Inside the command tent.
Hatake Sakumo took a deep breath, his eyes still tinged with astonishment as he looked at Leo.
"I'll report everything truthfully to Lord Hokage," he said. "Leo, you should go get some proper rest first. The backlash from opening the Eight Inner Gates is quite severe. The rest of you—return to your posts. No slacking off."
Hearing this, Danzo's face twisted with unwillingness. Yet, Sakumo was the highest commander on the frontline of Kumo, and even Danzo had to give him face—at least on the surface.
Finally, he flicked his sleeve angrily and left with the Root operatives in tow.
The remaining ANBU operatives also withdrew one after another.
Leo cupped his fists toward Hatake Sakumo before quietly leaving the tent.
Over the next few days, word of Leo slaying two elite Iwa-nin spread across the entire camp.
Of course, when people talked about it, they didn't use his real name—
They called him by his ANBU codename: Rakshasa.
Almost everyone in the camp now knew that the ANBU operative known as "Rakshasa" was a ruthless, terrifying figure.
As Leo walked through the encampment, he often caught fragments of whispered conversation.
"Look, that's Rakshasa. His talent's just unbelievable."
"Yeah. At this rate, he might skip the squad leader position entirely and become a platoon commander."
"And with that kind of achievement, his reward's going to be enormous. He might even earn the right to choose a forbidden technique from the Sealed Scroll!"
Many ANBU looked at him with awe—and envy.
After all, what ninja didn't dream of earning great merit, making their name resound through the shinobi world, and becoming someone others looked up to?
For someone as young as Leo to achieve that—it was natural for others to envy him.
But where there was envy, there was also hatred.
The one who hated him most, of course, was the man he had utterly offended—Danzo.
For the past few days, Danzo had worn a stormy eEXPression, saying nothing to anyone, his face so dark that no one dared to approach him. He looked like a walking omen of death.
Leo, however, paid him no mind.
There was no way the two of them could ever get along anyway. With Danzo's personality, he was probably already scheming how to get rid of him.
If that was the case, Leo wouldn't show mercy either. If Danzo wanted to play this game of mutual destruction, he'd gladly join in.
In fact, he was almost looking forward to Danzo sending him "free eEXPerience."
He was curious to see what the old schemer would do next.
On the third day, Leo received a personal summons from Hatake Sakumo, asking him to meet at the open field behind the Konoha encampment.
Leo could already guess what this was about.
When he arrived, Sakumo was already waiting there.
"Captain," Leo greeted with a respectful bow.
Sakumo smiled warmly as he saw him. "You're here, Leo."
"Yes. May I ask what you wanted to see me about?" Leo asked directly, wasting no time.
Sakumo chuckled. "Straightforward as ever—just like your swordsmanship. Sharp and decisive."
Leo feigned ignorance, his eEXPression calm. "Captain, I'm not sure what you mean. What is swordsmanship?"
"You really don't know?" Sakumo's smile deepened, his gaze meaningful.
Leo sighed softly. "Looks like I can't hide it from you, Captain. How did you figure it out?"
Sakumo laughed quietly. "First, the Eight Inner Gates—you don't actually know that technique. The traces left on the battlefield don't match it either. And those corpses—anyone observant enough could tell they were cut down by a blade. Even so, I still can't quite believe someone your age could wield such a domineering sword style. Leo, weren't you supposed to specialize in raw strength techniques?"
Leo didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took out a scroll from his ninja pouch and formed a few hand seals.
Poof!
A cloud of white smoke rose—and in his hand appeared the Demon Blade, Enma.
The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, Leo's entire aura changed—
Aloof. Cold. Sinister. Detached.
He had already mastered the One-Sword Style and the technique Thirty-Six Calamity Winds—his swordsmanship was by no means weak. Though compared to a true master like Hatake Sakumo, there was still a gap.
"What a wicked blade…"
Sakumo's eyes widened as he looked at the sword. "I've never seen such a sinister weapon."
Even unsheathed, the blade leaked a faint violet demonic aura that seemed to blur reality, tugging at the mind.
"With this sword's edge, I was able to cut down the Iwa-nin," Leo eEXPlained calmly. "It can slice through iron as if it were mud, resist flame and water alike—nothing can stand before it."
"I see…" Sakumo nodded slowly. "Now I understand. Years ago, I once saw a member of the Kusanagi clan wield the Kusanagi no Tsurugi. Compared to that, your sword is its equal."
He didn't ask where the sword came from—nor should he have.
"Leo," Sakumo said seriously, "your talent is extraordinary. In my eyes, your path will take you far. Konoha is in a period of growth—there are things that may seem unfair, but I hope you can be understanding. As for Danzo, don't let him trouble your heart. As long as I'm here, he won't touch you."
"Thank you, Captain." Leo bowed deeply.
Truth be told, talking with someone like Sakumo was far more comfortable—no underhanded schemes, no deceit, no manipulation.
The two spoke for a long while. Before parting, Sakumo handed Leo a scroll.
Inside were his personal notes and insights on swordsmanship.
Since Leo had such a fateful encounter, Sakumo was willing to help him polish it further.
At this stage of the war, any increase in strength on their side was precious.
Leo quietly committed Sakumo's kindness to memory before taking his leave, treasuring this brief moment of peace.
When Sakumo later sent Leo's report back to Konoha, it caused quite a stir among the higher-ups. Even the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was deeply moved.
That level of strength—at such a young age!
To cut down twenty Chūnin-level opponents, none of whom were weak—what other youth in Konoha could do that?
Even when Sakumo mentioned that it was due to the Eight Inner Gates' short-term burst, Hiruzen could tell there was more to the story—Sakumo had held something back.
Even so, the Third Hokage was impressed beyond words.
After a long silence, Hiruzen issued three orders:
All information regarding Leo was to be classified as Top Secret—not to be disclosed under any circumstance.
Leo was to be transferred to a Special ANBU Unit, retaining his codename Rakshasa.
He was to receive a classified mission suited to his ability.
With such strength on the Second Great Ninja War battlefield, Hiruzen intended to make full use of Leo's light and power.
When the war ended and Leo returned to the village, he would even be allowed to study certain high-level or forbidden techniques from the Scroll of Seals—to further enhance his strength.
But for now, the end of the war was still far off.
According to Sakumo's assessment, Leo's combat power already rivaled that of an elite jōnin—perhaps even stronger.
A single jōnin couldn't decide the outcome of a war—but their impact on the battlefield was tremendous.
Especially one so young—it was almost unbelievable.
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