Even within the Mist Village, there were people who couldn't help reacting.
No matter what, Yagura was still the Mizukage. His identity alone was enough to silence most voices—no one dared openly mock him.
True, he had a baby face. He looked almost like a child.
But everyone here knew the truth.
Yagura was a fully grown adult.
"You bastard—!"
Since ascending to the position of Mizukage, no one in the ninja world had dared bring up that face again.
Shiki was the first.
Yagura's expression darkened instantly.
"Lord Mizukage, allow me to go first!"
Fuguki Suikazan stepped forward without hesitation.
Ever since the Seven Ninja Swordsmen had been wiped out, he was the only one left. His status had plummeted overnight. Fuguki himself was an ambitious man—someone who would never accept fading into obscurity.
If his position had fallen… then he would simply seize it back.
Taking the lead in battle had its own advantages.
Shiki was Konoha's commander-in-chief. As long as the Mizukage hadn't moved, Shiki wouldn't strike first.
That meant Fuguki wouldn't have to face a monster like Shiki right away.
At the same time, he could display his strength directly in front of the Mizukage.
Killing two birds with one stone.
I really am smart, Fuguki thought smugly.
"…Very well."
Yagura nodded lightly.
He could see Fuguki's intentions clearly but he still gave him this chance. Fuguki's strength was solid, and using him to take the lead wasn't a bad choice.
As Fuguki stepped forward from the Mist ranks, the battlefield stirred.
Yet Shiki didn't even spare him a glance.
Instead, he turned his gaze toward another direction.
"Might Duy."
He spoke calmly.
"I'll leave this to you."
Shhh—
"Me?"
Might Duy froze for a split second.
But when he saw that Shiki wasn't joking, his expression hardened with resolve.
"No problem!"
Ever since being appointed as a jōnin, Might Duy had felt restless. After all, he had never believed his past merits truly matched the rank.
Now...
This was his chance.
A chance to prove that Shiki's judgment was never wrong.
"Go," Shiki said, smiling faintly as he nodded.
"Yes!"
A flash of excitement passed through Might Duy's eyes. He turned toward Fuguki Suikazan.
"Hah?"
Seeing the man stepping forward to face him, Fuguki burst into laughter.
"A bowl-cut? I've never even seen you before."
His arrogance flared back to life. In his eyes, Might Duy wasn't even worth acknowledging.
"Lord Shiki…"
Uchiha Fugaku and Hyūga Hiashi frowned beside him.
They didn't understand.
Appointing Might Duy as a jōnin was one thing but letting him take the lead in a war?
If the vanguard lost, morale would collapse.
"Don't worry," Shiki said calmly, waving a hand.
Seeing his expression, neither Fugaku nor Hiashi had any reason to say anything further.
"Dad…"
From within the crowd, Might Guy clenched his fists tightly.
He was both anxious and thrilled—afraid his father might be injured, yet overjoyed that his father finally had a chance to show his youth.
All he could do now was pray silently.
The battlefield fell deadly quiet.
As Fuguki Suikazan and Might Duy faced each other, the air itself grew heavy.
Fuguki lifted Samehada from his back and rested it on his shoulder, flashing a cruel grin.
"Bowl-cut. Since you're so eager to die, don't blame me for what happens next—"
"Fifth Gate—OPEN!"
Before Fuguki could finish, Might Duy's roar thundered across the battlefield.
"What?!"
Fuguki's eyes widened.
A violent gale exploded outward as emerald-green chakra erupted from Might Duy's body.
The thick Mist surrounding them was blown away instantly, and cracks spider-webbed across the ground beneath his feet.
"So he's opening five gates right away…" Shiki murmured.
Might Duy clearly intended to show everything he had.
"What kind of technique is this?!"
"That chakra…!"
Uchiha Fugaku and Hyūga Hiashi stared in disbelief.
Neither of them had seen the Eight Gates before.
"Since Lord Shiki acknowledged my youth—"
Might Duy roared as chakra surged wildly around him.
"—then I will never disappoint him!"
Fuguki Suikazan stood frozen.
What… is this thing?
Before he could even process the thought—
The ground shattered.
Might Duy vanished.
"See the power of youth!"
"Leaf Rising Wind!"
A black blur smashed toward Fuguki.
He raised Samehada instantly.
BOOM!
The impact blasted Fuguki backward dozens of meters. Even Samehada let out a pained wail.
"What?!"
Fuguki was stunned.
His strength—his body—couldn't withstand that force.
"You—!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Might Duy gave him no time to speak.
His speed was terrifying. Fuguki was being battered nonstop, unable to even see his opponent.
Hyūga Hiashi was dumbfounded.
"My Byakugan… can't follow him at all!"
He turned to Fugaku in disbelief.
"Can you see him?"
"…Barely."
Even the Sharingan struggled.
Their gazes slowly shifted toward Shiki.
That calm, effortless expression filled them with awe.
Without Shiki, Might Duy would still be overlooked.
BOOM!
Might Duy appeared beneath Fuguki in an instant and kicked him straight into the sky.
Landing firmly, he crossed his arms. Veins bulged across his forehead and limbs, chakra roaring like a storm.
"Now—!"
"It's time to carry out my ninja way!"
"Eight Gates… Sixth Gate—OPEN!!!"
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