"It's over…"
Tenzo's face was full of despair.
But at this moment—
Akira Ren looked furious, filled with righteous indignation.
With a straight face, he pointed at Tenzo—who was disguised as a foreign ninja—and loudly demanded:
"Who exactly are you!?"
"You infiltrated the village, attacked Konoha civilians, and even attempted to destroy the Hokage Rock—something of great significance to Konoha!"
"Your crimes are unforgivable!"
From the moment the other party used Wood Release—
Akira Ren had already figured out his identity.
An elite ANBU directly under the Hokage.
Codename: Tenzo.
The only survivor of Orochimaru's human experiments—
Where dozens of infants were implanted with First Hokage cells.
"…"
Tenzo was speechless.
This kid—
Was way too dark.
Clearly, it was him who destroyed the Hokage Rock—
Yet he shamelessly flipped the blame.
What "medical prodigy"?
This was a devil in human skin.
At this point—
If Tenzo still didn't understand—
Then all his years in ANBU were wasted.
This brat had definitely already guessed his identity.
Maybe even guessed that he was sent by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Everything—
Was intentional.
Destroying the Hokage's statue…
This kid had guts.
Big ones.
"You have the right to remain silent,"
Akira Ren said coldly.
"But you can explain everything slowly at the interrogation department."
"I heard Ibiki specializes in dealing with stubborn people like you."
"Swish!"
Tenzo didn't waste time.
He turned and bolted instantly.
But—
How could Akira Ren let him go so easily?
"Whoosh!"
His figure blurred.
In a flash—
He appeared right in front of Tenzo.
"Swish—swish—"
Several shuriken shot out.
And in the next instant—
He formed a one-handed seal.
Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.
Smooth.
Effortless.
"Whoosh—whoosh—"
In an instant—
A handful of shuriken multiplied into hundreds.
A dense storm.
Covering the sky.
Locking onto every vital point—
Leaving no escape.
"What!?"
Tenzo's pupils shrank.
"That's… the Third Hokage's technique!"
Of course he recognized it.
A signature technique of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Each clone—
A real, lethal projectile.
He quickly formed hand seals.
"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"
"Boom—boom—"
Thick wooden vines erupted—
Forming a massive oval shield.
Blocking the attack.
"Whoosh—whoosh—"
Shuriken slammed into the shield—
Embedding themselves rapidly.
But before Tenzo could relax—
"Clang! Clang!"
The shuriken that had "missed"—
Suddenly collided mid-air behind him.
Changing trajectory—
And shooting straight back at his blind spot.
"What!?"
That impossible maneuver—
Shocked not only Ino—
But even Tenzo himself.
Even in the Hokage office—
Watching through the crystal ball—
Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils shrank.
Such flawless shuriken control—
He had only seen it from geniuses like
Shisui Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha.
"And that technique…"
"That's my own creation…"
"How did he learn it?"
Then—
He realized.
"…Tsunade."
Even if she hadn't mastered it—
She could've passed down the knowledge.
"That boy…"
"…terrifying talent."
But then—
His expression darkened.
"…And infuriating."
Looking at his ruined stone face—
His eye twitched.
This brat had clearly noticed he was being watched.
And still—
Acted all righteous while dumping the blame on Tenzo.
Even the Third Hokage—
Wanted to punch him.
At this moment—
Akira Ren didn't even check whether the redirected shuriken hit.
He simply inhaled—
No hand seals needed.
Wind chakra gathered instantly.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullets!"
"Whoosh—whoosh—"
A barrage of compressed air shots—
Like a gatling gun—
Tore through the air.
"BOOM—BOOM—"
The wooden shield shattered instantly.
Tenzo retreated rapidly—
Dodging in panic.
"What!?"
Suddenly—
That falling sensation returned again.
Realizing he had misstepped—
Tenzo quickly formed seals.
"Wood Release: Tree Sea Birth!"
"Whoosh—whoosh—"
Dense trees erupted from the rock face—
Catching him mid-fall.
Without hesitation—
He leapt across the treetops—
Landing on the Fourth Hokage's statue—
And climbed up.
No more fighting.
He ran.
"Don't run!"
Akira Ren chased immediately.
"Ino, go back first—I'll find you later!"
"Be careful, Akira Ren big brother!"
Ino shouted anxiously.
But in the next moment—
Both figures vanished into the forest.
Leaving behind—
A devastated Hokage Rock.
The Third Hokage's face—
Split in half.
With a giant wooden "nose"…
And greenery growing on top.
—
Inside the Hokage office—
Watching this scene—
Hiruzen Sarutobi froze.
"…I got greened?"
His expression twisted.
He clutched his chest—
And collapsed into his chair.
Completely numb.
"TENZO—!!!"
"YOUR SALARY THIS MONTH IS GONE!!!"
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