THE UCHIHA ASCENSION

The next day, Uchiha Kiyo heard the news of Konoha's declaration of war from Roshu and the others.

"Sure enough, the Third Hokage is worthy of being a true leader. Even though he later became more passive and prone to compromise, in his prime, he was decisive and courageous.

The Land of Rain has been provoking and pushing its influence to Konoha's doorstep. If Konoha does not respond with military force, the entire ninja world will see it as a sign of weakness."

Sighing at the decisiveness of the Third Hokage, Uchiha Kiyo began to ponder.

How could a once formidable leader become hesitant and ineffective in his later years?

Was it the weight of power?

Power corrupts—it is like a drug.

Uchiha Kiyo smirked to himself, impressed by his own insight.

It only reaffirmed his stance—becoming Hokage was not worth it. The burden of power changes people. Besides, the role itself came with an overwhelming workload. Why desire something so exhausting?

Even in his prime, Hiruzen Sarutobi aged rapidly under the weight of his responsibilities.

That afternoon, Konoha publicly announced that the Land of Rain had launched an unprovoked war against the Land of Iron, violating peace agreements. Konoha, representing order and stability, declared an offensive against the Rain Village.

This move significantly impacted the entire ninja world.

Even without the Senju brothers—Hashirama and Tobirama—Konoha still had powerful clans like the Senju, Uchiha, and Hyuga. The vast amount of ninjutsu inherited from the Second Hokage, combined with a deep reserve of talented shinobi, ensured Konoha's continued dominance.

For the past twenty years, Konoha had cultivated countless exceptional ninjas, cementing its status as the strongest village.

That day, Konoha's usual training grounds became noticeably emptier.

Large numbers of shinobi assembled and prepared for deployment.

The village's ninja tool shops were overflowing with customers, rapidly selling out of explosive tags, kunai, and shuriken.

The once lively streets of Konoha turned cold, as the bustling energy of everyday life faded.

War had begun.

For Uchiha Kiyo, the impact was immediate.

Missions would be disrupted, and his peaceful development would be put on hold. However, war also meant an opportunity for growth. Surviving it would accelerate his strength, pushing him to greater heights.

Currently, Uchiha Kiyo was at the level of a Tokubetsu Jōnin—an impressive feat at only thirteen and a half years old.

Is he a genius? Perhaps.

But in Konoha, he wasn't an anomaly. Geniuses weren't exactly rare.

For example, Hatake Kakashi reached Jōnin at twelve—an elite prodigy born once in a decade. And beneath that level, there were many skilled individuals who had achieved Tokubetsu Jōnin by thirteen, fourteen, or fifteen.

In contrast, Uchiha Kiyo had only reached his current level through sheer perseverance, research, and the application of unique techniques.

His position was still officially at the Chūnin rank.

Kakashi had both talent and the benefit of being raised in an era that demanded rapid growth. His contributions and achievements earned him a fast-tracked promotion to Jōnin.

The difference between a true Jōnin and an advanced Tokubetsu Jōnin was enormous.

The Shinobi Hierarchy had a clear structure. A true Jōnin had undergone a spiritual transformation, developing unique personal strength.

Only a select few reached that level—about a thousand Jōnin existed in the entire ninja world. Konoha, the strongest village, had only around 200 true Jōnin.

The transformation from Tokubetsu Jōnin to Jōnin wasn't just about physical prowess—it required a breakthrough of willpower and spirit.

A Jōnin had survived countless life-or-death battles, shaping their mental resilience to a higher level.

This transformation granted three key benefits:

1. Increased Chakra Capacity – A Jōnin's chakra reserves typically doubled, reaching around 5,000 chakra units.

2. Sharpened Tactical and Mental Abilities – Stronger instincts, quicker decision-making, and heightened perception.

3. Refined Ninjutsu Mastery – Greater chakra control, faster hand seals, and increased potency in jutsu execution.

This was why true Jōnin were rare.

They weren't just powerful fighters—they were battle-hardened warriors who had reached a realm beyond standard shinobi.

In Konoha, when a significant issue arose, a Jōnin Council was held, where only Jōnin had voting rights. Tokubetsu Jōnin and elite Chūnin were merely high-ranking foot soldiers in comparison.

Uchiha Kiyo's potential was undeniable. His unique techniques and Uchiha bloodline gave him an edge, ensuring that he would break through to Jōnin eventually. However, the timing was uncertain.

He had only just reached Tokubetsu Jōnin level—there was still a long road ahead.

For standard shinobi, reaching Tokubetsu Jōnin meant their chakra capacity had stabilized at around 2,000 chakra units. Their future growth depended on refining their combat skills and jutsu proficiency rather than increasing raw chakra reserves.

But when a shinobi underwent the Jōnin transformation, their chakra skyrocketed to 5,000 units or more in an instant!

Of course, only a small percentage of shinobi ever reached that breakthrough.

Uchiha Kiyo, along with other talented bloodline users, had naturally superior chakra growth due to their genetic advantages. Some individuals, like Jiraiya, were born with naturally high chakra reserves. Others benefited from medicated baths in childhood, enhancing their chakra capacity early on.

These individuals could exceed 5,000 chakra units at a younger age, but without experiencing the spiritual transformation, they were considered pseudo-Jōnin rather than true Jōnin.

Pseudo-Jōnin could have higher chakra reserves than real Jōnin, yet their mental fortitude and battle instincts remained inferior.

They might even surpass weaker Jōnin in combat but still lack the true realm of willpower mastery.

For elite prodigies, this difference mattered less. Their high chakra reserves allowed them to break into Kage-level strength faster. Once they underwent the Jōnin transformation, their chakra exploded to even greater levels, pushing them straight into Kage-tier combat abilities.

For ordinary shinobi, reaching Kage-level was vastly more difficult. They had to perfect a specific skill—such as Minato Namikaze with the Flying Thunder God—to compete at the highest tier.

This was the true gap in talent—the natural disparity in chakra growth potential.

Even across the entire ninja world, there were very few individuals with monstrous chakra growth. Chakra accumulation required years of effort, and medicated baths could only enhance it to a limited extent.

Kiyo had access to medicated baths, so his chakra was seven to eight times greater than the average shinobi of his age. Through self-created cultivation techniques, he had expanded his reserves even further. However, he was still not at the threshold for easily reaching Kage-level strength.

Shadow-level combat ability was still far away.

For now, his focus was breaking through to Jōnin. To bridge the gap between Tokubetsu Jōnin and Jōnin, he needed at least twice his current chakra reserves, alongside mastering more advanced ninjutsu and battle tactics.

If he played it safe, it could take five years to reach Jōnin.

But this war provided an opportunity for rapid growth.

War accelerates evolution.

Surviving the battlefield would forge him into something greater, potentially allowing him to become Jōnin within a year or two.

"War is a double-edged sword. While it brings danger, it also brings immense opportunities."

Kiyo's mind wandered.

"Perhaps the higher-ups of every ninja village understand this—which is why war breaks out repeatedly."

It couldn't just be about resources.

Wars depleted manpower and rarely yielded proportional economic gain.

Instead, wars created high-ranking ninjas.

The realization made Kiyo shudder.

"This world is truly cruel.

I just want a safe place to survive."

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