Full-Scale Operation

After resting and recovering for a few days, Uchiha Sou began his rehabilitation training.

Though he really wanted to use this chance to live a life of total indulgence, neglecting sleep and food, and just take a vacation.

The past six months behind enemy lines couldn't exactly be called rich and exciting. At the very least, they'd been utterly miserable.

Taking a break to relax didn't seem unreasonable.

But considering the current situation, and the fact that he'd killed one member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and injured another, he figured he couldn't afford to lose his head like Empress Wu Zetian after she became a widow.

So he could only obediently get up and begin his rehabilitation exercises. Still, the question of "what now?" kept circling through his mind.

He did have a cheat, and it was quite useful. The problem was, his current predicament was also exceptionally thorny.

He was genuinely worried that he'd go blind before he could evolve his Mangekyo into an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan!

"So I have to find something that can replace it and sustain the ocular power of my Mangekyo. And that thing..."

Believe it or not, there really was something!

As Uchiha Sou went through his rehabilitation exercises on the training ground, a thought suddenly struck him, and his mind began to turn over the possibilities.

As everyone knew, there were only two ways to use the Mangekyo without going blind.

One was to make a permanent solution of it and obtain an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. Uchiha Sou couldn't even consider that.

The other was Hashirama Cells!

Senju Hashirama was undoubtedly Konoha's strongest Hokage, but he was also the most tragic.

His best friend left him, and in the end, he had to kill that same friend for Konoha. Even after his death, he couldn't rest in peace.

His younger brother, along with his students and their descendants, dug up his corpse for research, and his soul was repeatedly subjected to Impure World Reincarnation.

But there was no denying that his body was a treasure, even after his death!

"Hashirama Cells are worth considering, but..."

Uchiha Sou mused silently, his eyes narrowing slightly of their own accord.

Getting his hands on Hashirama Cells wouldn't be easy, either.

There were two places he could get them. One was that old bastard Shimura Danzō—or, in other words, Orochimaru!

As far as he could remember, Orochimaru hadn't completely plunged into darkness yet, but he'd already begun studying the First's cells.

After all, if he remembered right, Yamato was about the same age as Shisui.

But at this point, the cells Danzō had would probably still be unrefined, before Orochimaru had repeatedly improved them. Even if Sou got his hands on them, he wasn't sure he'd dare use them.

Besides Danzō and Orochimaru, there was someone else who had Hashirama Cells—and they'd been modified enough, with no shortage of them, either!

"Uchiha Madara, and Black Zetsu..."

What Uchiha Sou had in mind was White Zetsu, of course. The problem was that he was simply too far away from the battlefield in the Land of Grass.

They were practically worlds apart.

And compared to someone like Danzō or Orochimaru, Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu were far more dangerous.

He knew that Uchiha Madara was now relying on the life force provided by the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path just to stay alive.

If Sou had the guts to pull Madara's oxygen tube, the man would quickly die on his own without Sou needing to do anything else.

But the problem was, did he dare?

Obviously, Uchiha Sou didn't think he did. That was Uchiha Madara!

"So I still need to think this through and plan it out carefully."

Uchiha Sou sighed softly. Just then, he saw Nara Rukawa and Uchiha Shizuka walking toward him.

He immediately adjusted his state, stopped his exercises, and went to meet them.

"Captain Sou." Nara Rukawa and Uchiha Shizuka bowed slightly to him.

Both of them were very respectful, especially Nara Rukawa. It was clear that this incident had truly shaken him.

In fact, it had been a tremendous shock to all the Konoha Ninja who had stayed in town.

They'd always respected Uchiha Sou and known he was strong.

But they'd never imagined that someone so young could face two members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and kill one while injuring the other!

And the fact that this ragtag group of theirs had forced the Mist Ninja to send members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist to launch a surprise attack on them showed just how effective Uchiha Sou's methods had been.

"You two—I've told you before, there's no need to be so formal."

Uchiha Sou knew their attitude toward him had changed, but he still joked as he spoke.

"Tell me what happened. I've only just started rehabilitation, but there's no need to treat me like I'm still injured."

"Of course not, Captain Sou."

Nara Rukawa smiled, then his expression turned serious.

"I bear a great deal of responsibility for what happened. Actually, when the Genin Might Duy was heading our way, the other camps had already sent word about it.

"I overlooked that information and failed to consider how Kirigakure might react or what they might do. So I'm willing to accept punishment."

When Uchiha Sou had established the various "war zones," they'd assigned shinobi to use the Summoning Technique to relay messages, ensuring communication, control, and coordination.

After the other "war zones" caught Might Duy, they'd naturally sent the information over. Nara Rukawa had been responsible for reviewing those reports, so he was indeed at fault for not reacting.

But Uchiha Sou understood him. Compared with a Genin like Might Duy showing up, the events in each area and handling the work at hand were probably more pressing.

Besides, no one could have expected Kirigakure to make such a huge move.

"Anyone can be careless and make mistakes, but how they respond to those mistakes can make all the difference."

Thinking this, Uchiha Sou gently shook his head.

"If all someone can do is dwell on the damage they've caused, they'll never amount to much.

"But if they remember the damage they caused while also figuring out how to prevent it from happening again, constantly improving and becoming better, then that's what makes a successful person.

"Chunin Rukawa, do you understand where you should focus your efforts now?"

"I understand, Captain Sou."

Nara Rukawa took a deep breath, gestured to Uchiha Shizuka, and then spoke.

"These are our casualties. Fortunately, we reacted quickly. Around sixty civilians were killed or injured, and eight shinobi were casualties."

"I don't need a casualty list. Save that for Lord Orochimaru."

Uchiha Sou shook his head, his expression turning cold.

"Our job is to avenge them. That's what matters most."

Although Uchiha Sou had gained a lot from the surprise attack, he couldn't forget that he'd nearly been subjected to a "decapitation strike."

They'd come right to his doorstep. Uchiha Sou had never been one to let things slide, and his mission was to harass and pin down the Mist Ninja in the first place. With both of those things in mind, there was no way he'd let this go.

"Captain, you mean..." Nara Rukawa seemed to understand. "It's time for a full-scale operation?"

"That's right, a full-scale operation." Uchiha Sou nodded. "Our earlier actions have proven effective. I think it's time to amplify those results!"

A full-scale operation would be on a completely different level from what they'd been doing so far. He did want revenge, but by his reckoning, it was time to take things further anyway.

Uchiha Sou had a bad temper, but Konoha's was worse. He didn't dare provoke them with their habit of killing your whole family at the drop of a hat.

What's more, once the full-scale operation began, Uchiha Sou would take part in major missions.

He really wanted to see just how much power his eyes could wield after his rehabilitation!

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