It Must Be Hard, Mr. Spy

The sound of the explosion on the outer wall of the building startled everyone inside, but the Hokage's office on the fourth floor remained dark and quiet.

However, the Stone Village Ninja suicide squad didn't have time for further suspicion.

"Bang!"

The wooden door was blasted open with immense force.

A burly Stone Village Ninja suicide squad member burst into the office.

But just as he took his first step onto the marble floor...

Secret Technique: Shadow Imitation Technique

The Anbu member, who was squatting upside down on the ceiling, formed the "Child" Hand Seal with his hands. The Chakra hidden in the moonlight's shadow instantly formed long shadows connecting him to the two intruders.

Almost the same instant this Stone Village Ninja was restrained, three figures wielding short swords leaped out in sync.

Konoha Style: Crescent Moon Dance

The interwoven triangular formation surrounded the single target. The narrow space within the doorway was enclosed by three dazzling blades swung in unison. The piercing sound of them cutting through the air at high speed was enough to strike fear into anyone.

However, at the same time the Anbu member charged out, his comrade, who was behind the Stone Village Ninja suicide squad member, also slipped into the room through the narrow gap, engaging the descending blades one-on-one.

"Clang!"

It was a clash that lasted only an instant. The friction between blades and Kunai sparked brightly in the dim night. The killing technique formed by three Shadow Clones, each with only a minimal amount of Chakra, was completely countered by the well-prepared Stone Village Ninja.

But there was one last move.

"Slash!"

From the front, beneath the Hokage's desk.

An Anbu figure, identical in build to the three Shadow Clones just now, used his body as a blade, launching a desperate attack without hesitation towards the tall Stone Village Ninja at the doorway.

Konoha Style

However, unexpectedly...

"Haaah!"

The tall Stone Village Ninja seemed to disregard his own life entirely. A massive surge of Chakra flared from his feet, forcing him to take several steps forward against the control of the Shadow Imitation Technique, meeting the blade head-on and creating a larger opening for his comrades behind him.

"Clang!"

The tip of the short sword struck him square in the chest.

But it produced a muffled sound, as if hitting metal.

The Anbu member couldn't help but be startled.

A savage grin appeared on the face of the tall Stone Village Ninja.

Earth Release: Earth Spear

The highest level of the Earth Release: Hardening Technique, turning the body into rock.

However, his moment of triumph didn't even last half a second.

His Anbu comrade, who was right behind him, immediately stepped over the short sword Anbu member's charging figure and abruptly thrust a Kunai wrapped in Lightning Release Chakra forward.

"Pfft!"

It struck him directly in the throat.

The savagery on the tall Stone Village Ninja's face immediately turned to astonishment.

From the moment he pushed open the door to being struck and killed, the entire process hadn't even taken two seconds.

However, his death bought the subsequent Stone Village Ninja enough time.

The immense force from behind pushed his broad body forward. Knowing there was no hope of survival, the tall Stone Village Ninja no longer hesitated, igniting the heavy Explosive Tag Vest on his body with the last bit of Chakra he could refine.

"RUMBLE—!!!"

The short sword Anbu and the Lightning Release Anbu closest to him were instantly killed by this terrifying explosion. The entire Hokage's office was reduced to a pile of rubble. A massive flash of light erupted at the very top of this building, a landmark in the center of Konoha, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

At the same time, the floor of the Hokage's office, which had been completely blown away, revealed the interior of the sealed storage room below.

Even though the entire Hokage Building was shaking slightly, this storage room, which was covered in Sealing Barriers, remained completely stable.

The sealed racks, neatly arranged and fixed to the floor, didn't even shift position in the slightest.

'Kojima-kun', who was Ash Soil, instantly lit up with a bright light in his eyes the moment he saw this scene.

However, before they could even react...

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Several specialized three-pronged Kunai suddenly shot out from the blind spot in the shadow of a bookshelf.

They were aimed at the nearest Stone Village Ninja.

"They're here!"

He only managed to utter such a brief warning.

The next moment, that figure, as swift as lightning, had already transformed into a streaking light, charging towards them.

Despite having backup plans, the moment these Stone Village Ninja truly faced the young ninja whom Ash Soil had called 'invincible', a sense of dread couldn't help but rise in their hearts.

Even with Chakra enhancement boosting their visual perception to nearly 80 frames, they could only catch a fleeting glimpse of a flickering shadow.

Almost the instant the three-pronged Kunai flew towards the one in front, he felt a momentary paralysis spread through his body, which he had pre-emptively reinforced with Earth Release: Hardening Technique.

There also seemed to be a brief, subtle touch on his neck.

These two sensations seemed to occur simultaneously.

Namikaze Minato's figure flashed and was gone.

The two men behind had already had their carotid arteries severed by the Chakra-infused Kunai.

Likely due to the lesson learned this morning.

Now, Jonin Namikaze had slightly adjusted his Chakra habits, holding the blades in both hands.

Lightning Release defeats Earth Release; this was common knowledge.

Watching Namikaze Minato rapidly approach, the two Stone Village Ninja only had time to block with their Kunai.

"Clang! Clang!"

Realizing the strength of this Konoha Anbu member, Ash Soil finally hesitated no longer. Stepping over his two companions, he directly blocked Namikaze Minato.

His dual-wielded Metal Knuckles crossed and lifted, firmly blocking the three-pronged Kunai.

Intense friction between the blades sparked tiny embers between the two.

"Lord!"

The two Stone Village Ninja, only a second away from death, couldn't even celebrate. They instinctively called out.

Only Ash Soil, who stood before them, remained calm:

"Continue as planned."

"Yes!"

Hearing this, the remaining Stone Village Ninja finally reacted and quickly rushed towards the sealed storage room on the third floor.

Soon, a series of fierce clashes erupted from below.

Ash Soil and Namikaze Minato remained locked in a struggle, their eyes meeting.

"Truly terrifying, the ninja of Konoha," he stared intently at Namikaze Minato, seemingly still having energy to speak. "At such a young age, to possess this kind of strength."

"However..."

Almost the instant the words fell, his dual-wielded Metal Knuckles suddenly lifted upwards.

Ash Soil abruptly stepped forward. His already sturdy thigh muscles suddenly expanded, and tangible, fire-like Chakra burst from his feet. He suddenly raised his voice:

"...The flaws are too obvious!"

"Boom!"

His already broad figure, propelled by the immense force of his step, suddenly shot into the air, completely shattering the already half-destroyed rooftop and soaring towards the sky.

As his body inverted mid-air, he kept his hands performing Hand Seals.

"Earth Release: Rock Bullet Technique."

At the same moment he completed the Hand Seals, the rubble around Ash Soil that had been scattered into the air with him was all controlled by the dispersed Chakra and gathered around him.

Following this, it rained down like bullets.

This is bad.

Seeing this scene, Namikaze Minato's heart tightened.

Clearly, it was because the battle during the day had been witnessed by a spy, leading to a significant leak of his information. This was why this group of assassins had such clear countermeasures.

Facing this large-scale Ninjutsu attack, the undeveloped Namikaze Minato had no way to counter it. He could only use Wind Release: Body Flicker Technique, rushing towards the remaining hole in the window at the fastest speed to barely dodge the attack.

"Bang, bang, bang—"

The fine rubble, flying like bullets, swept across the entire Hokage Building, creating a series of dense explosions.

The entire fourth floor, and even the third floor below the gap, were covered in large patches of dust.

"Thud."

Ash Soil landed on the ravaged ground.

Almost simultaneously with him finishing his task here, the last two remaining Stone Village Ninja, covered in blood, and carrying a Top Secret Sealed Scroll Box marked with an "S", rushed to Ash Soil's side.

"Lord, we found it!"

"Excellent."

Seeing this, Ash Soil finally felt relieved.

The entire process took less than two minutes.

Ash Soil turned his head, looking at the figures of the Uchiha Police Force and Anbu who had rushed from the third floor to not far behind him and had only just arrived. He smiled dismissively.

Konoha's ninja, indeed.

It had been too long since they were immersed in a false sense of peace.

"Let's go."

"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Concealment Technique."

The next moment, the three figures were completely swallowed up, buried deep within the soil.

Clang!

Only after they had all disappeared underground did a kunai, shot from a distance, finally embed itself in the ground there.

"Damn it!"

Uchiha Yayoi, covered in blood, arrived at the spot, but her Sharingan could no longer detect any trace of their Chakra.

Clearly, their Earth Release movement ability was far higher than she had imagined.

Three entire elite squads...

Konoha hadn't experienced a raid of this level in nearly ten years.

The collapsed Hokage Building felt like a harsh slap across everyone's face, especially the faces of the Uchiha Police Force.

It stung terribly.

Uchiha Yayoi's eyes were bloodshot. Ignoring her own injuries, she spun around abruptly and quickly gave orders:

"Rinko! Go notify the Hyuga scouting team."

"Anbu, report to the Hokage."

The young woman clenched her fists tightly, unwilling to give up. "Even if we have to mobilize the outer defense forces, we must find these people!"

Meanwhile.

Ash Soil, along with his two subordinates, emerged from the Earth Release in a hidden corner.

Even experts in Earth Release like them couldn't maintain it for too long under those conditions, not to mention the waste of Chakra.

However, just as he was quickly changing his disguise and leading his subordinates out of the dark alley, attempting to leave Konoha as fast as possible...

His steps suddenly halted.

Under the moonlight, a tall, slender figure stood at the end of the street, looking at them with a relaxed expression.

His clear blue eyes shimmered under the cool moonlight.

"Mm, I'm sorry to trouble you all so late."

"You've worked hard, Mr. Spy."

"Now..."

"Could you please hand over what you have?"

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