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The Konoha shinobi, so defiant just moments ago, fell silent.
They might have seemed like a sizable group, but their actual combat strength barely amounted to ten. The enemy force facing them… was four times their size.
"The gap is too wide… This time, we're…"
"We… we're not going to die here, are we?"
"No… I haven't even… known a man yet. I don't want to die!"
Despair seeped into every heart. Several female medics couldn't hold back their sobs.
The Suna shinobi, however, weren't in a hurry. They advanced steadily, clearly savoring the process of devouring their enemies' fear bite by bite.
Still too weak. Life-and-death situations just pop up whenever. Qianyu lamented internally.
He'd just gained a bit of self-preservation power, and now he was stuck in a death trap… Was it really this hard for a nameless background character like him to survive until the finale?!
No. Gotta run.
Qianyu scanned his surroundings, looking for a viable escape route. He'd grab Nohara Hiroshi and bolt at the first chance.
Being a rogue ninja hunted by the village later was still better than getting murdered on the spot right now.
He had no house, no girl, no savings in Konoha anyway. No ties at all.
"…Hm?"
While observing the enemy, Qianyu's eyes narrowed.
He noticed something. The Suna nin, who had been steadily advancing, were now frozen mid-step. Every single one of them had stopped dead in their tracks. It was like…
They were afraid of something?
Following their line of sight, Qianyu saw a tall, upright figure striding purposefully toward the Konoha position. A man who hadn't been there a moment before.
He was a strikingly handsome young man, wearing a Konoha jonin flak jacket. Silver-white hair tied loosely behind him. A chakra-infused shortsword held casually in his arms.
"The white flame-stitched armband… silver hair… shortsword… That's… Konoha's White Fang?!"
The cry of alarm came from the Suna ranks. It ignited the atmosphere instantly.
"You're joking! The White Fang is supposed to be on the front lines! Why is he here?!"
"Yes! It's Lord White Fang! We're saved!"
In that moment, the presence of that one silver-haired man alone cowed nearly ten Suna squads. It was like magic. He made both sides believe the tides had completely turned.
So this is Konoha's White Fang… Sakumo Hatake?
Qianyu felt a mix of awe and confusion.
There wasn't much about Sakumo in the original story. He didn't understand why the man commanded such staggering fear.
As a nobody, Qianyu didn't know. Sakumo had practically carved a path of annihilation through the Suna front lines. He was the nightmare Suna shinobi whispered about in terror.
Tap. Tap.
Under the gazes of awe and reverence, Sakumo strode past the Konoha group without a glance. He walked alone toward the forty Suna nin.
His voice was light, casual.
"I'm on a schedule. Leave now, and maybe half of you will live."
He said it with such easy certainty. Like he was just stating a simple fact.
Damn. Kakashi's dad is this much of a show-off? Qianyu couldn't help the internal snark.
Yet, that one offhand sentence from Sakumo shattered the Suna ninjas' fragile composure.
"Don't panic, everyone! It's just one man! We have forty! The advantage is ours!"
"Easy for you to say! Then why the hell are you running?!"
They didn't even have the courage to draw their blades. The Suna force scattered like frightened birds. Qianyu stared, dumbfounded.
SHING!
Sakumo drew his blade. He clipped the sheath to his back in one fluid motion. His pace quickened. Then faster. His form blurred into an afterimage.
"Hatake Style: Inadama!"
With his low shout, a flash of lightning erupted. It lit up the dim forest.
Qianyu's eyes couldn't track Sakumo's movement at all. All he saw was the expanding wave of lightning and sword-light. It fanned outward like a shockwave, covering dozens of meters in an instant.
Within that range, Suna shinobi fell. One after another. Without exception.
That… was so damn cool!
Witnessing the scene, Qianyu's heart hammered against his ribs. A fire ignited in his chest. His blood felt like it was boiling.
In all his time since arriving in this world, this was the first time he'd seen its high-end combat power up close. The sheer, visceral impact of it was something no anime could ever replicate.
The absolute confidence, the utter calm with which Sakumo dominated the field. The dazzling, overwhelming sword art that crushed the Suna nin. Qianyu was enthralled.
Sure, he was a medic. But god, he wanted that power too. The power to decide life and death.
"Hm. Exactly half. Kept my word."
While Qianyu was still reeling, Sakumo had already sheathed his blade and walked back.
Elegant. So damn elegant.
"Lord Sakumo! Weren't you engaging the main Suna force at the front? How did you get here?"
A Konoha nin rushed up to him, face alight with joy. He looked like a modern fan meeting their idol.
"Isn't it obvious? My wish just came true!"
One of the female medics gushed, starry-eyed. "I just said I hadn't known a man, and the Sage of Six Paths just… delivers! A perfect one!"
"I have urgent business."
Sakumo dismissed the enthusiastic crowd with a sentence. His eyes swept over the medics. They paused, then settled on Nohara Hiroshi.
"The communications squad mentioned Medical Team Thirteen has an exceptional medic. A 'Qianyu.' Is that you?"
Ah…
Nohara Hiroshi's face flushed bright red. He knew. Sakumo had the wrong guy.
Wugang was dead. The old man who told stories was dead. Of the original Team Thirteen, Hiroshi was the oldest one left. No wonder Sakumo made the mistake.
"No, Lord Sakumo. That's him."
Hiroshi shifted half a step aside, revealing Qianyu's youthful face behind him.
"…Hm?"
Sakumo Hatake, for a rare moment, blinked in surprise.
The "exceptionally skilled medic, with prowess rivaling Lady Tsunade's" that the comms squad reported… was this half-grown kid?
Even for someone as experienced as Sakumo, it was a mental stumble.
But he recovered swiftly. His expression smoothed back into its usual calm as he looked at Qianyu. "Come with me, Qianyu. I need your skills. We'll talk on the way."
"But I still have to…"
Qianyu resisted. He glanced at Nohara Hiroshi beside him, his eyes full of questions.
"Go, Qianyu."
Nohara Hiroshi nodded, smiling encouragingly. "If Lord Sakumo is asking, whatever he needs you for must be big. Something that could sway the whole battlefield. This is your chance to make a real mark."
He meant it. With Lord Sakumo there, the kid probably wouldn't face much danger. It was a good opportunity. He was genuinely happy for Qianyu.
"We'll handle the other sector's rescue mission. Go on. Don't worry."
"…Alright then, Team Leader." Qianyu hesitated, then finally agreed.
His arms started to lift slightly. He wanted to hug Nohara Hiroshi before leaving. But with everyone watching… he felt awkward.
"Brat, stop dawdling! Lord Sakumo is waiting! Save it for when we're back in the village!"
Nohara Hiroshi saw right through him. He laughed, clapping Qianyu on the shoulder.
"Got it. You're the boss."
No more hesitation. Qianyu turned and followed Sakumo away.
It was the last time he would ever see Nohara Hiroshi.
…
"Lord Sakumo, won't your leaving the front affect the battle?" Qianyu asked curiously as they raced through the trees.
"I cleared out most of the enemies in my sector. By the time enemy reinforcements from other sectors realize I'm gone, we'll already be back."
Sakumo Hatake led the way at a blistering pace. Glancing back, he was mildly surprised to see Qianyu keeping up while still able to talk.
Seems the kid had talents beyond just medical ninjutsu.
He subtly increased his speed, pushing their pace to a jonin's level. Only when he saw Qianyu starting to strain did he hold steady.
"Qianyu. Soon, I'll need you to do everything you can to save two people."
Sakumo half-turned, his gaze serious. "The fate of the entire front line might hang on whether these two live or die."
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