Killing Intent Perception

But Rasa's actions after succeeding as the Fourth Kazekage completely overturned the entire shinobi world's expectations.

Everyone had thought that Sunagakure, having just weathered Kumogakure's fierce assault, would first shore up its defenses or declare war on the Land of Lightning.

Unexpectedly, however, as soon as Rasa secured his position as Kazekage, he publicly announced that Sunagakure would declare war on Konoha.

And the reason given to the outside world was forceful enough to sway public opinion throughout the shinobi world.

Konoha was responsible for the Third Kazekage's disappearance.

Sunagakure demanded that Konoha hand over the Third Kazekage immediately and give the shinobi world an explanation.

Once that pretext was announced, there was no longer any possibility of easing tensions between the two shinobi villages, already poised for conflict.

For a time, the flames of war along every nation's borders were fully ignited, and the third shinobi world war officially erupted on all fronts.

The entire shinobi world descended into utter chaos in an instant.

And this time, although Kirigakure, which had remained inactive throughout the second shinobi world war, neither openly took sides nor issued any declaration of war,

its shinobi squads began appearing frequently along the Land of Fire's borders, plundering villages and towns, harassing garrisons, and making one small move after another.

Its predatory ambitions were blatantly on display. Presumably, it would enter the fray and declare war the moment the situation grew a little more chaotic.

Meanwhile, Iwagakure, on which Kumogakure had simultaneously declared war, also responded swiftly.

Ōnoki immediately began deploying his main forces.

The army's route was straight, clear, and utterly unconcealed, yet it advanced toward the Land of Fire the entire way, seemingly treating the Land of Lightning's declaration of war as nothing but hot air.

At the Land of Fire's border.

Trees grew densely together, their branches and leaves blocking out the daylight, heavy shadows blanketing the mountains and wilderness.

A squad of Sunagakure shinobi kept low, using the dense forest's natural cover as they darted swiftly onward, stealthily penetrating deep into the Land of Fire's heartland.

Their footsteps through the forest were kept as quiet as possible, everyone suppressing their presence as much as they could, their movements crisp.

Clearly, this was an elite squad assembled specifically for infiltration missions.

At the very front, the Sunagakure Jonin leading them abruptly slowed.

He turned sideways, swept his gaze over the Chunin following close behind, and quickly explained their mission in a lowered voice.

"Let's review the mission once more."

"Elder Chiyo predicted that Konoha has already begun its wartime preparations. Its defensive priorities will inevitably be concentrated entirely on the front lines.

Our mission is to push straight into the Land of Fire's heartland before Konoha fully establishes its rear defenses and map out its entire logistical supply network."

His tone was cold and hard, without the slightest inflection.

"At the same time... if the situation demands it, we may destroy Konoha's logistical supply lines at any cost. Now, check your explosive devices."

"Everything in order?"

"Inspection complete. No problems!"

"No problems!"

At his words, the Chunin behind him immediately began checking the black, diamond-shaped blocks at their waists. After confirming that everything was in order, they answered in unison.

There was not a trace of fear in these Chunin's eyes, only surging, deep-seated hatred for Konoha.

This squad was a suicide unit Chiyo had personally selected and assembled.

Every member bore a grudge against Konoha because of the second shinobi world war, and all were alone in the world. Their sole obsession was to use this war to take revenge on Konoha and earn merit for Sunagakure.

Within the dense forest, the atmosphere was deathly still and murderous.

Just as the squad prepared to proceed deeper,

the Sunagakure Jonin at its head suddenly raised his palm, signaling a halt.

The entire squad stopped in its tracks.

The leading Jonin's neck tightened slightly, his body tensing as he abruptly looked up and fixed his eyes on the depths of the densely layered canopy overhead.

"Wow, well done. You found me."

Uchiha Gen stood on a thick branch, looking down at the Sunagakure shinobi below as he spoke with a smile.

"Your killing intent is too obvious. No hostility can escape my Killing Intent Perception."

The Sunagakure Jonin's gaze was icy as he looked at Uchiha Gen as though he were already dead.

Since they had been discovered, he naturally could not let Uchiha Gen leave alive.

In his perception, Uchiha Gen was the only person nearby who harbored hostility toward them.

In other words, the brat before them had appeared here alone.

"Killing Intent Perception?"

Uchiha Gen frowned slightly at that. There's creepy stuff like that too? Why does it sound even more useful than my Observation Haki?

The instant Uchiha Gen frowned, the six Chunin behind the Sunagakure Jonin formed hand seals in unison, and six bursts of pale green chakra exploded outward!

Wind Release: Great Sickle Weasel! ×2

Wind Release: Strangling Whirlwind! ×2

Wind Release: Thousand Gale Blades! ×2

In an instant, six differently shaped bursts of Wind Release Ninjutsu erupted simultaneously!

Green windstorms came crushing down, filling the sky. Enormous whirlwinds overlapped, merged, and amplified one another, becoming a gigantic pillar of wind that stretched between heaven and earth, madly shredding the massive trees in its path.

Thick ancient trees were instantly sliced into flying wood chips by the wind blades. The entire sea of trees shook violently, as shattered wood and raging winds wove together into a lethal cage.

The Sunagakure Jonin in front of the six had already darted aside the instant they attacked.

As the winds compounded, even space seemed distorted by the pressure of the airflow, as though anyone who stepped into that area would instantly be shredded into pulp.

This was an encircling killing move jointly unleashed by six Chunin.

Put this thing in the original shinobi world, and I'd believe it if someone called it S-rank ninjutsu.

Looking at the enormous tornado before him, the corner of Uchiha Gen's mouth twitched slightly.

At the same time, the Sunagakure Jonin who had moved aside began to act as well.

He raised his hands to form seals. In an instant, a suit of rapidly spinning wind armor covered his body, and the gale surged.

He immediately became a golden afterimage behind the tornado, propelled through the air by the raging winds. In his hand, a ninja blade coated in a deep green edge seemed to carry a sharpness that could cleave through anything as it slashed straight toward Uchiha Gen's head!

His very first attack was a killing move!

This suicide squad had no intention of underestimating Uchiha Gen. Deep behind enemy lines, they had to face anyone they encountered with everything they had.

As for... whether they would cause too much commotion, that was not something they considered.

After all, the more people they drew in, the more they stood to gain.

As for the mission... theirs was not the only squad entering the Land of Fire this time.

The gale swept through, and the surrounding trees began tumbling up into the air.

Facing such an immense offensive, Uchiha Gen showed not the slightest change in expression beyond being somewhat speechless.

"That's all."

His quiet murmur fell into the howling wind.

The next instant, scarlet flashed within the boy's eyes!

Susanoo: Armoring!

His ocular power erupted.

The ribs appeared first. Stark white bone plates emerged from empty space, arching like ribs to form a semicircular skeleton behind him, dark flames flowing over every inch of bone.

The next moment, the skeleton fitted itself around Uchiha Gen's body and instantly began contracting into a fierce-looking suit of close-fitting armor. A Tengu mask burned like flames across Uchiha Gen's face before becoming fully solid.