Deep within a vast forest, I was meditating, concentrating on my work. In my palm were thousands of leaves, each halved using only my chakra.
Perhaps because I have no affinity for wind, it was more difficult than I anticipated.
"An incredible breakthrough," Jiraiya announced, observing my work. "Cutting each leaf in half without damaging the others demonstrates great control of the element, but it's still not enough."
"I know, but I have an idea of how to proceed," I declared, standing up.
"And what would that be?" Jiraiya asked curiously.
I simply clasped my hands together, and a cliff formed before us, cascading with water.
"The idea is to cut a waterfall using only wind chakra. "I had to be specific, though, since I could also do it with water chakra.
"A good way to achieve this; you'd have to try it to see how effective it is," the old toad remarked with a nod.
"Don't you have a mission or anything to go?" I asked.
"Not right now. I was planning to go see what was happening with Kiri, but to be honest, I'd rather not go," I said, making an X with my hands.
Not long ago, the perverted sage and I went to the Kumo bases to rescue a captured ally. Once we arrived and saw the place, we decided it was best to kill him, since it was the quickest and least resourceful option. After all, we might both be capable of fighting an entire battalion, but the idea was for them not to recognize us and for us to escape with the prisoner.
If they used Wood Release, they could deduce that it was me, and Jiraiya could keep up with me using only Sage Mode, but considering how long it takes to be ready and the consequences of turning into a toad, we decided to do something much simpler.
So, using our fūinjutsu skills and the Flying Thunder God Technique, we placed thousands of explosive talismans and blew everything up.
It was fast enough that no one could defend themselves or escape the attack.
Of course, some survived, but it wasn't difficult to finish them off with kunai.
That way, the information wasn't leaked, at least not all of it, and those who knew died; no one would know it was us, it could have been anyone, and that's the beauty of a ninja: to attack without anyone noticing and for them to realize it was you.
"I imagine you want some time to finish that, don't you?" Jiraiya asked, looking at the open Dust Release scroll not far away.
Before the mission, I showed him the scroll I stole from Iwa, which surprised him, and he scolded me for not telling the old monkey. But after telling him I was afraid he'd fall into Danzo's hands and that an Iwa spy would find out and tell Onoki, causing more chaos and persecution from Iwa, I decided to keep him to myself. I convinced him to help me train so I could use the Dust Release.
"That would be ideal," I said, stripping off my clothes until I was in my underwear as I walked toward the waterfall.
"Then I can talk to Sarutobi-sensei and tell him you're helping me with my spy network," the wise toad said, following behind me. "Of course, at some point you'll really have to help me with a few things; as I understand it, Wood Release has a jutsu superior to Transformation."
"Yes, no problem, you just have to send someone to deliver the message," I said.
"You think I'm stupid? I know that if I send someone and you're like this, you'll kill them without hesitation," he said with a sigh.
"If you don't, who will I test Dust Release on?" I said with a smile as we reached the waterfall.
Making about 20 clones, each of us put our hand in the water and we began trying to cut the waterfall with Wind Release chakra.
"I'll come by every few days to check on you and help you with anything; after all, that's what a sensei would do." At his words, I just nodded, since I was more focused on the waterfall. What a drag, I'll have to forge the paperwork."
And with a sigh from him, I stopped listening to Jiraiya, so I focused all my senses and concentration on my training.
(Note: Remember that Jiraiya has known Miyu since she was a baby, so he doesn't see her as a sex object but as a niece or even a daughter in some cases. He might be a total pervert, but he's not a total creep or a total pedophile, and Miyu knows this.)
...
*Passage of Time... Jutsu*
Using all my concentration, I placed my palms together.
Using the elements of fire, wind, and earth, I joined them as indicated on the scroll, and the moment I opened my hands, a circle formed. Inside this circle was another circle, which held the first one in place and prevented everything from disintegrating.
Through his chakra, he could disable this smaller sphere, causing everything within the larger sphere to turn to dust.
My dust element was spherical; this was because a shape, more specifically a geometric shape, was needed to create a disintegration boundary. Mu's was a cylinder, while Onoki's was a square. In my case, I create a sphere. If I wanted, I could also create a square or a cylinder, but it's mainly to differentiate myself from the other two.
At that moment, a man, bound, gagged, and with his chakra sealed, began to grow increasingly impatient.
This was a Kumo lookout ninja, whom I had encountered quite recently. He wasn't the only one; I had met several during these months.
Those were months of training and infiltration.
Jiraiya would come around periodically to help me with some jutsu or ask for my assistance in his spy network.
During this time, I didn't learn much about the outside world, only when I ventured out, and of those, the most significant event was the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, a devastating blow to Suna, which wasn't exactly thriving.
I also learned of Minato's exploits, but nobody really cares about those things.
That said, I know almost nothing about the Uchiha; I don't know if it's because they haven't progressed at all or because that old monkey and his mummy girlfriend are preventing their achievements from being publicized.
From there, he didn't interact with people, living practically in the forest, eating what he hunted.
Without thinking, I unleashed the Dust Release on the ninja, only for the larger sphere to expand to a radius of about two meters the moment he was 10 centimeters away. Then, in an instant, the smaller sphere shattered, disintegrating everything inside, including the enemy ninja.
"I expected nothing less from Kekkei Touta," I said, seeing that nothing remained, as if the place had never been empty. "Separating everything into atoms is an amazing ability."
Right now, I have access to all the elements: Wood Release, Ice Release, Steam Release, Dust Release, Sage Mode, Flying Thunder God Technique, and Explosion Jutsu, along with my own abilities.
Sharingan? Rinnegan? Who needs them? You go blind and powerless.
Not to brag, but I feel like I'm currently the strongest ninja in all the elemental nations. I can't see anyone defeating me; that said, let's forget about that Otsutsuki nonsense; that stuff shouldn't even exist.
"Okay, now that I'm done, what do I do?" I asked myself, unsure of what to do. I could go back to the village, but that would be boring.
I quickly pulled out a map to get my bearings, only to see that I was near Kiri.
"I could say hi to Kosuke," I told myself, a goal already in mind.
...
As I walked through the misty air, I came to a place that looked abandoned at first glance, but it was quite obvious to me that it was a trap.
Avoiding it, I continued walking only to find a barrier; I looked around and saw a seal not far away.
"I think these guys need to be taught to be more careful, but no, they're crazy-eyed, have heavy fists, and use fire," I muttered to myself, just enough to activate my chakra and focus on the area.
Shortly after, I sensed four ninjas arriving where I was.
"It's about time," I muttered, watching as several fireballs flew towards me.
I simply made a hand seal to create an earth wall to stop the attack.
This stopped other attacks that followed for a rather obvious reason: I wasn't a Kirinin.
A Kiri ninja would have responded with a water jutsu, since that's the most common element here, but I created an earth wall.
"Who's there?" a deep voice called out.
"It's me; let me in. I don't know the password," I said with all the nonchalance of the moment.
"That voice," one of them said.
At that moment, a Hyuga transformed, his Byakugan active.
"It's not a transformation," the man confirmed, allowing the other three to emerge, revealing that they were two Hyuga and two Sharingan.
"What are you doing here, Miss Miyu?" the first to speak, an Uchiha, asked.
The Senju and Uchiha may not have gotten along, but that didn't diminish my prestige and power, something that, by default, made the red-eyed men respect and fear me, since they didn't possess the Mangekyou Sharingan to answer me.
"Do I have to tell you?" he asked me. He left him speechless, explaining that, technically speaking, from a common-sense perspective, since he'd come purely on a whim, if he were here, it would be to deliver important information to the unit commander.
"Excuse my rudeness; please follow us."
...
After speaking with Fugaku and Hiashi, I went straight to the first aid station.
Being "elite ninja," their forces consisted of ninjas strong in their own areas of specialization, nothing more.
This meant there were practically no medical ninjas in their ranks. A few came from other clans or were civilians with expertise in the field, but their numbers were still too small, so they couldn't go to the front lines hoping to save lives in a battle, as they had to stay at their base tending to the wounded.
This resulted in this unit suffering the highest casualties on all fronts.
Fortunately, they were able to destroy or recover their bodies, preventing the theft of their dojitsu, at least by the Uchiha. Those who went to the front lines were generally from the branch family.
However, there were exceptions. I don't think it's happened yet, but Ao managed to steal a Byakugan from someone in the main branch.
Since it's easier to steal a Sharingan, they stole a Byakugan; no one will ever be able to erase that shame, and I don't intend to stop them.
The moment I entered the room, I scanned the entire place until my eyes landed on a single spot.
There, on a stretcher, was Kosuke, bandaged all over his face, one eye covered, and several other parts of his body.
"This time they took your eye," I said mockingly, without greeting him, approaching him, and ignoring everyone else.
"I may not have much luck with women, but I do have luck avoiding lethal attacks," he replied with a smile. Luckily for me, they didn't open my eyes.
"Another scar on your face. I see you're trying to look tougher," I said, removing the bandages. Obviously, he didn't stop me.
I looked at his wound, a horizontal cut running under his eye.
Without thinking, I used my medical ninjutsu, employing Wood Release chakra, which helps cells heal faster.
In less than a few seconds, the wound was gone, replaced by a scar.
"I expected nothing less from you," he declared, looking at himself in the mirror.
"So?" I asked, sitting down beside him. "Who was it?"
"It was a mission of promotion and demolition; unfortunately for us, there were two swordsmen from the Mist Village, Kushimaru Kuriarare and Raiga Kurosuki," he commented, settling into the stretcher. "Their swordsmanship skills were, to put it mildly, jonin-level, but with their swordsmanship abilities, they could have surpassed an elite ninja. It was very difficult, especially with the suicidal attacks the Kiri ninjas carried out at the behest of those two."
"I expected nothing less from the Blood Mist Village," I said.
"In the end, we managed to make them escape, running like cowards, leaving their allies behind, but in return, we suffered several casualties, including this battle wound," Kosuke said, pointing to his new scar.
"You can be thankful that all seven weren't there, since only a kage-rank ninja could take on all seven at once." At my words, Kosuke nodded.
Thanks to meeting Minato and me, Kosuke gradually lost his stubborn Uchiha pride. He still has it, but he's never shown it to Jiraiya-sensei, Minato, or me. And I know this from what he says about it.
"This near-death experience reminded me how fragile life is; that's why I'd like to tell you that..." I immediately gestured for him to stop.
"You know it won't work. I don't like men. It would only be forcing it, and nothing good will come of that." My words made Kosuke crumble a little, but he also smiled in a pathetic way.
"I know, and I always knew it, but at least, if I die in this war, I'd like you to have my body. You can do whatever you want with it; I don't care, but I'll feel more at peace if you have it." His insincere words left me a little taken aback.
"Don't talk about death so easily; the three of us have to live, no matter what," I said.
Perhaps I'm insensitive in some ways, but I don't like seeing my loved ones die, just like what happened with Dan and Kawaki.
If I could, I would have prevented their deaths, but I was just a child, so I'd come to terms with their deaths a long time ago. That's why I'm so insensitive; for me, they died a long time ago.
"So, how long will you be staying?" she asked me.
"Probably until things settle down here. After that, I don't know where to go. It's like being a wandering ninja, thanks to being under Jiraiya's tutelage right now."
Still, I'd like to stay a while to see if I have a chance to steal one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.