Over the course of this year...
It was either fighting or being on the way to fight.
Under such high-intensity combat, he had already opened the second of the Eight Gates - the Gate of Healing.
During this year...
The Cloud ninjas continuously attempted to breach into the Land of Fire.
But they were all intercepted by White Fang and his team.
The cost was that Kin hadn't had proper rest this entire year.
His strength growth had been relatively slow.
For Kin...
Improvement in taijutsu didn't significantly enhance his overall power.
His overall strength had only progressed from the initial stage of elite jōnin to the peak of elite jōnin level.
Although in this world, he was the only one who calculated strength in this manner.
Although during this year, Kin completed his training in Moon Breathing, fully mastered the Heavenly Demon Art, and brought his Wood Release to perfection.
The Six Treasuries Immortal Thief temporarily broke free from attribute restrictions, returning to its original effects.
The Soul Manipulation Technique had reached a minor achievement level, allowing him to control souls without using the Sharingan.
But there was no qualitative change in actual combat capability.
He could only dominate within the elite jōnin tier, equivalent to Kakashi without his Mangekyō in the future.
Reaching this level of strength at fifteen years old already placed him among the true geniuses.
What ultimately limited Kin's performance returned to the original starting point.
Chakra quantity.
If comparing Kin's chakra amount using ninja ranks: chunin-level chakra quantity, kage-level ninjutsu, jōnin-level taijutsu.
Comprehensive evaluation: elite jōnin.
It was completely absurd.
If they assigned him a tailed beast, he'd reach kage level in minutes.
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen would have to avoid him.
Unfortunately...
"Chakra, huh."
Of course, among jōnin, quite a few ninjas were facing similar problems.
Even some with the title of kage only had jōnin-level chakra quantities.
Like a certain Namikaze, or a certain Namikaze's student.
For now, it was fine with the Basic Internal Energy Technique accumulating chakra, as long as he didn't exhaust it all at once; slowly accumulating would eventually build up a massive quantity.
But during wartime, achieving this wasn't easy.
Like how Kin's several years of accumulated chakra were basically depleted at the war's beginning.
That was nearly approaching jōnin-level quantity.
Building it back up to chunin level over the past two years was already quite impressive.
Especially this year's rapid growth - the chakra increase from Hashirama's cells.
And as time passed, this growth rate would accelerate further.
He wasn't afraid of depletion anymore - even after several major battles, plenty would remain.
If only his current internal energy technique were about expanding limits rather than accumulation, why would he need to struggle so much?
The human body's daily chakra production was inherently limited by growth and bloodline, and Kin refused to forcibly squeeze out chakra by overexerting his body.
Otherwise, he would have long reached the daily chakra production equivalent to a normal jōnin.
Kin's gaze turned to the distance where a battle was occurring.
"That seems to be Shibi over there."
Aburame Shibi stood on a tree branch.
He tilted his head to dodge incoming shuriken.
Countless insects flew from his outstretched hand.
And...
"Armament Haki Bugs: Cluster!"
The kikaichū gleamed black, quickly surrounding and attacking the enemy's entire body. Their flight speed rivaled shuriken, swiftly piercing through the suddenly appearing Cloud ninja.
The Cloud ninja died without resistance.
"This technique from Kin is really powerful."
Aburame Shibi sighed. This technique was purchased from Kin at a friendship price with money provided by White Fang-sama.
What kind of scheme was behind it, he didn't want to think about.
The technique was indeed remarkably effective.
Armament Haki could be applied to the body or objects to increase their hardness and power.
Applying it to ninjutsu, however, was difficult.
But according to Kin, it was possible to reach that level, it just required long-term training.
At least Kin hadn't achieved it yet.
Fifty million ryo for one.
Besides this technique that could enhance taijutsu or insect power...
There was also...
Behind his sunglasses, a flash of red appeared in his eyes.
"There are still more."
Observation Haki.
His kikaichū, combined with Observation Haki, expanded his detection range.
With him on defense, Cloud ninjas found it hard to appear undetected.
He could even sense enemy ninjutsu.
Although only a chūnin, Shibi was quite confident in competing with jōnin.
Shibi quickly headed toward the distance.
Using Observation Haki, they could lock onto Cloud ninjas - this was why, no matter how careful the Cloud ninjas were, they were always found.
As long as the chakra was sufficient, the coverage could expand indefinitely.
Fifty million ryo was absolutely worth it.
Ahead, a jōnin was already rapidly approaching the Cloud ninjas, while another ninja moved in sync through the trees on the right.
All are advancing swiftly toward the enemy.
Late at night.
Kin returned to camp.
The camp now had more people.
After all, expecting the remaining twenty-some people to hold this place was somewhat unreasonable.
Whatever Sarutobi Hiruzen's reasoning, he had begun sending reinforcements here.
Although the reinforcement numbers still hadn't reached a hundred.
It was still much better than the initial, less-than-fifty.
From Kin's understanding...
These were people squeezed out from various fronts - perhaps not the strongest, but all survivors of the battlefield.
They were more likely to survive in combat.
The camp had also relocated.
Now situated in a mountainous forest.
"Kin-sama."
"Kin-sama."
"Kin-sama."
Passing ninjas greeted Kin, who nodded in response.
Currently, Kin might not be famous in Konoha.
But on the Cloud front, he had gained some reputation.
Some had grouped him with Might Dai from the Land of Rain, Namikaze Minato from the Rock front, and Hatake Sakumo from the Sand front.
Calling them Konoha's Four Elite.
Among them, Namikaze Minato was more famous among Konoha ninjas than Kin.
Although Kin's combat record was stronger, and Minato was the weakest of the four.
But Minato was the youngest and didn't bear the Uchiha name.
Kin's achievements were strictly guarded - only ninjas on the Cloud front knew about them, while those on other fronts knew nothing.
Because he was a Uchiha.
Notice how among the five fronts, the Mist Village wasn't included?
Uchihas didn't qualify for rankings.
As for who was behind this...
Kin wouldn't say.
But that didn't mean he didn't know.
Spotting White Fang sitting cross-legged in the distance.
White Fang opened his eyes as Kin approached.
"Want to spar with me?"
Kin rolled his eyes - this guy definitely wanted to bully him.
They'd sparred many times before - White Fang's Soru was better than his, even Kin's Flash Step couldn't keep up.
Not to mention White Fang's mastery of various taijutsu.
In taijutsu-only sparring, Kin was completely outmatched.
He intended to walk past White Fang.
Recently, Cloud attacks had decreased significantly, and none involved powerful elite jōnin.
So White Fang had free time.
"This time, you can use ninjutsu?"
"You sure!?"
Kin, who was about to refuse, stopped in his tracks.
"I'm sure."
"Then don't blame me."
A ferocious grin spread across Kin's face.
...
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(End of Chapter)