Since Sarutobi Shin'nosuke joined them, the morale of the entire squad rose sharply.
Until now, Hayashi had been the one carrying the team forward. Every time an enemy appeared, he was the first to engage and the last to retreat. But with a jōnin-level shinobi like Shin'nosuke by their side, much of that crushing pressure finally lifted.
Even though his wounds were barely bandaged, Shin'nosuke urged Hayashi to continue advancing deeper into the battlefield.
In his words, "If a battlefield lacks a high-level fighter like me, Konoha's overall strength will drop."
Hayashi wasn't entirely convinced.
From his experience leading genin squads on reconnaissance missions, Shin'nosuke's strength seemed that of an average jōnin—not on the same level as Tsunade or Orochimaru. If he were that powerful, he'd be stationed at the main command center, not running missions on the front lines.
Still, Hayashi understood. As the Hokage's son, the expectations placed on Shin'nosuke must have been immense.
In a massive war involving thousands of shinobi, one man's power couldn't change everything. But a dozen jōnin acting in unison? That could shift the entire tide of battle.
Konoha had been ambushed. The enemy's goal was clear—force them into disarray.
While there were enough defenders at the main camp, countless jōnin leaders were scattered across the border, leading their own units. If someone could cut through the enemy's blockade, unite those scattered squads, and lead them into the main battlefield, the balance could be overturned in an instant.
That was exactly what Hayashi intended to do.
Coincidentally, the Sannin were also carrying out a similar plan at that very moment—working together to keep Hanzō the Salamander from joining the fight. If he entered the battlefield, everything would collapse.
Of course, Hayashi knew his own plan wasn't easy.
They lacked concealment jutsu or effective camouflage. Enemy numbers were increasing, and Sand ninjas now patrolled the area heavily. Moving a large team through their lines without being spotted was impossible.
So battle after battle became inevitable.
Hayashi brushed the rain from his forehead and inhaled sharply. Wind Release chakra whirled through the air like invisible blades, cutting down another Sand jōnin in the distance.
Watching him, Sarutobi Shin'nosuke was left speechless. For the first time, he understood what true genius looked like.
This Uchiha kid wasn't just strong—his chakra reserves were monstrous for a ten-year-old.
Shin'nosuke wanted to grab Hayashi by the collar and yell, "Are you sure you're not from the Uzumaki clan?!"
Of course, Hayashi wasn't.
His enormous chakra reserves came from the system. He had invested a large amount of his ninja points into chakra capacity.
His endurance was remarkable for his age. And stored within the chakra scroll strapped to his wrist was a backup reservoir—enough to sustain him through extended combat.
That was the foundation of his confidence.
He wasn't the type to charge in recklessly like Nawaki, shouting "For Konoha!" while diving straight into chaos. No, Hayashi fought with precision and intent.
As long as he wasn't surrounded, he was confident he wouldn't fall.
Besides, this was the perfect opportunity to gather more ninja points. His growth depended entirely on how many enemies he could take down today.
Excitement burned in his chest. But on the other side, the Sand shinobi's killing intent thickened with every fallen comrade.
Hayashi's Sharingan spun. Two large wind blades hurtled toward him from behind. At the same time, another Sand ninja completed hand seals and unleashed a Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet.
Though weaker than Shukaku's version, it was still a formidable jutsu. With enough range and power, it could have easily ranked as an A-class technique.
More importantly, Hayashi noticed two other Sand ninjas nearby—without puppets, both rapidly weaving hand signs. Regular combat ninjas.
Good. Easier to handle.
His Sharingan foresaw the incoming trajectories. Hayashi leapt upward, twisting in midair as the Air Bullet sliced through the spot where he'd just been standing.
The Sand ninjas froze in surprise, their eyes narrowing. In that brief exchange, they'd already learned something about their opponent.
Combat was, after all, a form of mutual understanding.
They had begun adapting—analyzing his Lightning Release, recognizing the deadly precision of his Chidori, and learning to guard against his Genjutsu.
But Hayashi had no intention of dragging this out.
If they'd decided to gang up on him, he would simply end it faster.
His pulse quickened. His excitement sharpened. Battle, in moments like this, was pure instinct and focus.
Lightning chakra flared in his hand, crackling violently and drawing every eye toward him.
He dashed forward.
The Sand ninja on the left looked stronger—his movements steady, his chakra flow aggressive. The other was shorter, built lighter, likely a support type.
Hayashi's decision was instant. He lunged at the stronger one first.
The blinding flash of his Lightning Release drew their focus—exactly as he planned. At that same moment, he triggered a subtle Genjutsu with a glance.
By the time the two Sand ninjas realized something was wrong, Hayashi was already within striking distance.
His kunai slashed cleanly through the neck of the first enemy, the blade carving a perfect arc through the rain. Before the second could react, Hayashi's kunai reversed direction, cutting through the air toward his throat.
Clang!
A flying kunai intercepted it midair. Sparks flashed between the blades.
Hayashi's eyes darted sideways. Three more Sand ninjas had appeared, their presence sharp and hostile.
It was like striking a hornet's nest—every time he killed a few, more swarmed out.
He sighed softly. Because of his young age and frightening power, he'd become their top priority target.
"…Then come," he muttered.
Hayashi pressed his foot into the rain-soaked ground, Sharingan glinting crimson as he stared down the four enemies before him.
And in the distance, more Sand shinobi were closing in fast.
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