Remote Island, Land of Water
Ye Liangnai's team collapsed on the sandy shore of a desolate island, their breaths ragged, bodies trembling from the ordeal. They'd fled without pause, only stopping once certain no Konoha pursuers followed. The sea lapped at the rocks, a deceptive calm after the storm of battle.
"Holy… that was… a trip through the gates of hell…" Ye Liangnai slumped against a tree, his chest heaving as he gulped air, his throat burning like it was lined with embers. His lungs screamed, his body pushed past its limits. "But… gotta admit… that was one hell of a rush…"
His half-grin and casual tone were out of place amidst the team's exhaustion, but no one reprimanded him. Normally, such behavior would've earned a sharp rebuke, but Ye Liangnai's heroics—single-handedly ensuring the mission's success—had earned him unspoken leniency. He was the linchpin of their victory, and gratitude silenced any criticism.
Yuya (Eagle) and Natsuka (White Wolf) watched him, their eyes burning with resolve. We won't stay behind forever, Yuya thought, clenching his fists. You won this round, Chill, but next time, we'll match you. Natsuka's gaze mirrored his, a silent vow to close the gap.
A day later, the team, looking like war-torn refugees, limped back to Kirigakure. They delivered the critical medical intel, a prize that could shift the village's fortunes. Ye Liangnai's exploits spread like wildfire, each retelling more awestruck than the last.
The village buzzed with disbelief. Escaping Hatake Kakashi's killing blows twice? Holding his own against Uchiha Itachi, the Uchiha clan's prodigy? Slaying two Special Jonin and several Chunin in the process? And, most crucially, stalling long enough to secure the mission's success? The tales painted Ye Liangnai as a force of nature, a twelve-year-old defying logic.
"No way a kid did all that," one ninja muttered, shaking his head. "Even our Jonin couldn't pull off half those feats."
"It's unreal," another agreed. "He's a monster."
Two days later, a message from Konoha cemented his legend. "If you encounter Kirigakure's White Chill, eliminate him at all costs. His threat is immense—do not let him grow stronger." Konoha's public acknowledgment was a seal of authenticity, silencing doubters. Ye Liangnai's bounty hit the black market at 30 million ryo, a staggering sum for a near-Jonin, propelling his name across the ninja world.
"White Chill, huh?" a Rain ninja mused. "How does he stack up against the Yellow Flash of old? Mist's been quiet too long—spawning a freak like this out of nowhere. Can't underestimate them anymore."
"Will there be a second White Chill?" a Stone shinobi wondered. "Time to tighten surveillance on Kirigakure."
The Five Great Nations and beyond shifted their stance. Kirigakure, once a forgotten relic, became a priority target for intelligence networks. The world's eyes turned to the Mist, wary of its newfound threat.
Konohagakure
In the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen stared out the window, his pipe unlit, his expression grim. "This White Chill… where did he come from?" he murmured, unease gnawing at him. "Kirigakure's been silent for years, and now this prodigy emerges?"
He reviewed the reports, his mind grappling with the anomaly. Barely Jonin-level, yet he survived Kakashi's assaults twice. His speed and agility are off the charts. Ye Liangnai's Hidden Mist Jutsu had baffled Itachi, his genjutsu resisted the Sharingan, and his Water Formation Wall had halted Lightning Blade—an S-rank jutsu. How does a teenager achieve this?
Low-tier jutsu countering high-tier techniques was unheard of, a feat defying ninja convention. "His talent rivals Itachi's—maybe surpasses it," Hiruzen sighed. He recalled Kakashi and Itachi's reports, their shock palpable. Few could unsettle those two, yet Ye Liangnai had not only stunned them but outmaneuvered them, securing the intel and escaping.
One mission, and he's left a mark most shinobi never achieve in a lifetime, Hiruzen thought, a mix of admiration and dread settling in his chest.
Kirigakure, Mizukage's Office
Yagura Karatachi—or rather, Uchiha Obito in his guise—leaned back, a glint of intrigue in his eyes. "You keep surprising me, Ye Liangnai," he said, his voice a low purr. A scroll lay open before him, its title stark: Infiltration Plan: Kumogakure.
"This mission's yours," he declared, a smirk tugging at his lips. If Ye Liangnai knew, he'd likely curse the heavens. I just pulled off a miracle, and you're sending me into the lion's den? Have you no shame? But ignorance kept him blissfully unaware, for now.
Kirigakure, Training Grounds
Ye Liangnai stood in a clearing, eyebrow raised, facing three familiar figures—Ringo Ameyuri, Hozuki Suigetsu, and Shima Isshin. Their gazes were sharp, a mix of defiance and urgency, their stances tense.
"What's this about?" Ye Liangnai asked, his tone light but wary.
Ameyuri stepped forward, her voice firm, though less hostile than before. "Fight us, Ye Liangnai. We need to see the gap between us—how far we have to climb."
The trio had been stunned by his latest feats. Slaying Yukuchi Mitsuta, an A-rank rogue, had already set a high bar, but now Ye Liangnai was trading blows with Jonin, shaping missions, and earning a name that echoed across nations. The chasm between them felt insurmountable, a weight crushing their spirits. They needed to measure him, to chart their path forward.
"You sure?" Ye Liangnai said, his grin teasing. "I don't hold back. If you get hurt, don't cry about it." He'd barely had time to soak in a bath after his return before they'd dragged him out. Give a guy a break.
"No holding back," Ameyuri insisted, her eyes unwavering. "We want the real difference—your full strength." Suigetsu and Isshin nodded, their expressions resolute.
Ye Liangnai shrugged. "Fine, let's do this." Might as well settle it on the field.
Word of the challenge spread like wildfire. "Ameyuri's taking on Ye Liangnai?" a Mist ninja exclaimed, eyes wide. "We're not missing this!"
"Hell yeah, let's go!" another shouted, the crowd swelling as shinobi flocked to the training grounds.
"Ye Liangnai versus Ringo Ameyuri? Could be fun," Biwa Juzo muttered, a sly grin spreading as he headed to spectate. Hozuki Mangetsu, Kurotsuchi Raiga, and Momochi Zabuza followed, drawn to the clash of Kirigakure's rising stars.