Uchiha Clan, Patriarch's Residence
Uchiha Suke let out a sigh of relief upon receiving the news from the battlefield—Uchiha Kiyo had been awarded the title Blood-Eyed Shura.
A new genius had emerged from the Uchiha clan.
If this trajectory continued, another Kage-level powerhouse would be born within the next decade. This was not only a personal achievement for Kiyo but a major boost to the clan's prestige.
With his name spreading across the ninja world, the title Blood-Eyed Shura became both a symbol of fear and admiration. Every village had its own interpretation of the rising Uchiha. Some saw him as a potential threat, others as a prodigy worth watching.
---
Konoha Frontline
Uchiha Kiyo woke up early and had a simple breakfast.
He was in a good mood.
"I wonder if Danzo will make his move this time? That would be fun."
Danzo had already made one assassination attempt on him—wasn't it only fair that he returned the favor?
His shadow clones had been working on preparations in the background. At any time, they could stir up trouble for Danzo. However, this time, Kiyo wasn't planning on using his usual self-destruct tactic.
Blowing up a clone had its downsides.
The memory feedback from a destroyed clone was instant, but the impact on his main body was something he couldn't ignore. He wouldn't lose consciousness, but there was a moment of trance, a brief disorientation.
Last time, he had been fortunate—his real body was resting when the clone detonated. But if it happened mid-battle, it could be a fatal mistake.
Checking his ninja pouch one last time, Kiyo ensured everything was in order before heading to the assembly point.
On the way, he stopped by to see Orochimaru.
This would likely be his last mission.
If things went as planned, he wouldn't be returning to the battlefield under Konoha's command.
Orochimaru had been a valuable teacher, and despite his cold nature, he had treated Kiyo well. It was only right to see him one last time before leaving.
---
At the usual meeting spot, Hatake Sakumo was already waiting.
Seeing Kiyo approach, Sakumo simply nodded before the two set off.
"Konoha and Sunagakure's northern front is cleared. This time, we'll head south," Kiyo explained. "We'll determine how long we stay based on enemy movement."
Sakumo had no objections.
So far, Kiyo's perception ability had been invaluable in avoiding ambushes and locating enemy forces. It was only natural that he took the lead in tactical decisions.
"Sakumo, I'll leave the puppet users to you. I'll handle the other four."
With the plan in place, they quickly found their next Suna squad.
This one was a high-value target.
Three Jonin
Three Tokubetsu Jonin
Two Puppet Masters
For efficiency, Kiyo left the puppet masters to White Fang, who was naturally adept at countering them. Meanwhile, Kiyo took the remaining four.
"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
His cheeks bulged as he unleashed a sea of flames, engulfing the four enemies in front of him.
An A-rank fire jutsu was no joke.
The three Tokubetsu Jonin were immediately crippled—severely burned, barely breathing. Even the Jonin wasn't unscathed; his arms, chest, and legs bore scorched wounds.
Before he could recover, Kiyo followed up.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullets!"
Taking a deep breath, he launched high-speed chakra projectiles, each one possessing extreme cutting power.
This was one of the new Wind Release jutsu he had been practicing.
Not only did it serve as combat experience, but it also helped refine his wind chakra transformation. His body wasn't fully attuned to Wind Release yet, but he could now convert a small portion of chakra without injuring his meridians.
Before even activating his Sharingan, Kiyo had already defeated one Jonin and three Tokubetsu Jonin.
On the other side, Hatake Sakumo didn't disappoint—the two puppet masters were already dead.
Battle Over.
Looting corpses had become second nature to Kiyo.
Inspecting the spoils, he noticed the two puppet masters had far better gear than his own enemies. The quality of their puppets and ninja tools indicated that they were close to Elite Jonin level.
To be honest, Sakumo's ability to eliminate them so quickly confirmed something for Kiyo—White Fang was already stronger than him.
At this rate, Sakumo was just one step away from breaking into Kage-level.
---
A Sudden Summons
Just as they were about to continue searching for enemy squads, Kiyo felt a summons.
Frowning slightly, he bit his finger and activated a summoning jutsu.
A ninja dog appeared, carrying a sealed scroll in its mouth.
After handing over the message, the dog immediately disappeared, breaking its summoning link.
Konoha's elite ninja received orders this way—via specialized messenger summons rather than traditional communications. Unlike radios or phones, which could be intercepted or jammed, summoning creatures provided a secure alternative.
For Kiyo, this was the first direct order he had received from Konoha through this method.
Too coincidental.
His eyes narrowed.
"As expected… Danzo is making his move."
Hatake Sakumo, noticing the exchange, looked over curiously.
"What's the order?" he asked.
Kiyo unsealed the scroll and read through it.
"We're being instructed to rescue a group of Konoha ninjas," he replied.
Sakumo frowned.
A rescue mission? Now?
Kiyo continued reading.
"The mission is classified, but it emphasizes extreme importance. The team includes several elite ninjas from major Konoha clans."
That was all the confirmation they needed.
Something was off.
---
A Diverging Path
"The majority of enemies are expected to be puppet users," Kiyo noted. "You're more suited for that fight. I'll handle the other front."
Sakumo hesitated. His instincts were telling him something was wrong.
"…Be careful," he finally said.
Kiyo simply nodded and turned away.
If everything went as planned, this would be his last mission.
---
The Death Plan
After advancing a kilometer, Kiyo stopped in a secluded area.
With a single hand seal, he created a shadow clone.
"You go ahead and carry out the mission," Kiyo instructed.
From his ninja pouch, he pulled out a corpse.
It was a near-perfect replica of himself—height, body shape, and facial features were almost identical.
For the past half-month, he had been conditioning this corpse with chakra, ensuring it mimicked his natural energy signature.
Now, it was time to put it to use.
Handing the body over to his clone, Kiyo smirked.
"Let's see if Danzo falls for this."
While his shadow clone carried out the mission, his real body had a different objective.
This was it.
The final step in faking his death.
From this moment forward, Uchiha Kiyo would vanish from the battlefield—only to return as a chess player in the shadows.
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