Saving the Uchiha clan starts with becoming the clan leader.

"Let me show you! [Uchiha Reflection]!!!"

Zongxian gripped the fan handle tightly in his right hand, raised the Flame Fan that had absorbed almost the entire Great Waterfall Technique without changing its weight, and slammed it hard in the direction of Zabuza.

A cold storm surged forth from beneath the fan, howling along the route designated by Zongxian, even scraping away a layer of the ground. It seemed to carry a tangible weight, more like flowing liquid than the unpredictable and weightless wind.

It combines the agility of a gale with the weight of liquid, making its destructive power extremely considerable.

Zabuza Momochi, the target of the attack, clearly did not expect this situation.

Zongxian's counterattack came far too quickly.

The injury to his right arm ultimately affected his hand seal speed, preventing him from using the Body Flicker Technique to escape. He could only watch helplessly as the terrifying storm swept in. However, he wasn't particularly afraid; he was just disappointed that he couldn't realize his ideal of changing Kirigakure.

"Water Escape·Water Formation Wall."

Kisame Hoshigaki formed hand seals, refining a large amount of chakra within his body. A thick and solid water barrier stood before them. However, this water barrier did not last long and was quickly and decisively destroyed by a heavy storm.

The flowing water was shattered by the howling wind, and Kisame Hoshigaki's shark-like face showed a look of astonishment. This was a water barrier he had put all his effort into, and it was broken in an instant. This was too exaggerated! The only thing he could feel fortunate about was that he was not alone in trying to capture Zabuza Momochi.

[Water Release: Ebony Hat]

Although it's called a water-escape technique, it's actually a secret technique exclusive to the Hozuki clan. A large amount of water gathers and covers Hozuki Mangetsu's body, which has been liquefied using the 'Water Transformation Technique'. He transforms into a huge, chaotic water monster and blocks the way for Momochi Zabuza and Kisame Hoshigaki.

then,

The next moment,

He personally experienced just how terrifying the storm returned by the Flame Fan was.

The liquefied body cannot feel pain or similar sensations. As long as the amount of liquid is kept above a certain standard, there will be no trace of injury after returning to human form. However, looking at his body, which had been shattered by the storm, Hozuki Suigetsu deeply understood the terror of this attack.

Water Release: Shield Ebon Hat. This technique was developed by a genius of the Hozuki clan during the Warring States period to fight against the Tailed Beasts. Although the final result was not very satisfactory, the Tailed Beasts were not so easy to deal with. That genius ambitiously went to provoke the Nine-Tails, but was completely evaporated by a Tailed Beast Ball, leaving no trace of his body.

However, the fact that it forced Kurama to release the Tailed Beast Ball proves that this technique is not without value.

That genius of the Hozuki clan is completely dead, but the techniques he developed have been passed down within the clan.

Uchiha Sogen was just a fan.

He broke through his [Water Release: Shield Ebon Hat]. Due to the compatibility between wind and water, Hozuki Mangetsu did not die like that unfortunate ancestor. He was just blown away and rolled around with Kisame Hoshigaki and Zabuza Momochi. They flew a long enough distance before stopping.

“I don’t want to see something like this happen a second time.”

Putting away his flaming fan, Zongxian continued, "This time it's just a warning, but next time... there won't be a situation where not a single person dies." He glanced casually at Hozuki Mangetsu and the others struggling to their feet in the distance before looking away, no longer paying attention.

Yagura, the tachibana manga artist, breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, Uchiha Munen didn't kill them. Hozuki Mangetsu, Kisame Hoshigaki, and Zabuza Momochi were all the future of Kirigakure. If they died like that, he... would be heartbroken!

"Clan Chief Uchiha, thank you for showing mercy."

"Enough with the nonsense, Lord Mizukage. You'd better hurry up and reclaim your power! Otherwise, I'll start to doubt your ability to fulfill our contract. If you really can't fulfill our contract, then I might have to make a trip to Kirigakure as an unwelcome guest."

After finishing speaking, Zongxian took out a radio from his ninja tool bag and turned it on.

Ignoring the grim-faced Yagura, he walked to the side and tuned the radio to the pre-arranged channel. He relayed the order to the Yamanaka clan's Jonin: "Cease fighting while ensuring your own safety, and everyone should assemble in the center of the island." Then, led by Yamanaka Kokuren, the Yamanaka clan's Jonin used a mental technique to accurately transmit the order to the minds of every living Konoha ninja on the island.

Yagura Karatachi, with his arms outstretched, strode quickly toward Mei Terumi and her group in an unguarded manner.

"Send a sensory ninja over. An imposter might be able to impersonate me, but the Three-Tails can't be faked." Yagura Karatachi spoke rapidly and firmly. Uchiha Sogen's threat was not just verbal intimidation; he was absolutely capable of going straight to Kirigakure.

That kind of situation,

This must be absolutely avoided.

Therefore, he needs to regain control of the Water Shadow as soon as possible.

Mei Terumi frowned, but still signaled the sensory ninjas to go forward and check. At the same time, she continued to contact the Mist ninjas in various parts of the island, ordering them to stop fighting. After three sensory ninjas confirmed the existence of the sealed Three-Tails, Mei Terumi led a group of Mist ninjas to kneel on one knee in front of Yagura Karatachi. By then, the fighting on the island had stopped.

The Konoha ninjas converged on the center of the nameless island, while the Kirigakure ninjas continued to retreat to the south of the island as Mei had originally ordered. Only the Jonin watched as the Konoha ninjas arrived at the center of the island.

Not long afterward,

Two groups of ninjas wearing different headbands gathered in the center of the island, clearly divided into two camps, one to the east and one to the west, with a strong sense of tension between them.

However, most people understood when they saw Uchiha Sogen and Yagura Kaguchi shake hands.

The war is over!

[Chapter 119. Have you heard of the Six Paths Ninja Tools?]

As dusk settled, wisps of smoke rose into the sky.

Just over an hour had passed since the war ended, and the nameless island returned to its former tranquility. Perhaps because the war ended too quickly and suddenly, the ninja of the Mist did not react strongly. People like Zabuza Momochi, who were 'extreme village patrons,' were clearly in the minority. Most people did not have much emotional fluctuation about the end of the war.

To be more precise, many Mist Ninja have become numb.

Life in the village was no more comfortable than on the battlefield. The constant internal strife was even more brutal than foreign wars. Walking on the road, one wished there was an extra eye in the back of the head to avoid being ambushed by arrows from behind. Living in such an environment, their emotions had long since become numb and indifferent.

Few people even felt the shame of the so-called defeat.

Especially for those junior and junior ninja who were used as cannon fodder, whether they won or lost, the most important thing for them was that the war was over. This meant that they wouldn't have to die so quickly, and if they were lucky, they might be able to live a little longer. As for how long they could live, they could only leave it to fate.

"Is the war... really over?"

Standing at the entrance of the camp, Uchiha Shisui looked at the Kirigakure camp not far away and couldn't help but feel a sense of indescribable absurdity. The war was over just like that. Less than a month had passed since the Kirigakure officially declared war, and the war between the two great ninja villages was over just like that.

In his understanding,

The so-called war was the Third Shinobi World War, a massive conflict that lasted for several years, in which tens of thousands of shinobi fought each other on the battlefield...

"What? Shisui, not satisfied yet? Want to relive the glorious days of World War III?" Zongxian strolled over and asked teasingly.

"Don't joke around. The sooner the war ends, the better. I know you may have always thought I was naive and stupid, but I still don't like war. On the battlefield, people's lives become cold numbers, and I hate that cold feeling."

"It's a shame you know you're so naive and stupid."

Zongxian gave a sarcastic laugh.

Shisui was speechless. After reading Danzo's memories, he really didn't have the confidence to defend his past self. Back then, he was so naive that he made stupid mistakes. Fortunately, Sogen was there to stop his foolish ideas and plans and lead the clan to a new life.

"How much longer will we stay here? When will we be able to return to the village?"

Zhi Shui tried to change the subject.

Although he also felt that he had been quite stupid before, Zongxian's words were still so vicious and painful.

"go back?"

Zongxian glanced at him sideways.

"What nonsense are you talking about? The end of the war doesn't mean we're going to turn back. Don't forget that the Mist Ninja haven't paid us the compensation we deserve! Leaving now will only give some of the Mist Ninja the foolish ideas they shouldn't have. We should strike while the iron is hot. If we don't take advantage of this opportunity to ruthlessly stab the Mist Ninja a couple of times, we'll be letting down our fallen clansmen and comrades."

Behind them,

The camp was set up with the help of the Mist Ninja.

The original camp of the Mist Ninja was completely destroyed by their Mizukage's powerful Water Burst Wave. Fortunately, a lot of supplies were left. With the ninjas' mobility, rebuilding a camp was not difficult at all, especially since the Konoha side only had less than forty people.

In this decapitation operation, a total of twenty-three Konoha Jonin were killed.

The twenty-three bodies that were recovered lay in three tents in the camp. Among these twenty-three people, four had the family crest of a fire fan embroidered on their clothes. Four Jonin from the Uchiha clan died in the battle. The oldest was twenty-seven years old and the youngest was only nineteen.

The reason so many people died was because they were too reckless.

The proud Uchiha charged ahead, naturally drawing the attention of the Kirigakure ninja.

Even if one of them could take on two equally skilled Kirigakure ninja, the problem is that when they are surrounded by three, four, or even more opponents of the same level, they cannot unleash their full potential in desperate situations, and naturally they can only perish in those desperate situations. It should be said that the fact that they only lost four people despite their recklessness is enough to prove the strength of the Uchiha clan.

Just like Uchiha Shisui being besieged by three geniuses from Kirigakure—Hozuki Mangetsu, Momochi Zabuza, and Hoshigaki Kisame—almost every Jonin from the Uchiha clan, except for Uchiha Chihaya who was in a bloodthirsty fight with Ringo Ameyuri, was facing attacks from two or more Kirigakure ninja.

Four members of the Uchiha clan died in this battle.

In exchange, the Mist Ninja suffered more than ten Jonin casualties. If you include Chunin and Genin... the number is probably close to a hundred. Uchiha Akitarou alone has more than twenty lives on his hands. In comparison, Shisui, this "useless" guy, only killed a few small fry. He didn't have any real significant gains, which is the direct reason why he was ridiculed by Sogen.

As for why Zongxian didn't choose to activate Susanoo and sweep through the enemy... the Jonin of the Uchiha clan aren't children who need him to feed them and clean up their messes. It's normal for people to die on the battlefield. If the Jonin of the Uchiha clan still need him, the clan leader, to follow them around and protect them at all times, then such a clan should just be destroyed as soon as possible!

Without tempering, stubborn iron cannot be forged into a sharp blade!

Even Shisui only mourned the sacrifices of his clansmen and fellow villagers in his heart before quickly turning his attention to what Zongxian had mentioned.

"Could it be... we still have to go to Kirigakure?"

Zhi Shui asked tentatively.

"Finally, I've got a moment of clarity." Zongxian looked at the Kirigakure camp not far away. "The situation in Kirigakure is complicated. The Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, has been manipulated by that guy who claims to be Madara Uchiha for several years. Now, the power in Kirigakure is basically in the hands of their 'Master'."

"If we want those contracts we signed with Yagura Karatachi to be implemented, we still need to make a trip to Kirigakure in person to meet that Master. It is said that he is an old man from the same era as the First Hokage. Also, the holder of the Hyuga clan's Byakugan is in Kirigakure. We promised to help the Hyuga clan reclaim that Byakugan, so we can't break our promise. Furthermore... it is also necessary to investigate any clues that 'Uchiha Madara' might have left in Kirigakure."

Mentioning 'Uchiha Madara'.

Shisui's expression also became serious. This culprit who created the Nine-Tails' chaos, manipulated the Fourth Mizukage, and triggered this war was the person he most wanted to kill. This kind of guy who caused unrest in the world for personal desires or ambitions was the kind of person he hated the most.

"Zongxian, what did you find before?"

"Zhi Shui asked softly."

Unlike Yagura Karatachi, who was unwilling and unable to investigate further, Shisui, who knew Sogen's personality well, did not believe Sogen's claim that the imposter committed suicide using explosive tags and left no ashes behind.

"That guy who claims to be Uchiha Madara isn't Uchiha Madara, but... it's certain that he has a very deep connection with Uchiha Madara. As I told you before, that guy is skilled in space-time techniques. Now I can tell you some new information: that guy's companion possesses the strongest transformation and stealth techniques in the ninja world."

Zongxian did not admit what he had gained, but took the opportunity to instill some new information in Shisui.

"The transformation technique goes without saying; it perfectly disguised the Fourth Mizukage. Not a single one of the many Mist Ninja from top to bottom saw through the disguise. Shisui, you also need to be careful. Don't let your guard down just because they are acquaintances. The dagger coming from behind is more terrifying than the fireball in front of you!"

"A transformation technique without any flaws?"

He frowned, his expression still.

Unfortunately, there were no research samples available, otherwise he would have loved to see just how powerful this transformation technique, which Sogen called the strongest in the ninja world, really was. Speaking of which, one of Shisui's great hobbies was developing new techniques, and he single-handedly greatly enriched and supplemented the techniques of the Uchiha-ryu swordsmanship.

"As for the stealth technique, it allows the body to blend into the earth and vegetation. During the ninjutsu's activation, all connections with the outside world are severed. I don't know how to detect their movements yet. In short, Shisui, be careful when you're out alone. If you see anything that's completely white or half black and half white, don't be careless."

Shisui nodded.

That sounds like a terrifying ability, so be careful... Wait a minute? Traveling alone? Is this a reminder to be careful when carrying out missions alone in the future, or is there something else going on?

"I have a favor to ask you."

"······What?"

Shisui sighed inwardly, realizing that there was indeed something else going on behind his back!

"Before we get to that, let me ask you a question, Shisui. Have you ever heard of the Six Paths Tools?" Sogen asked a rather strange question. At the very least, Shisui couldn't figure out what Sogen wanted to ask him for a favor from the question. After thinking about it for a while without success, he had no choice but to focus his attention on the question.

Six Paths Ninja Tools?