"Another Mangekyō…"
Sarutobi Sasuke's eyes widened, fixed on Uchiha Su hovering high above the battlefield.
Even though his heart pounded violently and every pore on his body trembled under the electric charge crackling in the sky, Sasuke did not flinch. The purple lightning from above had already locked onto him, its raw energy threatening to shred his body in an instant. Yet, in the midst of that fear, he muttered to himself, a mixture of awe and dread in his voice: "Another genius has emerged from the Uchiha… the Mangekyō… What will become of Konoha in the years to come?"
Since the death of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, Konoha had been forced to fight on two fronts, sinking deeper into the quagmire of war. And yet, even under such strain, the Village still retained what may have been the strongest economy and infrastructure in the entire Ninja World.
But it was no longer a force capable of inspiring awe and fear across the continents as it once had. Its strength had limits, and those limits were about to be tested.
To the east, the Uchiha rebels who had defected and integrated into Hidden Mist leadership were watching like predators, poised for opportunity. To the west, Sunagakure's forces were obsessively focused on the fertile lands that lay beyond Konoha's borders. Meanwhile, Kumogakure and Iwagakure quietly coveted Konoha's abundant resources and reputation as the top power in the Ninja World.
External threats were immense.
Yet even within Konoha, unrest simmered.
The Uchiha Clan that remained in the Village watched silently, calculating. The Hyūga prioritized their own clan interests above all else. The Ino–Shika–Chō combination wavered with indecision, reluctant to commit fully. Even the Sarutobi Clan, Sasuke's own clan, was divided.
Sasuke closed his eyes for a moment. Though he was the patriarch, he could not represent the decisions of every member. Some elders, stubborn and obstinate, were slow to adapt to changing circumstances, clinging to their outdated ideals.
Beyond the Village, nobles in the Land of Fire had begun to panic. The invasion of the Hidden Mist had prompted those living in the eastern regions to flee to the capital, petitioning the Daimyo to cut funding for the Hokage and appoint someone more capable.
Sarutobi Sasuke's chest tightened. Even if the current Hokage possessed the political skill to suppress dissent within Konoha, what could be done about the mounting threats outside the Village? And if something were to happen to the Second Hokage… the thought alone was enough to make him shiver.
His thoughts barely registered before a series of massive purple lightning bolts tore through the sky, shattering the air with explosive energy.
Sasuke did not even have time to summon Enma. In an instant, his body was charred to blackened ash, reduced to nothingness.
Shock froze the personal guards who had just joined the battlefield. They could only stare at their fallen commander in disbelief, grief and terror mingling in their hearts.
Unable to contain themselves, some guards launched a desperate, death-defying charge toward Uchiha Su.
But it was futile. Among them, a traitor waited.
Under Uchiha Setsuna's precise and lethal strike, two Jonin fell instantly, their lives snuffed out before they could reach the enemy.
"Nishikawa… you… betrayed us?"
"You were an undercover agent! Damn you, Nishikawa! I won't forgive you, even as a ghost!"
"How could you be worthy of Lord Sarutobi's teachings?"
Shocked and incredulous curses swept across the remaining guards, but Uchiha Setsuna remained expressionless. He deactivated his Transformation Jutsu and spoke coldly, with the authority of someone born for battle.
"I am Uchiha Setsuna, Assistant of the Mizukage. There is no betrayal. This was my mission, and nothing more."
The red-eyed Hidden Mist warriors, alerted to his presence, surged forward in unison. Within moments, all ten-plus of Sarutobi's personal guards were eliminated under the combined assault.
The death of Sarutobi Sasuke shattered the morale of the Eastern Army completely.
No hesitation, no rallying cries—only chaos. The soldiers turned and fled in every direction, cutting down comrades who blocked their path in a desperate bid for survival.
The Eastern Army, once numerically superior and organized, collapsed in an instant.
Morale is a fragile thing. It can elevate a coward to heroism, or reduce a veteran to trembling fear, incapable of even drawing his blade.
"Kill a few first to weaken them further. Do not call for surrender until they are completely broken," Uchiha Su said casually. "If you encounter Konoha Ninjas unwilling to submit, have those who surrendered finish them. If there are too few, assign multiple soldiers to one target."
Cruel? Of course. But this was the naked reality of the Ninja World. Uchiha Su had long since accepted this. Now, he could observe carnage with a serene, almost academic detachment.
What thrilled him even more was the prize before him. The eastern part of the Land of Fire now lay completely defenseless. A veritable treasure trove, ripe for the taking. The plundered population and wealth could equate to twenty years of Hidden Mist development. And yet, this was only the east—the most fertile lands remained in the central regions, still untouched.
The Hidden Mist forces executed the slaughter systematically, cutting down the Eastern Army with ruthless precision.
The Eastern Army, already in a rout, had long since lost cohesion. Squad members could no longer find their captains, captains lost contact with higher-ranking officers. A few Jonin tried desperately to rally their troops, only to be quickly surrounded and eliminated, unable to make even the smallest impact.
Uchiha Su's gaze fell on Miwacho. It was a major settlement, wealthy and densely populated. In terms of economic and strategic value, it more than justified the months of preparation and the half-month of plundering preceding this battle.
"Take control of the city gates. Every exit must be guarded. Entry is allowed, but no one leaves!" he ordered.
"Understood, Lord Su!"
The messenger sprinted off, carrying the command, while Kaguya Takuma returned with a small stool. He placed it behind Uchiha Su and held the young lord's shimizu at the ready, standing sentinel with unwavering focus.
Half an hour later, the one-sided slaughter began to wind down.
The surviving Konoha Ninjas were herded outside Miwacho. Some managed to escape, but their numbers were insignificant. The overall strategic situation remained firmly in Uchiha Su's favor.
"Those willing to surrender, move to the left. Those unwilling, to the right," he ordered.
Troop counts were conducted. Over one thousand three hundred warriors were willing to submit, while more than four hundred refused. Nearly two thousand had perished on the battlefield, and hundreds more were critically injured.
The Hidden Mist side also paid a price: three hundred dead, hundreds lightly wounded, over a hundred seriously injured. Even with Sarutobi Sasuke gone, victory had required significant effort.
The surrounded Konoha Ninjas hesitated. Their comrades lay only a few steps away—would they betray them to prove their allegiance?
"In ten seconds," Uchiha Su's voice cut through the tension like steel, "those who remain unmoving will be treated as unwilling to surrender. They will be surrounded and executed immediately!"
The countdown began.
At his command, the majority stepped forward, willing to surrender. Over one thousand three hundred bowed to the Hidden Mist. The stubborn four hundred remained on the right, defiant to the last.
"Now," Uchiha Su said, narrowing his eyes, "pick up your Kunai or swords and eliminate those who refuse to submit. This is your pledge of allegiance. Only after proving yourself will you stand with us."
Silence fell. The surrendered warriors faced an impossible decision—kill their comrades, men and women they had fought beside for years, or die refusing. Fear and loyalty warred within them.
Finally, one Jonin in a combat vest gritted his teeth. He drew his Katana and advanced toward a fearful, hesitant opponent.
"We are all from the same Village…" the Ninja stammered.
Before the words could leave his mouth, the Katana struck. The head fell in a clean, horrifying strike.
Clap… clap… clap…
Uchiha Su's slow, deliberate applause echoed across the battlefield. A faint smile curved his lips.
"What is your name?" he asked the Jonin, eyes gleaming with approval. "I like those with clear goals and unyielding ambition."
The pledge had been sealed. The remnants of the Eastern Army now either belonged to the Hidden Mist or lay dead in the fields. Miwacho was firmly under Uchiha Su's control, a symbol of strategic brilliance and absolute power.
Above, the clouds began to part, the sunlight reflecting off countless blades. The Hidden Mist had struck a decisive blow, and the Ninja World would remember this day.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)