I’M A MIST SHINOBI IN NARUTO

On Konoha's eastern front, not all the shinobi were hardened veterans—many were still naive youths thrown into the fires of war.

The Third Shinobi War had once again placed Konoha in a 1v4 scenario. Although they had managed to repel Suna, Kumo, and Iwa for the time being, their own casualties were not light. As a result, even some young genin had been forced onto the battlefield.

Among them, stationed at an outpost near the coastline, were a pair of teenage shinobi.

"Red, stick with me. I promise I'll capture a few Mist Shinobi alive!"

The speaker, a boy with dark hair and sharp eyes, exuded confidence as he stared out at Kirigakure's incoming warships. Behind him stood a delicate yet determined girl, her long hair cascading down her back like silk.

The boy was Sarutobi Asuma, son of the Third Hokage. Though still inexperienced, his ambition burned bright—he wanted to make a name for himself. And, of course, impress the girl standing beside him.

Yuhi Kurenai. With her crimson irises and soft features, she was as striking as she was skilled in genjutsu.

Asuma saw this battle as the perfect opportunity to showcase his abilities, especially in front of Kurenai. But what he didn't know was that, aboard one of Kirigakure's warships, someone else had similar thoughts.

On the Mist's Side

Yuto stood at the prow of his ship, gazing at the enemy encampment through a Telescope Technique. His eyes swept over Konoha's formation, searching for any potential threats.

That's when he saw Asuma.

A slow smirk formed on his lips. The son of the Third Hokage himself. If Asuma were to be captured alive, it would send ripples throughout Konoha. It might even be an opportunity to pressure the Hokage into negotiations.

However, what truly caught Yuto's attention wasn't Asuma. It was Kurenai.

Before he had come to this world, he had been a fan of Yuhi Kurenai—her posters and figures had been everywhere in his old life. And now, seeing her in person, his heart stirred in an unexpected way.

"Very good… Take Kurenai back to Kirigakure and train her slowly."

The thought alone sent a thrill through him. Asuma, the potential hostage, was already forgotten. Relationships develop over time, don't they?

Battle Erupts

"Brother, look!"

Yuto felt a hand on his shoulder—Terumi Mei, her expression tense. Following her gaze, he saw seven or eight Konoha warships approaching rapidly.

"They think our numbers are small, so they're launching a preemptive strike," she said.

Yuto scoffed. "A foolish move."

He flashed through hand seals at lightning speed. Chakra surged within him, and then—

"Sea Release: Exploding Wave Conflict!"

BOOM!

The once-calm sea transformed into a chaotic nightmare. A massive tsunami, twenty meters high, surged forward, swallowing everything in its path.

Konoha's shinobi barely had time to react.

"What the—?!"

"How did a tsunami form out of nowhere?!"

The enemy warships were engulfed instantly, the sheer force dragging them into the ocean's abyss. Hundreds of Konoha shinobi perished in moments. But the devastation wasn't over.

The massive wave continued, crashing toward the coastal defense lines where Konoha's troops had stationed themselves.

"Everyone, listen!!!"

A commanding voice rang out above the panic. The shinobi turned toward a tall, stern-looking man with sharp features and red eyes similar to Kurenai's.

Yuhi Shinko—Kurenai's father. The commander of Konoha's eastern front.

Though stunned by the sea's sudden wrath, Shinko remained calm. He quickly issued orders:

"Do not panic! It's just a high-level Water Style technique!"

Just?!

The surrounding shinobi nearly cursed aloud. That was an S-rank jutsu! Calling it "normal" was beyond absurd.

"We still have hundreds of men. We will not fall here!" Shinko continued. "All Earth Release users, prepare for defensive formation—Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!!"

WHOOM!!

Hundreds of shinobi performed Earth Style in unison. The battlefield rumbled as the land rose, forming an immense stone wall, 50 meters high and 300 meters wide.

To reinforce the defense, additional Earth Release techniques hardened and fortified the structure, making it as impenetrable as possible.

Then—

CRASH!

The tsunami slammed into the wall like the fist of a furious god. The entire barrier shuddered under the force, massive cracks splintering along its surface.

Konoha's shinobi braced themselves, sheer terror flashing in their eyes. The previously cocky Asuma was now huddled behind Yuhi Shinko, gripping his trench knives with trembling hands.

The Next Wave

Though the first impact nearly toppled the wall, the force of the tsunami gradually weakened with each successive wave.

After what felt like an eternity, the ocean finally settled.

A collective sigh of relief washed over the Konoha troops. Some shinobi collapsed onto the ground, exhausted from the sheer stress of near death.

"That… was too close."

Shinko narrowed his eyes at the sea. The fact that they had survived was a miracle.

However, Yuto, still standing on his warship, chuckled.

"So… even a bunch of small fish can hold out against my Sea Release?" His golden eyes gleamed as he looked toward the depths of the ocean.

"But do you think it's over? There are many horrors lurking in the deep."

From beneath the waves, a massive shadow began to rise. The true terror of the ocean had yet to reveal itself.