T/n: For Every 100 Power Stone 1+ Chapter ( I hope I don't regret it and get burned out!! XD)
-----
The Land of Lightning.
There were no clouds in the sky, yet a sound like continuous thunder rolled endlessly above.
Yuzuru Uchiha walked alone along the road, dressed in clothes bearing the Uchiha clan's fan crest, a long blade slung diagonally across his waist.
His black hair danced in the wind, and his dark eyes appeared even deeper against his pale skin.
Blue arcs of lightning flickered across his body from time to time.
"Ever since awakening the Yotsuki clan's bloodline, my Lightning Release body training has become far smoother than ever…"
Feeling the changes within his body, Yuzuru's lips curved slightly.
A moment later, the piercing cry of a thousand birds filled the air as his right hand became wrapped in surging lightning.
"I've completely mastered Chidori and its derivative, Chidori Stream. Combined with the Sharingan, it should show excellent power in battle. Once I return, I can teach the training method to the clan."
Dismissing the lightning in his hand, Yuzuru focused his thoughts, and a sky-blue sphere of chakra appeared in his palm.
Next, he would study the nature transformation of the Rasengan.
Training as he traveled, Yuzuru soon arrived at a barren landscape resembling a desert of rock and gravel.
Everywhere he looked were eroded stones and jagged rock mountains, almost devoid of any vegetation.
The endless thunder overhead lent the place an aura like the depths of hell.
"To be imprisoned in a place like this for centuries and still survive… that takes remarkable strength."
Yuzuru halted before a canyon. At its entrance stood a cluster of stone huts built from piled rocks.
Dozens of Cloud ninja stood guard, blocking his path. "This area is forbidden. Do not approach," one of them barked coldly.
Yuzuru said nothing, simply taking the Third Raikage's written order from his clothes and tossing it over.
Moments later, all the Cloud ninja knelt halfway to the ground. "Lord Yuzuru!"
"You may all return to the village."
"Lord Yuzuru," the leader said hesitantly, "those inside are dangerous. Should we stay to assist you?"
"No need." Yuzuru waved a hand and walked calmly into the canyon.
The path was narrow at first, just wide enough for one person. After walking for about a mile, the space suddenly opened up.
The ground was filled with huge puddles, each brimming with crimson water that looked almost like blood.
White bones and skulls lay scattered at the bottom, creating a chilling scene.
Further ahead, at the base of the rocky cliffs, were rows of evenly shaped caves.
Sensing Yuzuru's presence, a number of pale-skinned people emerged from within. Roughly a hundred of them in all.
"Who are you?" asked an elder who seemed to be their leader, staring warily at the lone intruder.
"I'm here to save you," Yuzuru replied calmly. "People of the Chinoike clan, I've come to bring you back to live in Kumogakure."
"What?!"
The gathered clan members gasped in disbelief.
Imprisoned for centuries, they had long abandoned any hope of leaving. Now, with this stranger suddenly appearing, they were utterly bewildered.
The elder's voice trembled. "What happened outside? Why release us now?"
Before Yuzuru could answer, one of the Chinoike clansmen shouted, "That crest… you're from the Uchiha clan!"
At once, hostility erupted.
"Damn Uchiha! It was your clan that exiled us here!"
"We'll have our revenge!"
Several of the Chinoike clansmen's eyes gleamed crimson, their pupils turning into horizontal slits.
Yuzuru felt a wave of power battering against his mind.
At the same time, the clansmen formed hand seals, and the red waters of the pools surged violently. Massive blood dragons rose and roared toward Yuzuru.
"Die!"
The dragons swallowed him whole in an instant.
The next moment, Yuzuru's battered figure appeared again before them.
Seeing his wounds, the Chinoike clansmen smirked coldly.
"Repent… explode!"
Boom!
Before the smirks could fade from their faces, those same radicals were blown to dust.
The remaining clansmen stared in shock.
"H-how is that possible? Why did they self-destruct?"
"What a terrifying genjutsu… when did it happen?"
"It must be that pair of three-tomoe Sharingan! They looked into his eyes!"
To many of them, it was clear what had occurred. The ones who had just died had suddenly smiled oddly, performed hand seals, and detonated themselves.
Such behavior could only mean they had fallen into an illusion.
The survivors felt an icy dread rise within them.
Their own eyes could cast genjutsu too, and their resistance to illusions was normally strong.
Yet in just a single instant, everyone who harbored hostility had been trapped and killed.
That power was truly terrifying.
When the Chinoike clan finally fell silent, Yuzuru stood motionless and said coldly, "Now, can we talk properly?"
Invisible pressure spread through the air, forcing the clansmen to lower their heads.
The elder gathered his courage and spoke. "Our people were at fault just now. Please, continue."
Yuzuru nodded in satisfaction. There was no need to punish them further.
Being confined here for so long, it was natural for them to become unstable and quick to anger.
There was no sense in taking it out on those who hadn't acted.
"From the reaction of those few just now, it seems you still remember the events of that era."
"At that time, our Uchiha clan was merely employed by the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning."
"The one you should truly hate is the Daimyō himself."
Hearing this, the Chinoike clansmen gave bitter smiles.
Of course they knew it was the Daimyō who had ruined their lives.
But what could hatred accomplish? The Daimyō was far beyond their reach.
Then the elder suddenly realized something and asked in alarm, "My good sir, do you mean to say releasing us wasn't by the Daimyō's order?"
If it had been the Daimyō's command, Yuzuru wouldn't have spoken ill of him.
But if it wasn't… who would dare to free a condemned clan from the Valley of Hell without his approval?
Seeing the confusion on the elder's face, Yuzuru said calmly, "The times have changed. From today onward, we no longer need to act according to the Daimyō's will."
"The era of shinobi has arrived."