Kitsuchi could not help but recall the fear that gripped the Iwagakure forces during the Third Great Ninja War when they were dominated by that Yellow Flash.
And now, this Uchiha Sora before him had actually learned that terrifying Body Flicker Technique!
Not only that, but the Uchiha Sora before him possessed not just the Yellow Flash's signature skill, but also eyes as terrifying as the Mangekyo Sharingan.
These were the eyes his old man had told him about—the same eyes as Uchiha Madara, who lived in the same era as the First Hokage!
Kitsuchi began to lose his nerve.
He quietly signaled his subordinates, indicating for everyone to prepare to retreat.
Meanwhile, he continued to use Ninjutsu, launching a fierce attack on Uchiha Sora.
He had to cover his comrades and subordinates as they left.
Seeing through Kitsuchi's intentions, a cold curve appeared at the corner of Uchiha Sora's mouth.
He mentally ordered the Six Edo Tensei Individuals to hunt down the Iwagakure forces attempting to retreat, then ordered his Grass Ninja Village subordinates to cooperate with the Six Edo Tensei Individuals' actions.
Under the pursuit of the Six Edo Tensei Individuals, those Iwagakure Ninja attempting to retreat suffered heavy casualties.
"Damn it! I'm being pinned down by Uchiha Sora and can no longer spare any energy to hold off these Six Edo Tensei Individuals! Everyone, you must hold on!" Kitsuchi, seeing this, was filled with anxiety.
However, as time passed, Kitsuchi's internal anxiety turned into panic.
Because he discovered that while he tried to pin down Uchiha Sora, the latter would flash and disappear from time to time. Every time he flashed away, he would appear beside one of his Edo Tensei subordinates and slaughter the elite Ninja among them.
This completely extinguished any hope of pinning down the Six Edo Tensei Individuals and allowing a portion of the group to escape.
Kitsuchi watched with eyes splitting from rage, yet he found himself helpless.
Because whenever he tried to spare a hand to help his subordinates, Uchiha Sora would flash back and launch an attack on him.
The Flying Thunder God Technique was simply too broken!
The powerful crowd control brought by the speed of covering a thousand miles in an instant allowed Kitsuchi to fully experience the fear of being dominated by someone.
Not long after, the troop of six or seven hundred men had been reduced to a hundred under the slaughter of the Six Edo Tensei Individuals.
Then, under Uchiha Sora's flashing, the number plummeted again...
In the end, only a mere dozen or so subordinates remained, panting as they returned to Kitsuchi's side.
Their expressions were filled with despair and pain.
"Lord Kitsuchi! We can't escape! We can't escape! I don't want to run anymore!" one Iwagakure Ninja with the strength of a Jonin said to Kitsuchi, dejected.
"Our people are all dead. He is simply a devil! No, a Shinigami! He is a Shinigami!" another said with fear, his psychological defenses nearing collapse.
"That's right, Lord Kitsuchi, you should run! If it's you, you can definitely escape back to the Village! This time, let us cover your retreat!"
"Yes, Lord Kitsuchi, you are the hope of the Village. Even for the sake of the Third Tsuchikage, you must survive!"
Listening to his subordinates' words, Kitsuchi, who had experienced the Third Great Ninja War and could be considered a veteran of many battles, couldn't help but feel a sense of desolation.
But the current situation did not allow him any room for sentimentality, and he slowly spat out a few words: "Cover me, retreat!"
Saying these words felt as if Kitsuchi had used up all his strength.
He knew that once these words were spoken, it was equivalent to issuing a death sentence to the dozen or so subordinates by his side.
Because he knew very well that to stop Uchiha Sora's pursuit, he could only fill the gap with the lives of his subordinates!
Thus, Kitsuchi changed his previous approach of fiercely attacking Uchiha Sora and began to retreat while fighting, under the cover of his remaining elite subordinates...
Uchiha Sora naturally understood Kitsuchi's intentions. He dealt with Kitsuchi's Ninjutsu unhurriedly while continuing to order the Six Edo Tensei Individuals to finish off the dozen or so Iwagakure elites.
Soon, under the combined efforts of the six Edo Tensei elites, those subordinates covering Kitsuchi's departure lost their lives one by one.
By this time, Kitsuchi had already fled dozens of kilometers away, with only Uchiha Sora in close pursuit behind him.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, Uchiha Sora's figure appeared beside Kitsuchi.
Kitsuchi was horrified and hurriedly threw a punch at Uchiha Sora, not even having time to use Ninjutsu.
Uchiha Sora raised his hand to block Kitsuchi's fist.
Compared to the panting Kitsuchi, Uchiha Sora was still calm and composed, his expression very peaceful.
"Mr. Kitsuchi, I have long since placed a Flying Thunder God Mark on you!" Uchiha Sora said slowly, a hint of playfulness on his face.
"What? When?!" Kitsuchi exclaimed. He hadn't even noticed this himself!
Didn't this mean that Uchiha Sora could have teleported to his side and dealt a fatal blow long ago?
Yet he hadn't done so, instead pursuing him slowly the whole way, while his remaining elite subordinates foolishly sacrificed their precious lives for someone who didn't need protection at all.
"During our battle, I had too many opportunities to leave a mark on you. You never stood a chance!" Uchiha Sora said coldly.
"So that's how it is. It seems I still underestimated the Flying Thunder God Technique!" Kitsuchi said, his face ashen.
He knew that although he still had the strength to fight Uchiha Sora, now that the mark had been planted on him, death was only a matter of time.
Could he defend against his surprise attack once, or even ten or a hundred times?
Just then, however, Uchiha Sora said lightly: "Mr. Kitsuchi, I will spare your life this time. Go back and tell your father that all the Iwagakure Ninja who died this time are the price paid for provoking me! If he doesn't want to lose his son in the future, he is welcome to bring people and try again!"
After finishing, Uchiha Sora withdrew his hand and stopped attacking Kitsuchi.
Kitsuchi was stunned, not knowing what to feel.
He never imagined that he would be defeated so thoroughly by such a young junior!
In the end, the other party had even voluntarily spared his life!
And before, the lives of those subordinates who died to cover his escape seemed to have lost all meaning.
"It seems you never intended to kill me? So all your actions were just to slaughter my subordinates?" Kitsuchi said bitterly.
He had thought his strength was sufficient to roam the Ninja World and that he wouldn't retreat even when facing the Kage of other Villages.
But Uchiha Sora had given him an incredibly profound lesson!
Since when had his own life become something the other party could take away at any time?
Looking at the incredibly young figure before him, a chill couldn't help but rise in Kitsuchi's heart.
Afterward, he took a deep breath, turned, and sprinted toward the Land of Earth.
Uchiha Sora stood in place, watching the disheveled Kitsuchi go, his expression calm.
He let Kitsuchi go this time, firstly because he had already left a Flying Thunder God Mark on him, so he could take Kitsuchi's life at any time, and secondly, to use this as a warning and threat to Ōnoki, making him hesitant to act against him.
If he killed Kitsuchi directly, then the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, as Kitsuchi's father, would inevitably lose his mind and attack the Grass Ninja Village at all costs.
He knew Ōnoki's strength; even if he had the Flying Thunder God Technique to dodge his attacks, the Grass Ninja Village where he was located would likely cease to exist.
After all, if a great power started a war regardless of the consequences, a small country could not stop it.
Therefore, Uchiha Sora did not kill Kitsuchi, which could be considered maintaining a bottom line.
After all, the enemies he truly wanted to deal with were not the forces of the Five Great Ninja Villages; there was no need to fight these people to the death.
At this moment, the Six Edo Tensei Individuals also caught up.
"Leader, why didn't you pursue? If it were you, even if you couldn't kill that Kitsuchi, you could definitely have taught him a profound lesson!" They appeared around Sora, looking at Kitsuchi who had fled far away, and one of the Edo Tensei elites asked.
A moment ago, he was a presence like a Shinigami, yet now it seemed he had deliberately gone easy.
Uchiha Sora looked at the people around him and said lightly: "The other party is the son of the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki. Although I am not afraid of Ōnoki, I am now in charge of the Grass Ninja Village. If I kill or destroy his son, I fear that I will face endless retaliation from the Land of Earth."
"The leader is right. We are still in the development stage; how can we really act recklessly?" At this time, Zabuza and Yūgao Uzuki also arrived at Uchiha Sora's side, and Zabuza spoke up.
The Six Edo Tensei Individuals were no fools; having been elites of their respective Villages before, they immediately understood the key to it.
"Yes, the leader's move can not only deter the great powers but also avoid reaching the point where a great power loses its mind and comes to besiege us." Pakura nodded in agreement.
There was something different in the way everyone looked at Uchiha Sora.
If it was because of his powerful strength and potential that made them submit before, now the leader's demonstrated intelligence made them even more admiring.
"Alright, all of you go to the back mountain and clean up those corpses." Uchiha Sora waved his hand and ordered.
"Yes!" Everyone acknowledged the order and left.
"Yūgao, you don't need to go." Seeing Yūgao Uzuki also subconsciously wanting to obey his order to do things, Uchiha Sora reached out and pulled her back.
"Oh!" Yūgao Uzuki's face flushed slightly. Having her hand held by Uchiha Sora, her heart suddenly started beating faster.
"Walk with me!" However, Uchiha Sora quickly let go of Yūgao's palm, leaped, jumped off the tree trunk, landed on the ground, and walked slowly toward the Grass Ninja Village.
It was already early morning, the east was revealing a hint of white, and the sky was still twinkling with stars.
Having experienced a great battle, Uchiha Sora hadn't consumed much, but due to his Sage Body, he didn't feel very tired.
As he walked, he couldn't help but look up at the deep night sky, a hint of comfort appearing on his face.
After the war, being able to stroll freely and peacefully under the starry sky—perhaps this was the motivation for his desire for strength!
Peace and war are the eternal themes of this world!
Only powerful strength can allow one to live the life one wants anytime, anywhere!
Yūgao Uzuki, who was following Uchiha Sora, looked at him, recalling everything she had seen tonight.
Having seen Uchiha Sora's powerful and murderous side with her own eyes, and now looking at him in such a quiet and peaceful scene, Yūgao Uzuki was deeply confused: which side of you is real?
The two walked in silence under the starry sky, neither speaking.
"We're back." As the morning sun rose, the two finally returned to the gate of the Grass Ninja Village, Uchiha Sora said as if sighing.
"Yes, we're back." Yūgao, who had been silent along the way, looked at the warm sun shining from the east, a bright smile on her face.
Because this was a sentimental scene she and Uchiha Sora often had after returning to the Konoha Village gate after completing a mission.
At this very moment, all the previous doubts about Uchiha Sora in her heart seemed to be melted by the sunlight.
Yes, no matter what, the bond between her and Uchiha Sora had not disappeared because of their different stances.
That was enough!
"Yūgao, I'm afraid I have to go out for a while, you should also go back to Konoha early." At this time, Uchiha Sora said.
"Eh? Aren't you waiting for Hokage-sama to come and negotiate?" Yūgao asked, puzzled.
"Don't forget I have the Flying Thunder God Technique. Even if I'm away, I can come back at any time." Uchiha Sora smiled: "But if you stay here, I won't be able to accompany you usually."
"Alright, then I'll go back early." Yūgao thought for a moment and said.
She had come to find Uchiha Sora this time intending to persuade him to return, but after experiencing the night, she gave up the original idea.
Because she already understood that Sora not returning to Konoha was due to his own thoughts and will.
He was no longer the little brother who was younger than her and needed her care when they were first grouped together.
He was now the leader of a Village, a strong man forging ahead while carrying out his own will.
She only needed to watch him by his side—yes, just watch him...
Returning to his residence, packing his luggage, Uchiha Sora had a meal with Yūgao and personally sent her out of the Grass Ninja Village.
Before leaving, Uchiha Sora gave her a flying thunder god kunai as a farewell gift.
Yūgao Uzuki cherished the Kunai and put it away. She knew this was the spatial coordinate Sora left for her, equivalent to a powerful life-saving charm.
Then, she stood on tiptoe, kissed Uchiha Sora gently on the side of his face, and turned to leave, blushing.
Uchiha Sora touched his cheek that had been kissed, and a warmth flowed in his heart.
Suddenly, Yūgao turned and shouted at him: "Hey! Sora! Don't let your imagination run wild! This is a farewell kiss between siblings!"
Uchiha Sora couldn't help but smile and waved at her.
Was it really just a farewell kiss between siblings?