An endless stretch of lush forest, vibrant and full of life. The hum of insects, the songs of birds, and the soft whisper of the breeze carried the refreshing scent of wildflowers through the air.
Haruto Saito was sprinting at full speed, eager to avoid any unnecessary delays. He didn't want that little troublemaker, Kushina Uzumaki, getting in his way. Dealing with a mischievous little girl was the last thing he needed.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two figures shot past him from behind, overtaking him effortlessly. Soon after, a third silhouette flashed by, leaving Haruto in the dust. The first two were elite jounin of the Uchiha clan, while the last one, running ahead with a taunting grace, was none other than Uchiha Mikoto.
"You're pretty slow, Haruto-san," Mikoto's teasing voice carried back to him, her words laced with an irksome amusement as she widened the gap.
"How is that brat so fast?" Haruto blinked in surprise.
It didn't make sense. He knew he was far superior to Mikoto in terms of raw ability.
The terrain was treacherous—rolling hills, creeping vines, fallen logs, and jagged rocks blocking the path. While ordinary people would struggle to move quickly in such an environment, Mikoto was gliding through it effortlessly.
Then it clicked. It wasn't that Mikoto was faster than him—her Sharingan was giving her an unfair advantage.
She was using its ability to analyze her surroundings in real-time, predicting the best footfalls, avoiding obstacles with precision, and making the terrain work in her favor.
"Haruto-san, can't keep up?" Mikoto taunted over her shoulder, her red eyes gleaming with challenge.
Haruto abruptly slowed his pace to a stroll.
His three teammates continued running ahead, but within moments, they came to a stop, realizing he was no longer keeping up. They turned back, retracing their steps until they were by his side again.
"What's the point of running ahead if you have to come back?" Haruto sighed dramatically.
Uchiha Iwa remained expressionless, Uchiha Toku cast him a sidelong glance, saying nothing, while Mikoto's smug expression faltered slightly before she forced a smile.
Haruto smirked at her and suddenly took off running again. "Let's go. Pick up the pace!"
Mikoto followed without further comment, sticking close this time.
Haruto's excitement for his first real mission outside the village was palpable. He took his time observing everything, fascinated by the endless stretch of trees, the towering ancient giants that seemed to reach into the sky. But soon enough, the novelty wore off. The Fire Country was practically one giant forest. The scenery, once breathtaking, became repetitive.
They pressed on, traveling swiftly through the wilderness.
By midday, they arrived near a small trade village called Koyaba. Though not as large as Konoha, it was a bustling hub of commerce.
Haruto had hoped to take a short detour and explore, but Iwa shot down the idea immediately.
Ninjas on classified missions were not supposed to interact with civilians unless absolutely necessary. Even if they needed supplies, they had to disguise themselves first.
Haruto let it go. He would have his fun on the way back. For now, they stopped just outside the village in the dense foliage, quickly eating rations before resuming their journey.
The rest of the day passed much the same—running, short breaks, and more running.
When night fell, they set up camp by a small lake.
Sitting around a crackling fire, Haruto tore into his roasted venison, his stomach grumbling after the exhausting journey.
The food was good—Toku was surprisingly skilled at cooking—but Haruto still felt irritated. He was filthy. Sweat, dust, and grime clung to him, making his skin itch. The old him would have never tolerated this, but after being tormented by Tsunade, he had learned to endure such things.
Still, he wasn't about to sleep like this.
As soon as he finished eating, he grabbed a towel and headed toward the lake.
Mikoto smirked as he walked off. "Haruto-san, you're way too clean for a shinobi."
Haruto flipped her off without a word.
Mikoto didn't understand the gesture, but she had seen him do it before. She knew it wasn't friendly.
Night deepened.
With everyone full and settled, Iwa rested in a nearby tree, Toku kept watch, and Mikoto lounged near the fire, while Haruto curled up against a boulder, half-asleep.
Then, suddenly—
Haruto's eyes snapped open.
He wasn't sure what had roused him at first, but then he felt it. Something was coming. A group. And they weren't being stealthy.
Rustling in the brush. The sound of hurried footsteps.
Iwa was already awake, appearing next to Mikoto in a blur, his blade drawn.
Haruto stood up, yanking the heavy zanbato off his back.
Killing intent seeped through the trees.
The rustling in the forest grew louder, more erratic, and then—
A burst of chakra erupted from the darkness.
"Wind Release: Thousand Blade Tempest!"
Hundreds of razor-sharp wind blades tore through the air, slicing toward them from across the riverbank!