UCHIHA JOURNEY TO MULTIVERSE

The wind pushed thick salt air across the rocky slope, where gray fog from Genma's power coiled over black volcanic ground. Uchiha Mali stood at the front of his clan's defense line, his cloak hanging heavy with mist. To his right, ten close subordinates—each with sharingan burning faintly—waited, crouched behind stone ridges. Behind them, two senior commanders—Elder Daizen and Karou—watched the horizon, each showing quiet anticipation.

Haruki breathed low, his hand resting on the hilt of a kunai. "They're almost ashore. I can feel their chakra. Strong, but spread out."

Soma nodded. "Main force rides in the middle. The others are keeping wide formation in the fog. They're not reckless."

Kenro flexed his fists, rolling his shoulders. "We'll push back quick. Hit hard, break their front, and split them."

Far out on the misted beach, bright blue lightning flickered as the Lightning Kage strode ashore—armor gleaming, a white fur cloak draped across his shoulders. Beside him moved his jinchūriki, the host of the storm-tailed beast: just a boy, but taller than most, muscled, eyes wild with raw energy.

Lightning Kage raised a hand. "No one moves. I will speak first."

The Uchiha did not answer, only studied the enemy movements, feet silent on wet stone.

Kage's voice rolled out across the field. "People of this strange land, reveal yourselves. Who leads you here?"

Mali watched, voice low. "Haruki, get ready."

Haruki nodded in return. "Ready."

Mali stepped forward. "This land is the home of the Uchiha. We claim it now."

A sudden stir whispered through the Lightning ranks. Some of their ninja looked at each other, surprise and anxiety clear. Only the Kage did not move.

The jinchūriki, sensing Mali's sharingan, turned to the Kage. "Kage-sama. He speaks truth. The eyes—they are the Uchiha eyes."

Kage's impassive mask broke into a hard frown. "So, the Uchiha live. Our scouts did not report this."

Haruki murmured over his shoulder, "First time I've seen a kage hesitate."

Mali didn't smile. "Let's show why."

Suddenly, the battle exploded. Lightning ninja rushed the island's edge, kunai and swords flashing through the fog. The jinchūriki burst forward in a streak of raw energy, aiming for Mali. But the Uchiha were faster—coordinated in motion, each reading opponents before the attacks landed.

Haruki called, "Mirror Break! Push right—two at your eleven, Rei!"

Rei, blindfolded but precise, ducked under a punch, swept a foot behind her, and let her opponent topple—rendered disoriented by subtle genjutsu projected through chakra sense, not sight.

From his left, Kenro slammed into a bulkier enemy, muscles tense like cables. "This one's hard as stone, but not smart," Kenro grunted.

Soma tracked two enemy signals with fingers shaped in a small sign. "Splay, confuse, shift," he whispered, activating a simple illusion of shifting ground—making his foes stumble backward before Haruki tagged them with quick taijutsu.

Up front, Elder Daizen's eyes turned a deep, polished red. "Shadow Prison," he uttered under breath. Suddenly, three Lightning jonin found themselves inside a mirrored dome, every movement reflected and looped, their cries muffled by the genjutsu's twisted reality.

Karou, bone armor rising from his shoulders, pounded into the next wave, swinging a chain-spear in arcs that redirected incoming attacks. Lightning chakra crackled against his defense, but he stood firm.

Midfield, Mali's voice cut through the noise—measured, never shouting. "Watch the left—it's a feint, the jinchūriki is coming center."

Megumi replied, "We'll block his path with clones. Can you keep the others busy, elder?"

Reina and Hana merged with the crowd—Reina catching scattered thoughts to warn of sneak attacks, Hana moving with summoned shadow creatures snapping at enemy ankles.

The Lightning Kage cut through two genjutsu layers fast, his experience evident. "Genjutsu won't stop me, boy!" he shouted, launching a bolt of real lightning.

But the Uchiha team moved as if they'd heard this ten times before—ducking, sliding, shoulder-to-shoulder, hammering the attackers with joint blows and staggered counterattacks.

On the edge, the jinchūriki broke through a line of Mali's subordinates, his own chakra swirling, tail-beast cloak flaring for a moment of brute force. "I won't be fooled by your tricks!" he yelled, fists colliding with ground, sending stones flying.

Mali saw the open line. "Haruki, circle! Kenro, block his path—don't let the jinchūriki through!"

Haruki moved instantly, his sharingan reading the smallest twitch in the enemy's body, letting him slide behind the jinchūriki and slam the flat of a kunai against his arm. Kenro took the brunt, arms crossed, absorbed the impact with a grunt.

Between breath, Mali gave direction—never wasting words. "Soma, support. Megumi, genjutsu, strongest you have—but keep it basic. Simple confusion, not overkill."

Soma nodded and weaved new signs. Shadows stretched and flickered, making the enemy think the Uchiha force was everywhere at once.

Daizen finished a set of hand seals. "Time for a real prison," he whispered. Another group of Lightning ninja fell to their knees, fighting illusions of endless falling mirrors.

Throughout the chaos, Mali held back on using techniques that would reveal his true Mangekyō powers. His left eye never glimmered with more than the bare minimum. Genjutsu from his side were strong, but never betrayed the multiversal depths hidden beneath.

The Lightning Kage's frustration was plain. He barked to his squad, "Maintain formation! Do not trust your sight—rely on your ears, your partner's calls. Push through with pure force if you must!"

But the Uchiha defense was unbreakable. Whenever a Lightning ninja escaped a genjutsu, a well-placed blow or another illusion set them off-balance again.

Up front, Daizen caught Mali's eye briefly. "He's good, but not perfect, Mali. If you want a gap, tell me when."

Mali replied, voice as steady as stone. "Not yet. Let the jinchūriki wear himself out."

The battle raged for nearly an hour. Lightning ninja fell away, some unconscious, others locked in endless genjutsu prisons. The Kage and the jinchūriki were forced to retreat and regroup, rage and disbelief mixing in their voices.

The Kage, now battered and breathing hard, stared across the field at Mali. "You're the real thing. Tell me—why stay hidden so long?"

Mali only shook his head. "We do what's needed. If you want to live, go. This land is ours."

The Lightning Kage swallowed, giving one last glare before signaling retreat. The jinchūriki, wild energy draining, gave Mali a long, puzzled look before turning away too.

When the enemy disappeared into the fog, the Uchiha regrouped quietly.

Haruki clapped Soma's shoulder. "Good moves. They didn't see anything."

Soma laughed lightly. "I barely saw it myself."

Mali checked with each one, making sure all were whole. He gave small nods, a few soft words to thank the team. No one boasted, no one spoke in riddles or grand speeches. They worked, fought, and won, side by side.

Before heading back to the inner camp, Mali walked the quiet ground—his secret safe, his Mangekyō untouched but present, like a silent promise.

A calm voice from behind, Daizen's, summed it up, "They came expecting easy prey. Now, they know the Uchiha endure."

Mali just breathed in the cold air, looking out over fog and sea, knowing the real battles were still to come.