Kyōichi, Konoha’s Life Mentor

On an island off the coast of the Land of Water, Yagura staggered ashore, exhausted. 

"Yagura-sama, what happened?" 

"Hōzuki Chikage, that fool, was captured. We must accelerate our plans. Also, beware a silver-haired shinobi, around fifteen or sixteen, skilled in water and earth release, and wields a sword." 

Yagura's tone was icy. 

"Do they have Lightning Release users?" 

A swordsman frowned—Hōzuki Mangetsu, wielder of the Samehada. 

"No." 

"Impossible! Without Lightning Release, and near water, even the Hyūga couldn't capture him alive!" 

Mangetsu refused to believe it. 

"It must've been his weapon—or he possesses Lightning Release." 

Yagura frowned, recalling the distant encounter. 

After a brief description, Mangetsu fell silent, his expression grim. 

"That idiot!" 

He cursed, his mood souring. 

From the description… 

That young shinobi was formidable! 

Not only did he detect Chikage's Water Transformation Technique, but he also devised a counter—using earth release to isolate the river. 

And… 

He drained chakra, wielded sealing jutsu, and moved faster than Chikage could react.

Even among the Seven Swordsmen, only one or two could match that speed. 

Who is he?

Despite his arrogance, Mangetsu didn't dare underestimate him. 

"Also, his summon resembles Tsunade-hime's." 

Yagura recalled another detail. 

"Katsuyu? He must be related to Tsunade." 

Mangetsu's expression darkened, then twisted into a cruel grin. "I heard Tsunade's lost two relatives. Should we kill this one too?" 

"You mean the vanished Senju clan? Perhaps. If so, could he be the eastern front's commander?" 

Yagura pondered. "Gather intel first. No reckless moves until we confirm. Let's see what the other villages do." 

Mangetsu nodded. "Let him live a little longer. Once the Seven Swordsmen gather, we'll cut him down together!" 

Yagura smiled faintly. 

Perhaps Chikage's capture wasn't entirely a loss. 

—— 

In the Land of Fire, at Nagano Mountain. 

Might Guy, with his stamina and speed, had already been sent ahead to report. 

Kyōichi and Hayama Shirakumo escorted the others, ensuring their safety. 

With the Hōzuki clan active, any body of water in the east was a potential threat—unless they reached the camp's perimeter, guarded by Hyūga shinobi. 

At the mountain's base, Kyōichi relaxed upon seeing the patrol. 

"Kurenai, lead everyone up. Katsuyu will stay with you. Hayama-san and I will go ahead." 

Kyōichi turned to Kurenai. 

As a chūnin, she was the highest-ranking in his absence. 

The others nodded. 

"Let's move!" 

Kyōichi's speed surged. 

In moments, he and Hayama ascended the mountain with the sealed Hōzuki Chikage. 

The camp was strategically placed away from water sources—a precaution against Hōzuki sabotage. 

"Kyōichi-sama! Hayama-sama!" 

An elite chūnin saluted, gesturing toward the command tent. "The jōnin are waiting inside." 

"Thank you." 

Kyōichi entered with Chikage. 

Inside, five jōnin awaited—familiar faces from the Breath Activation Technique training. 

The most notable were Gekkō Kazahana and Yamanaka Inoichi. 

"Inoichi-senpai, I didn't expect you here." 

Kyōichi greeted him respectfully. 

"No need for formalities. Sandaime-sama sent me to assist with intel." 

Inoichi smiled warmly. 

In his prime, he was far more striking than his anime counterpart. 

Kyōichi understood—Inoichi, leader of Konoha's Analysis Team, was a top-tier intel expert. 

His presence signaled the mission's importance. 

"Perfect timing. This is a Hōzuki clansman we captured." 

"You captured a Hōzuki?!" 

Inoichi was stunned. 

The Hōzuki's Water Transformation Technique made them nearly invulnerable to conventional attacks and hard to detect. 

Konoha had struggled against them for years. 

But as Kyōichi set Chikage down, Inoichi's surprise deepened. 

Alive?!

"How did you manage this?" 

Inoichi's disbelief was palpable. 

Killing a Hōzuki was one thing—capturing one alive was another. 

He examined the intricate Four Symbols Seals on Chikage's body. 

This kid knows sealing jutsu too?!

Most shinobi specialized in one or two areas. 

But Kyōichi? 

Kenjutsu, taijutsu, water and earth release, genjutsu, medical ninjutsu… 

And now sealing. 

Is there anything he can't do?

Inoichi marveled inwardly. 

"How? Well… we just caught him. Teamwork made it easier." 

Kyōichi shrugged. 

Trapping him with earth release, then cutting him down with a single strike—what was there to explain? 

Inoichi blinked, then refocused. "Alive is even better. Summon the Sealing Team. We'll secure him and extract his intel." 

"Watch for suicide attempts." 

Kyōichi warned. 

"Don't worry. This is my specialty." 

Inoichi chuckled. 

In combat, he might pale next to Kyōichi, but in intel extraction, he was unmatched. 

Inoichi left with Chikage, the tent falling silent. 

Hayama pondered the earlier events, while the others sat in stunned silence. 

Kyōichi had already impressed them during the Breath Activation Technique training. 

But this? 

Capturing a Hōzuki alive—likely the first in history—was beyond their expectations.