Explode! The Power of Youth!

The dark forest was as if wrapped in a giant black curtain, and a large patch of dark clouds gathered intentionally in the sky.

Tōka and Shisui Uchiha stood facing each other coldly, a murderous aura permeating the entire forest.

"It seems you don't intend to come with me obediently." Shisui Uchiha appeared to have lost his patience, his relaxed demeanor suddenly becoming tense.

Tōka couldn't see the other's expression, only feeling an immensely powerful pressure like Mount Tai bearing down on him, huge rocks pressing on his head making him gasp for breath.

Jonin? Or perhaps an elite Jonin's strength?

This was the strength of Body Flicker Shisui? Just his aura alone…

A drop of cold sweat trickled down Tōka's forehead along his cheek. Compared to when he faced a rogue ninja from Kirigakure, the pressure had increased several times over.

"I'm coming!" Shisui's voice suddenly rang out, seeming to be twenty paces away and yet as close as his ear.

Tōka instinctively turned his head to look, and a mask with strange patterns bizarrely appeared behind him.

Body Flicker Shisui, truly lived up to his name.

However, Tōka was not someone who gave up easily.

Chakra surged out madly, flowing through his meridians to every limb and bone.

Crack!!

Crack crack crack!!

Instantly, a series of countless grey bones pierced out from various parts of his body.

Tōka himself looked like a hedgehog wearing human skin, covered in bizarre bones all over his body, exuding a decaying aura.

Shisui, who was preparing to strike Tōka with a palm chop, immediately stomped on the ground, his heel sinking deep into the soil.

Although Tōka's data was top secret, it was not impossible for Danzo.

And Shisui Uchiha, who was sent on this mission, had learned some information about his opponent.

Including that ability that guaranteed an instant kill if it landed!

Whoosh!!

Shisui used a Body Flicker Technique to create distance, his gaze fixed coldly on Tōka.

"Strange bones, is this your ability?" Shisui asked in a deep voice.

He remembered that in the Land of Water's Kirigakure, there was a clan, the Kaguya Clan, whose Kekkei Genkai involved bones!

Could this kid be a spy sent by an enemy nation?

For a moment, the aura around Shisui suddenly turned cold, a chilling killing intent spreading out.

Initially, Shisui's purpose was merely to capture Tōka under Danzo's orders.

At this moment, Shisui was following his own principles, to kill Tōka.

Anyone who wanted to destroy Konoha was an enemy!

Since he was an enemy spy, there was no need to hold back!

"Killing intent?!" Tōka's heart skipped a beat. Although Shisui had attacked quickly before, there hadn't been any killing intent.

But now…

Tōka suddenly felt a bit unable to react.

Did Danzo send Shisui to kill him?

Clang!!

Beneath the intricately patterned mask, a pair of scarlet Three Tomoe Pupils spun.

"Not good, Genjutsu!" Tōka's expression changed, and he quickly closed his eyes.

Fighting against someone from the Uchiha clan, one must never look into their eyes; this was common knowledge in the ninja world.

Although Tōka's Genjutsu was somewhat accomplished, he wasn't arrogant enough to believe he could contend with the Sharingan.

Moreover, Tōka wasn't sure if Shisui had awakened his eyes yet, or if he possessed the ocular jutsu—the strongest Genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami!

"Ah-tah!~" Suddenly, a strange cry rang out in the forest.

A familiar aura washed over him. Before Tōka could even open his eyes, a dull thump sounded.

"Tōka, are you alright?!" Kai's voice came, and Tōka felt two different presences appear beside him.

He opened his eyes and saw that it was indeed Kai and Might Duy.

Shisui Uchiha, on the other hand, had been sent flying by a Strong Fist Gale from Might Duy.

"That mask, is it from Root?" Might Duy displayed an unusual shrewdness, seeming to also know about Konoha's dark organization, Root.

"Such heavy footwork." Shisui shook his slightly numb arm. His Body Flicker Technique was already very fast.

Yet, his opponent's speed was completely able to keep up, and their strength was overwhelming.

Shisui hadn't used his full power, but even using his full power might not guarantee an advantage.

This was because Might Duy's body weights had not yet been removed!

"Why did you attack Tōka?" Might Duy asked in a deep voice. Although he had refused to teach Tōka Taijutsu, Duy recognized Tōka as his son's friend.

"Hmph, it looks like today's mission can't be completed." Shisui had some understanding of Might Duy's abilities.

Even though he didn't know how strong the Eight Inner Gates were, if Might Duy activated them to fight, it would definitely attract the attention of Konoha's Anbu.

Shisui Uchiha hesitated for a moment, then suddenly threw a Smoke Bomb.

Bang! A cloud of white mist rose into the air.

Shisui's presence vanished completely.

It seems it wasn't a coincidence. Just as the Third Hokage withdrew the Anbu who were monitoring, people from Root appeared, Tōka thought, narrowing his eyes.

Tomorrow, he would depart with the team, heading directly to the battlefield.

Today, the Third Hokage had specifically withdrawn the Anbu to show a gesture of goodwill and sincerity.

After all, Tōka's identity was somewhat peculiar. Although Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Minato, among other important figures, claimed that Tōka had emerged from a rain of falling stones.

The Third Hokage still found it unbelievable. Fortunately, Tōka had performed admirably over the past year and a half.

Gradually, the Third Hokage decided to accept Tōka, or at least not make him an enemy.

"He's probably gone," Might Duy retracted his offensive stance, his solemn expression finally easing.

Although Duy's file in Konoha listed him as a Genin, his true strength surpassed that of a Kage.

However, that was only after activating the Eight Inner Gates.

"Tōka, who was that guy? Why was he looking for you?" Kai asked, confused.

"Kai, this isn't something you can understand right now!" Before Tōka could speak, Might Duy reprimanded him first.

Although Might Duy lived in a secluded corner of Konoha, in a remote forest, he knew a lot about Konoha's darkness.

Especially Root, hidden beneath the ground. It was still too early for Kai.

"Tōka, you came here to find Kai, right? You two have a good chat!" Might Duy nodded and then left. He had to report this matter to the Third Hokage.

Might Duy was an unwavering supporter of the Hokage faction.

"Yeah, Tōka, you haven't come to find me in ages!" Kai said with a hint of dissatisfaction.

They used to train Taijutsu together, but in the past year, they had met only a handful of times.

Tōka looked at Kai expressionlessly, silently grumbling, Don't look at me with such a mournful gaze, especially when you look like a watermelon-rind kappa!

"I'm going to the battlefield tomorrow, so I came to say goodbye today," Tōka said solemnly. After this, he didn't know if they would ever see each other again.

"What? Going to the battlefield?" Kai's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed in surprise.

The village rarely sent Genin to the battlefield. Battlefields were meat grinders built on the foundation of Chunin, sharpened by Jonin, and overseen by Kage-level powerhouses.

The Genin who appeared on the battlefield were less like Genin and more like cannon fodder.

Konohagakure had a powerful foundation, and sending Genin to participate in the war was seen by the Third Hokage as damaging their roots.

Konoha's cannon fodder usually consisted of ninjas from allied smaller nations. Only when absolutely necessary would they send Genin from their own village.

Currently, only Sunagakure was participating in the war. Konoha's true strength had not yet been revealed.

Kai didn't understand...

"Look on the bright side," Tōka didn't know how to explain it to Kai.

The battlefield was a path to becoming stronger by risking one's life.

If he died in the Third Shinobi World War, it would prove that Tōka was nothing special and unworthy of the supreme honor of the Otsutsuki surname.

Silence. The atmosphere suddenly grew still.

Kai had become a Genin and formed a four-person squad, undertaking various D-rank missions.

Occasionally, they would encounter C-rank missions like exterminating bandits or escorting merchant caravans.

The battlefield was still too early for him. Before it was Kakashi, and now even Tōka...

Kai clenched his fists, feeling like he was being left further behind by the two of them.

"Don't make that face. This isn't the Kai I know!" Tōka, however, knew that the conflict in Sunagakure was just a spark.

It would soon lead to a global war.

In the later stages of the Third Shinobi World War, Konoha would also have to send Genin to support the battlefield.

Sunagakure and Iwagakure had even committed more than two-thirds of their mainland forces to the battlefield.

Kai would eventually enter the battlefield too.

The wind rustled, and fallen leaves danced in the breeze, like newly born butterflies flying freely.

The two of them lay on a hillside, letting the fragrance of the valley wash over their faces.

"Tōka!" Kai turned his head, his eyes blazing as he looked at Tōka.

A sense of foreboding...

"Let your youth burn! First, run five hundred laps around the village."

"If you can't do it, do a thousand kicks!"

"If you can't do it, do a thousand squats!"

"If you can't do it, do a thousand…"

Just as I thought! Tōka's eye twitched as he stared at Kai like he was some kind of monster.

Only you and your dad can do things like that!

But…

Today, let's unleash our youth!

Tōka decided to risk it all and join him.

"Okay."

"Ooooh!~~"

Kai let out a strange cry and charged out.

In the forest, a green blur flashed by…

The next morning, the alarm clock blared, waking Tōka.

Like a nimble monkey, Tōka flipped to his feet and quickly dressed in a casual outfit that wasn't too tight or too loose.

"Today is the day we head to the battlefield."

As a fresh reinforcement, Tōka's first mission was to transport supplies.

Sending a large army west without transporting food would be too wasteful, wouldn't it?

And the captains of this operation were none other than the two Hyuga brothers, Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi Hyuga.

Tōka stood in the middle of the formation, his short stature completely hidden.

Tōka decided to keep a low profile on the upcoming battlefield.

He secretly observed the two Hyuga brothers. They looked incredibly similar, and in their twenties, they exuded less composure and more youthful, sunny energy.

However, both Hyuga brothers were Jonin at this point. Tōka wasn't sure if they were hiding their true strength.

Furthermore, an unexpected person appeared in the ranks.

"Might Duy?!" Tōka was bewildered, wondering why Might Duy, a Genin, was here.

Tōka noticed Might Duy, clad in green, and Might Duy naturally noticed him too.

He walked through the crowd, gave a thumbs-up, and a gleaming white tooth appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Yo! Tōka, I didn't expect us to become comrades!"

"Uh… yeah!" Tōka's face darkened. I wanted to keep a low profile! This guy is a total liability!

Because of Might Duy, all eyes turned towards them.

Tōka lowered his head and remained silent, while Might Duy continued to flash that blindingly white tooth.

The others, seemingly unable to bear the overwhelming awkwardness, subtly distanced themselves.

Just then, the leader, Hyuga Hiashi, bid farewell to the Hyuga Clan members and waved his hand, officially setting the army in motion.

The Land of Wind was west of the Land of Fire, and the dense forests resembled vast seas of deep green.

Beyond the sea of trees lay a sky filled with swirling yellow sand.

Due to the importance of the food supplies, the troop's progress was slowed.

And to maintain the overall strength of the unit, Hyuga Hiashi decided to halt and regroup after marching for half a day.

The troop consisted of three thousand soldiers, unlike the reinforcements from other major nations.

The majority of the three thousand were Chunin, with a smaller number of Jonin, and only two Genin.

Tōka and Might Duy!

They were part of the true elite force.

The rest period was set for one hour. After a simple meal of dry rations, everyone closed their eyes to rest.

With members of the Hyuga Clan present, the guard duty was entrusted to them.

The Byakugan offered a 360-degree field of vision with no blind spots, capable of seeing through the body's Chakra.

The range varied depending on the level of the awakened eye.

It was comparable to the Mind's Eye of the Kagura, a very powerful reconnaissance ability.

Therefore, everyone in the troop rested with peace of mind.

As long as the Hyuga Clan's reconnaissance team didn't issue a warning, there was no danger.

Tōka had his own calculations. The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan was strong, but not invincible.

The truly strongest individual in the entire troop was undoubtedly the one beside him…

Might Duy, clad in green, sat with Tōka beside him under a large tree, resting and beginning to refine his chakra.

Time passed without notice, and the camp was utterly silent.

The occasional rustling of movement was merely the rotation of the Hyuga Clan's reconnaissance team.

Suddenly, a chill swept over him, and Tōka couldn't help but furrow his brow slightly.

He wasn't wearing much, just two layers, but it was already past eight in the morning, and it shouldn't be cold.

Moreover, this chill had come on fiercely and strangely.

"Uncle Duy, wake up!" Tōka nudged Might Duy, his young face displaying the alertness of a leopard.

"What is it?" Might Duy had been dozing casually; with the Hyuga Clan acting as scouts, he felt completely at ease.

"Something's not right," Tōka said in a low voice, gesturing around. "Look, it's getting foggy!"

Indeed!

Might Duy also noticed a vast expanse of white mist spreading through the forest.

"This is bad, it's Kirigakure's Hidden Mist Technique!"

From within the camp, someone shouted.

Instantly, the entire quiet camp erupted like a bomb dropped into a calm lake, sending splashes everywhere.

Everyone scrambled to their feet, back-to-back with their companions, gripping their weapons tightly and staring ahead.

"Heeheehee~~, I originally just wanted to intercept a supply convoy, but I didn't expect to find such a big fish!"

"Don't get careless, there are three thousand of them!"

"Looks like they're fresh troops supporting the front lines."

"Kill them, maybe those Sunagakure trash can hold out a little longer?"

Seven figures gradually emerged from the blinding white mist, each holding a peculiar weapon.

... (To be continued)