"The Captain's swordsmanship has gotten even sharper! That last reverse slash—there's no way I could've reacted in time. Too fast!"
"Right? I used to think the Konoha-ryū sword style was just another set of sword techniques, but after watching Captain Moonlight fight, I realize this must be the *true* Konoha-ryū."
"Of course. The Konoha-ryū was passed down from the Second Hokage himself—how could it ever be ordinary? If you think it's weak, that just means you haven't trained hard enough."
Behind the camp, on a wide clearing ringed by trees, a group of shinobi sat watching two figures spar in the center.
Blades flashed like silver lightning, clashing again and again in a storm of motion. Moonlight Ryūka and Uchiha Yuan were locked in a fierce training duel.
Ryūka's long sword weaved through unpredictable arcs, each swing faster and trickier than the last. But every clever strike was deflected by Yuan's kunai with effortless precision.
Compared to Ryūka, who was constantly shifting position and moving around the field, Yuan's movements appeared almost relaxed—light, agile, and controlled. His footwork was clean, his dodges precise, as though he already *knew* where each sword strike would come from.
"Still, Lord Yuan is even more incredible," one of the spectators murmured. "Every time I think Captain Ryūka's strike is unavoidable, Lord Yuan somehow slips past it with ease."
"Seeing him move like that… I finally feel relieved. I was so worried after hearing about his injuries."
"Same here. When the medics said his body might never recover, I didn't want to believe it."
"I heard his injuries were caused by a Lightning Release technique that damaged his chakra pathways. Usually, that kind of wound would cripple a shinobi for life."
"Yeah, and if the pathways are damaged, you can't circulate chakra properly. The fact that he's even standing, let alone fighting like this, is a miracle."
"All thanks to that medic, the pharmacist. I heard she used up a huge stock of rare medicine just to treat him."
"Do you think Lord Yuan's strength has fully returned? Before his injury, he fought the Fourth Raikage to a standstill."
Akimichi Kai sat cross-legged on the ground, watching the spar intently while listening to the others chatter. Most of the shinobi here were from the devastated Fourth Division—many of them bandaged, wounded, or still recovering.
The division had been nearly wiped out. Several squad leaders were dead, and their commander, Iwaki Sumero, was gravely injured and bedridden.
Now, with Uchiha Yuan being the only surviving squad captain—and the hero who had once faced the Fourth Raikage head-on—he had become the natural center of their morale and trust.
*Clang!*
A clear metallic ring echoed across the field. Yuan's left hand blocked Ryūka's blinding strike with a kunai, then his body shifted in a smooth blur—vanishing from view.
A gust of wind passed. A single strand of hair drifted down through the air.
Ryūka froze. Slowly, he reached up to touch the spot where his hair had been sliced, then sighed in resignation. "I give up. I can't win."
He thought to himself, *Even knowing where Lord Yuan's next move would come from, I still couldn't stop it. If this were real combat, he could've slit my throat ten times over.*
Akimichi Kai got to his feet with a grin. "Alright, my turn!"
He looked at Yuan eagerly. "Lord Yuan, I've finally figured out how to counter your Collapse Fist."
In their previous bouts, Yuan's Collapse Fist had shattered Kai's defenses every time—its penetrating power shaking his organs and scattering his chakra.
Yuan sheathed his kunai with a smile. "Then show me how you plan to block it."
They formed the Seal of Confrontation and took their stances.
But before the match could begin, the distant camp erupted into noise. A moment later, Yamanaka Mokuno appeared in a flash, his face pale with urgency.
"Lord Yuan!" he shouted. "We've just received word—Cloud forces have launched a massive surprise attack! They've broken through our first three defensive lines and are clashing with our fourth as we speak!"
"What?!"
"That's impossible!"
The crowd erupted.
Since Cloud's withdrawal to the Frost Country border, both sides had been in a tense but stable standoff. For nearly four months, there had been no major conflicts. The prolonged calm had made many in camp believe the war was nearly over.
But Mokuno's next words crushed that illusion. His voice trembled as he added, "There's worse news. Captain Sarutobi Shinnosuke of the Second Division… has fallen in battle."
The clearing fell silent.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke wasn't just any division commander—he was the *eldest son* of the Third Hokage, and heir to the Sarutobi Clan.
Kai's face went pale. "What? That's impossible! Captain Shinnosuke had an elite guard unit with him—how could they all fall?"
Mokuno's expression darkened. "They couldn't stop it. The one who attacked was the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki. He unleashed a Tailed Beast Bomb directly on their position. Shinnosuke's unit was obliterated in the blast."
"Damn it!"
"Those Cloud bastards!"
Yuan's expression hardened. "Raise the alert level from Rank One to Rank Three immediately. Everyone stays ready—expect infiltration and surprise attacks. This war… is starting again."
"Yes, sir!"
The shinobi around him vanished one by one in bursts of movement, dispersing to their positions.
Yuan turned back to Mokuno. "I didn't think Captain Shinnosuke would die so suddenly."
Though Yuan held deep distrust toward the Third Hokage, he had always respected Shinnosuke's integrity. The news left a quiet weight in his chest.
Kai clenched his fists, fury in his eyes. "We'll avenge him. We'll crush the Cloud and end this war once and for all!"
The following days, the camp remained on high alert. Scouts were constantly dispatched toward the front lines to gather intelligence.
One morning, Yuan sat quietly inside a medical tent as Yakushi Nonō examined him.
After checking his vitals, she looked up, astonished. "It's unbelievable. According to my readings, your internal injuries have recovered by about eighty percent."
Yuan rose from the cot, fastening his robes. "That's thanks to your incredible medical skill, Doctor Yakushi."
Nonō smiled modestly. "You give me too much credit. Honestly, Lord Yuan, your body is remarkable. Your cells show an unusually high vitality and regeneration rate. That's probably why you recovered from such devastating wounds."
Before Yuan could reply, a Leaf shinobi appeared outside the tent, voice urgent.
"Yakushi Nonō—come with me. Immediately."
Outside, the wind whispered across the camp.
*Some people die… but they're never truly gone.*
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