Chapter 42: War? Training Base!

"Unlucky to encounter you, Konoha Demon," a Sand ninja uttered his final words weakly, a large hand deeply embedded in his chest.

Wanma frowned, grabbing the ninja's clothes to wipe his bloodied hand, muttering to himself, "Why hide? You splattered my hand with blood. Blowing up your head is painless."

Returning to the camp, Wanma read the news from Konoha, sneering.

Over a year of war, Wanma had slaughtered countless Sand ninja spies, virtually dismantling their entire intelligence division. Wanma's predatory blood sense could easily detect ninjas within a few kilometers, coupled with his close combat skills, leaving no room for Sand ninja spies to survive.

Even high-level ninjas had no chance when encountering Wanma in the wild; they were simply delivering themselves to death, failing even to delay him.

Sand ninja started calling Wanma the Konoha Demon, believing that encountering him meant certain death.

Half a year ago, to suppress Wanma's growing battle achievements, thereby intimidating the Third Hokage, the Third suddenly ordered the recall of civilian ninjas from Wanma's unit, sending clan ninja squads instead under the pretext of "expanding results."

On the surface, it seemed to bolster Wanma's unit, but the already-grown civilian ninjas were scattered again, replaced by carefully selected clan ninjas by the Third. Two squads were sent: one from the Hyuga Branch House and the other from the Aburame Clan. The Hyuga had longstanding conflicts with the Uchiha since the Warring States period, while the Aburame Clan were subtly leaning towards the Third Hokage.

The Third's intention was to share Wanma's battle achievements among the clan ninjas and make those clans indebted to him. Essentially, Wanma fought at the frontline while the Third sent favors from behind.

But the Third didn't consider that this battlefield, ostensibly a three-nation melee, would spark a massive war in the ninja world if Konoha showed any signs of weakness.

Noticing the Third's intention, Wanma began slacking on the battlefield, turning the war into training for the Uchiha.

He had no desire for the Hokage position but wouldn't be a pawn for the Third's favors. The news of chaos between Konoha, Sand, and Rain Ninja reached other villages, prompting more intense secret operations from Cloud, Rock, and Mist Ninja. Cloud had even dispatched organized units, prowling on the Fire Country's border, ready to strike.

Adding fuel to the fire, Wanma deliberately allowed Sand ninja to contact other nations' secret divisions.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was distressed. The reason other nations hadn't intervened yet was due to Tobirama Senju's reputation from the First Ninja World War, having led Konoha against four others, earning great prestige.

Despite Konoha's lingering prestige, over two decades had sparked curiosity among other villages. In the year of ongoing war, Konoha hadn't achieved significant results, gradually losing accumulated prestige.

Twenty years of peace provided Konoha a golden development period but also saw the departure of Warring States-era veterans, the true backbone of Konoha. The new generation of Konoha ninjas, aside from prodigies like Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Sakumo Hatake, had much weaker fighting spirits compared to the impoverished Sand and Rain ninja.

Should the other three nations perceive Konoha's outer strength and inner weakness, they would swarm in.

Wanma sneered at the Third Hokage's urge for action, thinking he had slacked for the past half-year.

A cheerful shout interrupted Wanma's thoughts. "Teacher Wanma! We're back!"

Kushina and Nawaki dragged several giant black bears and wild boars, while Minato lazily trailed behind, guarding against Sand ninja.

"Prepare the ingredients. I'll call them back," Wanma instructed the cooking team, his eyes focusing, expanding his predatory field. The entire forest was instantly flooded with the scent of blood.

In the distance, Uchiha Fugaku, pursuing Sand ninja, felt a shiver, gritting his teeth and quickening his pace.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Nail Crimson Art!" Agile and raging flames engulfed the Sand ninja's figure ahead, leaving a charred corpse once the flames dissipated.

"Let's go, Tekka. Brother Wanma is calling us back."

"Already felt it. Really looking forward to today's meal, Vice Commander Fugaku~"

"Shut up!"

The two endured the pervasive blood scent in the forest, silently marveling. No matter how many times they experienced it, Brother Wanma's jutsu was truly exaggerated. What kind of bloodline limit was this predatory field?

Wanma's predatory field grew continuously from relentless slaughter. Unleashing it fully, he could cover a range of four to five Konoha villages effortlessly.

Under its bloody shroud, without distinction, all chakra-containing life forms would slowly be eroded, affecting their spirits as well.

Instead of distinguishing allies, Wanma let the Uchiha slaughter freely in the bloody environment. The carnage greatly stimulated Uchiha's Sharingan, turning the entire battlefield into a sacred ground for Uchiha's eye-awakening.

Instantly, Jiriaya saw wave after wave of clan members returning for rest, most having awakened their Sharingan, smiling widely.

The younger Uchiha generation began worshiping Wanma, for who wouldn't want to follow someone capable of unlocking their eyes?

The alternative slacking of the hunting unit annoyed the Third Hokage, but there was no one to replace Wanma. Wanma's current achievements were already beyond reach for others.

Hoping nothing from the Third Hokage anymore, Wanma felt his last bit of affection for Konoha fading. First, he was hindered in training Eight Gates, later threatened concerning Minato and Kushina.

"Brother Wanma, is it time to eat?" Fugaku and Tekka, covered in blood, hurried to the camp's mess hall, seeing Wanma and others enjoying their meals, complaining, "Wait for me next time. Kushina eats too much, starving me will kill fewer Sand ninja."

This mix of forthrightness and brutality was a distinct trait of the Uchiha. 

Hyuga Yuto kicked Fugaku, pacifying Kushina, then handed him a large bowl. 

"Stop complaining. Following Brother Wanma gets you delicious stew; otherwise, eat ration pills on the Rain battlefield."

Surprisingly, the Hyuga Branch House sent by the Third Hokage bonded well with the Uchiha. With Wanma's presence, the Uchiha lost their peculiar arrogance; after all, their strongest member hadn't even awakened his Sharingan.

No need to argue over "who holds the strongest eye technique in the ninja world."

Minato scooped a large portion of stew for Tekka and Fugaku.

"Thanks, thanks!"

They ate heartily, freshly cooked stew scalding their mouths. Watching this, Hyuga Yuto sighed inwardly, finding unexpected freedom on the battlefield compared to his clan house.

As a Hyuga Branch member, he had been ingrained with the concept of family hierarchy, having never felt this liberating experience. No bowing, no salutes, no groveling to the Main House, only focusing on his duties with a strong support behind him.

Looking at Wanma, Hyuga Yuto's eyes grew complex, a seed planted in his heart, awaiting growth.