The True Youth

The autumn wind was slightly chilly. Tiny droplets of blood splattered onto that refined, handsome face, yet his expression remained completely calm.

"Mist Village again? Their recent movements have been far too frequent. Having waged war against the Sand Village and the Cloud Village in succession, have they truly run low on ninjas capable of serving as combat strength?"

Blood beads dripped down, yet the sharp blade of his kunai remained unstained.

"So... so amazing! As expected of the Uchiha clan, a prestigious family of Konoha. To think you could so easily wipe out three Mist Village squads—it's truly incredible!"

He turned his head, his tone indifferent.

"It's nothing special. The harassment from the Mist has been increasing lately, so you two should be careful as well, Duy, Kosuke."

"What a thoughtful captain! If only my son could grow up to be a ninja like you—this is what youth is all about!"

Konoha genin Might Duy and Maruboshi Kosuke—these were the subordinates Uchiha Hanazuki led as part of the battlefield rescue squad.

Each of them looked unremarkable, but in reality, the strength they possessed was dozens of times greater than that of an average genin.

"Why are you being so polite, Captain? You're a genius who began leading squads into battle right after graduation, saving hundreds of Konoha ninjas over these past two months."

"Whether it's the Chunin Exams or the Jonin Exams, there's no doubt you'll pass with ease. If my boy could just become a jonin, this father would be satisfied. Hahahaha!"

Might Duy laughed heartily, while Kosuke, standing to the side, waved his hand with a smile. The stew he had prepared earlier emitted an aroma that made one's appetite soar.

"It was a huge help having the two of you specifically assigned to my squad. Without you, I'd have to deal with those corpses all by myself and spend my days gnawing on dry Military Ration Pills. Just thinking about it is miserable."

Caw! Caw! Caw!

In the distant mountain forest, a few stray crows suddenly took flight. Hanazuki frowned slightly and muttered to himself.

"Crows always gather near the battlefield waiting for food. This isn't a good omen. Is this area about to become a battlefield?"

"To think a young man like you still believes in omens. You really are different, Captain. Those are just things old men say to themselves."

Kosuke smiled kindly. Having lived from the era of the Second Hokage to the present and survived two Great Ninja Wars, his actual strength was in no way inferior to an average jonin.

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

"Uncle Kosuke, your luck has always been quite good, heh heh..."

Hanazuki's smile made Kosuke's cloudy, aged eyes grow misty. If not for his own lapse in judgment back then, for giving the wrong order, his comrades would not have died.

This luck that allowed him to survive the battlefield—if he could, he would rather have been the one to sacrifice himself back then.

Precisely because of this, he preferred to remain a genin for the rest of his life to atone for his sins.

"Setting that aside, the New Year is only a few days away. Do you and Brother Kosuke have any plans?"

Might Duy had already finished two bowls of rice in the blink of an eye. Kosuke shook his head in silence; as a man who lived alone, he would naturally be by himself during the New Year.

"Me? I'll probably spend it alone, though it's possible I might invite some friends. Whether they can make it or not, I don't know. It'll pass regardless."

Suddenly, thick smoke rose in the distance. Hanazuki, who had been about to serve another bowl of rice, frowned and spoke without looking back.

"I'm going to take a look. Keep a close watch on the other directions; the Mist Village's movements have been strange lately. If you encounter anyone troublesome, flee immediately."

"If that side isn't troublesome, I'll return as quickly as possible. If there's an emergency, don't worry about how many enemies you might attract—fire a signal flare immediately."

With a flicker of movement, Hanazuki vanished. Might Duy's eyes welled up with tears.

"Captain... the Captain is truly so gentle. What a gentle man; he is simply a model for all ninjas!"

"Sigh, at an age where he should be acting spoiled toward his parents, his personality has become like this... what a tragic war."

Kosuke shook his head slightly, his gaze falling upon Might Duy.

"Speaking of which, your son, Might Guy, is already a chunin. Is he also executing a mission on the battlefield right now?"

"Ah! Speaking of my son, he's different from me. He's a genius at taijutsu. One day, he will become a jonin. I have always firmly believed in his talent."

Might Duy spoke with great animation, brimming with pride for his child. Kosuke extinguished the fire and, after setting aside a portion for Hanazuki in a thermal container, cast his gaze toward the distance. A fleeting figure caught his eye, causing his eyes to widen.

"Duy, it looks like your child just passed by."

"Brother Kosuke, are you telling the truth? Where? Which way did he go?"

Might Duy looked left and right, his eyes full of joy. Kosuke pointed toward the depths of the dense forest and cautioned him softly.

"Be careful. In case it's a trap..."

"I understand. I'll notify the Captain immediately. Don't worry, Brother Kosuke, I have my own ways of surviving on the battlefield, hahahaha."

Watching Might Duy's retreating back, Kosuke's brow furrowed tightly. In the distance, a lone crow landed silently in the trees. Its pitch-black eyes watched the figure disappearing into the woods, its shrill cry sounding like the horn of the Grim Reaper.

The story splits here.

Might Guy, Shiranui Genma, and Ebisu, who were in the middle of their mission, looked at one another. Beads of cold sweat dripped from their foreheads, and their backs were already soaked through.

In the forest not far away, several bizarre figures holding strange, unique blades made the chill run straight down their spines.

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

Ebisu was on high alert. Shiranui Genma lowered his gaze and spoke frankly.

"These guys are all elites of the Mist. With just us three chunin, we have absolutely no chance of escaping. Has our time come?"

"Running isn't an option. We have no choice but to fight to the death. Is this where the beasts of Konoha meet their end?"

The pressure on the three of them intensified, their hearts filled with trepidation, while the group opposite them laughed heartily, their sharp, shark-like teeth glinting with a cold light.

"To think we've become so famous that even the brats from Konoha know who we are. Your luck is truly rotten; even if you are just kids, this is a battlefield."

"So, should we mince them up?"

"No, slice them, just slice them. The wails of brats before they die are truly music to my ears."

"We should be using Lightning Style..."

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

Just as they were bickering, that familiar green jumpsuit darted through the forest, positioning itself in front of Might Guy and his two companions.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

As the smoke cleared, Might Duy turned back and flashed a grin, his pearly white teeth sparkling in the sunlight.

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