A New Mission

Genitsu sized up the little guy, meeting his gaze.

"Huh, so this is the super genius famous throughout Konoha? The strongest of the new generation, surpassing Kakashi..."

Itachi's body trembled as he stared at Genitsu with blazing eyes.

"Kazue, our squad needs to go train." Might Guy waved a hand.

"Let's go."

Kazue threw a shuriken. It struck the bullseye with a thud as she spoke calmly.

"Good luck, big sis~" Izumi called out in her childish voice.

"You seniors have worked hard." Itachi stood and bowed.

"No, you're the one destined to have it the hardest... Itachi, right? The Uchiha clan head's son."

Genitsu smiled at Itachi as he said something the boy could not understand at all.

Even after the three had gone far away, Itachi remained standing there blankly, utterly confused.

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

The three left the house and headed straight for the training grounds.

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

"Of course not. Why would you ask that?"

"Because no matter how I thought about it, it still didn't seem like Genitsu's usual style... You and Teacher Shibi disappeared for days. Were you trying to cultivate better insects?"

"Don't underestimate these insects. If they're raised properly, combined with their tremendous numbers and reproductive ability, they can be terrifying too..."

Genitsu smiled.

Kidaichū were vicious giant insects capable of tearing into tailed beasts, and they were also an important means for him to win over the Aburame Clan.

"Whoa! So Genitsu has been following Teacher Shibi these past few days. I have to work hard too!" Might Guy loudly encouraged himself, spouting things about youth that no one could understand.

Just as the three walked out of the Uchiha compound—

An elderly figure slowly approached them.

Kazue paused and gave a slight bow. "Elder."

"Mm. These are your companions? They're certainly full of vigor... I'll leave Kazue in your care."

The man slowly looked Might Guy over, then turned his gaze to Genitsu. He gave a small nod and walked onward, passing by the three of them.

After he had gone some distance away—

"That person just now was...?"

"Lord Setsuna, an elder whose status and prestige are second only to Clan Head Fugaku's," Kazue said calmly.

Uchiha Setsuna... So he was that radical hawk.

Genitsu considered it for a moment, but said nothing.

The three made their way to the training grounds and began their squad training.

For a time, the entire training ground was filled with their moving forms as they engaged in intense sparring.

"It's only been a week, but you seem to have gotten stronger, Kazue."

Genitsu made his move. He first grabbed Might Guy with one hand, then swung around and sent him flying with a fierce punch. Facing the rapidly approaching Kazue, he could not help but praise her.

"Not just that. It's not only my perception that has improved..."

The two tomoe in her eyes slowly spun.

Demonic Illusion: Fox Spirit Heart-Mind Technique!

The scene before Genitsu suddenly changed. The entire training ground underwent subtle, indescribable alterations.

"A maze-type genjutsu that makes people go in circles, but using it at a time like this—what are you thinking?"

Genitsu spoke calmly. This was a genjutsu he had long been on guard against, so it meant nothing to him.

The next moment, he easily broke the illusion.

Whether because Godzilla was inside him or because Genitsu himself possessed abundant Chakra reserves, he had extremely high resistance to genjutsu.

"You broke my genjutsu so easily again, Genitsu. That isn't something a bloodline limit can explain. Just what are you..."

Kazue frowned slightly. The next moment, she unleashed the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, sending more than a dozen fireballs howling toward Genitsu.

At the same time, the two tomoe in her eyes spun even faster as her ocular power surged.

With a slight twitch of her fingers, several nearly invisible threads flicked the shuriken concealed within the flames, sending them all flying at Genitsu.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Genitsu did not evade. He was swallowed by flames and shuriken, accompanied by the sound of a body being pierced.

"An actual clone? So it really is a special clone made from the flesh and blood of that white thing..."

Kazue turned her Sharingan, searching for Genitsu's whereabouts.

But soon, her body jolted, and delight appeared on her face.

The radiation released by the collapsing physical clone suddenly spread outward. Kazue sensed it, and her sensitive body reacted swiftly. Every function in her body was stimulated and began to stir with activity.

"This feeling... If this power belonged to me..." Kazue trembled all over, dazed for a moment.

But then—

"Gate of Life, open!"

Might Guy shouted and charged directly at Kazue, forcing her to retreat at high speed.

Without looking at Kazue's eyes and completely ignoring her genjutsu, Might Guy relied on his powerful taijutsu to push Kazue into a miserable state.

Finally—

Bang!

Might Guy sent Kazue flying with a vicious Konoha Great Whirlwind.

Although Kazue's Sharingan could track Might Guy's taijutsu, her body could not keep up. In the three-way melee, she was the first to be defeated.

"It looks like you've neglected your physical training recently. Your taijutsu hasn't improved much."

Might Guy stood in place, one hand behind his back and the other held out, speaking solemnly.

Kazue merely rose to her feet in silence.

"That's enough, Guy. Let's leave it there..."

Genitsu appeared, first retrieving the Nuclear Release Clone before walking over to Kazue and pulling her to her feet.

"Keeping up sufficient physical training is good for your health."

"I know. I've already undergone taijutsu training, but the results have been negligible." Kazue stared intently at Genitsu, a hint of longing on her face.

What a greedy woman.

Genitsu could not help shaking his head. Her progress through training was painfully slow, and now she was even more dependent on the dangerous power of radiation.

At that moment—

Whoosh!

An ANBU member suddenly appeared.

"Shibi Squad, proceed to the Hokage Building immediately. You have a new mission. Jonin Shibi has already gone ahead."

Genitsu smiled. "Understood. We'll head over right away. Thank you for your hard work, senpai."

The ANBU member gave a slight nod, then vanished from the spot with the Body Flicker Technique.

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

Genitsu smiled and shook his head. After a sigh of reflection, he immediately led Might Guy and Kazue toward the Hokage Building.

When they pushed open the doors, several people were already waiting inside.

"You're all here..."

Genitsu looked at them in surprise.

Obito, Kakashi, and Rin.

As well as the two jonin squad leaders, Minato Namikaze and Aburame Shibi.