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Shoo!
A figure appeared beside Ishigami Hara, first casting a surprised glance at him before turning his attention to the two retreating figures.
"Impressive, you're really something," the man remarked.
It was Hatake Sakumo, holding a severed arm in one hand, its wound still oozing fresh blood. There was no question whose arm it was.
"Impressive work," Ishigami Hara commented, glancing at the arm.
"You're not too bad yourself," Sakumo replied with a grin.
Ishigami Hara smiled back but suddenly raised two fingers and muttered softly.
"Ahhh..."
A sharp scream echoed from the distance, drawing the attention of both shinobi. The scattered Sunagakure Shinobi could now be seen retreating toward a single direction, the scream clearly coming from there.
Hatake Sakumo's eyes widened in surprise, and he looked at Ishigami Hara with newfound respect.
"Don't be too shocked," Ishigami Hara said casually. "I left a backup seal on him. I couldn't kill him outright, but I think taking one of his arms is a fair trade."
"Hahaha!" Sakumo laughed heartily. "So now, both brother and sister are one-armed."
Clapping Ishigami Hara on the shoulder, Sakumo added meaningfully, "If you ever need a hand, just let me know. If it weren't for you, things could've gone much worse for me."
Without waiting for a reply, Sakumo disappeared, already chasing after the retreating Sunagakure Shinobi. He had no intention of letting them escape so easily—Konoha could only benefit from eliminating more of the enemy.
Ishigami Hara understood Sakumo's unspoken message. He smirked and followed without a word, determined not to waste this opportunity.
With his Sharingan now activated and both Ushikami and Huoshikami at his disposal, Ishigami Hara's battlefield prowess had increased significantly. His ability to evade attacks and launch unpredictable counterattacks made him a force to be reckoned with. The battlefield was ripe for earning military merits.
Konoha's military merit system was flexible—killing enemy shinobi allowed a ninja to accumulate points that could be exchanged for mission rewards or training in new jutsu. Ishigami Hara knew he could use this system to his advantage, seeking both knowledge and recognition.
Achieving success on the battlefield had another benefit for him—it would elevate his standing within Konoha. If he became a hero of the village, the reactions from both the Hyuga and Uchiha clans would be priceless.
Meanwhile, the Sunagakure Shinobi were in full retreat, showing clear signs of defeat. As they fought while retreating, Konoha's forces pursued them relentlessly, pushing the chase for over ten miles until the Sunagakure forces were on the verge of collapse.
If not for reinforcements arriving in time, the entire Sunagakure Shinobi contingent would have been wiped out.
In the aftermath, Ishigami Hara's name spread across the battlefield. During the pursuit, he personally killed four Jōnin and 17 Chūnin from the Sunagakure. Genin were not involved in such large-scale battles, so there were none among his kills this time.
The true recognition for Ishigami Hara's achievements in this battle came from his solo defense of Konoha's camp during the Sunagakure Shinobi raid. Though the enemy force wasn't entirely wiped out, Ishigami Hara had managed to hold them off, even killing two Elite Jōnin. This meant that, in total, Ishigami Hara had killed at least six Jōnin during the confrontation, a feat that surpassed even Hatake Sakumo's enemy kill count.
Sakumo, known more for his prowess in stealth missions and assassinations rather than large-scale battlefield combat, had focused on disrupting the enemy's strongest fighters rather than aiming for sheer numbers. As a result, Ishigami Hara's efficiency in taking down enemies outshone even the legendary White Fang.
Thanks to this, Ishigami Hara quickly became a well-known figure, his remarkable abilities paired with his handsome appearance making him a memorable presence among the troops. His fame was only solidified when, despite Orochimaru's carefully planned assassination attempt during the Sand Shinobi's retreat, the Chiyo siblings narrowly escaped, protected by their comrades.
Orochimaru, unfazed by the failed assassination, instead praised Ishigami Hara. "Congratulations, Hara-kun. It seems you'll need to get used to your new identity—the hero of Konoha," Orochimaru said with a sly smile, licking his lips, as was his habit.
Inside the camp's command tent, the atmosphere was tense. High-ranking officials gathered, many of them glancing curiously at Ishigami Hara. Though his eyes had returned to normal, they had all witnessed the unique combination of his Byakugan and Sharingan during the battle. The idea of someone possessing both dojutsu was almost beyond belief.
There was no doubt in their minds that, once word of this spread, both the Hyuga and Uchiha clans would seek to uncover the secrets of Ishigami Hara's abilities. The question lingered in the minds of many—how would he handle the pressure from two of Konoha's most powerful clans?
But Ishigami Hara appeared untroubled, standing at ease beside Orochimaru with Nawaki at his side. Nawaki, on the other hand, looked nervous, tugging at Ishigami Hara's sleeve as if wanting to say something but unsure how to begin.
With a calm nod, Ishigami Hara responded to Orochimaru's praise, "Thank you, Lord Orochimaru, but I don't concern myself with such things."
He then turned to Hatake Sakumo. "Lord Sakumo, I'd like to exchange this battle merit for a mission settlement."
Sakumo nodded. "Your accomplishments in this battle are worth the equivalent of nine S-rank missions. I'll have it recorded for you."
"Thank you," Ishigami Hara replied.
Nawaki, curious, asked, "What are you going to use those mission settlements for?"
Without hesitation, Ishigami Hara answered, "To gain access to the Sealed Book."
This statement drew interest from the other commanders in the room. Some of them exchanged glances, recognizing Ishigami Hara's intentions.
'Is he preparing to defend himself against the Hyuga and Uchiha?' Many thought to themselves.
Despite his rising fame, Ishigami Hara's rank remained that of a Genin. After settling his affairs, he was sent to rest, given the long journey and his recent battles. Though he didn't feel particularly tired, he lay down and soon found himself drifting off to sleep.
The sleep was strange, yet oddly familiar. As Ishigami Hara drifted into slumber, he found himself in a dream, once again gazing up at that mysterious starry sky. As before, it felt as though he had returned from the dream with something—something intangible, yet real.
Suddenly, in the middle of the night, he was jolted awake by the sound of a voice echoing angrily in his mind.
"Damn kid! You actually brought this guy back from the underworld!" It was Uchiha Izuna, seething with rage.
At the same time, another voice, one far more cheerful, spoke up. "Ahaha! Izuna, it's been a while! Sorry that Tobirama killed you back then, but you know, we were still enemies at the time—Senju and Uchiha, locked in war."
"Senju Hashirama! Shut up! You don't get to say his name!" Uchiha Izuna roared, his voice filled with fury.