Chapter 55: Beyond Kage Level—Shinobi of Legend

Of course, Kazuya's offer to battle the Jinchuriki was a carefully crafted excuse to join the battlefield. Yet the reaction from everyone in the tent was priceless—they looked at him with a mix of respect, embarrassment, and admiration.

Letting out a quiet sigh, Kazuya thought, "Ah, the things people get moved by. Life is just a stage..."

After a moment, he rallied the mood with vigor, shouting, "For the village, for the Hokage! Long live Konoha!"

The others joined in almost instantly:

"For Konoha!"

"Konoha will prevail!"

"The Will of Fire burns bright!"

The whole tent echoed with these cries of determination. Even Fugaku joined in, shouting as passionately as the others. Under his mask, Kazuya had to grin a little at the sight.

This energy, this excitement! he thought to himself. Now this… is more thrilling than anything from Boruto's time!

The excitement in the air reached its peak, with every shinobi feeling a renewed sense of pride and unity. At that moment, Kazuya's fierce embodiment of the Will of Fire had made him a trusted, valued member of Konoha's elite.

Outside the tent, the Konoha camp was much more subdued. The atmosphere was heavy as shinobi tended to the fires, quiet and pensive.

Kumogakure's forces included the Two-Tails and the Eight-Tails, possibly even the Fourth Raikage. These were terrifying opponents, creatures of disaster on the battlefield. Against such odds, the typical shinobi had little chance. For many, it would be a sacrifice.

On top of that, many had vivid memories of the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha, leading to a shared fear of tailed beasts. As the possibility of death loomed, every face grew somber.

After leaving the tent, Kazuya's expression turned pensive. The situation was odd. Why hadn't Jiraiya been sent? Against two Jinchuriki, it made perfect sense to deploy a Kage-level shinobi like him. But instead, they had sent Kazuya.

It became clear to him that this was more than a mere mission. Sarutobi was testing his true power, seeing if he could indeed handle a Jinchuriki or an elite shinobi alone. After all, Kazuya's recent battles against the Fourth Raikage and Orochimaru had occurred with Jiraiya nearby for support.

For Sarutobi Hiruzen, Kazuya's true strength remained an enigma. But with the Raikage pressing in and the Jinchuriki deployed, the opportunity had finally arrived for a definitive test. If Kazuya could overpower a Jinchuriki head-on, this battle would almost certainly end with him being promoted to Captain of the Anbu. That would place him firmly within Konoha's elite inner circle.

"Clever old fox," Kazuya thought, inwardly impressed.

There was a reason Hiruzen had held the Hokage's seat for decades. He wasn't one to gamble without hedging his bets.

As Kazuya was lost in thought, a voice called out from behind him, soft and youthful.

"Kazuya-senpai!"

He turned, surprised to see Uchiha Shisui approaching with a respectful bow.

"Kazuya-senpai, I've heard so much about you. Please, just call me Shisui."

"Very well, Shisui," Kazuya replied, offering a nod and a smile.

"Thank you, Kazuya-senpai!" Shisui looked pleased and, after a pause, added earnestly, "Regarding the fight with the Jinchuriki, I'd like to help. I believe my Body Flicker Technique might be fast enough to keep up with the Two-Tails' movements."

Kazuya's eyes narrowed slightly. This much confidence at his age… was it due to the Mangekyo Sharingan or just the apex of three-tomoe mastery? Either way, Shisui was a prodigy. Barely a teenager, his skill with genjutsu could incapacitate Jonin from the Hidden Mist at a distance, and now it seemed his speed could rival a Jinchuriki's.

"Shisui, going up against a Jinchuriki is incredibly dangerous," Kazuya cautioned.

Shisui gave him a resolute nod. "I understand, Kazuya-senpai. But I've trained for this moment. I believe in my strength, although I'd likely be no match for the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki, Killer Bee…"

Kazuya placed a hand on his shoulder with a smile. "Leave Bee to me. Shisui, I can see your loyalty to the village in your eyes. Together, let's fight with everything we have—for the village."

Shisui's eyes shone with excitement. "For the village!"

Kazuya couldn't help but feel satisfied. Shisui wasn't just a prodigy; he had the heart of a true shinobi, willing to put his all on the line for Konoha. A perfect ally for the battlefield.

The day passed with no missions. Aside from the ninja on watch duty, the rest were free to rest and recuperate. After their skirmish with the Cloud Nin, Red and Yuugao took full advantage of the downtime to recharge their chakra reserves.

Kazuya, meanwhile, strolled through the camp, quietly gathering chakra drops from his surroundings as he went.

His stats now read:

[Chakra: Lv.5 (4,350/1,000,000)]

Finally reaching the super-Kage level—a milestone only reached by legendary shinobi like Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi at his peak, Sage Mode Jiraiya, Six Paths of Pain, Uchiha Obito, Sage Naruto, and Eternal Mangekyo Sasuke. He had finally stepped onto the path of the greats.

Yet Kazuya was confident his potential reached far beyond this.

Dawn broke with the sharp blast of a whistle ringing out through the camp.

"Form up!"

Fully armed, over two hundred Konoha shinobi gathered in the ranks. At the head of the formation stood three imposing figures: Uchiha Fugaku, Akimichi Chouza, and Kazuya himself, clad in white and wearing his Anbu mask.

"Captain Kazuya…" Chouza gave him a respectful nod, waiting for direction.

"Take it away, Chouza-senpai," Kazuya replied casually, happy to stay in the background.

"Understood." Chouza's gaze swept over the gathered forces as he addressed them. "We have received reports from the front line that the Kumogakure forces are once again preparing to advance. Therefore, as per our strategy meeting, we will all be moving out."

"Sir!"

The ranks of Konoha shinobi answered in unison, their voices reverberating through the chilly morning air.

Shortly after, the forces departed from the camp, their faces set with grim determination. No one knew if they would survive this mission.

As they marched, Kazuya noticed Uchiha Fugaku casting him sidelong glances, as if assessing him.

"This Kazuya…" Fugaku mused to himself. "Is he truly as powerful as the rumors suggest?"

A flicker of doubt clouded Fugaku's mind. The stories were impressive—repelling the Fourth Raikage, seriously wounding Orochimaru. But such feats bordered on the incredible, making them difficult to believe. Soon enough, the battlefield would reveal the truth.