Chương 108: Chapter 108: Quiet Watch

At this moment—

Inside the Hokage Building.

"Ishikawa Kiyoshi, has he returned?"

In the Hokage's office.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who looked visibly older than two years prior, with age spots dotting his face, puffed on his pipe.

He gazed into a crystal ball, which showed a scene on the streets of Konoha—a girl, Ino, embracing Kiyoshi.

"And that girl from the Uzumaki clan." A faint smile played on Hiruzen's lips. "Tsunade really has trained two fine talents for Konoha."

The Third Hokage's eyes lingered on Kiyoshi as he recalled the boy's actions from two years ago at Konoha Hospital.

This boy had clearly concealed his true abilities while at the ninja academy.

"His close bond with Kurenai, almost like siblings. In these past two years, she's advanced remarkably, even recently passing her Jonin evaluation to become a Konoha Jonin."

Hiruzen's eyes glinted as he mused to himself, "And reports indicate that she has even mastered the A-rank Genjutsu, the Infinite Darkness Jutsu, which she openly attributes to her connection with Kiyoshi."

Hiruzen had once made inquiries about it.

Thanks to Kiyoshi's foresight, Kurenai, who had already gained his approval, hadn't withheld anything.

She explained openly that she'd learned it from her "sworn brother" Kiyoshi.

He had inherited an illusion technique from his grandmother, Ishikawa Azumi, who received it from his great-grandmother Senju Toka.

At that moment, Hiruzen realized he had underestimated Kiyoshi's potential. Once again, he instructed others to investigate his performance at the ninja academy.

Through this investigation, they uncovered something interesting.

It turned out that, as a genius student, Kiyoshi had shown extraordinary promise in the academy.

Not only was he gifted in chakra capacity and control, but he also possessed a natural talent for Genjutsu, though this was overshadowed by his brilliance in ninjutsu.

At the time, this hadn't garnered much attention.

Therefore, he had a general understanding.

This young man's abilities were far from what they seemed on the surface.

He most likely had an innate aptitude for Genjutsu, potentially mastering some advanced techniques.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be likely for him to so freely pass down such an important Genjutsu inheritance.

Now, after two years of training with Tsunade.

His skills must have reached an even higher level.

"A true prodigy, huh?"

For a moment—

Hiruzen murmured to himself, his clouded old eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.

After two years, how much stronger had this young man grown?

Although Kiyoshi seemed primarily focused on medical ninjutsu, that didn't mean he lacked combat ability.

Tsunade was the best example of that.

"Tenzo."

"Lord Hokage."

At Hiruzen's call—

A masked figure appeared abruptly in the office.

Kneeling on one knee before the Third Hokage, he bowed respectfully.

"I want you to test Ishikawa Kiyoshi's skills."

The Third Hokage addressed the masked Anbu in front of him.

Taking a puff from his pipe, he said, "But make sure to hold back—do not harm him."

"Ishikawa Kiyoshi?"

Hearing the Third Hokage's orders, the Anbu ninja codenamed "Tenzo" or most commonly known as Yamato was visibly surprised. "That famed medical prodigy? Tsunade-sama's disciple?"

By now, Kiyoshi's name was no longer obscure in Konoha.

As the direct disciple of one of the Sannin, Tsunade.

Two years ago, at just eight years old, Kiyoshi had displayed astonishing talent in medical ninjutsu at Konoha Hospital, treating numerous patients without a single failure.

With Tsunade's guidance, his medical ninjutsu progressed at an astonishing pace in less than half a month.

He saved many gravely injured patients from the brink of death, and his skill was said to surpass even the Jonin of the medical corps.

He was lauded as the medical prodigy, truly Tsunade's successor.

Even Tenzo in the Anbu had heard of his deeds.

"Yes, Tsunade's student is no ordinary person." Hiruzen smiled, offering a reminder.

"Don't underestimate him because of his age. Kiyoshi possesses the Senju clan's bloodline, naturally holding far more chakra than the average person and with extraordinary chakra control.

Not only is he well-versed in medical ninjutsu, but he's also mastered Tsunade's mighty chakra enhanced strength."

"Additionally, he is rumored to have a rare talent in Genjutsu, likely knowing some advanced, hard to defend illusion techniques. Do not take him lightly."

"I understand Hokage-sama."

Tenzo's eyes sharpened with alertness.

With a wave from the Third Hokage—

He vanished from the office.

"Ishikawa Kiyoshi. let's see just how far you've come."

---

Atop the Hokage Rock.

Kiyoshi was brought here by Ino.

He wasn't in a rush to head to the ninja academy to find Tenten.

Thanks to his keen sensing abilities, he already knew that the Third Hokage was watching him through the Telescope Technique.

However, he didn't pay much mind to it.

Sitting with Ino on the Third Hokage's statue above, Kiyoshi looked down at the familiar sight of Konoha Village, enjoying the cool breeze.

He felt calm, relaxed, and refreshed.

He definitely hadn't intended it this way.

"Hehe."

Gazing at Kiyoshi, Ino smiled dreamily, somewhat entranced.

"What's on your mind?"

"Nothing, I'm just... happy."

Ino beamed as she tightly clung to Kiyoshi's arm, leaning close.

If Tenten found out that she was the first to meet her "Kiyoshi-nii" she'd definitely be red with envy.

"Who's there?"

Suddenly—

Kiyoshi sharply turned his head.

He dodged several senbon that shot toward him like lightning.

Without a second's hesitation, he grabbed Ino and leapt away.

They narrowly avoided a sword slash, its blade veering slightly as if to avoid causing injury.

"Shhh..."

The sudden attack startled Ino, and she instinctively looked over, her eyes contracting.

A masked figure, brimming with killing intent and holding a ninja sword, rushed at them relentlessly.

However, Kiyoshi's lips curved into a faint smile.

Holding Ino, he leaped to the right, dodging the assailant's pursuit once again.

Yet the figure seemed oblivious, charging straight toward the edge of the Hokage Rock.

---------------

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[A.N: For anyone confused, Tenzo and Yamato are the same person. Tsunade gave him a new name when was assigned the task of leading Team 7. So, right now his name should still be Tenzo.]

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Chương 109: Chapter 109: Hiruzen Stressed

"Swish..."

A menacing figure, brimming with killing intent, dashed out from the top of Hokage Rock.

The intense momentum carried him several meters past the cliff, leaving him with no way to grab hold of the rock face for support.

His entire body plunged downward in an arc, like a projectile on a relentless descent.

"Kiyoshi-nii?"

Ino, held close in a princess carry by Kiyoshi, turned pale with fright.

"Don't worry, something like this won't kill us."

Kiyoshi gently set Ino down, shrugging nonchalantly.

Even with his eyes closed, he knew who was behind this attack.

Someone bold enough to target him openly in broad daylight—without fearing the interference of the Anbu—could only be one person.

The Third Hokage himself, an old man with nothing better to do in his office.

"What?"

At this moment, the disorienting sensation of free fall hit the attacker, making his hair stand on end. "Is this a genjutsu?"

"Release!" he cried, quickly weaving hand signs in a flash.

The landscape, which had seemed like level ground where he'd been chasing after Kiyoshi, abruptly changed.

Suddenly, sheer cliffs whipped past him, sending a cold sweat down the back of the assailant, Tenzo.

Sent by the Third Hokage to test Kiyoshi, Tenzo realized with shock that he'd somehow leapt off the Hokage Rock without even noticing it.

Moreover, he hadn't detected any movement from Kiyoshi to initiate the genjutsu. He didn't even know when he'd fallen under its spell.

Plummeting down, Tenzo didn't panic but quickly composed himself. His hands moved rapidly, forming seals.

"Boom!"

A massive wooden vine erupted from the rock wall, extending downward to catch Tenzo securely, saving him from what would have been a deadly impact.

"Cough... cough..."

Meanwhile, inside the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage had been observing the entire scene through his crystal ball.

He'd been chuckling smugly as he smoked his pipe, but the spectacle nearly made him choke on the smoke.

Hiruzen's eyelid twitched as he muttered to himself, "That fool, Tenzo."

It wasn't just the situation that bothered him.

It was that the huge vine Tenzo had summoned now protruded directly from the nose of Hiruzen's own carved face on the mountain, making it look utterly ridiculous.

Hiruzen felt a pang in his liver, maybe even his heart. His revered, dignified image had just been desecrated. What had Tenzo been doing in the Anbu all these years if he'd end up like this?

He had only asked Tenzo to subtly gauge Kiyoshi's true strength, curious about the depths of his grandson's abilities.

He hadn't expected this Anbu veteran to create such a spectacle on Hokage Rock.

"But that boy's genjutsu skills really are extraordinary."

Watching the overly youthful figure through the crystal ball, Hiruzen's face grew solemn.

"He executed the hand signs for the genjutsu with one hand—silently—while carrying that Yamanaka girl."

"To think Tenzo, a seasoned elite Jonin, fell for it in an instant…incredible."

His gaze lingered on Hokage Rock, where his own caricatured image now had a massive wooden vine sticking out of its nose.

"Oh no!" Hiruzen's face changed suddenly as he realized the extent of the disaster.

Feeling a strange sense of foreboding, he shouted urgently, "Kakashi—."

"Whoosh."

A figure appeared instantly—a tall man with silver hair and a mask.

Kneeling on one knee before Hiruzen, he said, "Lord Third."

"Stop Yamato immediately." Hiruzen's voice was tense and agitated. Sweat beaded on his deeply wrinkled face.

"Don't let them fight on Hokage Rock. If they damage it, there'll be serious trouble."

Hiruzen had nearly forgotten.

Kiyoshi also had mastered Tsunade's monstrous chakra enhanced strength.

If he struck Hokage Rock with even a bit of that power and accidentally caused it to collapse.

It would be an unmitigated disaster.

Furious and unable to remain calm any longer, Hiruzen muttered inwardly. That idiot Tenzo. Why couldn't he wait until Kiyoshi was off the mountain to engage him?

"Yes." Kakashi replied, vanishing in an instant.

…

"Swish..."

Within moments, Tenzo stabilized his stance and moved without hesitation. "Lord Third, forgive me."

With chakra gathered at his feet, he clung to the rock wall and began climbing up—stepping right on the Third Hokage's carved face as he did so.

"Boom!"

But before he could make his way up fully, Kiyoshi motioned for Ino to step back with a grin.

In a flash, Kiyoshi teleported to the cliffside above him.

His right leg swung up high, poised like a sharp axe, as Tenzo looked up in shock.

From the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage, who had been watching through the crystal ball, screamed in despair, "No—."

Kiyoshi's right foot came down like a blade, slicing through the air with brutal force.

"Heavenly Foot of Pain!"

"Boom... Boom!"

Wood splinters flew as a thunderous crash erupted, sending rocks and dust billowing into the air.

Debris crumbled from the cliff, tumbling down and scattering towards the buildings below.

The sudden destruction sent shockwaves through Konoha, leaving countless villagers and shinobi in stunned silence.

They stared, mouths agape, at the billowing dust and rubble streaming from Hokage Rock.

"Is that.?"

"No way."

"The Hokage Rock."

"Look, the Third Hokage's face just!"

"You've got to be kidding me!"

"Is it an attack?"

"Quick, someone go check it out!"

As the dust settled, the spectators, drenched in cold sweat, gawked in disbelief.

"Rumble. Rumble.."

On the cliff, massive boulders continued to tumble as the top of the Third Hokage's face completely collapsed. A deep, jagged fissure ran right down the middle, stark and unsettling.

"Ah?"

Nearby, Ino, who had been knocked to the ground from the shockwave, was wide-eyed with disbelief. Her mouth dropped open into a perfect "O," big enough to fit an egg.

"You..."

Tenzo, who had barely escaped by using a wood clone substitution jutsu, emerged from the rubble, drenched in sweat.

Looking at the ruined Hokage Rock, his face went pale.

Darkness clouded his vision, and he nearly passed out.

This…. was a disaster.

---------------

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