Chapter 184: The Uchiha's Celebration!

"Itachi, Kimimaro, the battle is about to begin soon. Are you scared?" Shisui asked as he found the two little ones—Uchiha Itachi and Kaguya Kimimaro—sitting in a corner, gnawing on dry rations. Both had been brought from the village by Sougen and placed in Shisui's advance team.

"I don't like war."

"There's nothing to be afraid of."

Both answered in unison, though their responses were quite different.

These contrasting replies revealed their differing personalities. Though both were prodigies, calm and confident, Itachi, influenced by people like Shisui and Hiruzen Sarutobi, possessed a spirit of self-sacrifice and longed for peace over chaos.

On the other hand, Kimimaro, raised in the battle-hungry Kaguya clan and later mentored by Orochimaru, was colder and more ruthless, lacking self-awareness and viewing Orochimaru as his sole purpose.

"Not fond of war? Neither am I. But in life, there are many things beyond our control. In times like these, the best we can do is end the war quickly," Shisui said as he patted Itachi's shoulder, his gaze falling on Kimimaro. "Kimimaro, don't be careless. There are many powerful fighters among the Cloud ninjas. Having a sense of respect isn't a bad thing."

"Before I return to Lord Orochimaru, I won't die."

Kimimaro's reply made Shisui shake his head helplessly. It was clear that changing this young one's mindset would be a long journey.

"Itachi, I'll leave Kimimaro in your care."

Shisui was pleased with Sougen's decision to have Itachi watch over Kimimaro. The two were close in age—still just children, technically—but were both exceptional geniuses. Shisui entrusted them once more.

"Don't worry, Shisui. I'll keep an eye on him. He won't leave my sight," Itachi promised earnestly.

Kimimaro glanced at Itachi but said nothing.

He couldn't beat Itachi. They had sparred several times, and each time Kimimaro gave his all, but he couldn't grasp Itachi's true strength. Since he couldn't defeat him, he naturally accepted Itachi's lead.

Kimimaro respected strength. Until he could surpass Itachi, following his command seemed only right.

"Alright, finish eating quickly. Once we're done, we'll be moving out."

After a brief chat with the two, Shisui continued his rounds, greeting the other clansmen and reminding the jonin to keep an eye on the chunin, cautioning the young, hot-blooded members to stay calm, and advising the prideful to not underestimate their non-Uchiha comrades.

As time ticked away, the sun climbed to its zenith. Back in the village, this would be the time when smoke from cooking fires rose like a gray forest. The Cloud ninjas stationed in the Grasslands Mountains should also be ready for their meal by now.

Meanwhile, Shisui's advance team had already eaten their rations.

"Move out!" Shisui commanded.

Over 300 Konoha ninjas immediately mobilized, rushing toward the distant, hazy forest. Shisui led from the front, making no effort to hide or ambush. The Cloud ninjas on lookout weren't blind, nor were they incompetent.

A warning signal shot up into the sky.

Cloud ninjas, known for their aggressiveness, didn't retreat. Instead of defending, nearly a hundred of them charged back at Shisui's forces, ready for a fierce fight to see who was the stronger.

However—

Their courage couldn't match up against overwhelming strength.

"Leave no one alive. Kill them all."

Shisui's order spread swiftly. His kindness didn't extend endlessly. While he had wavered between his village and clan, seeing them as two sides of the same coin, Cloud ninjas were unequivocally enemies. On the battlefield, he had struck fear into the hearts of Mist ninjas, and against these invaders, he had no mercy.

Uchiha Style: Gale Sword!

With his unmatched Body Flicker Technique and masterful swordsmanship, Shisui decapitated a Cloud ninja leader in one swift motion. The severed head rolled far away, the fountain of blood not even touching Shisui's cloak.

He moved like a whirlwind through the Cloud ninja ranks. Wherever he passed, swords broke, heads rolled, and blood flowed like a river.

The Kusanagi Sword, in Shisui's hands, shone with unparalleled brilliance. He didn't even use its ability to fly, merely relying on its sharpness, which was more than enough to cut down every enemy in his path.

After obtaining the Kusanagi Sword, Shisui had spent his days perfecting his Wind Release techniques, maximizing the sharpness of the wind. Paired with the sword's natural edge, it was like slicing through butter. The broken weapons and severed heads of the Cloud ninjas were proof of this.

Just then, Shisui saw flames rising in the sky.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

Uchiha Fugaku's hand seals were so fast they were almost impossible to follow. A massive fireball erupted from his mouth, trapping Cloud ninjas mid-air with no chance of escape. His timing was impeccable, and no one could have done it better.

The short-lived cries of agony ended as three Cloud ninjas, attempting to surround Fugaku, were reduced to charred remains.

With a single move, Fugaku took down three Cloud ninjas. Without breaking a sweat, he drew the sword at his waist, his crimson Sharingan eyes gazing at the Cloud ninjas as if they were walking corpses. Deep inside, he felt a joy and freedom he hadn't experienced in a long time.

Despite his indecisiveness and tendency to go with the flow, Uchiha Fugaku was, after all, a true Uchiha.

After being cooped up in the clan for so long without a chance to flex his muscles, he had kept his frustration in check. But now, with a rare opportunity to fight freely, his mood soared. No longer worrying about the clan's future or his responsibilities as leader, he could cast aside all concerns.

All he had to do now was kill. When he slashed down another Cloud ninja, feeling the blade tear through flesh and shatter bone, his heart leaped with excitement.

Indeed,

The Uchiha were born for the battlefield!

"Yashiro, stop stealing my kills!" Fugaku grumbled when Uchiha Yashiro swooped in to claim a head that should have been his, completely forgetting that Yashiro had been one of his staunchest supporters back when he was clan leader.

However, as the saying goes, "When the person leaves, the tea cools."

Once Fugaku Uchiha stepped down from his position as clan leader, many of the clan members, still harboring ambitions, scattered like birds. After Sōgen's series of dazzling strikes took down Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura's control, the clan members completely forgot about their former leader.

"Haha! Elder Fugaku, don't worry, there's plenty of prey left!"

Uchiha Hachidai grinned wildly, his expression carefree, completely lacking the usual seriousness.

As one of the senior figures of the Uchiha clan, he, like Fugaku, had always been anxious about the future of the family. The increasing pressure from the village weighed heavily on their hearts like a stone, making every breath difficult during those days.

But fortunately, those days were over.

The younger generation of the clan had gradually matured. The current clan leader was a prodigy beyond their comprehension, but even the outstanding performances of people like Shisui Uchiha and Aransan Uchiha alone were enough to ease Hachidai's worries about the clan's future. At last, he could let go of his concerns and enjoy himself freely for once!

What a relief!

An unprecedented sense of relief!

That's how Uchiha Hachidai, Uchiha Kōhei, Uchiha Meirei, Uchiha Meishin, Uchiha Juwa, Uchiha Inoka, and Uchiha Tekkō felt. The fierce battle gave them an exhilarating sense of freedom and joy in simply being alive!

"Haha, what a rush! This is incredible!!!"

Uchiha Meirei laughed loudly, unable to contain his excitement.

He was one of the top fighters in the clan and one of the three captains of the police force. His skills and leadership were unmatched. But day after day, month after month, year after year, handling petty crimes like theft and robbery in the village made him feel like all his strength went unused. Sometimes, he even missed the Third Great Ninja War and the thrill of dominating the battlefield!

And now, he was reliving that indescribable thrill once again!

Uchiha Inoka was drenched in blood, wielding twin blades. He had one blade tucked under his left arm and another clamped under his right knee. His family had passed down the Four-Blade Style for generations, and at that moment, he became a walking killing machine. Any Cloud ninja that stood in his way was immediately immobilized by genjutsu, and in the next second, his four blades dismembered them.

Even other Uchiha members hesitated to get too close to him due to his ferocity.

Only his younger brother, Uchiha Tekkō, stayed by his side, and the two brothers fought through the enemy ranks together.

"So strong!"

Watching the Uchiha's fiery offensive, Kimimaro, who had just impaled a Cloud ninja with a bone, was momentarily stunned. Having witnessed the battles of Shisui Uchiha and Orochimaru, he had high standards and wasn't easily impressed. What shocked him was the Uchiha clan's madness and battle spirit!

For a brief moment, he seemed to see a reflection of his own Kaguya clan, which had been wiped out by the Mist ninja.

But unlike those reckless and arrogant Kaguya, the Uchiha were far stronger!

This group of Cloud ninjas was nearly obliterated in a single encounter with the Uchiha, wiped out in mere moments. The Uchiha flawlessly executed Shisui's order—no survivors.

As for the Leaf Village's losses? Almost none.

Not a single Uchiha was killed, and only two very young chunin were slightly injured. As for non-Uchiha ninjas, there weren't even any wounded—because they were nowhere near as terrifying or fast as the Uchiha. By the time they joined the fight, all that was left was to clean up the battlefield!

Only Might Guy had managed to take out seven or eight Cloud ninjas, snatching kills from the Uchiha, earning him their grudging respect for his strength.

Strictly speaking, there was also Kimimaro, the last of the Kaguya clan. Inherited from his bloodline was a fierce nature, and despite being stunned by the Uchiha's madness and power, his own movements were even swifter than most adults. His flying bones cut down Cloud ninjas alongside Itachi Uchiha as they charged through the enemy lines like a storm.

"Shisui, the Cloud ninja sent up a smoke signal. What's our next move?"

Fugaku Uchiha strode over, stepping on the blood-soaked ground.

"Keep moving forward."

Shisui tossed aside the Cloud ninja he had just killed. After probing the enemy's mind, he confirmed once again the location of their base in the Kusatsu Mountains. Since the intel was accurate, there was no need to hesitate—they would march straight to the base!

He hadn't even used Susano'o, relying solely on his lightning-fast Shunshin jutsu and the Uchiha's elusive swordsmanship to crush these Cloud ninjas. His chakra reserves were still ample. Looking around, he could tell the others weren't too drained either. No need to stop for rest.

"Let's take down the Cloud ninja in the Kusatsu Mountains in one strike. Let them learn the true meaning of pain."

"Then let's keep going."

This time, Fugaku didn't bother with his usual caution or words of restraint. His sword was still dripping with blood, his body barely warmed up, and his excitement had yet to subside. He was far from cooling down.

Shisui's orders spread quickly.

There was no time to fully clean up the battlefield. They merely gathered the corpses of the Cloud ninja jonin and a chunin who had the magnet release kekkei genkai. The rest of the bodies were left behind as they pushed forward, following Shisui's lead toward the Cloud's base in the Kusatsu Mountains.

The overwhelming bloodlust sent birds fleeing and animals scattering.

At this moment,

Darui, tasked with guarding the Kusatsu Mountains, received word of the Leaf's advance. Without hesitation, he dispatched a messenger to inform the Raikage and then swiftly gathered his forces, marching toward the smoke signal.