The faint light of dawn slipped through the cracks of the damaged wooden door.
Inside the shack, Chiya sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, quietly resting.
Three days of recovery had passed.
Chiya had completely recovered.
As he recalled his previous battle with Hanzō, he now had a much clearer understanding of his Mangekyō Sharingan abilities.
Both of his dōjutsu were highly special.
Yomi no Higan represented the power to toy with life and death.
It functioned somewhat like a domain-type ability.
Within a certain range, it could extract the life force of his targets and cause them to die.
Of course, the dōjutsu had another application.
The life force it extracted could be transferred to another person to extend their life.
It could even revive someone who had already died.
There were limitations, however.
The deceased had to have died within the previous day.
And after reviving someone, the ability would enter a one-month cooldown.
As Chiya’s ocular power increased, these restrictions would gradually be optimized.
As for his other dōjutsu—
Causality Reincarnation.
It was also a domain-type ability.
By using genjutsu, Chiya could create a special domain.
When an enemy’s attack entered this domain, its effects could be transferred onto Chiya himself or another target.
That was precisely why Hanzō’s own attack had ultimately struck him.
The entire sequence had actually been controlled by Chiya’s genjutsu.
And according to the system’s analysis, the ability was not limited to ninjutsu, taijutsu, or genjutsu.
Even attacks produced through Bloodline Limits, Bloodline Selection, and other advanced forms of chakra manipulation could be transferred.
That surprised Chiya.
After all, there were simply too many things in the shinobi world capable of killing him.
Dust Release from Iwagakure was one such example.
That Bloodline Selection could reduce a person to particles.
But now that he possessed Causality Reincarnation, as long as he activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, anyone who attempted to ambush him would have to deal with it.
As long as the attack entered the domain’s effective range—or struck something within that range—the attack could be recorded by his Mangekyō Sharingan and subjected to the special transfer effect.
His overall safety had increased dramatically.
“Big Brother Chiya, look!”
Konan’s excited voice interrupted his thoughts.
Chiya opened his eyes.
A thin sheet of paper was floating above Konan’s palm.
It wobbled slightly, but there was no mistaking it.
She was controlling it with chakra.
A proud smile spread across her face.
Her short blue-purple hair looked particularly bright in the morning sunlight.
“Not bad.”
Chiya nodded approvingly.
“Your chakra control is very stable.”
He reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
Konan’s face turned slightly red, and she lowered her head shyly.
Nearby, Yahiko was practicing taijutsu against a wooden post.
His movements were still clumsy, but he was already copying each technique with surprising enthusiasm.
Nagato sat quietly in the corner.
His hands were locked into a seal as he attempted to gather chakra.
His progress had been the most noticeable.
In only three days, he had already begun to consciously manipulate the chakra within his body.
“You two, come over here as well.”
Chiya waved them over.
The three immediately gathered around him, their eyes filled with anticipation.
After three days together, they had clearly accepted him.
There were smiles on their faces now that hadn’t been there before.
After all, they were still children.
Their emotions came quickly and passed just as quickly.
Chiya took three shuriken from his ninja pouch and handed one to each of them.
“Today, I’m going to teach you the basics of shurikenjutsu.”
He stood and walked outside into the open space beside the shack.
“Watch carefully.”
Chiya flicked his wrist.
The shuriken transformed into a streak of cold light.
It flew ten meters and struck the center of the tree trunk with perfect accuracy.
Yahiko’s eyes widened.
Konan clapped excitedly, looking like an enthusiastic little admirer.
Nagato silently memorized every detail of the movement.
“Remember.”
“Keep your wrist steady when you release.”
“And make sure your eyes stay focused on the target.”
Chiya patiently instructed them, correcting each of their movements one by one.
Just as the three children were practicing enthusiastically—
Chiya’s expression changed slightly.
He sensed an unusual chakra signature in the distance.
Someone was approaching.
“You three keep practicing.”
“I’ll be back shortly.”
Chiya disappeared in a flash.
Deep within the forest, a Konoha shinobi was cautiously making his way forward.
Chiya silently appeared behind him.
A kunai pressed against his back.
“Don’t move.”
Chiya’s voice was cold.
The shinobi froze.
He slowly raised both hands.
“It’s me!”
“Uchiha Chiya!”
Hearing the familiar voice, Chiya paused.
He withdrew the kunai.
The shinobi removed his mask, revealing a stern face.
It was Kumogakure, one of Hatake Sakumo’s subordinates.
“Why are you here?”
Chiya asked.
Kumogakure released a long breath of relief.
“Lord Orochimaru returned to the village and reported that the entire squad had been wiped out.”
“Even Hanzō personally intervened.”
“When Lady Tsunade heard about it, she immediately went to the Hokage and demanded permission to go to the battlefield.”
“Tsunade…”
Warmth spread through Chiya’s heart.
Then he realized something.
“Wait.”
“Where did she go?”
“The Sand Village launched a surprise attack at the border where the three nations meet.”
“The situation is extremely urgent.”
“Lord Sakumo requested reinforcements from the village. He separated from Lady Tsunade and charged into the enemy’s main force.”
“Lady Tsunade took the medical unit toward the rear.”
Kumogakure’s expression became solemn.
“Before she left, she specifically asked us to send someone to find you.”
“She said she was certain that you couldn’t possibly have died.”
Chiya’s eyes sharpened.
The poison techniques and puppet techniques of Sunagakure were notoriously troublesome.
Tsunade was powerful, but the battlefield could change in an instant.
One mistake could put even an elite shinobi in mortal danger.
No one could guarantee absolute safety.
“I need to get there immediately.”
Chiya’s voice was low and firm.
“The attacks from Amegakure have suddenly slowed down.”
“Lord Sakumo said that means we can finally free up our forces and focus on dealing with the Sand shinobi.”
Kumogakure nodded.
“But what about the three children here?”
Chiya turned his head toward the shack.
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan were still practicing seriously.
He thought for a moment.
“Give me ten minutes.”
Chiya returned to the shack and called the three children together.
“I have an urgent mission.”
“I have to leave immediately.”
He spoke directly.
“Are you leaving?”
A trace of disappointment appeared in Konan’s eyes.
Chiya reached into his clothing and took out a map and one of his marked kunai.
He handed them to Yahiko.
“This is a safe route to the Land of Fire.”
“If your teacher Jiraiya doesn’t return soon and the fighting reaches this area, follow this route to the Land of Fire.”
“The places I’ve marked have some connection to my Uchiha clan.”
“If you go there, give them my name and this token.”
“They’ll take care of you.”
Yahiko’s hands trembled slightly.
He gripped the map and kunai tightly.
A mixture of reluctance and determination flashed through his eyes.
He raised his head and looked at Chiya.
His lips moved.
But no words came out.
Nagato, who had remained silent until then, spoke first.
“Big Brother Chiya…”
“Thank you.”
“For teaching us so much.”
Chiya smiled.
He patted Nagato on the shoulder.
“Remember.”
“The meaning of strength lies in protecting others, not destroying them.”
Konan suddenly stepped forward.
She wrapped her arms tightly around Chiya.
Her voice was slightly choked.
Chiya gently rubbed her hair.
“Make sure all three of you stay safe.”
After saying goodbye to the children, Chiya and Kumogakure quickly set off.
“Lady Tsunade will be very happy when she learns you’re still alive.”
Kumogakure spoke as they traveled.
Chiya’s gaze was firm.
“I know.”
“That’s why I have to reach her as quickly as possible.”
“This is the exact location!”
Kumogakure took out a scroll and handed it to Chiya.
Chiya opened it.
It contained a detailed map of the surrounding area.
His eyes quickly locked onto the marked location.
His mind settled.
Chakra gathered beneath his feet.
His speed suddenly increased.
Meanwhile—
At the Konoha medical camp, Tsunade stood outside a medical tent.
Her light-brown eyes gazed toward the direction of the Land of Rain.
Her lips moved softly.
“Chiya…”
“You have to be alive…”