If they could just avoid Kiyoshi's next strike, creating some distance, they might not be pushed into such a dire situation again.
"Is this the Kekkei Genkai of the Kaguya clan?"
Kiyoshi didn't even glance at the bone. Electric arcs flowed through his body.
The Kaguya clan could freely manipulate the bones in their body. Anything related to "bone," whether calcium or bone cells, could be controlled. Their skeletons were harder than most ninja tools, almost indestructible.
Yet… so what?
Kiyoshi's lips curved into a faint smile, his black hair swaying in the wind.
In the next instant, he condensed chakra, transforming it entirely into lightning-natured chakra. The enhanced control from his Sharingan allowed him to manipulate chakra with extreme precision.
Nerves in his palm activated under the electric current, and Kiyoshi accelerated sharply. The previous increase from Merciless Iron Hand also extended to his wrist, further boosting his chakra output.
For anyone else, the result would be inevitable.
The massive surge of lightning chakra would rebound!
Splatter!
Blood flew, and a head, frozen in a final gasp of survival, soared through the air. The smell of charred flesh filled the air.
The surrounding ninjas' faces went pale. They finally realized that the Uchiha before them was far more terrifying than imagined.
In shock and fear, no one dared attack again. For most, passing the Chunin exams was the ultimate goal; plundering Kekkei Genkai was only a bonus. Without life, no reward from the village mattered.
"Reigetsu!"
Tomei Mei's eyes reddened with rage—the anger of witnessing comrades slain.
Kiyoshi glanced back at Tomei Mei but didn't rush forward. He realized he had time here. Seconds ticked by, and the scene fell into eerie silence.
Yuuhi and Sarutobi Asuma restrained themselves, observing carefully.
Hinata Hinoto gasped, staring at the scattered bodies on the ground, barely breathing. He even forgot to bring back his ninja forehead protector.
Hinata Natsu looked at Kiyoshi, her heart heavy. How unlucky to have such a Uchiha genius intervene. If Kiyoshi reported this to the Uchiha clan head, the political consequences would be unimaginable. All she wanted now was to finish the second round of exams and return to the Hyuga clan to report to Ginoka.
Finally, the entry progress hit 100%.
[Entry: Battlefield Rose (White)]
[Requirement: Participate in a battle of 30+ opponents for 100 seconds continuously.]
[Progress: Completed]
[Effect: Boosts morale and continuous fighting; Yin chakra increased by 5%.]
[Note: Can be further upgraded.]
[Upgrade Path 1: Integrate with "Merciless Iron Hand (White)" and "Merciless Extinguisher (White)" to evolve into "Burning Heart (Green)"]
As the notification ended, Kiyoshi's mind cleared; his thinking speed noticeably increased. The previous Equal Treatment (White) also boosted Yin chakra by 5%. Combined, his Yin chakra had risen by 10%. This saved him countless days and nights of painstaking cultivation—improving mental strength required immense effort and time.
Yin chakra represented mental strength. Enhancing it required discipline, hard training, and broad knowledge.
Kiyoshi looked at the completed entries, nodding in satisfaction.
"Hand over your scrolls, and I'll spare you."
Silence. A few seconds passed before the first ninja, unable to bear the pressure, tossed his scroll to Kiyoshi. Gradually, others followed suit, until Kiyoshi's feet were surrounded by scrolls.
The living watched Kiyoshi greedily; the dead lay cold on the ground. Tomei Mei's fury grew as she looked at the corpses. Everything had happened so fast that she hadn't even had a chance to act—she only saw comrades, who had traveled from the Land of Water, slain by Kiyoshi.
"Water Release…"
Tomei Mei raised her hand to form the first hand seal.
"So many have retreated. Are you resisting me?"
Kiyoshi watched her hand seal, the flames on his ninja sword unwavering. If she dared complete a second seal, he would strike.
"Enough, Tomei Mei."
Kaguya Shoya extended his hand to stop her. Continuing was meaningless. Kiyoshi's strength alone imposed a sense of oppression and a deep… thrill—not fear, but desire.
The Kaguya clan was a fighting clan. Now, with Kiyoshi at full strength and Reigetsu dead, even if they defeated him, they would be too exhausted to claim victory. Any remaining weaklings could rebel to seize Kekkei Genkai.
"Reigetsu…"
Tomei Mei gazed at her fallen companion.
"Ninjas live in uncertainty. We are all vital to our villages. We cannot just die like this."
Kaguya Shoya shook his head. He possessed Bone Vein, Tomei Mei had Melt and Boil, rare Kekkei Genkai. The Hōzuki clan had many members; Reigetsu's death was final.
"Here, Uchiha Kiyoshi."
Shoya flung several scrolls to Kiyoshi, instructing Tomei Mei to focus on the greater situation. Remaining lower-ranked ninjas reluctantly handed over scrolls.
Kiyoshi allowed those who surrendered to leave freely. Once all departed, he called Yuuhi to help gather the scrolls while he collected valuables from the corpses.
"Kiyoshi, why collect these?"
"To sell them."
"…."
Yuuhi didn't know what to say—Kiyoshi was strange, but practical. Soon, he fashioned a tattered bag from the corpses' clothes to carry the scrolls.
For the surviving ninjas—Asuma, Yuuhi, Natsu—there was no outward reaction. Death was normal for a ninja.
Shikamaru, saddened by the casualties in the mission, watched as Neji and Tenten tried to save the injured. Temari teased Shikamaru, "You've undergone mental training, right? A grown man so fragile?"
(End of Chapter)