"Whoosh… whoosh…"
Inside the forest—
Two figures chased each other at high speed.
Very quickly, under Tenzo's seemingly panicked but actually deliberate guidance—
They arrived at an open field in Training Ground Three.
Tenzo suddenly stopped.
He turned around, staring at the young, almost unreal-looking boy before him.
Especially that face—
Still slightly immature, yet flawlessly handsome.
Enough to make anyone jealous.
Although he had accidentally damaged Hokage Rock—
And would definitely be reprimanded by Hiruzen Sarutobi—
The mission still had to be completed.
Maybe he could make up for it.
"Not running anymore?"
Akira Ren crossed his arms and smiled lightly.
"Hmph… I didn't expect you'd dare chase me alone,"
Tenzo said in a deep, altered voice.
"Kinda naive, aren't you?"
"Let me see what a Sannin's disciple can really do… Akira Akira Ren."
"If you're asking for humiliation, I don't mind granting it,"
Akira Ren replied casually.
"I've got plenty of time."
Ninjas weren't noble heroes.
Disguises, voice changes—
Basic skills.
Especially for ANBU elites like Tenzo.
"But that half-baked Wood Release of yours…"
Akira Ren added flatly.
"Don't embarrass yourself with it."
"…Half-baked!?"
Tenzo was instantly irritated.
He took pride in his Wood Release.
Yes—
It wasn't comparable to the First Hokage.
But he had never looked down on himself.
All these years—
He trained relentlessly.
To protect Konoha.
To live up to expectations.
And yet—
A kid dared mock him?
The anger burned.
Combined with earlier humiliation—
He snapped.
—
Inside the Hokage office—
Watching through the crystal ball—
Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes.
Though he couldn't hear them—
He could read their lips.
"…That boy…"
He was surprised.
Akira Ren showed no reaction to Wood Release.
But Tenzo's existence—
Was highly classified.
Even Tsunade shouldn't know.
"Unless…"
Hiruzen's pupils shrank.
"…No way."
—
"Wood Release: Great Forest Technique!"
Enraged—
Tenzo attacked.
"Swish—swish!"
Wooden vines burst from his arm—
Wrapping toward Akira Ren.
But—
Akira Ren didn't move.
He clenched his fist—
And punched.
"BOOM!!!"
Wood shattered instantly.
Fragments exploded everywhere.
Tenzo's pupils shrank—
But Akira Ren was already in front of him.
A terrifying punch—
Loaded with chakra—
Came crashing down.
"So this is Tsunade-sama's strength!?"
Tenzo broke into cold sweat.
He retreated rapidly, forming seals.
"Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"
"BOOM—"
The shield had just formed—
And was instantly blown apart.
Completely useless.
A spinning kick followed.
"BANG!!"
Tenzo barely blocked with crossed arms—
But was sent flying like a cannonball.
His arms numb.
"What kind of power is this!?"
Before he even landed—
"What!?"
His eyes widened.
Akira Ren—
Was already in front of him again.
"So fast—!"
Too late.
A hand—
Grabbed his head.
And slammed it into the ground.
"BOOM!!!"
The earth shattered.
Dust exploded.
A headless wooden dummy remained.
"Wood substitution…"
Akira Ren smirked.
"You ran pretty fast."
"Wood Release: Silent Binding!"
Without warning—
A massive vine burst from the ground—
Wrapping tightly around Akira Ren.
Restraining him completely.
Tenzo emerged nearby, breathing slightly heavily.
Looking at the cracked ground—
He wiped cold sweat.
"That was close…"
"If I were slower, I'd be dead."
Then he looked at Akira Ren—
Now bound.
"Impressive…"
"But—"
"I win."
"You're sure about that?"
Akira Ren smiled faintly.
"…!"
Tenzo's heart skipped.
Instinct screamed danger.
"Genjutsu—Release!"
But—
Too late.
His vision blurred.
And in the next instant—
Akira Ren was already right in front of him.
A swirling blue sphere—
Condensed in his palm.
"BOOM!!!"
It slammed into Tenzo's body.
"AAAAH—!!"
The impact exploded violently.
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