Seeing the majestic green hills and drifting clouds, Might Dai finally felt a bit of relief settle into his chest.
"Dad!"
Might Guy was genuinely moved to see his father rush in to save him.
In Guy's mind, if Aoyama Ryuyun hadn't appeared when he did, they would all be corpses already.
"Dad! I—"
With tears in his eyes, he stepped closer to Might Dai, about to admit he'd been scared—
—but Dai drove his fist straight into Guy's face.
Shiranui Genma and Yamashiro Aoba—Guy's comrades—froze in shock.
Even Aoyama Ryuyun's eyelids twitched at the sight.
"Damn it, Guy! You're a Konoha shinobi! Even if you die in battle, you do not show fear!"
Might Dai would never admit he was showing concern.
But this was his own rough way of comforting his son.
"Yes, Father!"
Guy wasn't angry.
He stood there crying, staring at Dai with absolute sincerity.
"As punishment, you'll run one hundred laps around the camp today. Understood?"
"Yes, Father! For Konoha! For youth!"
"This is all part of youth!"
"Father!"
"Kai!"
"Father!"
"Kai!"
Then the two of them grabbed each other's hands and opened the Eight Inner Gates pose, as if no one else existed.
"…"
Aoyama Ryuyun couldn't even speak.
He wanted to laugh and sigh at the same time.
As someone who had watched Naruto before reincarnating here, he had seen this brand of insanity before—
—but witnessing it up close was something else entirely.
Ryuyun felt he had never been this speechless in his life.
After the chaotic emotional storm settled, Aoyama Ryuyun finally guided the father and son toward the Konoha camp stationed against Kirigakure's forces.
Inside, Uchiha Fugaku and Hyūga Hiashi—who had already arrived—were waiting for him.
"It seems your Uchiha clan has grown quite well."
Although the Hyūga and Uchiha clans held no direct enmity, they were both dojutsu clans—
which meant rivalry came naturally.
Neither clan wished to admit their bloodline was inferior.
Hiashi noticed the sharp, war-honed presence radiating from many Uchiha shinobi.
That kind of killing aura came only from true battle.
Fugaku spared Hiashi a cold glance. He bore no grudge—
he simply didn't like the man.
"The battlefield is the greatest training ground for the Uchiha. Far better than the comfort your Hyūga clan depends on."
"Tch."
Hiashi clicked his tongue, but he couldn't deny the truth.
A wartime Uchiha was completely different from an Uchiha raised in peace.
During peacetime, Hiashi still had confidence to compare the Hyūga clan against the Uchiha.
But now—
even he lacked that confidence.
"Lord Ryuyun has arrived!"
Someone shouted it, and within seconds, Fugaku, Hiashi, and countless ninjas turned toward the camp entrance.
Aoyama Ryuyun appeared, leading Guy and the others in.
"Dad! There are so many people!"
For the first time, Guy felt timid.
He had fought all his life, but being stared at by so many shinobi at once made him squirm.
"Don't be afraid, Guy! You are the best ninja! Give it everything you have!"
"… … …"
Ryuyun rolled his eyes.
Before saying that, try not to tremble with fear yourself.
But Guy didn't notice.
He straightened up immediately.
"Yes, Father!"
These two were truly in a league of their own.
Ryuyun felt genuinely relieved he had arrived in time.
If Guy had died fighting the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist…
it would have been a catastrophic loss for Konoha.
"Lord Ryuyun!"
A group of shinobi led by Fugaku and Hiashi quickly gathered around him.
"Mm."
Ryuyun gave a brief nod as he surveyed the camp.
Kirigakure didn't have many shinobi left.
His earlier charge—and his persistence—had carried Konoha's side.
It wasn't because of Hiruzen Sarutobi's leadership.
It was because the Uchiha clan fought like they were ready to die.
"Not bad. Your Uchiha clan's shinobi are indeed impressive."
Since he bore no resentment toward them, Ryuyun saw no reason to downplay their contribution.
"Lord Ryuyun, you honor us."
Although he spoke modestly, Fugaku's eyes lit up with genuine pride.
Many Uchiha shinobi relaxed their expressions after hearing Ryuyun's words.
The Uchiha clan liked acting arrogant—
but they weren't stupid.
Ryuyun was the man who severed the Third Raikage's arm
and crippled the Third Tsuchikage.
A one-man natural disaster.
Only an absolute idiot would act superior in front of him.
Seeing Ryuyun's attitude, Fugaku felt relieved.
He had been worried Ryuyun would be difficult to work with.
Now it seemed that concern had been unnecessary.
"Let's go. We'll meet in the conference room."
"Yes."
… …
"Lord Ryuyun!"
Inside the conference room, a young Uchiha shinobi was already waiting.
"Who are you?"
He looked familiar somehow.
Fugaku stepped forward.
"Lord Ryuyun, this is Uchiha Shisui, a rising talent of our clan."
"… … …"
No wonder he looked familiar.
Of course it was this idi—
Ahem.
He kept that part in his head.
"I've heard of you. Your 'Body Flicker' technique is quite the achievement. Impressive talent."
"Thank you for the praise, Lord Ryuyun!"
Shisui smiled politely.
For some reason, he felt like Ryuyun was looking down on him.
But Shisui shook his head.
No—that made no sense.
He didn't even know Lord Ryuyun personally.
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