Author Note:
Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!
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"Sensei… I've been feeling something strange around my eye sockets lately. It's like... some kind of energy is gathering there and might rush into my eyes at any moment."
After another day of training, Hinata suddenly spoke up while resting beside Guts.
Guts raised a brow and placed his hands gently on both sides of Hinata's eyes.
After everything they'd done together, this kind of contact no longer made her shy.
'So it's finally happening... she's about to awaken those eyes,' Guts thought to himself, but he didn't say it aloud. Instead, he gave a calm smile.
"Don't worry. Your body's fine. In fact, you're probably about to reach a whole new level."
Hinata visibly relaxed at his words.
"Guts, check me too!"
Hanabi immediately grabbed his arm and shouted.
"You haven't changed much," Guts said, giving her a flat look.
To be honest, Hanabi had already reached the limit of what her body could handle at her age.
Unlike Guts, whose system let him ignore age-based restrictions, Hanabi was still bound by biology. Even with brutal training, there were developmental limits especially for someone whose body hadn't fully matured yet.
"You're so biased! So biased! So biased!"
Hanabi pouted and threw a tantrum, forcing Guts to humor her by placing his hands on either side of her eye sockets as well.
But then
That damn grin.
Hanabi suddenly wore a smug, triumphant smile, placed her hands on Guts's cheeks, and pecked him on the cheek.
Hinata, who hadn't blushed even once earlier, instantly turned beet red.
Guts had let his guard down again. Around people close to him, he always lowered his defenses... and this brat got him again.
She really forgot that one time he spanked her until she couldn't sit, huh?
His brow twitched, a vein popped on his forehead and the next second, he yanked her over and started spanking her.
SLAP!
Hanabi's expression morphed in real-time. She turned toward Hinata in desperation.
"Onee-san! Help! Please!"
Hinata calmly turned her head away, lips curled into a quiet smile.
She decided to let her sensei discipline this naughty little gremlin.
And just like that… Hanabi earned herself another day of "standing training."
A month passed.
And at long last, the Allied Shinobi Forces were officially established.
Not only the Five Great Nations, but even smaller villages like Takigakure and Kusagakure had joined.
After all, this was a battle that would determine the fate of the entire world.
Namikaze Minato replaced the Fourth Raikage as the Supreme Commander of the coalition.
The headquarters was set up in Konoha.
Guts couldn't help but recall: in the original story, this very command center got nuked by the Ten Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb.
If it happened again, that'd be one hell of a loss...
Then again, the timeline had already been warped beyond recognition.
No point in stressing. Even if it blew up, they could rebuild.
During that month, Guts noticed Hinata's Byakugan had several close calls almost evolving but the final trigger just wouldn't come.
He realized something:
Pure training and mock battles weren't enough anymore.
She needed real pressure. A genuine battle. A life-or-death fight against a powerful enemy to push her past the threshold.
That meant only one thing, she had to be put on the battlefield.
Morning. Guts's residence.
The girls had gathered together.
Anko tossed out a few newly-made forehead protectors with the word "Shinobi" engraved on them and grinned,
"Here ya go. These are the official protectors of the Allied Shinobi Forces."
Hinata and Hanabi put theirs on with pride.
Kurenai picked one up, a nostalgic look on her face. "A forehead protector, huh... I haven't worn one since my last mission. That was three years ago, wasn't it?"
Originally, she planned to wait at home while Guts and the others fought.
But Guts disagreed.
The battlefield was safer than the rear. At least he could protect her there if something went wrong.
So he arranged for Kurenai to join the logistics unit—low combat risk, but close enough to be under his watch.
By now, shinobi from the five great villages and several smaller ones had gathered in the Land of Fire.
Each team had its own appointed captain.
From Konoha's side, Jiraiya and Kakashi served as unit commanders.
Minato had originally nominated Guts as a captain, but Guts turned it down immediately.
Too much responsibility. Too many headaches.
Instead, Minato had Guts form an elite strike team to support the weakest link: Fifth Tsuchikage Kurotsuchi.
Currently, their team was preparing to move out to the northern front of the Land of Fire, where Kurotsuchi was stationed.
Among the Five Kage, she was undoubtedly the weakest barely Kage-level.
And when the Kage falls, the morale of the entire force collapses.
That's why she needed a guardian monster like Guts.
The engagement zone was between the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning.
If it were a full force march, it would take three days slowed by the weak and untrained.
But Guts's squad? Even the weakest among them Anko was peak Jōnin.
They arrived in less than two days.
Upon meeting them, Kurotsuchi immediately smiled and said:
"Being in the same squad as Mr. Guts... looks like victory's already in the bag."
She understood exactly why Minato had placed Guts with her.
But she wasn't offended.
Reaching Kage-level at 18 was something few could claim.
Besides, Minato's decision was based on her safety. She respected that.
If she got mad over something so practical, she wouldn't be fit to wear the Kage's hat.
Clapping Guts on the shoulder, she smiled and said, "When I give my speech, make sure you stand right next to me, alright?"
Because for a unit, standing beside a living weapon like Guts was better than any motivational speech.
Kurotsuchi wouldn't need to yell, cry, or preach.
One glimpse of Guts standing beside her, and morale would skyrocket all on its own.
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