A short sword pierced through Yuma's shoulder from behind, its tip halted by the inner lining of his chest armor. The collision produced a grating, teeth-aching metallic screech.
With a brutal slap of his left hand against the armor at his shoulder, Yuma unleashed a surge of force that sent the blade lodged in his body flying backward. Simultaneously, he twisted to the right, his right arm's gauntlet releasing streams of scorching air. The combined internal and external forces fueled a lightning-fast counterattack.
Yet, his strike hit nothing but air.
He had charged forward, intending to take the initiative and eliminate an enemy, only to miss entirely and take a blade to the shoulder instead.
This left Tobirama Senju slightly baffled… Are you here to save the day or to make a fool of yourself?
The problem was the enemy's speed—far too swift, making Yuma appear almost clumsy in comparison. After Tobirama's reminder, Yuma pieced together the enemy's identity and unique abilities.
Swift Release, as the name implied, was a kekkei genkai that granted a decisive speed advantage.
Recalling the phrase "Gale and Thunder, Swift Water's Radiance," Yuma noted that "Swift Water's Radiance" referred to Storm Release, a kekkei genkai born from the fusion of Water and Lightning chakra natures.
So, "Gale and Thunder" pointed to Swift Release, meaning it likely required Wind and Lightning chakra natures.
As for the Hagoromo clan, Tobirama's hint jogged Yuma's memory of certain plot details.
Long ago, when the invincible Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha were still children, they had witnessed a scene described as "the departed flow by, unceasing day and night."
Translated, it meant: "The benevolent are invincible; simply sit by the riverbank, and the corpses of enemies will float by, day and night."
The corpse in that scene belonged to a ninja of the Hagoromo clan.
Then Yuma recalled seeing the Hagoromo clan's emblem about a year ago… in "Big Brother Town." While rescuing Chiori, he encountered an insufferably arrogant fool who, on the verge of being saved, recklessly got himself killed.
That idiot had boasted about coming from some great ninja clan. So, that clan was the Hagoromo?
It only proved that not all individuals were equal, even within elite groups. Every powerful clan had its share of stains, fools, and failures.
Or perhaps it was precisely because they hailed from a mighty clan that the incompetent stood out so starkly.
Back then, that ninja had left Yuma with the impression of a "paramecium, capable only of basic life functions." That fool was an entirely different species compared to the Hagoromo ninjas he faced now.
The Hagoromo clan was undeniably a formidable force, even setting aside their mastery of two kekkei genkai.
For one, they maintained a strong relationship with the Uchiha clan. Given the Uchiha's strength and haughty demeanor, they wouldn't bother associating with weaklings.
For another, Tobirama's two younger brothers had fallen at the hands of the Uchiha and Hagoromo. No mere weakling would dare challenge the Senju of the Forest… though the Hagoromo's act was more akin to "pummeling kindergartners." A horde of adult ninjas had ganged up on seven-year-old Itama Senju, beating him to death.
Finally, the Hagoromo surname itself hinted at the ancient origins of their bloodline.
Yet Yuma couldn't be blamed for having little impression of the clan. Even now, scouring his memories, the Hagoromo's notable "achievements" amounted to killing Itama Senju and teaming up with the Uchiha to kill Tobirama's other brother, Kawarama Senju. Honestly, that was a bit underwhelming, wasn't it?
Still, the alliances and conflicts between clans like the Uchiha and Hagoromo, or the Senju and Hyuga, represented the future of warfare—beyond single-clan battles, these coalitions could be seen as the precursor to the ninja village system… if one ignored Yuma's Firefly Organization.
Compared to the bold strides of the Firefly clan leader, however, such alliances seemed petty and small-scale.
Most of the time, Tobirama Senju was rational, cunning, and calculating, weighing gains and losses. But when it came to the Uchiha and Hagoromo, he became volatile, overly emotional, and even let sentiment override reason.
Clan leaders of that era, whether the Uchiha's Tajima or the Senju's Butsuma, were cut from the same cloth. Their leadership was simple, crude, brutal, and cold, treating sacrifices as inconsequential.
Compared to such parents, the bonds between siblings felt far more genuine. Whether it was Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju, or Tobirama Senju, their love for their brothers often surpassed their regard for their fathers.
A father's death might not matter much, but a brother's death was a wound that cut to the bone.
Long ago, Tobirama had considered forming alliances with other clans to end the endless wars. But after losing both his younger brothers, he could no longer speak of such things lightly.
The inherently wicked Hagoromo clan and the even more malevolent Uchiha clan were cancers in the ninja world. Only their complete eradication would bring peace to the Senju… Such was the oath recorded in Tobirama's little notebook.
That said…
This perspective explained some of the irrational traits in later generations of ninjas, passed down through their bloodlines. Take Tsunade, for instance—her issues were mild. Then there was Itachi Uchiha, whose condition was terminal.
Tobirama had no idea of the mental journey Yuma had just taken. Repelling the enemy before him, he shouted to Yuma, "Can you handle this or not?"
Yuma was fine. In fact, the wound on his shoulder was already healing. His recovery ability might not rival Hashirama's seal-less regeneration, but it was at least on par with Naruto's Nine-Tails chakra-enhanced healing, and without side effects.
Ignoring the pointless question, Yuma asked Tobirama, "Do all these guys specialize in two kekkei genkai?"
"No," Tobirama replied. "Most of them have Wind, Water, and Lightning chakra natures, but some specialize in Swift Release, others in Storm Release. Only a few master both kekkei genkai."
That made the Hagoromo's kekkei genkai awakening rate sound higher than the Uchiha's Sharingan activation rate. Yuma heightened his guard against these enemies.
"What about your… Body Flicker Technique? Why are you getting pinned down? Are you not fast enough?"
Yuma had meant to ask about Flying Thunder God, but Tobirama didn't seem to have mastered it yet, so he switched terms mid-sentence.
Tobirama, already fuming, nearly lost it at Yuma's question. His face flushed, but he had no retort—obviously, no Body Flicker Technique could outpace Swift Release.
While talking, Tobirama relied on his skilled Body Flicker to keep up with the enemy, but Yuma swung another fierce punch at empty air.
I… You… Am I too pathetic?
The speed disadvantage was glaring. Yuma felt like a swarm of mosquitoes buzzed around him—his strength useless as they darted in to sting him.
Clearly, seeking a direct confrontation was a mistake. Yuma realized he should've opted for stealth.
The enemy's combat experience was vast. They quickly pegged Yuma as a cumbersome artillery unit—powerful but useless if he couldn't land a hit.
Worse, since Yuma was even less agile than Tobirama, he gradually became the primary target, forced into the role of a "meat tank."
Damn you, Tobirama. It's fine if you're slower than the enemy—as long as you're faster than your teammate, right?
Bang!
A sickening thud of flesh interrupted his thoughts. Yuma felt a sharp pain in his thigh. Looking down, he saw something had pierced through it.
Tracing the wound's trajectory, he spotted the "weapon"… a mere steel pellet.
A young Hagoromo ninja, positioned twenty meters away, kept shifting locations while firing at Yuma's limbs and back with a specialized weapon.
A… slingshot?
The ninja wore a malicious grin, toying with his "prey" using Swift Release to outmaneuver Yuma's futile struggles.
His demeanor screamed that he wasn't here to kill but to amuse himself.
Honestly, Yuma approached war with a rational mindset. On the battlefield, victory meant survival; defeat meant a quick trip to reincarnation. At most, he felt anger toward enemies.
Rarely did he feel irritated or disgusted.
You've got to be kidding me, you little punk.
Tobirama was right—some kids were born evil.
After adapting for a moment, Yuma began to track the Swift Release ninja's movements… After all, the enemy stayed within his sensory range. No matter how dense he was, he could gather some combat data.
Swift Release wasn't Flying Thunder God. The latter was a space-time ninjutsu, instantaneous with no movement between start and end points.
Swift Release, however, was just fast running. No matter how quick, the ninja remained tangible during movement.
As the slingshot-wielding kid shifted positions again, Yuma "pre-aimed" while channeling a massive amount of chakra to his legs.
Now.
The moment the enemy paused, propelled by a burst of steam, Yuma kicked the ground with ferocious force.
A barrage of rocks and dirt shot forward like shrapnel in a fan-shaped spread, too wide for the enemy to escape with Swift Release.
Have you had enough?
The sickening sound of flesh being pierced echoed as the debris struck. Whatever pellets the enemy had fired, Yuma returned tenfold.
The ninja became a bloody mess, standing dazed. Yuma's attack was scattered, leaving the enemy gravely injured but not necessarily dead.
In that split-second of hesitation, Tobirama appeared behind the ninja, slicing his throat with a kunai.
That kid was done making trouble.
As expected of Tobirama—master of the clean-up kill.
The sudden scene drove another enemy ninja into a rage. Eyes bloodshot, he charged straight at Yuma.
Clang!
Yuma blocked the enemy's kunai with his short sword. The ninja tried to overpower him with brute force, but no matter how hard he pushed, the blade didn't budge.
Yuma tilted his head, gesturing with his chin toward the dead kid's body, and asked, "Your son?"
The ninja glanced at the emblem on Yuma's sword and growled through gritted teeth, "Sarutobi clan?"
As everyone knew, the Sarutobi and Senju clans were on good terms, so it made sense for a Sarutobi to come to Tobirama's aid… But if Yuma were truly a Sarutobi, how could he know so little about the Hagoromo?
The enemy made a snap judgment, and Yuma played along.
"Yep. I'm Sasuke Sarutobi's brother, Yusuke Sarutobi."
As he spoke, the enemy threw a punch. Yuma blocked it with his gauntleted right hand, easily stopping the weak, predictable attack.
"Die, Yusuke Sarutobi!"
The next moment, blue lightning erupted from the ninja's body, surging through his fist toward Yuma.
It was a Storm Release taijutsu, akin to Chidori Current but with greater control and precision due to Storm Release's properties.
Yuma's body went limp, half of it scorched inside and out.
But the enemy hadn't noticed that Yuma had prepared his own move. Just before the punch landed, Yuma had taken several deep breaths.
Now, he exhaled.
Boom!
A massive cloud of acid mist shot toward the enemy's face like an arrow. In an instant, the ninja's features began to dissolve, leaving him unable to even scream.
The more he struggled in pain, the harder he breathed.
Unfortunately for him, in Yuma's presence, the more you gasped, the faster you died.
The acid mist flooded the ninja's lungs, corroding them into tatters before spreading through his chest cavity.
In mere moments, he was beyond dead.
Kekkei genkai? As if Yuma didn't have one too. Sure, he only had one, but it had two applications… What good was speed against a wide-ranging acid mist?
"Don't you know the Sarutobi clan excels at Fire Release?" Yuma said. "How's the power of my… uh, Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning?"
Ash Pile Burning was a technique developed by a future Sarutobi smoker, a move that screamed "we smokers have power." It didn't exist in this era, so Yuma's bluff was harmless.
"If that was your son, my condolences. All I can do is reunite your family."
Tobirama finally had enough. "That's enough out of you," he said. "The fight's not over."
How could Yuma impersonate a Sarutobi in front of him? The Senju and Sarutobi were allies, and Tobirama didn't want to stir trouble for them.
He understood why Yuma used a false identity and, since Yuma was here to help, couldn't call him out directly.
What did the Sarutobi have to do with this? Tobirama would rather Yuma pretend to be a Senju.
Tobirama's concerns were rational, protecting the Senju-Sarutobi alliance.
But…
What did that matter to Yuma?
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