The Sand Shinobi Have Gone Mad! Naive Fugaku & the Uchiha / Battle of Kikyo Pass! Chiyo's Welcome Gift!

Chapter 74: The Mad Sand Ninja! Naive Fugaku and the Uchiha Clan

"Jonin Uchiha Mo!"

"Sunagakure's elite forces somehow bypassed the border defenses and entered the Land of Fire. They're now rapidly approaching from the west! The situation is urgent! Please hurry to gather at the village gate! Lord Orochimaru has already assembled the ninja remaining in the village there!"

"The situation is urgent! Please leave immediately!"

An ANBU ninja rushed into Mo's home in a panic, then promptly used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.

"This..."

Shisui turned to look at his older brother in confusion.

Mo slightly raised his eyes, expressionlessly turned around, took Futsunomitama from the sword rack, and hung it at his waist.

"It's finally here..."

The Battle of Kikyo Pass!

It was a battle during the Third Shinobi World War that received very little description, yet posed what could be called the greatest threat to Hidden Leaf!

Kikyo Mountain was a pass west of Hidden Leaf. At a ninja's pace, a round trip only took half a day. Therefore, this battle was often called the Battle of Kikyo Pass.

Kabuto Yakushi and Yamato officially entered Hidden Leaf after this battle ended. In the original timeline, Danzo and Orochimaru had also used this battle to obtain a large number of orphans for experiments.

Because the original work described it so little, Mo did not know much about the reason behind this battle. He only knew that it had taken place around Hidden Leaf Year 48, after Hidden Leaf had officially gone to war with Hidden Cloud and Hidden Sand.

That was why he had applied to return to the village this time. However, Mo had not expected to encounter it so easily.

Mo glanced at the panel, and the corners of his mouth slowly curled upward.

[Blue: 52.13% + 25.87%

Unlocked ability: Invisibility

Second stage: Unlock ability upon reaching 30% in both attributes—No Trace]

"Let's go, Shisui. Come with me."

As soon as he spoke, Shisui suddenly became excited.

"Huh? Really?! Can I finally fight alongside you, Brother?"

Mo turned back to look at Shisui and raised an eyebrow.

"You don't want to go? Then I'll leave first."

"Huh?! Don't run off! I'm going!"

Shisui immediately shouted his answer, then quickly ran into his room. Less than three breaths later, fully prepared, he appeared at the doorway with a smile.

"Let's go! I can't wait to give you a big surprise, Brother!"

A faint curve appeared at the corner of Mo's mouth. He stepped out of the house, and Shisui hurriedly followed.

The brothers soon arrived near Hidden Leaf's main gate. However, the first thing to draw Uchiha Mo's attention was not Orochimaru, but a group of figures wearing Military Police Force uniforms with the Uchiha Crest printed on their sleeves.

Mo's steps paused slightly. His handsome face remained expressionless, but the blackness in his eyes seemed to deepen.

"Brother...?"

Shisui instantly realized that his older brother was somewhat angry and hurriedly called out worriedly.

Mo raised a hand and rubbed Shisui's head, then quickly walked out of the gate. His footsteps attracted some people's attention. They turned around one after another, and upon seeing him, warmly greeted him.

"Mo! You came too?"

"With you joining us, it looks like Hidden Sand is in for a terrible time this round, hehe~"

"Hahahaha! Let those ignorant sandworms see just how formidable us Uchiha are!"

Mo nodded without deliberately responding and instead quickly walked over to the man leading them.

Since Orochimaru was still waiting for everyone to gather and assigning missions, the team needed more time to prepare. No one paid attention to the situation on the other side.

"Mo."

Fugaku looked at Uchiha Mo and nodded as if in acknowledgment.

"Who told the Uchiha Clan to come?"

Mo's brows lowered slightly.

He clearly remembered that Orochimaru was supposed to be the protagonist of this battle. It was also the foundation of Orochimaru's confidence during the competition for Fourth Hokage.

With his accumulated achievements, plus a battle that saved Hidden Leaf from disaster, Orochimaru's merits far surpassed Minato's.

Uchiha Fugaku immediately responded. He folded his arms and said in a steady voice, "The village's internal defenses are currently weak. It will definitely be difficult to withstand Hidden Sand's attack. This is the best chance to earn merit! The Third Hokage spoke with me just now. I think this is an opportunity for the Uchiha Clan!"

"He spoke with you?"

Uchiha Mo stared into Fugaku's eyes and asked, "Did he ask the Uchiha Clan to take action?"

"This... He said the village was in danger now, and that the Uchiha Clan and the village were one..."

"Did he promise the Uchiha Clan any benefits?"

"The Third Hokage said that as long as there was an opportunity... the future of the Uchiha Clan and Hidden Leaf would certainly get better and better..."

"..."

As his words fell, the air fell silent for a moment.

Mo stared into Fugaku's eyes. A faint scarlet glimmer flashed in his own.

"Take the Uchiha Clan back."

Perhaps the Third Hokage truly wanted to find an opportunity to improve relations with the Uchiha Clan. But the Uchiha Clan had too little to stake, and Uchiha Mo did not want to gamble with him. Since Mo had long planned an escape route, he had no intention of wasting his thoughts on scheming against Hidden Leaf's higher-ups.

Even if the Third Hokage did not advocate harming the Uchiha Clan, Mo believed that cowardly old man would never give the Uchiha Clan—the sharp double-edged sword—the treatment it deserved.

"Mo..."

Fugaku looked troubled and wanted to say something more. But Mo had already lost his patience. His eyes abruptly turned scarlet, three tomoe spinning into existence. Vast ocular power gathered in his brain as he prepared to act!

"Slap!"

At that moment, a hand suddenly landed on Mo's shoulder.

"..."

Mo expressionlessly turned his head. A long-faced man with short black hair stood behind him with a smile. It was Uchiha Yakumi.

Among Mo's generation of elders, Yakumi was considered a typical Uchiha genius. At only eighteen years old, he already held a considerable position in the Uchiha Police Force.

Mo had actually noticed this person behind him long ago. But since Yakumi was merely an ordinary Jonin, Mo had not paid him much attention. He had not expected Yakumi to dare interfere in his conversation with Fugaku.

"Mo, don't be so tense. The clan members have been stuck in the village so long that their bodies are about to rust. It's time for us to get some fresh air," Yakumi said with a smile.

As his words fell, responses came from the Uchiha Clan's ranks.

"That's right! They're just a bunch of sandworms. They pose no threat to the Uchiha Clan at all, so stop worrying, Mo!"

"Mo, don't tell me you're worried someone's achievements on the battlefield might surpass yours? Don't worry. Even if someone can do it, you'll still be the Uchiha Clan's greatest genius! Hahahahaha!"

"Hona, you bastard... Aren't you a little too confident? Surpass Mo's achievements? You really dare say that..."

"..."

Everyone spoke up one after another, and the atmosphere immediately became lively.

As ninja, many of them had heard Fugaku and Mo's conversation. But the Uchiha Clan was, after all, the Uchiha Clan...

When emotionality, extremity, stubbornness, xenophobia, and pride all gathered in one group, it was difficult to expect such a clan to possess much political awareness.

Therefore, they merely assumed that Uchiha Mo was worried about the clan's fighting strength declining.

Even Fugaku, who understood Uchiha Mo's meaning, still felt that Mo was overthinking things. He was more inclined to believe what he wanted to believe.

"..."

Looking at his still-naive clansmen, Mo's eyes returned to their clear black color. Expressionlessly, he walked back to Shisui's side.

Chapter 75: The Battle of Kikyo Pass! Chiyo's Greeting Gift!

"Move out!"

At Orochimaru's command, the enormous force immediately began racing westward.

The Uchiha Clan was among them. Uchiha Mo and Uchiha Shisui, the two brothers, were positioned near the front of the entire formation.

Shisui wore a hint of excitement on his face. This was his first true participation in a war, and he would be fighting beside his older brother. It filled Shisui with immense fighting spirit.

Orochimaru glanced back at Mo, the corners of his mouth lifting as he said in a hoarse voice, "Mo-kun, Hidden Sand has many puppet masters, and the forces attacking this time include a puppet unit. We'll have to rely on your swordsmanship in this battle."

Traditional puppet masters were limited by chakra threads, while puppets were mostly filled with mechanical structures, making them easy to destroy with ninja swords. Thus, swordsmen could be said to be the natural enemies of traditional puppet masters.

Orochimaru himself was also considered a skilled swordsman, so he thoroughly understood this countering relationship. Yet for some reason, before defecting, he had never displayed his talent in this area.

Uchiha Mo continued advancing in silence with an expressionless face, ignoring Orochimaru's attempt at conversation.

Meanwhile, in the west of the Land of Fire.

A large number of figures continuously moved through the forest. At the very front of the group were two elderly figures. One had short light-purple hair, while the other wore beige sandproof bandages around his head.

Just as Orochimaru had said, the attacking Hidden Sand elite force was a puppet unit led by Chiyo and Ebizo!

Most Hidden Cloud ninja were skilled with blades, which was unfavorable for puppet masters. Furthermore, Wind Release countered Lightning Release. Therefore, on the other battlefield, most of the Hidden Sand ninja deployed were ninjutsu specialists, leaving the puppet masters available.

"Elder Sister, the intelligence we received earlier said that the Blood Ninja brat returned to the village. His swordsmanship seems quite strong. If we encounter him later, let me deal with him."

Ebizo turned his head, his hollow-looking eyes settling on Chiyo at his side.

"Skilled with a blade... It seems he'll be a very annoying brat."

Chiyo frowned as she spoke, clearly recalling some unpleasant memories.

"In that case, you only need to hold that brat back. I'll be responsible for holding Orochimaru back. According to the intelligence we obtained, Hidden Leaf does not have many ninja forces remaining. Once the puppet unit destroys Hidden Leaf's army, it won't matter how strong Orochimaru and that Blood Ninja brat are."

Chiyo nodded and gave her conclusion. However, Ebizo raised another concern. Remembering the inexplicable intelligence they had received, he hesitantly said, "Although we've already begun moving, this intelligence... Elder Sister, I'm worried the Sand Ninja are being used by someone else."

Ebizo was not only Chiyo's younger brother; he was also a renowned sage in Sunagakure.

"At this point, it doesn't matter even if we're being used. The losses Hidden Sand suffered at Hidden Cloud's hands must be repaid by Hidden Leaf! Otherwise, the village's interests will definitely suffer in this war!"

Chiyo's tone was firm as she immediately answered, clearly having considered this question long ago.

Ebizo nodded at her words and said no more. The group advanced in silence.

Soon, a mountain stretching across the ground appeared in everyone's sight.

The mountain was not especially high, but it was very long, lying across the earth like a centipede.

"It's Kikyo Mountain! Everyone, accelerate! Once we cross this mountain, we can head straight to Hidden Leaf headquarters!"

Chiyo shouted, then took the lead in accelerating!

The people behind her quickly followed. However, when they charged to the mountainside, a vast mass of figures had already crossed over the ridgeline and rushed down at the Hidden Sand forces!

"Damn it! Hidden Leaf reacted so quickly!"

Chiyo cursed under her breath, swiftly pulling a scroll from her waist and opening it with a whoosh. It floated in the air as she brought her hands together and gathered chakra.

"Buzz~"

In an instant, ten white figures emerged one after another directly from the scroll, floating before Chiyo as powerful chakra auras spread outward.

Ebizo's body shook. "You're using Chikamatsu's Ten Puppets right away?"

"Heh~"