You Can Start Running Now

Uchiha Jing sat cross-legged, most of his mind focused on studying Tailed Beast Chakra.

Suddenly, something was thrown over from Jiraiya's side.

He raised his hand and caught it. It was a scroll.

"What's this?"

Jiraiya didn't turn around. His voice was flat.

"You and Minato have been studying how to add Nature Transformation to the Rasengan, right?"

"This is something I researched together with the old man. Although we didn't manage to experiment successfully, we did come up with a prototype."

"Minato signed a contract with Mount Myōboku. They only accept one summoner from each generation."

"I've already taught you most of the ninjutsu I know. I really don't have anything else worth giving you..."

Jiraiya turned his head, wearing a foolish-looking smile.

"Consider it my birthday present to you."

"Happy tenth birthday, Jing!"

If... I weren't an Uchiha.

I might really have chosen you...

Unfortunately, we will eventually part ways, Teacher Jiraiya.

Uchiha Jing held the scroll, his expression neither joyful nor sorrowful.

--

Year 47 of Konoha.

The brutal fighting had already continued for more than a year.

War was a hideous demon, baring its fangs and pouncing upon the lands of the Ninja World.

It swung the sickle of death. Wherever it went, rivers of blood flowed.

The casualties caused by wars between ninjas were no less severe than those caused by wars involving modern weapons.

The small countries situated along the borders of the great nations became meat grinders.

In every Ninja World War, the ones who suffered the most were not the great nations, but the small countries struggling to survive between them.

Ninjas didn't think about questions such as the true nature of war. They simply fought to protect their homes.

The Will of Fire left behind by the First Hokage was vague, but it had still cultivated batch after batch of green leaves willing to burn themselves for Konoha.

The Ninja World was abnormal, whether one was strong or weak.

To survive in such a world, one could only adapt to the abnormal.

--

Among the mountain forests.

Uchiha Obito was extremely excited the entire way.

"Kakashi! Will we get to see Jing this time?"

"That bastard has really been making a huge name for himself on the battlefield! Hmph, once I awaken the Sharingan, even Jing will kneel at Lord Obito's feet!"

After doing low-level missions for so long, he could finally go to the front lines.

Although it was only a mission to transport supplies.

Obito was already fantasizing about slaughtering his way through the enemy and making that bastard Uchiha Jing look at him in a new light!

Heh heh... Then Rin... heh heh...

Kakashi held a book in one hand. Its cover was wrapped in black binding.

"Little Obito, you should call me Teacher Kakashi."

"I'm your Squad Leader Jonin, you know~"

At eleven years old, Kakashi had become a Jonin a year earlier than in the original timeline.

With Uchiha Jing occasionally beating him up at the Ninja Academy, along with Jiraiya's devoted instruction, Kakashi's talent had been fully brought out.

This often made Jiraiya sigh. He had been a Dead Last as a child, while each of his disciples was more monstrous than the last.

Compared with Uchiha Jing, who had been promoted to Jonin solely through battle achievements, Kakashi was only two months behind.

However, even for a genius like Kakashi, no one in Konoha would compare him to Uchiha Jing.

The one famed alongside the Crimson Eyes was the Yellow Flash.

Adding in Kushina, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, they had already been regarded by the other villages as the new generation's Sannin.

Compared with the origins of the previous Sannin's title, the weight behind these three was clearly much greater.

Since making their names, they had never suffered a defeat!

The most dazzling record among them belonged to Namikaze Minato, who had defeated Kazekage Rasa.

Regardless of whether Rasa was strong or weak, he was still the Village Shadow of a village!

"Damn Kakashi, don't think you're so great! Once I awaken..."

"Talk to me after you awaken it."

Kakashi closed his book and said flatly, "You've already become the disgrace of the Uchiha. As a ninja, you still haven't awakened the Sharingan. You probably won't have a chance in this lifetime."

"Just settle down as a Genin. Don't bother taking part in the Chunin Ninja Exams later."

"What did you say?!"

Obito was just about to argue with Kakashi when Kakashi's expression suddenly changed. He shoved Obito aside.

Whoosh!!

A Kunai landed exactly where Obito had been standing.

An Explosive Tag was tied to the Kunai's tip.

"Spread out!"

Boom!!

After the smoke from the explosion cleared, five or six ninjas wearing Cloud Village bracers stood on the treetops.

"Silver hair, a Short Sword... Heh heh, I have your information. The son of Konoha's White Fang, Jiraiya's disciple, and the Junior Disciple of the Yellow Flash and the Crimson Eyes."

Whoosh!

A flash of Blade Aura vanished in an instant, swift as lightning!

Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind the speaker. Lightning Release Chakra extended from his chakra short sword and had already pierced through the man's heart.

"Too many titles. You only need to call me Hatake Kakashi."

"Asaru!"

"Damn bastard!"

"You Konoha bastards actually dare kill Asaru!"

Kakashi twisted around and forced back the ninja attacking him before retreating into the group.

His dead-fish eyes remained utterly calm.

"You Cloud Village always make the first move. Then, after we kill you, you start shouting. Is that some kind of tradition you have?"

"Bastard! How dare you insult us Cloud Village ninjas!"

"Damn it! I'll show you the power of our fury!"

Kakashi shook his head helplessly.

After spending so much time around Uchiha Jing, he was completely immune to this sort of childish abuse. He had even picked up a few things...

"'Bastard' and 'damn it' every other word. The Cloud Village's brains really are tiny. Is plundering the only thing you've learned?"

"I suggest starting over with apes and evolving again. You people can't really be considered human yet."

Then Kakashi said in a low voice, "Obito, Rin, send an attack signal and protect yourselves!"

"Understood!"

Before going to the battlefield, Obito and Rin had also gone through the bandit experience package. They wouldn't panic at the sight of a corpse.

Kakashi was about to raise his blade and reap another Cloud Village ninja's life when a Shuriken landed beside him.

When had it...

He keenly sensed the danger, and lightning flashed beneath his feet.

Lightning Body Flicker Technique!

Swish—Bang!

A huge Shuriken seemed to appear out of thin air, materializing where he had stood moments before!

"To dodge Magnet Release: Twin Wasp Blades, one would expect nothing less from the disciple of the Crimson Eyes."

"Did lightning fry your brain? I'm his Junior Disciple." A bead of cold sweat appeared on Kakashi's forehead as he looked at the man walking out from behind the great tree.

The man had short purple hair, a Yellow Scarf, and a massive, distinctive Square Shuriken...

Just as the Cloud Village had detailed records of Konoha's powerful figures, Konoha also had files on the Cloud Village's strong ninjas.

A Jonin of Kumogakure, a user of the Kekkei Genkai Magnet Release... Toroi!

A Jonin possessing a Kekkei Genkai was undoubtedly an elite among Jonin. Why had someone like this appeared inside the Land of Fire?

"I only meant to cut off Konoha's front-line supply route. I didn't expect to run into such a big fish."

Toroi spoke indifferently. "Whether you're his Junior Disciple or his disciple, you're ultimately a fairly important person to Uchiha Jing, aren't you?"

"You can try running, but your two companions won't get away."

Kakashi gripped his Short Sword tightly and sneered.

"The ones who abandon their comrades and run are you Cloud Village ninjas!"

Whether it was his father or himself.

The Hatake Clan would never abandon their comrades!

"Is that so..."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

With a scroll in his mouth, Toroi summoned three enormous Cube Shuriken.

"You're alert, but my Shuriken have already touched those two brats. They can't escape my technique."

!!

Obito and Rin were horrified when they noticed the small Shuriken beside their feet.

"So how will you choose..."

Whoosh!!

The giant Shuriken tore through the air!

"Obito! Rin! Get close to me!"

Kakashi shouted as Lightning Release Chakra erupted from his Short Sword!

Swish!!

The first Shuriken was sliced apart by the Short Sword. The shattered fragments sprayed outward, cutting Kakashi's arm.

Damn it!

There was no time to pause. The second one had arrived!

The Short Sword cut halfway into the Shuriken, but the interference from Magnet Release and the injury to his arm prevented Kakashi from splitting it apart.

Bang!!

The tremendous force sent Kakashi flying.

His eyes nearly bulged from their sockets when he saw the third Shuriken flying toward Obito and Rin.

Obito held a Kunai in his hand. His body trembled with fear, but he still stepped in front of Rin without hesitation.

Rin, I'll protect you no matter what!!

Absolutely!!

An inexplicable Chakra gradually surged toward his eyes, as if something was about to awaken...

Clang!!

At that moment, a soft sound rang out. The Shuriken before him was sliced into fragments by an invisible force!

Clatter, clatter...

The sound of the fragments striking the ground made everyone freeze. Some sort of evolution within Obito also came to an abrupt halt.

Footsteps came from within the forest.

A tall, slender figure slowly approached. There was no shout, no terrifying aura.

Yet the instant they saw him, every Cloud Village ninja felt as if they had encountered a natural enemy.

Their first thought wasn't to run, but to stop breathing. Their bodies trembled.

Like rabbits beneath a lion's claws.

"Let me make this clear first. Kakashi isn't anyone particularly important to me."

"Secondly..."

His indifferent eyes swept across everyone. An invisible pressure seemed to trap them in Amber.

"You can start running now."