Chapter Four- The Real Test

I was surrounded by ten men, all almost in sync, either throwing a wind jutsu or projectiles. My red eyes blazed as I took in each one of their actions in the moments before.

[Jutsu Learned!]

[Wind style- Great Breakthrough: A C-rank wind-release jutsu that allows its user to saturate the air in their lungs with wind chakra, releasing the built of chakra with a roar that sends a blast of wind towards their enemies. Cost 110-??? Chakra]

As I watched the amount of projectiles and jutsu flying at me I began to regret my life choices. It was a good thing I didn't have time to waste on thinking. My hands flew threw three seals as a cactus appeared in my place, it was obliterated in moments. I appeared near a group of five Suna genin, my hands already flying through seals, a few of the other genin doing the same.

I finished faster however, it was also unlucky for them that I already knew the jutsu they were going to use in the next second. 

'Fireball jutsu!' I voiced inwardly as a 3-meter-wide ball of fire was already upon them, the two other genins' great breakthrough jutsu was turned against them when it collided with the fireball. Imploding it to triple its size before combusting and swallowing the other genin in the epicenter.

Somehow I killed five shinobi at the same rank as me. Fulled by nothing but adrenaline and fear. Not to mention the crutch that was my eyes.

[5X Suna Genin killed +1250 exp added]

[Level up…..5 stat points added]

'Odd, I expected to have more of a reaction to committing murder, I killed animals in the academy but I expected killing another human to make me feel something. Weird I felt more sad about killing a bunny when I was a kid. Though their white turbans and the rage I still felt over my team's death might be clouding it' For some reason, I grew distracted and the sound of two shurikens colliding behind me quickly broke me out of it.

Turning I realized it was probably Sakumo who deflected the shuriken that would have killed me. I jumped back into the fray and drew my sword against the other five still standing genin. 

-

{War Questline Unlocked}

A Boy At War l

Objective: Kill ten enemies during the Second Shinobi War.

Rewards: 1 Perk point, ???

-

'Well at least I'm not just doing it for a paycheck anymore, it was personal to begin with' I joked slightly as I used the five points I just received. My chakra surged slightly as I felt the boost from my intelligence dump.

It seemed I spooked the other genin as they seemed reluctant to be the first to attack after my lucky shot on their teammates. Considering my eyes were still crimson I was on a time limit, a war of attrition was the last thing I wanted so I sheathed my sword with reluctance.

A few hand seals later and they decided it wasn't prudent to remain passive, they unleashed a barrage of projectiles at me. 

"Wind style- Great Breakthrough" I roared as a column of wind froze every projectile in its tracks, even a kunai with a paper bomb burning from the ring was frozen in the air. All for but a moment until they were returned to their participants at thrice their original speed. 

[4X Suna Genin killed +1000 exp]

It was another fantastic counter but it seemed one of them expected that as he appeared next to me in a burst of speed. 'Body Flicker?!' I realized in surprise as I barely unsheathed my sword in time to block his stab. I parried him away from me quickly as I expertly threw three shuriken with my off hand.

It looked as if all three would fly straight at him as he jumped to avoid them, they ricocheted as the middle projectile propelled the others directly at him. He only had the chance to block his vitals, which included his eyes and I took advantage as I dashed forward. A second after the shuriken landed on different parts of his arms I managed to pierce him through the stomach. 

I twisted my wrist and his intestines were open to the air, he collapsed to the ground bleeding out a moment later. 

[Suna Genin killed +350 exp]

It was then that it hit me like a truck, I did it….. I figured I would die here, but with a few basic strategies, I managed to turn their numbers against them.

-

{War Quest completed}

A Boy At War l

Objective: Kill ten enemies during the Second Shinobi War.

Rewards: 1 Perk point, +3 stat points.

{New Function Discovered!}

-

I was shaking and breathing like a worn mare when a large hand firmly grabbed my shoulder shaking me slightly before letting me go.

"What happened to close combat fighter?" Sakumo asked me as he stood in front of me without even a drop of blood on him, I on the other hand was drentched in it after killing the last genin.

"Too many….. Didn't trust my speed to avoid an injury" I responded almost robotically.

"Good choice kid. You pass, you're officially my student" He said with a smirk as he ruffled my hair, which quickly broke me from my trance as I swatted his hand away.

"What the hell kind of test was that? I survived on pure luck!" I replied in pure exasperation. A light amount of childish fury escaped as Sakumo's smile never changed.

"I wouldn't say luck, mildly impressive for a kid. Used their every move against them." Tora said from behind me, I turned and noticed that the others were back as well. With nothing but a few cuts. 'What kind of team am I a part of? Sakumo didn't even fight and it's only been around five minutes…..'

"Good work everyone, I see none of you were injured. We'll make a beeline for the front lines again. If all goes well we should arrive within the hour." Sakumo said as his arm fell in a familiar motion. Luckily I was ready this time as I dashed off just as quickly as the others. 

We continued forward in silence as I kept the rear of the formation, it was a surprise when Rizen slowed his pace until he was next to me. 

"Decent work back there kid, if you ever need help expanding your jutsu repertoire just ask. The squad could use another solid ninjutsu user" The man who I was pretty sure was the son of Lord Hiruzen said with a smile as he held out his fist. It was an olive branch that I would be a fool to refuse. I bumped fists with him while I ignored the thought in the back of my mind that said I would have to 'try' and kill his dad in the future. No matter how foolish that sounded. Hiruzen Sarutobi was after all the first shinobi I found in the bingo book.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, The Professor. The Third Hokage is considered to be at the pinnacle of the S-rank. A master of all five natures, solo collaboration ninjutsu was his calling card. A powerful summoning contract along with a list of feats that would leave most regular shinobi scratching their heads.

He killed the gold and silver brothers single-handedly a year before the second war started. Avenging his teacher and indirectly the second Raikage who both fell to the brother's hands. The brothers didn't manage to kill the second alone, a large portion of the clouds anbu defected along with the brothers. The motive is only speculated but it was guessed that they disagreed with the peace treaty to end the first shinobi war after only one year.

Even now he is stopping the Clouds forces from gaining an inch of ground in the land of Fire. Tales of battles between the Third Hokage and Raikage were spoken weekly.

"I'd appreciate it, willing to learn anything at this point. Probably wouldn't survive if I wasn't flexible," I replied with a smile.

"Sure kid, just keep those weird eyes on me the next time we have to fight" It seemed the nicest member of Sakumos squad took a liking to me. 

"Get your own apprentice Rizen. Besides the kids running on fumes after using five jutsus, not to mention that two of them were the substitution jutsu" Sakumo's voice stopped Rizen's reply. 'Jeez, what happened to the praise…..' I thought with a sigh as I could only nod that he was right. I barely had twenty points of chakra left. Luckily I believed I could regenerate a good chunk of it before we reached the frontlines.

"Ok captain, just trying to help the kid out a little" Rizen said with a shrug as he picked up his pace to return to the right flank of the formation.

I didn't only practice swordsmanship with Sakumos clone, he thought it would be prudent for me to understand how the war was going, at least from his perspective.

It was a war that involved every village, there were currently no alliances among the great five so for us it was one against four, and we were surrounded. The only place we weren't being attacked from was the south and west, and that was because the Whirlpool village was assisted by Lord Jiraiya, they worked together to ground the approaching Mist Navy. 

The 'Toad Summoner' was said to be able to sink a hundred ships with his amphibian comrades. It was important to note that not a single ship has passed the Whirpools blockade. There were even talks that the village of The Seal Masters should be considered one of the great powers after their performance in this war.

I was inclined to agree with Sakumo on that, a minor village stopping a great one with the help of a single S-rank shinobi had the plot of an almost legendary story.

The North was led by Lord Hiruzen assisted by the 'Original Genin Team', which consisted of himself, Danzo Shimura, and the current Uchiha clan head. The only alive S-rank Uchiha, Kagami Uchiha. The 'indomitable' Third Raikage has never taken an inch of land in the Land of Fire, which spoke volumes in itself.

The war with the Land of Stone? A complete standstill. Why? A new player that nobody expected. 'Hanzo of The Salamander', an unknown Kage that thwarted any attempts to wage war on his turf. Beating back both Onoki The legendary Third Tsuchikage along with Lord Orochimaru and the entire northwestern Leaf army. He never outright defeated these two powerhouses, but the fact he killed enough of their men for them to call a retreat spoke for itself.

Most would believe that the two villages would simply change their battlefield to the land of Grass after four years of nothing. Sakumo didn't have an answer for that except one thing, pride of the Great Villages. Bullshit if you ask me.

Obviously where I was heading was the western battle front. Sunagakure has proved all of the doubters wrong and held the Leaf's invasion for four entire years. Thanks impart to the Chiyo siblings and 'Russo of the Black Sand'.

Why were we invading the land of Wind? Simple, the first village to surrender would most likely be the first domino to fall towards the end of the Second Shinobi War. Sakumo was completely under the impression that if we were to succeed here, it would mark the end of the Second War.

I was inclined to agree with him after all of it was explained to me, every village has taken heavy losses. Well, over fifty thousand deaths were confirmed at this point and it was almost even in terms of the five villages that lost those shinobi. 

The villages didn't have enough men to continue this war for longer than a few more years. If they ever hoped for a fast recovery that is.

"Alright boys, we should be coming upon the front. If we're lucky we'll arrive in the lull of combat. If not you all know your roles, the kids with me" Sakumo said about forty minutes after our 'battle' with the Sand platoon.

"I can confirm captain, both sides seem to be in a standoff at the moment. Around three thousand shinobi are led by Lady Tsunade. Russo is there and he has four thousand men behind him, his wounds are healed, captain….." Hizai reported with a slight frown.

"Dammit all, regroup with me at the front" Sakumo ordered. He withdrew his saber and made a single hand seal. His entire body sparked alive for a moment before he disappeared. A trail of lightning going over the dunes was the only way my eyes could track his path. 'A lightning release body flicker? No, it couldn't be that simple'