Third Hokage, Your Gaze Is So Lewd

"Anbu? Konoha's Anbu?"

"Why would the Anbu be here?"

The hearts of the two rogue ninja from Kirigakure leaped. Even the weakest Konoha Anbu was not something two mere Chunin like them could handle.

Furthermore, among the Five Great Nations, Konoha's Anbu were the most elite.

The two instinctively glanced back at the bandaged man. Fortunately, they also had a Jonin.

They just didn't know the strength of this Anbu...

"You two go deal with those brats, I'll handle him," the bandaged man said at this moment.

The two Chunin immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

The Anbu and the bandaged man moved simultaneously, instantly disappearing into the depths of the forest.

The two separated the battlefield, clearly not wanting to involve the others in the forest.

"Heh heh, the troublemakers are gone, now let's have our fill of slaughter!" the fat chunin said with a cruel smile.

"That's exactly what I wanted to say!" Tōka's aura changed, and he shouted loudly.

"Kurenai, Kai, attack!"

As the words fell, Tōka charged forward first.

His target was the middle-aged ninja.

"Hell Viewing Technique!" Kurenai flashed into a hidden spot, forming hand seals.

At the same time, Kai leaped into the air, a heavy kick descending, directly targeting the fat Chunin.

The five immediately clashed!

Upon receiving the signal, the other Anbu in the valley immediately converged.

Of the twenty Anbu, excluding Yamanaka Tomohito who remained by Furuya Daisuke's side to handle communication, there were nineteen left.

The elite class had fifty-one members, organized into seventeen squads.

In other words, two of the nineteen Anbu were assigned to provide support at any time, specifically to handle situations like this.

Whoosh, whoosh!!

Two black shadows streaked rapidly across the valley, heading towards Tōka and the others.

It would only take three minutes!

In three minutes, the Anbu would arrive, and these rogue ninja would all be killed.

But Tōka didn't want that outcome. It was one thing for the Anbu to deal with a Jonin.

After all, he had only trained for half a year, and dealing with a Jonin was too difficult.

As for the two Chunin from Kirigakure before him, without the support of the sea, their combat power would undoubtedly decrease.

Tōka hoped to defeat them alone!

The battle to surpass limits—had begun!

Bang!

Tōka closed the distance, kicking the middle-aged ninja's arm.

The middle-aged ninja suddenly lifted, throwing Tōka away.

"It was blocked?"

Tōka was not discouraged. If it were that easy, why would he have been hiding cautiously in Konoha?

Taking advantage of the middle-aged ninja's lifting motion, Tōka naturally leaped backward, creating distance.

"Oh? The brat's combat talent is quite good." A flicker of surprise flashed in the middle-aged ninja's eyes.

He had intended to use the force to push Tōka back and, while the latter was in mid-air and unable to change position, finish the fight with one move.

He hadn't expected Tōka to abandon the aerial momentum and instead land quickly to create distance.

"Thank you for the compliment, but my classmates are all stronger than me!"

Tōka's subtle psychological tactic caused the middle-aged ninja to falter slightly.

They had only "accidentally" discovered that Konoha intended to use this group of bandits as the graduation exam for the elite class of the ninja academy.

Their squad, dispatched by Kirigakure, had originally planned to harass the escort personnel of the supply lines.

At this moment, they had suddenly changed their plan and decided to wait and see.

If all the Konoha brats were at this level...

"Heh heh, you're distracted!" Tōka gripped his only Kunai, flashing behind the middle-aged ninja.

He raised his hand and swung it down fiercely.

Pfft!!

The sharp kunai scattered, tinged with a trace of blood.

The blood dripped like a beautiful, tragic flower.

"What a shame..." Tōka flicked the kunai in his hand, narrowing his eyes at the middle-aged ninja.

Judging by the opponent's age, it was clear this guy was an elite ninja who had survived the Second Shinobi War.

Even though he was only a Chunin, his combat experience was exceptionally rich.

"Damn brat, you actually injured me!" The middle-aged ninja stuck out his tongue to lick his lip. A kunai had grazed his face.

A hideous scar ran from the upper left to the lower right, crossing his entire face.

It looked like a blood-red centipede, terrifying and grotesque.

"He was distracted just now, and even my sneak attack didn't succeed. Do I have to use the power of All-Killing Ash Bones again?" Tōka thought to himself.

If the kunai that struck the middle-aged ninja had been a piece of gray bone instead.

He would have already turned to ash.

The battle did not stop just because the two stood still.

Kurenai's genjutsu, combined with Kai's taijutsu, had completely suppressed the fat Chunin.

Tōka's peripheral vision caught Kai kicking the fat Chunin in the abdomen. The fat Chunin's massive body suddenly flew backward.

"Looks like I need to pick up the pace too." Tōka decided to try taijutsu for now. If he couldn't win quickly, he would use All-Killing Ash Bones.

The time limit: three minutes!

Let's go!

Whoosh!

Tōka raised his hand and threw the only kunai he had like a shuriken.

Immediately after, his body sank, and his bent legs coiled like springs, launching him forward.

Fwoosh!!

Tōka's speed through the trees was almost equal to the speed of the kunai.

Clang!!

The kunai was blocked and sent flying by the middle-aged ninja. Tōka seized the opportunity, reaching out to catch the returning kunai.

At the same time, he swung it fiercely toward the middle-aged ninja.

"So fast!" The middle-aged ninja's expression changed, and his hands flashed through a series of hand seals.

"Water Release..."

"Water Wall!"

Splash!!

A large volume of water erupted violently from the middle-aged ninja's mouth, transforming into a wall of water like a tidal wave.

Tōka's kunai struck it, creating only an insignificant ripple.

"Now it's my turn!"

Swish swish swish!!

The middle-aged ninja changed his hand seals and shouted.

"Water Release, Water Arrow Technique."

The water wall suddenly bulged, as if sharp arrows were about to shoot out from within.

Tōka's heart skipped a beat. This was the true strength of a Chunin!

So strong!

For him right now, the gap was too vast!

Pfft pfft pfft!!

"Tōka!!" Kurenai, who was supporting Kai, cried out in alarm.

She had intended to use genjutsu to distract the fat chunin, cooperating with Kai to defeat him as quickly as possible.

Then, they would combine their strength to deal with the middle-aged ninja.

She hadn't expected to see this scene, with Tōka having three water arrows graze past him.

There was a wound on his arm, thigh, and waist.

Although not fatal, the bloody appearance was terrifying.

And the kunai Tōka held tightly in his hand had also dropped during the block.

"Hiyah!~" Kai seized the moment when the fat Chunin looked away, leaping forward and kicking the massive face.

Plop!

The chubby ninja clutched his nose, rolling on the ground and letting out a miserable scream.

Seeing that Kai had gained the absolute advantage, Kurenai freed up her hands to prepare to use Genjutsu to support Tōka.

Just then, Tōka stood up, enduring the pain.

Having been a shut-in for twenty years, when had Tōka ever suffered such a "serious" injury?

Normally, the worst he'd get was biting his tongue, and he could count the times he'd bled on one hand.

"Tch, that really hurts!" Tōka spat, his small face turning a little pale.

No matter how much it hurt, he had to endure it. This wasn't a game, but the real ninja world!

Injuries caused bleeding, injuries caused pain, injuries caused death!

"Kurenai, this is my fight!" Tōka said without looking back.

Hearing this, Kurenai, who was about to cast Genjutsu, paused her hand seals.

She looked at Tōka, puzzled. Why was a six-year-old brat trying to be so tough!

"Heh, quite the bloodthirsty brat." A flicker of admiration flashed in the middle-aged ninja's eyes, quickly followed by a thick, cold killing intent.

The air was filled with a suffocating pressure.

Tōka held his breath, and the middle-aged ninja also began to get serious.

He treated Tōka as an opponent of equal standing.

"Die, you brat!!" the middle-aged ninja roared, gathering Chakra in his legs and charging forward.

At a distance of ten steps, the middle-aged ninja suddenly accelerated.

Whoosh! He turned into a blur and closed in.

Tōka stumbled backward, simultaneously throwing a Kunai.

The glinting Kunai flew straight towards the middle-aged ninja's face.

"Hmph, a petty trick. Your attacks are completely useless!" The middle-aged ninja tilted his head, easily dodging the Kunai.

Then, with a wave of his hand, his palm became a blade, gathering a wind blade of Chakra and slashing mercilessly at Tōka.

Pfft!!

Without suspense, Tōka's body was split in two.

"No blood? An afterimage?? Clone Technique?!" The middle-aged man was shocked and furious, completely unprepared for Tōka having the strength to resist.

Hadn't the water jutsu just heavily injured this kid?

"You're spacing out again, that won't do!~" Tōka's voice floated coldly into the middle-aged man's ears.

Following it was a gray bone the size of a pinky finger.

Rot away with the bone!

Plop!

The moment Tōka saw the gray bone pierce him, his vision went black, and he fell to the ground!

Before he lost consciousness, he saw Kai and Kurenai running over with anxious expressions.

And two Anbu wearing animal masks.

Tch, the Anbu really showed up at the right time!

Swish swish!!

The two Anbu quickly delivered finishing blows to the near-dead chubby ninja before appearing beside Tōka.

One Anbu extended a hand, a ball of green light swirling around his palm.

"Don't worry, he just fainted from blood loss." Seeing Kurenai's worried, hesitant expression, the Anbu said calmly.

Tōka was just a six-year-old kid. While his physical condition was decent, he had only trained for half a year.

More importantly, he hadn't inherited the resilient physique of the Uzumaki clan.

With three not-so-minor wounds, fainting from blood loss was normal.

"But, Tōka is really amazing! That Chunin is just a pile of paper scraps now." Kai said innocently.

Kurenai glared at him, not responding.

Meanwhile, the two Anbu were communicating silently.

Kurenai knew that they were communicating, but she didn't know what they were saying.

One day later, Konoha Hospital.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, appeared in a hospital room.

He held a report in his hand, detailing the situation of the recent elite class exam.

And among them was an encrypted file...

"It's just like last time, isn't it? A secret technique that can instantly make enemies crumble." The Third Hokage narrowed his eyes as he looked at Tōka on the hospital bed.

Gradually, the Third Hokage's gaze became distant, and he began to space out.

The entire morning passed in this state of standing still and sleeping.

Suddenly!

The Third Hokage, whose mind had been wandering, snapped back to reality and smiled faintly at the figure on the hospital bed.

"Since you're awake, stop pretending to be asleep."

"Heh heh, Lord Hokage, hello!"

Tōka showed no embarrassment at being found out and openly opened his eyes.

In fact, he had woken up long ago, but upon seeing the Third Hokage there, he had pretended to be asleep.

While pretending to sleep, Tōka hadn't been idle; he had been refining his chakra.

It had to be said that this battle wasn't entirely without its benefits.

Tōka felt that his chakra had increased significantly, no less than that of a genin.

Considering he was only a little over six years old, possessing chakra beyond that of a genin was quite remarkable.

"You don't seem surprised at all, Tōka."

The Third Hokage continued to smile kindly, though no one knew what was brewing in his smiling eyes.

Tōka remained silent. He knew the Third Hokage was here because of the All-Killing Ash Bones.

However, the All-Killing Ash Bones was a Kekkei Mōra that belonged solely to Kaguya Otsutsuki.

Now, Ōtsutsuki Tōka was added to the list.

Even if others found out, they wouldn't be able to cultivate it.

"Tōka, what are your dreams?" Seeing Tōka's silence, the Third Hokage shifted his gaze to the window.

Didn't they discuss this before?

Tōka narrowed his eyes, pondering the Third Hokage's intentions.

Despite having the mind of an adult, he couldn't fathom the old fox's thoughts.

Was it a test? Or a deeper conversation?

"To become stronger!" Tōka's answer remained the same two words.

"To become stronger, you still haven't changed!" The Third Hokage remembered Tōka's answer.

For a moment, silence fell in the room.

Yet, the atmosphere was exceptionally peaceful and serene.

Tōka looked at the Third Hokage's profile with a blank expression. Did this old man come here and space out for a whole morning just to say this?

Didn't the Hokage have a lot of important things to do, being so busy every day?

Why did it feel like the Third Hokage was just like someone with nothing to do all day?

"Tōka, do you want to join the Anbu?" the Third Hokage suddenly asked.

Holy crap! Two words instinctively popped into Tōka's mind.

For him to join the Anbu at his level?

That was really thinking too highly of him!

The next moment, Tōka immediately understood the Third Hokage's intentions. The lethality displayed by the All-Killing Ash Bones was too considerable.

As long as it hit, it was fatal.

In other words, even a Kage-level expert could potentially be caught off guard by Tōka.

Although the chance was less than one percent, the terrifying potential Tōka would possess as he grew up was imaginable.

"A disguised form of protection and a disguised form of surveillance," Tōka fully understood what the Third Hokage meant.

The Third Hokage stared intently at Tōka, a flash of anticipation, fondness, admiration, and even infatuation in his eyes...

Hey, hey, hey, Third Hokage, I'm straight!

Why are you looking at me like that? Tōka cried out inwardly.

"If possible, I'd like to go to the battlefield first." Tōka neither refused nor agreed. His background dictated everything.

"Go to the battlefield?" The Third Hokage's brow twitched, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

Tōka's abilities were very peculiar and could definitely be used as a trump card.

If he went to the battlefield...

That place was a meat grinder!

Let alone a genin who had just graduated, even a Jonin couldn't guarantee their own survival.

In the end, the Third Hokage agreed to Tōka's request.

"Very well, go gain some experience on the battlefield for a while. The Anbu can be put on standby."

"Everything will be as the Hokage-sama arranges." Tōka nodded, not wanting to completely disregard the Third Hokage.

"Ah, right, this is for you." The Third Hokage, who was about to leave, suddenly turned around and tossed something over.

Tōka instinctively caught it and looked closely.

A Ninja Headband?

Am I a true ninja now... (To be continued)