Chapter 59 (Patreon)

As the first light of dawn broke across the horizon and the darkness of night began to recede, a new morning arrived.

Team 8 and Gaara’s squad finally reached the first member of the five-man team sent to retrieve Sasuke Uchiha.

“Chōji Akimichi… What happened to him?”

The six of them landed on the branches of a nearby tree.

Kankurō stared at the devastated forest below before his gaze settled on Chōji, who lay unconscious amid the wreckage. Surprise filled his eyes.

During the Chūnin Exams, Chōji had been defeated so easily by one of the Sound ninja.

Had he truly become this strong?

“He’s close. The others should be in this direction.”

Mihawk spared Chōji only a brief glance before closing his eyes.

A moment later, he opened them again and turned toward the forest ahead and slightly to the left.

“Shino, he’s still breathing. I’ll leave him to you. Hinata will guide us from here.”

Shino nodded.

“Understood.”

Without another word, he leaped down from the branch and hurried toward Chōji.

The remaining five continued forward.

This time, Hinata took the lead.

As they moved, Temari quietly studied Mihawk and Hinata before exchanging a glance with Kankurō. She could see the same surprise reflected in her brother’s eyes.

Team 8 was a sensory team.

A sensory team was a squad composed entirely of ninja capable of detecting or tracking their opponents.

Normally, such teams specialized in reconnaissance while possessing only average combat ability.

Team 8, however, was different.

Mihawk, Hinata, and Shino were not only skilled trackers. Each of them also possessed considerable strength.

The Byakugan of the Hyūga clan.

The kikaichū of the Aburame clan.

And Mihawk…

Kankurō and Temari suddenly remembered Mihawk’s match against Neji Hyūga during the final stage of the Chūnin Exams.

Even after covering his eyes, Mihawk had fought as though his vision had never been obstructed.

He had not needed to rely on sight at all.

Both siblings silently sighed after that realization.

This team was filled with monsters.

Mihawk and Hinata remained unaware of their thoughts.

Guided by Hinata’s Byakugan, the group soon reached another battlefield.

The fight there had already ended.

The moment Hinata saw Neji lying on the ground, grievously wounded, her face went pale. Several arrows protruded from his back.

She raised a hand to her mouth.

“N-Neji-niisan!”

Mihawk frowned as he examined Neji’s injuries.

“Hinata, you don’t need to follow us any farther. Stay here and look after him. Wait for the medical team to arrive. Once the mission is over, I’ll come back for you.”

Hinata quickly nodded.

“Right.”

She then looked at him with concern.

“Mihawk-kun… please be careful.”

Mihawk gave a slight nod before shooting forward.

Gaara, Kankurō, and Temari immediately followed.

The sun continued to rise in the east, climbing steadily higher into the sky.

As they advanced, Mihawk and Gaara’s team encountered no further battlefields for quite some time.

Several hours later, Mihawk, who had remained silent throughout the journey, suddenly turned toward Kankurō and Temari.

“I’ve found Shikamaru Nara’s presence. He’s at two o’clock, northeast of here. Go support him.”

Neither Kankurō nor Temari showed any displeasure at his commanding tone.

Temari immediately remembered the boy who had cornered her through strategy during the Chūnin Exams.

“I’ll go.”

She broke away from the group and raced northeast.

Mihawk then turned toward Kankurō.

“There’s another presence at nine o’clock, directly west. I’ll leave that one to you.”

“Got it.”

Kankurō nodded before departing as well.

With neither of Gaara’s teammates remaining, Mihawk and Gaara no longer needed to restrain their speed.

This mission had forced the new generation to experience defeat and desperate battles.

Through those struggles, they would begin to grow.

It was also an important step in strengthening the bonds between them.

Their afterimages flashed repeatedly between the trees as Mihawk raced forward.

While moving, he activated his perception and searched for Naruto Uzumaki’s presence.

It did not take long for him to find that familiar aura.

Mihawk glanced toward Gaara beside him.

“Let’s pick up the pace.”

Gaara nodded without expression.

The two of them surged forward, their speed increasing sharply.

Ten minutes later, Mihawk and Gaara burst out of the forest.

A wide stretch of green grassland opened before them.

The two figures fighting in the distance immediately stood out against the verdant field.

“Damn it! Get out of my way!”

Naruto Uzumaki and several shadow clones surrounded a slender, silver-haired young man.

Kimimaro swung the bone blade protruding from his arm.

One after another, the shadow clones were pierced and dispersed into clouds of smoke.

After eliminating every clone, Kimimaro tightened his grip on the bone sword and charged toward Naruto, who stared at him in shock.

Although Kimimaro’s expression remained calm, an unwavering determination burned within his eyes.

He was using the last of his life to repay the man who still had need of him.

Clang!

Kimimaro’s bone sword thrust forward, only to be stopped by a pitch-black scabbard.

He looked at Mihawk, who had blocked the strike without even drawing his blade.

“Who are you?”

Before Mihawk could answer, Naruto shouted from behind him.

“Mihawk! You’re here!”

Despite his loud and reckless nature, and despite constantly clashing with Sasuke, Naruto had always shared a strange connection with him.

Perhaps it was because of the destinies carried by Asura and Indra.

As a child, Naruto had envied Sasuke.

Sasuke had always been surrounded by people who admired him, including the girl Naruto liked.

The two had looked down on each other and competed at every opportunity, yet somewhere along the way, a bond had formed between them.

After graduating from the Academy and becoming teammates, that bond had only grown stronger.

By now, both of them already considered the other a friend, even if neither would openly admit it.

Unlike Sasuke, however, Naruto had never resented Mihawk for being talented or popular.

On the contrary, he held absolute confidence in Mihawk’s strength.

Mihawk kept his gaze fixed on Kimimaro.

“Naruto, leave this one to me. Keep going.”

“Right! I’m counting on you!”

Naruto nodded without hesitation.

He rushed past Kimimaro without sparing him another glance.

Kimimaro made no attempt to stop him.

His previously calm expression had become solemn.

He stared into Mihawk’s crimson eyes and frowned slightly.

This person…

Mihawk lowered the scabbard that had blocked the bone blade.

The black coating around it gradually receded.

Placing his right hand on the hilt of his sword, Mihawk spoke without looking away from Kimimaro.

“Gaara, go with him. Make sure you bring Naruto back.”

“Understood.”

Gaara nodded before his body dissolved into sand and swept away.

Whoosh…

Only Mihawk and Kimimaro remained in the vast grassland.

A powerful wind tore across the field, forcing the green blades of grass to bow beneath it.

Their gazes met.

A cold light flickered in both pairs of eyes.

Shing!

Mihawk’s hand moved.

The blade left its sheath at a speed almost too fast to follow, and the clear sound of steel being drawn rang across the grassland.

A dazzling white gleam flashed through the air.

Then, beneath the light of the morning sun, a dark crimson Ranged Slash tore across the world.