A Bountiful Harvest

Claiming credit.

Uchiha Aoba did not care much about such things.

He did not expect that even if Namikaze Minato reported his contributions, he would receive any commendation from Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others.

Besides, he was not lacking anything at the moment.

As for what kind of stress response the news of Uchiha Aoba awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan might trigger in Shimura Danzō, there was no need to worry about that either.

In short, compared to these matters, Uchiha Aoba was more concerned about how much fusion progress he had gained from this battle.

However, he still expressed his sincere gratitude for Namikaze Minato's words.

"There is no need for that; this is what I should have done."

Patting Uchiha Aoba on the shoulder, Namikaze Minato smiled gently: "Since Iwagakure has gotten serious, you should head back and get some good rest. You have truly worked hard this time."

"Leave the rest to me and Jiraiya."

"Very well, then I will return to the Konoha Camp first." Uchiha Aoba nodded in agreement and turned to leave.

"Wait! Let's go together!"

The shout from Uchiha Obito made Uchiha Aoba pause and look back.

Seeing that both he and Kakashi were walking over while supporting each other with injuries, Uchiha Aoba couldn't help but raise an eyebrow: "I say, do you two need me to call for a stretcher?"

"Not necessary, these are just superficial wounds."

Kakashi shook his head in refusal: "Stretchers should be left for those who need them more; I can still walk."

"You can walk, yet you're being supported?"

Uchiha Aoba's eyes were full of skepticism: "Now is not the time to be stubborn; be careful of lingering internal injuries."

"I'm really fine."

Kakashi affirmed.

He then glanced at Uchiha Obito with a look of disdain: "It's mainly because this guy insists on supporting me."

"Perhaps out of guilt?"

"To help him block an attack earlier, my calf was accidentally slashed, but fortunately, it didn't hit the bone."

"It has already undergone initial bandaging and treatment."

Uchiha Obito had remained silent the whole time, looking dejected and completely different from how he was before the battle started. Perhaps, as Kakashi said, he felt guilty for causing the other to get hurt.

"That's good then."

Seeing that the other was not merely putting on a brave face, Uchiha Aoba stopped pressing the issue.

He then shifted his gaze toward Uchiha Obito.

"Congratulations."

"Huh?"

Uchiha Obito was stunned by the words and looked up.

He did not know what the other was congratulating him for.

The two locked eyes.

Seeing the Two-Tomoe Sharingan in Uchiha Obito's pupils, Uchiha Aoba thought to himself that it was just as he expected.

Ever since a moment ago, he had sensed an unusually active Yin Release chakra from the boy, leading to a sudden hypothesis, though he couldn't be certain while Uchiha Obito kept his head down.

Now it seemed he hadn't guessed wrong.

After all, given the bond between Uchiha Obito and Kakashi, it was impossible for him not to have experienced intense emotional fluctuations upon seeing the other get injured while saving him.

A faint curve appeared on Uchiha Aoba's lips: "Congratulations on surviving the battlefield."

"And also, congratulations on finally getting your wish."

"You have successfully awakened the Sharingan."

"What!?"

Uchiha Obito was shocked: "I awakened the Sharingan? When did that happen?"

"..."

Kakashi rolled his eyes in silence and retorted: "What a complete idiot. You didn't even notice your own ability awakening? Your nerves are far too dull."

"Didn't you notice that during the previous battle, your agility and other aspects suddenly improved?"

"No."

Uchiha Obito shook his head blankly, then beamed with joy, trembling with excitement. It looked like if he weren't still supporting Kakashi, he might have jumped for joy.

This sudden change in expression amused Uchiha Aoba.

The gate of the Konoha Camp.

While chatting with each other, the three had returned safely without even realizing it.

"Alright, you two go find Rin at the Logistics Department for treatment; I won't be tagging along."

Uchiha Aoba stretched his back and said, "I just want to go back and get a comfortable sleep now. Whatever else there is, we can talk about it after I wake up."

"Pervert..."

Watching the figure walk away, Uchiha Obito, who had calmed down from the initial excitement of awakening his Sharingan, muttered under his breath, "He killed so many people, yet he can actually still sleep."

"He really is quite the pervert."

Kakashi agreed, though his thoughts were fixed on the scene of Uchiha Aoba unleashing Susanoo on the battlefield.

That peerless, overwhelming strength left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Recalling how he had boasted during their sparring matches in Konoha about surpassing him, he now realized how truly overconfident he had been. Embarrassed, Kakashi didn't even have the face to bring it up again.

On the other side.

Back in his tent, Uchiha Aoba washed up briefly, stripped off his blood-soaked jonin vest, and collapsed onto his bed.

Though he appeared to have his eyes closed in sleep, he was actually tallying his gains.

[Battle concluded, rewards settled.]

[Total kills: 66 Iwagakure shinobi; 5 jonin, 32 chunin, and 29 genin. Panel fusion rate increased by 23.9%. Rewards are being issued; please stand by.]

[Host: Uchiha Aoba, Konoha Jonin]

[Bloodline: Uchiha Clan]

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

[Abilities: Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan (Pending Activation), Hashirama Cells (Pending Fusion), Shurikenjutsu, Master-level Kenjutsu, Master-level Taijutsu, Master-level Genjutsu, Five Nature Transformations mastered (C, B, A-rank), Sage Body (Advanced), Seal-less Casting (C, B-rank)]

[Overall Strength: Beyond Kage]

Talk about a massive harvest!

He leaned back, satisfied.

A single frontal engagement had boosted Uchiha Aoba's fusion rate by a full 23.9%.

His progress had hit 70% straight away.

However, Uchiha Aoba wasn't entirely satisfied, as he estimated he had killed far more than sixty-six Iwagakure shinobi—at least a hundred, by his count.

Could it be because he hadn't finished off the fallen enemies this time?

By keeping his focus only on those still standing, perhaps many Iwagakure shinobi hadn't actually died, but were merely left critically wounded and incapacitated?

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

Uchiha Aoba slapped his thigh in frustration; he had been too greedy, and it cost him.

Sigh! As expected, one shouldn't be too greedy.

But there was no point dwelling on it now. The priority was to activate the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and fuse the Hashirama Cells into his body; that was what truly mattered.

He was just about to issue the command to the system.

Wait a second!

Uchiha Aoba suddenly recalled the experience of awakening his Mangekyo Sharingan last time.

This was likely going to be painful again.

[Rest assured, Host, it won't hurt at all.]

"System?"

"You can actually talk?"

The voice that suddenly appeared in his mind startled Uchiha Aoba, causing his eyes to snap open.