Two months later, mid-summer of Konoha Year 47 was blanketed in scorching heat.
The old wound on Akimichi Choza's shoulder had healed. Though the bandage wrapped around his left arm hadn't been fully removed, it was hardly an impediment. He led the reinforcement unit day and night toward the northeast of the Land of Fire, rushing to the battlefield.
The defense line there had been under attack by Kumogakure forces, which continued to reinforce their army.
The unit moved through the forest, darting swiftly between tree trunks, hurrying to the front lines.
But Nara Locke, who had been following closely behind Akimichi Choza, had become the most conspicuous member of the unit.
Whispers spread through the ranks like mosquitoes. Most of the genin, also early graduates of the Ninja Academy, shot sidelong glances at Locke's lean figure, their voices laced with doubt and envy:
"He's just a genin who graduated early. Why does he always get to stay by the commander's side?"
"Probably riding on the Nara clan's coattails, right? When we get to the battlefield, he'll just be dead weight."
If he were a genius like Kakashi, no one would say anything. But who was Locke? No one had ever heard of him. Why was he getting special treatment?
These petty mutterings reached Locke's ears, but he didn't even furrow his brow.
After all, it meant nothing to him. He was too lazy to justify himself.
But Choza was somewhat displeased. He had tested Locke's abilities over the past two months.
He had to admit, he was truly astonished—because Locke's strength was anything but weak or helpless. It was terrifying.
That day, he had gone all out, subconsciously using his full power, and had witnessed Locke's true strength.
Powerful taijutsu. Chakra far surpassing that of ordinary ninja. Keen combat perception. Superhuman learning speed.
And a secret technique capable of creating shadows that clung to his entire body, even transforming into blades—a technique the Nara clan had researched for generations, yet this twelve-year-old child had mastered it after receiving the secret techniques only two years ago.
It was only then that Akimichi Choza realized just how gifted this kid was.
When he thought about Locke's age, he was stunned from the very beginning.
Twelve years old? At twelve, he possessed the strength of a veteran jonin, had mastered the clan's secret techniques, and still had power that was completely untapped.
Kakashi, the number one genius of Konoha, wasn't fit to tie Locke's shoes. Locke was the true genius.
He was even certain that if given enough room to grow, this child would surely become the first true shadow force in the history of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.
In a trance, he had glimpsed in Locke the shadow of his own teacher, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.
The same rigor in studying ninjutsu, the same calmness and sharpness far surpassing his peers.
After that shock, Choza felt a pang of regret and wanted to slap himself. He should never have been so impulsive as to bring this fine seedling of the Nara clan to a dangerous battlefield a century too soon.
Now, he increasingly regarded Locke as a treasure, strictly protecting him.
After all, the main force of the Nara clan was currently fighting the Iwagakure on the Eastern Front. If this talented kid broke on the battlefield, that unique shadow secret technique would vanish with him, and he would have a hard time explaining it to the Nara clan and his deceased old friend, Nara.
In the end, he had already regretted one loss and could not afford another.
There was no other way. He had to keep Locke close and take good care of him. But he never expected that to cause gossip.
A sense of guilt gradually rose in Akimichi Choza's heart, but Locke himself didn't want to stand out too much, and it wasn't easy for him to argue with the younger colleagues. So Choza came up with a solution.
Suddenly, chakra exploded at Choza's feet. A burst of wind erupted, and his figure shot forward like an arrow loosed from its string, a fierce gale rising, sending leaves flying.
"Full speed! We must reach the border outpost before sunset!"
His voice carried an oppressive force that made everyone's eardrums tremble.
As the speed sharply increased, the chunin in the unit could still grit their teeth and keep up for a while. But how could these young genin, fresh out of the Ninja Academy, endure such an intense forced march?
Within just half an hour, the unit was completely stretched thin.
The chunin gasped for breath, sweat dripping from their foreheads in streams, their steps growing heavier. The genin were even more exhausted, staggering to the roadside, clutching their chests and vomiting violently, unable to stand, their faces pale as paper.
Choza only stopped when he heard the awkward sounds behind him. He slowed to a halt and turned around, a faint smile in his eyes when he saw Locke shake his head.
At that moment, Nara Locke was the only one still standing upright.
Though a thin sheen of sweat glistened on his forehead, his breathing was remarkably steady. His steps had remained even, following Choza's rhythm. Even when Choza accelerated several times, Locke had inadvertently overtaken a few physically exhausted jonin, showing no signs of fatigue.
His stamina and stability far surpassed that of his peers, silencing everyone who had been whispering earlier. The way they looked at Locke gradually shifted from contempt to astonishment.
At that moment, they were about to emerge from the forest into the foothills, which meant they were nearly at the border.
Choza glanced back at the newcomers in the unit. Most of these children were heading to the battlefield for the first time, and fear still lingered on their faces.
Choza's tense expression softened slightly. He raised his hand and said in a deep voice: "Rest for half an hour! Drink water, regulate your breathing, carefully check your ninja tools and scrolls. Don't let any detail slip! This is your first time on the battlefield—getting a surge of adrenaline is one thing, but this is war! The enemy won't give you time to vomit or catch your breath!"
The moment he finished speaking, everyone seemed pardoned. They sat down in the shade of the trees, panting and resting, adjusting their breathing without any of the arrogance they'd had earlier.
Choza's eyes swept over the crowd. He immediately spotted Locke, who was about to find a clean stone to sit on. Choza quickly stepped forward, slapped him on the back with measured force, and said gruffly:
"You don't have any energy to spare, so why are you resting? Come with me. I have something for you to do."
Locke reluctantly rubbed the back of his head, waved off a young ninja who offered him water, and quickly followed Choza, circling behind a dense thicket.
At the same time, in the shadows of a stone wall at the edge of a canyon several hundred meters away, elite ninja from Kumogakure were resting using the terrain.
The fatigue of the long march did nothing to dull the sharpness in their eyes. Some leaned against the red rock face with their eyes closed, breathing deeply. Others quickly wiped their short blades, which had been coated with lightning-release chakra, their bodies exuding a wild, fearless aura.
Among them, a sensory ninja sat cross-legged, his fingers lightly touching the ground, chakra spreading out like an invisible net.
After a while, he suddenly opened his eyes, his expression turning serious. His figure leaped up, and he swiftly ran toward the center of the camp, moving nimbly without a trace of procrastination.
At the very center of the camp, the Third Raikage, A, was dozing against a boulder. His powerful body was wrapped in a strong suit embroidered with cloud patterns, his muscles dense as steel. His entire being was surrounded by an undefined lightning-release aura. Even sitting still, he exuded a terrifying oppressive force.
"Lord A!" The sensory ninja knelt on one knee, his voice urgent but calm. "A large concentration of chakra fluctuations has been detected seven hundred meters to the southwest. It is presumed to be a Konoha ninja unit. The number of personnel is unknown, but their traces have not fully dispersed!"
"Oh?"
A deep voice rang out with a hint of interest. A slowly stood up, his sturdy figure casting a heavy shadow on the stone wall.
He raised an eyebrow, a rebellious glint flashing in his eyes. The corners of his mouth curled into a wild arc, and his tone was full of unquestionable authority:
"Don't startle the snakes. Give the order. All personnel advance covertly and quietly surround the Konoha ninja unit."
After a pause, he raised his hand and placed it on the lightning-release blade at his waist. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, as if a premonition had come to him. His tone gained a hint of playfulness:
"I have a feeling that today, I might run into an old friend."
When the surrounding Kumogakure ninja heard this, they immediately held their breath and quickly dispersed, melting into the canyon's shadows and vegetation like ghosts, silently encircling the Konoha unit.