NOVEL NEXT Chapter 21: Chapter 21 : Battlefield (6)
"You guys can take my attack too!"
Uchiha Shin, a grin hidden beneath his mask, commanded his Susanoo to bring down its massive sword.
BOOM!!!
The ground within a dozen meters erupted from the impact, the sheer force obliterating seven Root operatives in a single strike.
Despite witnessing the vast difference in power between them and their opponent, the Root operatives did not falter. Instead, they continued their assault against Uchiha Shin without hesitation.
They were Root.
No names. No emotions. No hesitation. Only the mission mattered.
Against such mindless obedience, Uchiha Shin simply smirked beneath his mask. He was happy to grant them their deserved end.
Death.
"Chidori Nagashi!"
With a surge of lightning chakra, Susanoo radiated a burst of electrical energy, sending thousands of volts coursing through the battlefield.
A violent surge of electricity paralyzed the Root operatives mid-attack, their bodies seizing up instantly.
Uchiha Shin, ever opportunistic, did not waste the moment.
Susanoo's massive blade swung in a brutal horizontal arc.
SWISH!!!
The electrified blade cut through flesh and wood alike, Root operatives and trees alike split in two as though a scythe had harvested a field of wheat.
The aftermath was silent, save for the rustling of a gentle breeze.
Bodies and broken tree trunks collapsed simultaneously.
In the blink of an eye, the once-dense forest surrounding Uchiha Shin was carved into an open field, wide enough to rival a training ground.
At a safe distance, the Uzumaki refugees and Tsunade stood frozen, lungs seized as they watched the destruction unfold.
Raw, unrestrained power had been displayed before them.
Had it not been for the quick reflexes of the senior shinobi among them, who had hastily erected earth-style defenses, they would have perished in the aftermath.
From the moment Uchiha Shin had activated his incomplete Susanoo, only three minutes had passed.
With his back turned to the group, Shin felt a trickle of blood escape his eye, though it was nothing concerning.
"First time using Susanoo," he muttered to himself. "I'm still a little unrefined. Good thing I've built up enough ocular power… and acquired the Uzumaki vitality beforehand."
He could feel it now—the cost of maintaining Susanoo. Every cell in his body screamed from the chakra drain, his life force forcibly being siphoned away.
Without his new healing factor, he was certain his lifespan would be significantly shortened.
For now, however, it simply left him breathless, as though he had sprinted across an entire country.
Slowly, the golden skeletal frame of Susanoo faded, its overwhelming presence retreating back into his body.
Without its crushing weight, his healing accelerated.
Two steadying breaths later, and he was back to normal.
"Can't let the corpses go to waste."
Black flames erupted from his eye, consuming the fallen bodies. Within moments, they turned to ashes before flowing back into his right eye.
A surge of chakra and vitality flooded his body. Though it failed to fully replenish his ocular power, his body felt completely refreshed.
After ensuring his condition was stable, Uchiha Shin turned his attention toward the Uzumaki clan.
The Senju shinobi and Tsunade visibly tensed as his gaze met theirs.
Despite knowing he had just saved them, there was no guarantee that he was an ally.
Conversely, the Uzumaki survivors gazed upon him with gratitude.
To them, it did not matter who he was. In their darkest hour, he had been their savior.
"Uchiha benefactor," one of the older Uzumaki, Roshimi, finally spoke. "What do you desire?"
Uchiha Shin glanced at Tsunade and the wary Senju before answering.
"I only speak for myself. But if you must ask, there is something I want."
His artificially distorted voice cut through the tense silence.
Roshimi, calm and collected, smiled diplomatically. "May I ask what it is, benefactor?"
Despite his age, the elder's instincts told him that this man was not their enemy.
If anything, this Uchiha was more straightforward than most.
Uchiha Shin did not hesitate. "Your clan's sealing techniques."
It was a spontaneous decision, but he refused to leave empty-handed.
At his request, Roshimi's expression turned awkward.
It wasn't that the demand was unreasonable. For the devastated Uzumaki, it cost them nothing.
The problem lay in the practicality of it.
Due to their rushed escape, the only sealing techniques they had managed to preserve were advanced clan secrets.
Even if they handed them over, outsiders wouldn't be able to learn them.
"Benefactor, the scrolls we have contain only the most complex Uzumaki techniques. They are not easily mastered by those outside our bloodline," Roshimi cautioned.
Uchiha Shin remained indifferent. "That's fine. Just let me see them."
Roshimi hesitated briefly but ultimately relented. "Very well."
At his signal, a young red-haired girl cautiously stepped forward, holding several scrolls in her arms.
She was small, barely reaching his chest, with wild crimson hair cascading down her back. A round face, bright eyes, and a hesitant expression.
Uchiha Shin took the scrolls—and on a whim, reached down and pinched her soft cheeks.
"Cute," he murmured, amused. "What's your name?"
The unexpected action startled her, but seeing that he wasn't hostile, she hesitated before speaking.
"K-Kushina… Uzumaki Kushina."
"Benefactor," Roshimi interjected. "This is my granddaughter. She is still young and ignorant. Please forgive her if she offends you."
The clan elder was clearly attempting to de-escalate any potential conflict.
Now, their lives were in Uchiha Shin's hands.
"Kushina… a good name."
Something clicked in Uchiha Shin's mind. Now he knew why she seemed familiar.
With a small nod, he glanced through the scrolls.
Adamantine Sealing Chains, Four Symbol Seal, Kagura Mind's Eye, Contract Seal, Reaper Death Seal.
He barely skimmed them before handing them back.
"Consider that my reward," he said.
Like a magician, he produced a candy from his pocket and placed it in Kushina's hand.
Then, he turned, sparing Tsunade one last glance. The subtle amusement in his gaze did not go unnoticed.
Tsunade scowled, feeling an unfamiliar irritation.
Why did she feel like he was laughing at her?
"I want to rip that mask off his face," she muttered.
Meanwhile, Kushina stared at the candy in her hand, blinking in surprise.
Slowly, she peeled the wrapper and popped it into her mouth.
In the midst of genocide and despair, a small moment of sweetness bloomed in her heart.
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Bonus Chapter - 100 Power Stones