Mokuton Phantom in Naruto

The office of the Second Hoshikage, Eizen, was silent. Only the soft scratch of a brush against paper filled the room.

Before him, Ryuusei, Misaki, and Seiryu stood tall, waiting for their orders.

Eizen lifted his tired gaze.

"Konoha's base at the Rain Country border has been attacked."

The three shinobi exchanged quick glances but said nothing.

Eizen continued:

"Our support unit was hit. Twenty shinobi from Hoshigakure are severely wounded and will be pulled back. In exchange, we're sending twenty fresh shinobi to replace them and maintain our presence in the region."

He paused before adding:

"Kousei is among the wounded returning."

Ryuusei felt his stomach twist.

His father... injured?

Eizen placed both hands on the desk and looked straight at him.

"You three are part of the replacement unit. Your mission is simple: relieve our men and continue supporting Konoha until further orders."

He unrolled a map across the table, pointing at the border region.

"But remember: Konoha is not our ally. We're cooperating, but there's no bond of loyalty between us. Don't get involved any more than necessary."

Seiryu crossed his arms and sighed.

"So, we go in, hold the line, and wait for another rotation?"

Eizen nodded.

"Exactly."

Misaki, standing beside Ryuusei, noticed his tension and glanced at him briefly.

He was clearly worried about his father.

Eizen concluded:

"Prepare yourselves. You leave at dawn."

The journey to Konoha's new base, situated between the Land of Rain and the Land of Birds, was swift and silent.

The twenty Hoshigakure shinobi moved in disciplined formation.

The landscape grew darker with every step.

The scent of smoke and blood lingered in the air, and the tension was palpable.

Upon arrival, Ryuusei immediately noticed the state of the wounded.

Some lay on stretchers, bandaged from head to toe.

Others hobbled around, leaning on comrades for support.

The Konoha shinobi barely glanced at the newcomers, treating it as nothing more than another troop exchange.

But for Ryuusei, this was personal.

He rushed between the tents, searching for his father.

When he finally found him, he burst into the medical tent.

And that's when he saw who was treating Kousei.

Senju Tsunade.

The blonde, imposing woman, dressed in a light kimono with Konoha's symbol, knelt beside Kousei, her hands glowing with green medicinal chakra.

Ryuusei froze at the entrance, breathless.

She didn't even look at him.

"If you're here to make noise, get out. I'm busy."

Ryuusei clenched his fists.

"I'm his son."

Tsunade glanced at him briefly, then returned to her work.

"He's lucky. The wound was serious but not fatal. I managed to stabilize him."

Ryuusei's body relaxed for a moment.

His father was alive.

But war waited for no one.

At that very moment, a deafening boom echoed through the base.

Explosions.

The ground trembled.

Tsunade stood immediately.

"Another attack."

Chaos erupted in an instant.

The assault came out of nowhere, and within seconds, the entire base was on high alert.

The Hoshigakure shinobi received direct orders:

"Protect our own!"

Ryuusei, Misaki, and Seiryu were dispatched to defend the medical tent where Kousei lay.

Amid the dust and roar of explosions, they spotted their enemies.

An Iwagakure Bakuton squad.

"Damn it…" Seiryu muttered, drawing a kunai.

1 Bakuton Jōnin.

2 Doton Chūnin.

The Jōnin held a clay sphere in his hand, grinning.

"Let's blow this place to hell."

Ryuusei didn't hesitate.

Chakra surged through the seal on his necklace.

His eyes shifted.

That red shadow appeared around them.

He raised both hands and channeled his energy.

A massive purple energy shield enveloped the medical tent.

The first explosive blast was nullified.

But Ryuusei felt the impact reverberate through his bones.

Before he could counter, one of the Chūnin used a Doton jutsu.

The ground cracked beneath him, swallowing him up to the waist and immobilizing him.

The Jōnin laughed.

"End of the line."

He hurled another explosive.

Fire surged around Ryuusei.

Then, a hand grabbed him.

Strong. Fast.

Jiraiya.

In an instant, the legendary Sannin pulled Ryuusei out of harm's way and countered with a stream of flaming oil.

The Jōnin screamed as his body was consumed by fire.

Meanwhile, Ryuusei took down the second Chūnin, ensuring the tent's safety.

The attack was repelled.

Sometime later, Ryuusei sat at the tent's entrance, still feeling the aftereffects of battle.

And then, a shadow loomed over him.

He looked up…

Jiraiya stood there.

His eyes were sharp, curious.

"You."

Ryuusei frowned.

Jiraiya crossed his arms.

"Where'd you learn that?"

"...What?"

"Your body… it absorbed natural energy."

Ryuusei's gaze hardened.

"Natural energy?"

Jiraiya narrowed his eyes.

"Who trained you?"

Ryuusei didn't know how to answer.

But one thing was clear.

Jiraiya had noticed his power.

Jiraiya remained still, studying the young shinobi before him.

Ryuusei stayed seated at the tent's entrance, posture rigid.

He didn't trust this man.

Not even after Jiraiya had saved his life moments ago.

Jiraiya's gaze sharpened.

"You still haven't answered. Where did you learn to harness that energy?"

Ryuusei stared back for a moment before replying, his voice cold and controlled.

"My body adapted to Hoshigakure's star energy."

Jiraiya raised a brow.

"Star energy?"

"Yes."

The Sannin paused, arms crossing once more.

"That doesn't add up. From what I know, the radiation from that meteorite is highly toxic to shinobi. Training with it for too long… it's suicide."

Ryuusei averted his gaze, irritation flickering across his face.

"That's Hoshigakure's concern. It's not your place to question it."

Jiraiya let out a small sigh.

"Why are you so defensive?"

Ryuusei remained silent.

Jiraiya took a step closer.

"I saved your life. We're on the same side. So why the hell are you acting like I'm the enemy?"

Ryuusei smirked coldly.

His gaze was sharp as a blade.

"Allies of Konoha?"

He paused before adding:

"Like Uzushiogakure?"

Jiraiya's smile vanished.

His eyes narrowed in understanding.

He got it instantly.

"So, you're an Uzumaki."

Ryuusei held his gaze, neither confirming nor denying it.

But he didn't have to.

Jiraiya already suspected. Now, he was certain.

"That explains your absurd vitality…" Jiraiya muttered, rubbing his chin.

Ryuusei didn't move.

After a long silence, Jiraiya spoke again:

"What you're trying to do… it's dangerous."

Ryuusei frowned.

Jiraiya pointed at him with his thumb.

"Natural energy is treacherous. Even I, after training under a great master at Mount Myōboku, can't wield it without assistance."

His expression turned deadly serious.

"You're playing with fire, kid."

Ryuusei stayed quiet.

But deep inside, he felt the weight of Jiraiya's words.