A Bumper Harvest

Requesting commendation.

Uchiha Aoba didn't care about that.

He didn't expect to receive praise from Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others just because Namikaze Minato reported his accomplishments.

Besides, he wasn't lacking anything right now.

As for what kind of reaction Shimura Danzō might have to Uchiha Aoba awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, that wasn't something he needed to worry too much about either.

All in all, compared to those things, Uchiha Aoba cared more about how much fusion progress he'd gained from this battle.

Still, he sincerely thanked Namikaze Minato for what he'd said.

"There's no need. It's only what I should do."

Patting Uchiha Aoba on the shoulder, Namikaze Minato smiled warmly. "Now that Iwagakure is taking this seriously, go back and get some proper rest. You really have been through a lot this time."

"Leave the rest to me and Jiraiya-sensei."

"Okay, then I'll head back to camp first." Uchiha Aoba nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait! We're coming too!"

Uchiha Obito's shout made Uchiha Aoba pause. He turned to look.

Seeing the other two approach, both injured and supporting each other, he raised an eyebrow. "You two—should I get someone to bring a stretcher?"

"No need. They're just superficial wounds."

Kakashi shook his head. "Save the stretcher for someone who needs it more. I can still walk."

"You can walk, but you're being helped?"

Uchiha Aoba looked doubtful. "This isn't the time to act tough. Be careful you don't end up with a hidden injury."

"I'm really fine," Kakashi assured him.

Then he glanced at Uchiha Obito with a look of disdain. "It's just that this guy insists on helping me."

"Maybe he feels guilty?"

"Earlier, I took a hit for him and got a cut on my lower leg, but luckily it didn't reach the bone."

"They've already bandaged it up for now."

Uchiha Obito had remained silent the whole time, his head bowed dejectedly. He seemed like a completely different person from the one he'd been before the battle. Perhaps, just as Kakashi said, he felt guilty for getting him hurt.

"Good."

Seeing that Kakashi really wasn't pushing himself, Uchiha Aoba said nothing more.

Then he turned his gaze to Uchiha Obito.

"Congratulations."

"Huh?"

Uchiha Obito looked up in surprise.

He had no idea what the other was congratulating him for.

Their eyes met.

Seeing the Two-Tomoe Sharingan in Uchiha Obito's eyes, Uchiha Aoba thought, Just as I expected.

Ever since earlier, he'd sensed unusually active Yin Release Chakra coming from him. That had given Uchiha Aoba a hunch, but with Uchiha Obito's head bowed, he couldn't be certain.

Now it seemed he'd been right.

Given the bond between Uchiha Obito and Kakashi, seeing that the other had been injured while saving him would surely have stirred up powerful emotions.

Aoba's lips curled into a faint smile. "Congratulations on surviving the battlefield."

"And congratulations on finally getting what you wanted."

"You've successfully awakened the Sharingan."

"What!?"

Uchiha Obito was startled. "I awakened the Sharingan? When did that happen?"

"..."

Kakashi rolled his eyes and grumbled, "What an idiot. You didn't even notice your own abilities awakening. You're unbelievably oblivious."

"Didn't you notice that your movements and other abilities suddenly improved during the battle?"

"No."

Uchiha Obito shook his head in confusion. Then he broke into a delighted grin, trembling with excitement. If he hadn't still been supporting Kakashi, he probably would've jumped for joy.

That dramatic change in expression made Uchiha Aoba laugh.

The gate to Konoha Camp.

By the time they'd finished chatting, the three of them had returned without even noticing.

"All right, go to the Logistics Department and have Rin treat you. I won't come along."

Uchiha Aoba stretched. "I just want to go back and get a good night's sleep. We can talk about anything else after I wake up."

"Psycho..."

Watching him walk away, Uchiha Obito had already calmed down from his excitement over awakening the Sharingan. He muttered, "He killed so many people and can still sleep."

"He really is kind of a psycho," Kakashi agreed, though he was thinking about the sight of Uchiha Aoba unleashing Susanoo on the battlefield.

That unmatched strength left him feeling bitter.

Then he remembered how he'd boasted about surpassing the other during their spar in the village. Now it seemed he'd been overestimating himself. Kakashi was so embarrassed that he didn't even have the nerve to bring it up again.

Meanwhile.

Back in his tent.

Uchiha Aoba washed up, took off the Jonin vest soaked in blood, and lay down on his bed.

He appeared to close his eyes and go to sleep, but in fact he was tallying up his gains.

[Battle complete. Rewards calculated.]

[Total Iwagakure kills: 66—5 Jonin, 32 Chunin, and 29 Genin. Panel fusion progress increased by 23.9%. Rewards are being issued. Please wait to receive them.]

[Host: Uchiha Aoba, Konoha Jonin]

[Bloodline: Uchiha Clan]

[Character Panel: Uchiha Madara, Fusion Progress: 70%]

[Abilities: Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan (awaiting activation), Hashirama Cells (awaiting fusion), Shuriken Throwing, Swordsmanship: Top Tier, Taijutsu: Top Tier, Genjutsu: Top Tier, Five Basic Nature Transformations mastered (C, B, and A ranks), Sage Body (advanced), No Hand Seals required (C and B ranks)]

[Overall Strength: Super Kage]

Now that was what you called a bumper harvest!

He leaned back in a tactical pose.

A single battle on the front lines had increased Uchiha Aoba's fusion progress by 23.9%.

His progress had reached 70%.

Still, Uchiha Aoba wasn't entirely satisfied. By his estimate, he'd killed far more than 66 Iwagakure ninja. There should've been at least a hundred.

Could it be because this time, he hadn't gone around finishing off enemies who'd fallen?

He'd focused on the enemies still standing, which meant a lot of Iwagakure ninja might only have been seriously injured and put out of action, rather than killed.

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

Uchiha Aoba slapped his thigh in frustration. He'd gotten greedy and taken a loss.

Sigh! He really shouldn't be so greedy.

But there was no point thinking about that now. The most urgent thing was to activate the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and fuse the Hashirama Cells into his body.

He was about to issue a command to the system.

Wait a second!

Uchiha Aoba suddenly remembered what it had felt like the last time he activated the Mangekyō Sharingan.

This was probably going to hurt a bit.

[Host, don't worry. It won't hurt at all.]

"System?"

"You can talk?"

The voice that suddenly sounded in his mind startled Uchiha Aoba so badly that his eyes flew open.