They Really Exist

On the outskirts of the Uchiha Clan district, Anko looked around, her eyes full of envy.

"Every time I come to your house, it makes me furious. You're so close to several dango shops, and this prime location is wasted on a lazy bum like you."

"Is that so? Then would you like to move in with me?"

Her expression was becoming harder and harder to keep in check. Anko couldn't help cursing him out.

"You jerk, Hanazuki! You've been like this since forever, always saying things that make no sense. Come to think of it, that's exactly how you acted when we first met!"

"You went on about this Imperial Release: Nine-Clan Erasure Technique, but you've always just been treating everyone like idiots. Just thinking about it makes me mad!"

His lips curled slightly as he recalled what he'd said the first time he met Anko at the Ninja Academy.

"You asked me what the most terrifying ninjutsu was?"

"Of course it's a causality-based ninjutsu. Of all the causality-based ninjutsu I know of, that forbidden technique is the most dangerous."

"As long as you mention certain taboo words, not only will you lose your life, but your family and friends—and even your friends' family and friends—will be erased by an ancient and mysterious power."

"The name of the technique? Hmm... Imperial Release: Nine-Clan Erasure Technique!"

Young Anko had been utterly taken in by his story. The two of them had gradually grown closer after that. Remembering this, Hanazuki turned around and said with an air of solemnity,

"The Imperial Release: Nine-Clan Erasure Technique really exists, just like the One Piece treasure at Laugh Tale, the Grim Reaper who maintains the balance of the three realms, and the Millennium Items sleeping in a desert kingdom. They're just in distant worlds beyond our reach!"

"Ah! There you go again. When are you ever going to... Forget it. Fine, then. This young lady is tired. The Tale of the Gallant Anko comes to an honorable end!"

Lying on the sofa like a beached fish, Anko had completely lost her fighting spirit. No matter how clearly she hinted, the guy in front of her was as oblivious as a block of wood.

"We can't just end it here. Weren't we going to test the ninjutsu?"

"Let's just do it this way. If it can be tested indoors, it can't be all that powerful. Do whatever you want. I give up resisting."

Before Anko could react, a cold substance was injected into her neck, then flowed through her bloodstream toward her heart.

"What is this?"

"A special technique that acts on chakra and spiritual energy. It was developed to compensate for the inadequate defenses of a typical ninja. The results speak for themselves."

Ding!

A black, specially made kunai tapped her exposed elbow. With each instinctive breath and heartbeat, pale blue ripples and lines appeared and vanished, as though joining the surface of her body into a single whole.

Anko stared in shock. She hadn't formed chakra using Hand Seals, so how had chakra gathered on its own and blocked Hanazuki's specially made kunai?

"No Hand Seals are needed, and compared to the chakra required by other ninjutsu, the amount consumed is almost negligible. This is the defensive technique, Blut."

"Blut is still incomplete. I came up with it from a few scattered ideas and combined them with Orochimaru-sensei's research findings. Even so, it can block ordinary kunai and Explosive Tags without a problem."

"Most importantly, even a Genin can use it. It can improve a ninja's chances of survival to some extent. Not bad, right?"

Staring at his spring-breeze smile, Anko was momentarily dazed, then asked softly,

"Blut... Where did you get the inspiration for it?"

"In a dream."

Hanazuki turned to look at the Book of the Crimson Moon beside his pillow. At that moment, it glimmered with a light ordinary people couldn't see.

Ever since he'd started carrying the Book of the Crimson Moon with him, strange knowledge had occasionally entered his mind. It seemed Black Nine-Tails hadn't been lying.

Still, Hanazuki had no idea why the Book of the Crimson Moon could attract Quincy knowledge. But Blut was by far the most complete set of knowledge he'd gathered over the past few days.

All he had to do was prepare a special solution that could automatically combine physical and spiritual energy, then inject it into the blood vessels. That would greatly improve the body's defenses.

That was also how the Quincy could fight Hollows and the Grim Reaper. Their bodies were human, just like anyone else's, and their blood vessels weren't all that different.

Unlike the Quincy, who directly injected Reishi into their blood vessels, the Blut Hanazuki had developed added a step that combined physical and spiritual energy. The difference wasn't all that great.

"You... I feel like you've become a little like Orochimaru-sensei. Anyone who can develop a secret technique makes me feel like an idiot next to them."

Anko repeatedly jabbed at her own skin, testing ordinary blind spots and even her fingertips. The near-complete defense left her utterly dejected.

"No, Orochimaru-sensei and I are fundamentally different. I'll do my best to make sure my techniques don't harm people. Orochimaru-sensei doesn't care about the safety of his test subjects."

"When do you think the war will end, Anko?"

"With Minato-sensei around, it should be over soon."

Like a child—because she was one—Anko had discovered a new toy and was busy testing Blut over and over. Hearing Hanazuki's question, she answered offhandedly.

"Is that so? We don't agree, then. This war might drag on unexpectedly long. Orochimaru-sensei will be surprisingly relentless until he achieves his goal."

Meanwhile, in the Land of Bears, on the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Water,

Nara Shikaku's brow had relaxed. Ever since the Iwa Shinobi in the Land of Grass had been intercepted by Namikaze Minato and Hatake Kakashi, the pressure on the various battlefields had eased considerably.

There was no doubt that as long as their side held the line steadily, the Third Shinobi World War would finally come to an end by the year's end.

In an unnoticed corner, a winding snake looked around before finally disappearing from the battlefield.

Several days later, shocking news reached Konoha. The situation, which had been looking favorable, once again became uncertain.

"What did you say? Kirigakure destroyed our supplies at any cost, putting their own forces in a difficult position. How did they know where the supplies were? Was there an intelligence leak?"

In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen had been leisurely practicing calligraphy when the brush in his hand trembled. Drops of ink splattered across the paper, and disbelief filled his eyes.

"How could Shikaku have made such a mistake? What exactly happened? Did a spy infiltrate us?"

Lost in speculation, Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent. Minato was stationed at Kannabi Bridge, and although Uchiha Hanazuki was temporarily back in the village, he had the task of holding off the Third Tsuchikage. Were there no commanders left to deploy?

"Among the recent graduates, is there any Genin who's shown promise?"

Suddenly, a member of the Intelligence Division hurried in, looking excited.

"Reporting to you, Third Hokage! Uchiha Shisui discovered and defeated Kirigakure Ninja who had infiltrated the area near the Land of Fire. The squad leader was Ao, the Kirigakure jōnin who stole the Byakugan!"