We woke up rested and ready to set out again. We assumed formation.
I looked over to my right at Shisui. "Only one more day of travel left. For being close to a war front line, there aren't many scouts watching the flanks."
Shisui smiled. "Well, yeah. Any flanking force would have to come from the Land of Fire. We have our patrols there."
"Still, that's a lot of trust to put in patrols," I countered.
"Well, if you can't trust your comrades to keep you safe in a war, you've already lost. Don't tell me Kakashi got to you."
I laughed. "No, never—and that's not what I meant. But it's a big space to cover. Part of trust is also knowing their abilities. No shinobi can cover the whole Land of Fire alone."
"Well, I guess," Shisui said. "But it's never happened before—not to us or any village. It's just too bold of a move."
I nodded, and we continued traveling.
Some time later, Minato-sensei raised his hand, signaling us to stop.
"We're being watched. Everyone, be on guard."
As soon as he said it, a kunai came flying from the trees straight toward Shisui. I quickly threw my own, deflecting it midair.
Shisui glanced at me. "Thanks, but I definitely had that covered."
I grinned, even as my Sharingan activated subconsciously. My emotions were spiking.
Another ambush.
With my vision sharpened, I spotted faint traces of chakra on a nearby branch and pointed them out.
"Northeast. That branch has chakra on it, sensei."
"Well," Minato said calmly, "we seem to have been discovered. No use hiding. Come on out."
Six Iwa shinobi landed in front of us. Judging by their uniforms—three jōnin and three chūnin.
Shikaku spoke up. "I'll take one of the jōnin. Minato-san, can you handle the other two?"
"Yes," Minato replied. "Leave them to me. Kakashi, handle a chūnin and then assist the rest of the genin."
Not to be outdone by Kakashi, I stepped forward. "Shisui and I can handle a chūnin. Let Guy, Obito, and Rin take the other."
I continued, my past experience leading a unit taking over naturally. "Guy, lead with taijutsu—you're the main force. Obito, assist with taijutsu and Fireball Jutsu. Be careful not to hit Guy."
"Rin, support with ninja tools. Leave direct combat to Guy and Obito. Me, Kakashi, or Shisui will help once we're done."
Shikaku nodded. "Good plan. Move."
"So," the Iwa shinobi sneered, "Konoha's sending brats on missions now? Guess you tree-huggers aren't as strong as you claim."
He was average height, brown-haired, with a large nose and a jagged scar across his right cheek. Standard Iwa chūnin uniform.
I looked at Shisui. "Here's the plan. I have the Sharingan, so I'll engage in close combat. If you see an opening, attack."
"And once he's used to fighting my strength, we switch. You attack with speed; I'll support with ninjutsu."
"I'll use Fireball Jutsu and a kunai with a paper bomb to cut off his escape route. You do the same."
"If we can force him to use an earth wall, he won't see which way you move. After launching your jutsu, hide in a tree and wait for an opening."
"I'll rush him after he raises the wall to keep him focused on taijutsu."
"Okay," Shisui said. "Go."
We formed hand signs and shouted in unison. "Fireball Jutsu!"
As the flames surged forward, we threw our paper bombs.
To my surprise, the Iwa ninja shouted, "Earth Technique: Hiding Like a Mole Jutsu!" and vanished underground.
"Shisui, be careful—he's underground. Find a tree quickly. He can't see you yet. Attack when I make an opening."
"You got it, Shinji. Stay alert."
Maybe it was my battle sense from another life. I leapt away just as an earth spike erupted where I'd been standing.
The Iwa ninja surfaced. "You're faster than I thought, kid."
He locked eyes with me.
"Demonic Illusion," I muttered, launching forward with my fist cocked.
What fool looks into a Sharingan?
At the last second, he broke the genjutsu and blocked my punch, countering with a knee strike. I blocked and used the impact to propel myself upward.
If I force him to block with both hands, Shisui will have his opening.
I spun and brought my heel down toward his face. As expected, he blocked with both hands.
Shisui moved instantly, kunai flashing.
The Iwa ninja dodged, but Shisui's strike still cut into his shoulder.
"Nice work," I said. "That'll slow him down. Let's finish this together."
We charged.
Shisui went low with his tanto. I aimed a roundhouse kick at his head.
"Earth Release: Hardening Technique!"
Shisui's blade stopped cold. My foot felt like I'd kicked solid stone.
"I'll admit you got lucky," the Iwa ninja said. "But you don't stand a chance against my experience."
"Let me show you how outclassed you really are."
"Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
A stone dragon erupted, rapidly firing mud bullets. We were forced on the defensive.
Shisui's POV
He's targeting Shinji but sending just enough attacks at me to keep me from helping.
Shinji's barely dodging thanks to his Sharingan.
Wait.
The mud bullets aren't aimed at Shinji.
"Shinji!" I shouted. "He's aiming for your landing spot!"
I have to do something.
These earth bullets are getting annoying.
"If this is all you've got," I taunted, "you won't survive this fight."
I dodged another mud bullet and landed directly in front of him.
The ground felt… mushy.
The earth swelled.
"Shinji!"
The ground erupted.
Something slammed into me, and I rolled as a pillar of earth burst up where I'd been standing.
I coughed and scrambled up. "Shisui?"
He was on one knee in front of me. Blood dripped from his arm.
"Tch," the Iwa ninja said. "Took the hit for your friend? Stupid."
I started forward
Then I saw his eyes.
Red.
A single tomoe spun slowly in each one.
"Shisui… your eyes."
"My eyes?"
"You awakened the Sharingan."
"About time," I teased.
He grinned. "Yeah. Let's end this."
No words were needed.
With two Sharingan, we read his movements and overwhelmed him.
I punched at his face. He blocked it was a feint. I grabbed his wrist and yanked it down, opening him up for Shisui's strike from above.
The force broke my grip, but it didn't matter.
Shisui kicked his chest. The Iwa ninja blocked and countered, but I intercepted, knocking him off balance.
Shisui swept his leg.
It connected.
I didn't think I acted. I'd done it before, in another life, but this felt different.
As he fell, I slapped a paper bomb onto the ground.
Shisui leapt back.
The explosion ended it.
"That was intense," I said. "Thanks for the save, Shisui."
"Yeah," he replied. "Just don't make it a habit. My arm still hurts."
"Hey," I said, smirking, "I totally planned that. Had to force your Sharingan to activate."
He laughed. "Great plan. Next time, try not to turn yourself into a kebab."
Kakashi landed nearby. "If you're done socializing, the last chūnin is still breathing."
He glanced at Shisui. "Go get healed by Rin, Shinji, go assist Shikaku-senpai."
I frowned. "Hey, Kakashi, who died and made you captain?"
He looked at me calmly. "I'm a jōnin, Shinji."
"Kinda comes with the job."
"Oh," I muttered. "Right."
I turned to leave. "Shisui, get patched up. Kakashi try looking useful."
I left before he could respond, but I could hear Shisui laughing behind me.