Naruto: My Clones Can Evolve

Sakura shook her head and said, "Chino, you really like this little bear, don't you? If you give it to me... I'd feel bad accepting it."

Chino grinned and stuffed the bear into Sakura's hands, then gently hugged Genzuki.

"I only need Genzuki-nii."

Those words made Sakura and the others blush a little.

Since the situation had already gone that far, if Sakura refused again, it would only make things awkward.

"Well... thank you, Chino!" Sakura smiled warmly.

"Sorry for all the trouble," Kakashi scratched his head and apologized.

Genzuki shook his head with a smile. "Don't worry about it. Maybe it's fate that we met."

Seeing someone around his age acting so cool, both Naruto and Sasuke felt slightly annoyed.

"I'm Genzuki, and this is Chino," Genzuki introduced, then glanced at Yagura. "And this is Ao, my bodyguard."

Kakashi also introduced himself and the team.

Before he could continue, Genzuki interrupted, "Judging by your forehead protectors, you're Konoha ninja, right? If you don't mind, I could be your guide."

Kakashi hesitated for a moment. "That might not be appropriate..."

Naruto immediately chimed in, "What's the big deal, Kakashi-sensei? Making new friends is a good thing!"

Sakura was curious about Genzuki and had no objections, while Sasuke's gaze toward Genzuki was filled with a competitive spirit.

Genzuki easily read the thoughts of these kids. The key was to avoid arousing Kakashi's suspicion.

"You seem unfamiliar with this country," Genzuki said softly. "This place doesn't welcome foreign ninja."

Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "That's true... We were attacked by unidentified ninja on our way here. We suspect they were Gato's men."

"I may not be anyone important, but I can help you avoid unnecessary trouble."

Genzuki's offer was his way of staying close to protect them. Otherwise, if they encountered an S-rank rogue ninja, they wouldn't stand a chance.

In the end, Kakashi nodded. "Fine. I guess we have no choice. We'll trouble you, Genzuki."

The journey back to Tazuna's house was uneventful, and the group got along well.

Chino played happily with the kids from Team 7, while Genzuki and Yagura remained mostly silent, keeping a close eye on their surroundings.

The trip wasn't long, but it felt much longer than expected.

They left the city and walked through a forest toward Tazuna's seaside house.

Suddenly, Genzuki sensed something was off.

His sharp intuition told him there were eyes hidden deep in the woods, watching them.

Kakashi seemed to notice as well, his gaze immediately shifting to Genzuki.

"Genzuki, you—"

Before he could finish, a rain of shuriken burst out from the forest, covering them in a deadly barrage.

The dense attack threatened to engulf them all.

"Ao," Genzuki said calmly.

Without hesitation, Yagura partially transformed, creating a massive chakra wall to block one side of the attack.

On the other side, Genzuki had already prepared his countermeasure.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall."

In an instant, a thick, wide wall of earth rose, blocking all the incoming shuriken.

Naruto and the others had no idea what had just happened.

Kakashi frowned, his eyes full of shock.

How could Genzuki's speed surpass his own?

He didn't even need to form seals to create such a large-scale earth wall?

"Kakashi-sensei, take the students and leave this place," Genzuki said calmly.

Kakashi wanted to ask questions, but there was an inexplicable authority in Genzuki's voice that left no room for debate.

He decided to follow Genzuki's advice and ordered Team 7 to retreat.

For the first time, Naruto and the others encountered such an intense situation. This time, they didn't argue and quickly followed Kakashi's lead to break out of the danger zone.

However, just as the shuriken storm ceased, another wave of attacks came crashing down.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of explosions erupted around the earth wall, causing it to crack and shatter.

"Oh?" Genzuki chuckled as the enemy's power exceeded his expectations.

Ahead, Kakashi and Team 7 still needed time to escape.

"Interesting. Earth Clone Technique!"

Genzuki formed hand seals, and dozens of earth clones spread out across the battlefield.

"Earth Release: Great Earth Fortress!"

Towering walls of rock rose on either side of the path, their thickness more than double that of the previous wall, stretching for miles.

It resembled a section of a giant fortress wall.

"This chakra... Who is he?" Kakashi's eyes widened.

The great earth fortress seemed to silence the explosions outside.

Taking advantage of the pause, Kakashi led Team 7 away from the ambush zone.

The next moment, Genzuki's fortress wall was torn apart by an even greater force, collapsing with a deafening crash.

Amidst the flying dust, Genzuki saw a group of individuals with crimson eyes.

Chino, who had been calm until now, suddenly showed signs of agitation.

"This is..." she murmured.

Genzuki noticed it too—those eyes were none other than the Ketsuryūgan of the Chinoike Clan.

But Chino had said her clan was already extinct.

"Could it be..." Genzuki thought of a possibility.

Among the group of Ketsuryūgan users, a middle-aged man with a sinister grin stepped forward.

"Phantom Demon, you're finished!"

"You killed so many of Gato's men. Let's see how you escape this time!"

Genzuki remained calm, his gaze curious. "Where did you get those Ketsuryūgan?"

Among the dozens of people present, every single one had transplanted Ketsuryūgan from the Chinoike Clan.

"Of course, from killing those stubborn Chinoike who refused to serve Gato!"

"They were so defiant—choosing death over working for Gato-sama..."

Chino's eyes filled with tears, her emotions boiling over.

"You... What did you say?!"

The middle-aged man sneered and turned his gaze toward Chino.

"Well, well. Another little Chinoike survivor? Don't worry, you'll be joining your clan soon enough!"

Genzuki's face darkened, ready to act, but Chino suddenly lost control.

A swirl of crimson chakra enveloped her, and her Ketsuryūgan flared to life.

Genzuki was startled and quickly held onto her, gazing into her eyes.

"This is..."

Chino's eyes were no longer ordinary Ketsuryūgan. They had begun to transform!

According to legend, the Mangekyō Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan was triggered by extreme emotional trauma and the release of a special hormone in the brain.

Could the Ketsuryūgan follow a similar principle?

Blood dripped from Chino's eyes as the single tomoe in her Ketsuryūgan evolved into a triple tomoe.

"Wait a second—this girl's eyes are different!"

The Ketsuryūgan-wielding group began to retreat, an ominous feeling washing over them.

"Could this be... an advanced form of the Ketsuryūgan?" Genzuki's eyes widened.