Chapter 25
The thin morning mist had not yet dispersed when Uchiha Sanpō led the Divine Demon Battalion members charging toward Kusagakure.
Uzumaki Huiyi followed close behind him, her red hair fluttering in the morning wind, her heart filled with both tension and anticipation.
When the team reached a secluded valley, Uchiha Sanpō raised his hand to signal everyone to stop.
"Rest here for a moment and practice Divine Demon Transformation. I need to check your progress."
Uchiha Tetsuka, Uchiha Inaka, and Uchiha Kusuri grinned widely.
"Sanpō, we didn't slack off last night!"
Before the words finished, their hands flashed through seals—
"Rat – Monkey – Boar… Tiger! Divine Demon Transformation!"
In an instant, all three transformed into the two-headed, four-armed form.
Immediately after, the remaining 31 members of the Divine Demon Battalion also activated Divine Demon Transformation. In moments, the entire valley was filled with two-headed, four-armed Uchiha ninjas—the sight was utterly shocking!
Uzumaki Huiyi's eyes widened, her crimson pupils full of astonishment.
—In just one day, they had all mastered this technique?!
Uchiha Tetsuka's right-side head burst into laughter: "Hahaha, Sanpō-niisan! Divine Demon Transformation consumes very little chakra, and unlike Shadow Clone, it doesn't split your chakra in half. That's why we could practice nonstop."
Uchiha Sanpō nodded in satisfaction: "Excellent. Now try combination ninjutsu."
Thirty-five two-headed, four-armed monsters formed seals simultaneously: "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!... Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Though their wind-fire combination techniques were far less powerful than Sanpō's own,
when thirty-five people cast them together, they instantly created a fire wall over 1,000 meters long! The temperature in the valley skyrocketed; heat waves warped the air, even scorching the surrounding rocks red. Uzumaki Huiyi stood to the side, feeling the onrushing hot wind, her heart filled with shock.
"This team's strength is simply terrifying!"
Eleven jōnin and twenty-four chūnin—all mastering Divine Demon Transformation—was equivalent to eleven elite jōnin and twenty-four standard jōnin in combat power! Such force—even one of the Five Great Ninja Villages wouldn't lightly provoke it!
Her originally anxious mood finally settled.
At noon, when Uchiha Sanpō led the Divine Demon Battalion to Kusagakure's outskirts, the sentries on the watchtower immediately sounded the alarm horn.
"Enemy attack—! Uchiha incoming—!"
The urgent bell rang through the village. In minutes, hundreds of Kusagakure ninjas surged from all directions, densely blocking the village entrance.
Kusagakure's leader, a middle-aged man with a sinister face, asked coldly: "Uchiha, what business brings you to our Kusagakure?"
Uchiha Sanpō wasted no words: "The Uzumaki clan has become an affiliated family of the Uchiha. Hand over the fifteen Uzumaki clansmen."
The Kusagakure leader narrowed his eyes: "The Uzumaki clan is Kusagakure's property. Why should we hand them over to you?"
Uchiha Tetsuka scoffed: "Property? Treating people like livestock—you Kusagakure are truly shameless."
The Kusagakure leader's face darkened: "Looks like you're here to cause trouble?"
Uchiha Sanpō said flatly: "Last chance: hand them over, or… die."
The Kusagakure leader sneered: "I've heard Uchiha are extremely arrogant—now I see it's outright madness! Kill them all—let them know Kusagakure isn't to be bullied!"
Over five hundred Kusagakure ninjas had already gathered around them. They formed seals simultaneously, killing intent soaring!
Uchiha Sanpō gave the order: "Show them the power of the Uchiha!"
The thirty-six Divine Demon Battalion members spread out and formed seals in unison: "Rat – Monkey – Boar… Tiger (Divine Demon Transformation)!"
In an instant, thirty-six Uchiha ninjas' bodies underwent dramatic changes. Flesh writhed at the right side of their necks as new heads burst forth! Two thick arms extended from under their original ones. The two-headed, four-armed forms, combined with their crimson Sharingan, looked like asura crawling from hell!
"What… what monsters are these?!" The Kusagakure ninjas' faces changed drastically.
Uchiha Sanpō ordered coldly: "Combination ninjutsu—prepare!"
The thirty-six two-headed, four-armed Uchiha ninjas formed seals simultaneously, four hands moving in perfect sync, completing the sequences in a flash!
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique… Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The left heads spewed scorching fire waves; the right heads whipped up violent hurricanes. Wind and fire fused, creating a sea of flames over 1,000 meters in radius, crushing toward the Kusagakure ninjas!
"BOOM—!!"
It was December; the grass and trees were withered and dry. Wherever the fire wave passed, vegetation turned to ash. The front-row Kusagakure ninjas didn't even have time to scream before being burned to charcoal!
The Kusagakure leader roared in terror: "Scatter! Scatter now!"
But the Divine Demon Battalion's attack had only just begun!
"Second wave!"
Another thirty-six combination techniques erupted; fire waves surged like tsunamis across the battlefield. Kusagakure ninjas fell in droves amid widespread wails!
"Earth Release: Mud Wall!"
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Kusagakure jōnin desperately cast defensive ninjutsu, but under the terrifying power of the wind-fire combinations, earthen walls crumbled and water curtains evaporated—the defenses were like paper!
Kusagakure had only over 1,000 ninjas in total. Now, in less than a minute, over ninety Kusagakure ninjas lay dead; the survivors had completely lost fighting spirit and retreated in terror.
The Kusagakure leader's face was ashen white. He finally realized he had made a fatal error.
This Uchiha force's strength was simply not something they could resist!
The Kusagakure leader bit his teeth and roared: "Damn it! Retreat—we surrender, don't fight, we'll hand them over, don't fight!"
Uchiha Sanpō raised his hand; the Divine Demon Battalion immediately halted their attack but maintained combat readiness—the intimidation was absolute.
Soon, fifteen ragged Uzumaki clansmen were brought out, their eyes numb and despairing.
Uzumaki Huiyi rushed forward instantly, voice choking: "Everyone… it's me, Huiyi! I'm here to save you!"
The Uzumaki clansmen froze. Then an elderly woman trembled as she reached out: "Huiyi… is it really you?"
Uzumaki Huiyi nodded vigorously, tears streaming: "It's me! We're free!"
Uchiha Sanpō coldly glanced at the Kusagakure leader: "Remember today's lesson—don't target the Uzumaki clan again."
The Kusagakure leader bit his lip and lowered his head, not daring to retort.
After leaving Kusagakure, Uchiha Sanpō had the Divine Demon Battalion members take turns watching over the Uzumaki clansmen, ensuring their safe arrival in the Land of Fire.
The Uzumaki clansmen were initially wary of the Uchiha ninjas, but under Huiyi's explanations, they gradually let down their guard.
The elderly Uzumaki woman—Uzumaki Chika—walked up to Sanpō and bowed deeply: "Lord Sanpō… thank you for saving us."
Uchiha Sanpō glanced at her and said flatly: "No need to thank me—thank Huiyi if you must."
Uzumaki Chika smiled bitterly: "Even so, we won't forget your kindness."
Uchiha Sanpō said no more, only instructing: "Once in the Land of Fire, you'll temporarily follow the Uchiha clan's operations. We'll provide shelter and supplies."
The Uzumaki clansmen exchanged glances and finally nodded in agreement—they had no other choice.
Uzumaki Huiyi walked over and said softly: "Lord Sanpō, thank you."
Uchiha Sanpō turned to look at her: "Huiyi, no need for such formality. I've said it before—you are my woman…"
Uzumaki Huiyi's heart warmed, the corners of her mouth curving upward slightly.
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