In December of Konoha Year 32, just before the year came to an end, Uchiha Hayashi led the incomplete Team One out of the village to begin their mission.
According to the map, Mihana Town was located near the sea, far from Konoha. If Hayashi were traveling alone, he could reach the destination in a single day. However, this was a team mission, and he deliberately slowed the pace.
In truth, Mikoto's speed had already become impressive. The Sharingan enhanced her physical coordination, and when combined with Lightning Release chakra stimulating her leg muscles, her burst speed was already comparable to Himeji's.
That said, this kind of explosive movement was only suitable for short sprints. Mikoto had not yet reached the level where she could maintain such speed over long distances. Hayashi had no intention of forcing her beyond her limits, especially when the Third Hokage had given them a full month to complete the mission.
There was no need to rush.
Before leaving, Hayashi had also given Mikoto and Himeji a very serious warning.
If they encountered a man wearing black-rimmed glasses, and if his name also contained the character "Jiang," then they were to abandon all other thoughts and retreat immediately.
Although the warning sounded strange and lacked any explanation, both girls agreed without hesitation. Trust did not require understanding.
…
Two days later, in a forest not far from Konoha, three figures leaped rapidly across the tree branches.
They moved in a wedge formation. Hayashi took the lead, Mikoto covered the right flank, and Himeji guarded the left.
The journey had been uneventful so far. The team advanced steadily along their planned route. Since their mission in the Land of Rivers, this level of coordination had already become instinctive. None of them were inexperienced, so there was little need for constant communication.
Hayashi glanced at the sky. It was already afternoon. Fortunately, they were not far from Mihana Town. At their current pace, they would arrive before sunset.
Suddenly, Himeji, who had kept her Byakugan active the entire time, spoke with urgency.
"Enemies detected. Four o'clock direction, approximately one kilometer away."
Hayashi raised his hand, signaling the team to stop.
"Number?" he asked calmly.
"Four. They have not noticed us yet and appear to be stationary."
Hayashi nodded. This was the advantage of the Byakugan. With a detection range of up to one kilometer, it allowed them to discover enemies long before contact.
If Himeji were not with them, this might have turned into an ambush. But now, the initiative was firmly in their hands.
"Advance toward the four o'clock direction," Hayashi ordered.
Encountering ninja in such a remote area meant one thing. They were almost certainly not Konoha ninja. And if they were not allies, then probing their strength was necessary.
The moment the command was given, Hayashi rushed forward.
Mikoto reacted instantly, Lightning Release chakra stimulating her legs as her speed surged. Himeji followed closely, accelerating without hesitation.
The dense forest concealed their movements. When the distance closed to five hundred meters, the enemy finally noticed the three figures charging toward them.
For Hayashi, this distance was already dangerously close.
Especially now, with his taijutsu having undergone another leap forward.
At full strength, he might still be slightly inferior to Sakumo, but he was already on par with Orochimaru.
When they were less than twenty meters apart, Hayashi formed hand seals in one smooth motion. Lightning chakra gathered in his palm, crackling violently as his speed surged once more.
Chidori.
The nearest enemy barely had time to raise his kunai before Hayashi appeared in front of him. A flash of blue light filled his vision, and the lightning-wrapped hand pierced straight through his skull.
The kill was instantaneous.
Hayashi did not slow down. He twisted his body and charged toward the man further back who clearly looked like the leader.
The distinctive white hair and the red marking between his eyebrows made it obvious. There was no way the one who just died was the captain.
So the Third Hokage's intelligence had been accurate. Mihana Town truly was connected to Kirigakure.
After all, the Kaguya clan ninja standing before him could not be fake.
Although Hayashi did not yet know why Mist ninja had appeared here, answers could be extracted later.
Seeing Hayashi rush toward him, killing intent flashed in the man's eyes. A ferocious grin spread across his face.
"Very good," he said coldly. "You dared to kill my subordinate, Kaguya Hikaru. Then you will join him in the grave."
"Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets!"
In an instant, finger bones shot from his hands like bullets. At the same time, he tore an arm bone from his shoulder, shaping it into a bone blade as he lunged forward.
Hayashi did not slow down.
With a flick of his wrists, ten shuriken flew out, each one precisely striking a finger bone midair and knocking them aside.
In the same motion, he raised his right arm horizontally, formed hand seals with one hand, and drew chakra into his throat as he leaned back slightly.
"Fire Release, Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball roared forward, lighting up the forest.
Kaguya Hikaru's eyes gleamed with excitement. The Kaguya clan were born fighters, and facing a genius only thrilled him further.
"Shikotsumyaku, Bone Shield."
Bone surged up from the ground, forming a solid white barrier that blocked the flames head-on.
Seeing his attack fail, Hayashi drew a kunai, leapt over the bone shield, and closed the distance once more.
"Dance of the Camellia."
The two crossed paths in a flash. Cold steel collided with bone as the kunai struck the bone blade. Chakra surged violently, cracking the ground beneath their feet.
Hayashi's eyelid twitched when he saw the chipped edge of his kunai.
Shikotsumyaku truly lived up to its reputation. Bones reinforced with chakra were actually harder than forged steel.
In the distance, Mikoto and Himeji had already engaged the remaining enemies. Without hesitation, Hayashi fought while retreating, drawing Kaguya Hikaru farther away from the battlefield.
However, Hikaru believed he had gained the upper hand.
With a savage roar, he lunged forward as his body began to spin violently.
"Dance of the Willow."
Bone spikes erupted from his body as he spun like a living weapon, slashing toward Hayashi.
"Chidori Nagashi!"
Lightning burst outward from Hayashi's body, spreading in every direction like sharp quills, forming a defensive field.
For a moment, it worked.
Then, the arm bone pierced straight through the lightning.
Boom.
Hayashi raised his kunai just in time to block the strike, but the force sent him flying backward. A muffled groan escaped his throat as he crashed into the ground.
Damn it.
Hayashi cursed inwardly. He had forgotten something crucial.
The primary component of bone was calcium carbonate.
It did not conduct electricity.
This was truly an insult to his physical education Sensei.
____
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