As I ran, my Observation Haki stretched outward like an invisible net, covering a large area around me. Within that range, I could feel the presence of many ninjas scattered throughout the village. Some were moving rapidly toward the source of the chaos, Nine-tails, and some were organizing civilians. I had no intention of getting involved with any of them. My goal was simple: reach the Nine-Tails, find my parents, and get them away from that area before they were caught in the collateral damage that would inevitably occur while the Nine-Tails rampaged through the village and the shinobi forces desperately tried to stop it. That was all. As long as my parents were safe, I did not care about anything else.
However, while running at full speed, I suddenly felt someone react to my presence. One of the ninjas on the other side had sensed me, and a moment later, moved directly into my path. Under normal circumstances, I could have simply rushed past them. With my current strength, forcing my way through would not have been difficult at all. The problem was that I immediately recognized the chakra signature. It was familiar, very familiar, and that familiarity made things troublesome—the person standing in my way was none other than Uncle Shinku, Kurenai's father.
Kurenai and I had, more or less, become boyfriend and girlfriend already. Neither of us had officially confessed our feelings, and neither of us had put a label on our relationship, but it was obvious to both of us. I liked Kurenai, and Kurenai liked me; that much was clear. Whenever she was free and happened to be in the village, we often spent time together in my field. During those visits, she naturally met both my father and mother. As for me, I had only met her father recently, around a month ago. Still, one meeting was enough. A chakra signature was far more distinctive than a face, so the moment I sensed him, I knew exactly who he was. Because it was Uncle Shinku, I could not simply ignore him and charge through, leaving me with no choice but to stop.
I immediately came to a halt. Since I had been moving at tremendous speed, my sudden stop created a powerful impact. The ground beneath my feet cracked slightly, dirt and loose stones scattering outward as a gust of wind swept through the area. For a brief moment, everything became still. Uncle Shinku looked toward me, and I looked back at him. From the corner of my eye, I also noticed Kurenai standing nearby.
At the same time, my Observation Haki picked up something else: a chakra-based barrier erected around the younger shinobis. Most likely, they had been confined inside it for their own protection. I could see many familiar faces inside the barrier, and judging from the situation, it was probably the work of Uncle Shinku and the adult ninjas standing behind him.
Every one of them was alert, and naturally so. To them, I was an unknown individual who had suddenly appeared in the middle of a village-wide disaster. The Nine-Tails was rampaging, the village was in chaos, and then someone they did not recognize came rushing in from nowhere at incredible speed. Anyone would be cautious and suspicious, so their vigilance was completely understandable. I did not pay much attention to it.
As Uncle Shinku got a better look at me, I noticed the intense vigilance on his face lessen somewhat, his expression relaxing slightly as recognition set in. However, it was only slightly; he was still on guard. After all, he was a Jonin, a veteran shinobi. Recognition alone would not make him lower his defenses completely. For all he knew, I could be a spy from another village or working for enemy forces. Hell, even my relationship with Kurenai could have been part of some elaborate scheme. Those kinds of possibilities were exactly the sort of things an experienced Jonin would consider, especially during a crisis like this. His caution made perfect sense.
Looking directly at him, I spoke without wasting any time. "Please step aside, Uncle Shinku. I am in a hurry." My voice was calm, but there was urgency behind it.
After hearing my words, Uncle Shinku narrowed his eyes. His gaze sharpened as he carefully studied me for a moment before asking, "Where are you in a hurry to?"
I immediately replied, "My parents are in danger. Just a hundred or two hundred meters away from my house, the Nine-Tails is rampaging. It keeps getting closer and closer to my home. And even if it isn't moving closer, the aftermath of the battle certainly is. Every shockwave, every attack, every collapse is getting nearer to my house. I have to be there. I need to get my parents away from that area."
As soon as he heard my words, Uncle Shinku's expression softened slightly. For a moment, the strict Jonin disappeared, and I could see the father and the villager who understood exactly what I was feeling. After all, countless families throughout Konoha were currently facing the same danger. Still, after a brief pause, he shook his head. "No," he said firmly. "I can't allow that. You're young, and even if you go there, you won't be able to help much." His eyes then shifted toward the swords hanging at my waist. "And what are you doing carrying those swords? A civilian isn't allowed to carry weapons like that."
Hearing that, I immediately replied, "These swords are for my self-defense. And if necessary, I'll use them to fight the Nine-Tails itself if that's what it takes to protect my family." My voice became more urgent. "Please, Uncle Shinku, step aside. I don't have much time. I need to go."
Unfortunately, Uncle Shinku simply shook his head again. His stance remained firm, not moving even a single step. Clearly, he had already made up his mind. "No," the single word came out without hesitation. "As long as I'm standing here, I'm not letting you pass." He gestured toward the barrier where the younger shinobi were gathered. "You stay here with them. Your physical strength seems unusually high. I don't know why you've hidden it all this time, and frankly, that's a discussion for another day. But if you stay here, you'll survive. And after all of this is over, people like you can help rebuild Konoha."
The more he spoke, the more frustrated I became. Every second spent arguing here was another second my parents remained near the Nine-Tails, another second the situation could worsen, another second I wasn't there. After hearing yet another rejection, my patience finally started wearing thin.
Looking directly at him, I spoke in a clearly annoyed tone. "Uncle Shinku, since when have ninjas started caring about age when it comes to fighting?"
His brows furrowed slightly, but I continued before he could respond. "Five-year-olds. Six-year-olds. Children who barely know anything beyond the Clone Technique and Substitution Technique get sent onto battlefields." My voice became sharper with every word. "Wasn't Kakashi standing right there sent to the battlefield when he was six? Don't talk to me about age and being too young."
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed some of the younger shinobi looking toward us, while Kakashi himself remained silent. The atmosphere around us became noticeably heavier. I wanted to continue; I had plenty more to say. I could have talked about how the shinobi system treated children, pointed out countless examples, or argued for hours. But I immediately stopped myself. That's not the issue right now. I'm getting sidetracked. My parents are the priority. Nothing else matters.
Taking a slow breath, I forced my irritation under control and focused on the real issue. "Whatever the case may be, Uncle Shinku, please step aside." My voice was calmer now, but far more serious. "My parents are in danger, and I am not going to leave them there alone." I looked him straight in the eyes. "This is the last time I'm asking. After this, I won't speak anymore." The conviction in my voice was unmistakable. "I'll do whatever I must to leave from here."
The moment those words left my mouth, the atmosphere changed. The adult shinobi behind Uncle Shinku immediately became more alert, and even Kurenai's expression tightened slightly. Everyone present could hear the determination in my voice. I wasn't bluffing, I wasn't throwing a tantrum, and I certainly wasn't going to back down. Uncle Shinku understood that as well.
For several moments, he remained silent while staring at me. Then, with a sigh, his hand moved toward the short sword strapped on his back.
Shing.
The sound of metal sliding against its sheath echoed through the area. He slowly unsheathed his sword and lowered it beside him. The gesture wasn't aggressive, but it was unmistakably a warning.
"No," his answer remained unchanged. "I can't allow you to leave." His grip tightened slightly around the sword. "The protection of the younger generation is the responsibility of us adults." His gaze remained steady, and for the briefest moment, his eyes flickered toward Kakashi before returning to me. "I know you have different opinions regarding children being sent to battlefields, and perhaps some of those opinions are justified." Then he shook his head. "But this isn't the time for that discussion."
His stance shifted subtly into a veteran combat stance: balanced and prepared. "If you're not willing to enter the barrier on your own..." A powerful Jonin-level pressure began radiating from him. "...then I'll have no choice but to use force."
The surrounding shinobi immediately tensed. For the first time since stopping here, it became clear that this conversation was over. The next step would be decided by action.
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