301-305

*Chapter 301: The Gates of Konoha Are Open for You*

To the north of Konoha, beyond the high walls, stretches an endless sea of trees. Hidden deep underground within this forest lies a vast space—not a natural cave, but a base carved out by human hands. Flickering lights gradually dispel the darkness, yet fail to completely mask the eerie, chilling atmosphere.

“Please follow me. Lord Orochimaru is in the lab,” the young guide said, turning around. His pale, patterned haori gently swayed as he moved, his long ponytail trailing down to his waist. Though he looked slim and somewhat frail, his guest could sense the considerable chakra concealed within his seemingly fragile frame.

“Seriously, Haku, don’t stick with that crazy Orochimaru. Come with me! With your temperament, Konoha is a better fit than following Orochimaru’s twisted path. If you’re not into fighting, you could work as a doctor at Konoha Hospital or with the pharmacists.”

Haku smiled faintly. “You’re joking. Lord Orochimaru gave me a purpose.”

His smile lit up the dim space momentarily, causing the guest to click his tongue in annoyance.

“Tch,” he muttered. “That lucky bastard, Orochimaru. First he had Kimimaro, and now he’s got you. I guess the Mist’s luck really is low! Anyway, Haku, remember—Konoha’s doors are always open for you. Come whenever you’re ready.”

By now, they had reached the laboratory inside the base.

“Oh, Susumu! I heard that, you know. Trying to poach my people on my turf—pretty shameless, don’t you think?” Orochimaru looked up from the experiment table, where he had been studying some notes, and cast a glance at both Haku and… Uchiha Susumu.

“Cut the crap. If I failed, there’s nothing to complain about. Wait until I succeed before whining.”

Orochimaru rolled his eyes, chuckling despite himself.

What kind of twisted logic was that?

No, it wasn’t even logic—it was pure nonsense. Orochimaru sneered. “Susumu, the only reason I haven’t killed you is because I can’t be sure I’d win. If I could, you’d be long gone.”

“More useless talk. If you were strong enough, Konoha would already be yours,” Susumu shot back, his tone aggressive. “Enough chit-chat. I’m not here to talk about pointless stuff. Any movements from the Akatsuki recently?”

“Same as usual. Three days ago, Pain used the Hologram Jutsu to hold a meeting, but nothing noteworthy came up. Kakuzu and Hidan, those two zombies, have been active around the Land of Rivers, but their exact location is unknown. My main body is with that loud brat Deidara in the Land of Waterfalls, but I can’t tell you the specifics. As for Pain… he’s probably still in the Hidden Rain Village.”

Orochimaru was unfazed about sharing intel on the Akatsuki, as he had done so many times before. From the start, he’d joined the organization with ulterior motives, so he felt no guilt over betraying their secrets. Besides, the paired-operations rule wasn’t strictly enforced; even Kakuzu couldn’t keep an eye on him constantly, let alone Deidara, who was still young and inexperienced.

If you’re wondering how Susumu and Orochimaru became allies, it’s pretty simple. Back when Konoha clashed with the Hidden Cloud, Susumu traded information with Orochimaru in exchange for the Banana Palm Fan, one of the Six Paths’ treasured tools. That first transaction naturally led to further collaborations.

Susumu wanted to get his hands on Orochimaru’s other Six Paths tools. Meanwhile, Orochimaru was interested in Susumu’s intelligence and items. The fact that Susumu was a Konoha elder and associating with a rogue like Orochimaru didn’t trouble him. Their alliance was purely business—when it no longer served him, Susumu would gladly cut off Orochimaru’s head, though he knew it might not be easy to finish off the slippery snake.

And so, Konoha’s advisor and an S-rank rogue ninja maintained a delicate cooperation.

“No signs of movement at all?” Susumu asked.

“Why, has something happened in Konoha?”

“You don’t know?”

“Oh! So something interesting did happen after all!” Orochimaru’s eyes narrowed.

It seemed his spies in Konoha needed a warning—or, if necessary, a complete replacement.

“So your intel network isn’t so perfect after all, Orochimaru. You didn’t even hear about this…” Susumu sneered. “But it’s no surprise. Technically, it hasn’t affected Konoha directly. The former Twelve Guardian Ninja, Kazuma, has attacked Hidden Cloud, Hidden Stone, and Hidden Mist over the past two months, capturing ninjas with kekkei genkai. His motives are unclear, but whatever it is, it’s bound to be bad news for Konoha. No clues on this on your end?”

“Kazuma of the Twelve Guardian Ninja… I know of him, but no, no activity in the organization that I’ve heard.”

Orochimaru frowned. He knew about Kazuma; he had once looked into the Tsuchigumo clan’s forbidden jutsu, but it didn’t pique his interest, and he was busy enough with the forbidden techniques left by the Second Hokage.

But he was well aware of the attack five years ago that left Eiki dead.

“Susumu, do you think Kazuma has any connection to the Akatsuki?” Orochimaru asked, catching on quickly to Susumu’s line of thought.

“No one’s mentioned recruiting Kazuma for the Akatsuki? You said Pain could use more manpower, so why not bring him in? Kazuma, as a former Guardian Ninja with the Tsuchigumo forbidden jutsu, isn’t exactly weak. Why wasn’t he recruited?”

Susumu’s retort caused Orochimaru to pause in thought.

“I’m just a minor player in the organization; it’s not my decision to make. But I see what you mean. You think that Pain, or perhaps that guy who claims to be Uchiha Madara, may have already reached out to Kazuma?”

It took only a moment for Orochimaru to understand Susumu’s implication.

“It’s a possibility, though I have no evidence.”

“That’s enough,” Susumu replied. “As long as your people don’t cause trouble, that’s all I need.” He had sought out Orochimaru to confirm the Akatsuki’s movements, just in case Kazuma and the Akatsuki were secretly plotting against Konoha. If so, it would be a nightmare, even for him. After all…

Each member of the Akatsuki is a top-tier ninja in the world. Pain, Konan, Kakuzu, Orochimaru, Deidara, Hidan... Even if one or two of them are less impressive, overall, if these people joined forces, they could easily take down a ninja village.

Just Pain alone nearly flattened Konoha by himself.

"Alright, that's all for now. I’m out."

With that, Sougen dismissed his shadow clone jutsu, disappearing in a puff of smoke.

At that moment, Haku entered the room with freshly made tea.

"Huh? He's already gone?" Haku blinked in surprise, looking down at the tray with two steaming cups, noticing Orochimaru as the only one left in the lab.

"He left quickly. I wanted to ask him about that thing with Hema hunting down those with kekkei genkai... Haku, head over to the Sound Village and get those idiots there to gather information about recent attacks on Cloud, Rock, and Mist ninjas. I can't believe there's been no report on this. Honestly... feel free to dispose of a few if necessary."

"Understood..." Haku responded.

With that, Orochimaru also dismissed his shadow clone.

Now, Haku stood alone in the spacious lab.

"The tea... guess I’ll just drink it myself?"

In Konoha, Hokage’s office.

"Ahh..." Sougen put down his pen, massaging his forehead and processing the intel his shadow clone had gathered. "Orochimaru's words aren’t entirely trustworthy, but… it seems Hema hasn’t fully aligned with the Akatsuki, at least not to the extent Orochimaru and the others have. This incident… it’s either Hema acting alone or that Uchiha Obito stirring up trouble behind the scenes."

Between the two possibilities, he leaned towards the latter.

Though Sougen hadn’t interacted with Hema personally, he doubted Hema had the skill to pinpoint and attack Cloud, Rock, and Mist ninjas with kekkei genkai over just a couple of months, while also avoiding any direct clashes with those villages. Such precise intel-gathering abilities were practically impossible for one person.

Even Orochimaru, with his extensive network and hideouts scattered across the ninja world, wouldn’t claim to know the affairs of all five villages at any moment. Orochimaru’s insight into Konoha’s intel stemmed from his roots in the village; even after multiple purges following his defection, some of his informants likely remained.

But Hema? As a former member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, he couldn’t have extended his reach into Cloud, Rock, and Mist villages so quickly. Doing so would require significant time and a team of trained spies. Planting agents within the five major ninja villages isn't easy.

Unless Hema had full support from the Daimyo of Fire and his organization, the Oniwabanshu.

"Knock, knock!"

A quick knock interrupted his thoughts.

"Come in! What’s the matter?" Sougen looked up as Kabuto entered with a sealed letter.

"Urgent intel," Kabuto said, handing over the letter. "This is a confidential report jointly sent by Mangetsu and Kakashi. Hema tricked them—Sumiru Mountain isn’t where he and his team are based, though they found something else there."

"…Chimeric beasts?" Sougen’s brows shot up as he skimmed the unusual term, “What kind of creatures are these? Strange hounds with crossbows on their backs? Self-regenerating snakes? Birds with exploding feathers... all merging into a bigger creature? What kind of nonsense is this? Do they have to press fingers together to combine or something?”

"Press fingers together?" Kabuto looked puzzled, wondering if this was some fusion ritual. Nothing in the letter mentioned it, so perhaps this was classified information from the advisor?

"I was joking—don’t worry about that. What matters now is the origin of these creatures. Mangetsu and Kakashi wouldn’t make this up, so Sumiru Mountain might not be Hema's hideout, but it seems someone is certainly creating monsters there… Also, why is Lady Tsunade with them?"

The letter wasn’t long.

But its content was full of surprises.

The letter described their encounters without clearly explaining what transpired, leaving Sougen confused.

"The source of these chimeric beasts is still unknown, but... check the end of the letter. It appears Lady Tsunade is quite familiar with these creatures, so we may have more intel soon."

"…Lady Tsunade is familiar with them?"

Sougen's frown eased.

Though they hadn’t tracked down Hema, strictly speaking, this mission wasn’t a complete failure. Encountering Tsunade, who seemed knowledgeable about these chimeric beasts, wasn’t a waste of effort. If they could use this opportunity to bring her back to the village and finalize the Fifth Hokage decision…

"Send a message to Kakashi and Mangetsu. Tell them it’s fine if they can’t find Hema, but they must bring Lady Tsunade back, no matter what method they need to use."

"…They’ll be quite frustrated."

"That’s their problem."

"I understand."

Kabuto shrugged, agreeing.

After all, it wasn’t his headache—let Kakashi and Mangetsu figure it out!

*Chapter 302: The Final Step of Evolution*

Kakashi truly had a headache.

Ever since receiving the reply from the village, his head had started to ache. The order from the Hokage's advisor was to find a way to invite Lady Tsunade back to the village. The order was simple enough, but how exactly they were supposed to "invite" this formidable figure was not specified—leaving them to figure it out on their own.

"Any ideas?"

Out of options, Kakashi opted for a brainstorming session with his team, hoping his companions could surprise him with a solution.

"No idea."

"Don't understand."

Uchiha Chizuru and Ringo Ameyuri were consistent with their personalities, which only extended to interests in battle and food. Anything beyond that, they weren’t interested. Kakashi, already mentally prepared for this response, didn’t expect them to offer anything useful.

Instead, he looked to Mangetsu, Itachi, and Kimimaro.

"I'm just as stumped as you."

Hozuki Mangetsu's face mirrored his frustration.

As a co-vice captain of the Konoha-Kirigakure Joint Investigation Unit, he and Kakashi held equal ranks, and this wasn’t just Kakashi’s responsibility—it was Mangetsu’s too. If Kakashi had no way out, Mangetsu had even fewer options. No matter how long he had stayed in Konoha, he remained a Kirigakure ninja. He doubted anything he said would influence Tsunade in any way.

"No ideas at the moment," was Kimimaro’s brief reply.

"...Lady Tsunade is coming over," Uchiha Itachi announced, standing up. They were still deep within the palace on Mount Sumi-lu, and clearing out the monsters there was only the first step of their investigation. Even though they had confirmed this wasn’t a hideout for Hamato and his group, that didn’t mean the place had no value.

Whoever was studying synthetic beasts here was unlikely to be an upstanding person. Since they had discovered such a stronghold, it was worth investigating thoroughly, especially as they had lost Hamato’s trail. The sensory ninjas were still combing the mountains, searching for any potential clues.

So, for the time being, they stayed.

"Lady Tsunade."

Kakashi greeted her cautiously. "Have you found anything?"

"The lab was well cleaned, and no documents were left behind," Tsunade replied, though her expression suggested it was more complicated. "But even the equipment left behind can be considered intelligence. I’ve checked everything over. Although much of it appears custom-made, the design principles align with those my great-uncle left behind."

"You’re saying…?"

Kakashi’s expression immediately changed, realizing this might somehow connect back to the village.

"The owner of this place was a Konoha ninja. Though… we should add ‘former’ before that title," Tsunade sighed softly.

"Could it be… Orochimaru?"

Even though he voiced the name himself, Kakashi couldn’t help feeling tense. Such an eerie place immediately made him think of Orochimaru. Among Konoha’s most infamous rogue ninjas, Orochimaru’s name might have faded among the newer generation, but Kakashi’s generation knew well the power of the Legendary Sannin.

And Orochimaru’s betrayal had once shaken Konoha to its core.

"No."

To everyone’s surprise, Tsunade shook her head.

"It’s not Orochimaru. This lab’s style is entirely different from his. That guy would never build such an ostentatious palace on the surface… he’s like a venomous snake who avoids the light. Even in a remote mountain like this, he wouldn’t expose his lab above ground. There are also other details that eliminate Orochimaru as a possibility."

"...Is that so?"

Kakashi gave a dry response. He wasn’t about to argue with Lady Tsunade’s expertise, though her words didn’t completely erase his doubts.

"I know you might still be wondering," Tsunade said, before Kakashi or Itachi could speak. "If I were in your shoes, I’d have suspicions too. But… I think I may know who’s behind all this."

"Huh?"

"Who is it?"

Kakashi, Mangetsu, and Itachi reacted with obvious curiosity, even Kimimaro’s eyes narrowing slightly.

However, instead of answering their question, Tsunade asked, "Kakashi, what are your plans from here?"

"From here… we’ll see if the Sensory Unit can find any leads. Our mission is to capture Hamato, the traitor of the Twelve Guardian Ninja. If we find a lead, we’ll pursue it. If not, we’ll likely return to the village. Why, Lady Tsunade—do you have something in mind for us?"

"I’m planning to return to Konoha. If you’re also planning to return, we could go together."

"Huh? Lady Tsunade, are you serious?"

Shizune, who had been quietly following behind Tsunade with her pet pig, suddenly spoke up, startling Tsunade. She had been so absorbed in her thoughts, and with Kakashi’s group nearby, hadn’t felt much need to stay vigilant about her surroundings.

Which led to her surprise when Shizune spoke up.

"Shizune, what are you so shocked about?"

"It’s just… are you really planning to go back to Konoha?"

"When have I ever lied to you? Besides, it’s just returning to Konoha. What’s got you so excited?" Tsunade scolded her disciple and assistant, then looked back to Kakashi and his team, adding, "Of course, if you need to continue your mission, I’ll go back alone."

"No, no, we’ll head back as well. It’d be great to go together," Kakashi replied quickly.

The mask hid his changing expressions, keeping Kakashi’s smile out of view. For once, he was genuinely happy. He had been troubled about how to convince Lady Tsunade to return to the village, even seeking advice from his team, but it all seemed like a wasted effort now.

Before he could even speak, Lady Tsunade had already decided to make a trip back to the village.

“Um… Lady Tsunade, is your return related to what's happening here?” Once his initial surprise subsided, Kakashi quickly realized that there had to be a reason behind her sudden decision.

And judging by the current situation, it was most likely related to the issues they were facing now.

"That's right. Although I could have explained some things in a letter... it's better to head back. That old fat man, Choza Akimichi, is having health problems again. It won't be long before the ANBU start flocking over like flies—no, like moths. It's a real hassle, so I might as well resolve it all on this trip."

Kakashi had already informed Tsunade about Choza’s health problems earlier.

He didn’t ask further about who was researching forbidden synthetic beasts here. Since Lady Tsunade was returning to the village, the Hokage's assistant could handle it from there. Their job was to ensure she got back to the village safely and as quickly as possible.

---

Miroku Mountain.

Hama stood on the balcony, silently gazing at the misty landscape veiled by a fine drizzle. He had been here for half a month since returning from a hunting mission in the Land of Water. Fortunately, his experiences over the past few years had accustomed him to waiting.

Though this was the first time he had been entirely alone.

Tenmu had not entered the mountain with him but had stayed outside, so when Hiruko disappeared, Hama was left as the only living person in the enormous palace. Of course, there were plenty of monsters roaming the halls, but they were hardly suitable company.

“You don’t seem to be adjusting well to the loneliness.”

A young, unfamiliar voice came from behind him, sounding somewhat childish.

Hama turned around to see a white-haired, red-eyed boy in a high-collared white robe walking toward the balcony step by step.

“You… Hiruko?”

Even though the thought was absurd, given that the palace seemed to house only him and Hiruko, the boy’s unique appearance—white hair and red eyes, though not Sharingan—could hardly be considered common. So, however bizarre it seemed, it might just be true.

“What? Hard to believe?”

“Of course it is! You look completely different from before,” Hama said, eyeing the ‘kid’ standing beside him. The high-collared robe couldn’t hide the bandages wrapped around his face, covering everything from his eyes downward. Maybe Hiruko’s condition wasn’t fully stabilized yet?

“Don’t focus too much on outward appearances. Changing forms is neither difficult nor meaningful to me. This look is just the most suitable state for my incomplete evolution. Once I complete the final step, I will achieve a new, perfect form.”

“The final step… is that the Sharingan?”

“Indeed.”

“Konoha won’t be easy to take on!”

“I’m more aware of that than you are. After all... I used to be a Konoha shinobi. And didn’t you want me to target Konoha? According to our agreement, you brought me the prey, and I will repay you with Konoha’s destruction.” Hiruko glanced at Hama from the corner of his eye.

“Hmph! Don’t be so full of yourself! I never expected you to destroy Konoha in one blow. Just gathering enough data will be good enough.” Hama had sensed an extremely dangerous aura from Hiruko, a warning from his instincts to stay away from this threat.

However—

He wasn’t one to live life based solely on instinct.

Though not exactly a benevolent character, Hiruko wasn’t one to betray a promise either. Hama didn’t think Hiruko would suddenly harm him, even if he was now a useless pawn.

“So, you still don’t trust my abilities?”

“I usually maintain some skepticism toward anything I haven’t seen or experienced firsthand!”

“I see. Well, I think you’ll find out soon enough.”

Hiruko stared at Hama. “But before we get into that, I really want to know… where did you get that gift you gave me? Something like that isn’t something you could possess. Be honest: who’s really behind you? What’s the purpose of giving me something like that?”

“Is it really that important?”

Hama smiled.

His confidence in dealing with Hiruko and his ominous aura came from that very gift—White Zetsu, a being with basic intelligence and the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai. He believed Hiruko could understand the implications of such a thing.

Until he figured out whether there was more going on behind Hama, Hiruko wouldn’t recklessly attack him.

“Whether or not I gave you that thing doesn’t change the plan, right? Destroying Konoha is still our goal. As for what comes after… we can deal with that after Konoha is gone.”

“You make a good point.”

Hiruko glanced at Hama deeply. “Once our deal is done, I hope you’ll give me a satisfactory answer. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to use more forceful methods to get what I want.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll get an answer, though I’m not sure if you’ll like it.”

“I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Their conversation ended there, and the two stood silently on the balcony for a long time.

Hama finally spoke up again. “So… how exactly are we going to carry out the plan? When will it start?”

“It won’t be long. I can’t stand remaining in this incomplete state for too long. I’m eager to complete the final step of my evolution. So, there won’t be much delay. Also, don’t worry about your body’s condition. Although I’m not in my complete form, the gift you brought me has helped immensely. I think… solving your issue before the plan starts shouldn’t be too hard.”

Hiruko’s words brought Hama some good news.

“Oh! That sounds… really great!”

Hama squinted his eyes, his smile growing even brighter.

This was indeed good news.

The incomplete integration of the Tsuchigumo Clan’s forbidden jutsu had been a huge problem for him. If he could finally resolve this hassle, all the effort he had put in, even at the cost of his companion Shiko’s life, would be worth it.

(End of the chapter)

*Chapter 303: Have You Heard the Name Hiruko?*

*Otogakure (The Village Hidden in Sound)*

This is a ninja village that has been established for less than five years. It is also the only new ninja village to emerge in the past fifty years.

In the early years after the "One Country, One Village" system was established and the new power balance among the Five Great Nations began to take shape, ninja villages sprang up like mushrooms after rain. Almost every nation created its own village, but the good times did not last.

The outbreak of the First Great Ninja War became the ultimate test.

Many small villages were wiped out by the shockwaves of the conflict, disappearing entirely. Only a few smaller villages survived, such as Takigakure (The Village Hidden in Waterfalls), Amegakure (The Village Hidden in Rain), Yukigakure (The Village Hidden in Frost), and Yugakure (The Village Hidden in Hot Water). Among them, only Takigakure, which had inherited the Seven-Tails, managed to thrive. The others struggled to survive, dependent on the whims of the Five Great Villages, leading very difficult lives.

The most stubborn of them, Amegakure, endured the harshest wars. Even the ambitious and formidable "Demi-God" was eventually worn down to mediocrity.

After the First Great Ninja War, the brutality of this new world—so different from the Warring States Period—caused many to abandon the idea of forming new villages. Instead, ninja clans settled for smaller communities of allied families, and many clans chose to preserve their own traditions rather than joining any village at all.

Their goal was not prosperity, but survival.

Therefore, the founding of Otogakure seemed like a miracle to many.

In the center of Otogakure, inside a relatively new and luxurious residence, a person named Haku sat gracefully on a tatami mat, watching the others in the room with a gentle yet distant gaze.

“Lord Haku, please have some tea!”

A middle-aged man wearing the Otogakure forehead protector offered an exaggeratedly enthusiastic smile.

He was the nominal leader of Otogakure.

Besides this leader, there were several elders in the room who represented the village's visible power structure.

The reason for this gathering was simple: Haku’s arrival.

“Forget the tea,” Haku said calmly. “If you have time to spare, you’d be better off submitting your intelligence reports. I have no personal grudge against you, but Lord Orochimaru’s orders are absolute. You can waste time trying to flatter me, but that won’t save you from Lord Orochimaru’s wrath.”

Haku’s words sent a chill down the spine of everyone present.

“Lord Haku, it’s not that we were neglecting our duties. Our intelligence division is simply not as capable as those of the larger villages. We couldn’t initially connect these recent attacks,” the leader of Otogakure pleaded, his distressed expression almost bringing him to tears.

“Oh, really?”

Haku chuckled lightly. “Let me remind you once again: I’m here on behalf of Lord Orochimaru, and he does not care about your excuses. He didn’t establish Otogakure to hear about how hard or unfair things are. If you can’t meet his demands, then... there is no need for Otogakure to exist.”

Although Haku’s smile was warm and charming, his words were as cold as the bitterest winter wind.

The leader's face turned pale, as if he were frozen in place, the tears that had been threatening to fall quickly retreating. Fear gripped his throat like a noose, and he struggled to breathe. If they angered Lord Orochimaru, death might be a mercy.

However, not everyone was intimidated.

As a village that had existed for less than five years, Otogakure’s power structure was still unstable, and its leaders were not all seasoned veterans. The power struggle continued, and although the leader remained, the faces of the elders had changed significantly.

“Lord Haku, while it’s true that Lord Orochimaru founded Otogakure, it’s not merely his plaything. We haven’t shirked our duties; we’ve just encountered some difficulties. To say that the village has no reason to exist because of a minor error is a bit harsh, don’t you think?”

The speaker was a young elder in his twenties, a talented and ambitious individual.

“Are you questioning Lord Orochimaru’s orders?”

Haku’s voice remained gentle.

“It’s not that—I just hope that Lord Orochimaru could understand the challenges we face. Otogakure has only been around for a few years, and we—” The young man’s words were abruptly cut off as ice spread from the tatami, forming a spear that pierced his chest. The tip of the spear emerged blood-stained.

The sound of dripping blood echoed in the room, and the scent of it filled the air.

The leader of Otogakure grew even paler. He hadn’t even seen Haku move. In an instant, one of the village’s top ten strongest ninjas was dead. If it had been him... his fate would have been the same.

Fear tightened its grip.

“How many times must I repeat myself?” Haku said. “Lord Orochimaru does not care about your reasons or difficulties. Your only task is to carry out his orders with everything you’ve got, not waste time on petty scheming.”

“Does anyone else have any objections?” Haku scanned the room.

“No, no, we will do our utmost to fulfill Lord Orochimaru’s commands,” the people of Otogakure hurriedly bowed, pressing their foreheads to the tatami in utmost respect. The sight of the still-warm corpse reminded them of who truly controlled Otogakure.

They were merely puppets under Orochimaru’s control.

“In one week, I want to see accurate intelligence,” Haku said softly. “Otherwise... next time, I won’t be so lenient.”

“Thank you, Lord Haku. Thank you.”

A week was indeed a generous reprieve.

Haku paid no further attention to these hypocrites. In truth, the intelligence didn’t matter anymore. His main purpose in coming to Otogakure was to warn these restless individuals not to waste their limited energy on trivial matters.

Still, even if the intelligence no longer held much importance...

But he also sensed a feeling of unease from that meeting between the Hokage's advisor and Lord Orochimaru. It felt as if the five years of peace the Shinobi world had enjoyed were about to come to an end.

"Sigh! Are we really headed for conflict again?"

The room, now with only Haku left in it, echoed with sighs of helplessness.

"Back again, huh?"

Standing at the gate of the Leaf Village, Tsunade looked at the familiar landscape that hadn’t changed much over the decades. Emotions swirled inside her. She’d been here four years ago, but four years—a thousand days—wasn’t exactly a short time.

And her heart had yet to fully untangle itself. Returning to this village, full of memories, wasn’t easy for her to stay calm. Just standing at the gate brought a flood of past images into her mind.

“So annoying!”

Tsunade shook her head vigorously, trying to rid herself of the troubling memories.

“Lady Tsunade, should we go…?” Kakashi asked from beside her. Since Tsunade hadn’t allowed them to alert the village ahead of time, no one came to welcome them. Likely, someone only now went to report their arrival at the gate! Not a bad thing—it kept things simple.

"Let’s go see that old guy Torifu Akimichi first!"

Tsunade, one generation younger than Torifu, was known for her sharp tongue but soft heart. She never held back verbally, even with her elders. But despite her harsh words, she cared deeply. As a medical ninja, her compassion was second nature.

Besides, there was another reason: Torifu was, after all, the Fifth Hokage.

It wouldn’t be proper to come back and not see the Hokage before anyone else. She had no interest in the village's disputes and preferred not to get involved, so it was best to follow protocol. Once her business was done, she could leave easily without being tied down.

Without Tsunade having to ask, Itachi Uchiha quickly found out that the Hokage was still at the Akimichi residence and hadn’t gone to the hospital for treatment.

With the Fifth Hokage’s location clear, Tsunade and the others headed toward the Akimichi clan’s estate.

By the time they reached the entrance, Choza Akimichi was already there waiting. It seemed someone had gone ahead to notify him of their arrival. The village gate wasn’t just guarded by a few sentries; there were likely many hidden Anbu around, and each clan probably had people keeping an eye on things to catch any changes in the village right away.

“Didn’t I tell you, Torifu, you need rest for that condition? If you keep working, it’s bound to flare up again—and worse each time!” Tsunade walked into the room, seeing Torifu Akimichi seated behind a low table on the tatami. She didn’t hesitate to sit across from him.

“You’re back, huh, Tsunade?”

Hearing the familiar voice unchanged by time, Torifu smiled and greeted her.

“I had to come back. The Anbu running all over the place is such a hassle. And… I didn’t just come to treat you. There are other things I need to handle, too.”

“Seems like I’m causing you trouble again!”

“Enough with the excuses. I told you your treatment’s just a side thing; I’m here because I have other business to take care of.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

“…Have you ever heard of the name Hiruko?” Tsunade paused for a couple of seconds before asking.

“Hiruko? Hmm! That’s the name of a rogue ninja, right?” Torifu thought for a moment. “I remember seeing it on the rogue list. If I’m not mistaken, it said he’d been missing for years, even presumed dead. Did you…?”

“Tsunade-senpai, are you saying Hiruko is behind what happened at Mount Shumiru?”

A voice came from outside the room.

“So you came too, Sougen?” Though Torifu could no longer see, his hearing had only grown sharper.

“Forgive the intrusion,” Sougen said, sliding the door open and entering the room with only Tsunade and Torifu inside.

As soon as Sougen heard that Tsunade was back and had gone to see the Hokage, he set aside his work and headed straight for the Akimichi residence. Just as he reached the door, he overheard the name “Hiruko,” sparking a memory that connected with the monsters Kakashi had reported.

And also with the kidnapped ninja who possessed Kekkei Genkai.

“No need to apologize. Have a seat.” Torifu pointed to an empty spot nearby. Though he could no longer see, he knew the room’s layout perfectly.

“So, what happened at Mount Shumiru? What’s the issue?” Torifu asked.

“It’s related to the attacks on the Cloud, Stone, and Mist shinobi,” Sougen replied after sitting. “Thanks to Lady Tsunade’s insight, otherwise I wouldn’t have considered that it might be linked to the Chimera Technique.”

“So you figured it out?”

Tsunade looked at him.

“More or less. I think Homma and Hiruko might have teamed up. Homma’s attacks on the Cloud, Stone, and Mist might not be for himself but part of Hiruko’s plan—maybe to use the Chimera Technique to absorb their Kekkei Genkai?”

“Seems you know a lot about Hiruko.”

“I did some research in the past.”

Sougen spoke frankly.

It wasn’t even cheating with memories from a past life. He had once considered working with several people, including Hiruko, while studying White Zetsu’s body. But before he could pursue Hiruko, Sasori had conveniently fallen into his hands, and he’d forced the puppet master to cooperate instead.

But before that, he’d thoroughly investigated Hiruko, combing through old, sealed archives.

“Wait a moment, you two. I know about the Chimera Technique—Lord Tobirama created it as a forbidden jutsu to merge with summoned beasts. But it was sealed by the First Hokage because it violated ethical boundaries. How… how could it fuse with Kekkei Genkai? That’s impossible!”

Although Torifu could not see, he instinctively widened his eyes, his cloudy, vacant gaze fixed on the two before him.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 304: Surging Malice*

"The Second Hokage was the pioneer; Orochimaru, Hiruko, and others followed in his footsteps and furthered his work. The jutsu the Second Hokage created were initially simple in purpose, but those who came after weren't simply regurgitating his ideas. And while it was challenging for the Second Hokage to break new ground, these successors merely refined and expanded on his work, which wasn’t difficult for them."

Sosuke spoke with a note of reassurance.

The unknown is what makes people uneasy.

Once you understand what you're dealing with, you can confront it with strategy and readiness. Still, the fact that Homma has teamed up with Hiruko was unexpected... though fitting. It’s like finding like, after all. When the time comes, we'll root them out at their base. Of course, that requires either them making the first move or us locating their true hideout.

“Exactly. Hiruko has always been fixated on talent, believing that his lack of it was why he couldn’t keep up with Jiraiya, Orochimaru, or me, ignoring his own potential in research. He’s already made progress in enhancing the forbidden jutsu created by our predecessors. If you’re interested, find Shikaku or Torifu and have them help you read his notes.”

Tsunade caught herself mid-sentence, realizing Torifu’s eyesight was failing, and quickly adjusted her words.

“Combining Kekkei Genkai... It’s unimaginable. But if Homma and Hiruko are working together, could their target be Konoha?” Torifu didn’t mind Tsunade’s slip, but his Hokage instincts picked up the looming danger.

Homma is a traitor to the Twelve Guardian Ninja, an anti-Konoha extremist who’s to be killed on sight. Hiruko, however, became a rogue shinobi due to his forbidden jutsu research. Though he might not be as fixated on destroying Konoha as Homma, it’s unlikely Hiruko is merely experimenting with Homma. More likely, they’re both aiming to cause trouble for Konoha.

"Most likely," Sosuke nodded. "It's wise to prepare for the worst rather than be blindly optimistic. But let’s not worry too much; after all, they’re just two people. Even if they’ve mastered certain forbidden jutsu, they’re unlikely to pose a serious threat. Konoha isn’t so fragile, and we don’t need to panic over risks that have yet to materialize."

"Risks that have yet to materialize? Shouldn't they be imminent?" Tsunade interjected. "Cloud, Stone, and Mist have all suffered attacks, with three Kekkei Genkai users captured. Konoha could easily be the next target, given we don’t know how ambitious Hiruko and Homma are. The Uchiha and Hyuga clans could be at risk." Her tone wasn’t harsh, but her concern for the village was evident.

“That’s why I’ve already issued orders: genin and chūnin are forbidden from leaving the village, and jōnin must go in pairs when on missions. The Hyuga clan has also been alerted, though honestly, they only need to protect the main branch, which makes things easier for them.”

Sosuke answered calmly.

“As long as you’re prepared.”

Tsunade nodded, falling silent.

At that moment—

“Hah!” 

Torifu sighed deeply.

Listening to Tsunade and Sosuke’s conversation, the Fifth Hokage’s heart was in turmoil. The responsibility his position demanded clashed with his helplessness from his blindness, creating a complex wave of emotions. After five minutes, he spoke.

“…Tsunade, could you examine my eyes? I want to know if there’s any chance I could regain my sight.”

Then—

“Sosuke.”

“Hokage-sama.”

“I won’t keep you here. There’s plenty of work in the village that will need your attention, so go on.”

It was clearly a dismissal.

Although Sosuke wanted to see if Torifu could regain his sight, the Fifth Hokage didn’t want him to stay. So, he excused himself; he would learn the results of Tsunade’s diagnosis later anyway.

…

*"It’s difficult."*

In Torifu’s reception room, a group had gathered. Originally stationed outside, Chōza and the newly arrived Shikaku and Inoichi now crowded the doorway, watching Tsunade examine Torifu. Then they heard the answer they’d feared, though it was hard to accept.

“Tsunade-sama, does ‘difficult’ mean there’s still a chance?” Before Torifu could respond, Shikaku couldn’t help but ask.

“There’s a possibility of partial recovery.” Tsunade nodded but didn’t let them become too hopeful. "But the chance is small, and the recovery process would be long and uncertain. Ideally, it would take at least a year, and that’s only if everything goes smoothly. Any setbacks, and it could stretch to two or three years.”

“And rest is crucial. Working two days, then resting three, is just wishful thinking. That would eliminate the small chance he has of recovering his sight.”

Tsunade’s words were like cold water extinguishing their hope.

Shikaku quickly realized—

The Hokage will have to be replaced.

Konoha couldn’t function with a Hokage unable to work for over a year, let alone one who couldn’t rely on aides like Shikaku to manage the village from behind the scenes.

“Looks like my luck has run out.”

Torifu sighed softly, then smiled. “Honestly, I’ve accomplished more than I ever dreamed. Greed is never a good thing... Tsunade, what are your plans?”

“I’ll stay in the village for a while. The medical nin here are skilled, so treatment won’t be an issue.”

“Not that—I meant, will you continue wandering forever?”

“Who knows? I’ll take it one day at a time.” Tsunade studied him thoughtfully. “But if I do settle back here, I’d likely retire at the hospital. I’m tired of all the ninja conflicts. I have no interest in taking on the village’s burdens. Let the younger generation carry that weight.”

She had no intention of getting entangled in the village's endless disputes.

As for the Hokage's heavy responsibility, she felt no desire for it.

Ever since the deaths of her younger brother and lover, her heart had been left shattered. If it hadn’t involved Hiruko, an old classmate with whom she still had a bit of a bond, and her annoyance at being disturbed by the Anbu, as well as a touch of nostalgia for her hometown, she wouldn’t have bothered to return to the village.

“...Not interested?”

Akimichi Torifu sighed with a helpless smile.

Had he known this would be her response, he wouldn’t have mentioned it at all. Fortunately, Sougen wasn’t here, and besides Tsunade, there were no outsiders present. But Tsunade likely wouldn’t stir up any trouble, so his momentary slip shouldn’t be an issue.

---

“I originally thought that if I could resolve my issues by the end of the year, that would be great. But it’s only the end of summer, and it’s all settled. This sense of freedom, without any lingering burdens, is something I’ve truly missed.”

Kama stretched his arms and legs, loosening up his stiff body after lying on the operating table for so long.

Following a seven-hour surgery, the problem that had plagued him for five years—the inability to fully integrate the Tsuchigumo Clan’s forbidden technique—was finally resolved. Now, he could feel the technique’s power coursing steadily through his body.

Whenever he needed, he could use this power at will.

And now, he no longer had to worry about it causing additional burdens. Of course, the original restrictions remained—such as the immobility requirement while performing the technique—limitations inherent to the forbidden art that even Hiruko couldn’t erase.

“If you want to make a ruckus, go outside. Stop bouncing around like a monkey in here. If you knock over my medicine cabinet, I swear I’ll fuse a monkey’s limbs onto you,” Hiruko said coldly, casting a sharp glance at Kama while organizing his medicine.

“Hey, don’t be like that! We’re allies, after all!”

“A relationship based on mutual benefit isn’t worth talking about emotionally; that’s just laughable and foolish.”

“Hmph, so heartless.”

Kama sighed.

He might have been talking back, but his movements started to calm down.

Hiruko’s presence felt far more menacing than before. After completing what he called “evolution”—well, almost completing it, to be exact—Hiruko’s mere presence now radiated intense pressure.

But this was good!

The stronger Hiruko became, the more hope there was to overthrow the giant that was Konoha! Though his personal issues prevented him from acting against Konoha in the past five years, this time allowed him to better understand its strength. His previous self had underestimated Konoha, and, honestly, if it weren’t for that realization, he might not have accepted Uchiha Obito’s plan so readily.

Part of his cooperation with Hiruko was because Hiruko could potentially solve his problem, but he was also open to the idea of an ally.

“Hiruko, now that the treatment is done, what’s your next move? Need any help?” Kama asked, turning to the matter at hand.

“Aren’t you planning to just sit back and watch?”

“Being involved is essential.”

“Do what you like; it’s your call. Just stay clear of me when it happens. If I accidentally kill you...well, you’ll just have to blame your own bad luck. If I remember, I’ll maybe clean up your corpse.” Hiruko said as he finished organizing his medicines and left the operating room, heading down to the palace’s underground training grounds.

Before the operation, he needed some time to get familiar with his newfound power.

He wasn’t one of those research-obsessed scholars. During the Second Shinobi World War, the name “Sannin” rose to fame. Although he didn’t carve out a name like Jiraiya and the others, he had experienced the entire war firsthand. He had no lack of battle experience.

Moreover, Konoha still had a few powerful figures left. Being overly confident could lead to a mistake, and he didn’t want his first appearance after years in hiding to have any flaws.

“Storm Release...Lava Release...Boil Release, and...Wood Release!”

In the depths of the earth, murmurs echoed through the empty training grounds, chilling like the whispers of a demon.

…

A minute after Hiruko left the operating room:

“Seems like your plan might be doomed to fail,” Kama said with a hint of schadenfreude as he looked at Uchiha Obito, who was emerging from the wall with his orange, swirled mask. “Hiruko has no intention of cooperating with me!”

“No matter.”

Obito glanced at the smug Kama.

“If Hiruko doesn’t intend to cooperate, then each of you can act independently. Besides...your targets and his will never overlap.”

“Isn’t that obvious? Hiruko is after the Three Tomoe Sharingan, and that isn’t on the list of targets you gave me,” Kama muttered under his breath.

“Also, cooperation doesn’t always require prearranged agreements. If planned correctly, a perfect coordination can still be achieved. Just stay sharp, Kama. If everything goes smoothly, even if we can’t completely destroy Konoha, we can still deal a devastating blow.”

“And what about you? Aren’t you going to act?”

Kama suddenly asked.

“If you took this opportunity, we might truly have a chance to bring down Konoha.”

“If the opportunity arises!”

With that vague answer, Uchiha Obito vanished.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 305: Hiruko’s 'Gift'*

The atmosphere in the village has been tense lately.

There are more ninja officers patrolling the streets, the screening for entering and leaving the village has become stricter, and with all the rising rumors, the Fifth Hokage, who has been blind, has yet to make a public appearance to reassure the people… it would be a lie to say things aren’t tense.

Of course, these are adult matters.

For the students of the ninja school, now on summer vacation, these adult concerns don’t matter to them. Most of them only care about enjoying a fun summer break. However, not all students have their minds set only on play; a few diligent kids work hard even during the holidays.

That’s right,

We’re talking about—

Tsuchigumo Hotaru.

Among the well-known students in their sixth year at the ninja academy is a boy named Lee Rock, famous for his extreme dedication to training. But few know that there’s a fifth-grade girl who trains herself just as hard, as long as it doesn’t kill her.

Though Hotaru often hangs out with Kurama Yakumo and Uchiha Fujiha, going shopping, watching movies, or eating sweets together, few realize that she uses Shadow Clones to continue her training at home even while out.

She’s even pushed herself to the point of hospitalization several times.

Her desire for 'revenge' gives her unique qualities, such as an endurance for pain, a resolve to see her beliefs through to the end, and the drive to keep pushing forward… even her mentor, Sougen, eventually accepted her borderline self-destructive training methods, only ordering her to get regular check-ups at the hospital.

“Hotaru, it’s noon—time to take a break and have lunch.”

Uchiha Fujiha checked the time, catching her breath as she threw her last shuriken at the wooden stake, landing a perfect hit.

They were training at the police department’s internal training grounds. Even though it was summer, they clearly weren’t allowed to wander unsupervised. Sougen, overwhelmed with work, had decided to send his two disciples and only sister to train at the police department.

This way, they could access all the training facilities and wouldn’t have to worry about safety.

If Hotaru pushed herself too far again, there were medical ninjas on duty who could help in an emergency.

“…Alright!”

Hotaru reluctantly wiped off the marks on her palm.

“Don’t be so unwilling! Training needs to be balanced with rest. Overdoing it will lead to… uh, what’s it called again? Half the work for double the effort?”

“It’s double the work for half the result!”

Kurama Yakumo, who was honing her drawing skills nearby, corrected Fujiha’s mistake.

The three girls, each with different bloodline abilities and secret techniques, naturally had different training methods. They trained together for three reasons: one, to spar and avoid shutting themselves off from reality—true improvement requires facing real combat.

Second, the girls had grown used to being together and, unless necessary, didn’t want to be apart.

Third, being together made it easier for Sougen to guide them. If he found one of them, he knew the other two wouldn’t be far, which saved him the time of searching, especially since he was quite busy these days.

“Okay! Half the work… uh, double the work for half the result—it doesn’t feel that different to me!”

Fujiha muttered under her breath.

“Oh, there’s a huge difference, believe me!”

After cleaning up her sketchbook, Yakumo joined her two friends for a quick shower at the police department bathhouse and changed clothes. Being able to relax with a nice hot shower after training was one of the reasons they liked practicing at the police department’s facilities.

Public training grounds in the forest were spacious,

but jumping into the river to bathe after sweating wasn’t an option. Naruto and Sasuke could get away with that, but it wasn’t the same for girls.

“So… what should we eat for lunch? The cafeteria?”

Yakumo asked her friends as she brushed her hair.

“Eh? The cafeteria again? Let’s go out! How about ramen? We haven’t had ramen since break started.” Fujiha’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked at them. Yakumo shrugged, and Hotaru nodded in agreement.

“Ichiraku Ramen?”

“Definitely! I love their soy sauce ramen the most.”

Fujiha couldn’t help but gulp at the thought.

Ichiraku Ramen wasn’t too far from the police department building, at least compared to their previous police headquarters. However, when they arrived at Ichiraku Ramen, they found a long line stretched out front—it was peak lunch hour.

As Konoha’s number one ramen shop, Ichiraku was as popular as ever.

But standing in the hot sun to wait was hardly enjoyable for the girls.

“What should we do? Should we wait?”

Under the shade, Hotaru whispered to Fujiha.

“…Sigh! All we wanted was some ramen. Why does it have to be so hard?” Fujiha sighed in disappointment. “Forget it; let’s find another place. Yakumo, Hotaru, any other place you want to try?”

“Over there—isn’t that Naruto and Sasuke?”

Yakumo pointed out two boys near the front of the line: a blonde and a dark-haired one, the latter sporting the Uchiha clan fan symbol on his back.

“Let me see!”

Upon hearing Yakumo’s question, Fujiha perked up and looked over, spotting the two boys’ backs. “Ah!… Their relationship is as good as ever, huh? Hey, Yakumo, Hotaru, do you think… they’re, you know?”

“Probably not.” Hotaru thought it over seriously and found it unlikely.

“But look, they’re inseparable, even on vacation.”

“Didn’t we spend every day together?”

“That’s different! We live together, but Naruto and Sasuke don’t. And we’re three, while they’re just two.”

Listening to her friends debate a completely baseless theory, Yakumo rolled her eyes.

Honestly,

what nonsense.

She should’ve just pretended not to notice.

“Cough, cough!”

Yakumo cleared her throat, "Let’s not get off-topic! Weren’t we talking about lunch? You two veered way too far off, especially you, Fujiwara. Stop reading that kind of stuff so much. What are you even thinking about all day?"

"Hmph! You have way more manga than I do, Yakumo."

Fujiwara muttered, clearly annoyed at the scolding.

Wham!

Yakumo swiftly delivered a karate chop to Fujiwara’s head.

The girl who once sat in a wheelchair was now a memory. The present Kurama Yakumo could precisely deliver a blow to Fujiwara — though only after restraining her with an illusion, as Fujiwara, with her single-tomoe Sharingan, was no match for Yakumo's genjutsu.

“Ugh! Always bullying me with your genjutsu,” Fujiwara mumbled, rubbing her head in frustration, though her voice was barely audible. Yakumo rolled her eyes and said irritably, "Stop wasting time. Just tell me what you want for lunch already!"

"How about..."

Hotaru started to say but stopped midway when she noticed Yakumo’s expression change. Yakumo stepped out from the shade of the roof, standing on the sun-scorched street as she tilted her head to look at the sky.

She wasn’t the only one.

A blond-haired boy waiting outside Ichiraku Ramen also stepped out of line, standing in the middle of the street, craning his neck to gaze upwards.

“What’s going on?”

Fujiwara and Hotaru exchanged glances, then mimicked Yakumo by moving into the street and looking up at the sky... where they saw a strange-looking bird circling in the blue sky.

“A bird?”

Under the gaze of many, the odd bird shook its body,

and then,

its feathers began to float down, one by one.

———

Now, let’s rewind about five minutes.

At the main gate of Konoha, the two large doors were wide open, as usual, welcoming visitors from all around the world. However, due to the recent tense atmosphere in the village, the flow of people had noticeably decreased. Many local merchants and nobles had also chosen to leave the village to avoid the heat.

It seems that a good number of people were perceptive.

Typically, Konoha’s security was the best in the Shinobi World, but if something went wrong, it usually meant major trouble—like the night of the Nine-Tails' attack, which left a deep scar in the minds of Konoha’s residents.

That was the first time Konoha had experienced such significant casualties.

No matter how brutal the battles on the frontlines, the villagers had always felt safe within Konoha. But after that night, the idea of Konoha’s safety became a fragile, ever-changing notion.

“There aren’t many people around.”

“Yeah, fewer than yesterday...and the forest is unusually quiet, too.”

The guards at the gate sensed something was off.

Don’t think guarding the gate is a trivial job. Konoha’s main gate wasn’t guarded by Jonin since, realistically, there would be little for a Jonin to do here. But since it’s the face of Konoha, seasoned Chunin were assigned to this duty.

The Chunin noticed something strange.

People had vanished from the road, and the forest around them was silent. This wasn’t the restful quiet of winter — the blazing sun above was still giving off endless heat, and it was the season of life and vitality. Normally, the forest would be filled with the sounds of birds and insects, as if a whole symphony were playing.

But now,

the only sound was the rustling of leaves in the wind.

“Someone, go check on…”

The captain’s words trailed off as a small figure appeared on the otherwise empty road.

It wasn’t a trick of the distance; the figure was genuinely small. After guarding this gate for so long, they could tell: the figure looked like a child…or maybe a dwarf.

As the figure got close enough to reveal its features, they saw it was wearing a white high-collared cloak that covered half its face. Due to the height difference, they could just see a face half-wrapped in bandages, making it impossible to identify.

But,

the sheer pressure emanating from this person was enough to show that this was no lost child.

“Stop! Who are you?” the captain demanded loudly.

The others fell into defensive stances.

“Konoha ninja, Hiruko,” the figure responded smoothly, stopping as instructed.

However—

“…What?”

The unexpected answer threw the captain and his team off. They had been ready for the dwarf to attack, but instead, they got…this. Was he one of them? This had to be a joke, right?

As a guard, he didn’t know every single person in the village, but someone with such distinctive looks would definitely be memorable.

The issue was, he had no recollection of anyone named “Hiruko.”

“Konoha ninja? Sorry, I don’t recognize you. Do you have any ID or proof of identity?” the captain asked. He still had a bad feeling about this visitor but was willing to buy some time, hoping for backup to arrive.

“It’s been many years, so it’s understandable you don’t recognize me.”

Hiruko looked up at the large gates before him, seemingly unchanged from his memory.

“Many years?”

The captain pondered. Was he a rogue ninja? He couldn’t recall any rogue ninja matching this dwarf’s description… Wait, Hiruko? Wasn’t that the name of a rogue ninja? But if he remembered correctly, the rogue in the wanted posters was a regular-sized adult.

“The timing should be just about right. Your Hokage must have spotted me by now, right? Wireless transmission…quite convenient indeed.”

Hiruko’s gaze settled on the camera above the gate, and he let out a mocking laugh.

The guards immediately tensed up.

In an instant, Hiruko’s laughter ceased. He looked up, opened his mouth, and fired a laser beam that pierced through the approaching masked Anbu in white cloaks. Hiruko’s body then emitted a steam-like vapor, moving at speeds too fast for the eye to follow, dodging attacks from all sides and below.

Then,

his lava-coated fist punched through two Anbu bodies.

At the same time, he stomped down with his lava-encased right foot, melting the skull of the Anbu trying to retreat underground.

The entire battle lasted less than three seconds.

An entire Anbu squad was eliminated in an instant.

“All right, with the flies out of the way, it’s time for the main show.”

Hiruko clapped his hands lightly, signaling his forces. From the dense forest beyond Konoha’s gate, a swarm of twisted, monstrous birds filled the sky, and ferocious dogs and deadly serpents flooded out of the trees, a massive dark tide surging forward.

“Ahhh!”

“What are those things?”

The gate guards screamed, but soon, all sound was drowned out by the oncoming swarm of beasts.

“It’s been a long time…now, enjoy this homecoming gift of mine! My dear hometown!” Standing atop Konoha’s gates, Hiruko laughed gleefully.

(End of Chapter)