Naruto: Choosing from Birth

Unable to do anything about it, they followed the long trail of grass scraped clean from the ground, stretching deep into the forest.

Sure enough, Uchiha Cheng emerged from the depths of the forest, looking utterly refreshed, not a speck of blood on him.

If not for the person he was carrying in his left hand, people might have thought he was merely a traveler strolling through the woods.

"He got stronger again!"

The Konoha White Fang's gaze sharpened. Having spent over a year together, he had constantly kept track of the trainees' progress.

And Uchiha Cheng's presence and strength had clearly advanced another step.

What terrifying talent.

"Cheng-nii, are you okay?"

"Did you take them all out by yourself? That's amazing, but wait for us next time. We're comrades—we should work together."

Mikoto and Annai happily rushed forward when they saw him.

Over the past year or so, most of Uchiha Cheng's system rewards had turned out to be Chakra Energy Pills.

The only new skills he had gained were defensive techniques: Summoning Technique: Rashomon and Triple Rashomon.

As for Hashirama Senju's strongest Fivefold Rashomon, he had yet to learn it.

He had secretly fed most of those Chakra pills to Mikoto and shared some with Annai.

As a result, their total Chakra reserves had soared.

Their strength had improved far faster than everyone else's.

"Yeah, those people were too crafty. I had to use a few tricks to make them reveal themselves."

"And the moment they sensed anything was wrong, they would run. To wipe them all out, I had no choice but to give up on sending a signal."

"Otherwise, it would be difficult to catch them again next time."

Uchiha Cheng replied with a smile.

"Fine, but don't go off alone next time. We're strong too now—we can help Cheng-nii."

Mikoto Uchiha puffed out her cheeks. In everyone else's eyes, she had always been a gentle, refined young lady.

Yet whenever she was around Cheng, her girlish nature showed without reservation.

Mm, she was more sensitive than when she was little.

"Cheng-nii seems to have become even more handsome."

Feeling her heart race, Mikoto Uchiha shyly lowered her head.

Strange. This feeling was never this strong before. What's wrong with me lately?

Could this be what people meant by the feeling of growing up?

"Clean up the battlefield. We're preparing to return to the village."

The Konoha White Fang spoke as he took out a Sealing Scroll.

"Yes!"

Afterward, everyone sealed all the corpses into the scroll. They could be used when handing in the mission back in the village.

Boom!!!

Just then, a brilliant signal flare exploded at the far end of the horizon, its fireworks forming the shape of a leaf.

"This... Konoha ninja are requesting support!"

The group quickly finished clearing the battlefield, then hurried in the direction of the flare.

An hour later, a stretch of land billowing with thick smoke came into view, its ground scorched black by explosions and flames.

The terrain had been altered by ninjutsu. Combined with shattered, burning trees, the remnants of Earth Release techniques, and corpses strewn everywhere, it resembled the ruins of a small-scale apocalypse.

Hatake Sakumo led the group into the ruins, moving swiftly as he surveyed the entire battlefield.

Suddenly, a corpse half-buried in sand and dirt sat halfway up. Its battered right hand tightly seized Sakumo's trouser leg.

"Quick... go save... Young Master Nawaki..." After saying that, it fell back down and died.

Sakumo loosened his grip on his blade. If he had sensed killing intent, that "corpse" would likely have been separated from its hand the moment it grabbed him.

After identifying the man, he found that he was a member of the Senju Clan. He must have been someone secretly assigned to protect Nawaki Senju.

Without further hesitation, he shouted, "Follow me!"

His body became a streak of light as he sped through the ruins, advancing deeper along the traces of battle.

Before long, a group of Stone Ninja appeared ahead.

With Chakra-enhanced eyes, he could clearly see into the distance:

Aside from corpses littering the ground once more, a young boy whose body had been blasted into a mangled mess was surrounded by several Stone Ninja. One of them drew a scalpel and viciously plunged it into the boy's abdomen...

That boy was Nawaki Senju.

The scene of first meeting the child rose unbidden in his mind:

Konoha's Hundred Delicacies District.

Tsunade had been holding her adorable younger brother's hand when they happened to meet the Konoha White Fang, who had come for barbecue.

"Silver hair... are you the Konoha White Fang my sister told me about?"

"Wow, you're my idol too! Can I have your autograph?"

"Sure, but you have to tell me your dream first. I only give autographs to people with dreams."

"Hah, listen up! My dream is to become a Hokage admired by tens of thousands! I want to be as great as Grandpa."

"Heh, you're small, but you sure talk big."

"Don't underestimate me. I can eat a lot. Hey, Lord White Fang, Uncle White Fang. How about we compete in eating barbecue? For every skewer I eat, you eat two. Whoever eats more can become Hokage in the future..."

Scene after scene flashed through White Fang's mind. That was Konoha's hope...

"Stop!"

A thunderous shout spread through the entire battlefield by way of Chakra.

The white Chakra short blade was drawn in an instant.

Terrifying Chakra surged over the short blade, producing a deep humming sound.

Using an exceptionally advanced Chakra Flow technique, dazzling radiance lit up upon the White Fang Blade.

Then he suddenly swung it!

Buzz!!!

Boom!!!

A gigantic blade of light, as though it would pierce through heaven and earth—

Like an upright crescent moon, it shot toward the most densely packed group of Stone Ninja.

Wherever it passed, the earth split apart and the forest was torn asunder.

It was as though it carried the might of heaven and earth.

Secret Technique: Heavenly Moon Blade!!!

Ambush!

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Rampart!"

Rows upon rows of earthen walls and earth ramparts rose from the ground, blocking the massive blade of light.

Unfortunately, they were instantly destroyed and cleaved apart as if made of paper.

This enormous blade of light, containing immense Chakra Flow alongside extraordinary swordsmanship, was simply unstoppable. Even ninjutsu could be cut apart.

In its wake, the earth was violently plowed into a deep ravine.

At once, large numbers of Stone Ninja who failed to dodge were killed or injured.

"It's the Konoha White Fang! The mission is complete—everyone, retreat!"

A Stone Ninja shouted loudly. In the blink of an eye, dozens of Stone Ninja retreated in the opposite direction from White Fang.

The might of a single move had frightened dozens of enemy ninja into scattering like birds and beasts. Was this the strength of a Kage-level expert? At that moment, Uchiha Cheng caught up as well.

"You stay here and protect the scene.

"I'm going to retrieve something."

White Fang stared intently at the Stone Ninja who had taken Nawaki's internal organs.

His body turned into a streak of light once again as he gave chase.