Konoha’s White Fang Shines

Chapter 58: The Dust Settles

Genma wasn't entirely confident, but based on the original timeline, none of them were supposed to die here. Especially Raido—his survival skills were practically cockroach-level.

From what he had observed through the telescope earlier, Yuji and the others should be returning soon.

He wasn't sure if Nomura knew Water Release to get them out, but there wasn't much else they could do. If it came to it, he had considered using Earth Release to create a path through the smoke and navigate through it. Another option was Earth Swimming Technique, but the underground situation was unknown. Given that it was the source of the explosions, the heat could be too intense for safe travel.

Both of these methods required a large amount of chakra, so he focused on resting while Iwashi did the same.

The crisp sound of chewing never stopped. Though wary of Iwashi's occasional oddities, Raido couldn't resist the temptation of snacks.

Seeing Raido enjoy himself, the kind-hearted Iwashi naturally offered some to Guy, and being the straightforward person he was, Guy accepted without hesitation. He munched enthusiastically while showering Iwashi with praise.

Happiness was simple at times—good food and good company were all they needed.

Genma, of course, had his own form of happiness. He happily scurried over to Kurenai, sitting close to her, sharing snacks and fruit.

By the time they had their fill, the smoke had completely engulfed their surroundings, forcing them to stand atop the Earth Walls to breathe fresh air.

Looking out, the forces of the Land of This had disappeared, as had Yuji and the others. The war-torn battlefield, littered with wreckage and smoke, left behind nothing but a sense of desolation and helplessness.

As they stared into the distance, the thick smoke below them was suddenly parted by a sharp gust, splitting in two.

Realizing something was amiss, Genma immediately grabbed his telescope and spotted Nomura slicing through the smoke with his sword.

This scene was baffling—what kind of technique could cut through a ten-meter-thick cloud of smoke?

"Whoa! That's Nomura-sensei?! That swordsmanship is insane!"

Somehow, Raido had also procured a telescope. He excitedly waved toward Nomura and shouted.

"Hey! Nomura-sensei, we're over here!"

"Ohh! Nomura-sensei is here! Youth will not perish in silence! This is wonderful!"

Genma had assumed Guy was clueless, but this declaration made him realize something—Guy had the potential to be a Jonin. After all, true Jonin weren't just strong; they inspired others.

"Nomura-sensei!" x5

Now that they were certain it was him, the five of them shouted in unison.

Nomura had actually noticed them much earlier and had been making his way over to rescue them. However, after realizing that Wind Release only fueled the fire, he had to be careful.

"Haaah! Vacuum Sword!"

Another fierce slash cut through the smoke, carving out a clear passage.

This was the same technique he had been using to navigate through the thick smoke. The issue was that as he moved forward, the smoke would start filling in behind him, forcing him to constantly advance and clear the way.

Fortunately, he had plenty of chakra. By the time he reached Genma's group, he was only slightly out of breath.

But before he could catch his breath, Genma quickly asked, "Nomura-sensei! What's the situation? Did we win?"

Nomura gave him a tired glance, sighing. "Hah… It's hard to say, but we at least have the confidence to win this battle."

"Oh, oh! Sensei, can you keep doing that 'swoosh swoosh swoosh' move and clear a path for us?"

Guy excitedly mimicked Nomura's movements, making the teacher shake his head in exasperation.

"Cough… I can, but give me a moment to rest first."

Once Nomura had caught his breath, he led the five of them out of the smoke-choked remains of the main camp, the entire process smooth and efficient. As they finally stepped beyond the thick haze, a wave of relief washed over them.

However, there was no time to celebrate just yet. The battle wasn't over. If they lost, they could run away, but it would be difficult to live with the guilt.

After all, it was their delayed arrival that had given the enemy ample time to set up traps, keeping the Land of This on the defensive and costing many lives.

Seeing the smiles on their faces, Nomura felt a sense of relief. Then, with renewed determination, he declared:

"Alright, our mission isn't over yet. Let's finish this fight strong!"

"Yes, Sensei!" Guy responded immediately.

"Yes, Sensei!" x4

With that, Nomura led the five of them, tracking the movements of the Land of This's forces, rushing to rejoin them.

By the time night had fully fallen, a massive cheer erupted from the distant battlefield, accompanied by the flickering glow of victory fires.

Nomura's group both saw and heard it—in that instant, they knew.

The Land of This had won.

That meant they had played a crucial role in securing the victory.

What was this feeling?

Genma couldn't quite describe it.

Was it happiness? Maybe.

But the moment he thought about the countless lives lost, he couldn't bring himself to smile.

This battle was a microcosm of the larger conflict.

The Third Great Ninja War was already taking shape, merely being temporarily suppressed.

Unbeknownst to them, Konoha's shinobi were likely already engaging in small skirmishes across the land.

And they, the younger generation, were only able to grow in peace because of the blood and sacrifice of those who came before them.

War was cruel. He had always known that.

But now that he had witnessed and experienced it firsthand, he truly understood what it meant.

Still, their team had been lucky.

Despite all the dangers, they had made it through relatively unscathed.

Had things gone differently—if they had been discovered while inside the main camp rigged with explosive tags, they could have all been obliterated in an instant.

That was the closest he had ever come to true death, making him painfully aware of his own weakness.

But he had already spent enough time lamenting his powerlessness.

If there was one thing he could do to get stronger quickly, it was to master the Earth Dragon Bullet technique that Yuji had taught him.

He had been training with it for some time and could already use it, but its power and flexibility were still lacking.

According to Yuji, true mastery required combining Earth Release's 'transformation' and 'hardening' properties.

As always, Genma took a moment to reflect on his strengths, weaknesses, and future goals.

This battle had shaken his resolve to continue "growing slowly".

If the Third Great Ninja War was truly imminent, he could soon find himself facing an army of enemy shinobi.

This battle had only involved six enemy ninja, and that alone had been challenging.

A full-scale war? That was another matter entirely.

By the time Genma snapped out of his thoughts, they had reunited with the rest of their team.

The eight of them, who had set out together, were now together once more.

Nothing was more reassuring than that.

After saying their goodbyes to General Iwajima and Advisor Chushi, they departed under the cover of night, heading home.

"I don't get it! Why didn't we at least stay for a meal?!"

Raido grumbled as they gathered in a cave, cooking food over a small fire. The pot was filled with vegetables and mushrooms, much to his disappointment.

Seeing Raido's sulking expression, Yuji turned eerily serious, his face almost completely shrouded in shadows.

"The Land of This had delicious food, huh? Why don't you go back and eat your fill? You might even make it back in time to join us."

Nomura, smirking slightly, leaned in with a creepy grin.

"They say… that with the number of battles fought here, the restless spirits of fallen soldiers roam these lands, always hungry… for young flesh."

Raido scoffed. "Yeah, right. I don't believe you."

"Oh? Then go back and bring us some food."

Yuji's calm but sinister tone sent a shiver down Raido's spine.

And then… a sudden, urgent pressure in his lower stomach made his face go pale.

He needed to go.

But the moment he thought about stepping outside alone, his legs wobbled.

Raido: "…"

End of Chapter 58