Hidden Leaf's Strongest Dream Team, the Divine Guard, Debuts! Everyone Starts with a Mangekyo Sharingan?

A crowd gathered in front of Hidden Leaf's bulletin board.

A set of Divine Guard selection criteria, personally signed by the Hokage, occupied the most prominent spot.

"At least jonin-level strength, or talent and potential far beyond one's peers?" a young chunin read aloud, then gave a bitter smile.

"Temperament, loyalty, teamwork... These standards are even higher than ANBU's," someone beside him agreed.

The rules Kamizuki Yu had set were clear, harsh, and utterly unforgiving.

Meanwhile, he sat leisurely in the newly built temporary Divine Guard headquarters, reviewing the files of the first applicants.

"The first round is three days of extreme survival in the Mist Forest. Food and water? Figure it out yourselves. Oh, and I've released a few little darlings I just raised in there." Kamizuki Yu spoke to the air, apparently in a good mood.

Those so-called little darlings were naturally no docile pets.

Itachi Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha arrived side by side and handed in their applications.

"Lord Yu, we are ready," Shisui said respectfully.

Kamizuki Yu raised a hand, signaling for them to relax.

Itachi silently observed this unfathomable man. In his eyes, Kamizuki Yu had long surpassed the category of a mere "strong person."

"You two can skip the preliminary selection." Kamizuki Yu set down the files. "Take a trip through the Heart Corridor. If you can emerge while retaining your true selves, you pass."

The Heart Corridor was a special genjutsu space arranged by Kamizuki Yu. It could reflect and magnify the deepest desires and fears within a person's heart.

Shisui and Itachi exchanged a glance. Without the slightest hesitation, they both bowed. "Yes."

Their trust in Kamizuki Yu was nearly blind obedience.

Not long after they left, Kakashi Hatake appeared at the doorway, his face beneath his silver hair carrying a hint of curiosity.

"Advisor Kamizuki, these assessment contents..." Kakashi raised the assessment guidelines in his hand. Some of the clauses on them were downright fantastical.

"Is there a problem?" Kamizuki Yu asked.

"No. I just think... it's very challenging." Kakashi adjusted his forehead protector, concealing that Sharingan. The shadows of Rin and Obito had faded, and he had reclaimed his reputation as a genius.

"Then go take on the challenge." Kamizuki Yu's answer was simple and direct.

Kakashi nodded and turned to leave. For him, the more difficult the mission, the more it ignited his fighting spirit.

Immediately afterward, Might Guy charged in with his trademark energetic pose, followed by a string of young elites from the major clans.

"Advisor Kamizuki! Youth is calling! I, Might Guy, am determined to join the Divine Guard!" Guy's booming voice echoed through the room.

Shikaku Nara's eldest son, Shikamaru Nara, Choza Akimichi's son, Choji Akimichi, Inoichi Yamanaka's daughter, Ino Yamanaka, along with several white-eyed youths from the Hyuga Clan, all silently submitted their applications.

They were the future of their clans and the hope of Hidden Leaf. Kamizuki Yu's Divine Guard held a deadly allure for them.

Kamizuki Yu glanced over the applications, lightly tapping his fingers against the table.

"Good. Report to the Mist Forest. Remember, getting out alive is the minimum requirement."

The crowd dispersed, and the office returned to silence.

Kamizuki Yu picked up a special file. It contained only one name: Yakumo Kurama.

The Kurama Clan was renowned for its powerful genjutsu, yet was also lamented for the instability of its bloodline limit. Yakumo Kurama was the most gifted girl of her generation—and the one most troubled by it.

Her power was too great, capable of turning genjutsu into reality, yet she could not control it effectively. Instead, she was tormented by the Ido that had grown within her heart.

"An interesting little one." Kamizuki Yu rose to his feet, deciding to meet her in person.

Deep within the Kurama Clan estate was a dimly lit room.

The girl curled up in a corner, her body trembling slightly, her pale face filled with fear.

The air around her twisted as all manner of horrifying illusions faintly emerged.

Kamizuki Yu pushed open the door. As if sensing a threat, those illusions roared and lunged at him.

He did not pause for a single step. The monsters formed from spiritual energy shattered inch by inch before him, vanishing without a trace.

Yakumo Kurama raised her head and looked at the stranger in terror.

"Who are you?" Her voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz.

"Someone here to help you." Kamizuki Yu crouched before her. "Your power should not be your prison."

He extended a hand, soft chakra light swirling around his fingertips.

"Don't be afraid. Feel it. Guide it."

Yakumo Kurama hesitated, but in the end, she reached out her hand.

The moment their fingertips touched, a gentle force far beyond anything she could imagine flowed into her body, instantly soothing her turbulent spiritual energy. The vicious monster named Ido deep within her heart trembled before that power, then finally sank into silence unwillingly.

The girl felt an unprecedented sense of ease and clarity.

"This... this is..." She could hardly believe it.

"This is something you already possessed. You simply lost your direction." Kamizuki Yu withdrew his hand. "Do you want to turn it into true strength instead of a curse?"

Yakumo Kurama looked at him, and for the first time, light appeared in her eyes. She nodded firmly.

"Very good. Then welcome to the Divine Guard." Kamizuki Yu smiled.

Several days later, the first roster of Divine Guard members was announced.

Itachi Uchiha, Vice Commander.

Shisui Uchiha, Vice Commander.

Kakashi Hatake.

Might Guy.

Yakumo Kurama.

There were also several elites from the Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, Hyuga, and other clans, as well as several ninja of civilian birth who had displayed astonishing talent.

Twenty members in total.

Every one of them was an outstanding talent who had emerged from the brutal selection process. Their admiration and faith in Kamizuki Yu had already seeped into their bones.

Hidden Leaf's largest training ground was packed with people.

Hokage Minato Namikaze, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the two elder advisors were all present. The clan heads and higher-ups of the major clans had also attended in full. In the shadows, many spies from other nations held their breath.

Today was the Divine Guard's first public exercise.

The twenty members wore matching uniforms—deep blue as the base, inlaid with silver flowing-cloud patterns, with specially made divine character badges on their shoulders and chests. Kamizuki Yu had personally designed the uniforms. Not only were they sleek and aesthetically striking, but they also contained precise miniature defensive formulas.

The exercise began.

There was no flashy opening, only swift action.

The twenty divided into several groups. At times, they fought independently, displaying exquisite individual skill; at other times, they coordinated seamlessly, unleashing combined ninjutsu never seen before.

Kakashi's Lightning Cutter had become even more condensed, Guy's taijutsu was fierce and unmatched, and Yakumo Kurama's genjutsu was even more strange and unpredictable. As illusion and reality shifted, several jonin serving as sparring partners had already lost their ability to fight.

"Such fast hand seals!"

"That kind of teamwork... They've only been a team for a few days?"

Exclamations of amazement rose one after another from the viewing stands.

Shikaku Nara watched the New Ino-Shika-Cho team formed by his son, Choji, and Ino. Their coordination was flawless, and their power far surpassed before. He could not help nodding to himself.

The true shock came from Itachi Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"

The sheer range and power of Itachi's technique made many veteran jonin's hearts tremble.

Shisui's Body Flicker Technique was even more miraculous, leaving afterimages throughout the field. No one could lock onto his position at all.

Suddenly, both their chakra surged explosively.

Crimson Mangekyo Sharingan emerged.

"Susanoo!"

Two energy giants of different colors, both radiating terrifying pressure, rose from the ground. One wielded a sword, the other held a shield. Though they were only skeletal forms in their initial stage, their presence had already plunged the entire training ground into dead silence.

"That is... the legendary power of the Uchiha Clan?" Koharu Utatane clenched her hand.

Homura Mitokado adjusted his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses filled with complicated emotions.

Minato's expression remained calm, but his heart was equally turbulent. He knew that Itachi and Shisui had awakened their Mangekyo Sharingan, and he knew Kamizuki Yu had helped them overcome the side effects. Yet seeing the embryonic form of Susanoo with his own eyes still shocked him.

Kamizuki Yu stood at a high point, looking down at the training ground.

This team was still a flock of fledglings, but it had already begun to show its fangs.

He watched it all with satisfaction. This force would become the sharpest sword in his hand, sweeping aside every obstacle.

At that moment, an almost imperceptible mechanical notification sounded in his mind.

[Ding! Strong energy fluctuations and a distress signal have been detected in the distant Belgrade region. The conditions for check-in have been met. Would you like to go there and check in?]

Kamizuki Yu raised an eyebrow slightly.

Belgrade? Where was that?