Chapter 163: News of Kikyo Mountain
Chapter 163: News of Kikyo Mountain -
Hearing that Mist and Stone were preparing to launch a major assault, Haneda instinctively thought of the Battle of Kikyo Mountain.
Given Obito's injuries, shouldn't he have recovered by this time?
Madara's planned move should be coming soon...
"When is it happening, Uncle Sakumo?" Haneda asked.
"Within three days, most likely along the coastal area near Konoha," Sakumo replied confidently.
Based on intel from the Anbu and the current circumstances, Mist must quickly launch a major battle to reverse their losing trend. Otherwise, as the war drags on, Mist will be bogged down by Konoha's superior logistics. And Stone, their ally, is already faltering.
"Three days… that's enough."
Haneda stood up and gazed in the direction of Kannabi Bridge, saying, "Uncle Sakumo, I'd like to head to Mist's battlefield."
Sakumo, remembering that Minato's team was stationed there, asked with a smile, "Are you worried about Kakashi?"
Haneda thought for a moment and nodded. "Yes, I've already lost one close friend. I can't afford to lose another."
"What do you think, Sakumo-sensei? Can I go?"
"Other than Ōnoki, there's no real leader left in Stone's forces," Sakumo noted. "Though, they still have two Jinchūriki: Han and Roshi."
"A Jinchūriki?" With his Sharingan and Wood Release, Haneda wasn't too concerned unless they were perfect Jinchūriki. "Got it, Uncle Sakumo."
"Can I go?"
Sakumo knew what Haneda intended and replied with a smile, "Technically, no… but I'm the commander here."
Haneda smiled as well. Before his eyes, a light blue screen appeared, with lines of text.
**[Uchiha Haneda]**
- **Strength**: Kage level (7/100)
- **Chakra**: 19.1 units; Attributes: Water, Earth, Wind, Fire, Lightning, Yin, Yang
- **Kekkei Genkai**: Three-tomoe Sharingan (Mangekyō 93%), Basic Sage Body (Mid-level Sage Body 33%), Wood Release
- **Special Abilities**: Eight Gates (Seventh Gate 91/100), Mastery of Hatake's Sword Style (37/100), Flying Thunder God (13/100), Lightning Chakra Mode (43/100)
Following two battles against A a year ago, Haneda had accidentally grasped some conditions for activating the Lightning Chakra Mode during the Kannabi Bridge conflict. After six months of effort, he had refined a complete Lightning Chakra Mode, allowing lightning chakra to envelop his entire body. This enhanced both his speed and defense significantly.
With sword techniques matching his Chidori-based jutsu, Haneda's strength had officially reached the Kage level.
Seeing the "Kage" title, Haneda smiled slightly.
Taking out a protective charm from his pouch, he remembered Obito's cheerful face. This time, he was determined to bring Obito back!
---
*Nightfall.*
In the underground chamber of the bloodied Hidden Mist under the Third Shinobi War, where Madara and Obito resided, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu emerged from the ground.
Noticing Black Zetsu, Obito glanced curiously toward Madara.
"How did it go?" Madara asked Black Zetsu.
Black Zetsu approached Madara and whispered, "Lord Madara, Uchiha Haneda has left the Land of Taki and is moving toward the southeastern part of the Land of Fire. At his pace, he'll likely arrive within a day."
Madara chuckled, having anticipated Haneda's move toward the Mist battlefield. The information about Mist's large-scale assault on Konoha had been leaked by White Zetsu under Madara's orders. Without that leak, Konoha's ninja, isolated from Mist's closed-off country, could hardly have uncovered such a crucial secret.
"Good. Begin the plan."
Obito, lying on the bed, had been eavesdropping, but the conversation between Madara and Black Zetsu sounded muffled to him.
"What are you two talking about?" Obito asked loudly.
Madara glanced at Obito, closed his eyes, and seemed to drift off, while Black Zetsu ignored Obito and sank back underground.
The White Zetsu clones around Obito teased him, saying, "Guess, hahahaha!"
"You idiots! How can I guess if I can't hear a word?" Obito yelled.
One White Zetsu chuckled, "We'll tell you if you can describe… well, what's it like to go to the bathroom?"
"Come on, Madara's right there!" another White Zetsu interjected.
"Oh, what was I saying again?" The first White Zetsu scratched his head, laughing.
Obito, exasperated, shouted, "Ugh! Do I have to go and show you or something?"
Another White Zetsu laughed, "Yeah, like you're so normal? Always mumbling, 'Rin, Rin, Haneda, Haneda,' in your sleep."
"Sometimes throwing in 'idiot, idiot, idiot,' too," another added, "Guess you're talking about that idiot Kakashi?"
"Yeah, you said it once!"
The White Zetsu clones teased Obito for a while, who eventually snapped back in exasperation, "Ugh! Why are you so fixated on… on going to the bathroom!"
---
*The Next Day, Land of Fire.*
Haneda sped toward Kikyo Mountain, located southeast of Konoha, right on the village's doorstep.
In the original timeline, during the Third War, Konoha was almost pushed back to Kikyo Mountain—a sign of the battle's brutality.
Thinking of this, Haneda's hand moved instinctively to his sword's hilt. No matter what, he had to reach the battlefield, stay hidden near Kakashi, and be ready to act.
Soft rustling sounded as Haneda's shoes landed on branches and the ground. Suddenly, three figures appeared before him.
Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, Akatsuki's Hoshikage Kakuzu, and Sasori of the Red Sand!
Three Kage-level shinobi!
Haneda narrowed his eyes.
Why was Ōnoki here? Without him, Stone Village's frontlines would be leaderless!
"I didn't expect you to show up here," Sasori remarked, barely hiding his excitement. Initially, he had planned to turn down Ōnoki's commission. But once he heard that the target was Uchiha Haneda, he readily accepted.
As for Kakuzu, he was simply in it for the money. Ōnoki had offered a sum more than sufficient for Haneda's life.
"Uchiha Haneda, you alone have already killed close to a thousand Stone ninja," Ōnoki stated, his voice filled with anger. "Whether for Stone's vengeance or your reputation as a prodigy, I can't stand by and watch you continue to grow!"
With a fierce look at Haneda, Ōnoki shouted, "Everyone, attack!"