Land of Waves, Konoha Encampment
After returning to the camp and settling down, Kiyosuke brought Shisui and Kakashi with him to report to Orochimaru.
However, Orochimaru didn't seem particularly interested in Shisui, this brat of a kid. After glancing at Kakashi, he waved the two off and kept only Kiyosuke behind.
"Sarutobi-sensei wrote to say you've completed your Ryūchi Cave senjutsu training?"
"Yes," Kiyosuke replied without hiding anything. "I've mastered Sage Mode."
Orochimaru eyed him with a trace of envy, then nodded.
"Not bad. I failed back then, couldn't endure that terrifying chakra... but you succeeded. That's impressive."
It was as if a weight had been lifted from his mind.
"How much of a boost does Sage Mode give you?"
"At least double."
At least...
For someone of Kiyosuke's level, doubling his strength made him downright terrifying. Orochimaru said,
"Tomorrow, you're going into battle. Try out your new power against Kirigakure." In his eyes, the Mist was nothing more than test material.
"Understood."
After asking a few more questions about the specifics of Sage Mode, Orochimaru went back to his work.
...
Inside the tent, Shisui and Kakashi were checking their gear. Though still young, Shisui's talent was extraordinary—possibly even surpassing Uchiha Itachi's.
"Senpai," Shisui greeted as Kiyosuke returned.
"Where's Asuma?"
"Asuma-senpai went out to handle something."
"I see. So, Shisui, how does it feel being on the front lines?" Kiyosuke sat down and asked.
Shisui thought for a moment.
"It's completely different from Konoha... tense. I hardly see anyone smile."
"That's war," Kiyosuke replied. "Everyone's already numb."
Smiles meant nothing here. Numbness was the norm.
"Kakashi, are you coming with us tomorrow?" Kiyosuke asked.
Kakashi set down the kunai he'd just finished polishing.
"Yeah, I'll join you. What's the mission?"
"We're punching through Kirigakure's forces."
"What?" Kakashi blinked. He had to have misheard. Punching through the Mist? What kind of nonsense was that?
"Just what it sounds like. Actually, I'll be the main force tomorrow. Orochimaru-sensei wants to see my Sage Mode in action."
"Does that mean Orochimaru-sama will be joining the battle as well?"
"Most likely. I imagine tomorrow's enemy won't be easy to deal with." If Orochimaru himself was moving, then it could only mean the Third Mizukage was going to make a final move.
The Third Mizukage had been bedridden for some time. The only one who could warrant Orochimaru's personal involvement was him. Karatachi Yagura might currently be commanding the Mist front lines, but his strength didn't quite compare to Orochimaru's, one of the legendary Sannin.
Yagura had yet to reach his peak.
Orochimaru didn't even consider Yagura a real threat. The only one he cared about was the Third Mizukage.
"I see. Then I'd better prepare myself," Kakashi said.
He returned to adjusting his condition. The Sharingan he'd inherited from Obito let him use the Chidori he had created, but since he wasn't an Uchiha, he couldn't deactivate it. The constant drain on his chakra meant he had to make sure his body was in perfect shape.
Kiyosuke turned to Shisui. "You're still too young. Don't join us tomorrow. A separate mission will be assigned to you."
"Yes, understood."
Shisui nodded. He knew he was lucky to even be here. As for missions, he'd just follow orders from above.
...
The Next Day
Hundreds of Konoha shinobi assembled, forming a unit under Orochimaru's command. They moved en masse across the sea, heading straight for the Land of Water.
This time, they were on the offensive.
Charging across the sea, the group naturally drew Kirigakure's attention. At the head of the formation were Kakashi and Kiyosuke.
The two dove underwater, swam ashore, and infiltrated the Mist encampment.
They exchanged hand signs.
Kakashi lifted his forehead protector, revealing his blood-red Sharingan.
Kiyosuke surged forward, grabbing the nearest Mist ninja and snapping his neck.
"Enemy atta—!"
The man barely got the words out before Kakashi slit his throat with a kunai. He may have lost his father's White Fang blade, but a kunai worked just as well. It didn't hinder his performance at all.
"Water Style: Water Fang Bullet!"
"Water Style: Water Fang Bullet!"
A Mist ninja cast a Water Style jutsu—only for Kakashi to instantly copy the technique, matching the opponent's speed with the swift hands of someone who's lived single for years.
The two Water Fang Bullets collided mid-air. The sudden clash startled the Mist ninja. He froze for a second—just long enough for Kiyosuke to drive a kunai into his throat. Blood sprayed.
Kiyosuke tossed the corpse aside. "Kakashi, don't waste chakra copying jutsu. You don't have a lot to spare."
"I just wanted to test the Sharingan's strength."
Kakashi understood and quickly charged another group of enemies, dispatching them like slicing through vegetables.
Kiyosuke didn't sit still either. A mass of snakes slithered from his sleeves, wrapping around several Mist shinobi and crushing them to death.
He scanned the area with thermal perception. Everyone nearby was either dead or dying—their body temperatures rapidly falling.
"This area's clear. Asuma's side should be wrapping up soon too."
Just then, a signal flare shot into the sky.
Kiyosuke raised his arm, launching a fireball that exploded in the air.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One after another, signal flares burst across the sky—an announcement of a successful ambush.
...
At the same time, out at sea, Orochimaru saw the flares in the distance and knew the Mist's outposts had been cleared.
"Move out!"
The main force accelerated. Being caught on the sea by Mist's Water Style jutsu was no joke—they had to take out the outposts first. Now that those were down, Konoha had a window to land on the shores of the Land of Water.
Kakashi tossed aside his bloodied kunai and turned to Kiyosuke.
"So... are we heading deeper into Mist territory now?"
"No. Defensive stance. The Mist are already closing in."
Kiyosuke's thermal sense picked up faint heat signatures in the distance. Small, but many.
That meant the Mist shinobi were already en route.
"Hide. Mist always leads with Hidden Mist Technique—it's bad news for your Sharingan."
That's one reason the Uchiha rarely operated in Kirigakure. Not only was the Hidden Mist Technique a problem, but the Mist's overwhelming use of Water Style clashed hard against the Uchiha's fire-based techniques.
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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