Naruto: Evolution

Water overcomes fire.

Both were B-rank jutsus, but even though Gen's Great Fire Dragon roared with fierce power, after evaporating the water wall, its energy faded. Only threads of flames crackled in the air before extinguishing.

"Besides Strength Jutsu, he also wields B-rank fire jutsus…?" Hayato frowned, unable to hide his astonishment.

The appearance of the Water Dragon had barely given the battle a brief pause before the clash resumed. But even amidst the chaos, Hayato kept part of his attention on Gen. He knew he couldn't afford distractions, but what he was witnessing was too hard to ignore.

Blocking the Water Dragon with barely a scratch was already shocking, but counterattacking with a Great Fire Dragon… that was simply absurd.

Even Kakashi, the child prodigy who at eight years old had already reached the level of an elite Chūnin, relied more on his innate talent and sharp tactical intelligence.

But techniques like Strength Jutsu or the Great Fire Dragon weren't things one simply learned through talent alone. They required grueling training, an enormous time investment, and vast chakra reserves.

Gen was a year older than Kakashi, yes, but Hayato knew Hatake well. And no matter how incredible that genius was, he couldn't believe that in just a single year, he had achieved such mastery over two advanced jutsus.

"This doesn't make sense…" he murmured to himself, his heart pounding.

It was as if the normal rules of growth and learning didn't apply to Gen. As if he were in a completely different league, beyond what any other ninja could even hope to understand.

"Damn it!" Baishi clenched his teeth, fury burning inside him. "This brat also masters fire jutsus at this level…!"

Although the water jutsu managed to stop the attack, the appearance of the Great Fire Dragon left him stunned. Hidden among the dense trees, he felt a mix of shock and seething rage in his chest.

He thought the same as Hayato: it was absurd for someone like Gen to display such talent and skills.

'Hiding in Mist Technique'

The collision between water and fire generated a dense mist, spreading in all directions like a white tide that swallowed everything. Baishi, still clenching his jaw, suppressed his astonishment and quickly formed a new sequence of seals.

The mist began to pour out ceaselessly, flowing from him like an uncontrollable river, merging with the haze already floating in the air, and in a matter of seconds, it became even thicker, suffocating.

In the blink of an eye, Gen and the others were engulfed in a white veil, and visibility dropped to less than a meter.

"Is this the Hidden Mist Technique!?"

"Fall back, quickly!"

"What the hell is going on? Why is there so much mist all of a sudden?"

The haze spread mercilessly, covering hundreds of meters around them. Its advance was so swift and absolute that even the enemies themselves were caught in it.

They hadn't seen it coming and weren't prepared.

Some retreated immediately, pulling back before it was too late.

"This is the perfect chance!"

Despite the chakra-infused mist hindering conventional detection methods, Azora could still perceive everything with her Byakugan.

Noticing the enemy's confusion, her eyes lit up, and she launched a counterattack without hesitation.

Far from being a disadvantage, the mist became her greatest ally. In a flash, she moved swiftly behind a nearby enemy.

Boom

Boom

Boom

With a rapid flurry of Gentle Fist strikes, the enemy barely had time to react before being brutally hit, sent flying with a scream of agony.

Not only was their chakra flow cut off, but the power of the blows also pierced their internal organs. As they fell, they coughed up blood and lay lifeless.

Without stopping, Azora used her Byakugan to lock onto her next target and launched another attack.

Meanwhile, elsewhere, Hayato and Momo, without the advantage of the Byakugan, could only retreat toward the caravan, relying on their memory of the terrain, preparing to repel any sudden attack from the mist.

The merchants in the convoy didn't dare to move, huddling together in fear as they watched the mist around them with their hearts in their throats.

Swish

A kunai with an explosive tag shot out from Gen's hand, cutting through the air at full speed as it headed straight for Baishi's position in the grove.

Boom

The explosion shook the forest, ripping up trees and scattering dirt in all directions. Part of the mist was swept away by the force of the impact, momentarily dispersing.

But Baishi was no longer there. He had vanished the instant he finished his jutsu, moving swiftly before the attack could reach him.

The mist, as if it had a life of its own, began closing in over the area again. Its thickness showed no signs of fully dissipating, engulfing everything in a suffocating white darkness.

Gen frowned.

Visibility was practically zero, turning the situation into extreme danger. He couldn't stay still. Without wasting time, he formed hand seals and activated his sensory jutsu.

"Tch…"

Compared to the Byakugan, his sensory jutsu wasn't enough. The chakra-infused mist distorted the surroundings, creating absolute chaos and making it nearly impossible to pinpoint his opponents' exact locations.

Swish

The failure in his detection left him with no other choice. He made a decision in an instant: to get out of there. His body shot forward like an arrow, launching himself in one direction at full speed.

He didn't know exactly how large the mist-covered area was, but he was sure of one thing: it couldn't be infinite. As long as he couldn't see what was happening around him, his only option was to escape as fast as possible.

Getting out of the mist—that was his only goal.

And if, in the process, the enemies attacked the caravan…

If he could, he would naturally fulfill his mission and protect the people in the convoy. But if his life was on the line… sorry, he wasn't a saint, nor did he have any intention of sacrificing himself for others.

However, the caravan was no longer Baishi's priority.

His real target… was him.

He had barely advanced a few meters when a sharp sound reached his ears.

A high-pitched whistle—subtle, yet deadly.

Thanks to his exceptional physique, Gen's senses were far sharper than those of an average ninja.

He didn't need to see it. He felt it.

At just the right moment, he abruptly pivoted his feet and altered his trajectory, dodging the attack by a hair's breadth.

________

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