Moonlight Clan

"What a rare Kekkei Genkai."

In a dim Underground Laboratory, Orochimaru stood beneath the yellowish light. On the experiment table before him sat a glass container holding the blood he had secretly collected from Gekko Hayate the night before.

After a night of accelerated research, Orochimaru had confirmed the Kekkei Genkai possessed by Gekko Hayate.

Tōton—a Kekkei Genkai that could turn its user invisible and erase their presence. Unfortunately, the user would lose their invisibility as soon as they entered combat, making it of little use in a fight. But it was excellent for spying.

"That guy Jiraiya must really like this kind of Kekkei Genkai."

Thinking of the man who liked to visit women's bathhouses, Orochimaru chuckled, then disposed of all of Gekko Hayate's blood.

At Konoha Hospital, the director, Nara Lukai, handed the test report to Gekko Sekiseki with a solemn expression.

"Tōton...?"

Gekko Sekiseki looked at the report, his excitement gradually fading.

The powerful Kekkei Genkai he had hoped for turned out to be useful only for hiding. It was a serious blow.

"Sekiseki, don't be too upset yet. If Tōton is used well, it may be no worse than other Kekkei Genkai!" Nara Lukai said. "Although Tōton can't be used in combat, it has a natural advantage when it comes to gathering intelligence. I believe Hayate will become the village's finest intelligence-gathering ninja one day!"

Gekko Sekiseki gave a wry smile and shook his head. "Lord Nara, Hayate is supposed to inherit Konoha-Style Kenjutsu. He's the hope of the Gekko Clan! If his Kekkei Genkai can't help him grow stronger, then..."

Then they would have been better off without this Kekkei Genkai!

Nara Lukai sighed. "I understand. If you change your mind, come see me. I'll introduce you to the best ninja in intelligence gathering so he can train Hayate."

"Thank you, Lord Nara. That's all for today, then. Goodbye."

Gekko Sekiseki left Konoha Hospital and looked up at the sun, giving a wry smile. It felt as though he had just woken from a beautiful dream, only to find the world as cruel as ever.

He followed the street home, but didn't go straight there. Instead, he turned at a street corner, gradually leaving the bustle behind, and eventually arrived at a grove.

"Sekiseki, you're here!"

Not long after he entered the woods, a ninja in his thirties emerged from the shadows.

"Ah, Ranfu. Thanks for your efforts." Gekko Sekiseki nodded in greeting.

Gekko Ranfu noticed that Gekko Sekiseki's expression seemed off. After a moment's thought, he realized what had happened and hurriedly asked, "Sekiseki, what about that child Hayate's Kekkei Genkai?"

"It's Tōton, a Kekkei Genkai that lets people turn invisible. It's not much use," Gekko Sekiseki said with a wry smile.

"I see. What a shame. Everyone was so excited about it, too. Sigh." Gekko Ranfu shook his head in disappointment.

"Are they all here?" Gekko Sekiseki asked, pulling himself together.

"Ah, I almost forgot. Sekiseki, hurry inside. They're waiting for you," Gekko Ranfu said.

Gekko Sekiseki nodded and headed deeper into the forest.

The forest was lush, its trees thick with branches and leaves, but a hundred-meter-wide clearing lay at its center.

More than seventy members of the Gekko Clan had gathered in the clearing. At their head stood Hanfu's Cheap Dad, the clan leader and Jonin, Gekko Hoshino!

Most of the other clan members were Chunin, though there were also five Special Jonin. Gekko Ranfu, who was keeping watch outside, was one of them.

As for the Jonin, aside from the clan leader Gekko Hoshino, there was Gekko Sekiseki, who had just arrived.

These people were the Backbone Force of the Gekko Clan!

As soon as Gekko Sekiseki entered, everyone gathered around him to ask about Gekko Hayate's Kekkei Genkai.

Gekko Sekiseki could only give a wry smile and repeat what Hayate's Kekkei Genkai was.

"Tōton? Sigh!"

"What a shame. That child Hayate has talent. If only the Kekkei Genkai he awakened could work with Konoha-Style Kenjutsu."

"More than that, I'm worried about this war!"

"We're leaving the village for the battlefield tomorrow. Who knows if we'll make it back alive?"

"If we all die, the Gekko Clan really will fall into decline."

"Even the mighty Senju Clan gradually declined. No clan can stay strong forever."

"Speaking of which... have we ever been strong?"

"Enough. That's all."

Gekko Hoshino stepped before the group and spoke loudly. "War is unavoidable now. As members of Konoha, the Gekko Clan must do its part. But the clan's future also needs to be protected!"

Gekko Hoshino looked around at everyone and said respectfully, "Uncles Inoue and Matsushita, you're both getting on in years. Stay in the village this time and teach the younger generation. Leave the rest to us."

Gekko Inoue and Gekko Matsushita were both over sixty and two of the five Special Jonin. But with their aging bodies, they could no longer fight at a Special Jonin's level.

"Good."

"Leave it to us."

The two old men didn't insist. They knew their own bodies, and going to the battlefield in their condition would be suicide.

Then Gekko Hoshino looked around at the others, his face grave. "Everyone else, gather at the village gate at five tomorrow morning. You'll head to the battlefield with the Main Force!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!!"

When Gekko Hoshino returned home and saw that his son wasn't inside, he went to look for him in the backyard. There, he caught him sneaking back over the fence from Hayate's Home in a clumsy crawl. From the other yard, he could hear Hayate calling, "Goodbye, Big Brother!"

"Hanfu, were you playing at your little brother's house?" Gekko Hoshino went over with a smile and hoisted Hanfu up by the scruff.

Hanfu found it humiliating!

"Yeah, that little brat cried and begged me to train with him. I couldn't exactly say no." Hanfu struggled free of his Cheap Dad's grip, then asked, though he already knew the answer, "Dad, have they confirmed Hayate's Kekkei Genkai?"

"It's Tōton, but... don't bring it up again." Gekko Hoshino took a deep breath, then said, "Hanfu, the Ninja Academy starts in a couple of days. Your mother will take you and Hayate to enroll. Make sure you look after Hayate at school, understand?"

"Huh?"

Hanfu froze. "Does Uncle Hoshiseki have a mission?"

For something as important as starting school, his real father wasn't even going to show up?

Gekko Hoshino lifted his head to look at the distant sky and sighed. "Everyone... has a mission."

Hanfu furrowed his brows. He had a sharp sense that something was wrong.

The atmosphere felt off!

It almost seemed as if his father was making arrangements for after his death.

Hanfu put his hands in his pockets and lowered his head, deep in thought. A moment later, he suddenly realized what was going on.

At the same time, Gekko Hoshino reached out with his wicked hand and vigorously ruffled Hanfu's hair until it was a complete mess. Then he burst out laughing. "Hanfu, I'll let you taste your dad's cooking today!"

Hanfu slapped his hand away with a look of disgust, but his mood immediately sank again.

He realized the Third Shinobi World War... was about to begin!

As the leader of the Gekko Clan, his dad would probably take the clan's ninjas to the battlefield!

Hanfu looked up at his dad's back. For some reason, his chest felt tight.