The next day.
After leaving people behind to continue protecting Loran, Chiya headed back to Konoha himself.
With the current situation so unstable, returning to the village meant being the first to receive intelligence.
On the road back, a thought stirred in Chiya's mind.
He called up the System.
"System, system, where is my mission reward?"
After what had happened yesterday, Chiya and Sara's relationship had made a real breakthrough.
Naturally, the mission conditions had been met.
Although Sara had once been the queen of Loran, poised and beautiful, she also had a wild side.
Especially yesterday. Chiya had seen that firsthand.
The sky as a blanket, the earth as a bed. The special setting of returning to nature added a feeling unlike anything else.
[Congratulations, Host, on completing the mission: Win Over Loran's Queen Sara.]
[Mission Reward: One Storm Style Kekkei Genkai.]
Hearing the reward notification sound.
A special chakra surged up inside Chiya immediately after, and his chakra reserves began to grow.
Storm Style is formed from Lightning nature chakra combined with Water nature chakra.
Simply put, it is lightning as soft and fluid as water.
Lightning nature chakra is explosive and violent and difficult to control, but with the addition of water's gentleness, controllability, and flexibility, the two complement each other perfectly.
It is a fairly practical and versatile Kekkei Genkai.
A moment later.
Chiya had finished absorbing it.
"System, open the character panel!"
[Name: Uchiha Chiya]
[Age: 24]
[Chakra: 56 Kaka]
[Special Abilities: Senju Clan Constitution, Sharingan (Eternal Mangekyō), Storm Style, Ice Style, Lava Style]
[Skills: Divine Technique: Kagatsuchi
Mangekyō Dojutsu: The Far Shore of the Yellow Springs, Cycle of Cause and Effect, Tsukuyomi
Forbidden Techniques: Izanagi, Izanami
Kenjutsu Mastery, Susano'o, Medical Ninjutsu Mastery, Fire Style Mastery, Genjutsu Mastery, Blade Mastery, High-Speed Body Flicker (Body Flicker Jutsu), Shadow Clone Jutsu, Three Bodies Technique, and others]
A Kekkei Genkai plus the standard 5 units of chakra.
Another wave of improvement!
Chiya's mind settled back into reality.
He flickered through several Body Flicker Jutsu in succession and before long was standing at the entrance to Konoha.
He turned and looked back in the direction of Loran.
The morning sun stretched his shadow out long behind him. His black hair stirred faintly in the wind.
Three elite Military Police members on patrol spotted Chiya and quickly came forward.
They waited in silence for his orders.
"Did that ninja talk?"
Chiya turned and looked at them.
The ninja he was referring to was the spy captured the day before.
"Clan Head, the ANBU just sent word confirming it. Those ninjas were indeed sent by Iwagakure."
One of the Uchiha reported quietly, his brow furrowed tight.
"They disguised themselves as Suna-nin specifically to stir up conflict between us and Sunagakure."
Chiya gave a cold laugh. His crimson Sharingan glowed with a dangerous light in the dim morning.
"That old schemer Ōnoki. He really does love working from the shadows."
He turned to face the Military Police members.
"Pass the order down. Strengthen patrols. Also, Loran must be under full protection around the clock. On top of that, have Tekkai take Shisui along when leading his team and quietly investigate for any spies who may be hidden inside Konoha."
Everyone nodded.
"Yes!"
Just then, an ANBU ninja flickered over from a distance and dropped to one knee.
"Lord Chiya, the Hokage requests that you come to his office immediately."
Chiya raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Oh?"
Hiruzen had not summoned him for a very long time.
What had come up today?
'Could it be that Sunagakure is moving to start the war early?'
"Understood. I will head over now."
...
Inside the Hokage's office, smoke drifted through the air.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat at his desk, his expression grave.
Across from him, Jiraiya had for once put away his usual grin. Minato Namikaze stood quietly to one side, his gaze steady and firm.
When Chiya pushed the door open and walked in, the atmosphere in the room tensed a few degrees.
"Hokage."
Chiya gave a slight nod, his tone even.
"What did you need me for?"
Hiruzen drew a long breath from his pipe and slowly exhaled.
"Root's personnel in Sunagakure have already sent back a report. Recently, the Third Kazekage has transferred authority to the Elder Council in Sunagakure. The high command there has been moving frequently. A number of elite ninjas have been quietly dealt with, and several kekkei genkai users among them have been specifically targeted. Inside Sunagakure, morale and trust are shaken. Based on my assessment, if these reports are accurate, a power struggle could emerge in the short term."
Chiya's gaze sharpened.
'Kekkei genkai ninjas being targeted?'
Chiya could not help but think of Pakura.
Pakura was one of Sunagakure's top kekkei genkai users. She had openly shown protection toward Chiya and his group back at the border. If someone with ulterior motives chose to amplify that, she would likely face targeting inside Sunagakure.
'It seems I will have to make a personal trip to Sunagakure this time.'
'If possible, bring Pakura away with me.'
Chiya looked at Hiruzen and waited for him to continue.
"We cannot afford to miss this opportunity."
Hiruzen said in a heavy voice.
Jiraiya cut in.
"Sensei, are you suggesting we strike first?"
Hiruzen shook his head.
"No. We need intelligence. Chiya, your Uchiha Clan has the Sharingan. Under hypnosis and control, you can extract intelligence quickly. So this time, I need the Uchiha to send a clan member to go directly to Sunagakure in person, seize the right moment to take control of one of their high-ranking members, and obtain intelligence that way. With the Chunin Exams approaching, I will arrange for you to enter Sunagakure early in the capacity of a Jonin instructor."
Chiya narrowed his eyes.
Minato stepped forward, his tone sincere.
"If we can learn the movements of Sunagakure's high command, it will be critically important for Konoha's next course of action. Senior Chiya, this mission is extremely important. I will be going to Sunagakure alongside you."
Chiya stared at Minato for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.
"All right."
He looked toward the Third.
"I will need to get things in order on the Uchiha's side first. Then I will go personally."
Hiruzen was taken aback.
He had never imagined Chiya would go in person.
But he quickly recovered.
"Work out the specific details with Minato yourselves. Thank you for this, Chiya."
...
Late at night, the border forest.
Chiya's figure moved through the tree shadows like a ghost. The Sharingan flickered with an eerie light in the darkness.
Close behind him followed a figure with yellow hair.
That person was Minato Namikaze.
"Senior, there are people ahead."
Within his sensory range, several unfamiliar chakra signatures were closing in.
Chiya looked at Minato with mild surprise. His sensory ability was genuinely impressive.
"Leave it to me."
Chiya raised a hand and formed seals in an instant.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Three clones spread out without a sound. The real body concealed itself in the treetops with Minato and waited quietly.
Before long, a squad of Suna-nin appeared in view.
The one at the front was a ninja wearing a mask, his voice rough.
"Any developments at the border recently?"
"According to intelligence, the ANBU under Hatake Sakumo appear to be reconnoitering our situation. Sunagakure's side is still pulling forces back. It does not look like they intend to start a war."
Another replied.
"Are the people in Sunagakure actually reliable?"
The lead ninja could not help but grumble.
Just then, one of Chiya's shadow clones stopped hiding and dropped straight down from the tree.
Landing without making the slightest sound.
The lead ninja in the mask had not even had time to react before Chiya's Sharingan locked onto him.
Genjutsu, Sharingan!
The ninja instantly went rigid, his eyes hollow.
Chiya's shadow clone grabbed him and flickered away.
The remaining Iwa-nin finally snapped back to their senses, roaring as they charged at Chiya.
Chiya brought both hands together.
"Fire Style, Great Fire Annihilation!"
Chakra gathered in his throat. He released a massive sheet of flame forward, vast as a wave of the sea, covering an enormous area.
It swallowed the entire squad in an instant.
Amid the screams.
Chiya, with the captured leader in tow, disappeared into the border forest alongside Minato, who had been stunned by the sheer scale of the Fire Style.
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