Chapter 2: Battle

Kaitan's talent exceeded Dunko's expectations, and the latter realized that Kaitan had remarkable potential.

The next day, Kaitan was assigned a mind-reading task. As he delved into the minds of others, he also began to understand the brutal reality of war.

At this time, the Third Ninja World War was at its peak. Orochimaru was leading various Jōnin teams to resist attacks from other nations. Unfortunately, neither Jiraiya nor Tsunade were present on the battlefield, and Konoha's famed White Fang had taken his own life a few years ago. It was arguably the weakest point for Konoha in years.

On the other hand, Namikaze Minato was rapidly gaining fame on the battlefield, earning the title "Yellow Flash." The memories Kaitan read revealed that the outside world feared Minato just as much as the original records had stated. Enemies often abandoned their missions and fled the moment they encountered him.

"War is too terrifying," Kaitan thought. "I'd rather stay in the analysis team as a support."

Exploring various memories only strengthened his resolve to avoid the frontlines. Saving the world, in his opinion, was better left to the era's destined heroes.

Growth Through Experience

Time passed, and Kaitan's ability to read minds improved significantly. His captain, Dunko, was amazed by his rapid progress.

During his downtime, Kaitan practiced taijutsu, shuriken, and kunai techniques with his teammates. On the battlefield, these tools were often more reliable than ninjutsu for Genin like him.

Soon, he met another teammate, Shenu, who was also a newcomer.

"I hate war," Shenu admitted one day.

"I hate it too," Kaitan replied. "But since we're Konoha ninja, we must do our best for the village."

One day, they were tasked with patrolling around the station. The task was light, mainly meant to train the Genin. Of course, the analysis team's station was well-guarded by Anbu, but patrols were still necessary.

As they worked together, Kaitan often expressed the "Will of Fire" to boost morale. This habit of his proved effective in fostering camaraderie.

A Routine Patrol

Whoosh!

Kaitan and Shenu moved silently through the dense jungle, constantly scanning their surroundings. Occasionally, they used sensory ninjutsu to detect potential threats.

During these patrols, Kaitan not only stayed alert but also used the opportunity to learn. By reading the memories of others, he picked up unique techniques and strategies from various ninja villages. These included taijutsu moves, shuriken tactics, and even advanced tracking methods.

It was an eye-opening experience for Kaitan. He realized that theoretical knowledge often proved more reliable than flashy ninjutsu, especially for someone like him who lacked any kekkei genkai.

Suddenly, Kaitan stopped in his tracks. "Wait, something's happening," he said, activating his sensory abilities.

"There's a chakra reaction about one kilometer to the east," he reported. "It's a small group of elite ninjas."

Shenu used his own sensory ninjutsu to confirm Kaitan's findings. They quickly rushed back to inform Dunko.

"Captain, we've detected enemy movement nearby," Kaitan reported.

Dunko didn't hesitate. He immediately relayed the information to their superior, Yamanako. Within minutes, Yamanako led four teams to their location.

"Well done," Yamanako said. "Follow me."

Kaitan's heart sank. Did this mean they were going into battle?

The First Encounter

Kaitan and Shenu were assigned to the perimeter to prevent the enemy from escaping. It was a relatively safer position, but it was still their first real battle.

"shenu, are you nervous?" Kaitan asked as they hid in the shadows.

"No," Shenu replied. "This is what it means to be a ninja."

Kaitan nodded, unsure how to respond. Truthfully, he wasn't nervous either. His exposure to countless battle memories had numbed him to fear.

As they waited, Kaitan prepared traps using steel wires and explosive tags. These traps were based on techniques he had learned from the memories of other ninjas.

"Good work," Dunko praised. "Your trap-setting skills are impressive."

Kaitan smiled at the compliment. He prided himself on his analytical mind, which he often compared to the likes of Urahara Kisuke and Ishida Ryuken—though his skills leaned more toward strategy than science.

Suddenly, the sounds of intense fighting erupted in the distance. Through his sensory abilities, Kaitan perceived fierce chakra clashes and the explosions of detonating tags.

"They're coming," Kaitan whispered.

Sure enough, several enemy ninjas began fleeing in different directions. One of them was heading straight toward their position.

The three of them quickly assumed a three-man formation, just as they had been taught in the academy.

Kaitan threw several shurikens at various angles to test the enemy's abilities. The ninja, wearing the forehead protector of Iwagakure, dodged two shurikens and deflected a third with a kunai.

Suddenly, a giant tree crashed down toward the enemy. Reacting swiftly, the ninja used Earth Style to cover his arms with rock and punched the tree away.

Kaitan and Shenu launched more shurikens while activating wire traps, surrounding the enemy with surprising speed. The Iwagakure ninja's face twisted with frustration, but then he suddenly vanished.

"Toryu Gakuin," Kaitan murmured, recognizing the enemy's stealth technique.

Instead of panicking, Kaitan quickly formed a series of hand seals.

"Earth Style: Solid Earth Technique!"

This simple C-rank ninjutsu hardened the soil around the enemy, forcing him out of his hiding place. Bloodied and disoriented, the Iwagakure ninja emerged from the ground, only to collapse as Dunko finished him off with a kunai.

"Well done, Kaitan," Dunko said. "Your quick thinking saved us."

A Small Victory

As the battle concluded, Kaitan felt a strange mix of relief and pride. His first real encounter on the battlefield had gone better than expected.

While he still detested war, Kaitan realized that his role as a sensory ninja could make a significant difference. For now, he resolved to continue honing his skills—not for glory, but for the sake of survival and the safety of his comrades.