Senile Spots, Limited-Time Encore! [Four Chapters 8K]

The Land of Fire, Hidden Leaf Village.

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the Hokage's office windows, casting mottled patches of light and shadow across the floor.

A faint scent of tobacco lingered in the air. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, sat behind his broad desk with his brows slightly furrowed, listening to the report from the three special jonin before him.

Now and then, he lifted the pipe in his hand, took a puff, then exhaled curling smoke, as if trying to breathe out the doubts in his heart along with it.

Namikaze Minato, who had just returned from a border patrol mission, was speaking in his usual clear, gentle tone. "...In summary, Lord Third, after defeating the Fourth Raikage A and Killer B, the ninja who called himself 'Menma' did not take their lives, but allowed them to withdraw. After that, he flew westward and showed no intent to invade the Land of Fire."

Standing beside Minato, Akimichi Dodo straightened his burly frame and added in a deep, buzzing voice, "Yes, Lord Hokage. The entire process was extremely brief. The strength the other party displayed... was unfathomable."

A rare solemnity showed on his rugged face.

"I've never seen Daimaru look like that before. It was like he'd seen a natural predator..." Inuzuka Gaku, standing to the side, echoed in a low voice. The Ninja Dog Daimaru at his feet seemed to recall that terrifying Coercion as well, and gave an uneasy whine.

Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly lowered his pipe, his fingertips tapping lightly against the tabletop.

A combat system that had never appeared before, origins shrouded in mystery.

Was it some unknown secret technique?

Or an even rarer Kekkei Genkai?

Or perhaps a Kekkei Tōta?

What was even more alarming was that the other party had so easily defeated Kumogakure's