Ulquiorra, Resurrección: Segunda Etapa

Shimura Danzō's single eye constricted sharply.

"He indirectly saved the life of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and he also played a part in repelling the Third Raikage."

Hatake Sakumo walked step by step to Uchiha Ryūha's side, standing shoulder to shoulder with the youth.

"If we hand over a ninja like this simply out of fear of war, who in Konoha would ever dare to risk their lives for the village again?"

He looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Hiruzen, you are the Hokage. You decide."

Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed on his pipe in silence.

After a long while, he slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke, his voice aged yet firm:

"Issue the order."

"Konoha is to enter a state of Level 1 combat readiness."

"All registered ninja are to have their leave cancelled, the logistics department will take full charge of resource allocation, and patrol forces along the border are to be tripled."

"At the same time, reply to Kumogakure—"

The Third Hokage raised his head, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes:

"Konoha accepts the challenge."

That night, at Uchiha Ryūha's residence.

After seeing off Uchiha Fugaku, who had come to express his support (and subtly remind him that "the battlefield is dangerous, act according to your ability"), Uchiha Ryūha closed the door, shutting out the clamor of the outside world.

He sat cross-legged on a cushion in his training room, his consciousness sinking into the system interface.

[Major World Line Shift: The Third Shinobi World War has broken out early.]

[Detected: Host played a decisive role in the critical node "Kumogakure Assault."]

[Altered the fate of Uzumaki Kushina, indirectly influencing the future paths of key figures such as Namikaze Minato and Kakashi Hatake.]

[Calculating total Karma Point disturbance...]

[Reward Settlement: Karma Point +30,000]

[Current Karma Point: 31,000]

Thirty thousand points.

A flash of satisfaction crossed Ryūha's eyes.

Changing the fates of important figures and triggering the war early—the gains from these "major events" far outweighed those of daily tasks.

"System, perform one 'Elite Ten-Pull'."

[Consuming 10,000 Karma Points to perform Elite Ten-Pull.]

[Drawing...]

A brilliant stream of light unfolded within his consciousness as card after card flipped over.

[R-Rank Item: Reiryoku Recovery Potion (Small) x3]

[R-Rank Skill: Hado #12: Fushibi]

[R-Rank Skill: Bakudo #9: Hōrin]

[R-Rank Skill: Hado #20: Teritenkyu]

[R-Rank Skill: Bakudo #21: Sekienton]

[SR-Rank Skill: Hado #32: Okasen]

[SR-Rank Skill: Bakudo #39: Enkosen]

[SR: Reiatsu limit increased by 60%.]

[Current Reiatsu level: 5th-class Reiatsu -> Weak 3rd-class Reiatsu (Captain-level)]

[Equivalent to Kage-level Chakra (Entry)]

In an instant, Uchiha Ryūha sensed his Reiatsu undergo a leap in intensity.

If his original Reiatsu strength had been a small stream, it was now a rushing river.

[SR-Rank Skill: Reiatsu Perception Enhancement (Intermediate)]

[SSR+ Rank Item: Character Summon Card - Ulquiorra Cifer (Limited-time summon, duration 5 minutes, possesses Resurrección: Segunda Etapa, Strength Rating: Super Kage-level)]

[Cooldown: Three months.]

As the fourth-ranked Espada of Las Noches, he was the only one to possess a Resurrección: Segunda Etapa.

It was no surprise he possessed such strength.

Yet, even so, he wasn't a UR?

Recalling the terrifying Bankai of Zaraki Kenpachi, Uchiha Ryūha felt a sense of relief.

Aside from the final SSR+ summon card, the previous eight items were all low-to-mid-level Kido below number sixty, along with a Reiatsu perception enhancement.

The increase in the Reiatsu cap is quite useful.

"My luck is a bit poor," he muttered to himself.

However, the summon card for Ulquiorra... Super Kage-level, Resurrección: Segunda Etapa.

In terms of absolute destructive power, perhaps he is not on par with Zaraki Kenpachi.

But Ulquiorra's strengths lie in his composure, precision, and that move which can be called a rule-breaking technique: Lanza del Relámpago.

In certain specific situations, he might be more applicable than Zaraki Kenpachi.

Twenty-one thousand Karma Point remain.

Uchiha Ryūha pondered for a moment and did not continue drawing.

The war has already begun; Karma Point must be saved to deal with variables.

Although these newly acquired low-numbered Kido are average in power.

They excel in low consumption and fast activation, making them suitable for conventional combat and tactical coordination.

The increase in the Reiatsu cap is even more of a timely help; on a chaotic battlefield, a sufficient mana bar and stronger skill potency are the most important things.

Aizen swept through Soul Society precisely by relying on his suffocating Reiatsu.

"System, learn all new skills and use the Reiatsu perception enhancement."

[Command confirmed.]

[Skills infusing...]

[Reiatsu strengthening...]

A cool current surged into his mind, then spread throughout his entire body.

Uchiha Ryūha felt his "perception" ripple outward like water waves.

The previously blurry Chakra reactions became clear; he could even faintly capture the fatigue of the ninjas returning home on the next street over.

Within a radius of one thousand meters, every trace of life was within his grasp.

"Still not enough," Ryūha opened his eyes, "but it will suffice for now."

He looked at the summon card in his hand, which depicted Murciélago.

The card surface was cold, with faint lightning flowing across it.

"One more trump card."

The next day, Konoha gate.

The morning mist had not yet dispersed, and the air was filled with a murderous aura.

Over a hundred ninjas stood in formation, with an elite Jonin squad led by Namikaze Minato at the very front.

Behind them were mixed Chunin battalions from various clans, and at the rear were special operations squads like Ryūha's.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood on a high platform, conducting the pre-battle mobilization.

The Hokage's voice spread across the entire field through the Amplification Jutsu, impassioned and stirring.

But Ryūha could perceive that beneath the tense muscles of many young ninjas in the crowd, there was fear that could not be concealed.

War, at last, had arrived.

"...For Konoha, for our families, for everything we cherish!"

"Victory!"

"Victory!!!" The roar shattered the morning mist.

The troops began to exit the village in sequence.

Ryūha's squad was arranged in the middle of the sequence.

He led Matsumoto Ryūichi, Haruno Kazuya, and Fujiwara Itsuki, following the flow of people out of the massive Konoha gate.

The moment he stepped out of the village gate—

Ryūha's Reiatsu perception captured those few gazes.

Coming from the dense forest ahead was a scorching, violent, and aggressive killing intent.

Like thunderclouds pressing down—scouts from Kumogakure, or... something even more troublesome.

And coming from behind, hidden in the shadows at the edge of the departing procession, was a cold, viscous malice like that of a venomous snake.

At least three of them; their presence was hidden extremely well. If he hadn't just enhanced his perception, he would have been unable to detect them.

Root.

Shimura Danzō had indeed made his move.

It wasn't just borrowing a knife to kill; it was a two-pronged attack—a formidable enemy from Kumogakure on the front lines, and a "friendly" arrow in the back.

Ryūha did not stop his pace, nor did he even turn his head.

He merely tilted his head slightly and, in a voice only he could hear, chuckled softly.

"That works too."

"The battlefield is, after all, the easiest place for pawns to disappear."

He pressed a hand against the Senbonzakura at his waist and was the first to step onto the path leading toward death and glory.

The morning light pierced through the mist, stretching the silhouette of his dark green tactical vest into a long shadow.

The war had begun.