Chapter 34: Kumo's ANBU? Not So Impressive

BOOM!

The force of the punch was like a mountain crashing down.

The entire underground ANBU facility trembled, and the ground around Oroi cracked and collapsed.

But that wasn’t the shocking part—

Under the stunned gazes of the retreating ANBU members, Oroi actually staggered back, howling in pain.

His arm was burned.

And opposite him? Yoru stood unharmed, casually picking at his ear.

"He… blocked Oroi’s punch head-on?"

"No way. That’s impossible!"

In all their years, they’d never seen anyone except the Raikage take Oroi’s fist and walk away unscathed.

"This guy knows barrier techniques too? But this level of defense…"

"Even Oroi’s punch couldn’t break through?!"

The Kumo ANBU stared at Yoru like he was some kind of monster.

No wonder this bastard had the guts to assassinate the Mizukage.

"What’s wrong? All that barking, and you can’t even scratch my defense?"

"Guess Kumo’s ANBU isn’t as tough as I thought."

Yoru smirked, fanning the flames.

These guys wanted to put him in his place? They picked the wrong target.

If anyone was giving a "lesson" here, it was him.

"YOU LITTLE SHIT—! DON’T GET COCKY!!"

Oroi’s eyes burned crimson, his aura exploding like a raging beast.

He charged again, a human wrecking ball of pure fury.

But Yoru didn’t flinch.

"Genjutsu: Spirit Shackles!"

A single hand seal. A sharp glare.

Oroi gagged, the lightning around his body flickering out. His chakra stalled, refusing to obey.

"Too slow."

The barrier dropped—Yoru blitzed forward, white blade flashing.

THUNK!

The sword pierced Oroi’s shoulder, lightning crackling along the steel.

"You lose."

"G-Guh…!"

Electricity locked Oroi’s muscles. He couldn’t move.

"LET HIM GO!"

"KNOW YOUR PLACE, NEWBIE!"

"THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING!"

The other ANBU finally snapped out of their shock, rushing in.

Yoru leapt back, raising his hands innocently.

"Relax, everyone. Just testing my future teammates’ skills."

"If you don’t want dead weight… neither do I. Fair’s fair, right?"

He sheathed his sword, locking eyes with Oroi’s seething glare.

"If I were your enemy? Your head would already be rolling."

"YOU—!!"

Oroi’s rage boiled over, but before he could lunge—

"Enough."

The ANBU captain from earlier reappeared, his voice cutting like ice.

The pressure radiating from him made even Yoru tense.

Not quite Mei Terumī’s level, but close.

"One more stunt like this, ‘Kira’… and I’ll personally break you."

Yoru grinned, raising his hands. "Loud and clear, boss."

The captain shot Oroi a disgusted look. "Pathetic." Then vanished.

"See you around, boys~"

Yoru strolled off, ignoring the murderous glares drilling into his back.

"I’ll kill him…" Oroi snarled, fists shaking. "I SWEAR I’LL KILL HIM!"

The other ANBU exchanged glances.

"That guy… he’s almost squad-leader level."

Squad leaders were jonin-tier. Only a few were special jonin.

And Oroi—who could fight evenly with special jonin—had been crushed in seconds.

Raikage’s Office

The ANBU captain reported Yoru’s little "performance."

"Kid’s got a mouth on him," the Fourth Raikage grunted.

"Fine. Assign him grunt work—D-ranks, cleanup duty. Let’s see how long his pride lasts."

"This is Kumogakure. He’ll learn his place."

"Understood."

A dust-choked, spider-infested shack.

The ANBU delivered the "punishment" with a smirk, expecting outrage.

Instead?

"Makes sense. Gotta pay for my attitude, right?"

Yoru just shrugged.

"…You’re not mad?"

"What’s the point? Protesting won’t change anything."

"Huh. You’re… weird."

The ANBU left, baffled.

After cleaning (and mentally thanking the Raikage for giving him the perfect cover), Yoru collapsed onto his cot.

Low-profile missions? Perfect.

Less fighting, more intel gathering.

And every second not spent on the front lines was another second to get stronger.

"Kira, reporting for duty."

D-rank hell awaited:

• Weeding for Granny Yanagi.

• Trash duty in the river.

• House cleaning for Old Man Wada.

• More glorified chores…

"Well, well. If it isn’t the ‘mighty’ Kira?"

A shadow loomed over him. That obnoxious voice could only be—

Oroi.

"Where’s that big mouth from yesterday? Now you’re just a stray dog begging for scraps?"

Yoru ignored him.

Best way to deal with sore losers? Let them seethe in silence.

Besides—

"The dumber they think I am, the more they’ll let slip."

While the Raikage thought he was being "punished," Yoru was exactly where he wanted to be:

Invisible. Unnoticed. Free to observe.

And every second wasted on petty grudges was another second Kumo’s secrets went unguarded.