He was still smiling as he looked down at the lifeless body of the Iwa elite jōnin lying on the battlefield.
Although their achievements over the past ten days had been some of the most remarkable in the entire Konoha camp, this marked their first genuine battle since arriving at the front lines.
And the outcome left him deeply satisfied.
To have eliminated an elite Iwa squad without sustaining any injuries was a clear indication: their team was among the most formidable on this battlefield.
"Ahem. We've been out long enough—time to return and rest."
While he spoke of rest, the real reason for their return was to bring word of their victory back to camp—to secure recognition for their feats, to remind others of his status as a jōnin, and to elevate the name of Kawaki Aoba.
Another reason was strategic: they had done too much, too quickly. Continuing to push forward would threaten the unspoken balance between the two sides.
Neither Konoha nor Iwagakure wanted that tacit understanding broken—at least not yet. So, Yuhi Kurenai made the call to stop here and return, basking in the glory that now awaited them.
As expected, the moment they returned to the Konoha encampment, they were met with admiration and stares of awe.
Over the past ten days, Kawaki Aoba had used his Shadow Clone technique to escort enemy prisoners over 200 times—making it impossible for anyone not to recognize him.
"Is this the squad that captured over 300 Kusa-nin? They look like a regular jōnin team… I didn't think they were this powerful."
"No kidding. Capturing that many? Even specialized recon teams couldn't pull that off. And I heard they've taken out multiple Iwa units too."
"Wait—who's that body the jōnin is carrying back?"
"That's Dokawa, an elite jōnin from Iwagakure."
"Really?! That bastard was responsible for so many of our comrades' deaths. I can't believe they got him!"
"As expected of the so-called 'legendary squad'—they're monsters."
Under the heated gazes of their fellow shinobi, Kawaki Aoba's team of four proceeded directly to the main command tent.
Inside sat Sarutobi Shinnosuke, the acting commander for this sector, who had already received word of their exploits and now waited for them with an unusually serious expression.
He had seen his share of young squads—some sent to the battlefield with political backing, others simply inexperienced. Most of them made little difference. He hadn't expected much from Yuhi Kurenai's team either.
But they had turned the tide with this astonishing victory.
Meanwhile, back at the scene of the skirmish, another Iwa unit had arrived to investigate the destruction.
"This is the spot. Jōnin Dokawa's squad was wiped out here."
"Look at the ground… This whole area's been scorched by multiple large-scale Katon jutsu. Could Konoha have ambushed them, violating our battlefield agreement?"
"I doubt it. Konoha wouldn't risk breaking the tacit neutrality we've maintained. They're fighting on four fronts—they wouldn't upset the balance so lightly."
"Then how do you explain this? No ordinary team could have done this alone."
"Maybe… maybe one of them has an immense chakra reserve and can spam large-scale jutsu?"
"Impossible. No regular shinobi has chakra that vast."
Konoha Year 46.
This year's New Year was spent on the battlefield by many of Konoha's finest. Ironically, it was also the calmest New Year they'd seen in years—a brief stillness before the coming storm.
While shinobi on the front lines prepared for the worst, those back in the village celebrated, blissfully unaware.
They celebrated not just the new year, but the emergence of a new generation.
On the Kumogakure front, Namikaze Minato had begun making waves, defeating enemies with his self-created Rasengan. Rumors were spreading: he might be the most gifted shinobi of his generation.
The new generation of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio had begun to shine as well.
On the Kirigakure front, the Hyūga brothers—Hiashi and Hizashi—led their clan's forces with grace and discipline, upholding Konoha's honor.
And on the Iwagakure front, the now-renowned "legendary squad" rose to fame after capturing over 300 enemy ninjas in a single campaign.
Konoha was making a statement: the Will of Fire burned strong. The older generation still stood tall. The middle generation—led by icons like Jiraiya and Orochimaru—was at its prime. And a newer generation, filled with geniuses, was rising fast.
Among them, Kawaki Aoba had quietly become one of Konoha's brightest hopes.
Unbeknownst to him, he had also drawn dangerous attention.
Far away, inside the Tsuchikage's office in Iwagakure, Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki stared at the intelligence reports with a grim expression.
An unknown Konoha shinobi with a massive chakra reserve had reportedly obliterated one of their elite squads with high-level ninjutsu. The data also revealed this individual had a rare sensory ability—an innate knack for detecting malice and intent. The reports linked all of this to one man: Kawaki Aoba.
Ōnoki's suspicions deepened.
Could Konoha have created a perfect Nine-Tails Jinchūriki? The idea was terrifying. If the Nine-Tails were to rampage on the battlefield again, the cost to Iwagakure would be catastrophic.
He had to act now—before this Konoha weapon was fully unleashed.
"Someone," Ōnoki growled, "send for Han and that fool Rōshi. I want them ready."
---
Time passed.
By February of Konoha Year 46, Kawaki Aoba's squad had completed two more high-profile missions—each executed with stunning success.
Now came their third.
Their assignment: seize and fortify an Iwa stronghold.
The mission brief alone told them all they needed to know.
The lull was over.
A full-scale war was coming.
On the way to the Iwa stronghold, Kawaki Aoba suddenly came to a halt.
"What's wrong, Aoba? Why did you stop all of a sudden?" Yuhi Kurenai asked, scanning their surroundings vigilantly.
"I sensed more than a dozen chakra signatures up ahead—each at least Jonin-level," Aoba said gravely. "And... there are two others. Their presence is terrifying. It reminds me of the chakra I once felt from Kushina Uzumaki."
Kurenai's eyes narrowed.
Kushina Uzumaki? The name sent a jolt down her spine. A Jinchuriki. Namikaze Minato's wife, the container of the Nine-Tails.
A single Jinchuriki was enough to level a battlefield. Now they were possibly facing two, with a small army of Jonin.
It couldn't be just an ambush for their squad… Could it?
Even Asuma, the Hokage's son, didn't merit this level of response. But denying that Iwagakure had set this trap for them also didn't sit right. Their team was valuable, second only to Sarutobi Shinnosuke, who, as the commander, wouldn't be in the field personally.
Kurenai briefly considered retreating but asked out of habit, "Aoba, if even you can't see a way through, maybe it's time we fall back."
Aoba, however, shook his head.
"Kurenai-sensei, those two dangerous chakra signatures—if they're really Jinchuriki, I want to try and either kill one or capture one alive."
Kurenai stared at him, stunned. "Are you insane? You know what a Jinchuriki is capable of. Even if you tied both of us together, we'd barely handle two elite Jonin, let alone a Jinchuriki whose strength rivals a Kage."
"Kurenai-sensei, have you forgotten what it means to be a ninja? We use strategy, not brute force. It doesn't matter how we achieve our mission, only that we do. You're the one who taught us that. But ever since you started practicing the Eight Gates, you've become more reckless—less... ninja-like."
Kurenai: "...?"
He grimaced. Getting lectured by his own student stung.
"Hmph. If you're so smart, tell me what strategy you have that could possibly let us kill or capture a Jinchuriki guarded by elite Jonin."
But Kawaki Aoba wasn't ordinary. Without performing a single hand seal, he suddenly transformed into the spitting image of the Third Hokage—Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"The Transformation Technique?" Kurenai muttered in disbelief. "But… I can't sense any chakra fluctuation…"
Another puff of smoke—and Aoba now stood as an Iwagakure Jonin.
"Higashi Deathman?" Kurenai recognized the appearance instantly. "You… plan to infiltrate them?"
"That's right," Aoba nodded. "With my undetectable Transformation Technique, I can get close. Then…"
"No!" Kurenai cut him off. "You're talking about infiltrating a camp with two Jinchuriki and over a dozen Jonin!"
"Kurenai-sensei," Aoba said calmly, "Every mission carries risk—especially in wartime. But if we can capture even one Jinchuriki, it'll turn the tide. We'd have leverage to force Iwagakure to negotiate… or at the very least, raise our morale."
Kurenai wanted to object again, but Aoba continued.
"I'm not gambling with my life. I have a plan, and I want you to hear it."
After listening to Aoba's full plan and witnessing the extent of his abilities, Kurenai reluctantly agreed. The plan was risky—but no longer seemed suicidal.
The team split into two units per Aoba's design. Kurenai led Asuma, a young Kurenai (his daughter), and a shadow clone of Aoba in a feint attack on another Iwa fortress. Aoba's real body remained behind to observe and act when the time was right.
Left alone, Aoba transformed into a bird and soared into the sky.
This Transformation Technique from the Dragon Ball world is crazy, he mused. I can actually fly like this.
Even airborne, Aoba kept his distance from the stronghold, using Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki) to watch from afar. He wouldn't act until Kurenai's squad struck.
Meanwhile, Kurenai's group neared their own target fortress, with the sky growing dim.
"Aoba… do you really think he's strong enough to take on all those Jonin alone?" Asuma finally asked.
Kurenai shook her head. "Not a chance. At best, he's at the level of an elite Jonin. Even with his trump cards, he couldn't beat them head-on."
"What?" Asuma's jaw dropped.
"But," Kurenai added, "That kid doesn't take on anything without planning. His real strength lies in survivability and cunning. Instead of worrying about him, focus on your own task—we have a fortress to raid."
To sell the illusion, Kurenai's squad circled around before approaching their target. By the time they arrived, night had fallen.
Releasing Aoba's clone from the scroll, the clone scanned the area with Kenbunshoku Haki.
"This one's different from the first target," the clone said. "Only two squads, eight people total. None have chakra levels above Chunin. Kurenai-sensei, the field is yours."
The clone quickly retreated—it couldn't endure a direct hit like the real Aoba.
"Wait," Kurenai suddenly called out, stopping her team just before they charged.
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