Naruto: My Clones Can Evolve

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. A thick mist began to spread across the battlefield.

"Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique."

Genzuki's figure gradually faded into the fog, leaving Shō standing in confusion.

"In a dry desert like this… he can still use the Hidden Mist Technique?" Shō gritted his teeth.

Who the hell is this kid? Is he really just an ordinary shinobi with a Kekkei Genkai?

The mist thickened, limiting Shō's vision to barely a meter ahead.

This level of mist was enough to turn a person blind.

Ahhhhhh!

A blood-curdling scream pierced through the mist, followed by a thud—the sound of a body hitting the ground.

Then another scream.

And another.

Shō recognized those voices—they belonged to the Iwagakure shinobi.

"Genzuki, your fight is with me!"

Shō roared in fury but didn't dare to act recklessly.

"You really think I'd spare the rest of your men? How naïve."

"From the very beginning, my goal was to take down all of you!"

Genzuki's voice echoed from all directions.

One by one, the screams ceased, and the air grew eerily silent.

Then came Katō's panicked shout.

"You bastard! What do you think you're doing? Don't come any closer! My father is—AHHHH!"

A final thud echoed, followed by absolute silence.

It was as if the entire world had gone quiet, leaving only the sound of Shō's breathing.

He called out the names of his comrades, but no one answered.

He didn't dare to speak again. He didn't dare to move.

Suddenly, Genzuki appeared right in front of him.

Instinctively, Shō threw a punch.

But the "Genzuki" he struck instantly dissolved into water.

Shō was now at the brink of losing it.

"Y-You… what are you?!"

"I am Genzuki. And those who stand in my way… must die."

A massive torrent of water surged forward, slamming into Shō and sending him flying dozens of meters.

The water split apart, revealing Genzuki emerging from within like a god descending from the storm.

"Shō, it's time to face reality." Genzuki's voice was as cold as ice. "Release: Hidden Mist Technique."

The mist slowly dissipated, and the overwhelming stench of blood filled the air.

The scene before them was pure carnage.

Corpses of Iwagakure shinobi littered the ground.

Severed limbs and torn flesh lay scattered everywhere. Severed heads rolled across the battlefield like discarded trash.

The earth was soaked in blood, forming rivers of red.

Katō's decapitated head rolled to a stop at Shō's feet.

There were no survivors.

Shō clenched his fists. Despite his fear, he suddenly felt a burst of courage and let out a desperate roar.

"I'll kill you! I'll avenge them!"

"Can you?" Genzuki sneered.

The words struck Shō like a blade, and his rage drained away instantly.

"Just kill me already… I beg you…"

Shō collapsed to his knees, his eyes void of any hope.

Genzuki held back his laughter.

"Kill you?" Genzuki raised an eyebrow in mock surprise. "Wake up, Shō… you're already dead."

Those words were a death sentence.

Shō blinked, and suddenly, he saw it—

His own body, dismembered into pieces.

Only his severed head remained, tossed among the corpses.

"I… I… This can't be real… AHHHHHHHH!"

Shō's sanity shattered as he let out a horrifying wail.

…

"Water Release Genjutsu: Mist Phantom Prison."

As soon as Genzuki ended the genjutsu, Shō collapsed.

The entire battlefield stared in stunned silence.

The Iwagakure shinobi were completely unharmed. Katō was alive.

The only person affected was Shō.

Shō remained on his knees, sobbing uncontrollably, his mind utterly broken.

That was when Genzuki had said, "I just thought of something fun."

At that moment, Shō had already fallen into Genzuki's trap.

What he had witnessed—the massacre, the deaths—none of it was real.

The mist Genzuki had cast wasn't the Hidden Mist Technique at all.

It was the Mist Phantom Prison, the only genjutsu among Water Release techniques.

Though it couldn't compare to the Sharingan's illusions, it was more than enough to break an opponent of Shō's level.

Genzuki cleared his throat, struggling to suppress a grin.

Yuri stared at him in disbelief—he had actually won.

And he had done it so effortlessly.

Genzuki turned to Yuri and smirked. "I think you owe me a favor."

Yuri's face flushed as she lowered her head. "T-Thank you, Genzuki-kun…"

Genzuki turned away from her and faced the stunned Iwagakure shinobi and Katō.

"Your word still stands, doesn't it?"

Katō gritted his teeth so hard it seemed they might break.

But with so many people watching, he couldn't go back on his own challenge.

After all, the Iwagakure shinobi behind him weren't his personal guards—they were mercenaries at best, and their true loyalty still lay with the Tsuchikage.

"...It stands." Katō spat the words out reluctantly.

『Ding! 』

『Mission complete: Defeat Explosion Release Shinobi Shō. Rewards: 100 Experience Books, 20,000 Reputation Points!』

The system's announcement rang in Genzuki's mind.

He waved a hand dismissively. "Then get out of my sight. Your pet here will wake up in a day."

Katō, having seen Genzuki's overwhelming power firsthand, didn't dare argue.

He signaled for a few Iwagakure shinobi to pick up the still-whimpering Shō, and they left in humiliation.

As soon as the Iwagakure forces retreated, the shinobi of Charcoal Ninja Village erupted in cheers.

"Genzuki-sama! Please take us as your disciples!"

"That genjutsu was incredible! I've never seen anything like it!"

"You're the guardian of Charcoal Ninja Village now!"

Genzuki found himself surrounded by a group of shinobi, most of whom were a decade older than him, treating him like some kind of god.

He sighed. Man, these guys really haven't seen much of the world… this level of ability is getting them this excited?

While he was indeed strong, he wasn't that strong yet.

Yuri and Kageyama, on the other hand, had a much deeper realization.

"Genzuki's Water Release Genjutsu… might just rival the illusions of the Uchiha Clan," Yuri murmured.

Kageyama nodded.

"I once fought against Hatake Kakashi in my younger days… what happened to Shō today? The same thing happened to me back then. It only took an instant for me to collapse."

"After that, I was mentally unstable for three days, and I remember nothing."

"Genzuki… is a truly terrifying talent."

Both of them silently celebrated the fact that Genzuki wasn't their enemy.

Then, Yuri stepped forward. "Genzuki, if you're willing to stay in Charcoal Ninja Village, I'll make you the new Charcoal Shadow."

Genzuki blinked in surprise.

He hadn't expected her to say something like that.

"With your strength, you're the rightful leader," Kageyama added with a smile.

The surrounding shinobi immediately voiced their agreement.

However, at the back of the crowd, a long-haired young man looked on with disdain.

His eyes were filled with contempt as he watched the others fawn over Genzuki.

His chakra was also unusually deep, enough to catch Genzuki's attention.

"Tch. Just a kid." The long-haired man scoffed.

"Jinmu, you don't have to be so rude," Yuri turned around and said seriously.

"Whatever," Jinmu turned away in irritation.

Genzuki simply smiled, but in his mind, he was already marking Jinmu as someone to keep an eye on.

"Thanks for the offer, everyone. But let's talk about the whole 'Charcoal Shadow' thing another time."