The Land of Iron

The Land of Iron.

A neutral country in the Shinobi World, it lay on a snowy plateau and had a bitterly cold climate.

They were isolated from the Shinobi World to some extent by their unique location, which had given rise to a distinct culture and system of power.

They didn't use ninjutsu. Instead, they focused chakra into their blades to fight, calling themselves samurai.

The Land of Iron was the Shinobi World's largest weapons exporter. Most of Konoha's ninja tools, such as kunai and shuriken, were ordered from there.

It also supplied weapons to the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning.

A little ironic.

The largest neutral country was also the biggest weapons exporter.

Shisui, bundled up in a thick coat, looked at Uchiha Sora, who was still wearing a short jacket.

"Aren't you cold?"

Uchiha Sora raised his hand to catch a snowflake, but it melted from the heat before it could reach him.

The drops of water landed in his palm and sizzled before turning into wisps of smoke.

He turned to Shisui. "Do you think I'd be afraid of the cold?"

Shisui shook his head to himself and clicked his tongue. "You're still training while we travel? You're something else..."

"By the way, what's that fire-based jutsu of yours called? I tried copying it with the Sharingan, but it was too complicated, and I couldn't get it."

Uchiha Sora didn't begrudge Shisui his attempt to copy the technique. That was just how the Uchiha were. Whenever they saw an interesting jutsu, they instinctively tried to see if they could replicate it.

"I haven't decided. I was going to call it Fire Style Chakra Mode, but that sounds too plain, and it doesn't capture the technique's characteristics."

"I'll think about it later. The technique isn't finished yet. I'll name it once it is."

Shisui rubbed his chin, thinking as he spoke. "That kind of flame... You based it on the Kurama Clan's genjutsu that turns the unreal into reality, didn't you? Or maybe on my Phantom Body Flicker Technique?"

"It doesn't just affect sight. You've added touch, too, making the opponent misjudge the flames' strength. It delivers a dual assault on the mind and body..."

He analyzed the technique at length before offering his advice.

"I think you've put a little too much into it."

"Fire Style's strength lies in its powerful offense. Sora, you're physically stronger than I am, and you have more chakra, too."

"I developed the Phantom Clone Technique because I don't have enough chakra to use the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique."

He held up two fingers and continued.

"I don't think you need to combine so many elements in one jutsu. Fire Style's strength is its powerful offense."

"Separate them."

"You could develop an enhancement-type Nintaijutsu that purely boosts speed and destructive power, something like the Lightning Release Chakra Mode."

"The idea of combining genjutsu and Fire Style is good, too..."

After a moment's hesitation, Shisui's eyes lit up as he came up with an idea.

"Why not try combining Yin Release with Fire Style to develop your own illusionary flames?"

"That would make up for your weakness in genjutsu!"

A weakness...

Uchiha Sora's genjutsu was already at the average level for a Three Tomoe user. Thanks to his strong soul, his ocular power was far above normal, and he was willing to pour plenty of chakra into his genjutsu.

So even without a talent for genjutsu, he could make up for it with sheer quantity.

But in Shisui's eyes, compared with ninjutsu and taijutsu, Uchiha Sora's genjutsu was indeed a weakness.

Uchiha Sora wasn't the type to argue for the sake of arguing or snap back at everything people said.

He had never thought of himself as particularly clever. He just had a bit of foreknowledge and was willing to work hard at learning.

Compared with Shisui, he was bound to have his shortcomings.

After considering Shisui's suggestion, Uchiha Sora nodded. "That's a great idea. How about this..."

"Let's call that jutsu Fire Style Chakra Mode for now. I'll stop adding genjutsu effects and focus on developing its destructive power."

"You work on combining Fire Style and Yin Release. If you succeed... it might become a new Kekkei Genkai!"

As far as Uchiha Sora knew, Uchiha Sasuke's future Blaze Release might be a Kekkei Genkai formed from Yin Release and Fire Style.

That didn't mean combining those two chakra natures would necessarily produce Blaze Release. It still depended on the developer's chakra proportions.

Shisui nodded. "Sure. If we succeed, we'll teach each other!"

Uchiha Sora looked at him and thought to himself:

Perhaps Shisui had wanted to develop a new Kekkei Genkai for a long time. He had the talent for it.

It was just that...

In the original timeline, the conflict between the village and the clan had weighed on him, leaving him no time to develop new jutsu. Instead, he awakened Kotoamatsukami, a Mangekyō genjutsu that twisted people's minds.

Kotoamatsukami was powerful and useful in countless situations. Used wisely, it could even help unite the entire Shinobi World!

Danzo thought so, too. That was why he couldn't help acting immediately when he learned of Shisui's ability.

But Uchiha Sora didn't want Shisui to awaken that dōjutsu again.

If everything stayed the same as before, what was the point of my coming here? What was the point of all the changes I'd worked so hard to make?

Mangekyō didn't require someone to experience grief before awakening.

That misconception existed only because every known Mangekyō wielder had awakened after losing someone important to them.

That was wrong.

It wasn't hatred.

The root wasn't grief, but regret over being unable to protect someone important.

If only I'd been stronger, would he have avoided all this? Would he still be alive...

That was the state of mind in which the Mangekyō awakened!

From Indra to Sarada in later generations, there were no exceptions!

The Uchiha were a clan of love.

Their love was simply so deep and so hidden that some people mistook it for extremism.

Uchiha Sora understood that now.

So...

Bypassing every other step and devoting myself wholeheartedly to seeking greater power, I can naturally prevent every tragedy along the way!

I won't grieve over my own lack of strength again. I'd rather die fighting before that happens!

After several days of walking along rugged mountain paths, the two finally saw their destination.

From a distance, the three adjoining mountains looked like three wolf heads, raised toward the sky and howling through the blizzard.

Three Wolf City.

The Land of Iron's original stronghold and its largest city.

Even from far away, the wind carried the clanging of metal.

Thick smoke billowed upward, merging with the heavy clouds overhead.

Before long, the two passed a hillside.

Several samurai wearing layered silver armor, swords at their waists, and gas masks on their heads stood atop it. Their voices sounded muffled through the masks.

"Kids, did you get separated from your family in the merchant caravan?"

Aside from merchant caravans that came to buy iron, hardly anyone would come sightseeing in the Land of Iron.

Though he spoke as if the two had been separated from a caravan, the man kept a hand on his sword hilt, ready to fight at any moment.

The samurai leading the group had been following them secretly for quite a while and had confirmed that they were ninja.

Shisui was one thing; his thick coat hid any clues.

But Uchiha Sora even had a Cloud Hidden Ninja Blade at his waist!

The ninja escorting merchant caravans were all registered, and there was no record of these two.

If they really claimed to have been separated from a caravan, they would clearly be ninja who had infiltrated with ulterior motives. There was no need for further discussion. They would attack at once!

Uchiha Sora looked up with a smile. His handsome face made the smile especially convincing.

The samurai had just relaxed a little when Sora's next words made him tense again.

"Take us to see Admiral Mifune. We have something to discuss with him."