I Learned It in No Time

"Qin Yu, rest assured. This pass is a vital strategic position for the Land of Fire. We won't disobey orders, but we won't abandon it lightly, either. If the Cloud Ninja get through and scatter, they'll pose a tremendous threat to Konoha." Uzuki Cangwu, who had spoken up earlier to stop them, said in a low voice.

"Everyone, go get ready!" Qin Yu said, looking at the others.

The world of shinobi was one where the strong preyed on the weak. Qin Yu's display of strength was enough to command their respect.

Besides, abandoning their comrades—even for the sake of a mission—would earn them nothing but scorn when they returned to Konoha.

And if the Cloud Ninja got through this pass and entered Konoha, they would find nothing but open country, as if no one stood in their way.

Trying to keep them back would be far too difficult.

"Qin Yu, rest assured..." The ninjas all chimed in, preparing to take up their positions and keep watch.

"By the way, does anyone have a ninjutsu scroll on them?" Qin Feng suddenly remembered something important.

He had the One-Click Max Level System, which could max out any ninjutsu.

They still had three days to spare. Of course he wasn't going to pass up a chance to make himself stronger.

Besides, the Cloud Ninja's AB Duo would be no easy opponents.

"A ninjutsu scroll?"

The more than twenty ninjas present were taken aback.

"None?" Qin Feng hadn't been too hopeful.

After all, with the war underway, who would carry a scroll for studying on them?

Besides, the ninja villages had dedicated rooms for studying ninjutsu scrolls. Most techniques were passed down by teachers or taught by elders.

Few people carried ninjutsu scrolls around with them.

If they were defeated on the battlefield, they would lose not only their lives but likely their scrolls as well.

Uzuki Cangwu stepped forward from the crowd. "Qin Yu, I don't know why you want a ninjutsu scroll, but this is an A-rank technique I prepared for my daughter: Lightning Style: Falling Thunder. I'd planned to give it to her as a present when she became a Chunin after the mission."

"Better you have it than let it fall into the Cloud Ninja's hands."

"Your daughter?" Qin Yu raised an eyebrow. Looking at the outline of the older ninja's face, he found it vaguely familiar. "Is your daughter Uzuki Yugao?"

"Hahaha, Uzuki, your daughter really is something. Even Qin Yu has taken notice of her," a burly man said with a hearty laugh.

Uzuki Cangwu glared at him. "Shut it, you fool. You're always trying to set your son up with me. My precious daughter swore she'd only marry someone who was at least a Special Jōnin."

"Come on, my son Inuarashi will be a Chunin soon. Becoming a Special Jōnin is only a matter of time," Inubou shot back.

"Uzuki, what do you think of Qin Yu? He's certainly strong enough to be a Special Jōnin. Even us old hands can't match his genjutsu."

The unexpected remark came from somewhere in the group.

Shizune's expression stiffened, and she hurriedly said, "Stop joking around. Give Qin Yu the scroll first. He might have some use for it."

"Little Shizune, why are you blushing? Don't tell me you've fallen for Qin Yu."

Laughter rang through the cavern, easing the tense atmosphere a little.

After giving Qin Yu a once-over, Uzuki Cangwu clapped him on the shoulder. "You're a fine young man. Your genjutsu really is strong enough to put you on the level of a Special Jōnin. The scroll's yours."

"If you make it back alive, I have a letter I'd like you to give to my daughter."

"Qin Yu, I have something too. Please give it to my son."

"I've got something as well."

"Sorry for the trouble!"

As the ninjas pulled out letters and personal belongings, it was clear they believed Qin Yu had the best chance of making it back to Konoha alive.

"Qin Yu, could you return this Kunai to Lady Tsunade for me?" Shizune could no longer hold back. "It was her gift to me when I became her apprentice..."

For a moment, the smiles on everyone's faces concealed a hint of bitterness.

"Do you all think this battle is a death sentence?" Qin Yu said calmly. "Then why didn't you agree when Yamanaka Fu and the others decided to retreat?"

Everyone fell silent.

In their eyes, Qin Yu was strong enough to be a Special Jōnin.

But there were over a hundred Cloud Ninja, along with the AB Duo. One person couldn't hold them all off.

Uzuki Cangwu hurried to explain, "Qin Yu, don't misunderstand. We're not cowards afraid of death. When we became ninjas and accepted this mission, we knew we might die."

"Besides, this pass is the main route to Konoha. If the Cloud Ninja break through and march straight in, Konoha will be attacked from both sides, and our families and children will be in danger."

"So we'd rather die than retreat!"

Inubou nodded and said gravely, "Qin Yu, we've underestimated you all along. We never knew you had such powerful genjutsu. We've already made peace with dying here. We only hoped you could take a few things back for us."

"Qin Yu, please help them," Shizune urged. "And help me, too."

Everyone looked at Qin Yu with a glimmer of hope.

"Sorry, I won't help you," Qin Yu said calmly. "Take these things back. If you want to deliver them, do it yourselves."

"That goes for this scroll, too. We're all going back together!"

His quiet words swept through the entire cavern like a gale, shaking everyone to their core.

Uzuki Cangwu clenched his fists, his eyes reddening. "That's right! The kid's right. We're all going back together."

"When we get back, I'll introduce my daughter to you."

"Hahaha, Uzuki, you really are shameless for an old man."

"Hmph, you're all desperate to have daughters now, just so you can introduce them to Qin Yu." Uzuki Cangwu glared at them, then asked, "Qin Yu, why do you want a ninjutsu scroll? This is an A-rank Lightning Release technique, Falling Thunder."

Everyone couldn't help looking at Qin Yu curiously.

Before a battle to the death, an A-rank technique was powerful, but it clearly wouldn't be much use right now.

"Nothing special. I just want to learn a couple more techniques to have on hand." Qin Yu took the scroll.

With the One-Click Max Level System, the more ninjutsu he had, the better.

"Trying to learn a ninjutsu now might be cutting it close," Uzuki Cangwu said, taken aback. "It took me over a month to master this technique. With only three days left, you're really pushing it."

"Don't worry. I'll learn it in no time," Qin Yu said without explaining.

He couldn't exactly tell them he had a system that could max out a technique with one click.

They'd be even less likely to believe him.

"This..." Uzuki Cangwu paused, then said, "All right. I know this technique too. If you insist on learning it, I can teach you."

"Thanks, Uncle Uzuki. I'll be fine on my own." Qin Yu shook his head, declined, and headed out first with the scroll.

As they watched Qin Yu walk away, quite a few of the ninjas sighed to themselves.