《Naruto: My Ninjutsu is Just Average》


 Chapter 1: The Birth of the White Zetsu Hero

    In the Ninja World, at the heart of the continent, within a jungle shrouded by a dense canopy of trees.


    A young ninja staggered deeper into the rarely trodden wilderness.


    He appeared to be only fourteen or fifteen years old, his clothes tattered and torn, his chest and back stained with bright red blood. His steps were unsteady, each movement sluggish as if weighed down by an invisible force, giving the impression that he might collapse at any moment.


    By some stroke of fortune amidst misfortune, he had temporarily shaken off his pursuers.


    His name was Hanemiya Genma, a member of a small ninja clan called the "Hanemiya Clan," and the nephew of the former clan leader. A month ago, the old clan leader fell in battle. A week ago, the new clan leader¡ªhis cousin¡ªmet the same fate, leaving him to inherit the mantle as the newest clan head.


    Three days prior, during a skirmish, Hanemiya Genma had volunteered to act as a decoy to protect the rest of his clan, allowing them to retreat safely. After drawing the enemy away and narrowly escaping their pursuit, he was now making his way toward the agreed-upon rendezvous point.


    That was his basic situation. Oh, and one more crucial detail: beyond all that''s been described, he was also a transmigrator.


    A year ago, for reasons unknown, his soul had crossed over into the body of this boy named "Hanemiya Genma," overwriting the original consciousness.


    Upon arriving in the Ninja World, he initially thought he''d follow the "system flow" trope¡ªgaining a cheat-like system to become a world-shaking figure. But he soon realized he had no system at all.


    Next, he figured that with his knowledge of the Naruto world''s historical events and key milestones, he could take the "genius flow" path and rise smoothly to prominence. Yet, up to now, his strength had plateaued at the level of a Chunin, with no hope in sight for further progress.


    In the end, he concluded he might be stuck in the long-outdated "trash-to-treasure suffering flow."


    But even that was an illusion. It was only at this very moment that he became certain he''d been walking the "cannon fodder flow" all along. Born ordinary, he was destined to become a glorious footnote¡ªa expendable pawn. His transmigration journey had barely begun, and it already seemed on the verge of ending.


    Though he couldn''t pinpoint the exact time period, Hanemiya Genma was fairly sure he was in the era of warring ninja clans, before the establishment of the Hidden Villages. This was a time of "cooking oil over a raging fire"¡ªraw, primal, and drenched in blood. Nearly all minor clans without influence were doomed to lose their space to survive.


    As he trudged along, Hanemiya Genma suddenly tripped over something underfoot, and his entire body pitched forward, crashing to the ground.


    He hadn''t slept or rested for three full days and nights. Hunger and exhaustion made every step a Herculean effort...


    No matter what, he needed to eat something to regain his strength, but he had long since run out of supplies.


    Yet, as the saying goes, "Heaven never seals all paths." Struggling to lift his head, Hanemiya Genma forced his eyes open and, through a blurry haze, spotted something growing on the ground not far ahead.


    "Mushrooms."


    Mushrooms were better than tree bark, at least. With no room for hesitation, he crawled forward on all fours, inching along until he reached it. With the last of his strength, he plucked what looked like an "eryngii mushroom," stuffed it into his mouth in a few hasty bites, and swallowed it down.


    Only after it hit his stomach did he notice that the spot where this "mushroom" grew seemed... unusual.


    The cluster of "mushrooms" sprouted from a half-buried "stump." Around the stump grew pale, ghostly pitcher plants, their surfaces adorned with glossy aloe-like leaves that shimmered as if painted with oil. Thinking back, the "mushroom" he''d just eaten had an oddly rich, greasy texture...


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    "..."


    Hanemiya Genma''s gaze turned sluggish, a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu creeping over him, as if he''d stumbled upon something familiar.


    He scrutinized the stump more closely and realized, to his shock, that it bore a twisted human face.


    "Hmm? Huh?!"


    Since arriving in the Ninja World, Hanemiya Genma had often grumbled to himself about how low-tier his life was¡ªnever meeting any familiar characters or encountering significant events. But now, his wish had finally come true. He''d met a key figure from the original story¡ªa White Zetsu. A dead White Zetsu, no less.


    That "mushroom" he''d just eaten? It had grown straight out of the White Zetsu''s eye socket.


    Hanemiya Genma instantly felt a wave of unease. Theoretically speaking, he''d just consumed the filthiest, most unsanitary thing in the entire Ninja World.


    No, it wasn''t just unsanitary¡ªthis stuff had side effects. It might even kill him.


    Without warning, excruciating pain erupted through his body. His limbs convulsed uncontrollably, thrashing as if trying to twist him into a pretzel. Even clenching his teeth couldn''t stifle the guttural groans escaping his throat. The unbearable agony began to strip away his consciousness, bit by bit.


    "If only I''d rinsed it with water first..."


    That was the last thought in his mind before he blacked out completely.


    Roughly ten minutes later, the unconscious Hanemiya Genma finally stopped twitching.


    The forest fell silent again. His body curled into a ball, and at some point, a ghastly white hue had begun to spread across his skin.


    Clearly, he was undergoing some kind of transformation.


    Three hours later, the pallor gradually faded, and he returned to his original appearance.


    A suffocating heaviness jolted Hanemiya Genma awake. His eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright, collapsing to his knees. Propping himself up with his arms, he coughed violently.


    With each hacking cough, a pale, sap-like liquid spewed from his mouth. By the time the coughing subsided and his breathing steadied, the "sap" had pooled across the ground in front of him.


    "Hoo..."


    Letting out a long breath, Hanemiya Genma leaned against a nearby tree and slowly stood. His face carried an indescribable weight and an unmistakable confusion.


    Though he wasn''t yet sure what had happened to him, upon waking, he felt his physical condition had become unnaturally good. His body was light, his mind clear. Not only had all his wounds healed, but he even sensed his combat ability had jumped a tier¡ªalmost like "Constitution +10" or "Chakra +10."


    Before, he''d been an ordinary Chunin, one of countless specks of dust in the Ninja World. Now, he had the illusion that if he just tiptoed, he could touch the "Kakashi line"¡ªyes, that Kakashi.


    Even stranger, new information had inexplicably appeared in his mind¡ªor rather, a new instinct. It was hard to describe, but it told him he''d gained new abilities.


    He raised his left arm, and with a single thought, it turned a stark white, its texture resembling peeled tree bark. As his intent shifted, the whiteness spread across his entire body. In a sense, he had become a White Zetsu.


    "White Zetsu."


    Hanemiya Genma could hardly believe it.


    As everyone knows, a spider bite turns you into Spider-Man. By the same logic, after eating a "mushroom" that grew from a White Zetsu, Hanemiya Genma''s body had undergone a transformation akin to a White Zetsu''s. Perhaps this could be called... "White Zetsu-Man"?


    "In the end, isn''t this just a poor man relying on mutation?"


    Thanks to recklessly eating that mushroom, Hanemiya Genma figured he''d somehow assimilated with the White Zetsu. This assimilation had significantly enhanced his strength and granted him some of the White Zetsu''s inherent abilities.


    These changes were worth studying, but now wasn''t the time to dwell on them.


    The sound of fabric brushing against leaves reached his ears, snapping him to alertness. Judging by the noise, a group of at least ten ninjas was approaching. He immediately concealed himself. About fifteen minutes later, the ninjas stopped nearby. No¡ªit wasn''t a coincidence. Once he got a clear look at their faces, Hanemiya Genma stepped out of hiding. These were his clansmen.


    It turned out that, unbeknownst to him, he''d reached the rendezvous point before losing consciousness.


    "Clan Leader!"


    His sudden appearance startled the ninjas for a moment, but once they recognized him, they visibly relaxed.


    "Are there only a few of you left?" Hanemiya Genma asked.


    Sixteen ninjas had made it here, mostly young men. As for those who didn''t arrive, their fates were easy to guess.


    "Clan Leader, we..." Guilt clouded one ninja''s face.


    Hanemiya Genma raised a hand to stop him, his expression calm and his voice steady. "It''s not your fault. It seems my decoy plan wasn''t as successful as I''d hoped."


    "Clan Leader, the enemy''s forces vastly outnumber ours. We... we were powerless." A deep sense of helplessness made the ninja lower his head.


    Both in numbers and average strength, the enemy was overwhelmingly superior.


    "What about the pursuers? Did you shake them off?" Hanemiya Genma asked again.


    "No. At most, they''ll catch up in four or five hours... They have scouting ninjas. We can''t escape."


    Witnessed or not, the moment of a ninja clan''s life-or-death struggle always arrived with unhurried inevitability.

 Chapter 2: Ambush

    ¡°How many enemies are there?¡± Hanemiya Genma asked.


    His earlier decoy strategy hadn¡¯t been entirely ineffective¡ªit had, in fact, drawn away a portion of the enemy forces. Now, he could only hope that the number of enemies still pursuing them wasn¡¯t outrageously high.


    ¡°The enemies still chasing us are roughly equal in number to our group, about fifteen or so,¡± replied the same clansman ninja who had spoken earlier.


    Being pursued relentlessly by an enemy force of equal size wasn¡¯t entirely unreasonable. On one hand, the enemy¡¯s average strength surpassed theirs, their stamina and energy were nearly at peak condition, and they could receive reinforcements much faster. On the other hand¡­ Hanemiya Genma shook his head inwardly. His gaze swept over his comrades, noting the visible exhaustion and weakness etched into their bodies. Truth be told, they no longer had the capacity for sustained combat. Calling them lambs awaiting slaughter wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration.


    Forget fighting¡ªthey couldn¡¯t even keep fleeing.


    ¡°Fortunately, I managed to shake off a portion of the enemy earlier. On the bright side, at least we won¡¯t be caught in a pincer attack. A few hours from now, it¡¯s likely just these fifteen enemies we¡¯ll be facing.¡±


    Hanemiya Genma mulled it over briefly and realized their options were pitifully few. With a sigh, he said, ¡°To maximize our chances of survival, we have no choice but to continue the decoy strategy. A few of us will have to lure the enemy away as much as possible.¡±


    Though he appeared young, the clan¡¯s ninjas held deep trust in him. For one, it was thanks to his suggestions that they had survived this long. For another, as the clan leader, he had already taken on the dangerous role of bait for the sake of the entire clan¡ªessentially dying once for them already. His selflessness and dedication were beyond reproach.


    He was capable and led by example. Even if he were leading them down a path of no return, no one would voice complaints at this point¡ªhe¡¯d done everything he could. Who could blame him when their own weakness had brought them to this desperate state?


    ¡°Clan Leader, I¡¯m still in decent shape. Let me take on the decoy role this time,¡± the ninja who had just spoken volunteered immediately.


    ¡°Count me in, Clan Leader,¡± another ninja stepped forward almost simultaneously.


    The two who stepped up were both young men in their twenties¡ªone named Hanemiya Genkanzawa, the other Hanemiya Genryunosuke.


    ¡°Alright, then the three of us will handle luring the enemy,¡± Hanemiya Genma agreed without hesitation. He didn¡¯t have the luxury of politeness. He knew these two were among the stronger ninjas in the clan.


    ¡°Clan Leader¡ª¡±


    ¡°No need to say more. It¡¯s decided.¡±


    The upcoming mission, politely termed a ¡°decoy task,¡± was, in harsher terms, a suicide mission. Hanemiya Genma had already taken on such a role once before, so there was no reason for him to risk himself again. Yet, he silenced the protests of his clanmates.


    Now wasn¡¯t the time for sentimentality.


    ¡°Everyone, listen to my orders: For the next two hours, focus on recovering your chakra. Two hours from now, we¡¯ll begin the operation¡­ Don¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯m fairly confident in the plan I¡¯ve devised.¡±


    No one believed that last part. They took it as empty, baseless reassurance.


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    In any case, everyone found a spot to sit and began refining their chakra with all their might.


    Hanemiya Genma, meanwhile, climbed to the top of a large tree. Standing on a thick, horizontal branch, he gazed into the distance, keeping watch over the surroundings to alert the others of any danger.


    For the current him, facing fifteen enemies alone was, of course, a losing battle. But one against five? That was worth a shot. He wouldn¡¯t overestimate his abilities¡ªbefore today, he¡¯d been an ordinary ninja. Beyond the basic Three Body Techniques, he could only muster two or three low-level Fire Release jutsu. With such meager skills, taking on multiple foes was a pipe dream.


    But things were different now.


    As Hanemiya Genma contemplated his next moves in battle, he activated the ¡°White Zetsu transformation¡± on his right arm. With a light swing, something miraculous happened¡ªhis arm passed through the tree trunk beside him as if by magic.


    This wasn¡¯t some space-time ninjutsu. It was White Zetsu¡¯s ¡°Mayfly Technique.¡±


    Most White Zetsu active in the ninja world at this stage weren¡¯t combat units. They were reconnaissance and intelligence operatives, their abilities specialized for such tasks. Generally speaking, White Zetsu individuals were frail. But that didn¡¯t mean they lacked lethality.


    In fact, White Zetsu¡¯s assassination capabilities were unmatched¡ªdownright perverse, even. Perfect stealth, flawless transformation, and silent movement¡ªthese were abilities every ninja dreamed of possessing.


    Hanemiya Genma believed that the so-called ¡°White Zetsu Hero¡± was no empty title.


    Two hours passed quickly. Hanemiya Genma returned to the group and said, ¡°Everyone, please shake my hand one by one¡­ Kanzawa and Ryunosuke, stay until the end¡­ Then listen to me.¡±


    The group didn¡¯t understand what Hanemiya Genma intended, but they complied with his request and stepped forward.


    As he shook hands with his clanmates, Hanemiya Genma spoke, ¡°Based on our earlier encounters, compared to the beginning, I¡¯ve noticed the enemy¡¯s approach to combat has grown less disciplined. When pursuing us¡ªremnants with little ability to resist¡ªthey seem to treat it like a cat toying with a mouse.


    ¡°So, if we continue splitting up to lure them, there¡¯s a high chance they¡¯ll divide their forces to chase us down, aiming to pick us off one by one and wipe us out completely.


    ¡°They have reconnaissance ninjas, and they know we don¡¯t. We can turn that to our advantage¡­¡±


    Hanemiya Genma paused briefly, but at that moment, no one was focused on his words. The ninjas who had shaken his hand all wore strange expressions.


    Soon, it was Kanzawa and Ryunosuke¡¯s turn.


    Hanemiya Genma gripped their hands with his left and right respectively. The moment their palms touched, both men instantly felt a surge of abundant chakra flood into their bodies.


    ¡°This¡­ what is this?¡±


    This was White Zetsu¡¯s Spore Technique¡ªa jutsu that allowed the user to absorb others¡¯ chakra, either for themselves or to transfer it to a third party. What Hanemiya Genma was doing now was drawing chakra from the rest of the clan and distributing it evenly to Kanzawa and Ryunosuke, the designated decoys.


    But he didn¡¯t have time to explain the ability to everyone.


    ¡°Listen carefully. The plan is this: Kanzawa, Ryunosuke, and I will split up in three directions to draw the pursuing enemies away without hiding. Given our desperate situation, it¡¯s highly likely the enemy will split up to chase us, giving us a chance to take them down one by one.


    ¡°Kanzawa, head toward three o¡¯clock. Ryunosuke, six o¡¯clock. I¡¯ll take nine o¡¯clock. Release your chakra fully¡ªtaunt them, but don¡¯t engage. Run. Keep running as much as you can. Understood?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Clan Leader,¡± the two replied without hesitation, nodding in agreement.


    ¡°Once I deal with the enemies in my direction, I¡¯ll come to support you immediately. So don¡¯t act recklessly.¡±


    Concentrating the chakra of over a dozen ninjas into two people would sustain them for a while. If Hanemiya Genma moved quickly enough and their luck held, they might just survive.


    ¡°The rest of you, retreat deeper into the forest and stay hidden until the fighting¡¯s over.¡±


    After Hanemiya Genma finished speaking, several people looked like they wanted to say something but ultimately held their tongues.


    At this point, what could they say? Ask, ¡°How can the Clan Leader take on five fully rested enemies with his strength?¡±


    No one could bring themselves to voice it.


    This was a desperate bid for survival. They¡¯d do their best, and the rest was up to fate¡ªthat was the prevailing sentiment among most of them.


    Only Hanemiya Genma knew that his decoy strategy wasn¡¯t about throwing his life away.


    They couldn¡¯t afford to simply sacrifice themselves either. For this plan to work, he¡¯d drawn nearly all the chakra from his clanmates. Without it, they¡¯d be defenseless. If the enemy found them, it¡¯d be a one-sided massacre¡ªno question about it.


    ¡°Alright, any questions?¡± Hanemiya Genma asked one last time.


    The group shook their heads. Whatever the outcome, they were mentally prepared.


    ¡°Good. Then¡­¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s begin.¡±

 Chapter 3: Essence

    After hiding the clan members, weakened to the point of being utterly incapable of fighting, deeper within the dense forest, the three acting as decoys moved swiftly toward a predetermined direction without bothering to conceal themselves.


    The enemy¡¯s pursuing footsteps were drawing near. Genma Hanemiya intended to split them apart and take them down one by one, while the other two hoped their sacrifice would buy a fleeting, inadequate sense of safety for the few surviving clan members left behind.


    As for whether the enemy would choose to divide their forces in pursuit, Genma was fairly certain they would. Beyond the specific circumstances he¡¯d just considered, it also tied into the nature of the current war.


    At this time, the wars between ninja were primarily waged between clans. The ninja clans were the backbone of these conflicts, and often, a ninja only trusted their own kin. Anyone else was either an enemy or, at best, a "hostile neutral."


    In such an environment, every clan¡¯s survival was precarious, demanding that they act decisively¡ªcutting the grass down to its roots, leaving no loose ends.


    The Hanemiya clan was little more than a flickering candle on the verge of being snuffed out. Forget a gust of wind; even the faintest breath of normal air could extinguish it. In this situation, splitting forces to chase them carried neither hesitation nor risk.


    They were just a minor ninja clan¡ªno kekkei genkai, no secret techniques passed down through generations. All they¡¯d ever managed was to scrape by in the cracks between greater powers. If there was anything remotely special about them, it was perhaps their proficiency with fire release.


    Yet fire release was a jutsu with an enormous gap between its potential and its limits. The Hanemiya clan might excel at fire release, but so did the Sarutobi and Uchiha clans¡ªcould there even be a comparison between them?


    The Hanemiya clan¡¯s enemies hailed from the Tsugawa clan, a mid-sized ninja clan capable of mobilizing over a hundred ninja. In terms of overall strength, they utterly crushed the Hanemiya clan. It was, in fact, the Tsugawa clan that had razed the Hanemiya clan¡¯s village to the ground.


    If one were to ask whether there was some deep historical grudge between the two, there really wasn¡¯t. The Tsugawa clan had simply steamrolled over them to expand their own territory.


    Big fish eat little fish. The Tsugawa clan wouldn¡¯t dare dream of encroaching on the territory of a major ninja clan, so they turned their cruelty toward weaker prey instead.


    After putting some distance between themselves and their clan¡¯s hiding spot, Genma Hanemiya began leaping through the treetops, moving with an almost deliberate flair¡ªas if he were afraid the enemy might miss him.


    And as he¡¯d hoped, the enemy¡¯s scouting ninja soon spotted them.


    In the northwestern part of the forest, the Tsugawa clan¡¯s ninja arrived right on cue.


    ¡°Captain, three enemies detected. They¡¯re fleeing in different directions. One of them appears to be that young clan leader who narrowly escaped before. Aside from these three, I haven¡¯t spotted any other remnants¡­ These three are exposing themselves deliberately, likely to draw us away and buy time for the others to escape.¡±


    The scouting ninja leading the group quickly pieced together the basic information Genma had intentionally revealed. He promptly reported it to the combat captain trailing behind.


    The captain, a tall and sturdy ninja in his thirties, didn¡¯t slow his pace as he listened to the report. ¡°Decoy tactics,¡± he said. ¡°Same old petty tricks.¡±


    The scout nodded. ¡°Yes, Captain. They¡¯ve pulled this little stunt once before.¡±


    ¡°If things go as expected, most of their remnants are hiding somewhere in this forest. They don¡¯t have the ability to relocate quickly. These three acting as decoys are likely their last shred of resistance. In the extreme case, they might be the only three ninja they have left who can still move. Take them out, and though this forest is vast, it¡¯ll inevitably become the graveyard for their entire clan.¡±


    The captain¡¯s judgment was sound. So-called decoy tactics were nothing more than a dying gasp. The Hanemiya clan¡¯s annihilation was certain. Decoys or not, it was merely a question of dying farther or closer, sooner or later.


    ¡°I remember that young clan leader. A pathetic little figure with a bit of cunning but not the strength to back it up¡­ Here¡¯s my order: split into three teams, five per team, and pursue. I¡¯ll handle the little clan leader myself. Recon stays with the far-end team.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Captain!¡±


    The Tsugawa ninja didn¡¯t hesitate. They split into three groups, ready to prioritize eliminating the enemy¡¯s last vestiges of fighting strength.


    Just as Genma had predicted, the enemy divided their forces. Even better, the strongest among them¡ªthe enemy captain¡ªled a team charging straight toward him.


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    It was a logical choice. After all, Genma was now the Hanemiya clan¡¯s leader, the symbol of their entire group. His death would mark the clan¡¯s definitive end, making him the one person they absolutely couldn¡¯t let escape. Naturally, the enemy captain would take him on personally.


    Among the fifteen enemy ninja, there was one well-rounded j¨­nin¡ªthe captain¡ªalong with two special j¨­nin leading the other two teams. The rest consisted of eight ch¨±nin and four genin serving as grunts. Their strength was undeniable, more than enough to wipe out the Hanemiya clan.


    ¡°Captain, he¡¯s up ahead.¡±


    As the distance closed, one of the enemy ninja shouted.


    The enemy pursued relentlessly, while Genma occasionally slowed his pace. There was no reason he wouldn¡¯t be caught.


    ¡°Surround him,¡± the captain ordered.


    The five enemies fanned out, encircling Genma from different directions. Soon, he was within their attack range.


    A sharp whistle cut through the air as a kunai streaked toward Genma¡¯s torso. Midair, he could only pause briefly, twisting his head and body to dodge the strike.


    The enemy¡¯s attack missed, but the evasion threw Genma off balance. His footing slipped, and he plummeted into the underbrush below.


    But then something strange happened¡ªGenma vanished the moment he fell.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? He¡¯s gone?¡±


    ¡°A clone? No, impossible.¡±


    Genma¡¯s disappearance threw the enemy ninja into slight disarray, but the captain, seasoned from countless battles, wasn¡¯t fazed. Calmly, he said, ¡°Everyone, get to higher ground. Don¡¯t move carelessly from now on. Stay alert, observe closely, and don¡¯t second-guess yourselves. The rat¡¯s hiding down there somewhere¡ªhe¡¯s not getting away.¡±


    Under normal circumstances, as long as they didn¡¯t panic, Genma indeed had no chance of escape. However¡­


    The Mayfly Technique was one of White Zetsu¡¯s most signature abilities. It allowed the user to meld their body with the earth and vegetation, cutting off all traces of their presence. By tapping into the organic network of plant roots and underground water flows, they could move at high speed to virtually anywhere¡ªa divine skill for assassination.


    Absurdly, White Zetsu often used this technique merely for reconnaissance. Even more absurdly, it required no hand seals¡ªit activated instantly!


    At this moment, proficient or not, Genma had managed to wield this ability in combat.


    The enemy captain stood on a thick tree branch, patiently observing the ground below. As an elite ninja who¡¯d survived dozens of battles, he wouldn¡¯t be fooled by appearances. No matter how expertly the enemy hid, staying still and waiting would soon expose their flaws.


    In terms of combat ability, experience, and battlefield judgment, the captain far outclassed Genma. To him, the latter was just a child playing at being a ninja.


    But what he didn¡¯t know was that conventional experience only worked against conventional foes. Precise battlefield judgment could fail, and overwhelming strength meant nothing if it couldn¡¯t be brought to bear.


    War left no room for trial and error.


    Genma¡¯s figure emerged silently behind the captain. Like a ghost, his presence was unmistakable yet utterly devoid of any excess aura. The enemy¡¯s sharp senses detected not the slightest hint of anything amiss.


    In that moment, time seemed to freeze.


    Genma¡¯s heart appeared to stop beating. In the brief span before it pumped blood again, he created an eternal divide between life and death.


    Gripping a kunai in his right hand, he stabbed it into the captain¡¯s lower back without hesitation, driving the blade fully into flesh. Simultaneously, his left hand wielded a short sword, plunging it into the back of the captain¡¯s neck. The thin, razor-sharp blade severed the spinal joints with no resistance, slicing downward through the throat as effortlessly as piercing paper.


    Even with the Mayfly Technique¡¯s unparalleled assassination potential, Genma¡¯s lack of mastery meant he could only guarantee success on his first attempt in this fight. So, he¡¯d targeted the strongest enemy.


    And he succeeded.


    The assassination was flawless. The enemy made no sound, offered no resistance. Yet a nearby ninja, hyper-focused and scanning the ground, whipped his head around the instant Genma completed the kill.


    ¡°Enemy attack!¡±


    He shouted.


    As his voice rang out, a barrage of shuriken and kunai rained down indiscriminately.


    Genma immediately ducked behind the captain¡¯s body. His assassination had been perfect¡ªso why was he detected so quickly?


    Then it hit him.


    It was the breathing. After the stab, the captain¡¯s breaths had turned ragged. In the stillness, that irregularity was easy to notice.


    These were battle-hardened ninja, after all.


    A second assassination might be tricky, but Genma wasn¡¯t discouraged. He¡¯d already achieved his primary goal¡ªeliminate the strongest fighter, and he¡¯d won half the battle.


    Kunai and shuriken kept embedding into flesh with relentless thuds. The remaining enemies were rational and ruthless¡ªonce they saw the captain was beyond saving, they attacked without hesitation.


    Well, perhaps Genma overestimated them. Their assault was more a mechanical reflex, even a stress response.


    The sudden assassination of their highest-ranking officer left them stunned. Worse, they couldn¡¯t fathom how Genma had gotten behind the captain or why the captain hadn¡¯t reacted at all.


    Water Release: Water Bullet Technique!


    An enemy formed hand seals, hurling a massive water orb toward him.


    Seeing this, Genma released the kunai lodged in the captain¡¯s kidney. Chakra burst from his feet, propelling him into a rapid dodge to the left. As he moved, his raised right arm hooked the hilt of the short sword still embedded in the captain¡¯s neck.


    The force spun the hilt slightly, fully severing the captain¡¯s neck.


    Finishing the job was a good habit¡ªit ensured the enemy was truly dead.


    Genma twisted midair, landing lightly on the ground.


    The captain¡¯s head wobbled slowly, reluctantly parting from its body before dropping like a heavy ball at Genma¡¯s feet.


    Thud.


    It hit the ground, covered in dry twigs and decayed leaves, with a soft, muted sound.


    In that instant, the enemies halted their attack.


    Genma¡¯s lips curled into a grin. His tongue pressed hard against his dry, cracked lower lip, his expression making him look like a deranged madman.


    In his past life, he¡¯d grown up in a peaceful world. After elementary school, he¡¯d never fought anyone. He¡¯d lived with kindness, gentleness, and honesty as his guiding principles, never showing such a savage side.


    But just because it hadn¡¯t surfaced didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t there. People were products of their environment, and different settings revealed different facets of a person.


    Ninjutsu came in myriad forms, some dazzlingly vibrant. Genjutsu slipped through every crack¡ªsubtle, eerie, and deadly. Taijutsu could be fierce or fluid, the purest form of killing. Yet beneath these facades, every power system in every war eventually laid bare its coldest truth:


    Iron and blood.


    In the ninja world or anywhere else, war was iron and blood.

 Chapter 4: Trailing Fire (Part 1)

    The head that rolled onto the ground bore an expression of agony tinged with a flicker of bewilderment. Everything that had just transpired carried an indescribable air of mockery¡­


    For the enemy, this could only be described as capsizing in the gutter¡ªa humiliating upset. A ninja utterly confident in their own strength would inevitably face such an extreme reversal at some point. His death was merely one of the unavoidable prices to be paid.


    Shock turned to fury, and a barrage of shuriken came hurtling toward Hanemiya Genma.


    Such an attack was well within Genma¡¯s expectations. The moment his feet touched the ground, he didn¡¯t hesitate. Chakra erupted beneath him, and like a gust of wind, he darted behind a towering tree, concealing his form.


    Thud, thud, thud. The rain of shuriken stabbed into the earth, tracing Genma¡¯s path of movement before embedding themselves along the outer bark of the tree.


    One enemy ninja refrained from joining the shuriken assault. Instead, he observed Genma¡¯s actions and position, his hands swiftly forming seals. With a mere sidestep of two or three paces, he brought the dodging Genma back into his line of fire.


    Water Style: Water Bullet Technique!


    A massive orb of water hurtled toward Genma.


    Faced with such a wide-ranging ninjutsu, Genma remained unfazed. He had been in the ninja world for a year¡ªnot battle-hardened, perhaps, but certainly equipped with the fundamental qualities of a ninja.


    His hands came together naturally, fingers flowing smoothly into seals to meet the attack head-on.


    Fire Style: Great Flame Bullet!


    A blazing orange-red fireball, over two meters in diameter, roared forth, charging straight at the water orb that had already closed half the distance.


    For clans versed in fire techniques, nearly every family had a foundational ninjutsu like this¡ªsimilar hand signs, similar chakra flow, similar effects. Even the names were barely distinguishable: Grand Fireball, Great Fireball, Bursting Flame Ball, Flame Bullet, Great Flame Bullet, and so on.


    Fire clashed with water. The flames extinguished as the water boiled and hissed. Amid the dense sizzling sound, the scale and power of the two techniques canceled each other out. Thick white steam, churned up by the intense heat, surged and spread through the dense forest, severely obscuring the ninjas¡¯ vision.


    The enemy¡¯s sensory ninja wasn¡¯t present, which tilted the environment further in Genma¡¯s favor. The veil of mist negated their numerical advantage, and Genma excelled at striking from the shadows.


    He pressed himself against the trunk of a tree behind him. The Mayfly Technique activated once more, and like a skilled swimmer slipping beneath the water¡¯s surface, his body gradually melded into the wood.


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    Relying on his memory from moments ago, Genma moved swiftly through the trees and earth. Soon, he located the ninja who had challenged him with water release.


    Silently, he emerged behind his foe. By sheer coincidence¡ªor perhaps misfortune¡ªthe enemy was slowly retreating, his back pressed against a tree. It was a smart move: in a situation where visibility was heavily compromised, resting against cover could effectively guard against a sneak attack from behind.


    But this time, it backfired spectacularly.


    Genma¡¯s upper body protruded from the trunk above. Like a phantom, he extended both arms¡ªhis right arm locking around the enemy¡¯s neck in a chokehold, while his left arm swung around to the front. With the relentless precision of pounding mochi, he struck the man¡¯s chest cavity twenty or thirty times in rapid succession, each blow fierce and unrelenting.


    The mechanical repetition, the crisp sound of flesh giving way¡ªit all spoke of cold indifference and lethal intent.


    In the blink of an eye, survival was no longer a question for this man. His innards were so thoroughly mangled they could¡¯ve been tossed straight into a hot pot.


    Genma¡¯s form vanished once more.


    The deeper he plunged into combat, the more he sensed the changes in his body. In the past, whenever he used ninjutsu, the release of chakra came with a profound sense of detachment¡ªas if a portion of his spirit and vitality had been forcibly stripped away.


    After casting a technique, he would feel shriveled and frail.


    But this time was different. Amid the battle, he felt a burgeoning sense of strength. Every cell in his body seemed to awaken with the fight, growing more vibrant and alive. If before he had been a flat plane, now he could feel himself in vivid 3D¡ªno, perhaps even 6D.


    In a flash of clarity, Genma realized something: perhaps ordinary people weren¡¯t meant to become ninjas at all. Chakra might very well be a force that severely drained one¡¯s life essence.


    ¡°Who¡¯s been attacked? Report your status and position!¡± an enemy shouted loudly.


    Making noise in the thick steam was far from a wise choice. Genma, already hunting his next target, zeroed in on the source of the voice and charged toward it.


    ¡°Three left,¡± he counted silently in his mind.


    But as he closed in on the next enemy, preparing for another assassination, a faint sizzling sound pricked his alertness.


    ¡°Not good¡ªit¡¯s a trap!¡±


    Unseen by Genma, a cruel smirk spread across this ninja¡¯s face. His hands completed the final seal.


    Genma reacted instantly, using the Mayfly Technique to flee. He had a hunch about the kind of attack his opponent was about to unleash.


    This enemy had made himself bait, deliberately luring Genma in. Strapped to his body was a stack of pre-ignited explosive tags. Moments later, seven or eight layered sheets of paper unleashed their power.


    A blinding white light erupted. Under the immense radial shockwave, the ninja¡¯s body, scattered leaves, and surrounding soil disintegrated in unison!


    Several trees snapped at their trunks, creaking and groaning as they toppled. Genma¡¯s form was forcibly ejected from a section of wood.


    His mastery of this technique was still imperfect. Though he had escaped the blast¡¯s epicenter at top speed and avoided the brunt of the damage, the explosion¡¯s force still revealed his position.


    The powerful shockwave even dispersed the surrounding steam, restoring clarity to the obscured battlefield.


    This utter disregard for one¡¯s own life¡ªthis ¡°nonchalance¡±¡ªwas beyond comprehension.


    The enemy had no idea how Genma executed his assassinations. He had only noticed the second comrade¡¯s death, roughly estimated Genma¡¯s movement speed by comparing his prior position with the fallen ally¡¯s, and then acted on that shaky intel to detonate himself.


    No, it wasn¡¯t nonchalance¡ªit was numbness. With such scant information, he had gambled his life without hesitation. How was that any different from suicide? His explosion might very well have hit nothing but air.


    Of course, Genma gave him some credit. Due to his own inexperience, his movements had been predictable, nearly falling right into the enemy¡¯s guess. Fortunately, his vigilance had spared him any real harm.


    In other words, the enemy¡¯s death had been meaningless.


    Life seemed to hold no value, while death felt more like a release.

 Chapter 5: Dragging Fire (Part 2)

    Hanemiya Genma was forced out of his concealed state in a rather disheveled manner, once again exposed to the enemy¡¯s line of sight.


    In truth, the enemy¡¯s self-detonation attack wasn¡¯t a bad choice by any means¡ªthe only issue was that the timing of the explosion wasn¡¯t quite precise. When dealing with the Technique of the Mayfly, the best counter was undoubtedly an area-of-effect ninjutsu. No matter how well you hid or how fast you moved, a single overwhelming strike to flatten you into the ground was the most effective strategy.


    A kunai pierced through the mist, embedding itself into Hanemiya Genma¡¯s shoulder with a dull thud, sending blood splattering in an instant. Fortunately, the sharp pain in his shoulder jolted his dazed mind¡ªmuddled from the explosion¡¯s impact¡ªback to clarity.


    A figure emerged from the thinning fog, and a glint of cold steel flashed from the blind spot of Hanemiya Genma¡¯s vision.


    ¡°Earth Style!¡±


    As the enemy launched his attack, he shouted a warning to his remaining comrades. In his understanding, Hanemiya Genma relied on some unique Earth Release technique for concealment, movement, and assassination.


    Clearly, this hasty judgment fed his teammates flawed information.


    Hanemiya Genma lunged forward with his left foot, steadying his nearly toppling body. His back and waist muscles tensed as he twisted his upper body to the side and leaned backward. With this maneuver, he narrowly dodged the enemy¡¯s decapitating slash, though the razor-sharp blade still carved a gash across his upper arm.


    The enemy flicked his wrist, instantly reversing his grip on the blade, then yanked his arm back in a swift motion. Hanemiya Genma had no choice but to twist his body again in the direction of the attack, evading yet another strike.


    The gleam of the icy blade heightened his senses; the chill brushing against his skin sharpened his focus even further. His breathing steadied, becoming calm and measured.


    But under the relentless back-and-forth of the enemy¡¯s assault, he finally lost his balance. His upper body tipped backward, and he thrust a single arm to the ground to catch himself, barely avoiding a fall.


    The enemy seized the moment, delivering a fierce kick to his abdomen. The sheer force sent Hanemiya Genma flying backward, his body curling from the impact.


    His back slammed into a protruding boulder, the shock radiating through him and stealing his breath for a moment. But he had no time to tend to his injuries¡ªwithout hesitation, he rolled to the side.


    Clang!


    The enemy¡¯s short blade struck the spot where Hanemiya Genma had just landed, the swift follow-up leaving him no chance to counterattack.


    He rolled forward repeatedly, dodging the onslaught while adjusting his posture, until he finally regained a stance suitable for face-to-face combat.


    The enemy ninja¡¯s attacks were lightning-fast. The short blade moved with deadly precision, each strike aimed relentlessly at the midline of Hanemiya Genma¡¯s torso.


    It was obvious this was a ninja skilled in taijutsu¡ªhand-to-hand combat. His rapid, aggressive strikes were designed to separate Hanemiya Genma¡¯s left and right hands, preventing him from forming hand seals to cast techniques.


    A solid plan, perhaps, but it underestimated its target. Hanemiya Genma wasn¡¯t particularly renowned for his ninjutsu in the first place¡ªso what exactly had allowed him to hold his own on the battlefield and survive this long?


    The enemy was merely a ch¨±nin, lacking the ability to fully suppress another ninja¡¯s capacity to use techniques.


    Sustaining such a barrage of lethal attacks was no easy feat, and as the enemy¡¯s rhythm faltered slightly, Hanemiya Genma saw his chance. He sidestepped an incoming strike, his right hand¡ªhanging by his side¡ªslipping into his ninja pouch to retrieve a kunai. As the enemy shifted from a slash to a thrust, charging forward with another swing, Hanemiya Genma jerked his kunai upward.


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    Clang!


    With a crisp metallic clash, he hooked the enemy¡¯s blade with the kunai¡¯s tail ring. Then, with a sharp twist of his wrist, he locked the short blade in place and yanked it along the direction of the enemy¡¯s momentum.


    The enemy¡¯s weapon slipped from his grasp. Hanemiya Genma released his kunai in the same motion, using his arm strength to pull the enemy¡¯s body closer. Then, planting his right foot, he drove his knee upward with full force into the enemy¡¯s abdomen.


    The knee strike¡ªpowerful enough to cause internal bleeding¡ªlanded squarely. Blood trickled from the enemy¡¯s mouth as his legs buckled uncontrollably, forcing him to stagger back two steps.


    Agony contorted the enemy¡¯s features into a grimace. Instinctively, he looked up at Hanemiya Genma, only to see his opponent¡¯s hands already clasped together, the final seal completed in an instant:


    ¡°Fire Release: Will-o¡¯-the-Wisp Technique!¡±


    A wave of heat warped the air as orange-red flames erupted in irregular clusters, surging forward while trailing distinct fiery tails. Though it was fire, the technique resembled someone lifting a basin of water and splashing it outward in a wide arc.


    The taijutsu-specialized ninja had no room to evade. In fact, he barely reacted at all before the fan-shaped spread of will-o¡¯-the-wisps engulfed him. Once the searing flames latched onto his body, they burned with an intensity that couldn¡¯t be extinguished.


    A bloodcurdling scream tore through the air. The will-o¡¯-the-wisps, upon contact with human flesh, flared even more fiercely. Within a mere twenty seconds, the enemy¡¯s cries ceased. His limbs twitched faintly in a futile struggle, but soon he was reduced to a charred husk, fully consumed by the flames.


    Hanemiya Genma spared not a single glance for the now-harmless foe. His gaze shifted to the last remaining enemy nearby.


    Clearly, this final opponent had intended to rush in and aid his comrade, but the screams and gruesome fate of his ally froze him in his tracks.


    To him, Hanemiya Genma¡¯s eyes held neither hatred nor anger¡ªno joy, no sorrow¡ªjust a chilling, almost predatory calm. It wasn¡¯t the look one gave an enemy or a friend, but the detached stare reserved for a lifeless object.


    Watching his teammates fall one by one in mere moments, with himself now the sole target, this ninja¡ªa mere genin¡ªcould no longer bear the suffocating psychological pressure. He turned and fled.


    However¡­


    Before he could get far, a faint shunk sounded, and a kunai pierced his heart from behind.


    This ninja was even younger than Hanemiya Genma. But in this world¡­ if you don¡¯t kill, you¡¯ll be killed.


    ¡°What secret technique¡­ was it that assassinated the captain?¡± the dying ninja managed to rasp out.


    Clearly, their captain¡¯s death had marked the beginning of their downfall. Had the captain¡¯s demise not been so inconsequential to the battle, they wouldn¡¯t have ended up in this dire situation.


    ¡°Secret technique?¡± Hanemiya Genma paused, considering for a moment before adjusting his response. ¡°No, I only used ordinary ninjutsu¡­ nothing remarkable.¡±


    The steam kicked up by the clash of Water and Fire Release techniques gradually dissipated. Hanemiya Genma¡¯s wet hair clung to his forehead, and his clothes were nearly soaked through. The fight hadn¡¯t lasted long, and its intensity was moderate at best, but it had still left his nerves taut as a bowstring.


    Still, the mission¡¯s objective was largely achieved. Hanemiya Genma took a deep breath, letting the damp, cool air soothe his overheated lungs.


    Next, he had to go support his remaining comrades.

 Chapter 6: Deception

    Just as the last enemy harbored his final regret before death, the outcome of this battle had essentially been sealed the moment Hanemiya Genma successfully ambushed the enemy captain. What remained was merely garbage time.


    It wasn¡¯t that Hanemiya Genma brimmed with confidence or arrogance about his skills; rather, he possessed a clear sense of self-awareness. By fully leveraging White Zetsu¡¯s abilities and striking when the enemy least expected it, the odds of assassinating their strongest fighter were naturally high. In other words, as long as he avoided foolish blunders and the enemy failed to detect White Zetsu¡¯s powers, his assassination was almost guaranteed to succeed.


    Though many relish the spectacle of flashy ninjutsu in combat, at its heart, a ninja¡¯s true pursuit is silent, unseen assassination. In this realm, the Mayfly Technique reigns supreme.


    By the measure of results, Hanemiya Genma fulfilled his objective, eliminating five enemies as intended. Yet the process was rough¡ªhe was forced into direct confrontations and even sustained injuries. Ideally, he would have dispatched all five in a silent chain of assassinations, but alas, he fell short.


    Perhaps it was a trick of the mind, but reflecting on his journey since transmigrating, Hanemiya Genma sensed that while ninja battles in this era were more savage, their average caliber likely paled compared to the later Ninja Village era¡ªdiscounting a handful of extraordinarily powerful outliers. Be it the seamless blend of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, or the coordination and lethality of ninja squads, this age lagged behind the Ninja Village era.


    Yet, upon deeper thought, this seemed logical. All things progress with time, and Hanemiya Genma subscribed to the belief that ¡°the future outstrips the present.¡± Organizational structures, ninjutsu systems, education, and warfare¡ªall advanced ceaselessly as eras unfolded.


    His mind was drifting too far afield, so Hanemiya Genma swiftly refocused. In the end, though the execution was flawed, the outcome was acceptable¡ªsatisfying, even. After all, he had only recently become the ¡°White Zetsu Hero.¡± With the origins of his bodily changes still a mystery and his new abilities unpolished, he had rushed into battle. To perform this well was already impressive.


    With this fight concluded, Hanemiya Genma had no time to tidy the battlefield or take stock. He raced toward another battleground at top speed. Though he¡¯d endured one skirmish already, his chakra reserves held strong. The prior clash hadn¡¯t demanded much ninjutsu, leaving him with ample energy for what lay ahead.


    To ensure the survival of his two clansmen serving as bait, Hanemiya Genma employed the Mayfly Technique for rapid travel, minimizing his journey¡¯s duration. He¡¯d already mapped out his next fight: more assassinations. Committed to efficiency, he¡¯d see it through to the end.


    When he¡¯d slain the enemy captain earlier, their encounter was fleeting, yet he¡¯d seized that instant to steal a sample of the captain¡¯s chakra. Though too scant for prolonged combat, it sufficed for the False Transformation Technique, enabling him to impersonate the captain with uncanny precision¡ªnearly impossible to disprove.


    White Zetsu¡¯s transformation ability was a divine mastery; no ninja in the world could rival its disguise prowess. With a target¡¯s chakra sample and no slip-ups in personality, habits, demeanor, or conduct, the deception was virtually impenetrable. Hanemiya Genma only needed to mimic the captain on the battlefield, not sustain the ruse long-term or navigate intricate situations, so the risk of being unmasked was low.


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    Elsewhere, on another battlefield, Kanzawa adhered to Hanemiya Genma¡¯s orders: flee, don¡¯t fight. This delayed the enemy significantly. As Hanemiya Genma neared, he didn¡¯t plunge in headlong. Instead, he perched atop a towering tree, observing the clash below.


    Five enemy ninjas were encircling Kanzawa, who deftly evaded them, weaving left and right while deploying Fire Release ninjutsu to erect barriers, sowing chaos and concealment across the field.


    Another game of cat and mouse? Hanemiya Genma thought.


    Disguised as the captain, he used the Mayfly Technique to close in on the farthest enemy ninja. As Kanzawa unleashed another Fire Release, its roar masking his approach, Hanemiya Genma materialized behind the foe, slitting his throat and stabbing his back in one fluid strike. He eased the still-warm, lifeless body to the ground without a sound.


    Wiser from experience, Hanemiya Genma¡¯s tactics had sharpened. This time, the enemies didn¡¯t immediately notice their lost comrade, too engrossed in pursuing Kanzawa. Fortune smiled on him again¡ªthe enemy¡¯s scout ninja wasn¡¯t among these five but with a third unit.


    The remaining four stood too close together. After a moment¡¯s deliberation, Hanemiya Genma chose caution: he¡¯d reveal himself as the ¡°captain.¡± Approaching, he made deliberate noise, and sure enough, they spotted him instantly.


    ¡°It¡¯s the captain.¡±


    ¡°Captain, are you done over there?¡±


    Recognizing him, the ninjas eased their vigilance. Hanemiya Genma nodded stiffly¡ªa blank face served better than a misplaced expression. ¡°That side¡¯s settled,¡± he said. ¡°I came to reinforce you as fast as I could; the others are trailing behind. What¡¯s happening here?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s tricky,¡± the squad leader replied, hastening to explain, wary of displeasing him. ¡°The target just keeps fleeing, burning chakra but refusing to engage. It¡¯s slowed us down, but we¡¯re about to trap him.¡±


    The ¡°captain¡± furrowed his brow, visibly irked by the dawdling. ¡°Enough circling. Follow me.¡±


    He surged toward the ¡°enemy,¡± the four ninjas scrambling after him. They swiftly narrowed the gap to Kanzawa, but as they readied their attack, the ¡°captain¡± stopped short.


    Time was ticking¡ªsoon they¡¯d notice their missing man. Abruptly, he turned his head, feigning shock. ¡°Clan leader? Why are you here¡­?¡±


    The four, like starry-eyed admirers of a masterful act, trusted him completely, turning as one to look where he stared. In that split second, as he spoke, his blade flashed cold and swift, slicing through three throats before they could blink. Only the last, farthest from him and lagging behind, escaped the ambush.


    The lone survivor gaped, confusion flooding his small eyes. Why would the captain attack us? Is he an imposter?


    ¡°Two against one,¡± Hanemiya Genma declared. ¡°Now we surround you.¡±


    Under the ninja¡¯s stunned gaze, he shed his disguise, his chakra signature reverting to its true essence.

 Chapter 7: Ashes (Part 1)

    Sneak attacks are an efficient means of killing, but when you keep relying on deception and ambushes, it starts to feel a bit like you¡¯re throwing martial honor out the window.


    Fortunately, among ninjas, no one really cares about martial honor. Victory or defeat on the battlefield isn¡¯t decided by who¡¯s got the better character either.


    At this moment, Hanemiya Genma¡¯s strength already surpassed that of the lone enemy left standing. Add to that the coordination with Hanemiya Zankawa¡­ well, just as he¡¯d said, in a two-on-one situation, the enemy¡¯s fate was all but sealed.


    The enemy¡¯s corpse now lay sprawled before Hanemiya Genma, his face still twisted with unwillingness. Beside the body, Hanemiya Zankawa crouched, rummaging through the dead man¡¯s gear, collecting some ninja tools to replenish what he¡¯d used up earlier.


    ¡°Two-thirds down¡­ we¡¯ve taken out more than half the enemy. Next, we should head to back up Ry¨±nosuke. Wonder if they¡¯ll give us a shot at wiping them all out.¡±


    The answer was most likely ¡°no.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Clan Leader.¡±


    Zankawa stood up, his face taut. Inside, he was a tangle of emotions¡ªclarity from narrowly escaping death, nerves from facing an incomprehensible situation, and even a touch of bewilderment and helplessness.


    He couldn¡¯t wrap his head around why Hanemiya Genma¡¯s strength had suddenly spiked, nor could he fathom how Genma had managed to annihilate every enemy in sight. Was it really just that transformation-and-ambush trick? Could the transformation technique really be that convenient, that high-level, that absurdly practical? It defied all reason.


    But regardless of his inner turmoil, he fell in step behind Hanemiya Genma. The two of them, one leading, one following, hurried off to reinforce the third battlefield.


    Unfortunately, enemies aren¡¯t pre-programmed tools that blindly follow orders. The battlefield is fluid, and with reconnaissance at their disposal, they weren¡¯t about to ignore the shifting tides of combat.


    The final enemy squad had long-range intel from their scout ninja. They¡¯d already pieced together the grim reality: their other two teams had been completely wiped out.


    So by the time Hanemiya Genma and his companion reached the area near Hanemiya Ry¨±nosuke, the last five enemies had already pulled back preemptively.


    They didn¡¯t know the specifics of what had happened, but the rapid disappearance of their comrades¡¯ chakra signatures was undeniable¡ªten signals, all gone.


    This meant they¡¯d run into something unthinkable on the battlefield. Worse, their strongest fighter, the team leader, had been the first to go down. For the rest of them, resistance wasn¡¯t even an option.


    When you can¡¯t win, you run. Making that call didn¡¯t even require brains¡ªjust instinct. Abandoning the mission and retreating was the inevitable, the only rational choice.


    When Hanemiya Genma reached Hanemiya Ry¨±nosuke¡¯s side, he found him gravely wounded. Ry¨±nosuke¡¯s left leg bore several deep, piercing injuries, and he was bleeding out fast. His condition demanded immediate attention.


    If they hadn¡¯t arrived when they did, Ry¨±nosuke would¡¯ve most likely died right there.


    Even now, Ry¨±nosuke¡¯s face betrayed his disbelief. He¡¯d braced himself for death, never expecting the enemy to pull out on their own.


    Hanemiya Genma and Zankawa had made it, which meant the clan leader had indeed followed through on the plan to take out the enemy. But¡­ how? How was this possible?


    ¡°Clan Leader, should we pursue? The enemy¡¯s almost out of my line of sight,¡± Gensukawa called out from atop a tall tree.


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    Wiping out the enemy completely would, of course, be ideal. It¡¯d prevent leaks of intel and further safeguard their position.


    If these enemies escaped, Hanemiya Genma and his group might soon face retaliation.


    Sure, they¡¯d taken down ten foes, but the enemy¡¯s overall strength remained intact¡ªstill far greater than their own.


    Hanemiya Genma mulled it over carefully before shaking his head.


    ¡°Forget it. We¡¯re not in any shape to give chase.¡±


    Everyone on their side was injured, one of them critically and in need of urgent care. On top of that, the enemy had a head start. ¡°Line-of-sight tracking¡± wouldn¡¯t catch up to a scout ninja¡¯s precise evasion tactics.


    ¡°They might bring back more enemies,¡± Zankawa said, unable to hold back the warning despite understanding Genma¡¯s decision was sound.


    ¡°I know. We might face an even fiercer counterattack next time. But here¡¯s the thing¡ªthis was their best shot, and even then, they couldn¡¯t wipe us out. From here on, they¡¯ll have an even harder time pulling it off.¡±


    ¡°We need to move again¡­ If we can just seize a moment to catch our breath, they¡¯re nothing to fear.¡±


    Both companions picked up a thread of confidence in Hanemiya Genma¡¯s words and chose to trust him.


    Truth be told, they both knew their side lacked the capacity to pursue. It was just that seeing a chance to annihilate the enemy slip through their fingers left them frustrated and unwilling to let it go.


    But Hanemiya Genma genuinely wasn¡¯t worried about these enemies anymore. He was starting to believe his growth had outpaced theirs. In this scenario, time was on his side.


    It was almost tragic, really. The Hanemiya clan had suffered such devastating losses¡ªnearly wiped out¡ªbecause they¡¯d chosen to cling to their village back then.


    Now, reduced to homeless wanderers drifting through the ninja world, their movements had become more agile, their tracks harder to pin down.


    Repelling this attack meant the enemy had lost their trail. Finding this small ninja clan again wouldn¡¯t be easy for them.


    ¡°Don¡¯t be too pessimistic,¡± Hanemiya Genma said as he tended to his companion¡¯s wounds. ¡°Even if we run into the Tsugawa clan again and have no choice but to fight, the outcome¡¯s still up in the air.¡±


    Zankawa, now by Genma¡¯s side, caught those words and chimed in, ¡°True. No need to overthink it. Who knows? Maybe before we cross paths with them again, the Tsugawa clan¡¯ll get taken out by some other ninja clan.¡±


    Hanemiya Genma shot him a sidelong glance, biting back a retort. Are we even talking about the same thing? I¡¯m saying we rely on ourselves¡ªhow¡¯d you turn that into banking on luck?


    Still, he couldn¡¯t deny Zankawa might be right. In times like these, clan annihilation wasn¡¯t exactly rare. A mid-sized ninja clan could be thriving one day and vanish the next.


    After staunching Ry¨±nosuke¡¯s bleeding, Hanemiya Genma bandaged the wound on his own shoulder. The trio rested briefly before setting out to find the rest of their clan.


    Honestly, the remaining Hanemiya ninja had no ability to protect themselves at this point. Forget enemy shinobi¡ªeven stumbling into some forest beast could deal them a crippling blow.


    Luckily, their misfortune hadn¡¯t sunk that low. Hanemiya Genma and the others soon located their clansmen, hidden deep in the dense woods, safe and sound.


    After a quick rundown of what had just happened, the group set off again, heading away from this place. The exact direction didn¡¯t matter¡ªjust away, and fast.

 Chapter 8: Ashes (Part 2)

    Because the Hanemiya clan possessed no ability to withstand risks, after gathering all their clansmen, they followed the stream deeper into the primeval forest.


    For wandering ninja like them, rather than trusting in their strength as ninja to ensure their safety, they placed greater faith in the segmented geographical units and natural environmental barriers to protect them.


    To be frank, given the current situation, Hanemiya Genma could act more flexibly, freely, and safely by breaking away from the clan and moving through the ninja world alone. Yet, such a thought never crossed his mind.


    In the year he had lived in the ninja world, these ordinary clansmen had given him too much help. Without living among them, he wouldn¡¯t have survived this long.


    Humanity could grow indifferent, but it couldn¡¯t turn negative. One¡¯s bottom line could be lowered, but it couldn¡¯t disappear entirely.


    Since everyone called him their clan leader, Hanemiya Genma took it upon himself to truly become one.


    There were no roads in the deep mountains and old forests, so their group traveled with great difficulty, evoking a sense of forging a path through the wilderness with their bare hands.


    Five days later, they crossed a mountain. Two days after that, they stopped in a valley within a rugged foothill region.


    This was nearly the heart of the forest. The valley was surrounded by dense jungle, shielded by mountains and trees. Even an average reconnaissance ninja would struggle to detect their presence here...


    With only a dozen or so people, even if they stayed active in this area for an extended period, the traces of human life wouldn¡¯t be obvious. Hanemiya Genma stood atop a massive tree root that bulged like coiled muscle, carefully observing the surroundings.


    Then, he reached out and patted the thick trunk beside him¡ªsolid as a wall¡ªand said:


    ¡°This is the place.¡±


    Of course, this primeval forest wasn¡¯t suitable for long-term settlement. Fortunately, all Hanemiya Genma and his people needed was a temporary rest stop, not a permanent home.


    Facing the endless green that seemed capable of swallowing everything, along with the ever-present aura of wild desolation, Hanemiya¡¯s ninja bore no complaints.


    On the contrary, only in a place like this¡ªwhere primates were almost nonexistent¡ªcould they feel a sliver of safety. Setting aside the panic of their days-long escape, a sense of relief began to bloom in their hearts.


    Once the campsite¡¯s location was decided, Hanemiya¡¯s ninja started building simple shelters.


    They scouted the area for raised tree roots, dried-out tree hollows, or half-fallen dead trees. Using the natural height differences, they cleared away decayed branches and leaves from the lower areas and built roofs higher up...


    It wasn¡¯t complicated. By weaving vines into a lattice of branches and layering it with leaves, they created shelters that could block wind and rain. Soon, temporary dwellings sprang up one after another.


    Well, to be honest, they were more like shacks.


    Just as they finished setting up their foothold, a moderate rain began to fall from the sky. But there was no time to take shelter and rest.


    Aside from the injured, the rest split into two groups: one hunted animals and gathered wild fruit in the surrounding area, while the other fished in a nearby stream.


    Their supplies had long been cut off, and it was only by relying on the forest¡¯s abundant natural resources that they had held on.


    What allowed ninja to survive in the end wasn¡¯t superior strength over their enemies or extreme endurance, but skilled hunting and fishing techniques.


    Freshwater fish, large animals, and even wild fruits provided the energy and nutrients they needed to live.


    It was early autumn, and the temperature was still tolerable, so they didn¡¯t yet have to worry about the harsh cold.


    As clan leader, Hanemiya Genma received certain privileges despite the harsh conditions.


    First, he didn¡¯t have to join the hunting and fishing efforts. Second, his clansmen arranged his shelter on slightly higher, drier ground with a wide view.


    Now, he sat beneath his crude shack, watching the rain while pondering the path ahead.


    Where the Hanemiya clan would go from here was uncertain. Truth be told, with the few of them left, making it big in the ninja world was impossible.


    Forget their small group of ordinary-born ninja with limited abilities and numbers that could only be called minuscule¡ªeven if he had ten Kakashis...


    Well, alright, ten Kakashis could actually do something significant. Ten elite ninja like that could stir up storms in the ninja world most of the time.


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    In short, for a small force like theirs, the most rational choice was to attach themselves to a stronger power. However, relying on someone without mutual trust would only turn them into cannon fodder for other factions.


    Rather than that, it was better to eke out a living in the cracks¡ªat least then their fate would remain in their own hands.


    As for the future, Hanemiya Genma wasn¡¯t overly pessimistic. It wasn¡¯t because he had an iron will or knew the ninja world¡¯s future. It was simply because they had already hit rock bottom¡ªanywhere they went from here would be a rebound.


    Or, to put it another way: Things are already this bad¡ªwhat¡¯s there to fear about disgrace or humiliation? The worst that could happen is ¡°dying in front of you¡±¡ªso what¡¯s there to be afraid of?


    After thinking it over, he made a decision.


    The rain came quickly and left just as fast. By dusk, it stopped, and the ninja returned with a decent haul of food. Then they began preparing the ingredients and cooking over a fire.


    Hanemiya Genma found a relatively dry patch of ground and lit a bonfire. As everyone started eating, he gathered the remaining sixteen clansmen around the flames.


    Having narrowly escaped death, everyone carried a hint of exhaustion in their demeanor, but their spirits held steady. No matter what, being alive was better than being dead.


    The near annihilation of their ninja clan and the loss of most of their people left a hidden sorrow in every heart.


    Hanemiya Genma sat on a tree stump, a freshly made, rough wooden bowl beside him. Inside were a few pieces of fish and a serving of fish soup.


    He lifted the bowl, the hot broth warming his lips and teeth. He didn¡¯t taste much fish oil¡ªinstead, a faint pine scent lingered, the natural flavor of the wooden bowl.


    No one spoke. They all savored this fleeting moment of peace.


    In such a harsh environment, it was still necessary to unify everyone¡¯s thoughts. Hanemiya Genma set down his bowl, cleared his throat, and began:


    ¡°Though we¡¯ve escaped our enemies¡¯ pursuit, the survival challenges we face next remain severe.¡±


    ¡°The battles between ninja clans have raged for a long time. In the foreseeable future, this chaos will continue. Weak as we are now, we could be wiped out in an instant.¡±


    ¡°But today, I¡¯m not here to dwell on the hardships of survival, nor do I intend to blame fate or wallow in despair. I just want to say that survival depends on method. If we choose the right one, we increase our chances of preserving ourselves.¡±


    ¡°We seek to live¡ªnot just to scrape by.¡±


    ¡°There has to be some spirit in a person. I don¡¯t mean the lofty kind where everyone¡¯s blind and I alone see clearly. I mean we¡¯re human¡ªnot rotting flesh with the ability to move.¡±


    ¡°The Hanemiya clan... In truth, with only a handful of us left, I believe the Hanemiya clan has effectively ceased to exist.¡±


    ¡°To survive as long as possible, with autonomy and without becoming cannon fodder, we must recruit other living forces and seek to grow stronger.¡±


    ¡°But it¡¯s a delicate balance¡ªwe need the ability to protect ourselves without becoming a thorn in the side of the great ninja clans.¡±


    ¡°For us now, the clan itself no longer matters.¡±


    ¡°The Hanemiya clan has neither a long history nor so-called family honor, nor any noteworthy bloodline... Our clan¡¯s name is worth defending, of course¡ªmany of our people died for it.¡±


    ¡°What I mean is, let what¡¯s meant to perish, perish. We abandon some things only to gain something new.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve decided that, starting today, we will no longer operate under the name of the Hanemiya clan. From now on, I¡¯ll call myself ¡®Hane Genma,¡¯ and you¡¯ll no longer be bound by clan ties in name. We¡¯ll just be a group of wandering ninja¡ªbrought together by chance and shared goals, struggling to survive...¡±


    With that, Hane Genma stood abruptly:


    ¡°We...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t seek victory, only survival;¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t fear death, but strive to endure;¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t vie for dominance, but flow with the tide;¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t act rashly, but move with the times;¡±


    ¡°Hold hope in our hearts, hidden in the shadows;¡±


    ¡°Keep embers alive amidst the ashes!¡±


    ¡°From this day forward, we call ourselves ¡®Ashes.¡¯¡±


    As he spoke, Hane Genma removed the forehead protector from his head and tossed it into the bonfire before him. In the searing flames, the Hanemiya clan¡¯s symbol glowed brighter and brighter until...


    It slowly melted away.


    ....