Konoha's Tag-System Ninja

Leaving the experimental base and passing through a forest, Shūichi saw Kakashi sparring with Rin.

After being bedridden for so long, even with regular care, it was impossible for Rin to recover her full strength immediately after waking up.

Walking was manageable, but regaining combat readiness required constant training.

Shūichi quietly observed from a distance, stepping forward only when Rin took a break. "Looks like you're recovering well."

Rin smiled brightly. "Thanks to the First Hokage's cells, my body is even stronger than before. Recovery has been really quick."

Shūichi immediately summoned a peculiar-looking blade and handed it to her. "Here. I originally planned to give you Samehada since you have the Three-Tails, but this pair of swords, Hiramekarei, suits you better."

Rin stared at the uniquely shaped weapon in surprise. "This... isn't it too extravagant for me?"

Shūichi chuckled. "Rin, you're no ordinary medical-nin anymore. You're the Three-Tails' jinchūriki."

"Hiramekarei can store chakra and release it explosively during battle, unleashing tremendous power. It's a perfect match for you."

"As for training with the blades... let Kakashi help you with that."

Rin glanced at Kakashi, who gave her a slight nod. "A medical-nin with strong combat abilities can cover a team's weaknesses."

Encouraged, Rin accepted Hiramekarei with determination. "I'll work hard to master it."

Shūichi smiled. "When Obito comes back, you three might become the strongest squad in the ninja world."

Rin beamed happily but responded modestly, "That's an exaggeration, Shūichi."

After chatting for a while, Kakashi said, "Shūichi, can you escort Rin to the Root base? I need to return to my mission."

"Sure, let's go."

The three set off together.

---

At the Root Base

On the way, they parted ways—Kakashi returned to relieve Shūichi's clone, while Shūichi brought Rin to the Root base. There, Rin donned a black hooded cloak and a mask, with Hiramekarei strapped to her back. Even if she stood face-to-face with Uchiha Obito, he probably wouldn't recognize her.

Seeing Rin's new look, Shūichi grinned. "Rin, why not give yourself a codename?"

"A codename?" Rin thought for a moment before answering, "Let's go with 'Karei,' after Hiramekarei!"

(T/N: Both hirame and karei are Japanese names for species of flounder. The flounders with their eyes on the left side of their body are called hirame (鮃, 平目, 比目魚), while those with their eyes on the right side are called karei (鰈). Befitting its name, Hiramekarei is shaped like these fish.)

"Sounds good."

Turning to Tenka, Shūichi said, "Tenka, I'll leave Karei in your care."

Tenka smiled warmly. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of her."

Leaving Rin with Tenka, Shūichi departed swiftly.

---

Two Months Later

At the Root base, Shūichi reviewed a report on Hayate Gekkō submitted by Tenka.

Sitting elegantly in a figure-hugging cheongsam, Tenka smiled. "Hayate Gekkō might be the most outstanding performer since the reestablishment of Root, don't you think?"

Shūichi nodded. "Indeed. Hayate's talent in ninjutsu has exceeded my expectations."

"In such a short time, he's mastered two nature transformations—Fire and Wind. Combined with his previous proficiency in Yin Release for genjutsu and Water Release, that's four nature transformations. While he's only proficient with Fire and Wind, that alone is at a jōnin level."

Tenka laughed softly. "That's thanks to your excellent teaching, Shūichi."

After signing the report, Shūichi instructed, "Have Karei deliver this to the Hokage's office. Also, please bring Hayate Gekkō to me."

Tenka nodded, took the report, and sashayed out.

---

Soon, Hayate entered, carrying a massive blade that seemed disproportionate to his slender frame.

"Lord Shūichi!"

Shūichi nodded slightly. "I've reviewed your evaluation report. An A-grade. It's the highest rating since the reestablishment of Root."

Hayate's face lit up with excitement, and he quickly said, "It's all thanks to your guidance, Lord Shūichi."

Shūichi replied indifferently, "This is an excellent result, but remember, the ninja world has many powerful individuals. Continue striving to improve."

Straightening his posture, Hayate responded, "Yes, Lord Shūichi!"

Shūichi continued, "In recognition of your achievements, I have a cursed seal for you. It's called the Star God Seal, which enhances Fire and Wind Release ninjutsu. The degree of enhancement depends on your own capabilities, ranging from several times to dozens of times."

"However, as the seal is linked to my chakra, it essentially acts as a marker. You've heard of the Flying Thunder God Technique, haven't you?"

Hayate's eyes widened in astonishment but quickly steadied himself. "Lord Shūichi, I'd like to receive the cursed seal."

Unsurprised, Shūichi placed the seal on Hayate.

Hayate became the first person, aside from notable figures like Nonō Yakushi, to receive a cursed seal—albeit an initial version that only boosted Fire and Wind Releases.

Activating the cursed seal granted a pseudo-Sage Mode, significantly enhancing ninjutsu potency and compensating for Hayate's limited chakra reserves.

After the seal was complete, Shūichi instructed, "The cursed seal won't appear in your records, but when reporting to the Fourth Hokage, you'll need to disclose it to him."

"Yes, Lord Shūichi!"

Hayate bowed deeply before leaving.

---

Outside the Root base, Hayate paused and glanced back.

"What an incredible training experience. Lord Shūichi's methods are godlike. No wonder everyone who's been here says it's worth it."

He clenched his fists. "When Yugao becomes a chūnin, I'll make sure she gets a spot for special training too."

With that, he leapt toward the Hokage building at full speed.

---

At the Hokage office, Hayate soon met Minato Namikaze.

After reading the detailed report submitted by the Root training division, Minato listened to Hayate's verbal report with a calm expression and nodded slightly. "I understand about the cursed seal. Keep it confidential."

"Rest for two days, then officially join the Anbu."

Hayate, brimming with energy, responded, "Lord Fourth Hokage, I'm ready to join the Anbu and take on missions immediately."

Minato studied Hayate's determination and, after a moment's thought, nodded. "Very well. Genma, escort Hayate to the Anbu and hand him over to Wind."

Genma Shiranui appeared.

"Understood!"

---

Following Genma to the Anbu base, Hayate was asked to choose a codename.

After some thought, he said, "Samehada."

Genma glanced at the massive blade on Hayate's back and chuckled. "That sword is said to be one of the most difficult to wield."

Taking his Anbu gear and mask, Hayate smiled wryly. "Samehada is demanding, but Lord Shūichi has tamed it for me. It's quite obedient now."

Genma laughed lightly. "Tamed, huh? More like it's been taught a lesson."

The two quickly arrived at a changing room where three others were already preparing for their mission.

"Wind, this is Gekkō Hayate. He's just transferred over from the Root division, rated A-level. I'll leave him in your hands," said Shiranui Genma as he introduced Hayate.

Sarutobi Bofū and the other two team members immediately focused their attention on Hayate with curiosity.

They were seasoned ANBU operatives who had been transferred from the Sarutobi Hiruzen era. Although they hadn't undergone Root's new special training, the revamped division's reputation preceded it.

"As far as I know, he's the first one to achieve an A-level rating, isn't he?" Sarutobi Bofū asked.

Genma nodded. "Indeed, he's gained Shūichi's trust."

With that, Genma left.

Bofū turned back to Hayate. "Introduce yourself."

Hayate nodded. "Codename: Samehada. Bloodline Limit: Transparent Escape. Proficient in kenjutsu, wind release, fire release; somewhat skilled in water release and genjutsu."

One of the team members exclaimed, "As expected from a Root-trained elite!"

"My codename is Puppet. I specialize in kenjutsu and earth release," the member said.

Bofū and the remaining member also introduced themselves.

After a brief exchange, Bofū said, "Get ready. We're moving out soon."

---

*10 minutes later*

The four-member team left Konoha and headed north.

As they traveled, Bofū, their leader, briefed them on the mission: "Our target is the Land of Hot Water. The cult of Jashin is experiencing a resurgence there, and we're tasked with eliminating its followers."

Puppet raised a brow. "Jashin cult? I thought they were eradicated?"

"Wasn't the Hidden Hot Water Village established after defeating the cult? Is it bad enough now to require outside assistance?"

Bofū explained, "The Hot Water Village is no longer what it once was. Some of their own shinobi have been corrupted by Jashin's power, stealing sealed forbidden energy. As a result, the cult has re-emerged in the Land of Hot Water."

"Our job is to assist the village in wiping out these cultists. Be mentally prepared."

The three team members replied in unison, "Understood!"

---

The next day, the team arrived at the Hidden Hot Water Village. Under the guidance of a village shinobi, they reached the outskirts of a small settlement.

About twenty Hot Water Village shinobi were already stationed there, keeping a close watch on the activity inside the village.

Standing atop a mountain overlooking the village, Hayate and his team observed the central square, which was crowded with people.

"What are they doing?" Hayate asked.

The Hot Water Village jonin replied grimly, "Performing a Jashin ritual."

He handed Bofū a pair of binoculars. Bofū looked through them and was immediately alarmed. "The villagers..."

The jonin's face was dark. "They've all become Jashin cultists."

Bofū frowned beneath his mask. "Even the children and elderly?"

The jonin gritted his teeth. "Last night, we infiltrated the village to try to rescue the residents. But they betrayed us. The people on the altar about to be sacrificed are our comrades."

Hayate was shocked. "Are these people insane?"

Bofū lowered the binoculars. "It seems so."

"Prepare for a direct assault. If we delay, they'll complete their blood sacrifice."

The jonin quickly added, "We'll handle rescuing the prisoners. You focus on dealing with the cultists. Those lunatics have completely lost their minds, so kill them all to avoid a repeat of last night."

Hayate was taken aback—were they really going to kill even the children? But as someone trained for combat, he held his tongue and looked to his captain for instructions.

Bofū said, "Focus on the rescue first."

"Besides, we're only a four-man team. It's impossible to eliminate everyone."

The jonin nodded. "We'll send two teams to assist you."

"But the cult leader must be eliminated. He's the one who stole Jashin's power and has already killed three of our jonin."

Bofū nodded and handed the binoculars to Puppet. "That man on the altar is the primary target."

"Be cautious of his Jashin abilities. According to Shūichi's intel, do not let him obtain even a drop of your blood, or you'll be cursed and killed."

The three members shivered at the warning and nodded solemnly.

"Move out!"

At Bofū's command, the team descended the mountain and charged toward the village.

In the village square, a middle-aged man shouting praises to "Lord Jashin" suddenly turned, spotting the approaching team. His face twisted into a cruel and excited grin. "Finally!"

"Konoha's ANBU, huh?"

"It seems Lord Jashin will soon have more sacrifices!"

The cult leader turned back to his followers and shouted, "Lord Jashin has responded! He demands more sacrifices! He will grant us greater power—immortality itself!"

"So, join me! Capture the intruders and offer them to Lord Jashin!"

The gathered cultists—ninjas, samurai, and ordinary villagers—grew even more frenzied, loudly chanting "Lord Jashin" as they charged toward the Hidden Hot Water Village shinobi stationed on the perimeter.

Meanwhile, the cult leader, flanked by six Hot Water Village chunin who had joined the cult, advanced toward Hayate's team.

"Samehada!"

At Bofū's command, Hayate stopped and raised a hand. In an instant, he disappeared.

"Hmm? One of them vanished..."

The cult leader sneered. "Trying to rescue the prisoners?"

"Heh, there's a surprise waiting for you."

However, Hayate had no intention of rescuing anyone.

According to the plan, saving the captives was the Hidden Hot Water Village's responsibility. Their first objective was to eliminate the cult leader.

The confrontation began.

Sarutobi Bofū and his two teammates fought head-on, while Gekkō Hayate, holding his sword, stealthily approached from behind the enemy, suddenly appearing and effortlessly eliminating one opponent.

Hayate immediately disappeared again after the kill.

The cult leader of Jashin was stunned. "He didn't go to save anyone... He even hid his presence."

"But this won't be a problem for me!"

He was still a sensor ninja, after all!

Seeing another subordinate fall, the Jashin cult leader quickly used a water clone to distract Sarutobi Bofū, then leaped out of the battlefield. He plunged his scythe into the ground and rapidly completed hand seals.

"Die!"

The Jashin cult leader spat out water, which surged and slammed into one of his subordinates.

At nearly the same moment, Gekkō Hayate appeared and attacked that very same subordinate.

Water Release: Exploding Water Collide Wave!

"Samehada, watch out!"

Bofū shouted a warning.

Having just eliminated an enemy, Hayate looked at the approaching torrent of water and realized it was too late to dodge. He immediately drew his large sword, Samehada, from his back.

The bandages came undone, and Samehada immediately expanded.

With his right hand abandoning his katana, Hayate swiftly wielded Samehada with both hands and cleaved downward with immense force.

Boom!

The raging water was cleaved in two by the swollen blade of Samehada.

But right after, a scythe came screaming from the right.

It was the Jashin cult leader, emerging from the water on the right side.

Clang!

Hayate swung Samehada in his right hand, deflecting the scythe's strike.

The two engaged in a rapid exchange of blows on the water's surface, the sound of clashing metal ringing in the air.

"This kid's swordsmanship isn't bad..."

The Jashin cult leader thought to himself, surprised. He performed a flip and quickly retreated while making hand seals.

Hayate reversed Samehada, and the sword's mouth opened, revealing rows of sharp teeth, from which two blades—one long, one short—were ejected.

He drew the long blade, retracted Samehada, and with a single hand seal, Hayate summoned two shadow clones, one on each side of him. Almost instantly, an orange-red flame appeared on the blade.

Star God Seal activated.

The orange-red glow shifted to a blinding white light.

The three Hayates charged forward simultaneously, their images leaving behind distorted afterimages in the air due to the intense heat and the brilliant white light emanating from the blades.

At that moment, the Jashin cult leader completed his hand seals. Streams of water, like water serpents, slithered through the water, heading straight for Hayate. The cult leader followed closely behind, wielding his scythe.

The Jashin cult leader aimed to trap Hayate in his water serpents while attacking him with the scythe.

Hayate, seemingly oblivious to the water serpents below, attacked from three different angles to surround the cult leader.

The Jashin cult leader slashed his scythe to destroy one of Hayate's clones, but when he struck at the second clone, the distortion of the light caused by the intense heat made him miss. The clone's sword pierced his heart.

With a cruel grin, the Jashin cult leader caught the hot blade with his left hand and blocked Hayate's real body's attack with his scythe.

Immediately afterward, water snakes wrapped around Hayate's two remaining clones.

Boom!

The shadow clone was effortlessly destroyed in a single coil of water. As the cult leader raised his scythe to strike down Hayate's real body, the water constricting around him suddenly exploded.

Hayate swung his blade, and with a flash of intense white light, the sword severed the cult leader's right arm before slicing through his neck.

The scythe fell from his severed arm, and the cult leader's head remained on his neck, still shocked as he managed to speak:

"How could you escape my water serpents?"

This was his prideful, self-created water technique, B-rank difficulty.

Hayate said nothing, but he was astonished by the sight in front of him.

Despite his neck being completely severed, the cult leader was still alive and able to speak.

So, this is the power of Jashin?

As for breaking free of the water serpent technique, it was purely the result of Samehada's abilities.

The Jashin cult leader's water technique was based on using his own chakra to create water, which Samehada effortlessly absorbed and neutralized, causing the technique to collapse.

"Samehada, how's it going?"

Bofū, having taken care of the clones, approached.

"This guy's neck was cut off, and he's still talking. He hasn't died," Hayate replied.

Even though they had the intel, Bofū was still stunned. "So this is what Shūichi meant by 'immortality'? Truly amazing."

The Jashin cult leader roared, "You dare offend Lord Jashin? You're all dead!"

"Ha-ha-ha! You can't kill me! I've been blessed by Lord Jashin!"

Hayate casually swiped his sword, sending the cult leader's head flying. "Captain, what now? This guy won't really revive, will he?"

Bofū thought for a moment. "Leave a clone to watch him. Once the battle is over, we'll take him back to Konoha and hand him over to the Fourth Hokage for disposal."

(End of Chapter)

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