[NTU] [ARC-06-WAR] Chapter : 77 (Patreon)

“Hey! You know sealing jutsu too?” Minato asked, surprised. Though he had just introduced Toshiro to the group, he hadn’t expected the Uchiha to approach Kushina about such a specialized topic.

Despite his surprise, Minato appreciated how well Toshiro had treated Kakashi, Obito, and Rin, so he overlooked any perceived rudeness.

“I do have some knowledge about sealing techniques. If your questions aren’t too complex, I’ll do my best to answer them,” Kushina replied. Although she had a good relationship with Minato’s disciples, she remained cautious, considering Toshiro was an Uchiha. Her response was polite yet reserved, leaving room for any limitations in her knowledge.

“It’s nothing too profound, just some symbols related to sealing techniques that have always puzzled me,” Toshiro explained. “Meeting Uzumaki-san today is a rare opportunity, so I couldn’t resist asking. Of course, if it involves the secrets of the Uzumaki clan, I understand if you can’t share.”

In the world of ninjas, the secrets of various clans are closely guarded, and such knowledge is rarely shared. This is why Toshiro only asked about simple seals. He and Kushina were not close friends, so he didn’t expect her to reveal everything.

“You’re very understanding!” Kushina smiled. “Please show me the runes you’re curious about.”

Toshiro nodded and drew a few symbols on the table with his finger. The runes appeared, glowing with a bright blue light, much to the amazement of the three younger ninjas watching.

“Wow! Toshiro-senpai’s chakra control is incredible!” Rin exclaimed, covering her mouth in shock. As a medical ninja, she understood the difficulty of such precise chakra control, which typically required years of training.

Even Minato was impressed. An expert recognizes skill immediately, and Toshiro’s demonstration earned his respect. Although Minato himself could control chakra to this extent, he hadn’t expected someone of Toshiro’s age to possess such proficiency.

“These runes? They mainly strengthen the structure of the sealing technique,” Kushina explained effortlessly. “And this one acts as an energy circuit equivalent to chakra, which helps stabilize the jutsu.”

Kushina recognized all the runes instantly and answered Toshiro’s questions easily. Neither she, Minato, nor Toshiro took the children’s awe too seriously, seeing it as a valuable lesson in the competitive nature of the ninja world.

As the younger ninjas’ initial shock wore off, they lost interest in the technical discussion and focused on their meal. The atmosphere became a casual mix of adults discussing complex techniques and children enjoying their dinner.

With Minato joining the conversation, Toshiro’s questions delved deeper into the theory of sealing techniques. Occasionally, Toshiro shared insights that intrigued both Minato and Kushina, turning a simple Q&A into a full-fledged discussion.

While Toshiro’s knowledge couldn’t match Minato’s and Kushina’s, his innovative ideas from his past life in an industrial era compensated for his relative lack of experience.

As the dinner concluded, both Toshiro and Minato felt the conversation could have continued much longer.

“I enjoyed our discussion today. I look forward to another opportunity to talk with you, Minato-senpai, and Kushina-senpai. Goodbye!” Toshiro waved, ready to leave before Obito, who was still settling the bill, could protest.

At the counter, Obito looked despondently at the bill, realizing how much Toshiro’s appetite had cost him. To avoid further discomfort, Toshiro decided to make a quick exit.

“Toshiro, it was great talking with you! Goodbye…” Minato called out, preparing to leave with Kushina. Today’s discussion had been enlightening, and he valued the insights Toshiro shared. However, with the ongoing war, spending time with his girlfriend was even more precious.

Just as Toshiro took a step forward, he remembered something and quickly called out to Kakashi, who turned to listen. Even Minato and Kushina, who were about to leave, paused and looked at Toshiro curiously.

"Kakashi, the name of that Lightning Release Ninjutsu I gave you is Chidori. While it's incredibly powerful, it has significant drawbacks. If your dynamic vision and reflexes aren't up to par, don't use it lightly."

"Why? Will I hurt myself?" Kakashi asked, puzzled.

"Yes," Toshiro confirmed. "When you perform the jutsu, a large amount of high-density lightning chakra gathers in your hand. The technique releases at an astonishing speed due to the lightning attribute. If you can't control it properly, you might end up injuring yourself."

Kakashi frowned, thought for a moment, and then nodded to indicate he understood. Confident in his speed, he didn't take Toshiro's warning too seriously.

Seeing this, Toshiro sighed but said nothing more. With Kakashi's talent, he was confident the boy would manage without major issues. He often wondered how such a flashy technique as Chidori could be considered an assassination jutsu, but these thoughts seemed trivial compared to the harsh realities of surviving the brutal battles ahead.

Unlike Obito and Kakashi, who were still doing simple D-Rank and C-Rank missions in Konoha, Toshiro had faced the front lines from a young age. If it weren't for Yamawashi, he wouldn't even have this brief respite. The Uchiha clan, having recently suffered heavy losses on the battlefield, had to send more of their young ninjas, including Toshiro, to the front lines. As a genius who awakened the Sharingan at eight, it was inevitable.

"Ah, this feels great!" Toshiro sighed, heading to the hot spring street for some relaxation. The years of grueling training and fierce battles had strained his nerves, and he needed this break. He didn't even practice with shadow clones today, allowing himself to truly unwind.

Despite the convenience of shadow clone training, fatigue accumulated over time, necessitating occasional rest. Toshiro had progressed from creating just a few clones to nearly twenty, thanks to natural energy, but maintaining so many clones long-term posed significant mental challenges.

When he dispelled multiple shadow clones simultaneously, the influx of knowledge, experience, and fatigue nearly overwhelmed him. He once tried it with over twenty clones and ended up sleeping through the next day, utterly exhausted.

Even Mei-nee had been concerned about his condition, but he managed to brush off her worries. Being in a frontline camp, any unexpected situation could be dire. Unlike Obito and Kakashi, Toshiro faced constant danger.

Reflecting on Uzumaki Naruto, Toshiro couldn't help but marvel at how the boy, despite being a Jinchuuriki with enormous chakra reserves, could handle so many clones without collapsing. It seemed almost unfair. But Toshiro knew he had to find his own path and not dwell on what he couldn't change.

Eventually, Toshiro focused on the sealing technique as a solution. He could seal memory and chakra, but the challenge was managing the overwhelming return of these elements once the seal was lifted. Opening a 'hole' in the seal to allow a gradual release was a daunting task, harder than learning a new technique.

Despite losing much sleep and hair over this problem, today's exchange with Minato and Kushina provided new insights. He felt optimistic about finding a solution, giving himself a mental thumbs-up for his ingenuity.

**An Year Later**

Smoke filled the air, and the ground was uneven and treacherous. Fallen corpses, lifeless and still, lay scattered, their vitality long gone. The scent of fear, death, and the brutality of battle permeated everything. Each ninja on this land resembled a wounded beast, quietly tending to their injuries and always ready to leap into the next confrontation.

Concepts like peace and village loyalty seemed irrelevant here. The primary focus was on killing the enemy and avenging fallen comrades and loved ones. These immediate, visceral goals fueled a ferocity in the warriors, driving them to unleash their full potential.

This was the frontline battlefield of Konoha in the Land of Grass, where Toshiro hid behind a rock that concealed his presence. He carefully camouflaged himself, avoiding any movement or sound that might give him away.

Since the previous year, after Konoha's victory over the invading Sand Ninja at Kikyo Mountain in the Land of Fire, the front-line ninjas barely had time to breathe. Just as they thought they had survived one war, another erupted between Konoha and the Earth Country.

Disappointed by the ineffectiveness of their Suna Ninja 'allies,' who had failed to weaken Konoha, the Iwa Ninja stationed at the Kusa border decided to take action. The entire country of Grass became a battlefield for Konoha and Iwa Ninja. The nearby Sand Ninja were furious and vocal, but their complaints fell on deaf ears with the resolute Sandaime Tsuchikage, Ōnoki.

Everything was going according to Ōnoki's plan. He wasn't concerned about adhering to agreements with the desert-dwelling Sand Ninja. Upholding such verbal promises would only weaken his country, allowing other villages to exploit Earth Country.

The Sand Ninja likely anticipated this betrayal before the war began, but circumstances had forced their hand. Despite the intricate web of secrets between ninja villages, preparations for the next conflict were always underway, hidden from ordinary ninjas who believed in peace.

An arms race among the five major countries had started quietly, with Suna Ninja Village at a disadvantage due to their limited resources. The unexplained disappearance of their third Kazekage further weakened their position, prompting them to initiate the war despite slim hopes for a successful alliance with Earth Country.

Realistically, Sand Ninja Village couldn't sustain the war effort. Their only option was to bide their time, waiting to see who would emerge victorious, and then attempt to claim a share of the spoils. Meanwhile, they were open to accepting war-related missions if the price was right. After all, ninjas are mercenaries at heart, taking on tasks for rewards.

Just as Toshiro was trying his best to remain hidden, he sensed something. Without revealing himself, he focused all his attention on the disturbances around him. His sensing abilities had grown stronger with his physical development, especially after mastering Sage Mode. He could now sense changes within a 500-meter radius, provided he concentrated. Without focus, his senses would only alert him to nearby threats within a five-meter range.

"The target number is 5...12...18 people...," he murmured to himself. "It's six combat teams!"