"Die, brat! Maybe in a few years I'd avoid crossing your path, but right now, I can crush you like an ant! Blame your foolish Hokage for sending a prodigy like you into a real battlefield!"
The Sand ninja before him screamed with bloodshot eyes, hurling himself toward Shane Mountain with pure killing intent.
Shane frowned slightly. Clearly, this man carried a deep grudge against Konoha.
"Human Boulder!"
Rolling sounds thundered across the field.
Choza Akimichi, noticing the enemy rushing toward Shane, transformed into his massive rolling form and crashed forward.
Before the Sand ninja could even swing his blade, Choza smashed into him with devastating force, flattening him into the dirt like a crushed pancake.
"Thanks," Shane said calmly.
"Heh! We're comrades, aren't we?" Choza grinned, his round cheeks flushed with battle heat. "But seriously, Shane you're way too low-key. Look at Minato! He's gone all out, already taken down nearly twenty enemies!"
Shane adjusted his kunai holster and replied in a steady tone, "In battle, never give everything away. Attack with three parts strength and keep seven in reserve. Minato's enthusiasm is admirable, but no one can fight forever. A single misstep can cost you everything."
A flash of golden hair appeared nearby Minato Namikaze had returned, breathing heavily from the fight. Hearing Shane's words, he smiled. "I know you'll step in if things go bad. You're way stronger than us anyway."
Shane's lips curved slightly. Being trusted like that warmed his heart, but he still gave a warning. "Don't rely on me too much. Even if I'm nearby, never let yourself fall into a desperate situation. The habit of depending on rescue will kill you faster than any jutsu."
Minato nodded. He understood the logic, but in his heart, he believed something else when comrades fought side by side, trust was their greatest strength. As long as he charged forward, someone like Shane would have his back.
Seeing how exhausted Minato was, the team began to slow their advance. Instead of pushing deep into enemy lines, they stayed close, protecting him while Shane and Shibi Aburame picked off any enemy that dared approach.
As the clash of jutsu and steel slowly faded, both sides began to retreat.
Standing behind Tsunade, Shane watched his teammates gasp for air. He knew the day's battle was over even before Tsunade gave the order to withdraw.
The Sand shinobi were no better off their numbers had dwindled, and their commander signaled retreat as well.
In moments, the forest filled with the sound of bodies leaping through trees, shadows flickering like ghosts in the twilight.
When they finally returned to camp, Minato and the others let out long sighs of relief.
"That was rough. I'm dead tired," Shane muttered, heading straight for his tent.
After he left, Minato, Choza, and Shibi went to fetch water to wash off the blood and grime.
Not long after, Tsunade entered the tent, her eyes sharp with curiosity. Seeing only Shane inside, she got straight to the point. "That technique you used earlier… did you create it yourself?"
She had witnessed the power of the Rasengan firsthand. If that attack had struck her directly, even she might not have survived unscathed.
If Shane had really developed such a jutsu on his own, then keeping him under her command might actually be holding him back.
Shane nodded. "Yeah. It's my own creation."
He didn't see any reason to hide it any investigation would reveal the truth anyway.
Yes, he thought to himself, I'm a super genius.
Even though she suspected as much, hearing it confirmed still shocked Tsunade deeply.
A boy who had just graduated from the academy creating a technique of that level… it was unbelievable.
"What's that old man thinking? Assigning prodigies like them to me? I'm not a teacher!" Tsunade muttered internally, frustration bubbling beneath her calm expression.
Teaching medical ninjutsu was one thing she excelled at that but battle training? She herself hadn't even mastered the Strength of a Hundred Seal yet. Her combat power mostly came from raw strength, and even that wasn't at full potential.
She truly didn't know what she could teach them.
Maybe I should just let them figure it out on their own, she thought. He's creating A-rank jutsu at his age what could I possibly add? As long as I make sure he survives, that's enough.
Her musings were interrupted as Minato, Shibi, and Choza returned. They greeted her respectfully, and Tsunade nodded back before asking, "Minato, I heard you've been learning sealing techniques from Lady Mito?"
"Yes, ma'am. Kushina, Shane, and I have been studying under her for some time now," Minato replied.
"As I thought…" Tsunade sighed. Her decision was made.
The next day, when Shane and the others reported for orders, they were surprised to learn they were being granted free action.
Free action?
It sounded nice, but what it really meant was simple no assignments, no missions, and no dangerous deployments. Basically, Tsunade wanted them to stay out of trouble and keep themselves alive.
The four exchanged amused looks. They hadn't expected to be "benched" after just one day on the battlefield.
"Can't really blame her," Shane said with a shrug. "We drew too much attention yesterday. If we went out again, the Sand forces would definitely target us specifically."
"Still," Minato replied, frowning slightly, "we can't leave the front lines, right? We're part of the Wind Country campaign unit now. If we just walk off, it'll look like desertion."
Shane chuckled. "I'm not planning to run. I just want a quiet place to train. Since we don't have missions, we might as well use the time wisely."
Shibi nodded in agreement. "Makes sense. Sitting around doing nothing won't make us stronger."
The group slipped away from camp, finding an isolated clearing to practice.
By evening, as they returned from training, chaos had erupted.
The entire camp was in disarray dozens of shinobi lay on the ground, faces pale and lips tinged blue. The air reeked of medicine and panic.
Tsunade was moving from one fallen ninja to another, barking orders to the medical team.
"What happened?" Shane asked, stunned. That morning, everything had been normal. How had the camp turned into a nightmare in just a few hours?
One of the medics, drenched in sweat, shouted without looking up, "Poison! We don't know what kind. Everyone's been exposed. Lady Tsunade suspects the Sand shinobi tainted the water supply!"
Then he rushed off again.
Shane could only frown. He remembered this part of the war how Tsunade eventually developed an antidote and forced the Wind Country to withdraw entirely. The poison outbreak had been the turning point that ended the conflict.
It was also during that time, he recalled, that the White Fang Sakumo Hatake took over command, killed Sasori's parents, and delivered the final blow that led to Sand's surrender.
Watching Tsunade work with fierce determination, Shane quietly thought, History is unfolding again but maybe this time, I can make sure it ends better.
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