Take a good look. This man was Genye, currently undergoing grueling physical training with his teammates.
Just as they were about to reach their limit, a man's voice suddenly came from behind them.
"All right, that's enough training for today."
Thud.
The three of them didn't even care how they looked. They flopped onto the ground in perfect unison and thought of everything that had ever made them happy.
They were tired. So damn tired.
In the month they'd spent training under Shimura Hofu, they'd never finished a session on their feet. Every time, they trained until they were too exhausted to move.
After resting for a while, Genye noticed that Hofu hadn't left as he usually did and couldn't help asking curiously,
"Teacher Hefeng, why haven't you left yet? Did you stick around to treat us to a meal?"
If not, hurry up and go. Don't interrupt our little complaint session! Genye thought.
Shimura Hofu glanced at Genye and said calmly,
"I have something to announce. I accepted a mission for you, and I want to see how much progress you've made in your training."
At that, Asuma excitedly rolled over on the ground. "We can finally start taking missions?!"
It had been a month. All they'd done was train, while the other teams had already completed plenty of missions.
...Sure, they were just D-rank missions to find cats or walk dogs, but they were still more interesting than training every day!
"Mm. It's a B-rank assignment. We leave tomorrow," Shimura Hofu said with a nod.
B-rank?!
Yuhi Kurenai's breath caught. She sat up in alarm and looked at Hofu.
"Teacher, we've never been on a mission before. Isn't it a little dangerous to take on a B-rank assignment right away?"
"Yeah, Teacher Hefeng. Take too big a step and you'll pull something!" Genye chimed in.
B-rank missions often involved taking part in a war, assassinating shinobi, or transporting intelligence. There was a good chance they'd encounter enemy shinobi.
They hadn't even completed a D-rank mission, and now they were jumping straight to B-rank. The risk really was considerable.
After all, everyone knew just how big the gap was between B and D.
"I'm not asking your opinion," Hefeng said firmly.
"Go back and get ready. I won't be stepping in during this mission. I hope you all make it back alive."
Yuhi Kurenai looked worried, while Asuma, that hardheaded fool, was still grinning with excitement.
As for Genye, he'd been a little panicked at first, but soon came around to it.
Look on the bright side. As long as it's not a deadly C-rank mission, even an A-rank one is fine!
Everyone knew Konoha's C-rank missions were really S-rank missions with half the letter covered up.
ε=(´ο｀*))) Sigh.
Looking at the three of them with their different expressions, Shimura Hofu sighed to himself.
The flames of war are spreading. Sooner or later, they'll engulf the entire Shinobi World. There's no time left for you to ease into things.
That evening, while Genye was packing his ninja tools, he heard someone knock on the door.
He opened it, and a familiar figure appeared before him. Genye was surprised. "Mei, what are you doing here?"
Mei stepped forward, took Genye's hand, and pressed a small pouch into it. She said earnestly,
"Big Brother Genye, I made this charm for you. Keep it with you. It'll ward off misfortune and bring you home safely."
Genye examined the pouch in his hand.
It was embroidered with pink cherry blossoms and the words "Safe Return." It was clearly made with great care, and he could even smell the girl's lovely fragrance.
"Haha, a little pouch like this won't do much," Genye said with a grin as he toyed with it.
"Going by the usual script, you should give me a thick book or something made of iron. Then I can tuck it inside my vest, and it'll stop a fatal blow at a crucial moment."
For some reason, as Genye kept talking, Mei's face grew darker and darker. He could almost hear her grinding her teeth.
Uh, was that joke not funny? Genye wondered, completely baffled.
"Hyuga Genye! If you don't want it, give it back!"
Mei fought back her hurt feelings, snatched the pouch from Genye's hand, and turned to leave.
"Hey, Mei, why are you getting mad?"
Though Genye was confused, he hurried to stop her and said with an ingratiating grin, "I never said I didn't want it! I do, I do!"
Genye opened Mei's hand, took the pouch back, and carefully tucked it into his vest.
"Mei, don't be mad. Listen to me..."
Genye spent quite a while placating Mei. She finally forgave him after he promised to treat her to a fancy meal with his mission pay when he got back.
Uh, I haven't just jinxed myself, have I?
Seeing Mei's gloomy expression clear, Genye rubbed his hands together, looking expectant.
More useful than a good-luck charm would be a skill from you.
That's right. With the mission coming up, Genye planned to give Mei another try before he left.
"System, copy that for me!"
With Hefeng's command, a series of prompts immediately appeared before his eyes.
[ Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the Kekkei Genkai "Byakugan"! ] [ Since the Host already possesses the "Byakugan," it has automatically evolved into the Kekkei Genkai "Flawless Byakugan"! ]
The Kekkei Genkai could evolve?
And what was "Flawless Byakugan"?
Genye froze, then opened the description. He took one look and stood there dumbfounded.
[ Flawless Byakugan: Perfect and flawless, it fills in the visual blind spot of the original "Byakugan." ]
It actually did!!!
Genye's breathing grew rapid.
The Byakugan of the Hyuga Branch Family was constrained by the Caged Bird Seal, leaving a spreading blind spot behind the thoracic spine.
In battle, that tiny weakness could cost Genye his life.
Yet with a single copy and one evolution, the system had easily corrected the flaw.
Did this mean that, with the system's help, he could gradually free himself from the Caged Bird Seal?
Could he even unlock the legendary "Tenseigan" by continuously evolving his Kekkei Genkai?
"Mei, you're my goddess!"
Just thinking about those possibilities was enough to leave Genye beside himself with excitement.
He could hardly wait to scoop Mei up and kiss her a couple of times.
"Big Brother Genye, if... if there's nothing else, I'll head back. Please be careful on your mission tomorrow."
Unable to take Genye's heated gaze any longer, Mei blushed and hurried away.
The next morning.
Fully equipped and ready to go, Genye and his two teammates followed Shimura Hofu out of Konoha for the first time.
"Your objective is to kill a Konoha rogue shinobi. All the relevant information is in this scroll. Read it yourselves."
After tossing them a scroll, Shimura Hofu disappeared without a trace.
As he'd said, he wouldn't be taking part in this mission.
"Let me take a look." Genye was the first to open the scroll.
[ Top Secret: Former Konoha Special Jōnin, Luren Murata. ]
"Wow, this guy looks thoroughly ordinary. He really lives up to his name," Genye muttered as he read.
"This man specializes in Taijutsu, particularly swordsmanship. His weakness is a lack of resolve, and he's highly vulnerable to genjutsu."
"He deserted in the middle of a mission, causing the deaths of two teammates. Konoha has issued a kill-on-sight order for him..."
After memorizing all the information, Genye passed the scroll to Asuma.
As a shinobi, memorizing information quickly was a skill they all needed to master.
"It's our first mission, and we're already up against a Special Jōnin. I can't help feeling uneasy," Yuhi Kurenai said worriedly as Asuma read the scroll.
Genye patted Kurenai on the shoulder and looked directly into her eyes. "Don't worry, Kurenai. I'll protect you."
"Mm." Seeing how serious Genye looked, Yuhi Kurenai answered shyly, her heart warmed.
When Asuma saw the two of them practically pressed together, his heart clenched. Then...
"Can you two move away from me? You're making it hard to memorize the intel!" Asuma waved them off, exasperated.
The Land of Fire was rich in natural resources, with lush, verdant forests everywhere and the constant sounds of insects and birds.
Genye and the others held their arms behind them and raced through the sea of green in the standard shinobi stance.
After an unknown amount of time, the three stopped at the edge of the forest and stared grimly at an abandoned village in the distance.
"According to the intel, Luren Murata has shown up at the nearby marketplace several times. Based on the locations, he's most likely hiding here."
Asuma looked at Genye. "Genye, we're counting on you."
"No problem... Byakugan!"
The veins around Genye's eyes bulged. After giving Kurenai an "unintentional" glance, he turned his gaze toward the village without pausing.
"Well, Genye? Do you see any sign of the enemy?"
A moment later, Asuma asked in a low voice.
Genye said nothing. He stared blankly at the village, as if he'd seen something unbelievable inside.
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