[High-quality kekkei genkai detected: Byakugan! Recording initiated…]
[Recording complete! Obtained disc: Byakugan!]
Hyuga Tokima's Byakugan saw everything clearly.
Just moments ago, that boy had unleashed an incredibly powerful chakra surge—concentrating such a massive amount of wind-nature chakra into a single point.
Tokima said nothing more.
He simply shifted his gaze to Kakashi.
Kakashi's dead-fish eye met Tokima's Byakugan in midair.
A silent exchange.
"Tokima." Kakashi's voice was low, yet carried undeniable weight. "Handle the battlefield first."
Tokima deactivated his Byakugan.
He glanced at Sora.
The boy was still breathing heavily, his face filled with pure relief.
Tokima finally nodded.
"Everyone—tally the wounded and secure the perimeter! Subdue all Kumogakure captives!"
At his command, the arriving Konoha ninjas sprang into action.
The battlefield grew noisy once more.
Sora, as if finally finding his anchor, immediately ran back into the cave.
"Kaede-senpai! Are you okay? Does the wound still hurt?"
He crouched beside Yamanaka Kaede, his face etched with worry and guilt.
"It's my fault—if I'd been faster, you wouldn't have gotten hurt!"
Kaede's forearm had already been roughly bandaged, but blood loss left her pale.
She looked at Sora and shook her head.
"I'm fine. You… just now…"
She wanted to ask: What was that look in your eyes?
But the words wouldn't come.
Because he had done it to save her.
Sora didn't give her time to dwell.
He reached out, placing his hand over her wound.
[Replicate and play: Mystical Palm Technique]
A gentle green glow lit up once more.
Under everyone's astonished gazes, the bone-deep gash healed at a visible rate.
When it was done, Sora slumped to the ground as if his last chakra had been drained, gasping heavily.
"Thank goodness… you're okay, Kaede-senpai…"
His smile was exhausted, yet still radiant.
Kaede stared at her perfectly healed arm, then at the boy who looked on the verge of collapse (an act), and the last trace of doubt in her heart melted away in a warm surge.
This idiot.
He was just desperately protecting his comrades in his own way.
Outside the cave.
Kakashi and Hyuga Tokima stood together.
"Senior Kakashi, that boy…" Tokima couldn't hold back.
"His name is Akashi Sora. He's on my team," Kakashi cut in. "A highly talented Chunin with little real combat experience. He performed well on this mission."
His words defined Sora's profile.
And warned Tokima: He's mine.
Tokima fell silent.
"I understand." He didn't press further. "Kumogakure's main forces have begun withdrawing, but we can't rule out a feint. What are your plans?"
"Escort the wounded back to the village."
"I'll assign a squad to accompany you."
"Thank you."
The brief exchange ended.
In his consciousness, Sora tallied his gains.
[Recording complete! Obtained disc: Yamanaka Secret Technique: Mind Body Transmission Technique!]
[Recording complete! Obtained disc: Lightning Release: Thunder Abuse Level Thousand Generations Dance!]
[Recording complete! Obtained disc: Water Release: Water Severing Wave!]
…
His disc library was now packed with discs of various colors—mostly green and blue.
Among them, one glowed with a faint purple aura.
[Yamanaka Secret Technique: Mind Body Transmission Technique]
Unlike pure elemental ninjutsu, this disc's source code seemed to touch the realm of mind and soul.
But now wasn't the time to study it.
His gaze drifted subtly toward Hyuga Tokima nearby.
Those eyes…
The Byakugan.
One of the Three Great Dojutsu, alongside the Sharingan and Rinnegan.
The "concept code" behind it was undoubtedly top-tier.
If he could record it—even devour it…
The thought sprouted like a seed, growing wildly in his heart.
Half an hour later, the battlefield was cleared.
Kumogakure's assault team—three Jonin, over a dozen Chunin—wiped out entirely.
Konoha had suffered heavy losses, but thanks to Sora's medical ninjutsu, every critically wounded ninja survived.
A miraculous outcome.
When Kakashi announced they could withdraw to the village, the surviving Konoha ninjas let out a stifled cheer.
They looked at Sora with gratitude and admiration.
In a single night, this seemingly airheaded blond boy had earned everyone's respect through strength and action.
"Sora, can you still walk?" Kaede approached, reaching out to support him.
Her wound was fully healed; her spirits had recovered considerably.
"No problem! I'm great!" Sora jumped up, even hopping in place to prove his energy.
But his body honestly swayed.
Kaede caught him quickly.
"Don't push yourself." Her movement was natural.
"Hehe." Sora scratched his head.
The team regrouped.
Tokima assigned five subordinates to escort Kakashi's squad and the wounded.
Before departure, Kakashi pulled Sora aside.
"Sora."
"Yes, Captain!"
Kakashi's dead-fish eye studied him for a long, long time.
Long enough that Sora's smile nearly stiffened.
"After we return, write a detailed report for me."
His words were light, but each carried undeniable weight.
It's here.
What was coming had arrived.
"Yes!" Sora saluted crisply.
Inside, he was calm.
A report?
He had a thousand draft versions ready.
Guaranteed to leave Kakashi thinking he was just a "genius with an excellent memory, solid theoretical knowledge, and occasional lucky breaks."
The team set off on the return journey.
The mood was heavier than the outbound trip, but laced with the peace of survival.
Sora was placed in the middle; Kaede stayed practically glued to his side.
"Hey, kid." She suddenly spoke.
"Huh? What's up, Kaede-senpai?"
"Are you… really only thirteen?"
"Of course! Genuine article!" Sora thumped his chest.
Kaede fell silent, just watching him with a complicated expression.
Sora grew uncomfortable under her gaze and changed the subject.
"By the way, Kaede-senpai—are the Yamanaka clan's secret techniques really hard to learn? You looked exhausted after using it earlier."
His curiosity sounded perfectly innocent.
Kaede was successfully derailed.
"The Mind Body Transmission Technique mainly drains mental energy. Failure or forced interruption causes severe backlash to the user."
"Wow… that sounds really dangerous!"
They chatted sporadically.
Sora's quirky questions always made Kaede laugh despite herself, effectively diluting her lingering doubts.
The journey went smoothly.
With Hyuga ninjas using Byakugan for long-range scouting, they avoided all potential threats perfectly.
Dawn broke.
As the first rays pierced the forest mist, Konoha's familiar silhouette appeared on the horizon.
"We're… finally back."
One ninja sighed sincerely.
Everyone relaxed.
Just then, Tokima—who had been bringing up the rear—hurried forward.
"Senior Kakashi."
He went straight to Kakashi; the two stepped aside for a quiet talk.
Sora pretended to joke with Kaede, but his full attention was there.
He didn't need to hear the words.
He only needed to watch.
While speaking, Tokima's Byakugan kept glancing subtly in his direction.
Kakashi remained silent throughout.
The talk ended; Tokima and his subordinates departed.
Kakashi returned.
"Enter the village."