The next morning, Nara Hikari arrived in front of the Hokage building.
Hundreds of Konoha ninjas had already gathered.
Many of them were around the same age as Nara Hikari.
"This is Nara Hikari. He'll be leading you to the border of the Land of Lightning," Tobirama announced.
The crowd immediately stirred.
"Just because he's from the Nara clan? Brains without strength won't earn our respect!" shouted a skeptical jonin.
"And how exactly should I earn your respect?" Hikari asked, genuinely surprised.
Since when had Senju Tobirama become so lenient? Wasn't he known for his absolute authority?
"I challenge him!" the jonin declared boldly.
His statement drew laughter from the crowd.
"I accept," Hikari replied calmly.
The jonin leapt in front of him. "You better give it your all—otherwise, you'll get hurt."
Without hesitation, the jonin flung dozens of kunai toward Hikari, then charged in with another kunai in hand.
But Hikari vanished into the shadows.
"Where is he?"
To the onlookers, Hikari's speed made it appear as if he'd disappeared entirely.
Before the jonin could react, a kunai was suddenly pressed against his neck.
"You lose," Hikari whispered.
"You're strong," the jonin admitted.
"Thank you."
In the blink of an eye, Hikari reappeared exactly where he'd been standing.
Even though Tobirama had already seen Hikari's technique once, he remained intrigued and impressed.
It was the Nara clan's secret Shadow Technique—but unlike anything he had ever seen before. The way Hikari used it was closer to his own Flying Thunder God: perfect for assassination.
An idea sparked in Tobirama's mind:
An assassination unit...?
"Any more objections?" Tobirama asked, scanning the silent crowd.
No one responded.
After all, anyone who could take down a jonin so effortlessly had clearly earned their place.
"Very well. Hikari, I'm counting on you. Remain vigilant. I'll provide backup once I've secured the other borders."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
"Move out!"
"Yes!"
At Tobirama's command, hundreds of ninjas vaulted into the trees, heading toward the Land of Lightning's border.
Among the crowd, Hikari's mother wiped away tears.
His father, on the other hand, stood tall with pride.
To defeat a jonin so easily—his son had truly grown.
Tobirama watched them disappear into the distance.
"Hold out as long as you can… All right, Hiruzen, Danzō, Koharu, Tōfu, Kadō, Kagami—let's move."
"Yes, sensei!"
With that, Tobirama vanished.
Hiruzen, Danzō, and Kagami cast a glance in the direction Hikari had gone, then followed suit.
~
"Captain, we'll reach the Land of Lightning border in an hour," said the jonin who had lost to Hikari.
His name was Nishito—a talented ninja from a minor clan who'd risen through Konoha's ranks and completed multiple S-rank missions.
Ever since the duel, he had been both respectful and slightly in awe of Hikari.
"Understood," Hikari replied as sunlight filtered through the dense forest canopy.
"Nishito, have the troops rest here."
He halted atop a sturdy tree branch and surveyed the terrain.
The other Konoha ninjas sat down, opened ration packs, and drank water.
"Send out scouts to survey the Cloud Village forces."
"Yes, sir."
A dozen reconnaissance ninjas swiftly disappeared into the trees.
Hikari looked around.
"Secret Technique: Shadow Soldiers."
He formed a seal—not out of necessity, but for show. His techniques didn't require hand signs, and even the name of the jutsu was a decoy to mislead others.
Moments later, thousands of black shadows wielding long black blades emerged silently from the surrounding foliage.
"Disperse."
With a single gesture from Hikari, the shadow army vanished into the trees.
The scene left the nearby ninjas stunned.
No wonder the Hokage had entrusted him with this mission.
He wasn't leading a force—he was the force.
Having already revealed his elite jonin strength, Hikari no longer saw a need to hide his true power for the sake of his family.
"Let me know when you find a water source."
With that, Hikari leapt into the forest. This time, no one questioned him.
Moments later, they arrived at a clear stream.
"Nishito, we'll camp here. Check the water source for toxins—upstream and downstream."
"Yes, Captain."
Nishito and another senior ninja, Silva, began setting up camp.
Soon after, a large bowl of hot meat broth—heated by a Fire Release user—was handed to Hikari.
"Captain, your meal," Nishito said.
After three days of rations, Hikari was starving. He blew on the soup and drank gratefully.
Nishito and Silva also received broth from the field kitchen.
"Captain," Nishito began, "we're only a dozen kilometers from the Lightning border. Four of our scouts have already fallen. The Cloud Village seems ready to strike at any moment."
"Let the men rest well. A full-scale battle could begin soon."
Nishito and Silva gazed toward the Land of Lightning.
Hikari handed his empty bowl to a nearby chunin.
"Thanks."
"No need to thank me, Captain. My name's Shimura Shiro."
Hikari glanced at him. "From the Shimura clan?"
"Yes, sir."
"Take care of yourself. Don't die so easily."
Hikari reached to pat his shoulder but stopped—realizing the man was older than him—and withdrew his hand awkwardly.
"I will."
Shimura Shiro gave him a grateful smile.
In Hikari's memory, the Shimura clan had once been powerful. But after the Second and Third Shinobi Wars, they had seemingly vanished—except for Danzō.
Whether the clan had gone into hiding or perished, he didn't know.
Maybe because of Danzō, Hikari couldn't bring himself to trust the Shimura entirely—but neither did he resent them.
BOOM!
Suddenly, an explosion echoed through the forest.
"Captain! That was a paper bomb!"
"They're making their move. Gather the troops and follow me!"
Nishito blew a whistle, and the ninjas quickly assembled in the clearing.
"Leave 200 men to guard the camp—the rest, with me!"
With that, Hikari vanished into the forest.
"You, you, you, and you—stay. Everyone else, follow me!" Silva called out, then followed Nishito after Hikari.
Soon they spotted him standing on a tree branch.
Beside him was a towering shadowy figure, holding a dying Kumogakure ninja.
"Extract any intel on troop deployments. Bandage that brother over there."
Hikari handed the wounded enemy over to Nishito, then pointed to a Konoha ninja slumped against a tree, a long wound carved across his chest.