Chapter Fourteen: Let's Take Him Home / Chapter Fifteen: A Powerful Punch to Set a Childhood Friend Straight

Akira Sarutobi's expression turned icy, his tone resolute.

A breathtaking aura rose from Akira Sarutobi.

It was the determination to follow through on his words.

As long as he did not die, he would definitely accomplish what he said he would!

Ringo Yuri froze for a second, moved by Akira Sarutobi's resolve. "This kid... he means it... he really will do what he says..."

Just then, a series of faint footsteps sounded nearby.

"Hm?! Retreat!"

Ringo Yuri kicked Shirakumo Hayama away.

He immediately rolled over in their direction.

Ino Yamanaka hurried over to catch him, only to "coincidentally" miss by a hair, sending Shirakumo Hayama sprawling face-first onto the ground.

Ino Yamanaka said, "Oh my~! My arm is injured... I forgot..."

Shirakumo Hayama groaned.

As the reinforcements led by Utatane Koharu arrived, the Hidden Mist ninja swiftly began retreating.

"Heh heh..."

Just before leaping into the forest, Ringo Yuri turned around and met Akira Sarutobi's gaze, leaving behind a lovely silhouette etched into his eyes.

The genius girl from the Hidden Mist smiled. "Akira Sarutobi... I'll remember you!"

Akira Sarutobi stared back at Ringo Yuri.

At that moment, the system displayed a notification...

[Will of Fire System!]

[New... "Will of Fire Weapon": Ringo Yuri!]

[Side Quest objective: Infuse Ringo Yuri with the Will of Fire!]

[Side Quest Reward: Possibility of learning "Ice Release: Bloodline Limit"...]

Akira Sarutobi said, "Ice Release?!"

Let's Bring Him Home

Looking at the system notification before him, Akira Sarutobi fell into thought.

"Although Ringo Yuri is one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and is proficient in at least two Chakra natures, she shouldn't have anything to do with the Ice Release: Bloodline Limit..."

Aside from the seven attributes of water, fire, wind, earth, lightning, yin, and yang, the ninja arts of the shinobi world also possessed something known as Kekkei Genkai.

Kekkei Genkai could be further divided into two types.

One consisted of mutated organs like those of the Hyuga and Uchiha clans... the Byakugan, Sharingan, and so on.

The other came from fused natures, such as "wind + fire = Scorch Release" and "wind + earth = Magnet Release"...

And Ice Release...

Was a fusion of wind and water.

Logically speaking, it was an exclusive Kekkei Genkai belonging only to the Snow Clan of the Hidden Mist.

There were also ninja in the distant Land of Snow who could use Ice Release, but that was caused by the climate and did not count as true Ice Release.

"Interesting..."

As he gathered his thoughts, Utatane Koharu's shout reached Akira Sarutobi's ears.

"Chase them! Take her down!"

Ringo Yuri's lightning strike just now had indeed been dazzling and swift, but it also had a problem that was neither too big nor too small.

Once unleashed, it could be heard and seen from several kilometers away, like thunder exploding from flat ground.

Using a technique that defied normal weather in broad daylight naturally drew the attention of Utatane Koharu and the others.

Anyone with even a little common sense could tell at a glance that it was an attack caused by the lightning blade of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

It was a signature move—far too conspicuous.

If they could cripple one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen through this mission, it would be an enormous gain no matter what.

Utatane Koharu had always been the most impatient among the four high-ranking officials.

Just like in the original story, when Itachi reported the Uchiha's rebellion plan, Utatane Koharu had been the first to jump out and clamor for the Uchiha to be exterminated.

So it was perfectly normal and reasonable for her to lead people here.

However, as one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Ringo Yuri ranked second in movement speed, surpassed only by the wielder of another blade, Nuibari. An ordinary pursuit team naturally had no chance of catching her.

Thunderous explosions rang out from the dense forest.

Immediately afterward, widespread rumbling thunder startled every bird in the woods into flight.

The pursuing team was forced to retreat—or... were struck directly and died on the spot.

After a burst of chaos, Ringo Yuri covered her comrades' retreat and departed gracefully.

Hidden Mist ninja were naturally familiar with water. Diving was as easy as breathing for them.

The Land of Whirlpools was surrounded by sea and filled with inland lakes and rivers. Once they slipped into the water, they became almost impossible to find.

Utatane Koharu was rather furious.

Watching the enemy escape right before her eyes, especially someone several years younger than her, truly infuriated her.

"How is Shirakumo Hayama?"

Akira Sarutobi returned and began checking Shirakumo Hayama's condition.

After he had threatened that woman, she had ultimately chosen to kick Shirakumo Hayama aside rather than kill him.

Of course, Akira Sarutobi did not think that someone who had made a name for herself at such a young age would be frightened off by him.

Everything... had merely been a matter of weighing the pros and cons.

That was also the norm for most ninja in this world.

"It's not serious. Just light injuries... They only look frightening..."

Ino Yamanaka quickly examined Shirakumo Hayama's wounds.

Though he was not in grave danger, this assessment would probably end here for him.

But it did not matter. Shirakumo Hayama already possessed the qualifications of a Jonin, and this assessment had only been a symbolic formality.

The real goal of the Konoha High Command was not the assessment itself. They wanted to reclaim the Ruins of the Land of Whirlpools and put on a proper display for the people of the Land of Fire.

"Elder Koharu."

Akira Sarutobi walked over and began reporting the situation.

Not long afterward, eight corpses were dragged out from underground.

Shirakumo Hayama, Ruri Hyuga, and Ino Yamanaka had each killed one person.

The remaining five had all been killed by Akira Sarutobi alone.

Looking at the mangled corpses, as though they had been through a horrific carriage wreck, everyone who witnessed the scene could not help clicking their tongues in amazement.

"To inflict such damage with pure taijutsu, as expected... only Young Master Ryo of the Sarutobi Clan could do it."

"Worthy of being Lord Hokage's eldest son. A tiger father truly does not breed a dog of a son..."

All kinds of praise and flattery sounded around him.

Akira Sarutobi basked in it like a spring breeze, his face neither happy nor sad.

"Neither arrogant nor impatient. Very good..." Utatane Koharu studied Akira Sarutobi's reaction, genuinely satisfied inwardly.

Just then.

Minato Namikaze, having heard the commotion here, arrived together with Kushina and the others.

After learning what had happened, Minato Namikaze reported his own results as well.

Instant kills... eight people.

Two Hidden Mist squads had been eliminated in an instant.

"It was only an instant! I only saw a blur before my eyes!"

"Golden light flashed repeatedly! Then the battle was just over!"

The two accompanying teammates vividly described what had happened.

The title Golden Flash became famous once more, and cries of astonishment immediately rose from the crowd.

Watching everyone reveal their shock, as well as Minato Namikaze's gentle smile, Ino Yamanaka's eyes began darting about.

Then she stepped before the group and cleared her throat. "Elder Koharu, my young master also found the setup left behind by Senior Kunugi Mokume and recovered Senior Dan Katō's remains..."

"!"

The narrow-eyed ninja standing beside Utatane Koharu with his hands behind his back, broad-shouldered and silent, immediately widened his eyes upon hearing that.

He was Utatane Koharu's most loyal subordinate, as well as the senior who had acted alongside Tsunade and Dan Katō back then.

In fact, recovering Dan Katō's remains had been one of Utatane Koharu's reasons for coming here.

"You have done well..."

Kunugi Mokume spoke, his voice deep and his will unwavering.

Tempered through countless trials, he had finally become valiant.

As Kunugi Mokume explained, both those who knew and those who did not learned the secret behind Dan Katō's death.

Of course, Kunugi Mokume did not mention that Tsunade had developed hemophobia and left Konoha. That was classified information.

"Princess Tsunade's lover..."

"A barrier trap laid by Lord Kunugi Mokume, the senior of the Three Ninja..."

The crowd immediately broke into discussion.

Compared to the achievement of breaking Kunugi Mokume's barrier and recovering Dan Katō's remains, Minato Namikaze's instant defeat of eight people no longer seemed so eye-catching.

"Elder Koharu."

Akira Sarutobi took a scroll from his clothes and solemnly handed it over.

"Senior Dan Katō's remains are inside. Let's bring him home..."

The sea breeze of the Land of Whirlpools swept through the area, and a wave of melancholy spread through the crowd.

Everyone present was a ninja who had experienced the Second Shinobi World War.

The war had only just ended, and much grief had yet to fade.

Stirred by the scene, everyone's expression gradually became solemn.

They all looked toward Akira Sarutobi, waiting for Utatane Koharu's response.

"..."

Utatane Koharu remained expressionless, but her thoughts shifted several times within her heart.

At her side, Minato Namikaze's smile slowly faded as well, and he looked thoughtfully at Akira Sarutobi.

"Mhm."

In the end, Utatane Koharu accepted the scroll and quickly put it away.

Strike Hard, Correcting the Childhood Sweetheart

Over the next week, everyone continued patrolling throughout the Land of Whirlpools.

After confirming that no traces of Hidden Mist ninja remained, they chose to return to the village.

During this interval, several Anbu squads arrived to take over the area and prepare for the final search.