Naruto: My Progress in Konoha.

Buzz... buzz... buzz...

As "Red Bee" collapsed in death, the surrounding swarm lost its coordination and broke apart, scattering instinctively in all directions.

Seeing this, Uchiha Haruki didn't waste any energy chasing them down. Without Red Bee's control, the bees weren't much of a threat anymore.

The real problem was elsewhere.

In the short time since the bee battle ended, the Iwagakure shinobi had already gained the upper hand.

Though they were outnumbered and had just finished a forced march—far from being in peak condition—their opponents were in even worse shape.

Most of the allied shinobi were exhausted, coming straight from another battlefield. Injured or not, no one was in fighting form.

As soon as the battle began, the Iwa-nin sensed their advantage and struck with ruthless efficiency. They were in a hurry to reach the front lines and didn't want to waste time here.

The result was as expected.

In just a few minutes, over twenty allies had fallen, and the rest were being pushed back.

If not for reinforcements trickling in from the river valley front, their entire formation would've collapsed already.

Taking all this in, Haruki's gaze scanned the battlefield, searching for Mizutani Shizuko.

Right before the bees had surrounded him, he remembered her fighting an Iwa chunin. Time had passed—he wasn't sure how she was faring now.

"There! Found her."

Haruki's eyes locked onto a figure nearby.

It was Shizuko—clearly in bad shape. Her steps were shaky, her clothes torn and bloodied. Several fresh wounds marked her body, and blood was pouring steadily from her left side.

Haruki didn't hesitate. He immediately used Body Flicker Technique, closing the distance in a blur of speed.

As he moved, he let loose three shuriken, targeting the Iwa chunin's back while the enemy was mid-swing.

Unfortunately, like most combatants on this battlefield, the chunin was alert. Even mid-attack, he kept a portion of his strength in reserve.

Sensing danger, he canceled his strike and dodged sideways, narrowly avoiding the ambush.

Haruki didn't waste the opening.

He flickered between them and planted himself protectively in front of Shizuko.

"Haruki…"

Shizuko's voice trembled. Her eyes watered with relief. It had been so long since she'd felt this kind of safety.

And she was happy, too—happy that Haruki had survived.

She'd seen him surrounded by that deadly bee swarm and had feared the worst. But now that he stood in front of her, unharmed, she could finally breathe again.

Haruki heard her soft voice but said nothing in return. Instead, he spoke calmly:

"Focus on recovering. I'll handle this one."

Before she could respond, he launched himself at the Iwa chunin.

Haruki was only a genin, but Ishimatsu Ken—the chunin—didn't dare underestimate him.

After all, this was the same boy who'd just been targeted by Red Bee, a special jonin. And now, Haruki stood before him alive and well.

Which meant Red Bee... was dead.

However it happened, the truth was staring him in the face.

Ken immediately raised his guard to the highest level.

Clang!

Haruki's short sword met Ken's kunai. Sparks burst between the blades as they locked together, both exerting full strength.

But after a moment of testing raw power, Haruki changed tactics. His swordplay shifted and flowed, smoothly switching into Leaf-Style Kenjutsu.

Ken, for his part, was no pushover—he'd earned his place alongside Kurotsuchi's elite.

He wasn't going down easily.

Clang, clang, clang!

Their blades rang out again and again, echoing through the battlefield.

Haruki's strikes were fast and precise, leaving Ken no choice but to stay on the defensive. There was no room to cast jutsu—if he tried, Haruki would finish him in a single slash.

Minute by minute, Haruki's sword became a relentless rainstorm, unending and impossible to block forever.

Less than three minutes passed before Ken finally made a mistake.

Haruki's blade sliced across his left shoulder, shearing off a large chunk of flesh.

Pain erupted like fire, sweat beading on Ken's forehead.

But Haruki didn't let up.

He pressed forward without pause, continuing his assault.

Two minutes later, his sword pierced Ken's heart.

Ken's expression froze in disbelief. His face was filled with unwillingness—but he was powerless to stop it.

Haruki pulled his blade free, shook the blood off, and turned without a word to walk back to Shizuko.

"Haruki…"

As he approached, Shizuko's voice was gentle, but her concern was clear.

"Are you hurt?"

Haruki shook his head. "I'm fine."

But his gaze soon shifted to her waist.

Blood still poured from her side—the wound was serious.

Haruki glanced around. With no immediate danger nearby, he spoke.

"Shizuko, over here. Let me treat that."

He walked toward a nearby tree.

Shizuko softly responded and followed, slumping against the trunk with a weary sigh.

Haruki's hands flew through seals—the Healing Technique, one he'd only recently learned.

A warm green glow lit up his palms.

He placed his hands gently over her wound, not quite touching her skin, and the chakra began to flow.

A soothing warmth spread across her body. Shizuko couldn't help but let out a soft, involuntary moan, face flushing red as she quickly looked away in embarrassment.

Haruki, however, remained focused—his expression unchanged.

This was his first time using the technique on a person. He'd only practiced on small animals before, where it didn't matter much if the results weren't perfect.

Now it was different.

Success wasn't about gaining proficiency—it was about not making things worse.

Medical ninjutsu wasn't like combat techniques. You couldn't just throw it out and hope it worked.

It required precision—tracking the injury in real time, directing cell division, promoting proper healing.

It was a delicate art.

That's why Haruki was so focused... and why he didn't notice the shadow creeping up behind him.

He didn't realize anything was wrong until he saw Shizuko's face twist in horror—and suddenly, she yanked him aside with all her strength.

A sharp burning pain flared across Haruki's cheek.

He caught a glimpse of a kunai blade slashing across his face before it buried itself straight into Shizuko's throat.

In that moment, Haruki couldn't even process his thoughts.

It had all happened too fast.

He never imagined Shizuko would die like this.

His brain froze.

And then... came rage.

When Ryosuke and Furukawa had died, he hadn't been there. When he'd heard the news later, he felt grief—but it was distant, abstract.

But Shizuko had died right in front of him—and worse, she had died saving his life.

How could he possibly stay calm?

From the speed of that attacker's strike, it was clear—

If Shizuko hadn't pulled him aside, he would be the one dead right now.

Yes, it was partly his fault. He'd let his guard down while healing her.

But that didn't change the fact:

She saved him.

And that debt... he would repay in full.