True Youth

The autumn wind was chilly, and flecks of blood spattered across his handsome face. His expression remained utterly calm.

"Kirigakure again? They've been far too active lately. First they went to war with the Sand and Cloud Villages. Could they really be short on capable shinobi?"

Blood droplets fell, yet the sharp edge of his kunai remained spotless.

"S-so impressive! No wonder the Uchiha Clan is one of Konoha's prestigious families. You took care of three Kirigakure squads so easily! That's incredible!"

He turned his head and replied in a level tone.

"It's nothing. Kirigakure's been launching more and more raids lately. You two need to be careful as well, Duy, Kosuke."

"What a thoughtful captain! I wish my son could grow up to be a shinobi like you. Now that's youth!"

Konoha Genin Might Duy and Maruboshi Kosuke were the men Uchiha Hanazuki led as part of the battlefield rescue unit.

They didn't look like much, but their actual strength was dozens of times greater than that of ordinary Genin.

"Why are you being so modest? You led a squad into battle right after graduating, and you've saved hundreds of Konoha shinobi over the past two months. You're a genius."

"Neither the Chunin Ninja Exams nor the exams for becoming a Jonin will pose any problem for you. If my boy could become a Jonin, I'd be satisfied as a father. Hahahaha!"

Might Duy laughed heartily. Kosuke smiled and waved to them from beside him. The stew he'd prepared was already giving off an appetite-whetting aroma.

"Having you two assigned to my squad was a huge help. Without you, I'd have to deal with all those bodies by myself and live on dry Military Ration Pills. Just thinking about it makes me miserable."

Caw! Caw! Caw!

A flock of crows suddenly burst from the distant woods. Hanazuki furrowed his brow and murmured to himself.

"Crows always gather near battlefields, waiting for food. That can't be a good sign. Is this area about to become a battlefield?"

"I didn't expect young people nowadays to believe in omens. Captain, you really are different. That's just old men talking to themselves."

Kosuke smiled kindly. He had lived from the era of the Second Hokage to the present, and had fought in two Shinobi World Wars. His true strength was no less than that of an ordinary Jonin.

"No. I don't believe in omens, but I do believe in luck. Luck is important, especially on the battlefield. A lucky comrade is always much more welcome than an unlucky one."

"Uncle Kosuke, you've always been pretty lucky. Hehehe..."

Hanazuki's smile made Kosuke's clouded old eyes grow hazy. If he hadn't made that mistake back then and given the wrong orders, his comrades wouldn't have died.

He had been lucky enough to survive the battlefield, but if he could have chosen, he would have rather been the one to die that day.

That was why he'd rather remain a Genin for the rest of his life, to atone for his sins.

"Enough about that. New Year's is only a few days away. Captain, Kosuke, what are your plans?"

Might Duy had already eaten two bowls of rice. Kosuke shook his head without a word. He was all alone, so he would naturally spend the New Year by himself.

"Me? I'll probably spend it alone, though I might invite some friends. I don't know if they'll be able to come, but I'll manage somehow."

Suddenly, smoke billowed up from the woods in the distance. Hanazuki furrowed his brow as he was about to serve himself another bowl, and spoke without turning around.

"I'll go check it out. Keep a close eye on the battlefield in every other direction. Kirigakure's movements have been strange lately. If you run into someone you can't handle, flee immediately."

"If it's nothing serious, I'll get back as soon as I can. If anything urgent happens, don't worry about how many enemies the signal might attract. Fire a flare right away."

In a flash, Hanazuki was gone. Might Duy's eyes brimmed with tears.

"Captain! Captain is just so kind! What a gentle man. He's the very model of a shinobi!"

"Ah, he should be at the age when he'd be clinging to his parents, yet his personality has become so... This war is such a tragedy."

Kosuke shook his head slightly, but his gaze fell on Might Duy.

"Speaking of your son, Might Guy is already a Chunin. Is he carrying out missions on the battlefield now?"

"Ah! My son is different from me. He's a Taijutsu genius. He'll become a Jonin one day. I've always believed in his talent."

Might Duy spoke with animated pride in his son. Kosuke put out the fire and packed some food in a thermos for Hanazuki. Then he looked into the distance. The fleeting figure he spotted made his eyes widen.

"Duy, I think your son just went by."

"Kosuke, are you sure? Where? Which way did he go?"

Might Duy looked around eagerly. Kosuke pointed into the depths of the woods and cautioned him softly.

"Be careful. If it turns out to be a trap..."

"I know. I'll inform the captain right away. Don't worry, Kosuke. I've got what it takes to survive on the battlefield too. Hahahaha!"

Kosuke watched Might Duy disappear, his brow furrowed. A lone crow alighted in the distant woods. Its black eyes watched the figure vanishing among the trees, and its piercing cry sounded like the Grim Reaper's horn.

While one flower blooms, another bears fruit.

Might Guy, Shiranui Genma, and Ebisu were on a mission. The three exchanged glances as cold sweat dripped from their brows, soaking their backs.

In the woods nearby stood bizarre figures, each carrying a strange Ninja Blade. The sight sent a chill straight through them.

"The Kirigakure Ninja Village's Seven Ninja Swordsmen! It's the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. Should we run?"

Ebisu stayed on full alert. Shiranui Genma lowered his eyes and answered bluntly.

"They're all elite Kirigakure shinobi. The three of us are only Chunin; we have no chance of getting out. Is this where we die?"

"Running won't help. We can only fight to the death. Is this where Konoha's beast meets his end?"

The pressure on the three mounted, and they wavered. Across from them, the others burst into laughter, their sharp shark teeth glinting coldly.

"I never thought we'd become so famous that even the brats from Konoha know who we are. You're not in luck, kids. But even if you are kids, this is a battlefield."

"So, should we cut them to pieces?"

"No. Cut, cut, cut! The cries of children before they die are so delightful."

"You should use Lightning Release..."

"Raiga, your jutsu draws too much attention. This is a battlefield."

As they argued, that familiar green jumpsuit darted through the woods and stood in front of Might Guy and the others.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

As the smoke cleared, Might Duy looked back with a smile. His white teeth gleamed in the sunlight.

"Guy, true youth is only just beginning! Even if it costs you your life, you must protect what matters most. Do you understand?"