The simulation footage associated with the golden card was completely different from anything Shiraishi had seen before.
Strictly speaking, it was not a combat demonstration, but a foundational conceptual introduction.
The Sage-type skill—Ensen no Hitomi (Circular Eyes)—was a special form of dōjutsu augmentation. In its early stage, without the infusion of natural energy, its effects were limited to vastly enhanced observational ability and extreme dynamic visual capture.
However, as the user gradually learned to sense, absorb, and harmonize with natural energy, the Circular Eyes would serve as a foundation for further evolution. Branch skills derived from it would continuously unlock, ultimately converging toward three final endpoints.
The projection continued.
In the footage, the demonstrator condensed a terrifying beam of annihilating light in his palm. With a single strike, everything within range was erased—life extinguished, the land reduced to dead ruins.
As the user stepped forward, the wasteland beneath his feet began to regenerate.
Withered earth revived.
Life returned.
Then the sky itself fractured.
A colossal mass of destructive energy descended from above—but at that moment, the light within the Circular Eyes transformed, manifesting as a golden giant that enveloped the user.
With one punch, the descending catastrophe was shattered.
The image abruptly cut to black.
Even Shiraishi—who prided himself on emotional control—felt his breathing slow as a clear trace of longing surfaced in his eyes.
The three ultimate manifestations hinted at in the demonstration were unmistakable:
Annihilating light that destroyed all things.
Absolute authority over life and vitality.
And an overwhelmingly powerful defensive incarnation.
The value of this golden card was immeasurable.
It fully justified the days of relentless chakra expenditure he had endured to decode it.
As Shiraishi completed the final stages of the golden card's reading within his glasses, the task distribution inside the mission hall also concluded.
He opened the map of Quicksand Ravine.
No card markers appeared in that region.
"This mission isn't particularly difficult," Shirogaki Tsukasa said quietly, "but Arakawa and his people won't necessarily accept you as leader."
Shiraishi didn't respond directly. His gaze instead fell on Tsukasa's puppets.
"Repair both Red Flounders first," he said calmly. "They've taken too much wear."
Tsukasa's puppet loadout had already changed.
Where once there had been only a single Red Flounder, he now carried two.
As for their names, there was no creativity whatsoever.
Red Flounder No.1.
Red Flounder No.2.
"Senior Maki," one of the jōnin asked quietly, "Team Nineteen's relationship with the other genin isn't good. Is it really appropriate to group them together for a B-rank mission?"
Shiraishi's conflicts with the others were no secret.
Sending a divided detachment into a mission of this level carried undeniable risk.
Maki, despite his cold exterior, answered patiently.
"The Kazekage-sama simply wants to see whether Shiraishi can handle a small internal problem."
As Rasa's trusted subordinate, Maki understood the Kazekage's intentions clearly.
Shiraishi's performance during the Revelation Mountain Range operations had been exceptional. Maki had personally recommended him to Rasa—which was precisely why this test had been arranged.
Among Sunagakure's current generation, Maki was second only to Rasa and Pakura in raw strength.
And his judgment was sharp.
During his observation of Shiraishi, Maki had sensed something unusual—something fundamentally different from ordinary prodigies.
From that thin, seemingly fragile body, Maki saw the shadow of another future Ōrochimaru.
During the Revelation Mountain campaign, Shiraishi had submitted a report to the village leadership detailing his telekinetic genjutsu—clearly explaining its principles and applications.
The higher-ups showed little interest.
The technique's sensory range was limited. Its effect on the five senses was weak. And the mental strain required for training it made it seem inefficient compared to traditional genjutsu.
The concept itself was novel, and since it differed fundamentally from established illusion techniques, no one questioned its origin.
Without a visible progression system, telekinesis was viewed as a dead-end art.
That was fine.
Shiraishi's goal had never been recognition—only that future evolutions of telekinesis would not raise suspicion.
Maki had reviewed the technique himself. Its power was mediocre, but for a civilian-born genin to create even a simple original ninjutsu was remarkable.
This era was one of explosive ninjutsu development.
From the Second and Third Hokage of Konoha to the Sannin Ōrochimaru, none were lacking in research talent.
Sunagakure, however, had stagnated.
Aside from the Second Kazekage's early work on tailed beasts, the village had shifted almost entirely toward puppetry. After Sasori of the Red Sand disappeared, even that technological path began to stall.
Maki felt a deep sense of crisis.
That was why he opposed conflict between Rasa and Pakura and strongly advocated unity with the Elder Council.
Only a united Sunagakure had any chance of standing against Konoha.
Shiraishi's consistent academic excellence and frightening calmness convinced Maki of one thing:
This was the kind of ninja Sunagakure needed for the future.
Years later, when Sunagakure would be at its weakest, Maki would push through opposition to appoint Gaara as the Fifth Kazekage.
That judgment alone spoke volumes.
And for that same reason, Maki paid even closer attention to Shiraishi than Pakura herself.
Rasa remained somewhat skeptical—but he trusted Maki enough to give the boy a chance.
As for the Quicksand Ravine mission, after careful consideration, Shiraishi decided to resolve the issue at its root.
He would speak to Arakawa directly.
After all, he was the leader among those nine.
"You're going to negotiate with Arakawa alone?" Tsukasa asked.
"Yes."
Shiraishi ate the bento Maki had prepared, as refined as ever—slow, composed, deliberate.
Tsukasa, in contrast, devoured his portion in large bites, clearly worried.
"Just… analyze things with him."
Analyze?
Analyze what with that brute?
Tsukasa wanted to ask—but he stopped himself.
After months together, he understood Shiraishi well enough to know that this was not a reckless decision.
When Shiraishi invited him to meet alone, Arakawa didn't hesitate.
Last time, he had narrowly avoided embarrassment. This time, he fully intended to put that brat in his place.
The meeting spot was a peak overlooking a canyon outside Sunagakure.
Shiraishi arrived wearing his forehead protector and a simple white outfit. His clean, refined features were calm as he gazed down at the village below.
His telekinesis proficiency had already reached 90%. It wouldn't be long before the next card branches are unlocked.
As for the purple card—considering the strain caused by the golden card's decoding—he decided to wait until after the Quicksand Ravine mission.
"You dragged me all the way out here," Arakawa said coldly. "What do you want?"
Though his posture looked casual, he was far more cautious than three months ago. Every step left no opening as he stared straight at Shiraishi.
Shiraishi raised a single finger.
"One second."
"…What?"
"One second from now," Shiraishi replied softly,
"You'll understand."