The news of Uchiha Shao Yu leading over ten Uchiha elites to defect from Konoha and successfully join Kumogakure was like a heavy bomb dropped into the already turbulent Ninja World, its chain reaction quickly spreading to all parties.
The Land of Fire, the front line of the battlefield between Konoha and Sunagakure.
The atmosphere inside the tent was heavy.
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru, who had just finished a round of small-scale skirmishes, were listening to the urgent intelligence delivered by the Konoha Anbu.
"Uchiha Shao Yu... accompanied by twelve Uchiha Clan members including Uchiha Renka and Uchiha Tekka, attacked Elder Setsuna and defected from the Village. It has been confirmed that they have joined Kumogakure, and he has been granted the position of Elder by the Third Raikage..."
The Anbu finished the report and quietly withdrew.
A brief, dead silence fell over the tent.
"What?! Uchiha Shao Yu defected?! And he went to Kumogakure?!"
Jiraiya was the first to jump up, his face written with shock and disbelief. He and Shao Yu were from the same year. Although he somewhat disliked this overly handsome Uchiha genius because the guy was too popular with girls and stole much of his spotlight, he was well aware of the other's strength and potential.
"That kid... is he crazy? He was doing fine in Konoha, so why run off to a den of barbarians like Kumogakure?"
Beyond the shock, a complex mix of emotions couldn't help but surface in Jiraiya's heart.
After all, they were geniuses from the same Village. Such a decisive defection was undoubtedly a massive loss and blow to Konoha.
Tsunade slammed her fist onto the nearby table with a dull thud, her expression extremely grim.
"The Uchiha... they really are a restless bunch."
Her tone carried undisguised anger.
The ancestral feud between the Senju and Uchiha already left her with a lack of goodwill toward the Uchiha Clan. While she wasn't as hostile as some extremists, she certainly felt no closeness.
In her eyes, Shao Yu's defection only served to confirm the treacherous nature of the Uchiha.
"Over a dozen pairs of Sharingan... just gifted to those bastards in Kumogakure for nothing."
As a Medical Ninja, she was more aware of the stalemate on the front lines and the pressure Konoha faced.
A short while ago, her younger brother Senju Nawaki had been too excited after receiving her gift—Senju Hashirama's personal necklace. He had advanced too recklessly on the battlefield and had his internal organs blown away by explosive tags. Even as a top-tier Medical Ninja, she had been powerless to save him.
She was currently troubled enough as it was, and she hadn't expected such bad news to come from the Village as well.
At a time like this, having a fire start in Konoha's backyard and a top-tier Bloodline Limit defect to an enemy nation was nothing short of adding insult to injury.
Compared to the duo's intense reactions, Orochimaru appeared much calmer.
His golden vertical pupils flickered slightly as he extended his tongue to lick his lips, a playful and... knowing smile appearing on his face.
"Heh heh heh... Uchiha Shao Yu, is it... It has finally come to this."
Orochimaru's voice was raspy and magnetic, carrying a cold indifference that seemed to see through the human heart.
"With his proud, impatient, and ambitious nature, how could he long endure the hypocritical suspicions and omnipresent suppression of the Konoha higher-ups?"
"Konoha, which looks peaceful but is actually a cage for the Uchiha, cannot hold an eagle that truly thirsts for power and freedom."
He recalled that black-haired youth who had been brilliant even during their school days, whose strength was on par with his own and even superior in some aspects.
Back then, Shao Yu's talent was peerless, yet he also had a tendency toward being 'all brawn and no brains,' easily provoked and impulsive in his actions.
But looking at it now... "It seems that after experiencing certain things, he has grown quite a bit. Knowing to choose Kumogakure... a very wise judgment."
An investigative light flashed in Orochimaru's eyes. The process of defecting, shaking off pursuers, and successfully reaching Kumogakure to obtain a high position... this was definitely not something that could be achieved through the martial force of a Three-Tomoe Sharingan alone.
After all, Orochimaru did not yet know about Shao Yu's current Mangekyo Sharingan.
The Uchiha genius he once considered somewhat reckless seemed to have become much more interesting.
The Land of Wind, Sunagakure Frontline Command Center.
The Third Kazekage looked at the encrypted intelligence sent back by a spy inside Konoha. On his resolute face, marked by sand and wind, there was first astonishment, then an uncontrollable upward curve of his lips, which finally turned into a low and hearty laugh.
"Hahaha! Good! Excellent! Internal strife in the Uchiha Clan, a genius defecting! And he even took a group of elites to join Kumogakure. Konoha has suffered a heavy loss this time, and they've lost a lot of face too."
Gleeful light flickered in the Third Kazekage's eyes.
Sunagakure was already at a disadvantage in the war against Konoha and had suffered significant losses.
At this moment, hearing that his old rival's backyard was on fire, their top Bloodline Limit family was splitting, and talent was flowing out to an enemy nation, how could he not be in a great mood?
This would undoubtedly weaken Konoha's strength and morale, and might even affect the situation on the front lines.
"Spread this news immediately! Especially make sure the Konoha Ninja on the front lines know!"
The Third Kazekage ordered his subordinates.
"Additionally, step up reconnaissance. See if the morale and movements of the Konoha frontline troops have been affected by this. Perhaps... our opportunity has come."
The Land of Earth, Iwagakure.
The short-statured Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, who nonetheless exuded an aura of shrewdness, floated in mid-air. He carefully read the intelligence scroll in his hand, his brow furrowing slightly before relaxing, letting out an ambiguous snort.
"Uchiha Shao Yu... that brat who became famous back in the Ninja Academy? He actually led over a dozen Uchiha to defect from Konoha and successfully joined Kumogakure?"
Ōnoki stroked his graying beard, his eyes flashing with sharp light.
"Over a dozen Three-Tomoe Sharingan... that's no small amount of power. That Raikage brat in Kumogakure has really picked up a bargain this time."
His tone carried undisguised envy.
Although Iwagakure had a large number of Ninja and a unique Ninjutsu system, it truly lacked a comprehensive and powerful heritage like the Uchiha Sharingan in terms of top-tier Bloodline Limits.
Gaining over a dozen mature Uchiha at once was a massive boost for any hidden Village.
"Is Konoha... truly beginning to rot from the inside?"
Ōnoki looked into the distance, as if seeing the direction of Konoha.
"When you can't even keep the elites of your founding clan, it seems Sarutobi's way is nearing its end. For our Iwagakure... this might not be a bad thing."
He had already begun calculating how to use Konoha's internal strife and weakness to secure more benefits for Iwagakure in the future.
At the same time, he maintained a degree of vigilance toward Kumogakure's suddenly increased strength.
The Land of Water, Hidden Mist Village.
Deep within the Village, which was perpetually shrouded in a thick blood-mist, the light was dim and the air was damp and oppressive.
The Third Mizukage sat alone in the vast, cold hall, holding a brief message from the Village's external intelligence channels.
However, on the Third Mizukage's face, which was pale to the point of being nearly transparent, there was no reaction at all.
He slowly put down the message, and not even a ripple surfaced in his deep eyes—only a cold indifference, as if what he had seen was merely inconsequential information.
"Uchiha... Sharingan..."
He repeated in a low voice, his words echoing in the empty hall.
"Another group of fellows who rely on their bloodline talent, thinking highly of themselves, arrogant and unruly."
His tone held no envy, no wariness—only a deep-seated disgust and disdain.
For the Third Mizukage, the Hidden Mist Village had previously possessed too many powerful Bloodline Limit clans. These clans, relying on their talents, often banded together for self-importance, becoming too big to handle, interfering in Village politics, and even repeatedly challenging the authority of the Mizukage, bringing huge hidden dangers and risks of division to the Village's unity and stability.
One of the core purposes of his relentless implementation of the cruel blood mist policy was to purge, weaken, and eventually completely control these Bloodline clans, concentrating all power into the hands of the Mizukage to create a Hidden Mist that was completely obedient and easily manipulated.
In his view, the defection of Konoha's Uchiha Clan precisely confirmed the correctness of his philosophy.
Bloodline clans were naturally unstable elements, tumors within the Village.
Konoha hadn't dealt with the Uchiha in advance, and now it had indeed resulted in a disaster—not only a loss of power but also aiding the enemy.
"Kumogakure... humph."
A very faint curve appeared at the corner of the Third Mizukage's mouth.
"Picking up trash Konoha didn't want and treating it like a treasure. A bunch of boors who worship brute force."
But seeing Kumogakure gain such a boost out of thin air naturally didn't sit well with him.
"Strengthen border alerts, especially in the direction of the Land of Lightning. Furthermore... the monitoring and... management of the Bloodline clans within the Village needs to be even stricter."
He issued the order, his tone carrying the characteristic coldness of the blood mist policy. Uchiha's defection seemed to have further strengthened his resolve for internal purging and control.
Advance chapter available on pãtrêon Got1808