Although he was a Chūnin, his reaction upon realizing he'd been exposed was even worse than that of a Genin.
Seeing that Kawaki Aoba and his team were numerous and overwhelming, the Kusagakure ninja didn't hesitate—he immediately dropped his ninja tools, fell to the ground, and surrendered.
His cowardice frustrated Asuma Sarutobi, who had been eager to test his skills in combat.
Witnessing such a pitiful response from a Chūnin, the Konoha team lost any remaining expectations they had for the Kusa-nin.
The process that followed was straightforward: they tied the enemy up, had a Shadow Clone escort him back to base, and then the four-man squad pressed forward.
The days passed quickly—fourteen days vanished in a blur of action and intel-gathering.
During that time, the squad had swept across the majority of the Kusagakure battlefield, capturing more than 300 Kusa-nin spies.
They also encountered several squads from Iwagakure. While Konohagakure and Iwagakure had an unspoken agreement to use the war as a training ground for their elites, it didn't mean they held back in battle. Death was still a frequent visitor.
The casualty lists back in Konoha were proof of that brutal reality.
So Aoba's team didn't show mercy. Every time they ran into an enemy, they ensured no survivors.
Just like now—when they faced an elite Jōnin team from Iwagakure.
"I'm sorry, but this time, I, as your sensei, probably won't be able to bring you back. Daishi, you're the fastest among us. In a moment, I'll hold these Konoha shinobi off. You must deliver the intel we gathered.
Ōno, Yōta, I'll be relying on you two to stall with me. This is where we make our stand."
The Iwa Jōnin had rugged, ordinary features, but his eyes were resolute. He stared at the four enemies in front of him—each one cloaked in glowing chakra, an unmistakable sign of enhanced battle states, perhaps similar to Sage Mode or chakra augmentation.
For Kawaki Aoba's team to treat them so seriously spoke volumes of the Iwa team's strength.
"You don't need to blame yourself, Sensei. Dying on the battlefield for the village—that's the path of the shinobi."
"Yeah. If we can take down even one or two Konoha-nin before we die, that'd be enough."
Those words came from Ōno and Yōta, the two Genin. Their unflinching resolve impressed even Aoba.
But as enemies, all Aoba could do was ensure their deaths were meaningful.
"Trying to run? Not happening. It's better if your whole team stays together—in death," Kawaki Aoba said coldly before vanishing into a blur of speed.
This was Shunshin, or perhaps a variant of Soru, the high-speed technique from the Six Powers of the Navy—adapted or mimicked, perhaps, through Aoba's unique training. In any case, Daishi stood no chance of escaping.
The Iwa Jōnin's pupils shrank as Aoba blurred forward—but the Jōnin reacted instantly, unleashing a speed that momentarily surpassed Aoba's own, intercepting him mid-sprint.
But before he could strike, Kurenai Yūhi, who had been silently observing, activated her genjutsu—a trap prepared in advance.
Asuma and Kurenai also targeted the remaining Genin.
"Earth Release: Fissure Earth Turning Palm!"
But the Iwa Jōnin, covered in layers of Earth Release armor, endured Kurenai's ninjutsu and barreled toward Aoba.
Even Aoba was taken aback. He hadn't expected this much resilience. This Jōnin was prepared for a kamikaze move—to trade his life for time.
So be it.
"Hado #31: Shakkahō.
Hado #33: Sōkatsui."
A barrage of Kidō—spells from a foreign discipline—burst forth from Aoba's hands. Though abandoned mid-incantation and therefore weaker, the sheer volume made up for the loss in potency.
Even with armor and defensive jutsu, no one could endure a sustained bombardment for long. The Iwa Jōnin was no exception.
Thanks to the Uchiha Clan, especially Fugaku, Aoba had access to powerful fire techniques and a deep reserve of Kidō-like attacks, turning him into a walking turret.
Even though none of the Kidō were high-level, their frequency and impact pushed the Jōnin to his limit.
Among shinobi, where fragility was common, this man was a rare tank.
"Kurenai-sensei, I'll keep suppressing this guy. Go finish off that Genin!" Aoba called out while continuing his barrage.
"Damn Konoha ninjas…" the Iwa Jōnin growled, perhaps sensing his defenses were breaking—or maybe hearing Aoba's words. He suddenly detonated an Earth Release explosion, launching himself in the direction of Kurenai and one of the fleeing Genin.
Aoba narrowed his eyes. He knew the plan.
But before he could act, a new presence blocked the Jōnin.
Crimson chakra erupted from every pore of her body, and her eyes were pure white—more terrifying than even the Byakugan.
Kurenai Yūhi had opened the Gate of Joy, the sixth of the Eight Inner Gates.
"Don't underestimate a teacher, you bastard. I'll protect my students… and my daughter."
Her movements now carried monstrous power. Even basic taijutsu techniques became devastating. She had already consumed the red pill, mitigating the toll on her body, allowing her to unleash reckless attacks.
And this is what the Iwa Jōnin wanted—a final blaze of glory. If he could wound, kill, or cripple just one Konoha shinobi, it would be worth it.
Ideally, he wanted to drag Aoba into the fray to give Daishi an even greater chance to escape.
But Kurenai and Aoba both understood his tactic.
Unless they were willing to let him go, they would have to confront him head-on with everything they had.
"Aoba! Go after that runner! I'm not done yet—I can hold him off!" Kurenai shouted through gritted teeth as she clashed with the Jōnin.
Seeing the scene unfold, Kawaki Aoba no longer hesitated. He turned around and used Soru—a high-speed movement technique from the Rokushiki arsenal—to pursue his target. Although the Genin named Daishi was no longer in sight, Kawaki Aoba's Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) remained locked onto him.
"You bastard! Weren't you just trying to fight me to the death? What now? Running off because you're worried about that brat? Give up on any hope. Once my best disciple has set his sights on someone, they're as good as dead—hahahahaha!"
Yuhi Shinku laughed maniacally.
This brutal, close-quarters combat had clearly triggered something deep inside him. He was exhilarated in a way he had never experienced during standard ANBU missions.
Even Yuhi Kurenai and Sarutobi Asuma, engaged in their own fights nearby, couldn't help but glance over. It was the first time they had seen Yuhi Shinku so animated—so unrestrained.
Perhaps it was because he had spent so many years relying on genjutsu, suppressing his instincts for direct combat.
But over time, the Iwagakure elite jōnin realized something was off.
With the injuries he had inflicted, Yuhi Shinku should barely be standing, let alone continuing to pressure him with such relentless taijutsu. Even soldier pills wouldn't grant this level of resilience.
But there was no room to think. A single moment of hesitation, and Yuhi Shinku's strikes would cripple him.
Yuhi Shinku could guess what his opponent was thinking. That only made the fight more enjoyable.
His enemy was known for his earth-style defenses, and in the past, Shinku would've used genjutsu to stall, allowing his teammates to deliver the finishing blow—or retreat.
But now, he could battle head-on, using pure strength.
If not for the presence of the younger shinobi nearby, he might have shouted Kawaki Aoba's motto: "Cheating is so cool-cool!"
While Yuhi Shinku reveled in battle, Kawaki Aoba had already caught up with Daishi.
Despite Daishi's strength and speed—far beyond what was expected of a Genin—it only took a single exchange for Kawaki Aoba to take him down.
After beheading Daishi, Kawaki Aoba picked up the head and turned back. Unlike the cannon fodder from Kusagakure, even Iwagakure's Genin were valuable assets. Their heads could provide intel, especially if passed to Yamanaka clan experts.
Even outside the famed Ino–Shika–Chō formation, Yamanaka mind specialists were essential across battlefields.
When Kawaki Aoba returned, Asuma had already finished his fight, and Kurenai was wrapping up hers. As for Shinku-sensei—he was still going strong, though clearly didn't need any help.
"See that? Isn't my disciple amazing?" Shinku shouted mid-battle.
"Argh! Damn you Konoha bastards! All of you can rot!"
The Iwagakure ninja's Earth Release armor shattered. He had entered the final phase of battle—the countdown to death.
Kawaki Aoba shook his head. The result was already determined.
Meanwhile, Kurenai had concluded her battle. Her genjutsu was hindered by the chakra cloak she was using—likely a variant of Four Red Yang Formation or a support-type chakra-enhancing jutsu—otherwise, the battle wouldn't have lasted so long.
Kawaki Aoba approached her with a calm smile.
"Congrats, Kurenai. You beat that guy using only your own strength. Even if they're Genin, their power's already at Chūnin level. Probably the kind of shinobi who get promoted just by surviving the battlefield."
He knew they were Genin based on their lack of tactical vests. In the Five Great Nations, receiving a flak vest marked your promotion to Chūnin.
These vests weren't just for holding tools—they also offered some protection against shuriken and minor ninjutsu shockwaves.
After a few more minutes, Shinku-sensei's battle came to a brutal end.
Even in his final breath, the Iwagakure ninja kept cursing Konoha.
"What a fool," Aoba muttered. "He probably didn't even understand why he had to die."
But through his Kenbunshoku Haki, he sensed Kurenai's emotional unease.
He gently took her hand and said in a soft voice, "Don't think too much, Kurenai. They're the enemy. No matter how sincere they seem at the end, don't forget—Iwagakure started this war."
"Think of the bodies we saw in the village. Some of them died here. We're avenging them."
"I know… and I understand that we shouldn't sympathize with the enemy," she whispered.
Kawaki Aoba fell silent. Emotional burdens like these couldn't be solved with words. Kurenai would have to overcome them herself.
But she was strong. He knew she'd adjust to life on the battlefield.
Then Aoba turned to Yuhi Shinku.
"Shinku-sensei, that guy's speed was unreal. You should've wrapped that fight up a while ago."
Shinku nodded, his breath slightly heavy as he deactivated the Eight Gates technique.
"You're right. It was the Light-Weight Rock Technique. It's a high-level Earth Release jutsu used to reduce body weight. If mastered, you can fly. It's one of Ōnoki the Tsuchikage's signature jutsu."
"Anyone who learns it has to be important in Iwagakure. But this one's brain was already fried from using a self-destructing jutsu."
He gestured toward the corpse. Fluid was leaking from the ears and nose—a classic sign of neurological collapse.
Any intel from his mind was lost.
Iwagakure's methods are brutal, Kawaki Aoba thought. But then again, Konoha likely had similar protocols for handling forbidden techniques.
If that's the case, getting access to Konoha's forbidden techniques through official channels might be… dangerous.
Maybe the "back door" was the safer bet after all.
Little did Yuhi Shinku know, his most promising disciple was already scheming his way into Konoha's deepest secrets.
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