At this moment, Mori Shin had completely lost control.
An unfamiliar, overwhelming power had surged through his body, transforming his abilities in an instant. But he had no way to properly manage it yet. The force burst out of him, wild and unrestrained, like a dam that had suddenly cracked.
Just like Endo Daisho couldn't stop his chakra from being drained, Shin couldn't stop this energy from spilling out. It poured from him in a constant stream, laced with surging life force. The black substance erupting from the ground was feeding on that very energy, growing thicker, larger, and more aggressive by the second.
It wasn't just Endo Daisho's chakra fueling the substance anymore—it was Shin's as well. If things continued like this, everyone present would be completely drained.
"I overdid it!" Shin gritted his teeth, trying to cut off the flow of chakra. But the power was too immense, and his chakra control too lacking. He simply couldn't stop.
Only now did he realize—far too late—that he had been greedy. The ability to invent his own future had given him limitless possibilities, and he had rushed to create an overwhelmingly powerful skill without ever considering whether his body could handle it. He'd tried to build a skyscraper without laying the foundation.
Thankfully, help was on the way. He needed to be more careful next time. If he wanted power, he had to first strengthen his body and develop his talent. Every tall tower starts with a solid base. Everything in its own time.
At least the Sharingan he'd awakened that morning wasn't just for show. It boosted his mental energy and improved his chakra control significantly. Without it, this burst of power might've already consumed him entirely.
"What the hell is going on here?"
"First priority—get the civilians out!"
Several chakra signatures appeared nearby—Asuma and a squad of ANBU had arrived. After recovering from their initial shock, they sprang into action, launching coordinated attacks on the black mass. Thankfully, the substance couldn't absorb chakra at a distance. Its effects only kicked in with direct contact. The newly arrived reinforcements stayed alert and didn't fall into the same trap.
"Fire Style: Blazing Ash Cloud!"
"Water Style: Crushing Water Surge!"
"Konoha Sword Style: Hurricane Strike!"
They unleashed their signature jutsu in tandem. The black substance, which had no defensive capabilities of its own, began to fall apart quickly under the onslaught. Three full ANBU teams had joined forces, and that kind of firepower left little standing. In no time, they had freed Endo Daisho and the others.
Daisho, having had his chakra drained, could barely stay on his feet. If a seasoned jōnin was in that state, it was no surprise that Chie Mai and Ryota were in even worse shape. The two had been reduced to little more than skin and bones, dangerously close to death. One of the ANBU immediately took them and rushed to Konoha Hospital.
Back on the training field, the more the substance was destroyed, the less strain it placed on Shin. When only about a fifth of the dark growth remained—covering a radius of a few dozen meters—he finally regained control over the rampaging energy. Cut off from its chakra source, the remainder of the black substance withered, dried up, and crumbled to dust right before their eyes.
The crisis had passed. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief—but their eyes were wary, expressions guarded. It was obvious who had caused the disaster. If they hadn't intervened in time, there was no telling how far it could've spread.
"Shin!"
Ino ran toward him, clearly shaken by what she'd just witnessed. Her instincts told her to rush into his arms, but she caught herself at the last moment, realizing they weren't that close yet. She stopped awkwardly, trying to mask her concern with confusion.
"What happened here? Was this… all you?"
Shikamaru arrived just behind her, just as stunned as the others—but he also noticed Ino's odd reaction. There wasn't enough information to draw conclusions, but his instincts were sounding quiet alarms. Something was off.
"I don't even know what happened," Shin muttered, barely staying upright. That explosion of power had filled his body with strength. His life force had surged, his physical body felt stronger than ever, and his chakra reserves had multiplied tenfold—maybe even more. He had no idea where the power had come from, only that it was linked to a new ability granted by his Future Imagination skill. The boost seemed to be a side effect. Despite the massive expenditure of chakra, he felt no fatigue—only a slight dizziness.
"What are you kids doing here?" Asuma's sharp gaze flicked toward Shikamaru, silently ordering him to pull Ino back. The situation was too strange. Until they figured it out, it was best to keep their distance from Shin.
"There was a huge noise," Ino said, offering what she hoped sounded like a reasonable explanation. "We were worried someone might be in trouble."
It wasn't a bad excuse—but no one knew Ino for her altruism.
Shikamaru gave her a knowing look, tugged on her sleeve, and steered her and Chōji toward Asuma.
"Trouble, trouble, and more trouble," he muttered under his breath, helping guide Ino back. "We're still inside the village. Who would've thought something dangerous could happen here?"
"You're all still rookies," Asuma said with a tired sigh. "Fresh out of the Academy. You don't even count as real ninja yet. Whether there's danger or not, your first job is to protect yourselves. If you're not getting in the way, that's already enough."
"Asuma-sensei, you're underestimating us!" Ino mumbled.
At that moment, one of the ANBU approached quietly and gave a report:
"We've got a statement. According to Endo Daisho, he was holding a combat evaluation for the newly formed Team 9. The other two members attacked both Shin and their teacher in an attempt to win. That may have triggered Shin, and something inside him suddenly awakened—causing this incident."
Asuma was so stunned the cigarette dropped right out of his mouth.
He stared at the dazed Shin in disbelief. "A power awakening did this? I've never heard of anything like it. What kind of power is this?"
The ANBU only shook his head.
Asuma was about to go question Shin himself, but the masked ninja held up a hand.
"This needs to be handled by the Third Hokage personally. Until then, I expect everyone here to keep this under strict secrecy. Not a word leaves this field."
Asuma's expression turned serious immediately. He understood. Shin had awakened something terrifying, something potentially dangerous. If word got out, it would cause panic in the village—and attract unwanted attention from all sides.
"Understood," Asuma nodded. "Far as I'm concerned, we didn't see a thing."
He gave Ino a gentle shove and quickly ushered her, Shikamaru, and Chōji away from the scene.
The same ANBU turned to Shin and addressed him as gently as possible.
"Shin, we need to report this to the Third Hokage. You'll come with us. Don't worry—you didn't do this on purpose, and the damage was minimal. The Hokage won't hold it against you."
"Wait," Endo Daisho said hoarsely, forcing himself upright. "Take me with you. I'm his jōnin instructor. This is partially my responsibility as well."
"But you're—" one of the ANBU hesitated.
"I'm just a bit weakened. I'll be fine with a short rest," Daisho said firmly.
The ANBU exchanged glances. Seeing he wouldn't back down, they didn't argue further. After sealing off the area, cleaning up the scene, and storing samples of the black substance in a scroll, they led both Shin and Endo Daisho toward the Hokage's Tower.