A Hardworking Spy

The explosion against the building's outer wall alarmed everyone inside, yet the Hokage's Office at the center of the fourth floor remained dark and quiet.

However, the Iwagakure Suicide Squad had no time for further suspicion.

"Bang!"

The wooden door was blasted open by tremendous force.

A burly Iwagakure suicide operative barged into the office.

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

"Secret Technique: Shadow Imitation Technique."

An Anbu crouching upside down on the ceiling formed the Rat hand seal. Chakra lurking within the moonlit shadows instantly formed a long shadow connecting the two of them.

Almost at the exact moment the Iwagakure ninja was restrained, three figures wielding short swords leaped out in unison.

"Konoha Style: Crescent Moon Dance."

The interlocking triangular formation surrounded the lone target. Within the cramped space by the doorway, three dazzling blades swung in unison, their shrill tearing through the air at high speed enough to make anyone shudder.

But just as those Anbu charged out, the companions behind the Iwagakure suicide operative squeezed through the narrow gap into the room, intercepting the descending blades one on one.

"Clang—"

In that instant of exchange, blades and kunai scraped together, scattering bright sparks through the dark night. The killing move formed by three Shadow Clones, each left with only a small amount of chakra, was completely dismantled by the well-prepared Iwagakure ninja.

However, there was still one final move.

"Ssh!"

Straight ahead, beneath the Hokage's desk.

An Anbu figure identical in build to the previous three Shadow Clones used his body as a blade, launching a suicidal assault without hesitation at the towering Iwagakure suicide operative by the door.

"Konoha Style—"

Yet unexpectedly—

"Haaah—!"

The towering Iwagakure ninja seemed completely unconcerned with life or death. A massive blaze of chakra erupted beneath his feet, and he forcibly resisted the Shadow Imitation Technique's control, taking several steps forward to meet the blade and carve out more room for his companions behind him.

"Clang!"

The tip of the short sword struck squarely against his chest.

Yet it produced a dull sound as though it had hit metal.

The Anbu froze.

A savage grin appeared on the tall Iwagakure ninja's face.

"Earth Release: Earth Spear."

The highest-grade Earth Release hardening technique, turning one's body into stone.

However, his smugness did not even last half a second.

The Anbu companion behind him immediately stepped on the short-sword Anbu's back as he lunged forward, suddenly thrusting a kunai wrapped in Lightning Release chakra ahead.

"Pfft!"

It pierced straight through his windpipe.

The savage look on the tall Iwagakure ninja's face instantly turned into astonishment.

From the moment he kicked open the door to the moment he was struck down, the entire process had taken less than two seconds.

Yet his death had also bought enough time for the Iwagakure ninja following behind him.

A huge force from behind shoved his broad body forward. Knowing he had no hope of survival, the towering Iwagakure ninja hesitated no longer and used the last bit of chakra he could muster to ignite the heavy Explosive Tag Vest on his body.

"Rumble—!!!"

The short-sword Anbu and the Lightning Release Anbu closest to him were blown to pieces by the terrifying blast. The entire Hokage's Office was reduced to rubble, and a massive burst of fire lit up the top of the building that served as Konoha's central landmark, making even the ground tremble slightly.

At the same time, beneath the completely lifted floor of the Hokage's Office, the interior of the Sealed Archive was revealed.

Though the entire Hokage Building was shaking faintly, the Sealed Archive, whose entire room was covered in Sealing Barriers, remained utterly stable.

The sealing racks fixed in neat rows across the floor had not even shifted an inch.

Mr. Kojima—Ash Soil—saw this, and his eyes immediately lit up.

But before they could react—

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Several specially made Three-Pronged Kunai suddenly shot out from a blind spot within the shadows of the bookshelves.

Each targeted one of the nearest Iwagakure ninja.

"He's here!"

That was all they had time to shout in warning.

The next moment, that lightning-fast figure had already turned into a streak of light, charging straight toward them.

Although they had prepared for this, the instant these Iwagakure ninja truly faced the young ninja whom Lord Ash Soil had called "impossible to defeat," terror still rose uncontrollably within them.

Even with chakra-enhanced vision capable of observing at nearly eighty frames per second, they could only catch a fleeting flash of a shadow.

Almost at the moment the Three-Pronged Kunai reached him, the foremost Iwagakure ninja felt his body, already reinforced with "Earth Release: Hardening Technique," suddenly go numb for an instant.

His neck also seemed to feel a faint touch for a split second.

Those two sensations seemed to arise at the same time.

Namikaze Minato's figure flashed past.

The two men behind him had already had their carotid arteries torn open by kunai wrapped in Lightning Release chakra.

Perhaps because of the lesson from that morning.

Namikaze Jonin had slightly adjusted his chakra habits and now wielded a blade in each hand.

Lightning Release countered Earth Release. That was common knowledge.

Watching Namikaze Minato rapidly approach, the two Iwagakure ninja only had time to raise their kunai in front of them.

"Clang! Clang!"

After recognizing the strength of this Konoha Anbu, Ash Soil finally hesitated no longer. He stepped over the figures of his two companions and directly blocked Namikaze Minato.

His Metal Knuckles rose in a cross, firmly blocking the Three-Pronged Kunai.

Under the violent friction of their weapons, fine sparks burst between them.

"Lord Ash Soil!"

The two Iwa ninja, only a second away from death, did not even have time to rejoice before instinctively crying out.

Only Ash Soil, standing before them, remained calm.

"Proceed according to plan."

"Yes!"

Hearing that, the remaining Iwagakure ninja finally came to their senses and rushed toward the Sealed Archive on the third floor.

Soon, a string of fierce clashes rang out from below.

Ash Soil and Namikaze Minato remained locked in a contest of strength, their eyes meeting.

"How terrifying, Konoha ninja." He stared hard at Namikaze Minato, apparently still having the energy to speak. "At such a young age, you already possess this kind of strength."

"But."

Almost the instant his voice fell, the Metal Knuckles in both hands abruptly lifted upward.

Ash Soil suddenly stepped forward. The muscles in his already solid thighs swelled dramatically, flame-like chakra bursting from beneath his feet with tangible force as he suddenly raised his voice.

"Your flaw is far too obvious!"

"Boom!"

His already broad body shot into the air on the force of that step, smashing through what remained of the roof and soaring into the sky.

As his body flipped in midair, his hands continued forming Hand Seals.

"Earth Release: Rock Bullet Technique."

At the moment he completed the seals, all the shattered stones that had scattered into the air alongside Ash Soil came under the spread and control of his chakra, circling around him.

Then, they all poured down like rain.

This is bad.

Watching this, Namikaze Minato felt a pressing urgency.

Clearly, because that daytime battle had been witnessed by spies and so much of his information had leaked, this Suicide Squad had such a specific way of dealing with him.

Facing this wide-range Ninjutsu attack, the still-developing Namikaze Minato had no way to counter it. He could only use Wind Release: Body Flicker Technique and dash at top speed toward the remaining opening by the window, barely evading the attack.

"Bang, bang, bang—"

The dense fragments shot out like bullets, sweeping across the entire Hokage Building and erupting in bursts of explosive impacts.

The entire fourth floor, along with the third floor beneath the breach, was covered in thick clouds of dust.

"Thud."

Ash Soil landed on the devastated ground.

Almost as soon as he had finished dealing with matters here, the last two remaining Iwagakure ninja rushed to Ash Soil's side, covered in blood and carrying a Top Secret Sealed Scroll Box marked with an "S."

"Lord Ash Soil, we found it!"

"Very good."

Seeing this, Ash Soil finally relaxed.

The entire process had taken less than two minutes.

Ash Soil turned and looked at the Uchiha Police Force and Anbu figures who had sprinted up from the third floor and only now barely arrived nearby. He gave a disdainful smile.

Konoha's ninja.

They had immersed themselves in false peace for far too long.

"Let's go."

"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Concealment Technique."

The next moment, all three figures sank into the deep earth and vanished completely.

"Ting!"

Only after they had all disappeared underground did a kunai flying in from afar finally embed itself in that patch of ground.

"Damn it!"

Uchiha Yayoi, covered in blood, arrived at the spot, but her Sharingan could no longer detect any trace of the enemy's chakra.

Clearly, their Earth Release mobility far exceeded what she had imagined.

Three whole elite squads.

Konoha had not encountered an assault of this caliber in nearly ten years.

The collapsed Hokage Building was like a vicious slap across every one of their faces—especially the Uchiha Police Force's.

It burned with pain.

Uchiha Yayoi's eyes were blood-red. She did not even spare a thought for her wounds before abruptly turning around and issuing orders.

"Rinko! Go notify the Hyuga reconnaissance squad."

"Anbu, report this to the Hokage."

The girl clenched her fists tightly and said unwillingly, "Even if we have to mobilize the outer defense forces, we must find those people!"

At the same time.

Ash Soil led his two subordinates out of the earth in a hidden corner.

Even Earth Release experts like them could not remain under those conditions for long, much less waste chakra so recklessly.

But just as he quickly changed his disguise and led his subordinates out of the dark alley, trying to leave Konoha as fast as possible—

His steps suddenly halted.

Under the moonlight, a slender figure stood at the end of the street, calmly looking at them.

Azure eyes gleamed beneath the cold moonlight.

"Mm, troubling you all so late at night."

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

"Now."

"Please hand over what you're holding."

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