Due to some accidental injuries, Sasuke and the others had to delay their departure for Kirigakure by one day.
Thankfully, the one responsible for both the beating and the healing had such precise knowledge of the damage that the injuries were healed within a day.
Otherwise, it might've taken longer.
Having too many wives does, in fact, bring about many troubles.
Everyone wants more of his time, but even if Yami ran around twenty-four hours a day, he wouldn't be able to manage it all.
Besides, even men who enjoy being in love from time to time still crave private space—to sip tea, chat with friends, or even just zone out alone—anything is better than dealing with an overly delicate girlfriend.
He had just gone out to relax with a massage, and somehow, someone leaked the information. He could only head back home and play the obedient husband.
Yami was so furious he could grind his teeth to bits.
He even mobilized Root's resources to track down the leak.
But now that Anbu was under Kurenai's command, it wasn't so easy to manipulate.
"Kakashi…"
After receiving intel brought back by Yamanaka Fū, Yami gritted his teeth and sent someone to summon Guy, and then had Guy drag Kakashi over.
The moment Kakashi saw Yami, he looked guilty.
Before he could be questioned, he immediately spoke up.
"Lord Hokage, it wasn't my fault."
Kakashi declared righteously, "If I had waited even one more second, Tsunade-sama's fist would've crushed me. I had to preserve my body for Konoha's future!"
Even Guy, who was usually honest, couldn't stand this and complained, "Kakashi, if we were at war, you'd be the first to surrender."
"Idiot."
Kakashi glared at him. "This is a domestic matter between Lord Hokage and Tsunade-sama. If I died because of it, I'd never rest in peace."
"Then let me give you a chance to show your loyalty to the village."
Yami suddenly said, drawing both men's attention.
"I originally planned to go to Ame alone and settle accounts with the Akatsuki for Jiraiya's death. But seeing how loyal Kakashi is, this is great. You're coming with me."
Kakashi's face turned pale.
Go to Ame?
Even Jiraiya was killed and lost at sea. If they really went there, Yami might survive, but he would definitely be swallowed by the ocean.
"Lord Hokage, please take me instead!"
Guy clenched his fists, full of passion. "Youth means facing all challenges head-on. I'm willing to burn my life to defeat Pain and avenge Jiraiya-sensei!"
"Guy, your life is more valuable than Pain's."
Yami's mouth twitched. He wasn't good at handling passionate types like Guy. "Kakashi and I will be enough for this operation. You go prepare the physical training classes. That's your mission."
Guy gave a disappointed salute, then placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder. "Kakashi, we can't fight side by side this time. Take care of yourself."
Kakashi's eyelids twitched uncontrollably. "Lord Hokage, you're the Hokage. You can't go diving into danger like this. We should plan this carefully."
"I'm not being reckless. I'm just determined."
Yami waved his hand, refusing to give Kakashi a chance to argue. "We leave in three days. Eat well, do whatever you want, and make sure to leave a letter at home."
Yami really doesn't plan on letting me come back, does he?
Time flew by. Although Kakashi didn't really believe Yami would get him killed, he still wrote a heartfelt letter and left it on his desk just in case.
The two quietly departed Konoha, without alerting many people.
And on the same day, Sasuke set out with Yuichi, Yuji, Yushi, and Yumi to Kirigakure.
Including himself, there were five pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan.
What a blessing for Kirigakure.
Having fully experienced the power of these eyes, Sasuke felt they were going a little overboard.
Simply put, Sasuke felt like he was unstoppable again.
But that kind of arrogance was understandable. If anyone had a pair of Eternal Mangekyō, they'd feel the same.
Sasuke's biggest change now was obedience.
After being tossed around and beaten down so many times, he had stopped thinking too much about Yami's instructions. Whether he understood or not, he just followed orders.
"Completing the mission is just the baseline. Our real goal is to make Kirigakure tremble with fear!"
As Sasuke discussed the operation details with the others, everyone unanimously agreed with his words.
Yuichi said calmly, "If it were me, I'd do it Yami-sensei's way and just walk right through the front gate. I've been on a lot of missions with him. That's the fastest way to get enemies to surrender."
"That's right. Let's just go in through the village entrance and find Yagura's advisor."
"What if he runs?"
"Then arrest everyone in the village until he shows himself."
After a straightforward and crude discussion, they stopped wasting time and headed straight for Kirigakure.
Kirigakure.
A village shrouded in thick mist all year round.
Back when the Fourth Mizukage Yagura was in charge, it had even earned the nickname "Village of the Bloody Mist."
Jonin Ao used his Byakugan to confirm that Yagura had been under genjutsu. Since then, the elders led the village into a period of recovery.
Kirigakure's vitality had returned somewhat over the years, but in reality, the situation was still barely better than Suna's.
The younger generation hadn't yet matured. The mid-level shinobi were mostly those who had barely survived the previous chaos. Many had died or defected.
That's why Kirigakure didn't rush into diplomacy and simply waited for a new generation to stabilize things.
But they clearly misunderstood one thing—the gate to your home is usually opened from the outside.
Whether you want trouble or not, someone will force it in.
Multiple massive energy attacks coated in unknown black flames rained down on Kirigakure faster than the guard shinobi could react, causing massive explosions instantly.
The energy shockwaves blew away most of the mist, shattering the village's peace. Shinobi gathered from all directions, Jonin shouting to coordinate defense.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the cold mist.
Purple, blue, silver, red, black.
Five massive Susanoo giants, each over thirty meters tall, strode forward step by step toward Kirigakure.
More and more shinobi gathered, their expressions growing grim as they stared at the monstrous figures. Then, a beautiful woman with long brown hair and a striking figure arrived and frowned.
"What… is that…"
"Terumi Mei-sama!"
The gathered shinobi, who had been on the verge of panic, immediately calmed down.
This woman, Terumi Mei, was the current rising star in the village and the likely Fifth Mizukage.
The only reason she hadn't assumed the title yet was her own resistance. Yagura had no objection.
"Terumi Mei-sama!"
Ao arrived as well, his Byakugan active. Sweat poured from his brow. "There are people inside those five giants! They're pure chakra constructs!"
"This enemy is on another level!"
Terumi Mei trusted Ao's judgment. "Disperse! Don't give them the chance to focus their fire. I'll take the lead. Ao, organize support!"
With her order, Kirigakure's shinobi quickly spread out.
At that moment, a cold voice echoed from atop the purple giant. It wasn't just the frontline shinobi who heard it—every villager in Kirigakure could hear it clearly.
"Kirigakure, listen up."
"I am Uchiha Sasuke, student of the Fifth Hokage and current head of the Uchiha clan."
"You have three minutes to hand over Ao and your elders. If you comply, I'll show mercy and forgive your crimes on behalf of Lord Hokage. If you resist... prepare to rebuild the village."
When it came to taunting enemies, Sasuke had a natural gift for it.
Yuichi and the others had been itching to hit him earlier. Kirigakure shinobi were no different.
Terumi Mei's expression darkened.
"Uchiha Sasuke… You're truly bold, attacking Kirigakure like this."
"I really didn't want to bother with any of this."
Inside Susanoo, Sasuke twirled a chakra flame in his hand and scoffed. "But in someone's words... your abilities? I could wipe you out myself."
"…You're just lucky."
"To be chosen for the Uchiha's comeback debut."
"Make your decision quickly. One minute has passed already. The old man Ao better get moving."
With his arrogant attitude and dismissive tone, Sasuke clearly didn't consider Kirigakure worth his time.
Terumi Mei trembled in anger.
"This is too much! Konoha is just bullying people now! Is this how you conduct diplomacy?!"
"Because we're Konoha! We're better than you!"
The purple Susanoo roared at the sky. The powerful wind sent Kirigakure shinobi staggering. Sasuke's face turned darker as he recalled some unpleasant memories.
"Did you think Konoha was still ruled by trash like the Third Hokage, begging for peace through humility?"
Just mentioning the Third Hokage soured the mood for Sasuke, Yuichi, Yuji, and the others.
"Sasuke, stop wasting time. Let's just attack."
"No rush. I said three minutes, so three minutes it is. We Uchiha are thorough."
Sasuke stopped the others, but Terumi Mei wasn't about to wait. She formed hand signs, and a water dragon surged toward Sasuke. The other shinobi followed her lead.
Sasuke's face darkened further.
Konoha's dominance aside, even a tiny Kirigakure dared to interrupt him?
A massive fireball erupted from Susanoo's mouth.
"Go!"
Yuichi followed up with hand seals, his left eye enhancing the power of the jutsu.
"Fire Release: Blazing Annihilation!"
In an instant, a sea of flames descended from the sky, exploding across hundreds of meters and distorting the very air.
Yuichi had sacrificed a position for ocular jutsu, enhancing his ninjutsu to terrifying levels. This move left Ao in shock.
"Water Release: Water Wall!"
Dozens of shinobi formed hand seals, summoning tidal waves that merged into a vast wall of water, barely suppressing Yuichi's flames.
Then came a barrage of Yasaka Beads.
Even Susanoo's standard ranged attacks were overwhelming for normal shinobi.
Each impact left deep craters.
"Lava Release!"
"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!"
Terumi Mei joined in. Acid mist and corrosive fog ate away at the Susanoo bones, surprising Sasuke and the others.
"As expected from the future Mizukage. I'll give you that much."
"Who needs your praise?!"
Terumi Mei fired a piercing water gun that blasted a hole through Yuji's Susanoo. "I won't forgive you!"
"Stubborn."
Sasuke snorted and shifted Susanoo's form. The lower half vanished, replaced by the armor of a half-bodied Crow Tengu. Though smaller, it radiated even greater pressure.
The others followed suit.
Full-body Susanoo was more flexible, but not much stronger in defense than bone form.
Half-body was the limit of ordinary Mangekyō.
Sasuke had only recently gained the Eternal Mangekyō, and his ocular power hadn't reached its peak.
There was no real gap yet between him and the others.
After all, they had all been injected with Hashirama cells. Their bodies were strengthened, ocular power could recover gradually, and side effects were minimized.
With plenty of chakra to spare and no consequences to fear, the five Susanoo tore into Kirigakure like tigers among sheep, wielding energy blades that brought destruction and screams with each swing.
This was the first time Kirigakure had faced such monsters.
Most of their shinobi specialized in Water Release, one of the weaker elemental types. Their attacks couldn't even scratch Susanoo's armor.
Even Terumi Mei's dual Kekkei Genkai barely left marks, and Susanoo could repair itself using ocular power.
Until the clouds in the sky turned pitch black, Sasuke raised his sword.
"Lightning Release: Kirin!"
Thunder serpents writhed across the heavens, then crashed down upon Kirigakure under the despairing eyes of its shinobi.
"Stop!"
Terumi Mei screamed, but facing such overwhelming force, she felt utterly powerless.
"Uchiha Sasuke!"
Ao, who had been protected until now, could no longer bear it and charged forward in a frenzy...
(To be continued.)
***
For every 200 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on P/treon to read 30+ advanced chapters: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)