Naruto: I Reincarnated with Magi System

Chapter 10: Blunder

The battle raged on, with Shin holding his ground against the two remaining attackers. Sakumo watched from a distance, impressed by Shin's resilience and ability to adapt. It was clear that this was the boy's first real fight, yet he had already killed an opponent and was handling the pressure well—at least on the surface.

However, as the minutes dragged on, Sakumo began to notice a shift. Shin's movements were becoming slower, his attacks less precise.

Shin's POV

I overestimated myself.

Shin's breath was ragged, his chest heaving with the effort of maintaining his techniques. I thought this would be like a game, he thought bitterly, where I could use my abilities without limits. But this isn't a game. Every mistake has consequences.

He could feel his chakra—or rather, his Rukh—dwindling rapidly. His muscles ached, and his vision blurred slightly at the edges. He estimated he could only last a few more minutes if he kept fighting at this pace.

The two ninja before him seemed to sense his fatigue. One was already injured but still moving, while the other looked more than ready to capitalize on Shin's faltering defense.

The uninjured ninja smirked and wove hand seals. "You're slowing down, kid. Let's see how much longer you can keep this up!"

Shin deflected another round of jutsu with his portals, but this time, the ninja altered their tactics. One charged directly at Shin while the other circled around him.

Focus... Stay calm... Shin thought, trying to anticipate their moves. But his exhaustion dulled his reactions.

The first ninja flashed in front of him, feinting a strike. Shin instinctively shifted his attention forward, only for the second ninja to capitalize on the distraction. A solid kick struck Shin's side, sending him flying. He tumbled twice before crashing into a tree.

"Shin!"

Kakashi and Hikari's panicked voices rang out as they prepared to abandon their post and rush to his aid.

But before they could act, Sakumo appeared in a blur, his enemies already incapacitated. With deadly precision, he beheaded the two ninja attacking Shin, ending the fight in an instant.

Sakumo knelt beside Shin, who was slumped against the tree, coughing up blood.

"I'm fine," Shin rasped, though the visible crimson staining his mouth told a different story.

His mood darkened as he looked down at his trembling hands. He had overestimated himself, allowed his confidence to blind him to his own limitations. The thought stung. I wasn't ready. If it weren't for Sakumo-sensei…

A part of him screamed to unleash his Djinn Equip, knowing it could have turned the tide easily. But he also knew the dangers of exposing such a skill in front of too many eyes.

Sakumo placed a firm hand on Shin's shoulder. "It's fine, Shin. You're still young. This is how you learn. You'll train, and next time, this won't happen. Understand?"

Shin looked up, meeting his sensei's gaze. Sakumo's words carried no judgment, only encouragement. A faint, tired smile tugged at Shin's lips. "Yes, sensei."

Kakashi and Hikari rushed over, relief flooding their faces as they checked Shin for injuries.

"You idiot," Kakashi muttered, though his voice lacked its usual sharpness. "Don't overdo it like that again."

Hikari scolded him as well, though her concern was evident. "You could have been killed! Be more careful next time!"

Shin chuckled weakly, appreciating their concern despite the situation.

With the battle over, Sakumo turned his attention to the caravan leader, his face dark with frustration. "Now," he said, his tone cold, "explain why we weren't informed that we were escorting the daimyo's wife and child."

The caravan leader looked down, guilt etched across his features. He fumbled for words but couldn't bring himself to answer.

The carriage door opened, and a woman stepped out, carrying a three-year-old boy. The lady of the Land of Hot Water's daimyo, her expression was one of deep regret. "I apologize," she said, her voice soft but sincere. "We didn't expect this. It was supposed to be a quiet return from visiting relatives."

Sakumo wanted to reprimand her, but he held his tongue. She was the wife of the daimyo, and berating her directly would only escalate tensions. Instead, he nodded curtly. "Very well. But this changes the scope of the mission. This is no longer a C-rank mission—it's A-rank. We will expect proper compensation when this is over."

The woman agreed without hesitation, retreating back into the carriage with her son. The caravan resumed its journey, though the tension lingered.

From their hidden vantage point, the Root operatives continued to observe.

"He's strong," one whispered, watching Shin closely. "Even though he's still inexperienced, his Kekkei Genkai is incredible."

The Aburame operative nodded. "His chakra levels are depleted, but he held his own against two trained shinobi. We've seen enough for now. Four of you return to the base and report to Lord Danzo. The rest of us will stay and monitor."

"What if we attack now?" another suggested.

"No," the Aburame said firmly. "There's no guarantee we'll succeed with Sakumo and the others still active. For now, we wait for further instructions."

As the Root operatives melted back into the shadows, one thing was clear: Shin had caught their attention, and danger was closing in.