The Forgemage of Konoha

Nuclear Missile Sword Saint

Nakamura and Shimizu naturally noticed Shirō's movements on the hillside, but neither paid them much attention. After all, the one making those movements was a Jonin—hardly someone to worry about lightly. They both glanced over casually before returning focus to their battle.

"Although it's meaningless now," Nakamura said, tightening his grip on his kunai, "I still want to ask you, Shimizu—why?"

Shimizu responded coldly. "Since you already know it's meaningless, why ask?" As he spoke, he flicked a shuriken at Nakamura, officially starting their battle.

Nakamura sidestepped the shuriken with practiced ease and dashed forward, kunai in hand. "Then I'll capture you first and ask later!"

"If you think you can, then try!" Shimizu retorted as he charged in as well, opting for close-quarters taijutsu.

It wasn't that either Jonin refused to use ninjutsu—it was more a matter of efficiency. For civilian-born ninja, Chakra reserves were generally limited. Even after reaching the rank of Jonin, they often lacked access to a wide array of jutsu. In contrast, members of kekkei genkai clans or those with unique secret techniques had both superior chakra pools and access to advanced techniques. Even if they didn't awaken their bloodline powers, they still had dozens of clan-based jutsu to fall back on—the Uchiha Clan being a prime example.

In most cases, the training systems of secret technique clans were so well-established that even slower learners would eventually master core skills. Civilian ninja, by contrast, often had to rely on hard-earned basics.

That's why Nakamura and Shimizu engaged in taijutsu first. Of course, being Jonin granted them access to higher-level techniques like those stored in the village's restricted scrolls, including B- and A-rank jutsu. But unleashing your trump cards when your opponent hadn't committed theirs? That was simply reckless.

Still, taijutsu alone wouldn't decide the outcome of a Jonin-level battle. After several exchanges, Shimizu took advantage of an opening, leapt back, and quickly wove hand seals.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Nakamura's response was immediate. "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

The blast of wind countered the incoming fireball, diffusing the flames mid-air. In the same moment, Nakamura used the Body Flicker Technique to close the distance once more.

He knew he couldn't take Shimizu alone—not easily. But he also knew his team's strengths. If Shirō and the others could eliminate Shimizu's subordinates, victory was assured. Nakamura placed his trust in Shikamaru—and surprisingly, also in Shirō. There was a calm confidence in Shirō's eyes that wasn't arrogance. As a fellow Jonin, Nakamura could tell the difference.

So Nakamura kept Shimizu locked down, buying time while trusting in the plan Shikamaru had crafted.

The Nara Clan might not have a kekkei genkai, but their strategic minds and shadow techniques often surpassed bloodline users. Their inheritance was stable, their judgment impeccable—and yes, that could be frustrating to those who faced them.

Shikamaru and Tai Yi, meanwhile, were holding back their respective opponents. They didn't go all-out, reserving chakra in case they needed to back Nakamura up. Tai Yi even deactivated his Sharingan after Shikamaru gained the upper hand, conserving chakra. Practical and precise.

And Shirō?

On the hillside, Shirō had only recovered about fifty percent of his chakra—but that was enough.

"Reinforcement Magic, activate."

"Projection Magic, begin."

He first enhanced his vision and strength with Reinforcement, ensuring precision. Then, instead of projecting a Noble Phantasm, he conjured a simple arrow—crafted from paper. No, not just paper. Each strip was an Exploding Tag.

The projected Exploding Tags couldn't exist for long, but their fleeting presence was enough to be weaponized as arrows.

A faint smile touched Shirō's lips. "Feel the terror of the Nuclear Missile Sword Saint," he whispered, drawing his bow.

He aimed at Shikamaru's opponent—this wasn't personal. It was a tactical choice. Only Shikamaru's enemy was at a safe enough distance from teammates to avoid collateral damage.

The enemy noticed the arrow and sneered, stepping aside.

"Hea—"

BOOM.

He never finished the sentence. The arrow detonated mid-dodge, obliterating him instantly.

Though his reflexes were sharp, they couldn't save him. The arrow exploded before he landed—just as Shirō intended.

The remaining enemy, now shaken, began glancing toward Shirō throughout the battle. This distraction allowed Tai Yi, whose combat skills surpassed his opponent's, to quickly gain the upper hand.

"Shadow Imitation Technique!" Shikamaru shouted, taking advantage of Shirō's intervention.

The enemy dodged, but that was expected. Tai Yi immediately moved in, finishing him with a well-placed strike.

These enemies weren't weak. They had the nerve and strength to betray their village, which meant they weren't ordinary shinobi. Even Shirō admitted that without Reinforcement or a projected Noble Phantasm, he wouldn't have been able to react as fast.

With their opponents down, Shikamaru and Tai Yi turned to assist Nakamura. Shirō, meanwhile, projected another Exploding Tag arrow—but did not fire.

He didn't have enough chakra left.

That final projection left him with barely enough chakra to sustain Reinforcement. So instead of shooting, he held the arrow steady, keeping it drawn.

Threat. Deterrence. Like a loaded gun—only dangerous when it's full.

An empty bow? As useless as a pistol in a Yan Shuangying movie.

The arrow, linked by sealing formulae, was technically an E-rank Noble Phantasm. Weak, yes, but the chakra drain remained high. Without the sealing technique link, the Exploding Tag arrow would have lost its potency—just like how Tobirama's Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags were considered forbidden for a reason.

Simply stacking Exploding Tags wasn't effective—unless you were someone like Konan, who had 600 billion of them. That was a different league entirely.

So Shirō stood silently, bow drawn, arrow glinting in the sun. The psychological pressure alone was enough. Shimizu couldn't tell exactly what was on the arrow, but he wouldn't dare gamble—not at this range. Not against someone like Shirō.

Even Yan Shuangying wouldn't risk it.

And Shirō wasn't out of tricks yet. He still had one sample arrow crafted with Kushina's help—expensive and highly potent. He wouldn't use it unless it was absolutely necessary.

By now, Shikamaru and Tai Yi had arrived to support Nakamura.

Nakamura and Shimizu both broke contact and jumped apart, creating distance.

"Shimizu, give up. You can't win anymore," Nakamura said. "Come back with us. If you admit your mistake properly, Hokage-sama might grant leniency."

"Heh. You actually believe that?"

"I believe in Hokage-sama," Nakamura said quietly.

"I believe in him too," Shimizu replied. "But so what? If I go back, the best I can hope for is exile—or worse, being posted somewhere to rot."

"Better that than dying out here—"

"No. I'd rather die here than be sent there."

"Shimizu, don't be naive. We'll help you, just admit—"

"Naivety?" Shimizu laughed coldly. "You're the one lying to yourself, Nakamura. Even you don't believe that."

Nakamura fell silent.

Because deep down, he knew Shimizu was right.

They were both civilian shinobi—and in Konoha, that meant their fates were never entirely in their own hands.