The Uzumaki Border

Three days later.

Ryuto followed Rena Uzumaki through the last barrier and entered the true heart of the Uzumaki Clan grounds.

The houses were more densely packed here, and there were more people. Many cast curious looks at the unfamiliar face Rena had brought in.

"Mito should be in that house up ahead." Rena pointed to a two-story wooden building nearby.

They had barely reached the entrance when the door opened.

A red-haired girl stepped out. It was Mito Uzumaki. She nodded when she saw Rena, then turned her gaze to Ryuto.

"Mr. Ryuto, you're here." Mito's voice was calm, but she spoke a little faster than usual. "The situation has changed. There's no time for pleasantries."

Ryuto's heart tightened. "What happened?"

"An Uchiha squad attacked Watchpost Three to the north half an hour ago," Mito said concisely. "The defending ninja sent a distress signal, but it's gone silent now. We need to head there immediately."

Rena's expression changed. "Watchpost Three? That's really close to the clan grounds!"

"Yes, so we can't delay." Mito looked at Ryuto. "Under our agreement, you need to assist us with three border defense operations. This will be the first. Will you fight?"

Ryuto did not hesitate. "I will."

"Good." Mito turned and headed toward the outskirts of the clan grounds. "Follow me. I'll explain on the way."

Ryuto and Rena immediately followed.

The three moved quickly, passing through the clan grounds, heading straight out of the barrier, and plunging into the mountain forest to the north.

Mito ran in front, moving swiftly and lightly. Ryuto followed at a steady pace, his Ki Sense fully extended, scanning several hundred meters around them.

Rena ran beside Ryuto. She was a little breathless, but she could still keep up.

After they had run a while, Mito suddenly glanced back at Ryuto.

"Mr. Ryuto, the way you move is... unusual," she said. "There's no sign of a chakra burst, but your speed is on par with a Chunin-level Body Flicker Technique."

Ryuto's expression did not change. "Just a bit of taijutsu technique."

Mito asked no further questions, but Ryuto could feel that part of her attention remained on him.

As though she were observing and analyzing him.

After roughly another ten minutes, Mito spoke again. "Watchpost Three has six ninja permanently stationed there. Their leader is Aoki Uzumaki, a Special Jōnin. We don't know how many are in the attacking Uchiha squad, but to cut off the distress signal so quickly, they must at least be an elite Chunin squad, possibly led by a Jonin."

"Our mission is to repel them and regain control of the watchpost. If things go wrong, withdrawing and preserving our fighting strength take priority."

Ryuto nodded. "Understood."

Rena could not help asking, "Mito, are just the three of us going?"

"Two other squads patrolling nearby have received orders and are heading there," Mito said. "But we'll get there first."

With that, she picked up speed again.

Ryuto also quickened his pace. Ki flowed into his legs, and he kept up with ease.

Mito glanced at him again.

This time, there was something else in her eyes.

Not suspicion, but... confirmation.

She seemed to have confirmed something.

Twenty minutes later, the three approached the watchpost area.

Before the watchpost came into view, Ryuto's Ki Sense picked up turbulent energy ahead.

Chakra was colliding and exploding.

There were screams, too.

"We're here!" Mito lowered her voice, and the three ducked behind a boulder.

They peered out.

Ahead lay a forest clearing with several wooden houses at its center. One was already burning.

Seven or eight people were fighting in the clearing.

Those in dark blue clothes with the Uzumaki clan crest on their backs were the defending ninja. Only four remained, standing back-to-back as they guarded the main house that had not yet caught fire.

Attacking them were five Uchiha ninja in dark, high-collared clan clothes with fan emblems on their backs.

Two Uzumaki ninja lay motionless on the ground.

"Aoki isn't there!" Rena said anxiously. "He might be inside!"

Mito looked grave. "There are chakra signatures in the main house, very weak ones. They're probably wounded. Those four outside won't hold out much longer. Mr. Ryuto, move in from the left and draw their attention. Rena, circle around the right with me. Rescuing the people in the main house comes first."

"All right." Ryuto nodded.

"Move!"

Mito and Rena slipped out from the right side of the boulder like two shadows.

Ryuto took a deep breath, and ki began flowing throughout his body.

Pale golden light shone from beneath his skin.

He pushed off the ground and shot toward the battlefield from the left like a cannonball.

He moved so fast that he stirred up a gust of wind.

An Uchiha ninja forming hand seals had only just heard the rush of air when Ryuto reached his side, before he could even turn his head.

Ryuto swung his fist, concentrating his ki an instant before impact.

Thud!

The man flew sideways, slammed into a tree, and slid down, motionless.

The other four Uchiha ninja turned at once.

"Who are you?!"

Ryuto did not answer. His figure flashed, and he was in front of another Uchiha.

That Uchiha reacted quickly, immediately leaping backward while forming hand seals. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A fireball blasted toward him.

Ryuto did not dodge. Ki gathered into a shield in front of his body.

The fireball struck the ki shield and burst apart, scattering sparks.

Ryuto passed through the sparks and drove a punch into the Uchiha's chest.

Crack.

The sound of ribs breaking.

The second opponent was out of the fight.

"Spread out! He's a taijutsu ninja!" shouted an Uchiha who looked like the captain. "Don't let him get close! Blanket him with ninjutsu!"

The remaining three Uchiha immediately retreated, forming hand seals together.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

Fireballs, a stream of fire, and powerful winds all hurtled toward Ryuto at once.

Ryuto moved, pouring ki into his legs as his speed surged.

Like a golden shadow, he darted through gaps between the ninjutsu.

Fireballs skimmed past him and blasted craters into the ground.

The stream of fire swept toward him, and he dodged with a sideways turn.

The powerful wind sent leaves flying, but it could not budge the ki covering his body.

All three Uchiha stared wide-eyed.

"What kind of speed is that?!"

"He didn't form any hand seals!"

Ryuto had already charged up to the third Uchiha.

The Uchiha gritted his teeth, drew a kunai, and thrust it at him.

Ryuto raised his left hand, concentrated ki in his palm, and seized the kunai's blade outright.

Clang!

The kunai stopped as though it had struck an iron plate.

The Uchiha tried to pull it free, but it would not move.

Ryuto drove his right fist into his abdomen.

"Urgh..."

The man doubled over and fell.

Two remained, including the captain.

The captain's expression was grim as he stared at Ryuto. "Golden light... no chakra fluctuations... You're that anomalous taijutsu ninja mentioned in the intelligence?"

Ryuto ignored him and looked toward the main house.

Mito and Rena had reached its entrance and were fighting another Uchiha who had rushed out from inside.

That Uchiha was quite strong, probably a Jonin.

Mito's Sealing Jutsu was formidable. Chains of runes flew from her hands, winding toward her opponent. Rena supported her from the side, using simple Sealing Jutsu to interfere.

But the Uchiha Jonin had activated his Sharingan. Three tomoe slowly rotated, and he could always see through the paths of the Sealing Jutsu in advance, dodging with ease.

"We're your opponents!" the Uchiha captain roared. He and the other Uchiha formed hand seals together. "Combination Ninjutsu: Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"

Two intertwined fire dragons lunged at Ryuto.

This time, Ryuto did not dodge.

He brought his hands together at his waist, pale golden ki gathering and compressing furiously between his palms.

"Ki Blast."

A thick beam of golden energy surged from his palms, striking straight toward the two fire dragons.

Boom!!!

Gold and red collided and exploded.

The shock wave bent the surrounding trees.

The golden beam forced the flames back and slammed into the two Uchiha.

"Aah!"

The two were blasted away, screaming. They hit the ground, their bodies charred black, and lost consciousness.

Ryuto lowered his hands and took a breath.

That move consumed a fair amount of energy, but its effect was outstanding.

He turned toward the main house.

Seeing all his teammates down, the Uchiha Jonin's expression changed. He drove Mito back with a feint, then turned to flee.

"Trying to leave?" Mito formed hand seals. "Sealing Jutsu: Adamantine Sealing Chains!"

Several golden chakra chains shot from her back at tremendous speed, instantly wrapping around the Uchiha Jonin's ankles.

The Uchiha Jonin struggled, but the chains tightened further.

Rena seized the opening, rushed forward, and struck the back of his neck with her palm.

"Sealing Jutsu: Chakra-Sealing!"

Runes spread. The Uchiha Jonin stiffened, his chakra temporarily sealed, and collapsed.

The battle was over.

The clearing fell quiet, with only the crackling of the burning wooden house remaining.

The four Uzumaki defenders still standing looked at Ryuto, their eyes full of shock.

That speed, that golden barrier that had withstood ninjutsu head-on, and that final energy beam that had blasted the combined Fire Release apart...

How was this a taijutsu ninja?

He was practically a Tailed Beast in human form!

Mito approached Ryuto, looking him over before glancing at the Uchiha ninja scattered on the ground.

"Five Chunin and one Jonin," she said slowly. "You took down four Chunin on your own, including their combined ninjutsu."

The golden light around Ryuto slowly faded. "It was a team effort."

Mito shook her head. "No need to be modest. You're... stronger than I expected. Especially that last move. That wasn't taijutsu."

She looked into Ryuto's eyes. "That was a kind of... pure energy release. Completely different from chakra nature transformation."

Ryuto said nothing.

Mito did not press him. She turned to the defending ninja. "Check the wounded and put out the fire. Rena, help them."

"Yes!" Rena hurried over.

Ryuto walked aside, found a rock to sit on, and steadied his breathing.

The battle had been brief but intense. That last Ki Blast in particular had consumed almost thirty percent of his ki.

But it had worked very well.

He glanced at the sealed Uchiha Jonin.

His Sharingan had already closed.

The Uchiha... Ryuto pondered. This was our first proper clash, and they already sent a Jonin. There'll probably be no end of trouble from now on.

After tending to one of the wounded, Rena ran over, lingering fear still on her face.

"Mr. Ryuto, are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Ryuto said.

"You scared me to death back there." Rena patted her chest. "With that combined Fire Release, I thought you wouldn't be able to dodge. Instead, you met it with your own blast... and won."

Her eyes sparkled. "That was amazing!"

Mito came over as well. She looked at Ryuto, her expression serious.

"Mr. Ryuto, thank you for this. We held the watchpost and kept casualties to a minimum." She paused. "But now, the Uchiha have officially set their sights on you."

"That captain recognized you. The intelligence about an 'anomalous taijutsu ninja' has definitely reached the Uchiha by now."

Rena paled. "Then... will the Uchiha retaliate? Send more people?"

"Most likely," Mito said. "The Uchiha Clan has an obsessive interest in powerful opponents, especially powerful people they know nothing about."

She looked at Ryuto. "Be especially careful when you operate along the border from now on. The Uchiha's methods go beyond head-on combat."

Ryuto nodded.

He had already anticipated it.

From the moment he decided to use his strength to intervene in this chaotic era, he had known he would draw attention from all sides.

He just hadn't expected his first official appearance to attract attention from a clan on the Uchiha's level.

"I'll deal with whatever comes." Ryuto stood up. "Of the three battles we agreed on, there are still two left."

Mito looked at him and suddenly asked, "That energy of yours... it's called 'Ki,' right?"

Ryuto froze for a moment.

Mito pointed at her own eyes. "We of the Uzumaki Clan are very sensitive to energy. The way your energy flows is completely different from how chakra circulates through the meridians. It's more... free, more direct."

"I haven't seen anything harmful about it so far," Mito continued. "But those people from the Uchiha and Hyūga won't think that way. They'll see you as an aberration, a threat."

She turned and looked at the burning outpost.

"In the chaos of the Warring States era, anything that upsets the balance will become everyone's target."

"Mr. Ryuto, watch out for yourself."

With that, she went to direct the cleanup.

Rena stayed beside Ryuto and said quietly, "Mr. Ryuto, don't worry. Mito was just giving you a warning. We of the Uzumaki Clan will stand by you!"

Ryuto smiled at her. "Thank you."

But he knew full well.

The Uzumaki Clan was being polite to him now because he was useful and could help them fight.

Real trust was still a long way off.

And the Uchiha had already put him on their list.

"This is only the beginning." Ryuto gazed at the mountain ranges stretching into the distance, his fighting spirit rising instead. "Watch me all you want."

"Perfect. I'll use you as experience fodder."