The Uchiha Clan's Mad Fox

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The method for crafting the Talisman of the Sage? Wasn't that the legendary treasure of Toad Country, used by the Sage of Six Paths to revive his dying younger brother, Otsutsuki Hamura?

Because it was filled with Sage Chakra, it could easily restore vitality to those grievously injured. In all of Toad Country, only Mount Myōboku, one of the Three Great Training Holy Lands, possessed a single one.

After roughly a thousand years, there was no telling whether a second one could be made. Most likely, it could not; even if it could, it would never spread beyond Toad Country.

"So this is Natural Energy. This is Sage Mode?"

The scenery within Ryūchi Cave grew increasingly clear. The dense mist floating in the air, the tobacco burning in the White Snake Sage's pipe, and every movement of the three Divine Princesses could no longer escape Uchiha Huayue's eyes.

Second by second, time passed. When the black-purple eyeshadow extended to the corners of his eyes, the White Snake Sage and the three Divine Princesses finally retracted their fangs. As they looked at the figure showing no trace of snake transformation, save for the black-purple eyeshadow, their eyes were filled with shock.

"How is this possible? The White Snake Sage and the three of us gave him more than half our Natural Energy, and it only barely let him enter perfect Sage Mode? Just how much chakra does he have inside him?"

"Whew, so he finally entered the perfect sage state? Uchiha brat, naturally gifted at Sage Mode, you are welcome to visit Ryūchi Cave again..."

Bang! Uchiha Huayue vanished from Ryūchi Cave, and the three Divine Princesses revealed regretful expressions as they could not help taking a deep breath.

"Did he just leave like that? I really wanted to keep him here. This long-lost urge and appetite are making my mouth water..."

Ichikishimahime's eyes were seductive, and her petite, adorable form was enough to stir the desires of any member of the opposite sex—provided one overlooked her sharp fangs and snake tongue.

"One after another, I knew it would turn out like this. That Uchiha brat's almost monstrous charm and his control over Natural Energy..."

"It has been over a thousand years since we encountered such a unique human. If you lot are in heat, get outside. Do not let that scent appear in my residence."

The three Divine Princesses lowered their brows and meekly turned to leave, but inwardly they grumbled.

If you hadn't brought such an alluring child into Ryūchi Cave, how could you have stirred up urges that haven't appeared in nearly a thousand years? Honestly...

Let us speak of two matters separately.

Land of Fire, Konoha, Third Training Ground.

As the White Mist dispersed, Huayue had no time to marvel at this unexpected journey before he was dragged into the Inner world by the Black Nine-Tails.

"Brat, how does getting stronger feel? I never expected this world to truly have energy besides chakra. Natural Energy, huh? It is quite similar to the Sage Art used by the Sage of Six Paths."

The Black Nine-Tails' eyes brimmed with excitement. From its bristling fox fur to its muscular body, its ecstatic delight was plain to see.

"Didn't I tell you about it long ago? I asked whether you could sense Natural Energy. Believe me now? Hmph, stupid fox..."

"Ah! Damn brat, want to fight me?"

Its sharp fox claws instantly slashed through the air, but Huayue before it faded away like a passing cloud.

"I have things to do right now. I do not have time to play with you. Though I do not know what is inside your stomach, judging from how it can absorb so much Natural Energy, it must be an incredible secret."

"Once most of the battlefields in the Third Great Ninja War have settled down, I hope to hear the real answer, Kurama..."

His voice lingered for a long while. The Black Nine-Tails' lazy expression slowly faded, eventually turning solemn and hesitant.

"Uchiha brat, after obtaining this so-called Sage Mode, have those eyes that are gradually losing their light been eased as well?"

"You are becoming more and more troublesome. We can talk after you survive the battlefield. Though I will probably die if you die, convincing This Lord will not be so easy. Hahahaha!"

Within the Third Training Ground, Huayue glanced at the Black Nine-Tails, which was currently in an Uchiha-like laughing frenzy, and the corner of his mouth twitched. He was clearly the Uchiha, so why was the Black Nine-Tails more skilled at going mad than he was?

"Forget it. I never expected to spend more than twenty days in Ryūchi Cave. I nearly celebrated the New Year over there..."

He wandered aimlessly through the streets. The bustling clamor and the playful frolicking of young men and women left Huayue slightly dazed, and he nearly forgot that it was still wartime.

The scent of meat in the air, along with the smoke of fireworks and firecrackers, made him feel inexplicably wistful.

Meanwhile, within the Land of Grass, a small nation bordering the Land of Fire and the Land of Earth.

The local Kusagakure ninjas could only tremble as they watched a force of more than a thousand Stone Ninja cross the border and head for the Land of Fire's frontier, swallowing their humiliation.

"Damn it, are we just going to watch those Stone Ninja bastards act freely within the Land of Grass?"

A Kusagakure ninja lurking in the shadows gritted his teeth, his face full of humiliation.

"What can we do? The Land of Earth is one of the Five Great Nations. Small nations like ours, which can only survive in the cracks, are utterly powerless."

"We should preserve Kusagakure's living forces first. We cannot let valuable ninjas die in such meaningless places. Civilians must be abandoned when necessary."

"Compared with those poor folk who have no combat ability at all, do you not know how great a price it takes to train a ninja?"

Kusagakure's leading jonin harshly rebuked them. As he looked at the backs of the thousand-plus Stone Ninja, his eyes held envy and jealousy, but even more hatred and dissatisfaction.

"Fight! Fight! All of you, die on the battlefield! Every great war makes the people of our small nations suffer worse than death. One day, you will receive divine retribution!"

At the same time, when the thousand-plus Iwagakure ninjas broke through the Land of Grass border, the Konoha Anbu lurking along the frontier and handling intelligence immediately returned to Konoha, delivering this urgent military report to the Third Hokage and the advisers.

Inside the Hokage's Office, Konoha F4 had gathered together, and every one of them wore an inexplicably grim expression.

"That Ōnoki of Both Scales sent over ten thousand ninjas to besiege the Third Raikage, then took the chance to strike the Land of Wind. Was that not enough for him? Is he targeting the Land of Fire now as well?"

Danzo lowered his eyes. With Konoha's current numbers, it was truly difficult to support fighting other great nations at the same time. Small-scale conflicts were troublesome enough, let alone a full thousand Iwagakure ninjas.

"At this point, whether war begins is no longer something Konoha alone can decide. Since Ōnoki has chosen to make a move, Konoha cannot allow itself to be slaughtered."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze was cold and sharp. The killing intent and resolve within it made Danzo even more wary. It seemed that his old friend and enemy had not forgotten the ruthlessness of the battlefield.

"Gather the Konoha Ninja. All personnel are to prepare for war. Also, summon Namikaze Minato, Uchiha Huayue..."