The flames of revenge burned fiercely in her chest, but reason told Yūgao that accomplishing it would not be easy.
A playful curve appeared at the corner of Akira's lips.
"That's true," he said. "But the good news is that those guys probably won't keep expanding any further."
Yūgao blinked, curiosity piqued.
"Why?"
It sounded like good news, but she couldn't figure out the reason.
Akira began counting on his fingers.
"In theory, if they wanted to evolve from jōnin level to something approaching a Kage, they'd need to drain the blood of at least a whole country—millions of people."
"Not to mention finding that many living targets… just refining all that blood would keep them busy for the rest of their lives."
"So my guess is they've already gathered enough power and are preparing to run."
"If we want to wipe them out, we have to act quickly."
"Once those five chūnin also evolve into jōnin, they'll have eight jōnin-level fighters. That's a force capable of toppling a small nation wherever they go."
"Sure, power gained that way shortens their lifespan—but in a fight, they're still terrifying."
"If they really manage to form a full squad of eight monsters, the price of eliminating them later will be enormous."
To eliminate eight jōnin, Konohagakure would have to deploy at least eight shinobi of equal level.
Even for one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, that would be a massive mobilization.
Jōnin were strategic assets—the backbone of a village's military strength.
And these lunatics needed to slaughter ten thousand people just to rise from chūnin to jōnin.
It was utterly inhuman.
The medical ninja who had originally developed this technique had intended it to save lives.
Who could have imagined it would become the tool of monsters?
Yūgao's expression hardened with urgency.
They could not allow those demons to escape.
For the sake of the countless dead, she grabbed Akira's wrist.
"Akira… is there any way to stop them?"
Akira smiled bitterly.
"Like I said, the most reliable method is overwhelming force—even if it means piling bodies on them."
"And remember, their strength comes at a price. Jumping from chūnin to jōnin like that costs at least thirty years of their lifespan."
"Shinobi already have short lives. After doing that, they'll probably only have ten or twenty years left."
Yūgao's eyes burned with killing intent.
"Ten or twenty years? That's still too generous for animals like them! After spilling that much blood, they don't deserve to live even a single extra day!"
She suddenly stood up, stretching her limbs.
The wounds still ached slightly, but they wouldn't stop her from drawing her sword.
Seeing her forcing herself like that, Akira shook his head.
From his pouch he pulled out a small, dark soldier pill and suddenly shoved it into her mouth.
It was his own improved version—smaller, tasted like candy, and carried a healing boost.
But while doing so, his finger accidentally brushed her soft lips.
The fleeting warmth made Yugao freeze for a moment.
The atmosphere became slightly awkward.
Akira, however, didn't even notice.
They had known each other for six years—there was nothing strange about it.
"Relax," he said casually. "The village leadership will deal with something this big. Why are you worrying about it as a mere squad captain?"
"Now that it's been upgraded to an S-rank mission, the village will definitely send stronger ninja to handle it."
"Your teammates will be avenged."
Standing face-to-face, Akira's height—about 170 centimeters—was nearly the same as Yūgao's.
Her eyes were filled with determination.
"I have to report everything you analyzed to the village immediately."
"If the intelligence isn't accurate, sending people in blindly would just get them killed."
Akira nodded.
"Before reporting, you might want to consult the old director at the Konoha Hospital. He should know the details of that forbidden jutsu."
"But don't mention my name."
A trace of warmth appeared in Yūgao's eyes.
"I know you prefer to stay low-profile. Don't worry—I won't betray you."
With Akira's approval, she rushed straight toward the Hokage Tower.
---
The news shocked Hiruzen so much that the hand holding his pipe trembled.
Especially after confirming the truth of the forbidden jutsu with the hospital director.
The old man's face darkened.
If the intelligence was correct and the enemy could produce eight jōnin-level monsters, the threat level was off the charts.
Hiruzen immediately made a decision.
He summoned three of Konoha's top fighters:
Kakashi Hatake
Yamato
Might Guy
All three happened to be in the village at the moment.
Together with the volunteer Yūgao Uzuki, the Third Hokage looked at the four shinobi before him and spoke gravely.
"According to Yūgao's intelligence, the criminals in the Land of Grass pose a major threat to the Land of Fire."
"They must be eliminated completely."
"But this mission is dangerous. People may die. Be prepared."
Kakashi and Yamato were elite jōnin.
Guy might seem eccentric, but his taijutsu was among the best in the village.
And Yūgao—her wounds already healed by Akira—was determined to avenge her fallen comrades.
Kakashi narrowed his single eye.
"People like that can't be allowed to live. I'll go."
Yamato straightened.
"This falls under ANBU jurisdiction. Hokage-sama, please leave it to us."
Guy flashed his signature bright smile and gave a thumbs-up.
"This dark youth must be burned away! I'll show them the power of Severe Leaf Hurricane!"
Yūgao gripped her sword.
"My comrades died to bring me back with that information. I will personally take the heads of those monsters."
Even with such a powerful lineup—three jōnin and one Special Jōnin—the Third Hokage still felt uneasy.
Facing eight potential jōnin-level enemies was no small matter.
If these people died, Konoha's backbone would be broken.
The old fox pondered adding another layer of insurance.
But most of the village's other strong ninjas were already out on missions.
The village's defenses couldn't be weakened either.
Suddenly, Hiruzen turned toward Kakashi, a glint flashing in his aged eyes.
"Kakashi… what if you bring Akira along as well?"
The moment he said that, Yūgao exploded before Kakashi could even react.
"No! Hokage-sama, Akira is still just a genin!"
"Sending him into a battlefield like that is sending him to his death!"
Kakashi, Guy, and Yamato nodded frantically.
The idea sounded ridiculous.
But the Third Hokage smiled meaningfully.
"Yet from what I've seen, his strength already surpasses yours, Yūgao."
"We're missing one more person to complete a five-man squad."
"Another fighter means another layer of security."
Kakashi and Yugao argued fiercely, practically spraying spit across the desk.
After several minutes of debate, Hiruzen finally slammed the decision down with Hokage authority.
"Enough!"
"I know you're protecting him, but I know Akira's strength."
"What he lacks now is experience in real battle."
"This mission is the perfect opportunity."
"If he survives this operation, his name will be placed on this year's Chūnin promotion list."
Rank trumped all.
Even though Kakashi and Yūgao were unwilling, they had no choice but to accept.
Guy and Yamato also looked helpless.
None of them wanted to see that boy thrown into a battlefield.
---
After receiving the mission scroll, the four of them headed to the forest behind Konoha.
When Akira learned he had been forcibly drafted into an S-rank mission, he nearly exploded.
He stared at Kakashi in disbelief.
"You've got to be kidding me."
"I'm just a weak, pitiful, helpless genin, and you're throwing me into an S-rank dungeon?"
"Has that old Hokage finally gone senile?"
Since there were no outsiders present, Akira didn't hold back his complaints.
Kakashi looked equally miserable.
"I tried everything. No use."
"The old man insists you already have chūnin or even Special Jōnin-level strength."
"He wants you to 'gain experience.'"
"He said if this mission succeeds, you'll be promoted to chūnin immediately."
Akira's mouth twitched.
"Like I care about that stupid chūnin title."
"If I wanted it, I could just take the exam myself!"
Kakashi and Yūgao looked guilty.
They felt as though they had failed to protect him.
At that moment, Yamato stepped in to smooth things over.
"Honestly, I didn't support the idea either. It is a bit early for you."
"But Hokage-sama promised something else as well."
"If the mission succeeds, besides becoming chūnin, you'll be allowed to study the Scroll of Seals and choose one S-rank forbidden jutsu."
Yamato was an honest man.
Although he leaned toward supporting the Hokage, he genuinely cared about Akira.
He said that mainly to ease the tension between Akira and the Hokage.
Especially since after Kakashi left the ANBU, Yamato had inherited much of that responsibility.
Standing between both sides made him extremely uncomfortable.
Suddenly Yūgao asked,
"Akira… since you were the one who analyzed the enemy, do you have a more efficient way to kill them?"
Kakashi, Guy, and Yamato all froze.
They stared at Yūgao in shock.
"Wait… the intelligence came from Akira?"
Yūgao nodded.
"Yes. I went to him for treatment and mentioned the situation."
"He practically stripped the enemy's secrets bare in minutes."
"Don't forget—his medical skills are so good that even the hospital director admits defeat."
The three men looked at Akira like he was some kind of monster.
"So… Akira," Kakashi said slowly.
"You must know their weakness, right?"
Akira rolled his eyes.
"Don't get your hopes up. Those guys are tough as iron from head to toe. Their only weakness is that they don't really have one. If we want to kill them, we'll have to rely on raw strength. Don't expect some clever shortcut."
Kakashi frowned thoughtfully.
"So what the hospital director said… that after they burn their power they can reach Kage-level strength—is that true?"
Akira nodded rapidly.
"Yeah, pretty much. So what we're probably facing this time is a deluxe combo: three Kage-level monsters and five jōnin-level mad dogs."
The moment he said that, the air seemed to freeze.
Yamato and Kakashi both felt a chill run down their backs.
"You've got to be kidding… Aside from Might Guy, who here can actually bring out Kage-level combat power?"
The gap between Kage level and elite jōnin was like an uncrossable abyss.
As a former prodigy, Kakashi understood that difference all too well.
Guy might be able to hold his own if he opened the Eight Gates, but Kakashi himself, Yamato, Yūgao, and even Akira were at best elite jōnin.
Before the battle had even begun, the odds already looked hopeless.
And no one was even sure whether Guy could open the Seventh Gate yet.
Even Kakashi wasn't confident. All he knew was that when Guy went all out, his strength could indeed reach Kage level.
For a moment, Kakashi felt like this mission was basically a suicide run.
It seemed impossible.
Seeing the atmosphere grow suffocating, Akira suddenly laughed.
"It's not all bad news. Sure, their chakra and taijutsu might reach Kage-level territory, but their brains probably don't. Their real combat experience definitely can't compare with yours, Kakashi-sensei. You're veterans among jōnin."
"So it's not completely unwinnable."
"The risk factor is just… slightly higher by a tiny bit."
Kakashi shook his head with a bitter smile.
At this point, they had no choice but to go through with it.
Yūgao looked apologetic.
"I'm really sorry, Akira. I dragged you into this mess."
Akira waved his hand casually, his expression calm.
"Yugao-nee, I'm not thrilled about it either, but this isn't your fault."
He understood the situation perfectly.
Yūgao must have tried her hardest to stop this.
Kakashi and the others had probably argued for him as well.
But during the past month, that old fox—the Third Hokage—had clearly investigated him thoroughly and concluded that he possessed at least jōnin-level strength.
This mission wasn't really about support.
It was a final test.
A way to see how sharp this blade truly was—and whether he was worth investing resources in.
Akira could practically imagine the calculating smile on the old man's face.
Being manipulated like this irritated him.
He didn't care for the Hokage's "nurturing."
That old man probably didn't have many months left anyway.
Once Tsunade took the position of Hokage, life would certainly become easier.
At that point, there would be no need to keep hiding his abilities.
But for now, the smaller arm couldn't twist the bigger one.
He had no choice but to go.
Kakashi placed a hand on Akira's shoulder, his voice heavy.
"I'm sorry. As your teacher, I couldn't shield you from this."
Akira felt the warmth—and guilt—in that hand.
He looked up at Kakashi's visible eye and grinned brightly.
"Don't worry, Kakashi-sensei. Sure, I was forced into this, but honestly, this mission will be good experience for me."
"And who knows? I might even surprise you."
"Haven't you always wondered how many tricks I've been hiding?"
Kakashi froze for a moment, his guilt deepening.
"During this mission… even if it costs me my life, I'll make sure you survive."
It sounded dangerously close to raising a death flag.
But Akira knew he meant it.
Akira laughed.
"Don't sound so tragic, Kakashi-sensei. What if I end up being the one saving you?"
Yamato, Guy, and Yugao all assumed he was joking to lighten the mood.
Only Kakashi fell into thoughtful silence.
"…Maybe."
He had always known this student was unfathomable—like a deep well whose bottom you could never see.
But he respected Akira's privacy.
If the boy didn't show his abilities voluntarily, Kakashi would never pry.
Akira then turned to Yūgao and pulled a delicate porcelain bottle from his pocket.
"Yūgao-nee, this is a healing medicine I made while experimenting. Take one—it'll help."
He poured out a jade-green pill that gleamed like polished emerald.
"It's refined from several rare herbs. It should bring you back to full health."
Yūgao stared at the pill in shock.
Just by looking at its color and smelling the fragrance, it was obvious the medicine was incredibly valuable.
The faint chakra fluctuation emanating from it made it seem almost miraculous.
"This is too precious…"
Akira didn't let her refuse. He simply placed the pill in her palm.
"If your body isn't fully recovered, our team will have a weak link. Everyone's survival rate depends on that."
In truth, Yūgao was indeed the weak link among the five.
Akira didn't want to say it bluntly, but the implication was clear.
If she entered battle while injured, she wouldn't be avenging anyone—she'd only become a burden.
Yūgao stopped hesitating and swallowed the pill.
Kakashi teased from the side.
"Well, look at that. The sun must have risen in the west. You're actually willing to part with one of your secret treasures."
Guy and Yamato looked equally shocked.
"You actually gave that away?"
Akira tucked the empty bottle back into his pouch and smiled.
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm almost out anyway."
A medicine of this level was extremely rare.
Akira had spent three years developing it, burning both money and effort, and had only managed to produce six pills in total.
He had already given one each to Yamato, Guy, and Kakashi.
Now one had gone to Yūgao.
Only two remained.
The total cost of those six pills had reached 500,000 ryō.
It was truly expensive.
But the effect was just as outrageous.
The medicine had only one function:
Lock your life in place.
As long as you still had a breath left, swallowing it would immediately restore you to peak condition—and grant resistance to poison for an entire month.
Yamato had experienced that effect personally.
During an S-rank mission, he had been surrounded by enemies and nearly died.
One pill had instantly restored him, allowing him to wipe out all his opponents.
Later, when he tried to ask Akira for another pill, he had been mercilessly rejected.
Even rich landlords run out of grain eventually.
Yamato now shamelessly leaned closer, rubbing his hands together with a grin.
"Akira… considering our friendship, how about giving me another one?"
Akira immediately shielded his pocket.
"Get lost! I'm serious—I only have one left for emergencies."
Yamato sighed dramatically.
"If we had a few more of those, we'd practically have extra lives…"
"In this world where lives are as cheap as grass, medicine like that is priceless."
Most resurrection techniques required terrifying costs—usually one life in exchange for another.
Akira's pill couldn't bring the dead back, but compared to that, it was practically a miracle.
Kakashi and Guy still hadn't used the pills they received.
The two exchanged a sly look.
"Yamato," Kakashi said cheerfully,
"thanks for risking your life to test the medicine for us."
Yamato's face instantly collapsed.
He turned toward Kakashi.
"Senpai… you're so strong. How about giving your pill to me?"
Kakashi looked at him with a gentle smile that sent chills down his spine.
"You wish."