Hirohiko the Scoundrel

The smoke filling the room slowly drifted out through the wide-open windows, and the Hokage's Office, once slightly hazy, gradually came into focus.

Watanabe Kenshin looked at Hirohiko, and Hirohiko looked back at Watanabe Kenshin. Both wore slightly stunned expressions.

When they had first entered to make their report, the Hokage's Office had been filled with thick smoke. They could barely make out the Third Hokage sitting behind his desk, and they had started coughing the moment they came in.

Only after hearing them cough did the Third Hokage seem to realize something was wrong and open the windows to air the room out.

Now, the Third Hokage was reading their report.

"Have they all been eliminated?"

After reading Watanabe Kenshin's report, the Third Hokage looked up at him from behind the desk.

"Yes. The defense forces and participating Anbu units have exchanged and cross-checked intelligence. We have confirmed that all twenty-one elite Kumogakure shinobi who infiltrated have been eliminated."

Watanabe Kenshin straightened slightly as he reported.

"Excellent!"

The Third Hokage looked at the report in his hand and nodded unconsciously. It recorded every stage of the Annihilation Plan in meticulous detail, allowing him to clearly grasp the entire battle.

Swift, decisive, leaving the enemy no opportunity.

That was his impression of this extermination battle. It could be called an exceptionally brilliant, even perfect, operation.

And the results were substantial.

Twenty-one elite Kumogakure Jonin and Jonin. With that unit wiped out, Kumogakure had suffered a severe loss. It would also serve as a deterrent, making the other hidden villages abandon any ill intentions toward Konoha. At the same time, it would give the front lines a much-needed boost. Once this news reached the front, together with Minato's recent outstanding performance, the front line's formation would be stable enough. Though it