Chapter 58: The Chase Begins
Becoming a chūnin hadn't changed Ryuzen's life much.
The only real difference was an additional green vest in his wardrobe and official confirmation of what everyone already knew—he was the de facto leader of Team 8.
For Kurenai Yūhi, Ryuzen's promotion meant something else entirely: freedom.
Before the Chunin Exams, Team 8 had been restricted to D-rank and C-rank missions. And regardless of rank, a supervising jōnin had to personally accompany them. Now, with a chūnin team leader and six months of developed teamwork, Kurenai felt comfortable entrusting the team to Ryuzen's capable hands.
In the two weeks following his promotion, Ryuzen led Team 8 on three C-rank missions. Each was different—escorting a merchant caravan threatened by bandits, capturing wild beasts that had been destroying crops, and eliminating a rogue ninja terrorizing a small village.
Tonight was a full moon.
The cloudless sky blazed with stars, their silver light falling on a clearing deep in the forest. Three tents stood in a neat row. Around a crackling campfire, two young men and one young woman sat preparing their evening meal.
"It's such a beautiful night," Aburame Shino observed, looking up at the stars. "But for some reason, I feel slightly uneasy."
Hinata turned the grilled fish over the fire, her pure white eyes blinking in confusion. "There aren't any dangerous creatures within a kilometer. And our mission is straightforward—the client wasn't like Mr. Tazuna, lying about the difficulty. Everything is normal."
"Perhaps I'm overthinking." Shino adjusted his sunglasses, chiding himself silently.
The insects were calm. Hinata's Byakugan detected nothing. Even if something unexpected occurred, Ryuzen was right there—even an elite jōnin attack would be meaningless against him.
Yes. I must be overthinking.
But Shino's comment made Ryuzen frown.
A strange feeling tugged at his consciousness. His mind felt oddly empty, as though he had forgotten something important.
He turned his own fish on the fire, following the feeling unconsciously. "Hinata. How long has it been since we graduated?"
Hinata looked up at the starry sky, placing a finger thoughtfully against her lips. "We graduated in March... today is October fifteenth. Seven and a half months."
She looked at him with concern. "Ryuzen-kun? What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Hold this for me."
Ryuzen handed her his skewer, rose, and walked to her tent. From his pack, he retrieved a small notebook—the one he had kept since childhood, recording everything he remembered about the future.
Returning to the firelight, he opened it and began scanning.
The pages were filled with childish handwriting, Chinese characters carefully inscribed years ago:
March, Konoha Year 60: New generation graduates. Team 7 survival exercise.
May: Land of Waves arc begins.
June 23: New generation meets Chunin Exam registration requirements.
July 1: Chunin Exams begin.
After third round: One month training period.
Konoha Crush plan ends. Uchiha Itachi returns to village. Kakashi hit by Tsukuyomi. Jiraiya takes Naruto to find Tsunade, begins Rasengan training.
August 23: Expected date for finding Tsunade.
*September 1: Tsunade-Orochimaru deal fails. Sannin battle begins.*
Mid-September: Tsunade becomes Fifth Hokage.
These were the events he knew best—the ones he had recorded as a child, worried he might forget the timeline that was his greatest advantage.
He turned the page. The content beyond grew fuzzier, less certain.
After this: Team 7 takes a mission involving Morino Ibiki's brother. They encounter a ninja wielding the Lightning God Sword. Then Naruto and Sasuke battle on the hospital rooftop. Then...
His finger stopped. His eyes widened slightly.
October. Full moon night. Uchiha Sasuke leaves Konoha.
That's it.
That was what he had forgotten.
Without realizing it, the fate of Asura and Indra's reincarnates had already begun unfolding.
He closed the notebook and looked at Hinata and Shino. "Finish eating. Sleep early. Tomorrow we return to the village at maximum speed."
"Yes."
Neither questioned him. They had seen his expression, the sudden sharpness in his eyes. Even Hinata, who usually asked gentle questions, remained silent.
After dinner, Hinata went to the nearby lake to clean up. Ryuzen and Shino retired to their tents.
Early the next morning, the three packed their tents and departed at dawn.
They moved swiftly through the trees, pushing their pace to the limit. By the time dusk fell, Team 8 stood at Konoha's main gate.
Ryuzen took Hinata's hand, and together they hurried to the Hokage Tower.
"You're back just in time!"
Relief flashed across Tsunade's face when Team 8 entered her office. Then her expression grew serious.
"I have an important mission for you."
Hinata and Shino straightened at the Fifth Hokage's tone. Only Ryuzen remained expressionless—he already knew what was coming.
Tsunade's eyes fixed on him. "According to Haruno Sakura of Team 7, Uchiha Sasuke left Konoha last night. He was deceived by Orochimaru's agents."
She continued: "Early this morning, I dispatched Shikamaru with a four-man retrieval team. But most of our jōnin and chūnin are already out on missions. Shikamaru's team has no jōnin supervision, and they're heading into territory controlled by Otogakure—Orochimaru's village. I've been worried."
Her voice hardened with command.
"Ryuzen. Your timing is perfect. I'm issuing Team 8 an urgent mission: catch up to Shikamaru and his team immediately. Support them. Bring Sasuke back if possible—but prioritize the safety of Konoha's ninja."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
The three responded in unison and exited the office.
In the corridor outside, Shino spoke immediately. "My insects have captured Nara Shikamaru's scent. It's fresh—less than a day old."
He looked at Ryuzen. "Should we pursue immediately?"
Ryuzen nodded. "We leave now. Shino, you lead the way."
"Understood." Shino's sunglasses glinted. "The bugs have already shown us the path."
The three vanished from the corridor, moving toward the village gates at full speed.
Behind them, in the Hokage's office, Tsunade stared at the door with complex eyes.
Sasuke. Naruto. The legacy of the Uchiha and the Nine-Tails jinchūriki...
And now Ryuzen, the monster who might surpass them all.
This generation is going to shape the future of the entire ninja world.
She only hoped that future wouldn't burn everything to the ground.
Outside the village, Team 8 raced through the darkening forest.
Ryuzen's Kenbunshoku Haki spread wide, searching for familiar signatures. Hinata's Byakugan scanned constantly, piercing through trees and darkness. Shino's insects streamed ahead, following the invisible trail left by the retrieval team hours before.
They moved in perfect synchronization—three hunters on the trail of their prey.
Somewhere ahead, Shikamaru, Naruto, Neji, Choji, and Kiba were fighting for Sasuke's return.
And behind them, faster than anyone expected, the cavalry was coming.
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