Under the direct actions of the Fire Daimyō, every nation in the shinobi world became aware of the crisis unfolding in the Land of Fire and Konohagakure.
While most countries reveled in Konoha's misfortune, an undercurrent of fear ran through them all.
Konoha was on the brink of rebellion. If the so-called strongest village dared to defy its feudal lord, what was stopping other shinobi villages from following suit?
The other Hidden Villages were left uneasy. They had no intention of rebelling, but Konoha's actions cast suspicion upon them as well. They could already imagine their own feudal lords tightening the leash.
To prove their loyalty, the villages scrambled to issue statements disavowing any rebellious intentions. But suspicion, once planted, is a weed that never stops growing.
One thing became clear to all nations: Konoha's rebellion could not be allowed to succeed.
If it did, it would set a dangerous precedent.
This was no longer a matter of politics but survival. They couldn't afford to sit and wait for disaster—they had to strike first.
Openly assisting the Fire Daimyō would be a political nightmare, but covert interference? That was a different story.
Thus, each village discreetly sent shinobi to aid the Fire Daimyō. Only by crushing Konoha's rebellion could they deter future uprisings among their own forces.
Requests for reinforcements were met with eager compliance. Every village saw this as an opportunity to prove their unwavering devotion to the status quo.
For the first time in years, the constant skirmishes between villages came to a halt. The entire shinobi world turned its gaze toward Konoha, setting aside old grudges to deal with a greater threat.
The Fire Daimyō's ministers were overjoyed as the first wave of reinforcements arrived. Even if they only counted jōnin-level fighters, they had amassed an army of 3,000 elite shinobi.
This force was no mere collection of disposable mercenaries. It included high-ranking jōnin and at least top-tier chūnin, with many being among their villages' finest warriors.
With such an army under their control, the Fire Daimyō's ministers no longer feared Uchiha Shin.
They moved swiftly, severing Konoha's funding and pressuring its remaining noble families to betray the village.
All of this was orchestrated within a single week. On the surface, everything remained eerily calm.
Of course, Uchiha Shin was aware of these machinations. But so what?
He had no intention of stopping them. If anything, he welcomed their interference.
He would show them what absolute power meant.
Compared to such petty political schemes, his real concern lay in his ongoing research into advanced ninjutsu.
"The next stage of the Yin Seal... I'm not using the Byakugō no Jutsu but refining a technique that vastly increases the number of storage seals."
Uchiha Shin's expression was complex. The modification itself was simple, yet its implications were staggering.
The essence of the Yin Seal lay in creating a "container" to store chakra. Normally, chakra constantly circulates, and refining more doesn't infinitely increase one's reserves—there's always a natural cap.
But his revised technique allowed him to create multiple storage points across his entire body.
Not just one or two extra seals, but an amount directly tied to the total number of his cells.
At a microscopic level, he could convert individual cells into chakra storage units. The only drawback was the overwhelming energy, stamina, and chakra required to execute such a process.
For over a week, he had dedicated himself entirely to refining this ability. At present, he had only succeeded in opening four of these "cell containers."
The large, distinctive Yin Seal that once marked his back had vanished.
Instead, within his very cells, golden circuits etched intricate sealing patterns, each holding an immense reserve of chakra.
These modified cells had attained a form of pseudo-immortality, continually supplied with chakra to maintain their function.
The sheer volume of chakra one cell could hold was comparable to two Tsunades.
And to clarify—he wasn't referring to the old Tsunade.
After mastering Sage Mode, Tsunade had awakened even more of her Senju lineage potential. Under Shin's guidance, she had begun to wield Yang Release, pushing her abilities to new heights.
Even though she was far from being a master of Wood Release, her chakra reserves were now seven to eight times that of an average Kage.
For Shin to hold even a fraction of that power within a single cell was beyond absurd.
If his modified cells continued to evolve and adapt, their chakra-storing capacity would only grow stronger.
"Tsk. I've been so focused on this damn technique, I barely had time for my other projects."
Beyond Yin Seal modification, he had been experimenting with various other jutsu.
The development of his [Eternal Rebirth] technique had hit a dead end. Attempts to refine the [Six Styles] technique led nowhere.
Only his advanced version of the [Super Expansion Jutsu] bore fruit.
He had taken a technique once meant for mere physical enlargement and transformed it into something more akin to a divine law.
Originally, [Super Expansion Jutsu] only increased body size, indirectly enhancing physical strength.
But in Shin's hands, it granted an all-encompassing enhancement—not just physical strength, but also the potency of every jutsu he cast.
At its peak, he had grown to a towering 300 meters, feeling powerful enough to shatter a full-body Susanoo with a single kick.
For a brief moment, he entertained the idea that he had reached the level of the Sage of Six Paths himself.
But maintaining this form drained chakra at an astronomical rate. Even his reserves couldn't sustain it for more than a few seconds.
At a more manageable 100 meters, he could hold the form for an extended period.
All things considered, this week had been productive. Between perfecting his [Yin Seal: Revised] and unlocking the true potential of [Super Expansion Jutsu], he had secured two abilities bordering on godlike.
"I've worked my ass off. Time to take a break."
Stretching lazily, his first instinct was to go find Tsunade.
Mikoto and Kanako were still… in need of some improvement. Compared to the seasoned temptress that was Tsunade, they still had much to learn.
But he was confident that with his personal, hands-on "guidance," they would catch up soon enough.
After all, compared to two weeks ago, Mikoto and Kanako had already made significant progress.
Just as he was about to head to the Hokage's office to give Tsunade a "lesson," something clicked in his mind.
"Wait. Kanako, didn't you say Kushina was coming over today?"
From the kitchen, Kanako—wearing nothing but an apron—poked her head out, spatula in hand.
A sweet smile spread across her face as she nodded. "Yes, young master. Kushina will be here soon, so don't run off."
Her long red hair cascaded over her shoulders, the slight curls giving her an almost mischievous look.
Underneath the loose apron, glimpses of smooth, pale skin teased Shin's vision.
She wasn't as... exaggerated as Tsunade in certain areas.
But there was a unique charm to her youthful innocence that stirred something primal within him.
With a smirk, Shin stepped forward, already forming plans for the rest of his evening.
Kushina, huh? Things were about to get interesting.
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