Right now, on the First Battlefield of Konoha.
Kakashi: "Have the Second and his group left again?"
Sakumo: "There's an extremely strong chakra fluctuation over there. There must be enemies too."
"The Second is still as strategic as ever!"
"I suppose everything's under control according to their calculations. Don't worry."
Sakumo Hatake smiled gently, completely unconcerned about the situation.
Compared with Kakashi and others, he had grown up listening to legends of The First since childhood, and witnessed the achievements of The Second with his own eyes.
He fully understood the immense power of The First and The Second.
Rather than worrying about that side, it was better to properly manage this battlefield and protect Sunagakure's jinchuriki.
Besides, naturally, it was also a great opportunity for him to have a heartfelt talk with his son Kakashi.
He had left too early back then.
Indeed, this child had suffered so much!
"Kakashi, these years must've been difficult for you, right?"
"Father... they were tough indeed. But I was fortunate to have a highly respectable teacher and some truly outstanding friends..."
Kakashi replied, his voice slightly choked as he recalled memories.
Clearly, even the strongest man could show sensitivity and fragility before family.
"They must've been great teachers and friends. Tell me about them..."
Sakumo Hatake patted Kakashi comfortingly with a voice full of magnetism.
At this moment, he was more than happy to just be a listener.
Listening to his son's growth, his son's stories...
"My..."
Just at that moment, as Kakashi was about to speak,
"Cough—"
A soft cough suddenly sounded from ahead of them, interrupting the narrative.
Both quickly looked over and noticed only ten meters away—
when did that young figure appear?
"Shimoku Uchiha!"
"How could it be? How can you be here?"
Kakashi was greatly shocked, immediately recognizing the other party.
He knew very clearly—
don't be deceived by the youthfulness of this teenager's appearance; even Hashirama himself feared his strength!
"Shimoku Uchiha?"
Kakashi: "Exactly! Father, he's incredibly powerful, terrifying like The First himself. We..."
"I don't need to hear it to feel it already!"
"What an overwhelming amount of chakra! What a terrifying pressure! It's simply monstrous!"
Sakumo Hatake felt astonished too.
In his perception,
the chakra pressure radiating from that figure was like an enormous mountain spanning across the heavens.
Just looking up at it sent chills down your spine and made your hair stand on end.
It far surpassed ordinary tailed beasts!
Even compared to the aura exuded by The First Hokage,
it seemed three times more terrifying!
Gods above! How could such a monstrous ninja exist in this world?
...
Shimoku Uchiha waved his hand slightly, reducing his oppressive aura a little.
Wouldn't be much fun if he actually scared someone to death.
After all, this was supposed to be the test subject reserved for Yueji.
Certainly, showing off was amusing.
But Shimoku Uchiha wasn't planning on dragging things out either.
After all, over at the Second Battlefield,
there was another grand spectacle awaiting his observation.
Compared to that, the Kakashi father and son could only be considered an appetizer.
Overindulge in the 'appetizer', and you'll lose your appetite for the main dish.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your heartfelt moment between father and son."
"But I'm in a hurry. We can chat next time."
"Oh right! Nearly forgot—your left Sharingan eye, I'll just take it with me."
Six Stages [Setsuna]—Activate!
64x speed boost!
Shimoku instantly vanished from his spot.
Before Sakumo Hatake could react,
Kakashi only felt a sudden chill in his left eye socket, as if something had been taken from him...
Then, intense pain shot out from inside his left eye socket.
Clearly, his Sharingan had already been taken by Shimoku...
In the blink of an eye.
"Too fast!"
"Such terrifying Body Flicker Technique?"
Sakumo Hatake was shocked again, immediately drawing his blade to stand guard before Kakashi.
But he clearly knew, facing such terrifying strength,
if their opponent truly wanted to kill them both, it wouldn't even require any effort!
Just that extreme level of speed alone made defense impossible.
Such an absolute power gap—it crushed all hope completely.
...
Shimoku gazed at the Sharingan now in his palm.
Namely: Obito's left eye.
What a magnificent eye!
Possessing the Space-Time Ninjutsu [Kamui], it could effortlessly tear through even Six Paths Level defenses.
Among various Mangekyō Sharingans, it was definitely one of the top-tier abilities.
Of course, for Shimoku at this point,
such ability was merely an enhancement.
He even considered discarding this Sharingan altogether.
That way,
that guy Obito would never manage to gather both his Sharingans.
After hesitating briefly,
Shimoku abandoned this idea.
After all, it was still a Mangekyō Sharingan—it'd be a shame to just destroy it!
Maybe later on, he could use it to tease 'Run Tu' a bit?
...
"Oh right, there's also Gaara—the Jinchūriki—I almost forgot."
Shimoku waved his right hand.
A tremendous force ripped through the sound barrier, unleashing a massive shockwave.
Blowing away Gaara and several Sunagakure ninja dozens of meters away.
Then, condensed chakra formed into a long arm, rapidly extending outward.
Instantly grabbing Gaara midair
and pulling him back...
"Yueji, the rest is up to you!"
Shimoku, holding onto Gaara, turned around,
waving toward Yueji behind him.
"No worries—leave it to me!"
The tall Yueji nodded calmly in response.
Then, Shimoku took Gaara and leaped upward,
quickly vanishing into the distant sandstorm...
"He left?"
"He actually left..."
Sakumo Hatake let out a long sigh, visibly relieved.
He clearly knew that if that Uchiha youth had truly gone all-out with killing intent,
even their group of hundreds wouldn't have been worth using as cannon fodder!
It was terrifying...
Then, Sakumo immediately asked Kakashi.
"Kakashi, are you alright?"
Kakashi covered his bleeding left eye, his face somewhat pale.
It wasn't just the injury to his left eye—
that overwhelming sense of helplessness, the way his life had dangled by a thread, and how narrowly death had brushed past him—it shook his soul deeply.
However...
After having suddenly lost the Sharingan, he actually felt lighter—
as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
The flow of chakra inside him also felt much smoother.
Could the Sharingan have always been such a burden on him?
"Father, I'm fine!"
"Good to hear that!"
"That teenager from the Uchiha Clan, Shimoku Uchiha, has already left. However, judging by the situation, our enemy is still nearby..."
Sakumo Hatake supported Kakashi as he pointed seriously ahead.
As for the kidnapped One-Tail Jinchuriki?
Sakumo didn't even consider rescuing her.
After all, facing such a terrifying enemy,
even sacrificing his life might not guarantee her safety!
In fact, he would most likely be unable to catch up with them.
He could only quietly sigh in sympathy for Sunagakure, Konoha's ally...
...
"Was that also an Uchiha ninja?"
"A female ninja?"
"But somehow, she doesn't seem nearly as strong as that kid Shimoku!"
Kakashi weakly leaned on his right hand and looked toward Yueji Uchiha, murmuring his evaluation.
"From that boy's tone earlier, he might have planned to use us to train her."
"Have the Uchiha Clan become this arrogant nowadays?"
"Don't worry, as long as they're not freaks like that one from earlier,
I can handle someone below that level."
Sakumo reassured confidently.
This wasn't bravado.
At his prime, his strength had once surpassed even the Sannin of Konoha!
Within his generation, aside from a few select Kage, he'd had no real rivals!
Even if he couldn't defeat those beyond the Kage level,
he was confident he could handle anyone below that level.
"Father, be careful... This opponent might not be simple!" Kakashi said.
Before Kakashi could finish speaking,
Not far away,
Yueji Uchiha suddenly cloaked herself in vivid red Tailed Beast Chakra—
Four tails erupted behind her back.
Instantly, her aura surged dramatically,
exerting immense pressure on Kakashi and his group.
"A Jinchuriki?!!!"
Kakashi exclaimed in shock.
Sakumo: "No, it doesn't feel exactly like a full Jinchuriki. Perhaps she's merely a ninja who stole some of the Tailed Beast's power..."
Kakashi: "An enemy who controls partial Tailed Beast powers? That'll be tough to deal with as well!"
Sakumo: "Half a Jinchuriki. I fear nothing! Watch me defeat this foe..."
Kakashi gave his father a sharp glare, hoping he wouldn't overextend his power further.
They were barely holding on already!
Yet, just after Sakumo finished speaking,
from the enemy's position ahead,
a sudden eerie crimson glow ignited within their eyes again—
the light very familiar to Kakashi.
[Mangekyō Sharingan]!
Kakashi: ...
Sakumo Hatake: ...
Damn it!
Does Yueji Uchiha have the Mangekyo Sharingan too?
Since when did the Mangekyo become so common?
A Tailed Beast *and* the Mangekyo Sharingan...?
How is anyone supposed to handle *that*?
Kakashi instinctively glanced at his father beside him, his expression showing both confusion and hope.
"Father?"
"Don't worry — with the two of us working together, there's no way we'll lose!"
Sakumo Hatake paused momentarily, then gave a faint bitter smile.
Damn it!
This feeling of bragging in front of one's son only to have it backfire — it's truly unbearable!
Unfortunately...
Now wasn't the time to be concerned about pride.
They had no choice but to fight as one — anything less and they'd be finished!
...
On the other side, Yueji Uchiha didn't waste time on pointless talk or cautious probing.
Her philosophy was simple: Dead men tell no tales — silence them before they strike.
That's why she unleashed her full strength right away,
Striving for the quickest kill possible!
In the next moment,
she fiercely activated a new Mangekyo ability she'd just mastered.
[Mangekyo Sharingan · Left Eye]
[Futsu-no-Mitama]
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