Truly Ridiculous

In a dark corner, Uzumaki Sora picked up the Flying Thunder God Kunai from the ground and looked around.

Night had just fallen, and the streets of Konoha not far away were still bustling. Sora walked out calmly, without the slightest sense of being an intruder.

"Uncle Teuchi, one bowl of ramen with rich broth."

At Ichiraku Ramen, Sora first enjoyed a bowl of the village's signature dish. After paying, he was about to go take care of business.

But a cheerful voice entered the shop, making him pause for a moment. Kabuto had come in happily with two friends from the Orphanage.

"This ramen is really, really delicious. If you help the matron clean up again next month, I'll bring you here again."

"Brother Kabuto, I want barbecue. Barbecue is so tasty."

"We'll keep helping the matron next month. Can you take us to eat barbecue, Brother Kabuto?"

The two children's words made Kabuto choke up a little. Although he could earn a little money now thanks to the Fourth Hokage, he gave nearly all of it to the matron every month.

So... he was really a little short on cash.

Taking advantage of the curtain at Ichiraku Ramen blocking the view, Sora pulled out some money and handed it to Teuchi, who had just come out of the kitchen.

"Some kids from the Orphanage will come in soon. Could you give this to one of them, a boy named Kabuto? Just tell him it's from his big brother."

Teuchi smiled. "No problem. Those kids come here all the time. It's been a long time since I last saw you, though."

Sora smiled back. "I've been pretty busy lately. It's rare for me to come back. I'm off."

As soon as he finished speaking, Sora vanished from the spot.

He had things to take care of next, so it was better not to run into Kabuto. Given the current situation, there were plenty of things even the Fourth Hokage couldn't decide.

After all, the one who was going to die soon... was the Third's lifelong best friend.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

The faint sound of footsteps stood out in the silent darkness.

"Who's there? Step back!"

"No entry. Trespassers will be killed."

Amid their shouts, the footsteps heading into the darkness never stopped for even an instant.

One by one, figures gradually appeared in the dark, and before long they had surrounded Uzumaki Sora.

"Kill him!"

The order was brief. Whoever the intruder was, if he failed to respond when questioned the first time, he was an enemy!

"Swish!"

The Root ninja who had just used Body Flicker to charge forward widened his eyes. A long blade sliced through his neck and severed his windpipe. He tried to say something in disbelief, but all that came out was a gurgle.

"Too slow... I don't even need Flying Thunder God. Is this all Root can do?"

As soon as Sora finished speaking, the Root ninja who had rushed over at high speed immediately retreated halfway.

"He's fast, and his reactions are sharp. Use Sealing Jutsu."

In an instant, the half of the ninja who had retreated began forming Hand Seals.

"Clang!"

Sora easily blocked their attack with his long blade.

"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"

A huge Wind Blade swept in from behind. The Root ninja who had been pressing down on Sora's blade immediately retreated.

But Sora sneered and vanished from the spot as well.

"Swish!"

In an instant, Sora appeared behind the Root ninja he had just fought at close range. The Flying Thunder God formula had already spread across the man's back.

"Why... would you think you're faster than me?"

Before his words had even faded, his long blade swept across. A head dropped to the ground, and blood gushed from the neck, but not a single drop touched Sora.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"

The wind fed the flames, and in an instant a huge blaze swept toward Sora.

"Whoosh! Thud!"

Two shuriken flew out one after the other. Then Uzumaki Sora vanished from the spot, and the huge flames did nothing but scorch the air.

"Pfft!"

A blade sliced through a neck. Yun appeared out of nowhere and killed the ninja who had just used Wind Release and Fire Release.

The body fell to the ground, blood from its neck slowly spreading across the earth.

"Now!"

Amid a roar, the ninja who had positioned themselves in the four directions finished forming Hand Seals.

"Lightning Release: Four Pillar Bind!"

Four stone pillars appeared in an instant, one on each side. Lightning crackled over their surfaces, and in a flash it covered Sora's entire body.

This technique...

Sora looked up.

"Earth Release: Falling Lid!"

A huge green disk suddenly appeared in midair and came straight down toward Sora.

"A jutsu that couldn't even hold down the Animal Path's Hell Hound, and you're using it against me? Do you really think it'll work?"

Sora shook his head slightly. As the enormous disk descended toward him, he punched straight into it.

"Boom!"

It didn't even break apart first. One punch smashed the entire mountain-sized weight of it to pieces.

Then Sora glanced at the four stone pillars covered in lightning and casually swept a hand, breaking through the electrical bindings.

"That kind of strength! Is it like the Super Strength Fist?"

The four who had laid down the Sealing Jutsu retreated quickly in shock.

One of them even called out a warning. "The enemy is strong as well. Test him with long-range ninjutsu!"

"Swish!"

Sora used Body Flicker to appear behind him and murmured, "At this speed, do you really think long-range ninjutsu will work?"

"Pfft!"

By the time he finished speaking, the man had already been decapitated.

Sora looked toward the others and asked, "Does anyone know where Danzo is? If you tell me, maybe you won't have to die."

"Oh, right. The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal. You can't say anything about that old dog Danzo—not a word."

As he spoke, Yun took out three Flying Thunder God Kunai.

"Swish!"

The moment the kunai flew out, Uzumaki Sora vanished from the spot.

The Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes flashed briefly in the darkness. Two seconds later, he had every one of his opponents' movements completely figured out.

In an instant, red flashes filled the entire dark space. Each time Sora appeared, blood sprayed through the air.

"Thud, thud, thud..."

More than ten bodies fell one after another. The entire ground had become a river of blood.

"Clang!!"

Amid the clash of metal, Sora looked at the Root squad leader in front of him.

"Two seconds are up. But with strength like this, are you a Root squad leader?"

The ninja struggled to block the long blade and looked at the face beneath Sora's cloak, startled. "Uzumaki Sora?! It's you?"

Sora smiled and replied, "Surprised? Last time, I hadn't adapted to my new power yet, so that old dog Danzo managed to escape. But this time... he won't be so lucky."

The pupils behind the man's mask contracted. "Aren't you afraid of what Konoha will do?"

"Ha!"

Uzumaki Sora sneered. The Flying Thunder God formula had already reached its mark.

"Pfft!"

Sora vanished and reappeared behind his opponent. His long blade fell, slicing across the man's neck.

"I didn't see you during the Nine Tails Incident, and I didn't see you when Pain attacked, either. Now someone's come knocking at your door, and you're asking if your opponent fears Konoha?"

"Truly ridiculous..."

Thanks to all the big shots for your votes. I'm deeply grateful to you all.