Uchiha Seiryu [211-213] (Patreon)

Chapter 211: It's Great to Be on Konoha's Side

The fire dragon and earth dragon collided, explosions and heat waves engulfing the entire area.

Although Iwagakure’s combined jutsu wasn’t fully charged, they had honed this technique over years. Talented ninja in Iwa start learning these combos at the academy, so compared to them, the Sarutobi trio from Konoha were outnumbered and outclassed. Their fire dragon was quickly overwhelmed.

“Gorou!” Shikamaru yelled, urging another Sarutobi team to act.

“Understood! Water Style: Great Waterfall Jutsu!”

A surging wave joined the battle. The water offset the force of the earth dragon, but it also doused the Sarutobi’s fire dragon, sending up thick steam into the sky.

“Are you Konoha guys joking? Using water style to support fire style? Didn’t your academy teach you the basics of jutsu interactions?” an Iwagakure ninja laughed mockingly.

But as the sky grew darker overhead, Kurotsuchi, who had been pressed by Naruto, sensed something. She unleashed a mass of lava-style ash to push Naruto back and loudly warned her teammates: “Regroup and prepare defensive jutsu!”

“Figured it out? Too late,” Shikamaru thought, a confident smile on his face as he issued his final order: “Everyone, retreat and clear the area!”

“Now, let’s watch Sasuke.” Shikamaru used shadow possession to pull his teammates back, then looked up.

Deep in the gathering storm clouds came a sound like a primordial beast’s roar.

Sasuke leapt from the tallest tree, landing steadily. He walked forward toward the Iwa ninja, forming one hand seal after another. Chakra surged from him into the clouds above. Lightning energy flooded his body, every cell screaming, purple plasma crackling all over him.

The Iwa ninja stared at Sasuke's steady approach, hair standing on end. Though he was still far away, they felt like prey locked onto by a predator.

Step. Step. Step.

The only sound in the world seemed to be Sasuke’s calm footsteps, each one pounding like a countdown, crushing the Iwa ninja with fear—like grazing animals facing an apex predator, even resisting took immense courage.

Finally, one couldn’t take it—he hurled a shuriken at Sasuke.

But the shuriken froze mid-air before him.

As Sasuke finished the final seal, a blinding white light split the sky!

A lightning dragon, over ten meters wide, formed—its head shaped like a kirin, hundreds of interlocked bolts forming antlers and mane, crackling with divine energy.

Sasuke snapped his fingers. The lightning around him scattered like butterflies, converging on the Iwa ninja from all directions.

“Everyone! Chakra up! Earth Style Walls!” Kurotsuchi shouted, her composure gone, panic in her voice as thunder rumbled overhead.

The lightning dragon roared, lightning flashing all around.

“Lightning Style: Kirin!” Sasuke intoned.

A blue-white kirin of lightning tore through the clouds, descending in a blinding flash. Ozone filled the air, overpowering the smell of blood.

Iwa ninja raised layer after layer of earth walls, shielding against the descending beast.

But under a million volts, the earth walls vaporized into glassy shards. The ring of stone collapsed, the surrounding forest ignited by the lightning.

Despite desperate reinforcement, the earth walls shattered one by one. Emergency summoning bracelets activated among the Iwa ninja’s cries.

“Lightning Style: Kirin…” In the VIP suite, only Uchiha Seiryu sipped tea calmly. The others, especially A and Onoki, were grave.

Blocking this jutsu wasn’t hard for them. But Sasuke, a 12-year-old genin, could wield it. How strong would it be in the hands of its creator, his teacher?

Onoki and A couldn’t help but look at Seiryu.

“Amazing! Absolutely spectacular! Hokage-sama’s student is a perfect successor to your legacy,” Takagi broke the silence, applauding.

Everyone else almost lost composure.

“Legacy”?

Everyone knew how this jutsu became famous—most who died to it were from Kirigakure. For the Mizukage to praise it was almost comical.

Takagi didn’t mind the stares. As one of the few from Kirigakure who survived Seiryu’s Kirin, he knew its true power. He’d escaped by ruthlessly sacrificing his teammates, and for a long time after the war, he had nightmares of Seiryu slaughtering thousands in lightning.

But now, seeing Sasuke’s Kirin, Takagi felt no fear. After all, only Seiryu’s enemies had to worry. As long as he remained loyal to Konoha, that jutsu would never be used on him.

To be Konoha’s dog is truly a blessing!

Takagi thought with pride.

…

In the Forest of Death.

The aftermath of the Kirin faded, pouring rain doused the burning forest, steam rising.

The air was cleansed, smelling fresh.

Sasuke, now holding an umbrella, calmly walked to the former gathering place of Kumogakure.

Only charred debris remained, blown apart and then incinerated by the lightning.

The next safe zone notification popped up on Sasuke’s bracelet.

Konoha’s teams regrouped.

“Basically, only we’re left in the exam area,” Shikamaru said. “The other teams probably didn’t dare approach after seeing that Kirin and were knocked out outside the safe zone.”

“Counting the Kiri team you brought back yesterday, we have 10 teams. That means one team won’t make it to the next round,” Shikamaru explained.

“Um, Sasuke-sama, we probably shouldn’t advance. We didn’t help at all in the last fight,” the Kiri team said.

“You think I’d go back on my word?” Sasuke looked at them expressionlessly.

“No, of course not!” the three Kiri ninja quickly shook their heads. They hadn’t experienced the Third Shinobi War, but after witnessing Sasuke’s lightning, they understood the fear their elders described.

“I said you’d advance, so you will,” Sasuke affirmed.

“We’ll skip the next round,” Shikamaru interjected. “We told Kakashi-sensei we only joined to support you and Naruto. With everyone else gone, our mission is done.”

“You sure? With your skills, you could easily make top eight.”

“Too troublesome,” Shikamaru replied.

“Yeah, I’d rather go home and eat chips. The ones I brought are all gone,” Choji added.

Ino had no objections.

They waved and left the safe zone.

Once Shikamaru was eliminated for staying outside too long, the nine qualifying teams’ bracelets lit up.

Soon, they were all teleported to the area for those who passed.

Thus ended Konoha’s second round of the Chunin Exams, the survival test.

“Congratulations, Hokage-sama. Konoha really dominates this exam! They say Konoha is the cradle of geniuses, and it’s true. Your disciple’s strength and tactics at such a young age are impressive,” Takagi said to Seiryu.

“The Mizukage flatters me. This kid’s making the exam a headache for me. Almost everyone in the third round is from Konoha. I bet the daimyos from other countries won’t come to the finals, which means less ticket revenue for us,” Seiryu responded.

Chapter 212: Konohamaru’s Crisis

Seiryu’s humblebrag made Onoki and A twitch, but they had no rebuttal—their villages had no one entering round three, so there was no point staying in Konoha.

Before leaving, A glanced at Seiryu, who was being flattered by the minor village leaders, and thought: A cradle of geniuses, huh? I hope that Sarutobi kid doesn’t disappoint me.

The third round would begin in two weeks. With no Iwa or Kumo ninja advancing, those daimyos sent word the day after the survival round ended, canceling their trips. As for the Water Country daimyo, he rarely attended even local exams due to his personal indulgences.

…

Three days later, Onoki left with his wounded young ninjas after treatment. A also said his farewells to Seiryu that day.

That night, A went to the hotel where he had met the Kumo spy leader.

“Everything arranged?” A asked directly.

“As you ordered. We know the target’s habits and route. Half our sleeper agents are in play—success is assured,” the spy replied.

“Tomorrow afternoon we head back to Kumo. Move then. I’ll be waiting outside Konoha to assist,” A commanded.

“Yes!”

The next afternoon, at Konoha’s gates, Seiryu and A shook hands formally.

“Thank you for Konoha’s hospitality,” A said.

“We apologize if we fell short,” Seiryu replied.

“No need, you treated us well. Next time Kumo hosts, you must come!” A said.

“Of course,” Seiryu agreed.

With farewells done, the Kumo delegation departed.

Back in the office, Nagato and Konan were waiting for Seiryu.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Did you enjoy the matches?” Seiryu asked, preparing tea.

Due to Onoki’s presence and unresolved issues with the Five-Tails, Akatsuki couldn’t appear openly, so Rain ninja watched from the VIP box. But Seiryu, to show goodwill, had arranged a private room for Nagato and Konan.

“Your disciple’s strength at his age is remarkable,” Nagato said.

“Tsunade already checked your health, right?” Seiryu asked Nagato gently.

“Not great, but it won’t affect our cooperation. As long as I live to see real peace, I have no regrets,” Nagato replied, touching his eyes wearily.

“Don’t worry, that day isn’t far,” Seiryu assured him.

At that moment, the office door was flung open. “Hey, Hokage-uncle, I’m coming in!” Deidara burst in.

He’d been stuck at Kakashi’s house while Onoki was in town, which was torture for his outgoing personality. As soon as Onoki left, he’d been visiting construction sites, only coming now because Seiryu insisted.

“What’s up, Hokage-uncle?” Deidara asked cheerfully.

“I promised you a job. This is your new boss,” Seiryu said, gesturing to Nagato.

“Really?” Deidara glanced at Nagato in his wheelchair, unfazed. As long as it didn’t interfere with his art, work was work.

Konan looked conflicted. As Akatsuki’s second-in-command and a recent battlefield opponent, she knew Deidara was Onoki’s direct apprentice and a defector. Having Seiryu introduce him to Akatsuki was bizarre.

But Seiryu reassured her, “His strength is now elite jonin level. In a couple of years, even most Kage would struggle with him.”

Nagato agreed. After talking with Seiryu, he realized the flaws in his own plans. The idea of ending all conflict in one unifying war, then reshaping the world as Seiryu described, was appealing—especially the part about opening the mountains between Rain and Wind, letting Rain’s excess moisture irrigate Wind’s deserts, so both countries could farm. That alone was irresistible, since Rain’s poverty stemmed from barren soil and geography, forcing costly grain imports.

After days of thought, Nagato agreed to cooperate. Accepting Deidara was part of the deal.

“Hokage-sama, could you share more details of your plan?” Nagato asked.

“Of course, come with me,” Seiryu replied, leading him to a secret room. But just then, urgent knocking came.

“Bad news, Hokage-sama!” Uchiha Inaho burst in. “The Third Hokage’s grandson, Konohamaru, has been kidnapped. His tutor Ebisu is badly wounded.”

“What?!” Seiryu stood up. “Konohamaru’s been kidnapped?”

After a moment’s thought, Seiryu ordered, “Tell Kakashi, have the police search the village. Alert border units to seal the borders. Has the Third Hokage been told?”

“Not yet.”

“Send someone immediately. Kakashi will hold the office and reassure the Third. I’ll go myself. Kakashi should have an ANBU team ready to back me up.” Seiryu grabbed his sword.

“Where are you going?” Inaho asked.

“To rescue him,” Seiryu replied.

“Do you know who the kidnappers are?”

“In the whole shinobi world, who but Kumo would be so obsessed with kidnapping kids?” Seiryu said sharply.

“Hokage-sama, need any help?” Nagato offered.

“No need. With a crisis in the village, I can’t ask more of you,” Seiryu replied.

“Hokage-sama, I think our cooperation starts now,” Nagato said. “Konan, assist the Hokage.”

“If we’re flying, we’ll catch up faster.”

Seiryu nodded, turning to Konan. “I’ll trouble you, Lady Angel.”

Konan, understanding the urgency, summoned a giant paper bird. She and Seiryu climbed aboard.

“Hey, Hokage-uncle, I’m coming too!” Deidara summoned his own clay bird, jumped on, and followed.

Seiryu glanced at him. Knowing someone would be needed to rescue Konohamaru, he said, “Pick up Naruto and the others, then catch up.”

Chapter 213: Uchiha Seiryu vs. A

Seiryu and Konan sped northeast on the paper bird. Soon, Deidara caught up with Naruto, Sasuke, and Neji on his clay bird.

“Flying this fast?” Konan was surprised at Deidara’s speed—he’d picked up the others and still caught up easily, a testament to his skills.

“Sensei,” Naruto called anxiously, the closest to Konohamaru.

“You three, stick with Deidara. Don’t get too close. If I fight the Raikage, rescuing Konohamaru is your job,” Seiryu instructed.

“Got it,” Deidara nodded. “Naruto told me—if that kid’s his little bro, he’s mine too. Whoever took him, I’ll make them regret it.”

The group travelled swiftly and, by early morning, caught up with the Kumo delegation, hurrying toward the border.

“So it’s them,” Seiryu sneered. Their haste was suspicious.

“Hokage-sama, need help in the fight?” Konan asked.

“No. This is Konoha’s internal affair. For our future cooperation, Akatsuki and Konoha should avoid open entanglement before the final battle,” Seiryu replied.

“I understand,” Konan nodded.

Seiryu observed the Kumo group—swelled in number since A left Konoha, clearly pre-planned.

With a cold laugh, Seiryu drew his sword and jumped down.

Lightning gathered around him as he descended, cutting through the night like an arrow, landing squarely in their path.

He made no attempt to hide, announcing his arrival openly.

A, hearing thunder above, halted his group, watching Seiryu descend.

“Hokage? You’ve come a long way to see us off,” A said.

“Not really. Hokage work is busy, but it looks like you’re even busier, rushing home at night,” Seiryu replied, stroking his blade as lightning danced along it. “We lost a child today. Our investigation links you. Please return to Konoha for questioning.”

“So you’re not here in peace,” A said, lightning flickering on his fists.

“Seems you won’t cooperate,” Seiryu answered, Mangekyo Sharingan swirling, Sage Mode marks appearing, his aura rising. The Kumo ninja shrank back under the pressure.

“Hmph,” A pushed his own aura, shielding his men.

“Is Konoha declaring war?” A demanded.

“Konoha loves peace, but we don’t fear war when provoked. Besides, you’re the ones crossing the line,” Seiryu shot back.

With that, he flashed forward, sword slashing at A.

A met him head-on, lightning fists against blade. Each clash exploded with dazzling light.

Meanwhile, the Kumo main force tried to slip toward the border, unaware of the clay bird shadowing them.

“Konohamaru’s with them,” Neji, sharing his Byakugan view, confirmed. In their midst, a middle-aged ninja carried a sack with an 8-year-old, bound tightly.

“Deidara, we’ll need you to block them from the air,” Sasuke said. “Make a big scene—border troops are coming. We need to rescue Konohamaru and stall them here.”

“Call me big bro, like Naruto does!” Deidara joked, “And don’t worry, you’ll see my artistic fireworks.”

“Let’s go!” Sasuke ordered. Deidara dropped altitude, and the three jumped down to begin their rescue.

Meanwhile, the two Kage finished their warm-up.

A charged at Seiryu, his right arm wrapped in lightning, splitting the air. Seiryu’s Mangekyo spun—he saw twelve possible futures simultaneously.

In the third, A’s punch shattered a rock three meters left. In the seventh, he’d feint. Only in the ninth was Seiryu’s current position at risk.

“Lightning Release: Horizontal Bolt!”

At the last instant, Seiryu’s form blurred, his sword cleaving stone. Six purple lightning-charged shuriken flew at A from all angles.

“Tricks!” A exploded with brighter lightning, swatting at the projectiles.

But the shuriken shifted mid-air, redirected by electromagnetic fields, accelerating again.

Six lightning spears formed a cage.

A’s eyes narrowed, his fist colliding with the lightning, sending plasma sparking across the canyon.

When the light faded, three scorched marks marred his right shoulder.

“You can predict my moves?” A wiped blood from his face, the ground beneath cracking.

Blue chakra flared around him, his speed multiplying. Seven afterimages attacked Seiryu from all directions.

A had pushed his lightning body technique to the limit, surpassing even Seiryu in pure speed.

“So this is the speed only Flying Thunder God could keep up with,” Seiryu thought, Mangekyo spinning faster, futures multiplying, pressure mounting, blood starting to drip from his eyes.

A’s figure vanished, only the sound of torn air remained. Seiryu instinctively activated Susanoo.

Boom!

The first punch hit Susanoo’s ribs, cracks forming instantly, followed by a barrage of over a hundred thunderous blows per second.

“Not done yet!” A roared, hands together, “Lightning Release: Heavy Current Crash!”

A mountain-splitting hammer of lightning crashed down, the ground trembling, dust exploding.

But as it cleared, Susanoo’s complete form emerged—towering over a hundred meters, armored, twin swords gleaming with a chilling light.

“The legendary complete Susanoo?” A gasped. Tales of the Uchiha’s power were real, but only now did he grasp why Susanoo was divine power.

“I admit, your lightning taijutsu surpasses mine,” Seiryu said from above. “But against Susanoo, your resistance ends here.”

“Divine power, huh? It just makes me mad!” A shouted, tearing off his ruined clothes, revealing iron-hard muscles.

He compressed his chakra to the limit, his final forbidden technique—fusing body and lightning completely.

“Lightning Release: Tiger Slayer!”

Lightning from the clouds struck him, silver runes appearing on his black muscles—he looked like a black tiger ready to pounce.

But just then, Seiryu’s Mangekyo spotted a decisive flaw: when A poured chakra into his legs, his injured left knee would slow by 0.3 seconds.

A purple lightning spear struck his left knee's chakra point.

Rampant chakra backfired, and Susanoo raised its swords.

“Lightning Release: Lightning Dragon Fang.”

When the pillar of lightning faded, the Fourth Raikage knelt in a scorched crater, burned but still glaring at Seiryu.

“Mangekyo Sharingan... truly lives up to its reputation,” A gasped, trying to muster chakra.

“Now, tell me—war or peace?” Seiryu demanded coldly.