Naruto: Saving the Universe by Stealing Attributes

Nobody could have expected this: by the time they arrived, they were greeted by the lifeless bodies of two Sunagakure shinobi lying on the ground. Just ahead, the shinobi called Rasa was already gathering his immense reserves of gold sand, ready to unleash a massive attack.

Luckily, Minato knew the Flying Thunder God technique—otherwise, Mirai might have died right there from that one strike.

"Mirai, you have no idea how close it was back then," Kurenai said, her voice shaking slightly. "If we'd arrived just a little later… I might never have seen you again."

Even now, Kurenai felt a lingering dread as she recalled the danger they had faced. That situation had been way too close for comfort.

"Ah… well, it was a risk I had to take," Mirai responded with a lighthearted shrug. "If I hadn't stayed behind to cover you, none of you would have made it."

With a soft laugh, he reached out and pinched Kurenai's cheek. He'd been close to his limit then, but it hadn't been as life-threatening as she imagined. After all, with the Flying Thunder God technique, he could teleport himself to safety at any moment. But that wasn't something he was going to admit to anyone.

"Mirai, you're… so good to me," Kurenai said, touched by his words. Here was a young prodigy, destined for greatness, yet in the most dangerous moment, he'd chosen to stay behind just to ensure her safety. Without thinking, she threw herself into his arms, overwhelmed with gratitude.

A few moments later…

"Ahem! Ahem!" A series of loud coughs broke the silence as Kurenai's father, Shinku, stepped into view with Shikaku, Minato, and the others trailing behind him.

Startled, Kurenai quickly stepped back, cheeks flushed as she looked around at the new arrivals.

"Mirai, you're finally awake," Shikaku said, breaking the slightly awkward silence. "How's your body holding up?"

Mirai let go of Kurenai casually and replied, "I'm fine—just a bit exhausted."

Seeing that Mirai seemed unscathed, everyone else was visibly surprised. Here was a mere thirteen-year-old who had faced off against a Kage-level opponent and two elite Jonin, and not only was he unharmed, but he had also managed to kill two of his attackers. News of this feat would undoubtedly shock the entire shinobi world.

Shikaku moved closer to Mirai's bed and asked, "Mirai, can you tell us what happened in the fight?"

"At that time, I realized how strong the enemy was, so I immediately told Kurenai and Asuma to retreat. To cover their escape, I activated the Eight Gates. That was how I held out until you arrived."

Shinku nodded in understanding. "Back in the village, Mirai trained for a time under a shinobi named Might Duy. The Eight Gates is a technique he taught him."

"That 'eternal genin' Might Duy?" Shikaku's eyes widened slightly.

"That's right," Shinku confirmed.

Shikaku took a sharp breath. He considered himself a rational man, but he couldn't wrap his head around this: a technique from a so-called 'eternal genin' had allowed another genin to hold off a Kage-level opponent and two elite Jonin, killing two in the process. It felt as though the world had suddenly stopped making sense.

"So… what happened after I lost consciousness that day?" Mirai asked.

Minato responded with a slightly embarrassed smile, "Well, unfortunately, that Rasa managed to get away."

Mirai only nodded, he'd expected as much. Shinku's strength was solid, but not quite at the elite Jonin level, so he wouldn't have been much help in a fight against someone like Rasa. And Minato, though skilled, was at a disadvantage when it came to countering Rasa's powerful wide-range jutsu and magnetic abilities, especially since Rasa could also fly using Magnet Release.

After they reviewed the events in detail, Shikaku and the others left once they were sure Mirai was alright. Left alone, Mirai's eyes glinted with a spark of excitement.

From his battle with Rasa, he'd managed to gain access to the Magnet Release: Gold Dust Kekkei Genkai. This was the first time his awakening system had ever granted him a bloodline ability.

Getting a bloodline limit on his very first battle with Rasa? Talk about luck.

"Looks like I'll need to spend some time in the desert and stock up on gold dust," he murmured, already feeling the potential of this power. In the fight, he'd realized just how formidable Magnet Release was. With its defensive capabilities, it could indeed be considered an "absolute defense" in this era—unless he faced something as extreme as the Susano'o or the True Several Thousand Hands technique.

(T/N: True Several Thousand Hands is a technique which creates a titanic, many-handed wooden statue that can be freely controlled by the user.)

With this kind of power, ordinary shinobi would be helpless against him. Magnet Release was the perfect trump card for him to keep in his arsenal, ready for when he needed it most. And thanks to his Flying Thunder God technique, he could move undetected whenever he wanted.

With that thought, Mirai created a shadow clone and then disappeared from the room in a flash.

...

Land of Wind, Frontline Base Camp

Rasa knelt on one knee before Chiyo, his face grim. Even though he was a Kage-level shinobi leading an elite strike force, he hadn't taken down any significant enemies and had even lost two of his men. If he'd been an ordinary shinobi, he might have been executed on the spot.

"So, you're telling me… that Konoha has produced yet another genius from the Uchiha clan?" Chiyo's tone was skeptical.

"Yes," Rasa confirmed with a nod. "The kid possessed a fully matured Sharingan and some kind of unique technique that enhanced his strength several times over. Maki and Daizan both fell to him. He was cornered, but then Konoha reinforcements arrived at the last moment…"

"Enough," Chiyo interrupted, her tone dismissive. "Send my command: from this moment on, Sunagakure officially declares war on Konoha."

"Understood!" Rasa replied.

"Rasa, remember—every Kazekage has wielded Magnet Release, but not every shinobi with Magnet Release has become Kazekage," Chiyo said pointedly.

"...I understand," Rasa answered, chastened.

Chiyo sighed, a faint hint of weariness in her gaze. Why was it that every few years, Konoha seemed to produce these incredibly talented shinobi? Here was a teenager who already had the strength to stand toe-to-toe with Rasa, and if he continued to grow, he could very well become the next Sakumo Hatake… no, maybe even stronger.

After all, Sakumo hadn't possessed the Sharingan—a bloodline limit as powerful as this one. If they didn't eliminate him now, that kid could become an even greater threat.

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