New Mission

Gen'ichi sized up the little guy, their eyes locking.

"Hmm? Is this the super genius famous throughout Konoha? The strongest of the new generation, surpassing Kakashi..."

Itachi's body stiffened, his gaze intensely fixed on Gen'ichi.

"Ichie, our Squad should head to the Training Ground now," Might Guy waved.

"Let's go."

Ichie threw a shuriken, which hit the bullseye with a thud, and spoke calmly.

"Good luck, big sister~" Izumi's voice was soft and childish.

"Thank you for your hard work, Seniors," Itachi stood up and bowed.

"No, you're the one destined to work the hardest... Itachi, right? The Uchiha Clan Head's son."

Gen'ichi smiled as he looked at Itachi, saying things Itachi couldn't understand at all.

After the three had walked away, Itachi still stood rooted to the spot, looking bewildered.

I'm destined to work the hardest... Gen'ichi-senpai's words are really hard to understand. Forget it, I'll go ask Shisui.

The three left the house and headed straight for the Training Ground.

"I haven't seen you these past few days. I heard you went to Shibi-sensei's place... Nothing happened, did it?" Ichie asked, seemingly casually.

"Of course not. Why do you ask?"

"Because the more I thought about it, the more I felt it wasn't Gen'ichi-san's usual style... You were out of contact with Shibi-sensei for several days straight, was it to research better insects?"

"Don't underestimate these insects. If they're cultivated well, combined with their sheer numbers and reproductive capability, they can be truly terrifying..."

Gen'ichi chuckled.

Giant Parasitic Insects were definitely ferocious giant insects capable of tearing apart Tailed Beasts, and they were also an important means for him to win over the Aburame Clan.

"Oh! So Gen'ichi-san has been with Shibi-sensei these past few days! I need to work harder too!" Might Guy loudly encouraged himself, speaking about youth and other things that made little sense.

Just as the three were leaving the Uchiha Clan Compound.

An aged figure was slowly walking towards them.

Ichie paused, bowing slightly, "Elder."

"Hmm, these are your companions, are they? So full of vigor... I entrust Ichie's care to you."

The other person slowly glanced at Might Guy, then shifted his gaze to Gen'ichi, nodded slightly, and walked slowly past the three of them.

After he had walked further away.

"Who was that person just now...?"

"Lord Setsuna, an Elder whose status and prestige are second only to Clan Head Fugaku," Ichie said calmly.

Uchiha Setsuna... So that's the radical hawk.

Gen'ichi thought for a moment but didn't say much.

The three made their way to the Training Ground and began their Squad training.

For a while, the entire Training Ground was filled with their figures as they engaged in high-intensity sparring.

"Haven't seen you in a week, you seem to have gotten stronger, Ichie."

Gen'ichi made his move, first grabbing Might Guy with one hand, then smashing him away with a backhand punch. Facing Ichie, who was rapidly attacking him, he couldn't help but give a word of praise.

"It's not just that, you know. What's gotten stronger isn't just my perception..."

The two Tomoe in her eyes slowly rotated.

Demonic Illusion: Fox Inside Mind Technique!

The scene Gen'ichi saw suddenly changed; the entire Training Ground underwent subtle changes that were hard to describe.

"It's a maze-type Genjutsu that makes people wander in one place, but using a technique like this at a time like this, what are you thinking?"

Gen'ichi spoke calmly. This type of Genjutsu, which he had long guarded against, was completely meaningless to him.

The next moment, he easily dispelled the Genjutsu.

He didn't know if it was because of Godzilla inside him or Gen'ichi's own vast Chakra reserves, but his resistance to Genjutsu was extremely high.

"You dispelled the Genjutsu so easily again, Gen'ichi-san. This isn't something a Bloodline Ability can explain, just what are you...?"

Ichie's brow furrowed slightly. The next moment, she directly unleashed the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, sending over a dozen fireballs hurtling towards Gen'ichi.

At the same time, the two Tomoe in her eyes spun slightly faster, her Dojutsu Power surging.

With a slight flick of her fingers, several nearly invisible threads whipped the shuriken hidden within the flames, sending them all flying towards Gen'ichi.

Bang bang bang!

Gen'ichi didn't dodge, getting engulfed by the flames and shuriken, sounds of his body being pierced echoing out.

"Is this a Physical Clone? It seems to be a special clone created using the flesh and blood of that white thing..."

Ichie activated her Sharingan, searching for Gen'ichi.

But soon, her body trembled, and a look of pleasant surprise appeared on her face.

The radiation emanating from the dissipating Physical Clone suddenly spread out and was detected by Ichie. Her sensitive body quickly reacted; her entire physical system was stimulated and began to become active.

"This is the feeling... if this power were mine..." Ichie trembled all over, entranced for a moment.

Just then.

"Gate of Life, open!" Might Guy roared.

He lunged directly at Ichie, forcing her to retreat rapidly.

Completely ignoring Ichie's eyes and her Genjutsu, Might Guy used his powerful Taijutsu to put her in a very tough spot.

Finally.

Bang!

Might Guy sent Ichie flying with a fierce Leaf Great Whirlwind.

While Ichie's Sharingan could track Might Guy's Taijutsu, her body couldn't keep up, and she was the first to be defeated in the three-way melee.

Might Guy stood in place, maintaining his pose with one hand behind his back and the other held out, and said seriously, "It seems you've neglected your physical training lately. Your Taijutsu hasn't improved much."

Ichie just silently stood up.

"Enough, Might Guy, let's stop here..."

Gen'ichi appeared. He first recalled the Nuclear Release Clone, then walked over to Ichie and pulled her up with one hand.

"Maintaining enough physical training is good for your health."

"I know, and I've already done Taijutsu training, but the effects are minimal," Ichie said, looking intently at Gen'ichi with a hint of longing on her face.

She's really greedy.

Gen'ichi couldn't help but shake his head. This woman's own training progress was slow, and now she was becoming even more reliant on dangerous power like radiation.

Just then.

Swish!

An Anbu member suddenly appeared.

"Shibi's Team, proceed to the Hokage Building immediately. You have a new mission. Shibi-sensei has already gone ahead."

Gen'ichi smiled slightly. "Understood, we'll head over right away. You've worked hard, Senior."

The Anbu member nodded slightly and vanished using the Body Flicker Technique.

"After resting for a week, is it back to the battlefield already? War always disrupts so many plans."

Gen'ichi smiled, shook his head, and sighed with emotion. Then he immediately took Might Guy and Ichie and hurried to the Hokage Building.

Pushing open the large doors, they saw several people already waiting.

"You guys are actually here..."

Gen'ichi looked at them in surprise.

Obito, Kakashi, Rin.

And Minato Namikaze and Aburame Shibi, the two Leading Jonin.