The Children's Perspective

Ninjas are a profession that involves living in battle and making a living by taking on missions.

Children in Ninja clans bear the responsibility and glory of the entire clan from birth.

Only through fighting can we afford to eat; only through fighting can our family survive; only through fighting can we maintain the status quo.

Even children, as long as they can lift something, must participate in the battle.

This is a custom passed down from the Warring States Period, and all the children are used to it. Even the adults don't think there's anything wrong with doing it.

However, children are still very precious, so apart from a very few exceptionally talented individuals, the main tasks of children under the age of thirteen or fourteen during wartime were treating the wounded and relaying information—tasks that did not require direct combat.

We'll only consider having them take action if they're thirteen or fourteen years old or older.

When Konoha was founded, the fighting situation completely disappeared due to the participation of various clans. Other Ninjas who did not want to join would also avoid them, so the children's workload was reduced significantly.

But this doesn't mean that their views, or even the adults' views, will change.

How could someone who has been taught from a young age to go to the battlefield possibly react like a normal child and choose to hide? Adults who have sent their children to the battlefield in the past would not hesitate to send their children to the front lines during wartime.

The children chose to turn back, not to play the hero, nor because they felt they could be of any great help.

They simply wanted to do what they could from the rear, just as they had always done.

Carrying the wounded, delivering bandages, passing messages—even the smallest act of kindness is appreciated, so they don't seem so useless.

They thought that once they arrived at the scene, they would mostly just be watching the spectacle from behind the Ruins, since four adults were holding the line in front of them, and all they could do was wait for their turn at a safe distance.

But when they actually arrived at the scene, and were forced to lie on the scree slope by the shockwave, and saw the battle situation in the center of the basin through the flying dust, everyone was dumbfounded.

The man in white was weaving through a group of Ninjas. His movements didn't seem fast, but with each strike, someone fell.

The Senju Clan lord had Black Rods pierce his chest, and as blood gushed from his back, it splattered all over the faces of those behind him.

The Uchiha clansman was sent flying before the Short Sword could strike, his body folded in half and crashing into the rubble, his limbs spread out at an abnormal angle.

The burly man from the Akimichi Clan fell like a wall, crashing to the ground with a dull thud. After he fell, the scene behind him was revealed.

The man in white stood there, his clothes tattered, but he didn't have a single decent wound on his body.

This is not a battle, this is a massacre.

If Tobirama hadn't repeatedly rushed forward, using the Flying Thunder God to weave through the crowd and snatch people from Isshiki's hands, this entire group would have been dead.

Shockwaves kept crashing in, and rubble and wood chips rained down on the Ruins where the children were hiding.

Hinata lay prone behind a fallen stone slab, his fingers gripping the edge of the slab, his knuckles white.

His Sharingan was activated, but with his current eye power, he couldn't even keep up with the white-clad man's movements.

Needless to say, the others are even worse.

Senju Yūki is the oldest and highest-ranking among these children.

He crouched behind a protruding rock, glanced at the deteriorating battle situation in the center of the basin, took a deep breath, and then turned to grab the shoulder of the nearest Senju Ichiyo.

"Ichiyo, take the men back to Konoha. Tell those who remain to continue evacuating eastward, as far as possible. Konoha cannot be left behind."

Ichiyo nodded and pointed to a few of the youngest children, asking them to follow along.

The children wanted to argue, Yūki lowered his voice and said in an irrefutable tone, "This isn't running away, it's sending a message. If everyone here dies, Konoha won't even receive a warning, and everyone will die."

"The faster you run, the more people from Konoha will survive."

The children bit their lips, gave him one last look, and then turned and disappeared behind the Ruins.

Yūki turned to the remaining children.

From those who had followed Izuna all the way to the village, to those who had attacked Izuna in the Arena just now, orders were given to them.

"Stand still," Yūki's gaze swept across everyone's faces. "No matter what happens, even if your own elders are killed outside, you are not allowed to go forward, and you are not allowed to make a sound. Do you understand?"

No one answered, but no one refuted it either.

Children born into Ninja families are not fools; they know their own limitations and understand that in a battle of this caliber, all they can do is protect themselves.

Understanding something is one thing, doing it is another.

A little girl from a Yamanaka Clan squatted behind a pile of rubble, her hands tightly covering her mouth, tears streaming through her fingers.

Not far from her, a boy from the Akimichi Clan clenched his fists tightly, remaining silent.

Their elders were outside, on that sandy land soaked in blood, falling one by one.

They could only squat there, counting the thuds of each heavy object falling to the ground, silently praying that it wasn't someone they knew who fell.

Yūki looked at Shūichi, who was closest to him.

Hyuga Shūichi crouched behind a fallen tree trunk, his white eyes fixed on the direction of the battlefield. He had just run to the Dueling Arena armory and retrieved a bow.

Yūki asked in a low voice, "Shūichi, use your Byakugan to check the situation in the distance. See if you can find any wounded soldiers still alive, and try to pull one or two out."

Then he looked at the girl who had previously Explosive Tag to blow up Izuna, "Nohara Miya, I know you know Medical Ninjutsu, we'll need your help to treat the wounded later."

Misae pursed her lips and simply nodded.

"Anyone else who knows Medical Ninjutsu, please lend a hand. Every little bit helps to lighten the medical burden and speed up the process of getting Father... Lord Hashirama and Lord Madara back to the battlefield."

"Harukawa."

The boy looked at him and immediately understood what he wanted to do. He raised his older brother's arm and said, "My brother can Link the minds of five people at once."

"That's enough," Yūki Uchiha Hinata, Uchiha Takuma, Senju Heitarō, and Nara Rao, each of you will lead a small team, spread out, and rescue people according to instructions."

"Yes." The four people who were called responded in unison. After Link their minds with the young man from the Yamanaka Clan, they each led their familiar companions to different directions.

Shūichi's Byakugan eyes showed a slight bulge in the meridians.

His vision cut through the swirling dust and rubble, through the fallen trees and collapsed rocks at the edge of the battlefield, taking in the entire basin.

He observed the wounded closest to the edge, carefully avoiding the fighting, and directed the nearest children to move the wounded away.

Then he saw his Kyudo master.

In Setsuna, Black Rods pierced through his right arm, tearing open the muscles in his forearm, and blood flowed down his wrist.

Two severed Black Rods were still stuck in his legs, but he continued to fight with Short Sword and Isshiki grappling technique.

Shūichi's Byakugan captured every movement of Setsuna.

He was very fast; he wouldn't be at a disadvantage even against the Hyuga Clan, who were most skilled in Taijutsu. Yet, he still couldn't land Isshiki.

He's just risking his life to slow down Isshiki's progress.

Then, with Isshiki, he raised his hand. The Black Rods sprang from his palm.

In Setsuna, the Short Sword slipped from his hand, his body swayed, and he knelt on one knee. His left hand reached for the sword, but Isshiki's foot had already stepped on his back.

He would have been dead if the Iwa Rock Ninja forward.

When Shūichi saw this, he was furious.

His Byakugan was still open, but he was no longer scanning the battlefield.

His gaze was fixed on Setsuna. Just then, he caught a glimpse of a figure rushing out from behind the Ruins —it was the short, Ōnoki from Iwagakure.

Yūki saw it too, and reached out to grab Ōnoki's clothes, but grasped nothing. "Hey! Don't go over there!"

Ōnoki didn't turn around. His footsteps faded quickly into the distance on the rubble, and his small figure disappeared into the vast Ruins and swirling dust.

Yūki stared in the direction he disappeared, muttering under his breath, "Is this guy out of his mind...? We're so weak, going up there would just be suicide missions!"

"He's not mentally unstable." A deep voice came from behind Yūki.

With Yūki, I turned around and saw Yotsuki A.

Seventeen-year-old Ai squatted beside a cracked stone slab, her arms resting on her knees.

He looked in the direction where Ōnoki had disappeared. "That little dwarf is the personal disciple of that old monster Ishikawa from Iwagakure, the successor of the Dust Release technique."

Yūki paused for a moment.

Ai continued, "He probably thought he had the power of Dust Release to rely on, that he was qualified to set foot in that hell."

"We can't be so reckless! We don't even know who they are or what they can do. If he just charges in like that, he'll be throwing his life away!"

Just then, Shūichi stood up from behind the tree trunk. He held a newly nocked arrow in his hand, his Byakugan still activated, his gaze fixed on the white figure in the distance.

"Shūichi, what are you going to do?" Yūki asked, frowning.

Shūichi didn't answer immediately. He looked at him for a while longer and then said, "Lord Madara is seriously injured. His entire chest is almost flattened, and he will recover very slowly."

"Lord Hashirama is currently focusing all his efforts on healing him, and he's also sharing his Chakra with Katsuyu to help others heal. He's simply too busy to be in two places at once."

"Lord Tobirama's injuries are also quite severe, and his stamina should be at its limit." He raised his bow, his finger hooking the bowstring. "We've suffered too many casualties, and that guy is practically killing us with a single punch. We don't have many chances left to buy time."

"I think... I might be able to distract him from a distance with my Archery, stalling for as much time as possible."

With Yūki Dead-Fish Eyes expression, he said, "Actually, you're just upset that Master got beaten up, aren't you?"

Shūichi looked at him in surprise.

"My eyes aren't just for show; I do recognize your master, okay?"

Shūichi moment, then turned his face away without saying a word.

Yūki sighed. He turned and glanced around.

Indeed, just as Shūichi said, there were very few Konoha Ninja left standing nearby, and even people from other countries had suffered casualties.

Adult Ninjas were still arriving from Konoha, but Isshiki's movements remained clean and efficient. To maintain such movements after fighting four adults for so long was simply monstrous.

If this continues, it's only a matter of time before Konoha's fighting strength is exhausted.

Yūki gritted his teeth, turned to Shūichi, and said, "Shoot from a distance, don't get close. If you see that guy looking this way, immediately change positions. Got it?"

Shūichi. He took a deep breath, stood up from behind the tree trunk, jumped to a high place with a good view, and drew his bowstring taut.

Then he released his grip. The arrow flew through the air and struck precisely at the back of Isshiki's head.

He tilted his head Isshiki, and the arrow shrank to the size of a grain of rice, grazing past his ear.

His greyish-white pupils swept towards Shūichi's direction.

"Byakugan?" Isshiki's voice held a hint of surprised interest. "So young."

He raised his palm, and Black Rods shot out from his palm, hurtling towards Shūichi.

Shūichi's Byakugan couldn't catch the trajectory of the Black Rods; it was too small, and he didn't pay it any mind.

Having witnessed the Black Rods's enlargement and shrinking, Ōnoki immediately formed hand seals and slammed his fist on the ground. A wall of earth suddenly rose from the ground, blocking Shūichi 'Earth Style Wall. The Black Rods was driven into the earthen wall three-tenths of an inch, unable to penetrate any further.

Shūichi moment, feeling a little scared, but he did not back down. He nocked a second arrow and shot it at Isshiki again.

Ai stood up when he saw this scene. He had been observing that Isshiki's body seemed to be having problems, and now he was searching for something.

Most importantly, Shūichi seems to have become his target.

That guy's eyes are also white. Perhaps Shūichi's Byakugan is valuable to Isshiki. If Isshiki catches Shūichi, the consequences might not be as simple as just the death of a child.

Moreover, Isshiki is currently facing him sideways, with an opening on his right side.

Shūichi's arrow created an opportunity for him to strike; now was the perfect time to act!

Lightning Release Chakra exploded around him, the blue lightning stinging the eyes. He transformed into a blur and shot out from the pile of rubble, his right fist, crackling with the explosive energy of Lightning Release, slamming into Isshiki's right ribs.

Isshiki's reaction surprised him somewhat.

He had never seen anyone react to his attack.

He raised his right hand, and Black Rods sprang from his palm, aiming straight down at the back of Ai's neck.

Ai reacted quickly.

After his punch missed, he immediately stopped, twisting his body in mid-air to avoid the Black Rods on the back of his neck, and then swung his elbow at Isshiki's temple.

Isshiki to avoid the blow, then raised his hand and struck Ai in the abdomen.

Ai crossed his arms to block, his palms slamming into his forearm bones. Lightning Release Chakra and the impact exploded on his arm, sending him staggering back two steps.

He managed to exchange a few blows with Isshiki, but quickly realized he was no match for him. However, retreating was not an option, so Ai could only concentrate on dealing with Isshiki's attacks.

But he still slipped up, and several Black Rods pierced through his shoulders and thighs, pinning him to the ground.

He didn't even have time to curse as the wedge-shaped pattern crawled over.

The excruciating pain that tore his soul apart made his vision go white. He clenched his teeth, which chattered, but he managed not to scream.

This guy didn't seem to intend to kill him, but the Byakugan kid seemed terrified of him being killed and kept shooting arrows.

Then he suffered an undeserved misfortune.

The black cube appeared without warning.

There was no gathering of Chakra, no sign of hand seals, and no twisting patterns of Space-Time Ninjutsu.

It emerged directly from the air above Shūichi's head, like a piece of night frozen in mid-air, with sharp edges and a non-reflective surface.

The distance of three hundred meters seemed to have never existed in front of Isshiki.

Shūichi tilted his head back, and the cube in his Byakugan's field of vision was completely black.

His fingers, which were resting on the bowstring, froze.

A dark shadow pressed down from above, as if the entire mountain were collapsing, and in the blink of an eye it was right in front of you.

The boy's mind went blank.

My feet felt like they were nailed to the spot.

Yūki rushed out from behind the cover the moment he saw the cube appear.

He didn't know what he could do if he ran away, but only one thought remained in his mind: Shūichi was still there.

But another figure was faster than him.

It was Setsuna.

Yūki watched as Setsuna Shūichi out, while he himself was pinned underneath.

"Master!!"

Shūichi's voice pierced the air, so sharp it seemed to tear a hole in the sky above this battlefield.

The voice, tinged with the naivety unique to a young boy and a despair crushed to the extreme, froze everyone still moving on the battlefield in the same instant.

The charging Ninjas stopped in their tracks, the medical-nin tending to the wounded looked up, and even the Katsuyu's Kakuzu ceased wriggling at that moment.

Everything happened too fast.

From the moment the black cube appeared out of thin air above Shūichi's head, to the moment it crashed to the ground with the force of Mount Tai, and then to the Setsuna it flung Shūichi away and pinned him down, the whole process took no more than three seconds.

Tobirama was the first to react.

His Flying Thunder God Kunai had already left his hand the moment the cube appeared, shooting off in that direction.

However, the cube fell too fast, and the Kunai could only be bounced off and landed to the side when it arrived.

His figure landed on the side of the cube, his hands bracing against the dark surface, his knuckles white from the force, and he could only futilely punch the dark surface with his fist, producing a dull thud.

Uchiha Ryo stood on a pile of rubble at the edge of the battlefield, still holding the Tachi he had been wielding since the beginning.

His Sharingan fixed on the spot where the black cube had fallen. His lips moved, his voice barely audible, almost a soliloquy. "Setsuna..."

Hikaku stood not far from him.

His clothes were covered in blood.

His right arm had been pierced through by a Black Rods, but he was too preoccupied with the pain to care.

He stared in that direction, gently shaking his head. "No, no..." Then his voice suddenly rose, and he rushed forward, "Setsuna!!"

The Sharingan of the other Uchiha clan members turned red simultaneously.

This is not a metaphor; it refers to the physical phenomenon of turning red.

For those whose eyes were still open, the speed at which the Tomoe spun suddenly increased.

Those who had exhausted their eye power and closed their Sharingan had their eyes regain their color.

"Lord Setsuna!"

"How dare you—!"

Kill him!

Angry voices erupted from all directions, tearing apart the long-suppressed silence over the basin.

Just then--

"Stop! You're not dead Setsuna! Don't rush in recklessly!"

A figure appeared beside her, carrying the unconscious Setsuna.

"I didn't expect Setsuna to be so popular." The man said, putting Setsuna on the ground. "No wonder people ran away with him back then. It's really a headache to have such a stubborn person and such high popularity together."

The Hikaku landed beside him and looked at him.

The person before him spoke in a strange tone, and his unusual aura made him frown and cautiously probe, "Izuna... sir?"

"Izuna" turned his head to look at him.

He was handsome and tall, with smooth black hair falling across his face and fair skin. His muscles, clearly defined and strong, were visible beneath his tattered clothes. He turned his head slightly to look at him, a slight smile in his eyes.

Everything is normal.

Except, his eyes are golden.