Distress
"Guy, how does it feel to become a Genin?"
"At first, our teacher just had us do some D-rank missions like finding lost pets or cleaning up the streets. Honestly, it's more fun than just training by ourselves."
"Hmm? Why would such mundane things be assigned as missions?"
"The Sandaime Hokage must have his reasons. But this time, I got to do a C-rank mission! I could really feel the flames of youth burning within me."
(Picture Guy's trademark grin and sparkling thumbs-up.)
When Bai Ye arrived at the usual training spot, he noticed someone else was already there with Guy, and the two were deep in a lively discussion.
"Hey, Bai Ye! You're late today! Don't tell me you've been slacking off on training again?"
Guy greeted him cheerfully, as energetic as ever.
"I just switched to a heavier set of weights," Bai Ye replied, blinking innocently.
"Bai Ye? You mean the one who ranked last in our class?"
That voice came from the unfamiliar figure beside Guy. Bai Ye turned his head and sighed inwardly. It was Uchiha Yue — the top of their class. Rumor had it she had already awakened her Sharingan.
"Ah—sorry, I didn't mean that in a bad way. I just... heard it from others."
Yue quickly realized her words had been blunt, and she floundered for a proper explanation. Her expression softened, and her embarrassed blush made her look surprisingly endearing.
"Pff—cough, it's fine," Bai Ye said, trying to hold in his laugh. "I know what people in the class think of me. I've gotten used to it."
Strangely, he found himself comforting her instead.
"Don't let those rumors fool you," Guy added firmly. "Bai Ye is seriously strong. He always wears weights when training, so it's easy to underestimate him."
"I'm really sorry! I was being judgmental without knowing the full story..."
Flustered, Yue bowed deeply to Bai Ye, her face still red, sneaking nervous glances up at him.
Suddenly—
"Who's there!?"
Yue's demeanor changed in an instant. Her eyes flared red — the two-tomoe Sharingan — and she whipped out a kunai with her right hand while pulling Bai Ye behind her with her left, shielding him.
Bai Ye was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly as Yue stepped in front of him.
Even now, they still think I need protecting...
But despite that thought, a warmth bloomed in his chest.
They'd barely exchanged words before today, but this... this was the Will of Fire.
Clap... Clap... Clap...
A slow, mocking applause came from the treeline. A man in a loose robe stepped forward, his expression casual and dismissive.
"Well, well. As expected of an Uchiha — you sensed me and even activated your Sharingan. Impressive."
He shrugged lazily.
"I failed my mission and was just passing through, but since I'm here... how about you hand over your eyes to compensate for my losses?"
"You bastard!" Bai Ye clenched his fists and prepared to charge.
"Yue, get out of here! Bai Ye and I will hold him off!" Guy barked, already moving to intercept.
Yue hesitated. Her eyes said she wanted to stay and fight.
"Escape? Don't bother," the enemy scoffed. "I may be just a Chūnin, but I was chosen for an infiltration mission in the heart of Konoha. That makes me elite, kids."
"Earth Style: Iron Prison!"
With a roar, he slammed his palms to the ground. Stone erupted around them, forming a high ring of iron-hard walls. They were trapped.
"This is now an official deathmatch. Try not to die too fast."
The sheer power of the jutsu made Bai Ye's heart sink.
Damn it... he's on a whole different level. And I'm still wearing my training weights... I won't even get a chance to take them off.
He clenched his teeth.
Guy and Yue are our only real chance.
"Bai Ye! Snap out of it!" Guy shouted. "If we can hold him off long enough, reinforcements from the village will come!"
Their opponent charged, kunai in hand.
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
"Konoha Gale!"
Guy and Bai Ye attacked in tandem — one high, one low. Yue stayed behind but expertly threw shuriken from an oblique angle.
The enemy didn't even flinch.
"He's going to tank it!" Bai Ye shouted. "Yue, now!"
"Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!"
Before Yue could complete her movement, the enemy vanished and reappeared beside her. In an instant, Yue was pulled underground, only her head remaining above the earth — helpless.
"Two left. Honestly, kids, just run. Why throw your lives away?"
His fingers weaved another quick set of seals.
"Earth Style: Earth Spear!"
Bai Ye's eyes widened.
That jutsu... I won't make it out in time with these damn weights!
Just then—
"Konoha Whirlwind!!"
Guy lunged, kicking Bai Ye out of the blast radius just in time — but he himself couldn't escape. The sharpened stone spikes tore into him. Blood sprayed. He gritted his teeth through the pain, and smiled weakly toward Bai Ye.
"An older brother... protects his younger brothers... right?"
With that, he collapsed, blood pouring from his mouth, eyes fluttering shut.
"...Guy!!!"
Bai Ye's vision turned crimson. His breath quickened. Something inside him snapped.
He drew his sword — no, not an ordinary blade — and shouted without thinking:
"Shoot to kill, Shinsō!"
The silver blade extended at lightning speed.
The enemy, who was just reaching for Yue's eyes, flinched and turned.
Too late.
Thunk.
The extended blade impaled him through the chest before he even registered what was happening. His eyes widened, mouth agape as blood dripped down the silver edge.
He collapsed, the impact raising a cloud of dust.
Bai Ye's hands trembled as he tried to steady the Zanpakutō. His breathing was erratic, vision swimming.
Then—
Help.
A squad of Konoha shinobi arrived, their flak jackets marked with the Leaf insignia. Relief swept over Bai Ye, and his legs gave out. He dropped to the ground, exhausted.
Yue, still stuck in the earth, was the only one conscious.
After being freed, she explained everything in detail. The squad quickly rushed the unconscious Yue and critically wounded Guy to the hospital, with Bai Ye in tow.