Bloom, Youth

The Battle of Kannabi Bridge became the turning point of the Third Shinobi World War.

Minato led his team on a rampage, killing so many that Iwagakure grew terrified, forcing their high command to reconsider whether there was any point in continuing the conflict.

While the Iwagakure leadership hesitated, Shimura Danzo sent agents to secretly contact Onoki, tricking him into signing a treaty to "cease hostilities between the two villages and jointly strike Kumogakure."

Iwagakure immediately mobilized ten thousand troops, taking advantage of Kumogakure's exposed rear to launch a surprise attack on the Land of Lightning, successfully wearing down the Third Raikage until he died.

However, the Iwagakure army waited and waited at the border of the Land of Lightning, but the Konoha allied forces that were supposed to appear according to the agreement never arrived.

Only then did Onoki realize he had been played by Shimura Danzo!

Unfortunately, it was too late.

You had just killed the Fourth Raikage's own father; there was no way they would accept a peace offering now.

Iwagakure had tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice, and they were forced into an all-out war with Kumogakure.

Konoha's pressure was greatly relieved, and large numbers of shinobi withdrew from the front lines to begin dealing with the Mist Village, which had been trying to take advantage of the chaos from behind.

"Well, none of that has anything to do with me. Time to go back to enjoying life~~"

Genye lay half-reclined on his bed, legs crossed, holding a book by Jiraiya and reading it with great pleasure.

"Genye, what are you reading? You look so focused."

Just then, a green-clad bowl-cut head leaned in, looking curiously at the book in Genye's hands.

Smack!

Genye slapped Guy, saying irritably, "How come none of you ever knock before coming in?!"

"I did knock, but you didn't answer, so I just climbed in." Guy rubbed his head, feeling aggrieved. (He thought to himself: Next time I'll just kick the door down!)

"Speak up, what do you want?" Genye shifted into a more comfortable position and continued reading about the protagonist and heroine secretly fighting on a crowded deck.

"Nothing much." Guy scratched his head. "I'm heading out on a mission and might not be able to see you for a while, so I just wanted to let you know."

"Oh, is it about the Mist Village?" Genye flipped a page and asked casually.

"Yeah." Guy nodded, looking surprised. "How did you know, Genye?"

"Ah, well, so it really is..."

Genye silently closed the book and sighed. "Born into this world, never a moment of peace."

Guy: "???"

What on earth was Genye talking about? Why couldn't he understand a word of it?

"When are you leaving, Guy?" Genye asked, rubbing his brow.

"Tomorrow morning," Guy replied.

"Alright, I got it." Genye pushed Guy all the way to the door and said, "You go on now, I need to prepare properly."

Thud.

Watching the door close, Guy scratched his head in confusion.

Guy didn't get it. It was his mission, so why was Genye acting like he was the one heading out?

Three days later, in a dense forest common to the Land of Fire.

Might Guy stood frozen in place, his eyes locked on the front, cold sweat pouring down his body as he didn't dare move an inch.

His two teammates, Shiranui Genma and Ebisu, were in no better shape; Ebisu's legs were even shaking uncontrollably.

Before them:

Seven large men with distinct builds and appearances were either squatting, sitting, or standing on a giant boulder under the shade of the trees, eyeing them with malicious intent.

Without exception, each of these seven carried a bizarrely shaped ninja blade.

Their killing intent was incredibly thick, as if they were evil spirits that had crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

"Th-th-that's the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist Village!" Ebisu said, his voice trembling.

"Well, it seems we're quite famous, even the brats from other villages recognize us." The incredibly obese Fuguki Suikazan grinned hideously.

"I hate Konoha brats!" Juzo Biwa said with a dark face.

"Me too. I'm going to sew their bodies together and turn them into the ultimate work of art!"

Kuriarare Kushimaru said viciously, clearly recalling some unpleasant memories, just like Juzo Biwa.

"Oh, give it a rest, Kushimaru."

Munashi Jinpachi sneered, "The defective pieces you make aren't even symmetrical; how can you call those art?"

"You bastard, you're a one-eyed freak, what the hell do you know about art!" Kuriarare Kushimaru cursed, and he began to bicker with Munashi Jinpachi.

Taking advantage of their argument, Shiranui Genma bit down on his toothpick and whispered, "What do we do? There's no way we're a match for them. Should we run?"

"How could we possibly get away!" Ebisu said in despair. "Those are seven terrifying Jonin on the other side!"

Infected by Ebisu's pessimism, Guy and Genma also showed signs of dejection, and despair gradually eroded the will of the three.

"Yosh, made it just in time!"

Just then, a green streak descended from the sky, and a scruffy-looking middle-aged man landed in front of the three, his not-so-tall figure shielding Guy behind him.

"Oh? Where did this weird old man come from? Another guy rushing to his death?" Kurosuki Raiga laughed mockingly.

The seven of them didn't take the newcomer seriously at all, watching the situation unfold with relaxed expressions, as if they were enjoying a show.

"Father!"

Guy's eyes widened in shock, and he immediately asked in confusion, "Father, you're a genin, what are you doing here!"

Shiranui Genma and Ebisu exchanged a glance, feeling somewhat disappointed.

They had hoped for a powerful reinforcement, but it turned out to be Guy's father, a mere genin.

"Say no more, you all need to run," Might Dai said, his back to the three and his expression grave. "I will buy you time!"

"We run?" Guy said in disbelief. "Father, they are all jonin, and they are the Seven Ninja Swordsmen!"

"A genin like you can't possibly hold them off!"

Not far away, Genye donned a black outfit, wrapping himself up tightly as he prepared to make his entrance.

At this moment, Guy hadn't "topped up" enough; his youth was insufficient, and the true "Guy-daddy" was still Might Dai.

Having read the script, Genye knew that Dai was about to burn his life away, open the eighth gate—the Gate of Death—and kick the Seven Ninja Swordsmen into oblivion.

"Sigh, what are you seven even thinking? Why insist on bullying three kids..."

Genye sighed silently, offering a few seconds of mourning for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen in his heart.

You go fishing for small fry, and suddenly the bronze match turns into a legendary showdown!

On the field, Might Dai glanced sideways at his son and said, "Don't worry, I have the Gate of Death—the Formation of the Eight Inner Gates!"

"But that technique..." Guy seemed to realize something, a look of sorrow appearing in his eyes.

"Remember what I told you, Guy? Youth isn't just about defeating strong enemies; it's about protecting the things most precious to you!"

Might Dai gave Guy a thumbs-up, a heartfelt smile on his face. "Right now, this is the moment for youth to bloom!"

"Stop!"

Just as Might Dai crossed his arms, preparing to break the final limit of the human body, a black shadow suddenly appeared between the two sides.

"I simply cannot watch this any longer!"

Genye, dressed in black, raised his arm and pointed at the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, declaring righteously.

"In broad daylight, you seven grown men are ganging up on others, using your strength to bully the weak, picking on four old, weak, sick, and disabled people!"

"Pah, shameless!"

Genye intended to spit on the ground, but he forgot he had wrapped his face up—Little Phlegm Record.

Might Dai: "Old and weak???"

Ebisu: "Sick and disabled???"

"Nanda yo (what the hell), where did you pop out from?" Kurosuki Raiga pointed his blade at Genye, looking somewhat displeased.

"Exactly. Is Konoha putting on a play for us? Why do all these messy clowns keep jumping out to cause trouble!" Akebino Jinin chimed in.