Uchiha Aoba

(Brain storage area)

Konoha Year 43.

In Sunagakure, the Third Kazekage has gone missing.

After Chiyo and Ebizo organized search parties to no avail, they decided to pin the blame directly on Konohagakure to conceal certain truths and divert attention from the increasingly fierce internal power struggle over the position of the Fourth Kazekage.

Driven by a thirst for vengeance, the entire village of Sunagakure united with a single purpose: to make Konohagakure pay. The high command decided to have Rasa, one of the contenders for the Fourth Kazekage, lead a force to invade the Land of Fire.

Fortunately, the Root organization under Shimura Danzō was not idle; they had long since arranged for operatives to monitor Sunagakure, so Konohagakure was not caught completely off guard.

When intelligence regarding the Suna invasion at the border reached them, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hizashi, made a swift decision. He appointed Orochimaru as the frontline commander, leading a force to provide reinforcements and launch a defensive counterattack.

For a time, both sides were locked in a stalemate at the border, with no clear victor emerging after nearly three years of conflict.

On the battlefield.

Shuriken, kunai, and explosive tags flew through the air, occasionally interspersed with the flash of a stray ninjutsu.

"Kill all the Konoha ninja!"

"Avenge the Third Kazekage!"

Why are these Suna ninja acting so crazy all of a sudden? Their offensive today is far too intense.

A Konoha chunin dodged a kunai, parried a long blade swinging toward him, and muttered to himself, failing to notice a nondescript shuriken flying in from the side.

"Die!"

The air was filled with the hate-fueled roar of a Suna ninja.

Just as the danger arrived, a shuriken whistled in from not far behind.

With a crisp clink, the two shuriken collided. Not only was the Konoha chunin saved, but the Suna ninja's shuriken was deflected at a clever angle, embedding itself into the Suna ninja's forehead in the blink of an eye.

With a look of disbelief, the Suna ninja collapsed into a pool of blood.

Only then did the Konoha chunin realize what had happened, a lingering sense of fear flashing deep in his eyes.

"Don't let your guard down on the battlefield, senior."

The reminder sounded beside him as a figure flashed past, charging toward the front lines.

Green flak jacket, Konoha forehead protector, and the Uchiha fan crest fluttering on his sleeves.

"Uchiha..."

The chunin shuddered, but felt a wave of relief in his heart: Have the reinforcements arrived?

Uchiha Aoba didn't give a second thought to the chunin he had just saved; instead, he was quite satisfied with having taken down an enemy as soon as he hit the battlefield. He was only thinking about how many more Suna ninja he could kill.

His Two-Tomoe Sharingan spun within his pupils. His movements were so sharp that he didn't resemble a twelve-year-old boy at all; Suna ninja of average chunin strength were no match for him.

Blood splattered onto Uchiha Aoba's face, and even his flak jacket was stained crimson.

However, at that very moment.

Facing the incoming Konoha reinforcements, the Suna ninja's frantic offensive stalled. They then retreated like a receding tide, leaving behind only those who were too severely wounded to withdraw.

"Do not pursue a desperate foe!"

"Clear the battlefield immediately! Search for and rescue the wounded!"

"Tch!"

Hearing the orders from the rear, Uchiha Aoba decapitated a severely wounded Suna ninja before sheathing his blade, a look of dissatisfaction on his face.

"To have such a bloodthirsty nature at such a young age... I suppose the Uchiha are truly the Uchiha."

A nearby Konoha ninja, who was busy searching for the wounded, saw Uchiha Aoba's expression and actions and couldn't help but click his tongue in astonishment.

However, no one thought it was inappropriate. After all, on the battlefield, they wouldn't treat the wounded Suna ninja; even if they were brought back, they would only be used for interrogation—a waste of resources, so killing them was standard practice.

It wasn't until these people noticed Uchiha Aoba's gaze fixed on them—or more accurately, on the wounded Suna ninja they had captured—that they immediately grew tense.

"Wait! Uchiha kid! You can't kill all of them!" a chunin waved his hand to stop him.

"Their injuries will be treated slightly, and then they will be handed over to the interrogation unit in the rear to extract intelligence."

"I know."

Uchiha Aoba signaled for the man not to be so agitated. "I was just looking."

"Is there anything you need help with?"

"No, you've worked hard. Get back to the camp and rest," the chunin refused with a smile.

"Sigh!"

Uchiha Aoba sighed in disappointment and turned back toward the camp.

[Battle concluded. Calculating rewards...]
[Total kills: three Suna chunin, one Suna genin. Panel synchronization increased by 1.6%.]
[Host: Uchiha Aoba, Konoha Chunin]

[Bloodline: Uchiha Clan]

[Character Panel: Uchiha Madara, Fusion Rate 26.8%]

[Abilities: Two-Tomoe Sharingan activated, Shurikenjutsu, Intermediate Kenjutsu, Intermediate Taijutsu, Intermediate Genjutsu, Five Nature Transformation Ninjutsu mastered (C-rank, B-rank)]

[Overall Strength: Elite Chunin, one step away from Jonin]

"An increase of 1.6%?"

Uchiha Aoba's eyes lit up as he saw the improvement in his panel's fusion rate.

Sure enough, killing enemies on the battlefield was the fastest shortcut to improving himself. While doing missions before joining the war wasn't slow, the mission cycles were too long; even a single C-rank mission took at least three to five days, and the fusion rate would only increase by 0.5%, not to mention D-rank missions.

Furthermore, according to the system's rules, killing non-ninja enemies (such as bandits) did not increase the fusion rate.

Therefore, if Uchiha Aoba wanted to improve through missions, he would need at least B-rank missions.

However, with his current Chunin rank, he couldn't frequently accept B-rank missions, and even when he occasionally completed one with his squad, it would take ten days to half a month, consuming a significant amount of time.

As for the fusion rate, B-rank missions allowed him to engage with enemy ninjas, granting about 1.5% per mission.

In short, the fusion rate increased the fastest on the battlefield.

"0.1% for a Genin, 0.5% for a Chunin."

Uchiha Aoba muttered to himself, As long as I ensure my own safety, if I take out another eight Chunin and two Genin, my fusion rate will reach 30%. By then, my strength will undergo a qualitative change.

He had been transmigrated to the Naruto World for eleven years; he had entered the Ninja Academy at five and activated the system, making it six years since then.

Uchiha Aoba understood the system quite well.

The total fusion rate was 100%, and every 10% represented a qualitative shift. Not to mention anything else, 30% would definitely unlock the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, at which point he would be considered a powerhouse even among Jonin.

But that was not enough.

Every Konoha ninja knew about the awkward situation the Uchiha Clan faced in Konoha.

To truly have the power to protect himself, a 30% fusion rate was far from sufficient.

Therefore, now was not the time to be complacent.

Uchiha Aoba took a deep breath and set a small goal for himself.

He would raise his fusion rate to 50% during the war.