CHAPTER 8

c8 - The Burning Man Is Still Here

If he didn't make a move, Anko would most likely die.

The disciple that Orochimaru had just accepted would be killed before she could even prove her worth. That would be a disgrace to the entire Konohagakure. Once something happened to Anko, not to mention anything else, Orochimaru wouldn't let it slide.

"You really know how to make trouble for me…"

Yuuji was forced to act.

"Nuclear Release – The Art of Suction!"

In an instant, the large amount of nuclear radiation in Anko's body was drawn out by Yuuji in a way that was invisible to the naked eye. —This technique was the result of years of refining his control over nuclear radiation, allowing him to reclaim and suppress its spread.

As the last trace of radiation was absorbed back into Yuuji, Anko's life was no longer in immediate danger. However, the damage was already done—her vitality was greatly diminished, and a significant number of her oral cells had undergone necrosis. She would need time to recover.

Despite this, aside from her pale complexion and the cold sweat soaking her body, she was still alive.

"What… did you do?"

Anko turned her head with difficulty, feeling her body stabilize. The excruciating burning sensation that had overwhelmed her just moments ago had dissipated. She was stunned.

She had been saved.

"This is just my technique. Don't overthink it…" Yuuji said, getting to his feet. Without giving Anko time to protest, he grabbed her arm and began dragging her towards the edge of the field.

But how could she ignore it? This whole situation was too bizarre!

Anko gritted her teeth, feeling humiliated. She had been so eager to prove herself worthy of Orochimaru-sama's teachings, and yet she had been brought down by a single mouthful of blood.

"I'm such an idiot… I lost before I even had the chance to use the Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands that Sensei taught me…" she muttered, her confidence shaken.

"Anko, you should think about the bigger picture. For example, you wouldn't have been able to properly use the Many Hidden Shadow Snake Hands anyway…"

Yuuji's voice carried a tinge of amusement.

Anko's face turned red with anger. "Yuuji, you bastard!"

Before she could react, Yuuji swiftly kicked her out of the arena. She landed with a heavy thud.

The decisive motion, the utter disregard—it was like watching a heartless rogue tossing away a failed experiment.

[Lost]

Sannin's disciple had been defeated by the last-ranked student of the Academy.

But that hardly mattered now.

Yuuji no longer needed to hide his true strength. With his control over nuclear radiation improving, he had reached a point where he no longer had to be as cautious as before.

---

Gasps of shock filled the air.

Every eye in the arena was locked onto Yuuji, filled with disbelief.

"Impossible… Yuuji actually defeated a Sannin's disciple!"

A loud voice rose above the crowd.

The one speaking was a certain goggle-wearing boy.

—The last-ranked student of the Academy, Uchiha Obito.

"He was at the same level as me! How could he have beaten Anko… How is this possible?"

Obito's mind was in turmoil. The sheer difference between what he thought he knew and the reality before him was too much to process.

In the blink of an eye, everything had changed.

Obito clenched his fists tightly, his entire body trembling.

The world had moved forward, and he was the only one left behind.

---

"As expected of Yuuji! This is the power of youth!"

In the distance, Might Guy, who was assigned to help maintain order, was practically vibrating with excitement.

But it wasn't just Obito who was confused—many others watching the match were equally baffled.

No antidote, no medical ninjutsu, yet the poison had been cured.

What kind of poison was this? And why did it exist in his blood?

Could it be that Yuuji had anticipated this outcome and prepared accordingly?

The official Konoha-nin observing the match were lost in thought.

---

At that moment, a man in dark robes pushed his sunglasses up his nose, the black lenses flashing in the light.

"Not only that, but this child's taijutsu is also remarkable," said Aburame Shibi in his usual calm tone.

To be able to take Anko's leg strike head-on without moving… That level of endurance far exceeded the standard for a mere Academy student. Furthermore, the speed and precision of his counterattack were clearly refined.

Then there was the matter of the bizarre blood poison.

A boy who wrapped himself in bandages year-round. Someone known for being lethargic and avoiding physical exertion. And yet, beneath that lazy exterior was an overwhelmingly strong physique.

When all these factors were considered together…

"…I see."

A conclusion had been reached.

"It's a secret technique or a Kekkei Genkai," Shibi finally stated.

Several ninja nodded in agreement, their expressions serious.

That explanation made the most sense.

"A secret technique involving poisonous blood… The only comparable ability would be the poison-based jutsu of Hanzo of Amegakure. However, there's a fundamental difference. This isn't an external poison—it's something integrated into his very biology. This makes it far more likely to be a Kekkei Genkai," an ANBU member analyzed.

Shibi gave a slight nod, his face betraying no emotion. "I was originally here to observe Anko, but this was an unexpected development… I will personally report to Hokage-sama."

With that, he turned and left the arena.

There was no need to watch the remaining matches. He had already gathered the crucial information he needed.

It wasn't just Kakashi who showed promise among this generation. Others could also bear the burden of Konoha's future.

Especially Shiranui Yuuji—this was the biggest surprise of all.

---

Hokage's Office

"You don't need to say anything. I saw everything."

The aged voice of Sarutobi Hiruzen broke the silence.

He exhaled a puff of smoke, his eyes flickering with intrigue.

"Shiranui Yuuji… An unknown Kekkei Genkai. What an interesting child."

He flipped through the documents in his hands, scanning Yuuji's records.

Birth history, medical files, academic performance—everything the village had on him.

Yet, no matter how deeply he searched, he could not find a single clue.

"This is strange. The Shiranui clan has no history of possessing a Kekkei Genkai," Hiruzen murmured.

Right now, the only question was how strong this ability could become.

There were cases before of shinobi who developed rare abilities that ultimately amounted to nothing.

For example, Gekkou Hayate—a child born with the unique ability to make his blood invisible, a supposed "ultimate stealth technique." However, the reality was far from ideal. The invisibility only worked when his blood was completely still. The moment he moved, the effect was lost.

—The strongest stealth ability that turned out to be utterly useless.

Moreover, the Kekkei Genkai had weakened his body, leaving him sickly and limiting his growth as a shinobi.

Would Yuuji's ability suffer the same fate?

At that moment, a shadow fell over the room.

A deep, sinister voice echoed.

"Hiruzen, I'm leaving for the battlefield soon. I need capable new recruits."

A man stepped into the office, his one remaining eye filled with cold ambition.

A legendary figure.

Late, perhaps, but never absent.

He had been denied a thousand times, yet his persistence never wavered.

Shimura Danzo had arrived.