CHAPTER 108

The three engaged in a fierce battle, but the winner was undoubtedly Uchiha Kiyo.

The gap in strength was too vast to be bridged by numbers alone.

Fighting helped him vent his emotions, and after the battle, Uchiha Kiyo's previously stagnant mood felt lighter.

His research and development of the Shunshin no Jutsu had reached the limits of what he could currently achieve. Further improvements would require time and experience that could not be rushed.

Returning home that night, Uchiha Kiyo began restructuring his research schedule.

First, there was the Gravity Barrier, which still required further study. However, given the time constraints, he decided against relying on an incomplete technique.

Second, he had noticed his own strength approaching a bottleneck.

Once he fully mastered the techniques he was refining—such as the Shunshin no Jutsu, Repulsion Technique, and Genjutsu, which he was currently polishing—he would reach the peak of the elite Jōnin level.

Not quite quasi-Kage, but still at the very top of the elite Jōnin tier.

It was important to clarify that quasi-Kage was not a separate classification, but rather a transitional stage for those on the verge of reaching the Kage level.

With this realization, Uchiha Kiyo had an idea.

Once he had laid a solid foundation, he could begin developing his own original ninjutsu.

Using the techniques of others could only take him so far—true power came from techniques tailored to his own abilities and style.

Unlike his earlier inventions, what he envisioned now were truly advanced techniques—lethal, decisive moves.

Perhaps, by perfecting these, he could finally break through the threshold to the Kage level.

However, this would not happen overnight. There was still much work to be done.

For now, what should he focus on?

At first, Uchiha Kiyo wasn't sure.

But then, an idea struck him.

When he had created his clone technique, he had always intended to refine it further.

The current form of his clone secret technique had undeniable advantages, but its flaws prevented it from reaching its full potential.

The main issue was Chakra consumption.

Once used, the clones depleted their Chakra reserves.

Even though he could seal away extra shadow clones for later use, the problem remained.

No matter how many reserves he had, it was an unsustainable model—his clones were a constant drain on his Chakra.

This flaw was particularly evident in battle. The clones simply could not last long enough.

What if the clones could refine Chakra on their own?

If they could replenish their own Chakra, they would no longer be constrained by a time limit.

A clone that could generate its own Chakra could theoretically last for months, perhaps even a year!

This had been one of his original goals, but he had forgotten about it amidst his other research.

Now, it was time to revisit that idea.

The Yang Yuan Gong technique he had developed already allowed him to extract physical energy efficiently from his own body. However, it was still dependent on various bodily processes—certain enzymes and secretions were necessary for Chakra extraction.

Since his clone technique created real bodies, complete with functioning organs, theoretically, they should be able to refine their own Chakra just like the original.

The missing component was spiritual energy.

Unfortunately, Uchiha Kiyo's understanding of spiritual energy was still shallow. He had not yet found a safe method to transfer it to his clones.

The frontline was not a suitable place for this kind of delicate research, but now, in the village, he finally had the opportunity to study it properly.

It wouldn't take long to refine his clone technique—he just needed to establish the right direction and perform experiments.

The main risk was failure. Since he lacked in-depth knowledge of spiritual energy, his only option was trial and error. If he made mistakes, it could set him back significantly.

Should he take the risk?

"...I'll bet on it."

In the end, Uchiha Kiyo decided to go forward with the research. Along the way, he could also deepen his understanding of spiritual energy.

---

Shimura Clan Compound

Danzo's two-day confinement had given him time to reflect.

The way the Third Hokage had reprimanded him made his position clear—he had overstepped his authority.

Sending agents to monitor village shinobi without approval was unacceptable.

Danzo had initially been confused—this was no different from what he had always done before. Why was Hiruzen so angry this time?

As his subordinates gathered intelligence, the full story became clear.

The operative he had sent to track Uchiha Kiyo had been eliminated—and not just eliminated, but killed under the accusation of being a foreign spy.

And Hiruzen had gone along with it!

Danzo clenched his fists in fury.

"Damn him… Uchiha Kiyo did this on purpose. He knows about Root, yet he still dared to frame my agent as a spy?!"

Now, Uchiha Kiyo had started openly labeling Root agents as enemies and executing them.

This was a blatant challenge to Danzo's authority.

He could not allow this to continue.

"Such a dangerous individual must be eradicated before he destroys the village."

Danzo's expression was cold as he made up his mind.

---

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's Office…

For the first time in a long while, things were peaceful.

With Danzo out of the picture for the past two days, Hiruzen finally had a moment of respite.

Without Danzo buzzing in his ears, he could focus on actual government work.

And as expected, without Danzo provoking him, Uchiha Kiyo had also remained quiet.

Reports from the Anbu confirmed that Uchiha Kiyo had spent his time purely on training.

The problem was clear as day.

It wasn't that Uchiha Kiyo was a troublemaker. The real issue was Danzo's interference.

However, the Third Hokage knew he couldn't keep Danzo locked away forever.

The war was nearing its end, and Root had a vital role to play.

Once the peace treaties were signed, there would be political maneuvering, intelligence-gathering, and the infiltration of enemy villages. Root was necessary.

And once Danzo was free, he would undoubtedly focus on rebuilding his organization.

In the original timeline, this was when Root had expanded the most.

Danzo's next steps were predictable—and they presented another opportunity for Uchiha Kiyo.

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