UCHIHA KING OF THE SOULS

Outstanding Military Exploits

Uchiha Gen leaped down from the sturdy branch of an ancient oak, swiftly retrieving the fired shuriken and tucking them into his ninja pouch with practiced ease.

This sight was nothing new for Hatake Kakashi and Nohara Rin, yet they still found themselves marveling at his thriftiness. Despite being from the esteemed Uchiha clan, known for its abundance of resources, Gen acted more like an academy student scrimping on supplies.

There was no helping it—according to Gen, the Uchiha's renowned Shurikenjutsu was a legacy of precision and honor, and leaving behind his thrown weapons would be akin to discarding a piece of his very soul.

Even if the shuriken were just tools, in war, every piece of equipment mattered.

"Let's move," Gen ordered.

His figure blurred into motion, forming a triangular formation with Kakashi and Rin as they dashed through the dense forest.

Before long, two Kumogakure shinobi emerged from the shadows, their headbands gleaming in the faint moonlight. They wasted no time, immediately launching an offensive.

Lightning Release: Lightning Beast Running Technique!

Their hands crackled with blue-white electricity, unleashing four serpentine bolts of lightning that hissed through the air.

Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!

Gen's hands blurred through a sequence of seals before he spewed a barrage of small, golden-orange fireballs. The opposing elements clashed, creating a series of thunderous explosions that sent shockwaves rippling through the battlefield.

Kakashi and Rin seized the opportunity, launching kunai and shuriken from above.

However, the Kumogakure shinobi activated their Lightning Release Armor, their chakra flaring to life as they dodged the incoming projectiles with an electrified burst of speed.

The Lightning Release Armor was a signature technique of Kumogakure, a B-rank jutsu infamous for its difficulty to master. Unlike the Eight Gates, which focused on sheer explosiveness, the Lightning Armor offered continuous speed and defense. While only a handful of shinobi could push it to the level of the Third Raikage, even lower-tier users were formidable adversaries.

The Third Raikage, known as the "Strongest Shield," had once stood alone against an army of ten thousand, fending them off for three days and three nights before finally succumbing. His Lightning Release Armor allowed him to battle a Tailed Beast to exhaustion, an inhuman feat that cemented his legacy.

His son, the Fourth Raikage, was even faster—though he lacked the monstrous endurance of his predecessor.

For Gen, the Third Raikage's physique was something he had envied in his past life. With that kind of resilience, he wouldn't have to rely on careful planning—he could simply dominate the battlefield.

Seeing the enemy charging toward him, Gen didn't panic. Instead, he leaped backward, hands forming a rapid sequence of seals.

Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!

A thin stream of flames erupted from his lips, instantly expanding into a golden-orange inferno that engulfed the trees, warping the very air with its heat.

The Kumogakure shinobi barely managed to avoid the brunt of the attack, relying on their Lightning Armor's protection as they split up to flank him.

Kakashi and Rin's vision was temporarily obscured by the flames, but Gen remained composed.

A subtle movement—his Mangekyō Sharingan activated.

The moment his left arm moved, Zhurong, the small dragon spirit sealed within him, emerged, merging its flames with his own.

The golden-orange flames instantly transformed into pure golden fire, raising the temperature by another hundred degrees. The firestorm, which initially had weak edges, now expanded uniformly, making it impossible for his enemies to escape unscathed.

"Aaaghhh!"

Their screams echoed as the enhanced flames bypassed their Lightning Armor, burning them alive. Within seconds, their bodies blackened and fell from the trees, sending up a putrid smell of charred flesh.

In such a scenario, the Body Replacement Technique was useless. It was a basic Academy-level skill that worked by deceiving an opponent into believing their attack had landed. Against high-level shinobi, it was nearly obsolete.

For mid-to-high-tier battles, cloning techniques were far more effective, with Shadow Clones and Wood Clones standing at the pinnacle.

Kakashi and Rin stared at the blazing battlefield, momentarily recalling Obito's Fire Style.

Even though their bond with Obito was strong, they had to admit—his Fire Release didn't compare to this level of devastation.

To counteract such a massive-scale Fire Release, even a Jōnin would struggle without a Water Release: Water Formation Wall—and that was only if the terrain was favorable.

Gen smiled in satisfaction.

Killing two Special Jōnin-level opponents in one move wasn't bad. If Kumogakure's conspiracy failed, the war would soon shrink into localized skirmishes instead of an all-out conflict.

And if he continued racking up achievements, he would secure his promotion to Jōnin before the war's end.

A wartime promotion was far easier than earning one during peacetime, and he couldn't afford to waste time.

More importantly, he needed influence within the Uchiha clan. Not just the reputation of a "genius," but the status of a pillar of the clan—someone with a voice that even the elders couldn't ignore.

So far, Kakashi had taken too much of the spotlight.

It was time for Gen to change that.

"Kakashi, Rin, let's go."

Dodging around the burning trees, the trio continued cutting through Kumogakure's forces, supporting Konoha's defensive line.

Clang!

Just as a Konoha shinobi was about to be impaled, Gen arrived in a flash, deflecting the strike with his blade.

Their eyes met for a split second—Gen's Sharingan swirled.

The Kumogakure shinobi froze as his mind fractured under the illusion's weight. Before he could react, Gen's sword pierced his heart with a clean, efficient strike.

"Thanks!" the stunned Konoha ninja gasped.

Gen barely acknowledged him. "We're all from the same village."

With that, he vanished, rejoining the battle.

Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!

A golden fire dragon burst forth from his lips, its intense heat distorting the surroundings. The Kumogakure shinobi tried to dodge, but Gen's Sharingan predicted their movements, making escape impossible.

"AAAAHHH!"

A thunderous scream tore through the battlefield as the dragon slammed into its target, incinerating him instantly.

Konoha's forces watched in awe.

One shinobi murmured, "That's… insane."

But Gen didn't stop. He pushed forward, efficiently eliminating enemy after enemy.

Kakashi, following behind, wanted to tell Gen to pace himself. But when he glanced at Rin—who was struggling to keep up—he held back.

Gen deserved to shine.

By the time the battle ended, Gen Uchiha had slain ten enemy shinobi—six Chūnin, three Special Jōnin, and one full-fledged Jōnin.

It was an astonishing achievement.

Of the fifty-plus Kumogakure shinobi who had breached Konoha's defensive line, only a handful escaped, and they now faced pursuit from Konoha's front-line squads.

Meanwhile, on another battlefield, Namikaze Minato clashed against the infamous A-B Combo, forcing them into retreat.

With that, Kumogakure's grand strategy crumbled.

This was a decisive victory.