NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18: Chapter 18 : Battlefield (3)
The temporarily allied shinobi immediately pursued the direction in which Tsunade and the remaining Uzumaki clan members had fled.
Uchiha Shin followed closely behind, stepping into the ruins of the once-thriving Uzumaki village.
His crimson eyes scanned the bloodied corpses littering the ground. He sighed, an unusual softness in his voice.
"I doubt anyone will come to collect your bodies... so let me take care of them."
For the first time, Uchiha Shin didn't reach out to touch the fallen. Instead, he stood still, his Mangekyō Sharingan spinning ominously.
As his gaze swept across the remains, a flicker of black flame ignited in his pupils.
This was a new application of [Soul Sacrifice]—a technique he had refined after repeated use.
Using [Soul Sacrifice] through direct contact consumed no ocular power. However, this external method of absorption—
"His dojutsu... it's similar to Amaterasu, yet distinct. Unlike Amaterasu, which burns indefinitely until its target is destroyed, his flames are controlled by his chakra reserves."
The black flames devoured the corpses, fueling his vitality at the cost of his ocular energy. Large-scale use placed an immense strain on his body.
But burning them one by one was too inefficient.
As the black flames dissipated, surging chakra and life force flooded into his body, replenishing what he had just expended.
More than that—Uchiha Shin could feel the Uzumaki chakra and vitality actively transforming him.
More than 130 trillion cells in his body were undergoing a radical metamorphosis.
Moments later, he became acutely aware of the sheer volume of excess vitality coursing through him.
To test it, he ran a kunai across his arm. A deep gash formed, crimson blood welling up—only to close within seconds.
"I've acquired the Uzumaki Clan's enhanced life force… a variation of their so-called 'Sage Body.'"
He clenched his fist, feeling the raw power surging within. However, he wasn't naive enough to assume he had awakened Yang Release.
"If I were to absorb chakra from Senju shinobi… no, that won't work. Only Senju Hashirama possessed that level of innate power."
Senju Hashirama—the reincarnation of Asura's chakra. Ordinary Senju didn't even inherit Wood Release, much less his divine vitality.
And even those who could wield Wood Release paled in comparison to Hashirama.
If I wish to manifest Wood Release… do I need Hashirama's chakra itself?
Shin suppressed his growing ambitions and instead focused inward.
The transformation of his physique had elevated his chakra reserves to the level of a seasoned Jonin.
If I refine it properly… reaching Kage level within a year is not impossible.
Most importantly, the Uzumaki life force was mitigating the cost of his Mangekyō Sharingan.
This meant he could now utilize [Soul Sacrifice] and his ocular powers far more frequently.
"I left five Shadow Clones hidden throughout Uzushiogakure's ruins… I should assist the Uzumaki clan first."
Despite harvesting so many fallen Uzumaki, Uchiha Shin still felt compelled to aid them—if only because of his past ties with Tsunade.
Yet, the moment he moved, he abruptly stopped.
Dozens of kunai and shuriken tore through the air toward him from the shadows.
"Hn."
Uchiha Shin's Mangekyō spun once.
The incoming projectiles froze in midair—then reversed course, shooting back toward their wielders.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The kunai and shuriken clattered to the ground, their wielders narrowly dodging.
Emerging from the darkness were five masked shinobi.
One elite Jonin and four Chunin. Silent, disciplined, and lethal.
Root operatives.
Danzo had dispatched multiple teams to the Land of Whirlpools, tasked with securing "useful materials."
They had not expected to find an Uchiha desecrating the battlefield, harvesting corpses for his own gain.
Though uncertain of what he was doing, their orders remained unchanged: Capture him.
Danzo had explicitly instructed them to retrieve an Uzumaki orphan and any "valuable assets."
The lone Uchiha before them met the criteria.
"Lightning Release: Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Uchiha Shin didn't recognize their affiliation, but he knew a fight was inevitable.
His newfound vitality was still settling, but his chakra reserves were rising rapidly.
In a flash, he summoned five shadow clones.
The clones launched a synchronized counterattack the instant they materialized.
"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"
The Root Jonin swiftly weaved hand signs, slamming his palms onto the ground.
The earth beneath Shin liquefied, morphing into a vast, sinking mire.
The moment his movements were hindered, the Jonin formed another set of seals.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"
Dozens of razor-sharp wind blades shot forward, spiraling toward Shin.
"Lightning Release Armor: Iron Fortress."
Shin's blood surged, accelerating his body's electrical impulses. Lightning flickered across his form, reinforcing his muscles and skin.
The spinning wind blades struck—but failed to cut through his flesh.
His clothes were shredded, scattering in the wind, revealing battle-hardened muscles gleaming with chakra-infused durability.
"A Hidden Cloud technique?"
The Root Jonin's brows furrowed in surprise.
He had assumed they were dealing with Konoha remnants. Hidden Cloud's lightning-based taijutsu was a different threat altogether.
Understanding the sheer power behind Lightning Release Armor, the Jonin swiftly leaped back to create distance.
But the moment he landed, he felt something tightening around his ankles.
His gaze flicked downward—
Dark, glistening iron sand.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Bind."
Shin muttered.
At the same time, his clones were eliminated by the Root Chunin, vanishing in puffs of smoke.
But instead of disappearing entirely, the destroyed clones transformed into crackling bolts of lightning.
Bang! ZZZZT!
The electricity surged into the bodies of the Root Chunin, paralyzing them momentarily.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Death Spear."
With a flick of his wrist, Shin compressed the swirling iron sand into a massive spear and launched it forward.
The immobilized Chunin barely had time to react before the weapon skewered them to the ground.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
The Root Jonin hastily formed a defensive barrier to block the next strike.
Yet, his trapped legs left him vulnerable.
The iron sand constricting his lower limbs began burrowing into his flesh.
Realizing the inevitable, the Jonin didn't hesitate.
With Wind Release chakra coating his hand, he severed his own legs in a single, clean motion.
Splat!
Blood erupted from the wounds, staining the battlefield.
From a distance, Uchiha Shin involuntarily tensed, phantom pain creeping through his own limbs.
Yet, the Root Jonin didn't falter.
Expressionless, unwavering—his hands immediately moved to form new seals.
Bonus Chapter - 100 Power Stones