Do You Have a Problem with Konoha?

It seemed that everyone knew a major battle would break out in the pleasure district tonight. The usually bright moon was obscured by thick clouds, and only the brilliant lanterns illuminated the entire street.

At a temporary rest stop on one side of the pleasure district, most of the people in the caravan could no longer bear the drudgery of traveling for business and had gone to the district to blow off steam. Even three of the ninja guarding the caravan had left to watch an acrobatics show.

The door creaked open, and Poison Ghost and Snake Ghost slipped quietly into the warehouse. Perhaps because the night was so cold, the few remaining guards had hidden in a nearby shack to drink and chat.

Poison Ghost walked outside the room, a cold glint flashing in the corner of his eye. He raised both hands, and his skin instantly turned a bright blue. A cloud of blue gas drifted into the room.

A moment later, the sound of bodies collapsing came from inside. Poison Ghost's trick had clearly worked, but unfortunately, his poison gas could only knock people unconscious; it couldn't kill them.

Now it was Snake Ghost's turn. With his twisted nature, he loved nothing more than the sensation of snuffing out a life. His eyes gleaming with excitement, he placed a hand on the doorknob and pulled it open.

"The taste of death—let me—"

"Bam!"

A sound like a heavy hammer striking leather rang out, and Snake Ghost vanished from Poison Ghost's sight before he could react.

After the loud crash, Snake Ghost's body lay in the collapsed wall, twitching nonstop. Strength Ghost, who had been waiting outside the door, was stunned.

Poison Ghost reacted faster. He shouted, and blue mist spread out, enveloping Snake Ghost and Strength Ghost as they lay on the ground.

Not knowing how toxic the blue mist was, Uchiha Yue held her Rain Cutter, ready to finish off Snake Ghost. She curled her lip in disdain and backed out of the mist.

"Lady Slug, sorry for the trouble."

Senba of the Forest had just sent Snake Ghost flying with a bone. Looking at the blue mist before him, he raised the Slug in his hand. The Slug absorbed a wisp of the mist, and within seconds, had analyzed it.

"It's not very toxic. It causes unconsciousness and also somewhat interferes with mental sensing. There's no problem, little Senba."

After hearing the conclusion, Senba first handed two Split Bodies of Lady Slug to Yue and Iruka. Then his fingers flew as he rapidly formed Hand Seals.

"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"

With Senba controlling the Chakra output, a fierce gale swept away all the poison mist in the area and carried it into the sky, revealing three figures within.

Seeing them, Senba's expression turned strange. He held back for a few seconds, but in the end, he still voiced the question on his mind.

"Snake-man, Toad-man—and you must be Slug-man. Do you have a problem with our Konoha?"

Senba couldn't be blamed for failing to hold back. The three of them were simply too distinctive. Even Genma Shiranui, who had blocked their escape route, didn't know what to say.

One had transformed his lower body into a serpent's, had long arms, and a mouth that stretched to the backs of his ears.

Another was bare-chested, with a greatly hunched back, no nose, and a square mouth. Circular patches covered his body.

The one between them was covered in wet, glistening slime, and his skin gave off an eerie blue glow. He looked just like a genie doll.

Faced with a trio whose strength was low but whose appearance was deeply insulting, the four Konoha shinobi fell silent.

The little Slug perched on Senba's shoulder seemed unable to bear the sight of the Slug-man. It curled up into a ball, choosing to see no evil.

The moment Poison Ghost saw the little Slug, his expression changed dramatically. His bright blue skin even took on a hint of white.

"Strength Ghost! Strength Ghost, release Hand Ghost!"

Hearing Poison Ghost's hysterical shout, Strength Ghost smashed the coffin lid behind him with a palm. Crimson liquid spilled across the ground, while Senba's expression grew excited.

It was Wood Release. Senba of the Forest hadn't sensed it wrong; his perception of Wood Release far surpassed that of his main body.

When the liquid had drained away, a gaunt figure slowly stood up. His skin resembled that of a hundred-year-old tree, covered in crisscrossing marks and completely devoid of elasticity. The blood-red liquid had been used to keep his skin moist.

The six hands behind him, textured like wood, unfolded one after another. His cloudy eyes stared dully at everyone, and he mumbled:

"It hurts... It hurts! Kill me!"

A flicker of pity crossed Poison Ghost's eyes. Then he pointed at Senba. "Hand Ghost, he can end your suffering. Go to him."

At Poison Ghost's words, Hand Ghost slowly fixed his gaze on Senba. Suddenly, one of the wooden hands behind him clenched into a fist and swung at Senba.

"Boom!"

The three who jumped aside stared at the wall that had been punched through, surprise on their faces. Their opponent actually had such a trump card.

"Everyone, go find your own opponent. Teacher Genma, could you keep an eye on things? This six-armed guy has some connection to my clan. I'll take him."

Genma Shiranui knew what Wood Release meant to Senba. He shrugged to show he understood, then turned his attention to Poison Ghost, who stood alone in the middle of the area. A grim smile spread across his face. It was time to stretch his muscles.

Watching his two teammates lead Snake Ghost and Strength Ghost away from the battlefield, and seeing Poison Ghost turned into a pincushion by Teacher Genma's Senbon, Senba could no longer conceal his excitement.

"You want to end your suffering, right? First, let me see how you use Wood Release."

"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"

A hand suddenly reached up from beneath Hand Ghost's feet, trying to drag him underground. But wooden spikes suddenly emerged from Hand Ghost's skin, forcing Senba to abandon the idea.

The next second, several fists came crashing down, smashing the ground—but Senba was nowhere to be seen.

Just as Hand Ghost searched for his opponent, a sound tore through the air. Holding a fine Wind Demon Shuriken, Senba swooped down from above and slashed at Hand Ghost's arm.

The sharp Wind Demon Shuriken ripped through the wooden arm and continued toward Hand Ghost's body, but a newly grown arm blocked it the next moment.

In the end, Senba abandoned the test and leapt away, privately marveling that Hashirama Cells truly were a cheat on par with a Tailed Beast.

Even as a mere failed experiment, and without any combat experience, it had shown impressive defense, offense, and recovery.

But Senba could also tell that his opponent had little more than three tricks up his sleeve. He could handle ordinary Genin and Chunin, but as for Senba—

"Earth Release: Hardening Technique!"

"Monster Strength: Fist!"

Senba simply took the attack head-on, meeting the other's arm with his fist and shattering it. No matter how quickly Hand Ghost recovered, Senba's punches came just as fast.

Knowing that his opponent wasn't good at moving, Senba quickly reached him. Looking at the agony in Hand Ghost's eyes, Senba sneered.

"Cut the act. If you were really in unbearable pain, you'd have ended it yourself already." After mocking him, Senba pressed his palm against Hand Ghost's forehead.

At that moment, Hand Ghost clenched all six fists and swung them toward Senba's head.

"Argh!"

Hand Ghost suddenly let out a bloodcurdling scream. He felt as if his body were melting, and began to struggle uncontrollably. It was as though his body was no longer under his control.