Shinji's words swept through like a bitter winter wind, instantly snuffing out some of the sparks of fearless excitement born of ignorance in Tsume Inuzuka's eyes. She shivered involuntarily.
Shibi Aburame's sunglasses hid his eyes perfectly, but the knuckles of the hands resting on his knees had turned slightly white. Clearly, he was not as calm as he appeared.
Keigo Hyuga's face drained of color in an instant. Fine beads of cold sweat even appeared at his temples, and his lips trembled slightly.
Shinku Yuhi spoke at just the right moment, his voice steady and firm as he soothed his shaken subordinates. "What Shinji said comes from real experience, and it's precisely what you need to remember most. The battlefield is no place for games. Any lapse can cost you your life."
His gaze swept over his three subordinates, filled with a teacher's encouragement and unwavering trust. "But there's no need to be overly afraid, either. Trust the rigorous training you've undergone all these years. Trust your own kekkei genkai and secret techniques. Above all, trust the comrades fighting beside you, and..."
He paused, his tone resolute. "Trust the teacher leading you. I'll do everything I can to lead you, protect you, and face the challenges ahead together with you."
At that moment, Hizashi, who had been sitting like an old monk deep in meditation, finally opened his eyes slowly.
His pure white eyes, without a trace of any other color, first passed briefly over Shinku Yuhi in greeting, then settled on Keigo Hyuga's faintly trembling body.
"Keigo." Hizashi's voice was quiet, but carried the distinctive chill and authority of the branch family's prodigy. "Remember, the Byakugan you awakened isn't an ornament for your face. On the battlefield, it's the most important pair of eyes you and your teammates have.