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After returning from the Land of Rivers, Shūichi only rested for two days before getting busy again.

His main task remained monitoring the Sand and Mist villages.

On the surface, Sunagakure and Kirigakure appeared to be in a standoff, but behind the scenes, they were secretly plotting to invade the Land of Fire.

Meanwhile, at the border of the Land of Wind and the Land of Birds, Sunagakure was locked in fierce combat with Iwagakure.

Both sides had deployed their Jinchūriki multiple times, allowing Shūichi to continue studying the curse seal patterns on Shukaku, the One-Tail.

From February to March, although Sunagakure managed to push the battle into the Land of Birds, they couldn't advance any further. The war with Iwagakure had reached a stalemate.

The intensity of the fighting between the two sides gradually lessened.

As time moved into March, even the genin and chunin of Konoha could feel the change.

Firstly, there was a significant increase in mission delegation. Missions that would typically not be given to chunin squads were now being assigned to them.

Some ninja were given leave, while others were overwhelmed with a flood of tasks.

Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, and their peers were among those extremely busy.

Shūichi quietly celebrated his 12th birthday in this increasingly tense atmosphere.

Konoha Year 45, March 24th

After returning to the village from the Land of Rivers, Shūichi went to the Hokage's office.

Once Shūichi had finished his report, Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Shūichi, you no longer need to monitor the war between Iwagakure and Sunagakure. Root will take over that task."

"From now on, you will leave the Anbu and serve as a Jōnin squad leader."

"Shūichi, do you have any thoughts on the members of your squad?"

Shūichi thought for a moment and boldly replied, "Hokage-sama, I would like to have Uchiha Shisui, along with Asuka, and I'd like Pakura to be included as an auxiliary member."

"Uchiha Shisui, huh..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly nodded. "No problem."

"Shisui will report to you tomorrow."

"Your next mission will be to monitor the Sunagakure-Kirigakure alliance and report their movements to the front lines in real time!"

Shūichi stood straight and responded, "Understood!"

---

After leaving the Hokage's building, Shūichi returned home, removed his gear, and enjoyed a relaxing bath. Only after that did he use the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport to the Daimyo's mansion, where Pakura was overseeing the construction of the secret lab.

Pakura, already accustomed to his sudden appearances, asked, "Lord Shūichi, is there something you need at this hour?"

Shūichi nodded. "Starting tomorrow, I will be leading a squad. You will be one of our auxiliary members."

Beneath her mask, Pakura's eyes sharpened. "Is the war about to start?"

"It's coming soon."

Shūichi replied, "Leave the lab to the Daimyo's people for now. Head to the Land of Rivers and wait for me there."

Pakura nodded slightly, "Understood, Lord Shūichi."

After giving his instructions to Pakura, Shūichi didn't linger and immediately returned to Konoha.

---

The next morning.

After finishing his early training, Shūichi arrived at his home's entrance, only to find Uchiha Shisui fully geared and waiting.

"Shisui, you're way too early!" Shūichi greeted him with a smile.

"Captain!"

Shisui first saluted, then smiled, "It's my first time meeting my new superior. Naturally, I wanted to be early to avoid leaving a bad impression."

Shūichi chuckled and invited him, "How about joining me for breakfast?"

Shisui smiled back, "I've already eaten. I'll wait for you at the village gate."

Shūichi nodded, not pressing the matter. "Alright, that works."

With a wave, Shisui smiled and turned to leave.

Half an hour later, Nonō Yakushi watched as Shūichi and Asuka departed, her heart heavy with concern, before heading towards Konoha Hospital.

...

After meeting up with Uchiha Shisui at the village gate, the three of them—Shūichi, Shisui, and Asuka—set out from the village, heading straight toward the Land of Rivers.

Along the way, Shūichi and Shisui exchanged insights on genjutsu, with Asuka occasionally chiming in, and they quickly grew familiar with one another.

Due to the habits he developed in the Anbu, Shūichi moved quickly, only resting for half an hour before they reached the border of the Land of Rivers by noon, where they met up with Pakura.

Upon seeing Pakura, Asuka couldn't help but scrutinize the well-built woman repeatedly.

Shisui, on the other hand, merely gave her a glance before politely averting his gaze.

Shūichi introduced her, "This is Scorch. She specializes in Scorch Release."

Shisui immediately smiled and introduced himself, "Hello, I'm Uchiha Shisui! I specialize in the Body Flicker Technique and genjutsu."

Although he had already guessed her identity, Shisui didn't ask any questions, despite his curiosity.

Asuka followed with a smile, "Hello, I'm Asuka. I specialize in sealing techniques, medical ninjutsu, and sensory ninjutsu."

Pakura, from behind her mask, nodded without speaking. Shūichi had already said what needed to be said and had even given her a codename on his own. What a domineering superior!

After introductions, Shūichi explained, "Our mission is to monitor the forces of Kirigakure and Sunagakure. Reliable intel confirms that the two villages have formed an alliance and plan to jointly invade the Land of Fire."

Asuka couldn't hide her surprise, "Weren't they fighting fiercely just last year?"

Shūichi chuckled, "Their fighting was due to conflicting interests, and now they've allied for the same reason—interests. Collective interests and individual interests are not the same."

He glanced briefly at Pakura beside him before continuing, "Since we're on the front lines, we must be extra cautious."

"Moreover, before they mobilize, they will likely send elite squads to target and harass our ninja teams in the Land of Rivers, hoping to prevent us from relaying timely intelligence."

"If they succeed, it will allow them to advance rapidly and catch us off guard, despite us knowing they are preparing to strike."

Shisui nodded thoughtfully, "In both individual battles between ninja and large-scale warfare, intelligence is of utmost importance."

"The Land of Fire's border is too vast; we can't spread our forces thin across the entire front. Doing so would leave gaps for them to easily exploit."

"This is where intelligence becomes crucial."

The border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers is long, and on the surface, the forces of Sunagakure and Kirigakure appear to be confronting each other in the southern part of the Land of Rivers.

Logically, their best route to invade the Land of Fire would be from the southern border, as it's the shortest distance.

That's also why it's one of the primary defensive focuses of Konoha, a direction they must defend.

Shūichi nodded and then asked, "Shisui, how do you think they will attack?"

After a moment of thought, Shisui replied, "I don't think they'll focus on a single direction."

"Even though they've allied, they've fought against each other before, so I suspect they will split into two separate forces."

"Kirigakure will likely take the most direct route, attacking from the south, where the terrain's moisture benefits their Water Release users."

"As for the Sand ninja, their attack will be harder to predict. They'll likely look for a weak point in our defenses and strike through the Land of Rivers with a surprise assault."

Asuka, still puzzled, asked, "Even though the Mist and Sand ninja might not work well together, wouldn't they still have a huge advantage if they attacked the same direction at once?"

"After all, we can't concentrate all our forces in the south, which would give them a significant advantage in the short term."

Shisui smiled gently and replied, "That's a possibility, but there's one major issue: command."

"They don't answer to the same leaders. Once the battle starts and the field becomes chaotic, every ninja will be on high alert, and they won't easily entrust their backs to someone they don't trust."

"As Shūichi said, collective and individual wills differ. Although the Mist and Sand ninja have allied, there's still hatred between them on a personal level."

"In such a short time, they won't be able to fully trust one another."

Asuka gave him a thumbs-up in admiration, "Impressive!"

Shisui smiled warmly and looked toward Shūichi.

Shūichi added, "I agree with Shisui's analysis."

"Additionally, there's the issue of distributing the spoils."

"Before they attack, the Mist and Sand ninja will likely have already negotiated how to divide their gains, at least in the Land of Rivers. And clearly, the southern part of the Land of Rivers is more suitable for Kirigakure."

Hearing this, Shisui and the others nodded in agreement.

Shūichi continued, "Monitoring the movements of the Kirigakure and Sunagakure forces is straightforward for me."

"The real challenge lies in the intelligence war before they make their move."

"The Land of Rivers has a narrow, elongated shape. Even though I'm fast, I can't intercept all of their elite squads."

"Of course, the four of us can't handle that alone. We're merely the first line of defense."

"We'll intercept some of their forces and send intel to the rear as quickly as possible. The forces behind us will handle the rest, making it difficult for the enemy to infiltrate our lines and gather accurate intel."

The team nodded in unison.

Shūichi then gave his orders, "We'll split into two groups: Group A—Shisui and Scorch, you'll handle the Mist ninja."

"Group B—Asuka and I will focus on the Sand ninja."

The three of them responded together, "Understood!"

Shūichi then created two shadow clones, which transformed into eagles and soared into the sky. "I'll relay the movements of the Mist and Sand forces in advance."

Shisui silently admired Shūichi's transformation technique and then summoned a flock of crows with a hand sign, saying, "I can also assist in monitoring the enemy."

Shūichi nodded, "Then, Shisui, you'll handle the Mist ninja."

Shisui nodded in return, and the crows flew into the sky.

The surveillance mission had officially begun.

For Shūichi, simply observing was relatively easy. His shadow clones transformed into different bird species—especially eagles, whose sharp eyes allowed them to clearly see the Mist and Sand camps from high altitudes.

...

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

Upon returning to Konoha, Shūichi received news that the Sand ninja had launched another large-scale counterattack against the Stone ninja.

However, as soon as he returned to the Land of Rivers, Asuka's voice reached him: "Shūichi, the Sand and Mist ninja are making a move!"

"Oh?"

Shūichi followed Asuka's gesture and looked up into the sky.

It turned out that Sunagakure and Kirigakure had released flying ninja beasts to scatter the birds.

"It seems we've been discovered—or are about to be," Shūichi chuckled.

His shadow clones, often transformed into birds, frequently led flocks of birds in the sky.

Asuka quickly asked, "Shūichi, does this mean they're about to mobilize?"

Shūichi nodded, then smiled, "Well, let's give them something to worry about first!"

A battle erupted in the skies.

Naturally, the flying ninja beasts from Sunagakure and Kirigakure were no match for the ones Shūichi's shadow clones had transformed into.

For others, this might be a challenge, but Shūichi didn't need to perform hand seals to use ninjutsu. Even with claws instead of hands, his combat ability wasn't affected at all.

Meanwhile, in the forest, standing on a high branch near the treetops, Uchiha Shisui watched the airborne ninja beast battle with a smile. "As expected of Shūichi!"

Not far away, Pakura was also observing, thinking to herself, No one would ever suspect that the flying ninja beasts are actually him in disguise, right?

The fact that a ninja could transform into a bird and fly was already impressive and absurd enough, but to still be able to use ninjutsu in that form—it was almost inhuman.

If he can use ninjutsu in this form, it means he doesn't need hand seals at all, Pakura thought.

She remembered the battle years ago between Shūichi's shadow clone and the Third Kazekage's shadow clone. Back then, Shūichi still needed hand seals.

So, he's been hiding his true strength?

…

At that moment, both the Mist and Sand ninja were dumbfounded as they watched their own flying ninja beasts fall from the sky.

They had expected that some of the birds might belong to other villages, likely Konoha's ninja beasts, which was the whole reason they had released their own flying beasts.

But they never imagined that their opponent would be this formidable.

"Dammit, it can even use Wind Release ninjutsu!"

"When did Konoha get such powerful flying ninja beasts? I've never heard of this before!"

"Quick, report to Lady Chiyo!"

…

Despite this initial setback, the Mist and Sand ninja were not deterred.

After all, flying ninja beasts weren't invincible, and shadow clones could easily deceive them.

Moreover, the dense forest terrain would also obstruct the view of the flying beasts.

So, just half an hour later, Shūichi's shadow clones spotted Mist and Sand ninja squads beginning to mobilize.

The Mist ninja were heading toward Shisui and his team, while the Sand ninja squad moved northward.

After receiving this information from his clones, Shūichi immediately sent a shadow clone to notify Shisui and Pakura, while he himself led Asuka north.

…

"Captain, that ninja beast is still following us?"

Hearing his subordinate's voice, Madai looked up and then commanded, "Use the Clone Technique!"

The three squads quickly performed the Clone Technique, creating non-physical clones to try and confuse the flying ninja beast overhead.

But they soon realized that it didn't work at all—the beast still locked onto their real bodies with precision.

"Damn it! If only we could bring that beast down!" a Sand ninja cursed aloud.

Madai, however, remained calm. "Enter the forest!"

The three Sand ninja squads immediately changed direction and dove into the woods.

But the eagle flying above them now had its eyes blazing with blue flames.

Thermal vision!

It continued to track them without fail.

Seeing that they still couldn't shake it off, Madai sighed in frustration, "What an incredible ninja beast!"

"Use physical clones!"

The Sand ninja squads quickly performed hand seals and created different types of clones—shadow clones, earth clones, and water clones.

However, they soon realized that the flying ninja beast was still locked onto their real bodies.

This sent chills down the spines of several Sand ninja.

Madai ordered, "Ignore it."

"Let it follow us. It's perfect—this way, we're keeping it distracted."

Using physical clones to gather intelligence and infiltrate was one of the most common tactics anyway.

In the forest, Madai led three squads forward at high speed. Their mission was to scout the defenses along Konoha's borders to determine the direction of their attack.

Whether this mission was carried out by clones or by their real bodies didn't make much difference.

Thus, even though a flying ninja beast was monitoring them from above, they paid little attention to it.

This situation was actually ideal, as it could draw Konoha's forces toward them while their clones completed the mission unnoticed.

So, regardless of which side was being watched by the enemy, it worked in their favor for now.

"Captain, there are two people up ahead!"

Suddenly, a sensory ninja spoke up.

"Only two?" Madai quickly asked.

The sensory ninja nodded. "I can only detect two different chakra signatures!"

"Could it be that the ninja beast has just coincidentally locked onto our real bodies?" Madai wondered aloud.

"Prepare for battle. Make it quick!"

The Sand ninja responded in unison, "Understood!"

Kunai in hand and ninja blades drawn, they advanced with murderous intent.

Soon, two figures appeared in the distance.

Madai's pupils suddenly dilated, and his heart raced. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead. "It's that guy..."

"We're in big trouble!"

He quickly ordered, "Stop!"

The squads halted, and the others looked at Madai in confusion.

With a grave expression, Madai warned, "Everyone, be cautious. That kid across from us is no ordinary opponent."

"That guy once fought against the Third Kazekage and didn't lose."

The Sand ninja were immediately stunned upon hearing this, and they quickly realized who the figure ahead was.

"Isn't that the Konoha genius, Shūichi Hoshita, who has a bounty on his head?"

"No wonder he dares to intercept all three of our squads with just two people!"

"But Madai, weren't those battles with shadow clones back then?" one Sand jonin asked.

Madai nodded. "True, but you should understand what that implies."

"Plus, both the Fourth Kazekage and Pakura are wary of him."

…

Seeing the Sand ninja halt, Shūichi smiled. "Didn't expect to run into old acquaintances."

"Out of respect for our past dealings, why don't you surrender?"

A Sand jonin snorted in response. "What an arrogant brat. While I acknowledge your strength, making such a bold statement is a bit too much!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the jonin threw a kunai, with an explosive tag attached.

What intrigued Shūichi the most, however, was that the jonin raised one hand vertically while his other hand formed a one-handed seal.

A Sand ninja who can perform one-handed seals?

Shūichi was surprised but quickly remembered that Sunagakure's average skill level was reputed to be the highest among the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Sunagakure had always followed the path of elite ninjas!

Boom!

The explosive tag detonated, shattering the kunai into pieces, which were set ablaze by the explosion.

It was clear that the kunai was specially crafted, as ordinary ones wouldn't have shattered so easily.

At the same time, the Sand jonin completed his ninjutsu and exhaled, unleashing a fierce gust of wind.

The wind fed the flames, creating a roaring firestorm that, along with the shards of kunai, swept toward Shūichi and Asuka.

Impressive ninjutsu!

Shūichi silently praised the attack before raising his right palm, facing it outward.

Boom!

A water pillar surged from the ground in front of him, forming a powerful stream that collided with the oncoming firestorm.

Rumble!

A massive explosion followed, and thick steam billowed out in all directions.

Shūichi then clenched his fist, and blazing white fireballs appeared in the air. They tore through the steam, hurtling toward the Sand ninja.

"Incoming!" Madai shouted.

The three prepared Sand ninja immediately released Wind Release ninjutsu.

But before their jutsu could fully form, Shūichi exhaled, sending out a violent gust of wind that caused the fireballs to explode, expanding into a fierce white firestorm. The three Sand ninja's Wind Release jutsu were quickly overwhelmed, and they were swallowed by the flames.

Two of the jonin, excluding Madai, quickly moved into position to counter with their own Wind Release jutsu.

Rumble!

The intense clash of wind created a terrifying roar, and the flames shot out to both sides, setting the forest ablaze wherever they touched.

"He's coming!"

"So fast!"

The sensory ninja quickly called out the warning.

Madai's eyes narrowed as he saw a streak of blue light rushing towards him. Without hesitation, he opened his mouth and exhaled.

Wind Release: Thousand Faces Wind!

A fierce storm of wind blades mixed with the gale, enveloping the approaching Shūichi Hoshita.

At this moment, Shūichi, who was in his Fire Release Chakra Mode, drew his Totsuka Blade. The moment the blade left its sheath, a sharp blue light shot out, slicing the Thousand Faces Wind in half, creating a clear path through the storm.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Numerous shurikens were launched towards Shūichi, but just as the Sand ninja were about to unleash more jutsu, blue flames suddenly ignited on their bodies.

Some screamed in agony, while others quickly dispelled the flames using Wind Release techniques.

What surprised Shūichi the most was that his old acquaintance, Madai, sensed the danger at the last moment and used the Body Flicker Technique to evade, causing Shūichi's flame-based jutsu to miss.

However, with the shurikens dodged, there was nothing left to obstruct Shūichi's path.

The fastest-reacting jonin charged forward, drawing his blade, which buzzed with Wind Release chakra.

In an instant, the two figures crossed paths. There was no sound of clashing metal. The intense heat surrounding Shūichi distorted the light, combined with his high-speed movement, creating afterimages that caused the Sand jonin to miscalculate.

His blade hit nothing but air.

Boom!

Shūichi's left hand seized the jonin's neck, slamming him into the scorched ground.

The ground cracked and sank, and the jonin's agonized screams turned into muffled groans.

At that moment, two more Sand ninja rushed forward. Shūichi swung his left arm, hurling the burned jonin toward the oncoming ninjas.

"Watch out!" one of them warned, catching his comrade while the other swung his sword, releasing a flurry of wind blades toward Shūichi.

However, Shūichi's figure disappeared from his sight.

A moment later, screams erupted from behind.

The Sand ninja looked back in shock to find both of his companions already down.

Shūichi didn't bother with the remaining Sand ninja behind him, nor did he concern himself with the two who had bypassed him to target Asuka. His figure moved at lightning speed, heading straight for Madai.

Madai was the only one left unscathed among the Sand ninja.

At this moment, Madai stood in front of his burned comrades, forming hand seals as he shouted, "Retreat now!"

Shūichi's flames were terrifying. In such a short time, they had inflicted severe burns.

The remaining Sand ninja gritted their teeth through the pain and retreated, while Madai completed his jutsu, exhaling a violent storm.

Having witnessed Shūichi's techniques, Madai knew he couldn't afford to engage in close combat.

Meanwhile, the Sand ninja behind Shūichi also completed his own jutsu, creating a two-pronged windstorm attack from the front and back.

Rumble!

However, the Shūichi caught in the storm exploded into a puff of smoke.

A clone!

Where is the real one?

Madai was shocked and immediately searched for Shūichi's location. Just then, his comrade opposite him let out a groan, and his body was pulled into the ground, leaving only his head above the surface.

Shūichi, who had deactivated his Fire Release Chakra Mode, emerged from the ground, electricity crackling across his body.

Lightning Release: Earth Walk!

As his comrade screamed in pain, watching the fast-approaching electric current, and with two others already bound by chains in the distance, Madai had no choice but to retreat.

Shūichi, who had activated his Chidori Body Flicker Technique, moved at lightning speed, resembling a flickering bolt of electricity.

Simultaneously, blue sword lights shot out in all directions.

Boom! Boom!

Trees toppled one after another.

Madai dodged frantically, unable to even form a jutsu to stop Shūichi's advance. He couldn't afford a single lapse in concentration, as failure to complete his jutsu in time would result in him being sliced apart by Shūichi's deadly sword light.

"This guy is far stronger than when he fought the Third Kazekage," Madai thought, cold sweat running down his back.

He had a sinking feeling—today, he wouldn't make it out alive.

"Forgive me, Maki..."

His daughter's face flashed through his mind, and Madai's eyes suddenly steeled with resolve. He stopped retreating, drew a kunai, and charged toward Shūichi.

He couldn't run any longer. If he kept retreating, the comrades who had escaped earlier would surely die.

Seeing Madai charge at him, Shūichi raised an eyebrow slightly: Trading injury for injury, or life for life?

Instead of indulging Madai's desperate charge, Shūichi suddenly inhaled and exhaled sharply, firing compressed air bullets.

Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!

The attack came so unexpectedly that, despite Madai's quick reflexes, he couldn't avoid being hit. The Sphere tore through his left arm.

Although not fatal, the injury was quickly followed by several razor-sharp air currents.

Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!

Madai, lying on the ground, scrambled to his feet.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The ground was carved with deep gashes, and Madai let out a pained scream as his left leg was sliced in two.

Lying on the ground, Madai used his head to support himself, swiftly forming hand seals.

But Shūichi had already stopped in his tracks.

Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!

A swirling mire appeared beneath Madai, slowly swallowing him up.

Originally, Madai had planned to use a final deadly strike when Shūichi approached, but he was now forced to twist his body and unleash his last attack.

Wind Release: Great Cast Net!

Sharp, net-like winds burst forth.

But Shūichi raised wall after wall of earth in front of him, one after another, deflecting the net of wind.

He then leaped onto the walls and gazed at Madai, whose body had been almost entirely consumed by the swamp, leaving only his eyes visible.

"A shame you're an enemy," Shūichi said.

The swamp engulfed Madai, and Shūichi vanished from sight.

…

Next to Asuka, Shūichi reappeared, turning his gaze toward the two Sand ninja who were bound by Adamantine Sealing Chains.

Asuka asked, "Shūichi, what should we do with them?"

Shūichi created a shadow clone and said, "Have the clone escort them to the rear. We'll keep pursuing the remaining Sand ninja."

Asuka nodded, handed the prisoners over to the clone, and then set off with Shūichi to continue their hunt for the fleeing Sand ninja.

…

In the forest, a few burned Sand ninjas were still fleeing.

Suddenly, one of the Sand ninja, a sensory type, glanced back and gritted his teeth, shouting, "They're catching up!"

Behind them, blue flashes of lightning occasionally lit up.

They're too fast!

"You guys go ahead, I'll stay behind to cover our retreat!"

One of the Sand ninja suddenly halted.

Another immediately stopped as well. "We'll do this together!"

"No, it's not your turn yet!"

…

Five Sand ninja continued their retreat, with one staying behind to cover them.

However, the one who stayed behind couldn't even delay Shūichi for a second.

Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!

Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!

Two genjutsu were cast simultaneously from a distance. Shūichi followed up with a slash, and the combined Fire and Wind Release-enhanced blade effortlessly cut the still-ensnared Sand ninja in half.

One after another, the Sand ninja stayed behind to cover their comrades, and one by one, they were forever left in the forest.

Under such sacrifice, the sensory ninja finally managed to break out of the forest and dashed into the river, gliding swiftly across its surface.

He was, after all, a Sand ninja proficient in Water Release!

On the riverbank, Shūichi stopped and chose not to pursue further.

It's important to let the Sand ninja know that Shūichi is here!

Meanwhile…

On the other side, Uchiha Shisui wiped the neck of the last Mist ninja and then turned his gaze toward where Pakura was.

Boom!

Explosions echoed, and flames surged into the sky.

Uchiha Shisui's figure flickered, and moments later, he arrived at the battlefield.

What he saw were withered trees and the corpses of desiccated enemies.

"So this is Scorch Release... truly terrifying," Uchiha Shisui thought in shock.

In the center of the battlefield, Pakura, panting slightly, turned around and asked, "Are you finished on your side?"

Uchiha Shisui nodded and then gently advised, "It's best not to use chakra-draining techniques too often. The Mist will likely send more elite squads soon."

Pakura hesitated for a moment, then sincerely thanked him, "Thanks for the reminder. I'll be careful."

…

Sand Ninja Frontline Base.

Upon receiving the news, Chiyo rushed to the medical camp as fast as she could, where she saw her subordinate wrapped up like a mummy, only his eyes visible.

"How is he?" Chiyo asked the nearby medical ninja.

The medic's expression was grave. "Lady Chiyo, 80% of his skin has suffered severe burns. He probably won't be able to expose his skin to the air ever again."

Chiyo's face darkened. "Was he the only one who made it back?"

Jonin Feilian responded with a grim look, "Madai was covering the rear. Originally, there were five of them, but the enemy caught up... it seems he really was the only one to return."

"That guy," Feilian added, "Yūsha said it's the same Konoha genius, Shūichi Hoshita, who once fought the Third Kazekage."

(T/N: Yūsha is the name of that man that Shūichi did not kill.)

"They were only two people—no, just one, really. Yūsha said only Shūichi made a move."

Chiyo was astonished. "Just one man nearly wiped out three of our elite squads?"

"Even with someone like Madai, an elite jonin among them!" Feilian nodded. "Though it's hard to believe, Yūsha has no reason to lie."

"Lady Chiyo, according to Yūsha, this Shūichi is an extremely dangerous individual, much like Konoha's White Fang in the past. If we don't eliminate him, we won't be able to safely gather intel on Konoha's positions near the Fire Country's border."

Chiyo nodded. "Only two of them… it seems the Third Hokage has great trust in his abilities."

"Then we'll need to increase our forces."

"No matter how powerful two people are, they can't cover the entire Land of Rivers."

"Use large-scale forces to protect our elite squads during infiltration. If Shūichi doesn't retreat, we'll ensure he never leaves."

Feilian nodded immediately. "Understood, I'll lead the team personally!"

…

Neither the Mist nor the Sand ninja kept Shūichi and his team waiting for long.

In just one hour, both sides sent out reinforcements, with numbers reaching over a hundred.

Behind these large forces were elite infiltration squads.

Shūichi, monitoring from the sky, observed everything.

Boom!

A hawk exploded into a puff of smoke, while another flew into the forest, landing in front of Uchiha Shisui and Pakura before reverting to human form.

"The Mist are mobilizing in large numbers!" Shūichi quickly reported. "There's a hundred-strong force ahead, sent specifically to deal with us."

"Behind them are four squads, likely responsible for infiltration."

Uchiha Shisui and Pakura's expressions immediately became grave.

Shūichi continued, "Shisui, Scorch, you two fall back and relay this intel to the rear. Prepare to ambush the Mist's infiltration squads."

"As for that hundred-strong unit, I can hold off a portion of them temporarily. The rest will likely split off to protect the infiltration squads and engage with you."

Uchiha Shisui and Pakura both nodded in agreement.

Shisui then asked, "Have the Sand ninja sent out a similar number of troops?"

Shūichi nodded. "A similar configuration. Don't worry, the strategy this time is to intercept layer by layer, gradually wearing down their forces."

"Understood!"

With that, Uchiha Shisui and Pakura retreated immediately.

Shūichi watched them leave, then transformed into his Four-Tails form to begin recovering his chakra.

His shadow clone would need to stall the Mist for quite some time.

In the forest, Shūichi Hoshita, who had been resting, opened his eyes. "As expected, they've dispatched a large number of shinobi."

"Looking at this setup, you'd think they're preparing for a massive assault!"

Shūichi stood up and called out to Asuka, who was on guard not far away, "Asuka, get ready to retreat!"

"Huh?"

Asuka was startled for a moment, then asked, "Did the Sand Shinobi mobilize in large numbers?"

Shūichi nodded. "More than a hundred."

"You and I will retreat separately, with a clone of mine taking the intel back. Have the others prepare to intercept the Sand infiltration squad."

Asuka was shocked. "Shūichi, are you going to face over a hundred Sand shinobi alone?"

Shūichi shook his head. "Of course not."

"I'm just buying some time. Don't forget, I can teleport to you with the Flying Thunder God anytime!"

Realizing her earlier concern, Asuka nodded in agreement.

Shūichi immediately created a shadow clone to escort Asuka away.

He then resumed his Four-Tails transformation to absorb natural energy and recover his stamina. Once replenished, he continued producing clones.

A shadow clone, a lightning clone, an earth clone, and a water clone.

The shadow clone transformed into a hawk to monitor the Sand shinobi, while the other three clones took flight, turning into various birds that dispersed into the surrounding forest.

After setting everything up, Shūichi quietly waited.

Half an hour later, an eagle's cry echoed from the sky.

"They're here!"

Shūichi's eyes sharpened, and in the next instant, his figure disappeared.

Moments later, at the forest's edge, Shūichi reappeared atop a tree.

Outside, the Sand shinobi's hundred-strong unit had also come to a halt.

Seeing them, Shūichi smirked. "A hundred shinobi... isn't really that many."

Across from him, seeing Shūichi alone and still able to smile, Feilian, one of the Sand leaders, couldn't help but frown. "Is this kid insane?"

"No matter. We'll clear this obstacle first!"

With a wave of his hand, Feilian signaled.

Immediately, ten Sand shinobi leaped forward, forming hand seals in unison.

"Wind Release: Great Cast Net!"

Rumble!

A storm surged forward, creating a massive wind net capable of shredding trees and bodies alike.

With one jonin and nine chunin working together, the scale of the jutsu was terrifying.

Feilian was confident that Shūichi had no choice but to retreat. There was no way one person could block such a powerful Wind Release, even with fire techniques combined.

As the ten Sand shinobi launched their jutsu, two more teams flanked from the sides to close in.

However, standing on the branch, Shūichi watched calmly. He didn't move until the wind technique was right in front of him—then his figure vanished in an instant.

The tree he had stood on was immediately shredded into pieces.

"What?!"

Feilian and many of the Sand shinobi were stunned.

He dodged it?

"Watch out, he's above!"

A sensor ninja in the group shouted a warning.

The hawk that had been circling overhead, actually a transformed shadow clone, was now directly above the Sand shinobi. In the blink of an eye, Shūichi teleported above them with the Flying Thunder God, diving headfirst towards them.

Feilian looked up to see massive blue fireballs raining down and shouted, "Scatter!"

Dozens of Sand shinobi hurriedly dispersed.

Boom!

A series of explosions erupted, sending plumes of dust and smoke rolling over the area, engulfing many of the scattered Sand shinobi.

As he descended, Shūichi flung his hands, releasing a barrage of Flying Thunder God kunai that rained down into the midst of the Sand forces, embedding themselves in the ground.

As the dust from the explosions was swept away by Wind Release techniques, the sound of shuriken cutting through the air filled the battlefield. Numerous shuriken, some carrying explosive tags, were launched towards Shūichi.

But just as quickly as he had appeared, Shūichi vanished again.

Feilian quickly realized something was wrong. This teleportation technique was just like the Yellow Flash of the Leaf.

"Be careful of his teleportation! Scatter, and stay away from those kunai!"

Feilian shouted the warning, but it was already too late.

Shūichi's figure appeared next to a Sand shinobi. The moment his Totsuka Blade was unsheathed, the enemy's body was split in two.

Zzzzz!

Lightning crackled around his limbs, and the sharp sound of Chidori echoed through the battlefield. Shūichi was cloaked in electricity, wielding the Yagakigami Sword, reclaimed from Pakura, in his left hand and the Totsuka Blade in his right.

Both weapons were enveloped in a blue glow, the result of a combined Fire-Wind Release, forming the Blue Flame Vacuum Slash. This technique brought the searing heat of Fire Release and the devastating cutting power of Wind Release together.

His figure flickered through the battlefield, sword and blade dancing. In that moment, Shūichi was like a blue butterfly gracefully weaving through the crowd, but his movements left behind only the sounds of horrific screams.

Although the high temperature prevented blood from spraying, the battlefield was filled with the nauseating smell of burning flesh.

"Damn it!"

"This bastard!"

"Kill him!"

Watching their comrades fall one after another, the Sand shinobi were both terrified and enraged. Three of them rushed forward with swords in hand.

But to Shūichi, they moved too slowly. He easily cut down two of them before leaping into the air, landing with both feet on the shoulders of the third. With a crushing force, he broke the man's legs underfoot.

Just then, the sound of kunai cutting through the air came from behind him. A fiery lotus bloomed at Shūichi's feet as he shot upward, avoiding the attack. The Sand shinobi he had just stomped on exploded from the shoulders up, charred beyond recognition.

As Shūichi soared into the sky, evading kunai laced with explosive tags, a Wind Release jutsu swept toward him, attempting to trap him.

His figure vanished again, reappearing near one of his Flying Thunder God kunai.

However, the surrounding area was now clear of Sand shinobi—they had all distanced themselves and even marked the kunai locations.

The moment Shūichi appeared, a barrage of shuriken flew toward him.

Without hesitation, Shūichi pulled the Flying Thunder God kunai from the ground and threw it. Just before being hit by the shuriken, he teleported again, reappearing next to a Sand shinobi.

With his Totsuka Blade sheathed, Shūichi grabbed the shinobi by the throat and hurled him into the crowd.

An attack came from behind him once more.

He vanished again, following the shinobi he had thrown, and appeared amidst the remaining Sand forces. Sword and blade in hand, he slashed through the group, severing limbs and spilling blood, as agonizing cries echoed all around.

In a flash, several Sand shinobi were cut down.

Boom!

The roaring sound of air being torn apart came from all directions as Wind Release jutsu converged on him. Shūichi quickly used the Flying Thunder God technique once more.

This time, he reappeared in the sky next to the hawk formed by his shadow clone.

As he descended, Shūichi took a deep breath before releasing the Yin Seal at his forehead, activating the Strength of a Hundred technique.

In an instant, a radiant blue light flared from his forehead, rapidly spreading and enveloping his entire body.

A massive amount of chakra surged forth, dark blue and translucent, covering his form like a divine robe with a high collar and lotus patterns. Bright blue flames flickered all around him.

This was a new chakra mode born from the fusion of Yin Release and Fire Release, far more refined and tangible than his earlier combination of Fire and Wind Release. It allowed for greater control and mastery.

This was no longer just a Fire Release Chakra Mode—this was Blaze Release Chakra Mode!

A fiery lotus bloomed beneath his feet, halting his descent, leaving Shūichi hovering in midair, gazing down at the remaining Sand shinobi below.

At that moment, Feilian looked at the field strewn with severed limbs and the expressions of fear and desperation on his comrades' faces. The rage had vanished from their eyes, replaced entirely by terror. Finally, he realized that Sunagakure had grossly underestimated this genius from Konoha.

This man was even more terrifying than the Yellow Flash of the Leaf!

And at his age… was he even human?

Or was he some kind of monster disguised as one?

As an elite jonin of Sunagakure, even Feilian couldn't help but entertain such thoughts.

The remaining sixty or so Sand shinobi around them looked up at Shūichi floating in the sky, their throats dry, instinctively swallowing in fear.

At that moment, bathed in the distorted sunlight, Shūichi appeared to them like the mythical god of fire.

"This guy… he's not human!"

A Sand shinobi muttered, almost unconsciously.

…

In the sky, with his sword and blade already sheathed, Shūichi looked down at the Sand shinobi and smiled. "That was just a warm-up. The real battle starts now."

"So, are you ready?"

"Of course, if you lay down your weapons and surrender to me, this fight can end right here."

Clang!

A Sand shinobi's weapon suddenly hit the ground.

Feilian immediately shouted, "Don't listen to him!"

"This guy only knows how to use space-time ninjutsu!"

"No matter how powerful he is, his chakra is limited!"

"If we work together, we can definitely defeat him!"

Other Sand jonin began to echo his words.

"Take him down! Avenge our comrades!"

"Use large-scale Wind Release, don't let him get close!"

...

The Sand shinobi's fighting spirit was returning.

Shūichi nodded with a smile. "Good!"

This was the passion he was looking for!

In the next moment, Shūichi appeared beside a Flying Thunder God kunai embedded in the ground.

Crack!

The ground beneath his feet split open, five massive fissures rapidly extending outward, branching off like a tree growing new limbs, with blue flames illuminating the cracks from within.

"Kill him!"

"Attack together!"

"This time, don't let him escape!"

The Sand shinobi roared, their spit flying as their faces twisted in rage.

Shuriken and Wind Release jutsu surged toward Shūichi, engulfing him.

At that moment, it seemed like they didn't notice Shūichi making any moves to attack.

They thought if they could take him out first, his attacks would be interrupted!

Or… they'd settle for taking him down with them!

Clang! Clang!

The sound of chains echoed through the air as blue flames ignited. Dark blue chakra chains, burning with azure fire, shot out from Shūichi's back.

The six Fire Nether Chains quickly formed a circular barrier, blocking all the incoming attacks.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

From the cracks in the earth, pale blue fire pillars erupted. Some Sand shinobi, unable to evade, were instantly incinerated, reduced to nothing but skeletal remains that crumbled to the ground.

Most strikingly, the flames at the perimeter formed a continuous wall of blue fire, like a high barrier, encircling all the Sand shinobi within.

"Break through! Quickly!"

Feilian spat out a barrage of wind blades, slicing open a gap in the flame wall. But before he could escape, the gap sealed itself almost instantly.

Not far away, another Sand shinobi tried the same thing, but the flames engulfed him, turning him into a screaming human torch.

Feilian then noticed something terrifying—on the flame walls, on the pillars of fire, flower buds were starting to appear, blooming one after another.

Since Wind Release hadn't been infused into this attack, the blooming lotuses unleashed pure heat shockwaves.

In an instant, the entire area enclosed by the fire wall became a chaotic, boiling mess. Time and space seemed to warp, and one by one, the Sand shinobi within were engulfed by the unbearable heat and the chaotic waves, exploding like fireworks.

When the space inside could no longer contain the force, all the energy surged upward, forming a massive column of light, a hundred meters wide, shooting into the sky, piercing the clouds. It was visible even from dozens of miles away.

Only then did the deafening roar of the explosion erupt, shaking the air!

Blaze Release – Fire Prison Lotus!

This time, Shūichi had abandoned the method of channeling Fire Release chakra into the ground via his sword and blade.

And at the moment of the explosion, Shūichi had already vanished from the center of the blast, reappearing next to the hawk formed by his shadow clone high in the sky.

At the same time…

In the forest at the edge of the battlefield, White Zetsu's face emerged from a tree trunk. Watching the blooming lotuses and the towering pillar of light, he couldn't help but voice his admiration, "Such beautiful ninjutsu… and such terrifying power!"

"Ninjutsu like this is beyond what an ordinary shinobi can master, right?"

"Is this guy really only 12 years old?"

"I need to report this to Lord Madara as soon as possible. He'll definitely be very interested."

As White Zetsu's face began to disappear, Shūichi suddenly appeared in the forest, blue lotuses blooming all over his body. The lotuses exploded in waves, propelling him forward at high speed.

Boom!

The large tree where White Zetsu had been hiding was destroyed with a single punch from Shūichi.

Crouching down, Shūichi placed a finger on the ground and activated his Listening Technique.

However, he found nothing.

"Was it just my imagination?" Shūichi muttered to himself, as if he was uncertain.

In truth, he had clearly sensed White Zetsu's presence, but he wasn't using the Listening Technique—he was using heat vision.

The strange heat signatures had tipped him off, leading him to suspect White Zetsu and Black Zetsu.

Unfortunately, the Flying Thunder God mark he had left in the forest was a bit too far away, and even with his speed pushed to the limit, he hadn't been fast enough.

But what Shūichi didn't know was that, deep underground, where White Zetsu had merged with the tree roots, he was trembling with fear. "This guy has terrifying instincts!"

"Good thing I don't sweat. Otherwise, I'd be drenched in cold sweat right now!"

"I was only here to monitor that Uchiha genius, but it turns out there's an unexpected prize."

"With power like this, Lord Madara will definitely be interested!"

With those thoughts, White Zetsu quickly began moving through the ground.

...

Back at the Sunagakure base camp, Chiyo, just emerging from the medical tent, suddenly turned her head, her eyes locking onto the distant column of light piercing the sky.

"That place is…"

Her expression shifted, a sense of dread welling up in her heart.

Without hesitation, she hurried back to her command post, dispatching three squads of shinobi to investigate.

Kirigakure Base Camp.

The forty-something commander, Hozuki Shingetsu, stepped out of his tent after hearing the commotion from his subordinates outside.

He looked at the towering pillar of light piercing the clouds in the distance, frowning. "It seems the Sand shinobi have encountered a powerful enemy. At this level, who could it be?"

"Have the Sannin all come out?"

"Or is it the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"

Hozuki Shingetsu glanced in another direction.

Fortunately, there were no major disturbances over there, which meant no significant enemies had been encountered.

"It looks like Konoha is more wary of Sunagakure."

Hozuki Shingetsu mused to himself, "It's to be expected. The Third Hokage of Konoha isn't a fool. He wouldn't believe that our attack is focused on just this one front."

"They probably see this as a feint."

"All the better— the more they underestimate us, the weaker their forces will be."

...

On the Kirigakure front, deep in the thick forest.

Blue electric light flickered, thunderous booms erupted occasionally, and the air was filled with the sound of blood-curdling screams.

A large number of Kirigakure shinobi were pursuing Shūichi, but one by one, they were being easily countered and killed by him using his extraordinary speed and formidable swordsmanship.

Here, because it was a shadow clone, Shūichi employed a completely different strategy from his real body.

He only attacked once the Kirigakure forces had entered the forest, engaging in hit-and-run tactics, continuously wearing down their forces as he retreated through the dense trees.

Boom!

A torrent of water surged from behind, forcing Shūichi to land and turn. A massive wall rose up in front of him, blocking the incoming water flow.

With a quick series of hand signs, Shūichi spat out a high-speed water jet, instantly slicing two Kirigakure shinobi in half as they leapt over the wall.

Splash!

The bodies of the two shinobi turned into water and collapsed to the ground. From the swirling streams on either side, two more Kirigakure shinobi emerged, their hand signs already complete. Two large water dragons rose into the air and dove toward Shūichi.

Clap!

Shūichi brought his hands together, and the water vapor around him rapidly condensed, spinning at high speed. Two water dragons materialized, infused with the electricity coursing from his body.

Water Release + Lightning Release: Lightning Water Dragon Bullet!

Boom!

The four water dragons collided, the water exploding in all directions, scattering electric sparks.

The two Kirigakure shinobi who had launched the attack immediately leaped backward, and the others standing in the trees hurled kunai wrapped in explosive tags.

Before they could detonate, their bodies were suddenly engulfed in searing white flames.

Fire Release – Firing Biscuit Jutsu.

However, this wasn't the first time Shūichi had used this technique, and the Kirigakure shinobi quickly doused the flames with Water Release.

But Shūichi had already transformed into a streak of lightning, easily dodging the incoming kunai.

Two of the shinobi in the trees were just about to retreat when their bodies suddenly froze, eyes widening as they watched Shūichi swiftly close in.

With wind chakra flowing rapidly through his palms, Shūichi swung his hands, and a fine line of blood erupted from the necks of the two Kirigakure shinobi.

Shūichi continued to flee, while the furious Kirigakure forces screamed and chased after him.

Wind Release, Fire Release, Lightning Release, Water Release, Earth Release, and even Genjutsu—Shūichi unleashed all the ninjutsu he had mastered, using them to their fullest potential in this battle.

His incredible speed, terrifying reaction time, rapid execution of jutsu, and versatile abilities left the Kirigakure shinobi helpless, despite their overwhelming numbers.

They simply couldn't pin him down.

And in this forest, Shūichi also had the advantage of the terrain.

Watching Shūichi fleeing ahead, the commander of the Kirigakure unit, Hozuki Metsuin, gritted his teeth in frustration.

He had fought Shūichi before, and if not for his Hydrification Technique, he would have been killed.

Even so, the Lightning Release attacks had countered him. If not for the help of his comrades, he would've been dead by now.

Now, he could only rely on the numerical advantage to continuously wear down Shūichi's chakra.

"When we catch this guy, I'll make sure he suffers the most excruciating water torture this world has ever known!"

Hozuki Metsuin sneered inwardly.

Just then, the light ahead brightened.

The forest was coming to an end!

Hozuki Metsuin's eyes gleamed, and he immediately shouted, "Increase speed! Surround him! Don't let him escape!"

Shūichi had already reached the edge of the forest.

He suddenly stopped, standing on a tree branch. Bringing his hands together, the water vapor around him began to rapidly condense, swirling with electricity.

In an instant, three massive water dragons, crackling with electricity, burst from the spinning vortex of water and surged toward the pursuing Kirigakure shinobi.

"Scatter!"

The shinobi in the lead didn't have time to form hand signs, and the lightning-infused water dragons, each over ten meters in diameter, weren't something a few explosive tags could deal with.

The shinobi in the front scattered in all directions, while those following quickly formed hand signs, spitting out streams of water that rapidly expanded and clashed with the three water dragons.

Boom!

Water splashed everywhere, the electric currents spreading through the deluge. The Kirigakure shinobi quickly leaped to the trees to avoid the electrified water.

"This is the final wave… Let's go!"

Feeling his chakra almost depleted, Shūichi took a deep breath and shot forward like a bullet, gliding at high speed across the surface of the water.

Water Body Flicker!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

High-pressure water jets shot out, targeting the shinobi in the trees.

Blood sprayed, limbs fell, and screams echoed through the forest.

The Kirigakure shinobi in the trees began to counterattack as well, throwing ninja tools, detonating explosive tags, and launching ninjutsu, but all were swiftly evaded by Shūichi, who skillfully glided over the water using Water Release.

Moreover, the Water Severing Wave technique was slicing through the trees like a sickle cutting through wheat, causing them to collapse. The shinobi standing atop the trees were forced to drop down as their footing disappeared.

Zzzzzzzz!

The sound of a thousand birds chirping echoed as lightning surged through Shūichi's limbs. With Chidori Body Flicker, he brought his hands together. From the water beneath him, countless droplets began to rise, infused with lightning as they shot toward the surrounding Kirigakure shinobi.

Water Style: Heavens Convergence Lightning Strike!

This technique was an enhancement of the Water Release: Water–Heavens Convergence, incorporating Lightning Release to make the water droplets move faster and hit harder.

Although Shūichi had never specifically trained in the Heavens Convergence technique before, his mastery of chakra control and shape manipulation made it easy for him to use it effectively.

It was like a storm of torrential rain, pounding relentlessly. The sound of droplets piercing through the air echoed continuously.

Those Kirigakure shinobi who couldn't dodge in time fell to the ground convulsing from the electrical shock.

Those hit in vital areas died instantly, while others who weren't hit fatally still suffered paralysis, unable even to scream as they fell into the water.

In the blink of an eye, over a dozen Kirigakure shinobi were down.

At that moment, Hozuki Metsuin, who had dodged the Heavens Convergence Lightning Strike, noticed that the lightning around Shūichi's body had faded, and he was now standing still on the water. Immediately, he created a water clone, using the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind Shūichi, raising his hand and pointing his index finger at the back of Shūichi's head.

Water Gun Technique!

A highly concentrated droplet of water formed at the tip of his finger, but Shūichi turned and smiled at that moment.

In the next instant, Shūichi exploded into a mass of intense lightning, shooting out in all directions.

Hozuki Metsuin's water clone was immediately pierced by the lightning, dispersing into a stream of water. The Kirigakure shinobi who had fallen into the water moments before convulsed once more, smoke rising from their bodies as the electrical current swept through them.

"Lightning Release Clone?"

"No way, he was just using Water Release techniques!"

"Could it be...a Shadow Clone?"

"Find his real body, quick!"

The Kirigakure shinobi shouted frantically.

The sensory ninja, wide-eyed and swallowing nervously, stammered, "That…that guy is the real body."

Hozuki Metsuin and the other shinobi froze.

One of the Kirigakure shinobi asked in disbelief, "So, we've been fighting a Shadow Clone this entire time?"

The sensory ninja's voice trembled as they replied, "I…I'm afraid so."

For a moment, silence fell over the group of dozens of Kirigakure shinobi, including Hozuki Metsuin.

Hozuki Metsuin glanced over the group, silently counting their numbers, and his heart sank.

Forty-one!

Forty-one dead or injured!

And the opponent was just a Shadow Clone!

This was…

Hozuki Metsuin found it hard to accept. His thirty-plus years as a shinobi told him that this was impossible.

It had to be that this Konoha brat had split off a Shadow Clone to distract them at some point, while the real body escaped, and they simply hadn't noticed.

Hozuki Metsuin took a deep breath, suppressing his frustration, and gave the order, "Start rescuing the injured, immediately!"

The Kirigakure shinobi scattered to search for their surviving comrades. After a moment of thought, Hozuki Metsuin spoke again, "Does anyone know who this guy is?"

One shinobi replied, "Metsuin-sama, this guy is most likely Konoha's prodigy, Shūichi Hoshita."

"The one who became a Chunin at six and a Jonin at eleven!"

Hozuki Metsuin frowned. "It's him?"

He had heard of Shūichi Hoshita before, but the person he just saw didn't seem like an eleven-year-old.

"It has to be Shūichi Hoshita. There's no one else around his age that fits!"

"He's even got a bounty from both Iwagakure and Sunagakure!"

Hozuki Metsuin nodded, shouting, "Then remember this name!"

"We'll make sure he pays. He'll answer for the lives of our fallen comrades!"

The Kirigakure shinobi responded in unison, rallying in anger.

Hozuki Metsuin then gave another order, "Mizuyun, head back to the main camp immediately and report everything to Lord Shingetsu!"

The young shinobi named Mizuyun promptly acknowledged the order and set off.

...

At the Sunagakure main camp, upon hearing the report from the subordinate who had returned from investigating, Chiyo abruptly stood up. The other Sunagakure Jonin in the tent were equally shocked.

"All... all of them are dead?"

The Sunagakure shinobi who delivered the report had a pale face. "There were no survivors on the battlefield. All the bodies were severely mutilated, likely from a terrifying Fire Release attack."

"We did a rough count. Aside from the infiltration team, even Lord Feilian... they all perished."

"And judging from the battle traces, it's highly likely that only Shūichi Hoshita was responsible."

"And... he hasn't even left the area."

Chiyo clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white.

A hundred elite shinobi had been completely wiped out, and very likely by just one person. This was...

Chiyo took a deep breath to calm herself and ordered, "Break camp immediately!"

"The entire army will move!"

The Jonin around her were startled. "Lady Chiyo, this..."

Chiyo raised her hand to stop them from speaking and said in a low voice, "Our intentions are already clear."

"And frankly, it's no surprise. Konoha has long been prepared for this."

"The issue now is, how many more troops will it take for us to cross the Land of Rivers and gather intelligence on Konoha's border defenses?"

"There is only one way forward: advance our entire army toward Konoha's border, narrowing Konoha's defensive depth."

"Even if we're engaging in an intelligence war, we need to reduce our losses."

"It's clear that Konoha intends to turn the Land of Rivers into a layered battlefield to weaken us."

The other Sunagakure shinobi fell silent. Then one of them asked, "That guy, Shūichi Hoshita—Lady Chiyo, are you not confident you can take him down with your puppet army?"

Chiyo shot a cold glance at the speaker. "Even I cannot face an elite force of over a hundred shinobi and come out unscathed. Not even with the puppet army."

"And do you think my puppet army could defeat the Third Kazekage?"

The Sunagakure shinobi were stunned. They hadn't expected Chiyo to compare Shūichi to the Third Kazekage, viewing him as someone on the same level.

Chiyo then spoke sternly, "You must understand—this is Konoha's youngest Jonin, the youngest in the entire shinobi world, and he has already surpassed the abilities of a typical shinobi."

"Even Konoha's White Fang didn't have this level of power!"

After saying this, Chiyo ordered, "Inform the Kirigakure forces of our decision. I suspect their losses won't be small either."

"We've all underestimated Konoha!"

...

Deep in the forest, Shūichi Hoshita, who had been resting, received feedback from his Shadow Clone's memories.

"With the support of the Yin Seal, I suppose I've already transcended the limits of an ordinary shinobi."

"Without the chakra from the Yin Seal, I wouldn't have been able to use the Blaze Release and Fire Release Chakra Mode. I wouldn't have been able to fully unleash my abilities."

"So ultimately, everything comes down to chakra and physical constitution..."

"But even without the Yin Seal's chakra, my ability to cast jutsu without hand signs and my overall skill set still put me at the level of an elite Jonin—across all fields."

Shūichi assessed himself quietly. "In other words..."

"I'm invincible below Kage level, and at Kage level, I can at least trade one for one?"

Shūichi couldn't help but feel a small sense of satisfaction.

If he were compared to someone like Uchiha Itachi of the same age who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, he wouldn't be lacking in any way.

Even Itachi's Susanoo wouldn't pose much of a threat to him. Amaterasu would be troublesome, but the most dangerous thing was still Tsukuyomi.

And he hadn't even gone all out earlier.

He hadn't used the Bijju Sealing Mark, Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, Flame-Wind Rasenshuriken, or Lava Release: Rasenshuriken.

"Not enough!"

"It's still not enough..."

Shūichi reined in his brief moment of satisfaction.

If he didn't set his sights on surpassing the Sage of Six Paths, or subduing Kaguya Ōtsutsuki with a flip of his hand, then it wouldn't be enough.

His goal was the stars, the sea, and a grand future!

And there was also Uchiha Madara, who liked to dance around on the battlefield—still hooked up to life support somewhere, wasn't he?

Considering that Madara had managed to manipulate Kirigakure to implant the Three-Tails in Rin Nohara, along with a curse seal, it meant he was still capable of action.

"Is he sustaining himself by wearing White Zetsu as a biological suit?"

Shūichi's thoughts drifted far.

At this point, Uchiha Madara was likely the only individual in the shinobi world that truly concerned him.

Nagato's Rinnegan was powerful, but he was still too young at this stage.

Thinking about these formidable figures only fueled Shūichi's motivation.

His current achievements were truly insignificant in comparison.

One day, when he could single-handedly take on the Allied Shinobi Forces like Madara, he'd consider that just barely good enough.

And when he could capture tailed beasts as pets, that's when he could start showing off.

...

Pulling his thoughts back to the present, Shūichi created a Shadow Clone and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to head toward Pakura and the others.

The war was far from over!