Chương 74: Quick

With an expression of disinterest, he observed the group of wandering ninjas approaching the door.

"Looks like we have a group of novices in front of us," Chen commented disdainfully. "I think you can handle this without my help."

His assessment wasn't out of place. Wandering ninjas, known for their lack of formal training and refined techniques, were considered the lowest rung in the shinobi world hierarchy. Even renegade ninjas, pursued by their own villages, looked down on these vagabonds.

Most of these individuals had stumbled upon the art of chakra refinement by mere chance, becoming a pale imitation of a ninja through self-learning. Without a mentor to guide them or jutsus, they rarely posed a serious threat.

He speculated that this particular group had been drawn to Amegakure by the promise of loot in the midst of war.

Although Chen, Mikoto, and Kushina far surpassed these intruders, the rest of the group - Minato, Nawaki, Tomo, and the others barely reached the level of an average Chūnin.

'If they can't handle these guys,' he thought, 'then maybe they don't deserve to wear the Konoha symbol on their foreheads.'

As he watched his companions prepare for the confrontation, he leaned back against the wall.

"Of course we can handle this!" Nawaki, with eyes shining with excitement, approached the door.

The leader spat on the ground. "A handful of brats dare to belittle us," he growled, his voice laden with anger.

Despite their bravado, it was evident that they felt a twinge of inferiority in front of the Konoha graduates. However, seeing a group of children looking at them with disdain ignited their fury.

A killing aura spread like a mist, causing Nawaki and Minato to instinctively step back. Fear was reflected in their eyes, their bodies visibly tensing.

Observing from the side, Chen couldn't contain his sigh. "Nawaki, Minato," he said disdainfully, "weren't you the ones talking about becoming Hokage? And here you are, trembling at a simple killing aura. Pathetic."

These words acted as a catalyst. Nawaki, as if he had been electrocuted, stood up straight. "Who... who's afraid?!" he stammered, before his voice found strength. "I'm not afraid of them!"

The leader let out a scornful laugh. "Insolent brat, I'll show you the difference between you and a real ninja."

In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from sight, reappearing behind Nawaki. His kunai gleamed before sinking into the young man's chest.

"Too easy," he boasted, a triumphant smile on his face.

But his victory was ephemeral. Before his incredulous eyes, Nawaki's body transformed into a piece of wood.

"What the hell?" muttered the Chūnin, his confidence evaporating as quickly as it had appeared.

"We'll help you," whispered one of the Genin, before lunging forward with determination.

Minato and the others, aware of the imminent danger, reacted with speed, blocking the advance of the six enemy Genin.

The Ino-Shika-Chō Trio deployed their formation with perfect synchronization. Shikaku, with a subtle gesture of his hands, activated his Jutsu: Shadow Imitation. The shadows extended like dark tentacles over the wet ground, trapping two of the enemies.

Taking advantage of the immobilization, Choza used his Jutsu: Multi-Size. His body expanded grotesquely, becoming a mass of flesh and muscle that lunged at the trapped ninjas. The impact was devastating, crushing bones and organs with brutal force.

Meanwhile, Inoichi formed the seals for his Jutsu: Mind Body Switch. In an instant, his consciousness transferred to the body of one of the enemy Genin.

Quickly, he guided the controlled ninja's hand to his own neck, forcing him to commit suicide with his kunai.

Minato faced two Genin simultaneously, his face showing an unsettling serenity. Beside him, Hizashi executed the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms. His blows shattered the internal organs of his opponent, who fell to the ground spitting blood.

Tomo, with her Chakra chains, immobilized the other ninja. The chains coiled around the enemy's body, tightening more and more until the cracking of breaking bones was heard.

The Chūnin leader, observing the massacre from a short distance, felt a chill run down his spine. The efficiency of these young Konoha ninjas was terrifying. How could children be capable of such cruelty?

Sensing the Chūnin's distraction, Nawaki seized the moment. With a quick movement, he knocked down the enemy leader with a punch and began forming seals with both hands.

"SUITON: SUIRYŪDAN NO JUTSU!" he shouted.

The humid environment enhanced the water jutsu.

A colossal dragon, formed by rainwater and Nawaki's chakra, materialized with a roar.

The water dragon lunged at the Chūnin, engulfing him completely. When the jutsu dissipated, only blood remained.

Panting from the effort, Nawaki looked horrified at the result. The smell of death and exposed entrails hit him hard, causing instant nausea.

"Nawaki, you idiot, why did you make it so bloody?" asked Hizashi with a pale face.

"It's... it's the first time I've used this ninjutsu against a person," Nawaki managed to say, leaning against a nearby tree as he vomited repeatedly. "I didn't know it would cause... this."

Meanwhile, Minato, for his part, finished off the last enemies. With a precise movement, he slit a Genin's throat with his kunai. For the last opponent, he used a wind technique, cleanly decapitating him.

...

Nawaki, still pale-faced from nausea, but with a spark of pride in his eyes, looked around.

His chest swelled slightly as he declared, "These people seemed strong, but... why weren't they really? We took them out so easily..."

From the safety of the hotel, Chen observed him with critical eyes, "Killing a ninja who doesn't even know how to use ninjutsu is nothing to be proud of, Nawaki. When you face a real ninja, you'll understand how weak you really are."

Nawaki's face went from pride to confusion in an instant. Chen, without giving him a break, continued:

"I say this for your own good. Arrogance is a poison. Your strength is... satisfactory, but you're far from being truly strong."

He paused for a moment, letting the silence amplify his words. Then, in a tone that chilled everyone's blood, "I'm not even mentioning the Jōnin. Even a real Chūnin could finish you off in the blink of an eye."

The others exchanged uncomfortable glances, the adrenaline of battle giving way to the realization of their own vulnerability.

Noticing that everyone was completely soaked and shivering slightly, Chen changed his tone:

"Come on, hurry up and get into the hotel! You need to change those wet clothes. If any of you catch a cold or fever, don't expect me to help you find medicine."

...

Among the shadows of the ruined buildings, an imposing figure appeared, his eagle mask gleaming faintly under the light. The Blood Eagle, with his cold voice, gave his orders:

"Disperse and find them. Once located, eliminate everyone except the Kyubi Jinchūriki. There must be no mistakes."

The ten men accompanying him nodded silently before disappearing.

The Blood Eagle was left alone, his eyes fixed on the ruins in front of him. What was once Kenji Yamada's majestic mansion was now nothing more than a pile of blackened rubble and charred wood.

"Kenji Yamada... really dead," he muttered to himself, a hint of frustration in his voice. "Who had the power to do this?"

His thoughts were interrupted by the memory of his main mission.

Thinking of Danzo, his fists clenched. He was Danzo's most trusted subordinate, the strongest under his command, bordering on Kage level. That they had sent him on this mission only underlined the importance of the Kyubi Jinchūriki.

After one last glance at the ruins, he vanished into the night.

Barely minutes after his departure, another group emerged from the shadows. They were dressed similarly to the Blood Eagle.

"Captain Matsuda," called one of the Jōnin. "There are footprints here, fresh."

Matsuda, the ANBU Vice-Captain, approached to examine the marks in the muddy ground. His face, normally impassive, showed a shadow of concern.

"Someone has gotten ahead of us," he muttered, frowning. "And we don't know if they're friends or enemies."

Straightening up, he looked at his team. The rain fell on their ANBU masks, creating a ghostly effect in the twilight.

"Split up and search," he ordered. "If you find the target, launch a flare. And remember, if you encounter ninjas from other villages, avoid conflict. The mission is the absolute priority."

With a silent gesture, the ANBU squad dispersed, blending into the shadows of the rainy night.

________

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