"Could it be that the Anbu are tailing me?" Lucien's eyes narrowed as unease gnawed at him. "Half a month has already passed... did Konoha discover something? Do they suspect me?"
But quickly, logic corrected his fear. If Anbu had truly confirmed his identity, they would've struck already, not simply shadowed him.
"Fine then. Let's take a look... Sharingan, open!"
His crimson eyes flared to life. Lucien tilted his head slightly, scanning the movements in the western streets of Konoha. With his enhanced perception, he saw the chakra pathways of those trailing him with surprising clarity.
"If this had been before, I wouldn't have been able to detect them at all. Fortunately, my Sharingan's range has expanded. Otherwise, I might not have caught them this far away."
And when his vision finally revealed the culprits, his heart skipped.
Blond hair, Jonin vest, a specially crafted kunai gleaming in hand—Minato Namikaze, the man destined to become the Fourth Hokage.
Next, a boy with silver-white hair falling across one eye, a blade slung across his back—Hatake Kakashi, the genius who would one day become Konoha's Sixth Hokage.
Then came the girl with short brown hair, violet markings upon her cheeks—Nohara Rin, fated to a tragic destiny as the Three-Tails' Jinchuriki.
And finally, Uchiha Obito—an innocent youth now, yet destined to become one of the greatest calamities the shinobi world would ever know.
Lucien's breath hitched. Why are they all following me?
Though part of him wanted to introduce himself, the moment was urgent. The competition between Hizashi's class and Suzuki's class was already underway. He had no time to spare.
"If you want to follow me, then try to keep up! Let's see if Namikaze Minato's Flying Thunder God can catch my Body Flicker!"
His chakra flared like a storm. Peak Kage-level energy flooded his system as Lucien's form blurred again, moving even faster than before. In an instant, Minato's squad was left far behind.
But Minato was no ordinary pursuer. His sharp eyes caught the shift in distance.
"So fast... he's widened the gap again. He may have noticed me with some form of sensory ninjutsu." Minato pressed his lips together, admiration glinting in his gaze. "If that's the case... I'll have to use it."
He pulled out his marked kunai and flicked it through the air. With a flash, his figure vanished, reappearing far ahead in an instant through the Flying Thunder God technique. Again and again, Minato warped space itself, chasing relentlessly.
Lucien, still running, widened his eyes in astonishment before a grin tugged at his lips.
"Unbelievable! Flying Thunder God—Stage One? Just to catch me, Namikaze Minato really used it! So this is the legendary jutsu? It looks complex, but with my Sharingan... the structure of the chakra is already copied!"
His eyes burned with excitement. If I can truly master this technique... my name will shake this world.
Even as exhilaration rushed through him, his speed increased again. Within moments, Minato's Flying Thunder God could no longer close the gap. The "Yellow Flash" himself was left chasing shadows.
The Fourth Training Ground came into sight, sprawling like a massive arena—its wide field perfect for ninja duels.
Lucien's Sharingan picked up the fierce clash occurring inside.
"Matsuyama Shuichi and Kusuo have already started fighting..."
The difference in strength was brutal. Shuichi's muscles rippled with raw power, and every strike carried overwhelming force. Kusuo, wielding his Hatake swordsmanship, fought with skill and precision—but was completely suppressed. Finally, Shuichi's crushing might slammed him down.
"Damn it! How can this be!?" Kusuo staggered to his knees, unbelieving of his defeat.
"Hahaha! Look at you!" Shuichi roared with laughter. "Fresh Genin like you—soft flowers raised in a greenhouse. You've never endured the storms and blood outside. How can weaklings like you compare to us?"
Their opponents, already seasoned in missions and fieldwork, had long been sharpening their strength, almost reaching Chunin level. Kusuo's loss was inevitable.
Next, Hinata Hongdie—the gentle girl of the Hyuga—stepped forward, though nerves shook her slender frame.
"Kusuo, Lucien... I'll do my best," she whispered, determination kindling in her eyes.
Kusuo, still panting, urged her from the sidelines. "Be careful! Don't let him land a hit!"
"I know," she nodded firmly, launching into the match with her clan's Gentle Fist. But without activating her Byakugan, her technique lacked its full precision. Against Shuichi's massive frame and overwhelming strength, her attacks failed to land effectively. Each attempt was countered viciously.
"Haha! Little Hyuga heiress, stop embarrassing yourself. Just admit defeat and save some pride!" Katori Sumire mocked cruelly from the sidelines.
Hongdie's breath quickened. Her guard faltered under the unrelenting pressure. Step by step, Shuichi forced her back, his looming presence a wall of muscle and violence.
Her vision blurred—but a single name surfaced in her heart.
Shigure...
Her fists clenched, and with a cry, she snarled, "I won't give up!"
"Oh? Still so stubborn? Fine then—I'll crush you!" Shuichi cracked his knuckles with a feral grin.
"Hmph. If you insist on holding out, then so be it," Suzuki Saori commented dryly. "Hinata Hongdie, if it becomes too much, surrender. We seniors don't want to accidentally break you."
On the sidelines, Hizashi watched intently, his expression heavy.
"Kusuo, what do you think?" he asked quietly.
Kusuo shook his head bitterly. "She can't hold on much longer..."
Hizashi's gaze narrowed. Yes. It's not yet the time to intervene. But if Lucien doesn't appear soon... she'll lose everything.
Silently, he called out in his heart.
Shigure... come quickly.
P.S. This chapter was overflowing with tension—Lucien pushing his Body Flicker against Minato's Flying Thunder God, the iconic Team Minato getting drawn in, and the desperate clash at the training ground. We wanted to capture the rising stakes, the overwhelming gap between fresh Genin and hardened veterans, and the anticipation of Lucien's dramatic arrival.
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