Seeing Yugao still slightly dazed, Hidezawa allowed a small smile to touch his lips before shifting his gaze back toward the shattered battlefield ahead.
Even though she wore a standard Anbu mask, he could picture her expression clearly. This senpai of his—only a year or two older—was someone he knew quite well. Pretty, composed, and strong. Not the type to get shaken easily.
"You… are you alright?" Yugao asked, her tone filled with concern.
She had no idea that Hidezawa's mind had briefly veered into completely unnecessary territory while staring at her.
And more importantly—no clue that, mentally, her "junior" was far less composed than she looked.
"Yeah." Hidezawa replied casually, "Orochimaru didn't seem interested in dragging things out. Maybe he was worried reinforcements would show up soon."
In truth, Hidezawa suspected that Orochimaru hadn't been going all out—not because he couldn't, but because he didn't see them as worthy of it. Their Anbu unit had only been dispatched because they happened to be the nearest patrol team. In other words, a disposable scouting party. A classic Danzo strategy.
"I got lucky and managed to hold him off." he added, underplaying the intensity of that brief confrontation.
"That's… good. That's really good." Yugao exhaled slowly, visibly relieved. They hadn't completed the mission, but surviving an encounter with one of the Legendary Sannin was already miraculous.
"Are you injured?"
Hidezawa glanced at the blood and rips on his cloak. "These look worse than they are. I'll be fine."
After all, most of the injuries had been self-inflicted to fake signs of struggle. His high physical stats and regeneration rate—thanks to his system—meant even real wounds wouldn't have slowed him down for long.
…
*Boom—!*
Just then, the massive Earth Style ∙ Mud Wall he'd erected earlier finally gave way, erupting into a cloud of dust and chunks of stone. Wild roars echoed through the underground chamber as several grotesque figures emerged, snarling and twitching with unnatural aggression.
Yugao immediately raised her ninjatō, muscles tense.
But before she could charge forward, Hidezawa reached out and gently grasped her hand.
"Senpai… let me handle this."
"You're hurt. I can't let you—"
"I know we haven't trained much together yet." Hidezawa interrupted gently. "But that's exactly why I'm worried. In a place like this, one mistake can get us both killed."
Yugao froze. There was logic in his words, but also something more.
"And," he added quietly, "I don't want to see you get hurt again."
That made Yugao's heart skip a beat.
'Does he even think about what he says before speaking?'
Before she could say anything, Hidezawa had already released her hand and walked forward.
"But I'll still need your support, senpai. If things go south, I'm counting on you to back me up."
With that, he stepped toward the enemy.
He wasn't just keeping Yugao safe—he was giving her a role to play without making her feel like dead weight. Classic office politics applied to the battlefield. Hidezawa's old habits as a corporate drone-turned-shinobi never truly left him.
'This lab… it must be one of Orochimaru's Cursed Seal research sites.'
The enemies approaching him—twisted forms half-human, half-monster—were likely failed experimental subjects. Their bodies pulsed with chaotic nature energy, dark tattoos crawling over their skin like corrupted chakra veins.
*ROAR!*
One of the creatures charged at him, a blur of muscle and madness.
"Watch out!" Yugao called out instinctively.
But Hidezawa had already activated the Cursed Seal.
The black, tomoe-shaped seal on his hand lit up faintly, and in the next moment, a wild but controlled chakra surged through his body. Unlike Jūgo or other victims of Orochimaru's experiments, Hidezawa's mind remained crystal clear.
Just as his system had promised.
Still…
'The boost isn't overwhelming… It's strong, but I can feel the limits.'
Based on his enhanced perception, he estimated his current level to be around that of an elite-jōnin. Certainly impressive, but still not Kage-level.
'This Cursed Seal… It's a weaker version of Sage Mode. Controlled but not divine.'
Hidezawa sidestepped the incoming attack with ease, the enemy's claws missing by inches.
With blinding speed, he countered with a kunai slash to the throat.
…
'He's… faster than before?'
Yugao's eyes widened. Watching from behind the haze of dust, she could already tell—Hidezawa's movements had changed.
More fluid. Sharper. Efficient.
No wasted effort.
No unnecessary force.
No hesitation.
'So this is how he survived against Orochimaru…'
Another enemy lunged from behind, attempting a surprise attack.
But Hidezawa tilted his head slightly, dodging before the enemy even moved.
With a one-handed seal, he slammed his palm to the ground.
"Earth Style ∙ Antlion Jutsu!"
The floor liquefied into a spiraling pit of earth, dragging the attacker down with a startled screech. Hidezawa immediately followed up with another seal—
"Earth Style ∙ Rising Earth Spears!"
The pit solidified into a spike trap, earthen blades shooting upward with brutal force.
Blood erupted from below.
Another enemy fell, screaming.
And the third was already rushing toward him, mouth frothing, eyes bloodshot.
Hidezawa didn't hesitate. He threw his kunai, chakra-enhanced, with perfect precision.
It pierced clean through the enemy's throat, silencing him mid-scream.
But the last remaining subject—larger and more grotesque than the others—let out a deafening howl and lunged at him with a monstrous punch.
*Crack!*
The strike landed.
But Hidezawa exploded into stone fragments.
"An earth clone?!" Yugao gasped. "When did he—?!"
She'd seen it all, but somehow missed when the switch had occurred. Hidezawa had been controlling the flow of the battle effortlessly. He wasn't just stronger—he was tactical, calculating.
'Am I even needed here?' she thought bitterly.
But her self-doubt was short-lived.
The ground nearby shook again, and Hidezawa burst out from below.
*Boom—!*
His hand seals were already in motion.
"Water Style ∙ Water Dragon Bullet!"
A serpentine dragon of churning water exploded from his mouth, slamming into the final enemy and pinning him to the stone floor with immense force.
The creature screeched, torn and battered, but not dead.
Hidezawa didn't give him a second chance.
The enemy hurled several kunai in desperation—
But Hidezawa, still glowing with natural energy, weaved between them like mist.
And in the next instant—
His blade plunged straight through the enemy's skull.
…
The body collapsed.
The chakra in the air began to settle.
And just then, a new prompt appeared in Hidezawa's vision:
Ding!
[Mission Complete: Rescue the Anbu Operatives]
*****
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