According to Uchiha Akira, he had to choose the five Kekkei Genkai for the Chimera Technique carefully. He absolutely couldn't afford to waste any of them.
"Which five Kekkei Genkai should I choose?" Uchiha Akira pondered. His thoughts were in a muddle, and he couldn't make up his mind.
There weren't many famous Kekkei Genkai in the Shinobi World.
A considerable number had been developed through training after birth.
Those inherited naturally from birth were even fewer.
The Uchiha Clan's Sharingan, the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, the Kaguya Clan's Shikotsumyaku, the Chinoike Clan's Ketsuryūgan, and Haku of the Yuki Clan, among others.
Although the well-known Senju Clan and Uzumaki Clan had distinguished origins as descendants of the Six Paths, they had no Kekkei Genkai inheritance of their own, at least not publicly.
Therefore, if Uchiha Akira wanted to collect five Kekkei Genkai, he didn't have many options to choose from.
Uchiha Akira immediately ruled out Kekkei Genkai developed through training, such as Scorch Release and Steel Release.
These Kekkei Genkai, acquired through training, had limited potential and couldn't compare to the bloodlines of the Six Paths, which had been passed down since ancient times.
The Uchiha, Hyuga, and other clans descended from the Six Paths traced their bloodlines back to the Sage of Six Paths, Otsutsuki Kaguya, and the God Tree. Their bloodlines contained the Shinobi World's most fundamental secrets, so their potential naturally couldn't be matched by ordinary Kekkei Genkai developed through training.
So Uchiha Akira immediately focused on Kekkei Genkai connected to the Sage of Six Paths and Otsutsuki Kaguya.
"I wonder if Karin's ability to rapidly recover after someone bites her counts as a Kekkei Genkai?" Uchiha Akira's thoughts began to wander.
Then he thought of Jugo, who could absorb Natural Energy from birth and could be said to have been born with a Sage Body.
Uchiha Akira mused, Maybe that counts as a Kekkei Genkai too!
"If the Uzumaki bloodline's special abilities and Jugo's transformation into a sage count as Kekkei Genkai, then I can include them among my choices." Uchiha Akira nodded to himself.
Without Sage Mode, he wouldn't be able to use Natural Energy. Later on, when facing certain beings, such as the Ten-Tails or a Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, he'd be left helpless.
He had already decided that once he returned to Konoha, he would use the Uchiha Clan's resources to find Karin and Jugo after the war and bring them to Konoha.
"That leaves just one last Kekkei Genkai to decide on," Uchiha Akira thought.
"For now, it seems my only choice is the Kaguya Clan's Shikotsumyaku." After much consideration, Uchiha Akira still hadn't found a more suitable option.
In the end, he could only settle for the Kaguya Clan, another branch descended from Otsutsuki Kaguya.
The Kaguya Clan, the Hyuga Clan, the Senju Clan, the Uzumaki Clan, and the Uchiha Clan were the five major branches descended from Otsutsuki Kaguya. Add Jugo's Sage Body to the mix...
Uchiha Akira thought this was a good combination. Once he completed the Chimera Technique, perhaps he would be in for a big surprise.
"There are about six years left until the Annular Solar Eclipse. With the Uchiha Clan's help, I should be able to find my targets during that time," Uchiha Akira thought.
The Chimera Technique required him to perform the final fusion ritual at Mount Sumeru during an Annular Solar Eclipse. By taking advantage of the favorable time and place, he could complete the final ritual.
The next Annular Solar Eclipse was due in Year 56 of Konoha. If he missed that chance, he would have to wait another twelve years.
If he missed the chance in Year 56 of Konoha, Uchiha Akira would have to wait until Year 68 of Konoha for the next Annular Solar Eclipse.
Uchiha Akira thought, There isn't much time. I have a lot to do, so I need to get moving on developing biological technology.
Once he found Karin and Jugo, Uchiha Akira certainly wouldn't use them as fusion material the way Hiruko had.
His plan was to use the Uchiha Clan's resources to develop Biological Cloning Technology on a large scale after the war.
He could just use their clones then. The thought of using them personally still made him uncomfortable.
Blank clones suited him much better.
The rest of the journey back to Konoha passed without incident. After two days on the road, Uchiha Akira and his group successfully escorted more than a hundred injured shinobi back to Konoha.
As they approached Konoha's gates, Uchiha Akira and the others spotted Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi in the distance. He was waiting outside the gates with a group of medical ninja.
"You've all worked hard."
Sarutobi Hiruzen wore the Hokage Haori and its hood. He didn't look old, and though he wasn't particularly tall, he gave off an air of strength.
Uchiha Akira and the others replied, "It's our duty as Konoha Ninja."
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced discreetly at Uchiha Akira, then turned to the medical ninja beside him. "Take the wounded to the hospital for treatment first."
Reports from the front lines had already reached Konoha, so Sarutobi Hiruzen was well aware of Uchiha Akira's outstanding performance on the battlefield.
As Sarutobi Hiruzen observed Uchiha Akira, he thought, Another genius has emerged from the Uchiha Clan!
He looked at Uchiha Akira and the others and smiled. "Go get some rest. Once you've recovered, submit your mission reports."
"Yes, Lord Hokage," Uchiha Akira replied along with Kakashi and the others.
When he returned to the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Akira was greeted with an enthusiastic welcome from his fellow clansmen.
His deeds on the battlefield had already reached the clan, so when he returned, both the ninja and ordinary people came out to greet him.
After dealing with his clansmen, Uchiha Akira breathed a huge sigh of relief.
The Uchiha Clan's ninja were somewhat proud and still concerned about maintaining their dignity as shinobi, so they hadn't been overly enthusiastic.
The Uchiha Clan's ordinary people, on the other hand, were just like any other villagers. Since they were all Uchiha, they welcomed him with genuine, blazing enthusiasm.
The journey should have taken only a few minutes, but it took Uchiha Akira nearly half an hour.
The next morning, Uchiha Akira met up with Kakashi and the others, and they headed to the Hokage Building to report on the mission.
"..."
"Lord Hokage, that concludes the details of our mission," Kakashi reported in a solemn voice.
"I didn't expect you to encounter an attack by Hiruko after the Hidden Mist's ambush," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, nodding slowly with a grave expression. "You've worked hard on this escort mission. Its rank has been raised to S-rank."
"This is our duty as Konoha Ninja," Uchiha Akira and the others replied.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Uchiha Akira and asked, "Akira, are you certain Hiruko is dead?"
"Lord Hokage, based on the evidence available, I'm certain Hiruko is dead," Uchiha Akira replied with a nod.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked pleased. "Excellent. Hiruko was already a Jonin during the Second Shinobi World War. You did well."
"Eradicating rogue ninja is the duty of every Konoha shinobi," Uchiha Akira said calmly.
At his words, Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and looked at everyone present. "Get some rest and stand by. The overall situation on the battlefield has been decided, but things could still change. Be ready to head to the front lines at any moment."
"Yes!"
The ninja present responded solemnly, then turned and left the Hokage's Office.
Not long after they left, Danzo entered the Hokage's Office with bandages wrapped around his head.
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