Chapter 26: Shisui's Talent Can Rival the Ancestors
At the Konoha border outpost watchtower, the sentry's binoculars suddenly trembled.
On the distant hillside, over thirty Uchiha ninjas were escorting a group of red-haired men and women toward the outpost.
The sentry shouted down: "Quick, open the gates! Lord Uchiha Sanpō has returned!"
The outpost gates rumbled open. The Divine Demon Battalion members strode in proudly, heads held high. Protected in their midst were sixteen Uzumaki clansmen—though their clothes were ragged, hope had reignited in their eyes.
An Uchiha ninja rushed over: "Hey, Tetsuka! Where have you guys been? Why did you bring back so many Uzumaki clansmen?"
Uchiha Tetsuka's Two Tomoe Sharingan spun smugly: "We went to Kusagakure! Thirty-six of us fought over five hundred Kusagakure ninjas—they lost over ninety, and we didn't lose a single hair! Hahaha, I've never had so much fun fighting!"
The news spread like wildfire through the outpost.
Within half an hour, every corner was buzzing about the Divine Demon Battalion's feat. Team members were surrounded by former comrades, vividly recounting the earth-shaking battle.
"You didn't see it—we thirty-six formed seals together, and the fire wall shot up higher than a mountain…"
"Those Kusagakure trash tried to block with Water Release? Hahaha, they got steamed alive!"
"The Kusagakure leader was so scared he surrendered on his knees and obediently handed over the Uzumaki clansmen…"
Soon, the story of Uchiha Sanpō leading the Divine Demon Battalion to rescue fifteen Uzumaki clansmen by storming Kusagakure and killing over ninety Kusagakure ninjas reached the higher-ups.
Not long after, Uchiha Ukon rushed over: "Sanpō, the Clan Head and others want to see you!"
Uchiha Sanpō's eyes flashed with amusement: "Uncle Ukon, I'll be right there."
Moments later, inside the high-level meeting room, Uchiha Sanpō pushed open the door. Four pairs of eyes shot toward him like arrows. Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku sat at the head, expression calm; Elder Hachidai crossed his arms under his chin, brows furrowed; Clan Heads Kurama and Kazami sat on either side, expressions complex and unreadable.
Seeing only the four of them in the room, Uchiha Sanpō remained perfectly composed.
He smiled confidently: "Clan Head, Elder Hachidai, Uncle Kurama, Uncle Kazami—you all look well! I wonder which lady kept you company last night? Haha!"
Clan Head Kurama's eye twitched; Clan Head Kazami gave two dry laughs in response.
Uchiha Hachidai slammed the table: "Sanpō, you've only just become a battalion commander, yet you privately mobilized thirty-five subordinates to attack Kusagakure. Do you know your mistake?"
The air in the meeting room seemed to freeze, but Uchiha Sanpō remained unruffled. He walked leisurely to an empty chair and sat down with casual grace.
He crossed his hands on the table, smile unwavering: "Although the Uzumaki clan's country has fallen, Konoha never officially dissolved the alliance. According to the original treaty, as a Konoha ninja, I have the duty to rescue allied clansmen trapped in Kusagakure!"
Uchiha Fugaku gave a slight nod—they weren't truly angry; this was partly to temper Sanpō's ability to think on his feet.
After receiving intelligence from Kusagakure, what they truly cared about was the transformation of the Divine Demon Battalion. After all, it had only been formed a day ago, yet it had displayed such terrifying combat power.
Uchiha Fugaku's voice was low and powerful: "We heard Kusagakure sent over five hundred ninjas and you killed over ninety of them. Tell us what happened."
Hearing the Clan Head's question, Uchiha Sanpō stood straight and replied: "At the time, over five hundred Kusagakure ninjas charged at us. My thirty-six members activated Divine Demon Transformation, then simultaneously used wind-fire combination ninjutsu to counterattack. We created a flame wall over 1,000 meters long and 30–60 meters wide, instantly killing a portion of the Kusagakure ninjas."
The room fell silent—even Elder Hachidai's eyes widened.
"Some Kusagakure ninjas tried to block with Earth Release: Mud Wall, Water Release: Water Formation Wall, and similar techniques. I ordered a second wave of combination ninjutsu—the flames rode the wind, slipping through their defensive gaps… Those hiding behind the earth walls were roasted alive."
Clan Head Kazami swallowed hard: "And then?"
Uchiha Sanpō shrugged: "The Kusagakure leader knelt and begged for mercy, handing over the fifteen Uzumaki clansmen."
The four people in the room exchanged glances—they had expected some clever scheme, not such simple, brutal dominance!
Uchiha Hachidai snapped back to reality, incredulous: "Your Divine Demon Transformation is only B-rank, right? They learned it in just one day?"
Uchiha Sanpō answered with natural pride: "What's surprising about it? Our Uchiha clansmen have solid foundational ninjutsu skills, and with the Sharingan, learning techniques is naturally fast! It's just that their Wind Release control isn't perfect yet, so the wind-fire combination power was reduced."
Excitement flickered in Uchiha Fugaku's eyes: "Sanpō, I want to promote your Divine Demon Transformation throughout the Uchiha clan—anyone chūnin and above should learn it."
Uchiha Sanpō had already anticipated this question.
"Clan Head, I have no objections! Divine Demon Transformation only manifests one additional head and one pair of arms, so chakra consumption is very low. And with the extra head for analysis, ninjutsu training efficiency doubles—it can greatly accelerate cultivation of the clan's high-level combat power!"
Hearing that Divine Demon Transformation had this additional benefit, Clan Heads Kurama and Kazami's eyes lit up.
Seeing their eager gazes, Uchiha Sanpō pretended not to notice: "Actually, our current focus should be the Kirigakure front. I've heard that to counter Kirigakure's invasion, Hiruzen Sarutobi accelerated graduation from the ninja academy and conscripted the elderly and children, barely scraping together 3,000 to face Kirigakure's army."
"And Elder Kagami's 8-year-old grandson, Uchiha Shisui, awakened his Three Tomoe Sharingan on the Kirigakure front and earned the title 'Shunshin no Shisui' (Shisui of the Body Flicker)."
Clan Head Kurama exclaimed in amazement: "Three Tomoe Sharingan at 8 years old—your Uchiha clan has produced another genius!"
Uchiha Fugaku sighed emotionally: "Shisui's talent can rival the ancestors of the Uchiha."
Uchiha Hachidai lowered his head, expression darkening: "Back when the Uchiha and Senju founded the village, it was precisely to prevent children from going to war. That beast Hiruzen Sarutobi actually sent an 8-year-old child to the battlefield—has his 'Will of Fire' been eaten by dogs?"
Clan Head Kazami hesitated before speaking: "Why haven't we received any news from the Kirigakure front? Are the higher-ups deliberately concealing it?"
At this, Clan Head Kurama roared in fury: "Damn it, these people are beasts! We fight d
esperately on the front lines, and they send our children to die on the battlefield!"
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