Under the lead of Jūzō Biwa and Fuguki Suikazan, Ryoma and the others soon arrived at a damp, mist-shrouded cave.
Fuguki bowed respectfully.
"Lord Ryoma, we have searched thoroughly."
Along the way, he had overheard Ryoma's conversation and learned of his true identity. The revelation left him astonished.
The title "Senju" carried a weight unlike any other. The Senju clan was a legend in the shinobi world. As the last heir of that bloodline, Ryoma seemed worthy of utmost respect.
"How many times have I said this—I'm not a Senju!" Ryoma snapped.
No one bore that surname anymore. By the time of the Third Hokage, even Tsunade and Nawaki had abandoned it. The clan had chosen to dissolve its name into Konoha itself, a way to avoid drawing dangerous attention—yet even that could not save them from extinction.
Fuguki quickly shifted the subject.
"Yes, Lord Ryoma. This dense fog—it's clearly the Hidden Mist Technique. There's a high chance that Mei Terumi is inside."
Ryoma nodded. "Good. Find Terumi, and then we leave."
"Thank you, Lord Ryoma!"
Jūzō and Fuguki moved ahead. Ryoma, curious, asked:
"This Mist Technique—you don't know how to break it?"
Fuguki scratched his head awkwardly.
"It's simple enough—Wind Release or Fire Release can dispel it. But we of Kirigakure rarely practice wind or fire styles."
He grimaced inwardly. Those elements already counter us hard enough…
Uchiha Mikoto stepped forward.
"I'll handle it—Fire Release!"
She inhaled, preparing to unleash her flames, when suddenly kunai shot from the cave's shadows.
"Watch out!"
Ryoma pulled Mikoto close, and tree roots burst from the ground behind him, blocking the incoming blades.
Flustered, Mikoto muttered, "Sorry… my ninjutsu was too slow."
"It's fine. You all stay back," Ryoma said, giving Jūzō and Fuguki a glance.
The two exchanged a reluctant look before pressing inside. Before long, they dragged out Mei Terumi and her guard, Ao.
Fuguki, massive hand gripping Terumi, grinned.
"Lord Ryoma, we've caught her!"
Terumi wore an elegant blue dress, her face pale with fear.
"What are you going to do with me?" she demanded. This man… he's no ordinary shinobi. A great clan's heir, perhaps forced into exile after some lost power struggle.
But just as everyone let down their guard, Terumi inhaled sharply.
"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!"
A scalding, corrosive vapor burst forth, melting the air around Fuguki's face.
"Arghhh!" Fuguki howled in agony. "You wretch!"
He raised his blade, ready to cut her down—when Ryoma moved.
Lightning burst to life in his palm, the sound of a thousand birds shrieking in unison, casting a ghastly glow across the cave walls.
Kakashi's eyes nearly bulged out.
That's… Chidori! My Chidori! When did sensei learn it? And it looks… perfect. Even more refined than mine!
In that instant, Ryoma's figure loomed larger than life in his student's eyes.
Fuguki froze, terror flashing in his eyes.
"Lord Ryoma, wai—"
Before he could finish, his vision spun. His body stood headless, blood spraying wildly.
"Ugh!"
The gruesome sight made Mikoto, Rin, Guy, and the three newly-awakened students scream. None of them had ever witnessed such gore before. The faint-hearted students collapsed again. Even Guy doubled over, retching.
Kakashi and Obito swallowed hard. Disgust twisted in their stomachs, yet they forced themselves to endure.
Terumi, closest to the carnage, stood petrified in Ryoma's grasp, her courage drained.
Mikoto noticed something strange. Kakashi and Obito weren't as shaken as the others… and then she saw it—Obito's Sharingan, newly awakened.
He's an Uchiha too? A prodigy with awakened eyes… how did I not realize?
She was about to ask him when Ryoma's voice cut through.
"Kakashi, Obito, Rin—the rest is yours."
"What? They're just students—you expect them to fight a jonin?!" Mikoto cried.
But already, Jūzō Biwa was entangled by writhing tree roots, struggling.
"Ryoma!" Jūzō shouted. "You're Senju—how can you betray us like this?!"
Ao stood stunned. What is this? Betrayal? A trap?
Ryoma merely patted Terumi's head, shrugging.
"I said I wouldn't kill you. And I won't. But them? That's for my students. Kakashi. Obito. Rin. Go."
"Yes, sensei!"
Rin, pale but determined, stepped forward. She wouldn't let herself fall behind. With a sharp cry, she unleashed a flurry of kunai and shuriken.
Steel rained down, peppering Jūzō's body. He howled in pain, his face pierced and pinned.
"Yes, Rin!" Obito cheered—only to yelp as Ryoma kicked him forward.
"Your turn! Less talking!"
Gritting his teeth, Obito charged.
Meanwhile, Kakashi's hands blurred through seals. He pressed his left hand to his right, and lightning surged again—this time from his own palm.
Mikoto's eyes widened. So Ryoma passed that technique on to Kakashi… the power of this chakra is terrifying.
Bound, bloodied, and desperate, Jūzō glared at the oncoming boy.
"Don't come near me! I'll—"
But before he could finish, Kakashi dashed forward, lightning trailing like a phantom.
Swish!
Blood sprayed in the air.
Kakashi's strike tore through Jūzō Biwa, his blade of lightning cutting across the man's torso. The blow should have pierced his heart, but Kakashi was still small—his height too short. Instead of the chest, the Chidori pierced into Jūzō's stomach.
"Ugh!" Jūzō gasped, eyes wide with horror. His body convulsed, blood gushing from his waist.
Obito roared, gripping a kunai in both hands. He leapt high, driving it down into Jūzō's chest.
The rogue swordsman's eyes froze in unwilling rage. Then his body went still—lifeless.
Uchiha Mikoto and Mebuki Haruno were stunned.
Ryoma's Team 7 didn't look like rookies at all. Their calmness, their ferocity—it was far beyond the level of fresh genin. Even most chunin couldn't act with such composure.
Ryoma stroked Terumi's head with a faint smile.
"Well done."
Terumi scowled at him, her young face tense.
"Don't even think about spitting mist at me again," Ryoma warned lightly. "I'll bind you in an instant."
The little Terumi shivered. Her voice came out small and defiant.
"Wh-what are you?!"
"The one who saved you," Ryoma replied casually. "We're from Konoha."
Ao stepped forward warily.
"You're Leaf shinobi? Then why capture us?"
"Go back and ask your Mizukage," Ryoma said with a smile. Without further explanation, he began leading them away.
On the road back, Mikoto found herself musing.
So Kakashi really is the son of the White Fang… No wonder he's so strong. And Obito… this boy has awakened the Sharingan, yet his family seems oblivious to his potential?
She turned to him.
"Obito, when we return, I'll take you to meet the clan head."
Obito's eyes lit up.
"Yes, Sister Mikoto!"
Excitement surged through him. Recognition—finally! He was no longer the weak, overlooked version of himself. He was becoming someone who mattered.
He glanced at Ryoma, gratitude in his eyes. For all his teacher's ruthlessness, it was Ryoma's harshness that had pushed him to awaken the Sharingan.
Along the way, the group talked and laughed, their mood lightening as they reached the Kilometer Bridge.
By now, the mist had cleared, and the opposite shore was visible.
"Once we cross this bridge, we'll be back in the Land of Fire."
"We made it!"
Relief washed over everyone. After all the dangers and close calls, they were finally going home alive.
But halfway across the bridge, Ryoma suddenly stopped.
Everyone froze, confused.
"Ryoma, what's wrong?" Mikoto asked cautiously.
Mebuki Haruno tensed, glancing around. "Lord Ryoma, is there an enemy?"
In Ryoma's mind, the system chimed again:
[Ding! Based on the host's current situation, three options appear!]
Option 1: Cowardly escape alone, abandoning everyone.
Reward: Forbidden Technique — Earth Grudge Fear.
Option 2: Flee with Terumi alone, abandoning the rest.
Reward: Bloodline Limit — Sharingan.
Option 3: Embrace the Second Hokage's will, stay behind to protect Konoha's future. Reward: S-rank Memory Copy — Tobirama's Last Stand.
Ryoma narrowed his eyes. So… the Third Mizukage himself, huh?
The bridge suddenly quaked beneath them.
A thunderous roar rose from the sea, and massive water pillars shot into the sky, spraying like fountains of power.
"Water Release?!" someone cried in terror.
The younger children screamed, collapsing to the ground in panic.
Even Obito wanted to cry. Rin and Terumi clung tightly to Ryoma's legs, trembling.
Mikoto and Mebuki stiffened, their bodies shaking.
Ryoma lifted his gaze. At the far end of the bridge, a figure stood tall.
Long hair flowing, a Mizukage's cloak billowing, eyes closed in grim stillness.
The Third Mizukage.
...
TN:
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