gaze turned toward the source of the disturbance.
A towering, skeletal giant, glowing with a pale yellow light, stood half-revealed in their sight.
"What... is that?!"
A Hidden Mist ninja stammered in horror.
Yashiro was equally stunned as he stared at the colossal half-formed skeleton—and the figure it encased.
Uchiha Fugaku.
The enhanced vision granted by the Basic Internal Energy Technique allowed Yashiro to clearly see Fugaku's Sharingan, which had transformed into a pattern he had never seen before. Bloody tears streamed from the corners of his eyes.
Fragments of memory surfaced.
In a secret clan record he had once read...
Yashiro murmured the words.
"The ultimate power of the Uchiha clan."
"The Mangekyō Sharingan!"
The skeletal giant, Susanoo, raised a massive blade in its hand and swung horizontally at the Hidden Mist ninjas. The yellow blade carried a tempest, the wind sharpened into deadly slashes.
Wherever it passed, the Hidden Mist ninjas were torn apart. Even the canyon walls bore a massive gash from the strike.
"That's not a power any ordinary ninja can possess!!"
White Demon's voice rose in terror, his face contorted with fear. Without hesitation, he turned to flee.
But... could he escape?
The half-formed Susanoo leaped high into the air, its enormous blade moving with impossible speed. Countless slashes rained down like artillery fire, bombarding the ground where the Hidden Mist ninjas stood.
Yashiro watched as White Demon, who had nearly reached the canyon's edge, was struck by one of the slashes—his body instantly reduced to nothing.
The entire canyon was decimated. Only the spot where Yashiro stood remained untouched, clearly spared by the wielder's intent.
Words failed Yashiro as he processed the emotions surging within him. The towering figure, the agile movements, the power to annihilate everything—
"This... is the Uchiha clan's strongest power."
As the last of the Hidden Mist ninjas fell, blood stained the canyon floor.
Yashiro had witnessed it firsthand.
The overwhelming strength that had once allowed the Uchiha to dominate the ninja world.
A half-formed Gundam.
Susanoo!!!
Under the onslaught of Susanoo, not a single Hidden Mist ninja escaped. All perished at Fugaku's hands.
When Susanoo dissipated, Fugaku staggered, nearly collapsing. Yashiro rushed to his side, supporting him.
"Fugaku, that was...?"
Yashiro couldn't hold back his question. This was the power that had allowed the Uchiha to reign supreme during the Warring States era. No Uchiha could remain indifferent to such strength.
"The Mangekyō Sharingan."
Fugaku confirmed Yashiro's thoughts.
But Yashiro was overwhelmed by exhilaration.
With that power...
Even becoming Hokage was possible, wasn't it?
Fugaku clutched his eye, the pain nothing compared to the anguish in his heart.
This power had cost Uchiha Takashi his life.
Was it truly worth it, to gain such strength at the price of a dear friend?
Fugaku sank into deep contemplation.
"Yashiro." Fugaku's voice was grave.
"You must never speak of my Mangekyō to anyone."
"Huh?!"
Yashiro was baffled. Shouldn't this power be used to intimidate Konoha and pave Fugaku's path to becoming Hokage?
"The clan cannot withstand the upheaval."
Fugaku sighed.
Konoha already had one Uchiha, Uchiha Kin. That was enough.
And truthfully, he despised this power.
"I will abide by your will."
Though Yashiro disagreed inwardly, Fugaku was the Uchiha clan's hope for the future.
He would obey.
Fugaku studied Yashiro's earnest expression and nodded.
"Where's Takashi?"
Only then did Yashiro realize someone was missing.
Fugaku's expression darkened.
Yashiro understood and fell silent.
Recalling the records in that old book...
"If Takashi knew his death granted you this power, he would be happy."
Yashiro offered comfort.
Fugaku glanced at him, but a chill settled in his heart.
Was power gained through a comrade's life truly worth it?
Meanwhile, at Konoha's outpost in the Land of Hot Water.
Sarutobi Fuji stared at the stack of intelligence reports in his hands.
"Hidden Mist has deployed a large number of ninjas into the Land of Hot Water."
"A Hidden Mist base has appeared in the Land of Hot Water."
"Konoha ninjas were ambushed by Hidden Mist forces—total annihilation."
The losses in the Land of Hot Water were devastating. Konoha's intelligence network there had collapsed, with many outposts already destroyed by Hidden Mist ninjas.
The implications were clear.
"Hidden Mist has declared war!!"
Sarutobi Fuji's face turned ashen.
...
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(End of Chapter)