Chapter 17: The Great Elder's Heart Moves! "The Uchiha Don't Need Your Sacrifice!"
The Stalemate Breaks
Outside the barrier, two Kumogakure shinobi had Uchiha Setsuna surrounded—one in front, one behind.
Seeing Moroi gain the upper hand, they exchanged glances and nodded in silent agreement.
Raimei, positioned behind Setsuna, used Lightning and Earth Release techniques to harass him, while Dodai led the assault from the front, continuously pressuring Setsuna with his signature Lightning Release: Thunder Plow Hot Blade and Lava Release: Rubber Ball techniques.
Setsuna sought an opening to cast genjutsu on one of them, then use Izanagi's reality-warping power to eliminate the other. However, the Kumogakure shinobi constantly shifted positions, offering no openings and engaging only in brief skirmishes.
They were clearly determined to stall until Moroi finished killing Tsukasa and returned to deliver the final blow.
This tactical approach left Setsuna stretched impossibly thin, with no opportunity to break free.
Setsuna's expression grew increasingly grim, his gaze more anxious by the moment.
If this continued, not only would he fail to save Tsukasa, but he himself would fall to these three warriors.
The situation was dire!
However, at that critical moment, the battlefield dynamic shifted once again—
"AHAHAHAHA! GYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Wild, rhythmic laughter suddenly erupted from within the barrier!
Moroi, his face twisted with terror, quickly formed hand seals to alter the barrier's properties, allowing sound to pass between inside and outside.
"Senior Raimei! Senior Dodai! Retreat immediately!"
Moroi's panicked voice followed his maniacal laughter.
"What?!" Raimei was startled by the sound and whirled to look inside the barrier.
What he saw defied all reason—
Tsukasa, shirtless and covered from head to toe in densely packed explosive tags, clutching a detonating paper at his chest. His face bore an expression of pure disdain and mockery as he slowly approached the terrified Moroi.
"What the hell!" Raimei's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.
Seeing Tsukasa's explosive-covered form, Raimei felt his scalp tingle as an involuntary shudder ran through his body.
With just one glance, his experienced eyes could assess the devastating potential.
"Is this kid completely insane?!"
"That many explosive tags could level this entire village!"
Dodai, standing nearby, couldn't help but swallow hard.
As the Third Raikage's right-hand man, he should have been accustomed to the methods of reckless warriors.
But witnessing Tsukasa's suicidal preparation, his scalp prickled with horror.
Who in their right mind wears explosive tags like clothing?!
Even the Explosive Corps from Iwagakure wouldn't dare attempt something this insane!
This wasn't just recklessness—this was pure, unadulterated madness!
Outside the barrier, all three combatants paused simultaneously, their attention completely captured by the scene within.
Setsuna's eyes blazed with fury.
He stared at Tsukasa's terrifying attire, fearing that one wrong move might trigger the explosive tags.
And then—with a single boom—this newly discovered Uchiha prodigy, a member of his own hawkish faction, would be obliterated.
"Tsukasa! What do you think you're doing?!"
He shouted angrily, sweat pouring down his forehead, his heart filled with overwhelming shock.
Tsukasa twisted one of the explosive tags positioned over his heart, turned his head calmly, and responded with complete composure:
"Great Elder, you can see the situation clearly. This is the only way—there are no other options!"
Setsuna's throat worked up and down, anxiety evident despite his attempt to maintain calm as he advised:
"Tsukasa, stay calm!"
"Remove those explosive tags immediately! I'll get you out of there!"
"Trust me—these trash can't stop me!"
"No." Tsukasa shook his head firmly, stepping closer to the cowering Moroi with an eerily calm expression.
"Great Elder, we both understand the current situation perfectly."
"If I give up resistance and let this man walk out of the barrier alive, all three of them will unite against you, and you will certainly die here!"
"If you fall in this place, the clansmen waiting in Hell Valley will soon face an attack from the Two-Tails Jinchuriki!"
"When that happens, the Uchiha will suffer catastrophic losses!"
"And it's not just the loss of personnel..." Tsukasa exhaled heavily, his voice weighted with grim understanding:
"If the Blood Pond Clan breaks free and our contract with the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning fails, our clan's reputation will suffer irreparable damage."
"Without external financial resources, combined with losing our hawkish leadership, the Uchiha clan will inevitably face internal chaos, division, and conflict."
"Meanwhile, old enemies like Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, who harbor undying hatred for our clan, wait outside our walls!"
"This is a critical moment—we face threats both within and without that threaten our very survival!"
Tsukasa's eyes flashed with brilliant determination. He took a large step forward and firmly gripped the explosive tag over his chest.
"Now I finally understand the meaning of my existence!"
Moroi, using both hands and feet, scrambled backward in absolute terror:
"What do you understand?! Stay back!"
"What are you doing?! Stop! Don't move!"
"Stop pulling at that! It's going to explode! IT'S GOING TO EXPLODE! AHHHHHHH!"
"Don't come any closer! DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!"
The Great Elder's Revelation
Outside the barrier, Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna heard every word Tsukasa spoke, his fists clenching until his knuckles went white. His hand gripping his katana trembled violently.
How could he not understand what Tsukasa was saying?
But he hadn't expected this young man to possess such sharp strategic vision—as if he, standing at the same elevated perspective as the clan leadership, could see everything with perfect clarity.
This... this...
Tsukasa wasn't just a combat genius—he was a genius with incredible foresight!
No wonder he had volunteered for such a dangerous mission!
It turned out he had foreseen everything from the beginning.
This fledgling, barely past childhood, had leaped from the cliff's edge—
Not because he longed to soar through the sky,
But because he had glimpsed the future devastation awaiting his clan!
It was the fear of total destruction that led this young man, at an age when he should have been safely developing his abilities, to instead choose to plunge into the bottomless abyss!
And precisely because of this realization, Setsuna felt his heart breaking, his breath catching in his throat!
"Tsukasa!"
His eyes filled with moisture, his usually ice-cold expression now etched with raw emotion!
Setsuna gripped his blade tightly, his eyes reddening as his gaze became increasingly fierce!
He glared at the three Kumogakure shinobi, his rage burning like wildfire toward the heavens!
Taking a deep breath, Setsuna shouted with stern authority:
"Tsukasa! That's enough!"
"Stop this immediately!"
"The Uchiha have no need for your sacrifice!"
Tsukasa smiled, his expression—so calm it seemed almost detached—gradually relaxing.
He turned to look at Setsuna, smiled gently, and shook his head:
"Great Elder, there's no need for further persuasion."
"An eagle should carry itself with the pride of an eagle!"
"This is our final farewell!" Tsukasa said with a peaceful smile.
"After this mission ends, please don't forget me. Next year, help me burn some incense before the memorial stone."
"That would make me truly content!"
Setsuna's heart trembled, and he suddenly looked up, about to speak again.
Then he heard Tsukasa ask him quietly:
"Great Elder... you don't regret choosing me for this mission, do you?"
Setsuna's vision blurred as Tsukasa's image reflected in his Sharingan seemed to overlap with the memory of that defiant brat from the clan meeting.
The Great Elder's expression shifted as he remembered how, in his anger, he had actually sent Tsukasa to this battlefield.
His face contorted with the weight of overwhelming regret!
If he had known Tsukasa possessed such genius, he would never have allowed him to go!
Furthermore, he had even considered using Tsukasa as expendable cannon fodder for a potential coup.
Now, witnessing Tsukasa preparing to sacrifice his life to secure a chance of survival for him, Setsuna felt like striking himself!
He truly deserved death!
Setsuna's lips trembled as he gazed at Tsukasa, his eyes filled with desperate reluctance.
"Tsukasa!"
End of Chapter 17
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P@atreon/Soulforger (45+ advanced chapters)