CHAPTER 112

After getting home a few hours late, Uchiha Kiyo had just finished dinner when a masked ninja suddenly leaped over the wall and landed inside his courtyard.

Uchiha Kiyo rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"This group of people... Can't they just use the door?"

Being in the Uchiha district, Anbu ninjas wouldn't dare to trespass so openly. At most, they'd perch on the walls and observe from a distance. The only ones who would enter like this were members of the Uchiha clan—specifically, the Patriarch's personal guards.

"Uchiha Kiyo, the Patriarch has summoned you."

Without waiting for a response, the masked ninja turned and vaulted over the wall again, disappearing into the night.

Uchiha Kiyo clicked his tongue in irritation.

"Really? Still going over the wall? Can't they just walk out the door like normal people? Maybe I should set up some traps and teach them a lesson. If they keep getting caught, they might actually change their ways."

Shaking his head, he quickly tidied up before heading towards the Patriarch's residence.

---

Ten Minutes Later – The Uchiha Clan Leader's Home

Uchiha Kiyo arrived at the Patriarch's study. It was already late, yet Uchiha Suke was still there, diligently handling clan affairs.

"Patriarch, you called for me?"

Uchiha Suke looked up from his desk, his expression unusually serious.

This immediately put Uchiha Kiyo on edge. Something must be wrong. Could it be Danzo stirring up trouble again?

But the Patriarch's next words dismissed that notion—it was news from the frontlines.

"I've just received updated intelligence from the battlefield. Overall, Konoha still holds the advantage, but the situation has grown more intense. The Sand Village has mobilized their puppet corps, and they're deploying a lot of poison-based attacks, resulting in heavy casualties on our side.

Not only that, but despite our upper hand, the battles are far more brutal than our previous engagements with Amegakure. So far, three Konoha Jōnin have fallen."

Hearing this, Uchiha Kiyo sighed in relief.

He had expected something much worse. If it was just the battlefield growing more intense, it wasn't beyond what he had prepared for.

But Uchiha Suke wasn't done.

"Don't underestimate the situation. The fighting in Kaze no Kuni is escalating, and those three Jōnin were just the casualties from the last few days.

Moreover, the poison being used by Sunagakure is highly lethal. Even some elite Jōnin and medical-nin have succumbed to it, and so far, there's no effective antidote. This toxin is said to be capable of affecting even shinobi with high chakra control."

Seeing that Uchiha Kiyo was still calm, the Patriarch added another warning.

"Also, beware of the puppets. Sand's puppet masters control multiple combat puppets at once, giving them an overwhelming advantage against shinobi of the same level. Their puppets are highly durable, and many are equipped with hidden weapons and traps—most of which are coated with poison. If you're not careful, even a scratch could be fatal."

Uchiha Kiyo nodded seriously, acknowledging the warning.

"Thank you, Patriarch. I'll be cautious."

Uchiha Suke was pleased by his attitude.

Young shinobi were often too eager to prove themselves, underestimating the battlefield. But Uchiha Kiyo had always been meticulous and careful—an important trait for surviving war.

He patted Kiyo's shoulder with a sigh.

"You're a smart child, and you've always been careful. That puts my mind at ease."

Kiyo inclined his head in appreciation.

"But that's not the only reason I called you here."

Uchiha Suke's tone became heavier.

"Danzo suffered a major setback recently. That man holds grudges—he's likely planning something. Be on your guard. Just because he hasn't made a move yet doesn't mean he won't."

Uchiha Kiyo had already suspected as much. Danzo's Root forces had been significantly weakened, so if he tried anything, it likely wouldn't be a direct attack. More likely, he would try to sell Kiyo's information to his enemies.

After discussing a few more matters, the Patriarch finally let him go.

---

On the Way Home

As Uchiha Kiyo walked back, he reflected on the meeting.

It was clear that Uchiha Suke took his safety seriously. The Patriarch had shared valuable intelligence—not just casualty reports but details on battle strategies, enemy formations, and the general situation on the frontlines.

It was rare for a clan head to take such personal interest in a single shinobi. But Uchiha Kiyo's potential warranted that level of attention. Few Uchiha had awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan at the age of thirteen, and such talent needed to be protected.

Despite the grim battlefield conditions, Kiyo wasn't overly concerned.

"The Second Shinobi War ends the same year as the battle that earns the Sannin their titles. That means we're already in the final stretch. It's going to be bloody, but the war is close to ending."

He had strengthened his ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, becoming an elite Jōnin-level shinobi. Combined with his Flying Technique and Body Flicker mastery, he had a solid survival strategy. If things ever got too dangerous—he'd just retreat.

Unlike in later wars, the Second Shinobi War wasn't known for its high number of Kage-level casualties. The true top-tier fighters remained restrained, and most of the devastation occurred among lower and mid-level shinobi.

"Even if I run into trouble, I have options. But… maybe I should make preparations to create another clone before leaving."

For his next clone, he needed a fresh, intact corpse—preferably a skilled ninja. And since he couldn't just kill innocent shinobi at random, that meant targeting the Root once again.

Danzo was already weakened, but Uchiha Kiyo was about to make things even worse for him.

"Of course, I need to be discreet. If Root loses more operatives right before I'm deployed to the battlefield, Danzo will immediately suspect me. I should time my move carefully—perhaps a day or two before leaving for the frontlines. That way, even if he suspects, he won't have time to act."

Reaching home, Uchiha Kiyo set aside his thoughts on Danzo and turned his attention to his training.

Tonight, he would thoroughly analyze the four Wind Release jutsu he planned to learn, ensuring he had a solid understanding of their chakra cycles.

He also went through his old training notes, revisiting a few basic Wind Release techniques from years ago.

So far, he had identified over 230 different chakra circulation patterns—a crucial foundation for developing his own custom jutsu in the future.