[NTU] [ARC-06-WAR] Chapter : 82 (Patreon)

Genji was on the verge of abandoning his subordinates to escape alone when his intuition flared, warning him of imminent danger. It felt as if a cold ninja sword was pressed against his neck. His muscles tensed, ready for any emergency, but his reaction came too late. Just as he attempted to burrow deeper underground, a blazing white blade pierced through him, ignoring the several meters of soil between them.

"What is this?" he managed to murmur, glancing down at the increasingly bright weapon before losing control. Blood gushed from his mouth as his body went numb, paralyzed by the sudden attack. All he could do was wait for death in the dark underground.

Above ground, Toshiro retracted the lightning blade in his hand. As the chakra dissipated, the Chidori Spear withdrew from the ground, its sharp edge fading back into Toshiro's hand.

Having already copied Kakashi's Chidori, Toshiro couldn't resist using the upgraded Chidori series jutsus. In Sage Mode, as long as he didn't worry about chakra consumption, this ninjutsu was perfect for showing off and for dealing with Iwa ninja hiding underground. His sensing abilities made it like spearing fish in a barrel.

Though the Iwa ninja's underground cover offered benefits like defense and stealth, the weakness of the earth to lightning made it easier for Toshiro's Chidori Spear to strike vital points. Every jutsu has its weaknesses, and Toshiro wasn't one to be trifled with when it came to finding those weaknesses.

With the area cleared, Toshiro turned his attention to his comrades. The enemies facing Asuka had no chance of escaping. Now free to assist, Toshiro made short work of the remaining chunin, wielding his ninja sword with lethal efficiency.

"This state is intoxicating," Toshiro thought, reveling in his power. If only he could maintain this state forever, the battles wouldn't be so daunting.

"Toshiro! Look at ... She's injured! It's my fault... If she hadn't saved me, she wouldn't be hurt," cried Ryo, holding a young girl and looking at Toshiro with panic in his eyes. Tears welled up, and his face was a mask of worry and regret, his once bright black eyes now red and swollen.

Before Toshiro arrived, his twelve-year-old companions had been besieging the Iwa Ninja chunin. Despite their numerical advantage, the seasoned Iwa ninja managed to trick Ryo, injuring him and nearly killing him. Megumi, their fellow friend had intervened at the critical moment, taking the blow meant for Ryo. Now, she lay injured, and Ryo was consumed with guilt.

"Don't panic. Lay Megumi down and let me check her condition," Toshiro instructed calmly. He moved with practiced ease, knowing these young ninjas were childhood friends and comrades.

After a thorough examination, Toshiro announced, "She's fine. She has just three broken ribs and is temporarily unconscious. She'll recover after some rest in the rear hospital."

While performing medical ninjutsu, Toshiro glanced at Ryo and noticed a significant change. His once dark eyes had turned red, each adorned with a slowly rotating black tomoe. Ryo had awakened his Sharingan.

The Uchiha's bloodline limit is often activated under intense emotional distress. Asuka, another of Toshiro's friends, had awakened hers upon seeing her father's body on the battlefield. In every war, Uchiha ninjas faced losses that triggered the awakening of the Sharingan in their surviving relatives and friends.

Toshiro reflected on this cycle of tragedy and power, knowing that the same sorrow that unlocked the Uchiha's potential also bound them to a legacy of pain and strength.

After stabilizing Megumi's condition, Toshiro didn't dwell on Ryo's newly awakened Sharingan.

"Kirishima, take a team in better shape and check on Asuka and her group," Toshiro instructed, directing his friends to move Megumi to the rear camp. He then turned to Asuka. "I'll go look in on Keshi and the others. Asuka, I'm counting on you here."

"If anything happens, signal us immediately, and we'll return at once," Toshiro added, feeling it would be a waste to let the natural energy he had gathered go unused. They weren't the only Uchiha team stationed nearby; two other teams were close enough to offer mutual support.

"Toshiro, your current state..." Asuka started hesitating.

"Don't worry. I took a soldier pill earlier, and I'm in excellent condition," Toshiro reassured her. "I'll leave this battlefield to you. Be cautious with the Iwa ninja bodies, especially the Jonin underground. There might be traps."

Using the soldier pill as an excuse was a convenient way to explain his abundant chakra. Ninja corpses needed careful handling; traps hidden on their bodies or in their ninja tool bags could be deadly.

"Got it. I'll take care of them," Asuka replied, trusting Toshiro's judgment. Unlike the reckless Kirishima, Toshiro was reliable and level-headed.

The young ninjas, most around twelve years old, required careful monitoring. Their families had sent older, more experienced warriors to guide them, preventing unnecessary casualties and allowing the main forces to focus on the battlefield.

Toshiro soon arrived at the adjacent battlefield. Unlike his previous location, the fighting here was fierce, with neither the Uchiha nor the Iwa ninja gaining a decisive advantage. The arrival of Toshiro tipped the balance. He moved stealthily, catching the Iwa ninja off guard with a sudden attack.

"Toshiro, thank you!" Uchiha Akane said gratefully. "Without you, our casualties would have been much worse."

"Save your energy," Toshiro advised. "You're seriously injured. Rest, or you won't withstand another wave of attacks."

As he spoke, Toshiro performed medical ninjutsu on Akane, whose chakra was severely depleted, and his body was riddled with wounds.

"Yeah, I know. But who can replace me now? And three days ago, Yukito..." Akane's voice trailed off, his eyes filled with sorrow, and his Sharingan inadvertently activated.

Toshiro paused, stunned. Uchiha Yukito, a childhood friend; he met him just a week before, who had been patrolling the camp. Hearing of his death was a shock.

"Three days ago, Iwa Ninja ambushed his team. He didn't make it. I promised my aunt I'd protect him. How can I face them now?" Akane's Sharingan rotated slowly, his face etched with deep regret.

Toshiro recalled Yukito and Akane's close relationship, understanding Akane's desperation in battle. "My condolences," he said quietly, focusing on his healing jutsu. "But Akane, you're their captain. If you let emotions control you, think about what might happen to your team."

Akane didn't respond immediately, his Sharingan closing as he struggled with his grief. His pain and unwillingness were clear on his face.

"Akane, this war won't end soon. To avenge Yukito, you need to survive and lead well," Toshiro continued. Persuading an Uchiha to curb their emotions was nearly impossible, but he couldn't stand by and watch a comrade throw his life away. Akane was not just a friend but also a crucial leader on their team.

Faced with Toshiro's persuasion, Akane closed his eyes, remaining silent as if he hadn't heard a word.

Toshiro felt helpless. He couldn't fully empathize with Akane's pain, but he could try to offer a different perspective, hoping to prevent him from being blinded by hatred and anger. Otherwise, his comrades would be in grave danger. However, Toshiro doubted how effective his words would be. Given the traits of their clan's bloodline, it was unlikely Akane wouldn't lose control.

He could only hope that Akane would find some clarity on his own, recognizing the bond he shared with his companions. "Akane, you're not alone. Look at the comrades behind you. Each one has parents, siblings, and loved ones waiting for them to return home safely from this war. Think about their fate when you make decisions. Don't let your tragedy befall them."

After tending to Akane's injuries and exchanging brief words with a few familiar clan members, Toshiro left for the battlefield, where Kirishima had gone to support. As for Akane, he could only hope for the best. He wasn't a saint; coming to support when he had enough energy was the extent of what he could do. Beyond that, he had his limits.

After Toshiro left, Akane, who had been ignoring his advice, opened his eyes. His dull black eyes reflected his companions—some silently bandaging wounds, others exhausted and resting. Akane found himself in deep contemplation.

Rushing to the next battlefield, Toshiro found the situation equally dire, though without any fatalities. However, the number of seriously injured people was significantly higher. The medical ninjas on this team were overwhelmed. Despite increased training in medical ninjutsu over the years, the results were not ideal. Each team of ten or so ninjas had only one or two medical personnel, who were now unable to cope with the number of wounded.

The family's senior members struggled to train more medical ninjas due to a lack of talent in Yang Release within the clan. Often, only a few out of dozens could successfully harness the Yang Release Chakra. This left many family ninjas dying on the battlefield without adequate medical support. Requests to the village for additional medical ninjas were met with official yet unhelpful responses, leaving the Uchiha camp with minimal external support.

Without wasting time, Toshiro immediately began assisting the overwhelmed medical staff, focusing on the critically injured.

"Tamako, take this blood pill," he said, offering the pill to Uchiha Tamako.

"Toshiro... am I... about to die? I haven't... worn a beautiful wedding dress... I haven't been a mother yet..." Tamako muttered, a tear sliding down her blood-and-dust-covered face. Her thoughts were blurred by blood loss, and seeing her childhood playmate brought a sense of nostalgia and resignation.

"You'll be fine, Tamako. You'll have a wonderful marriage and lovely children," Toshiro reassured her, administering the blood-increasing pill and injecting a stimulant into her carotid artery. "Kirishima, hold Tamako down and keep her awake!"

Following Toshiro's instructions, Kirishima and others helped restrain Tamako, preventing her from moving and keeping her conscious. Toshiro's hands didn't pause as he treated her wounds. The stimulant, developed by Mei-nee, was designed to revive critically injured ninjas, keeping Tamako alert and aiding in her treatment.

As Toshiro extracted a ninja sword embedded in Tamako's body, she groaned and struggled in pain. Without the help of her comrades, it would have been impossible to continue the operation. Tamako's injuries were severe, including broken bones and wounds inflicted by Iwa Ninjutsu, compounded by extensive blood loss. Immediate treatment was crucial; without it, she wouldn't survive long enough to be transferred to the rear for further care.

Despite his efforts, Toshiro wasn't confident he could save her. All he could do was do his best, hoping it wasn't too late.