Reactions and Interrogation

But the Third Mizukage's words soon interrupted his thoughts.

"Are those people still behaving themselves?"

His subordinate immediately lowered his head and answered, "The smaller Kekkei Genkai clans are doing fine. It's the major clans..."

"Hmph!"

The Third Mizukage snorted. His refined features were full of murderous intent as the Kage's formidable presence spread through the room.

"War is coming, and they're already starting to scheme again. Looks like I haven't killed enough of them."

"Have Yagura keep an eye on them. If they dare make a move..."

The intentions of the Mizukage who had established the Bloody Mist Village were clear.

"Yes, sir!"

Under the overwhelming presence of a Kage, the subordinate broke into a cold sweat and dared not raise his head.

Elsewhere, the other ninja villages received the news as well, each reacting differently.

"Another Konoha White Fang..."

Chiyo set down the report in her hands, and the wrinkles on her face deepened.

At the thought of White Fang, a savage expression appeared on her face.

White Fang had taken his own life instead of dying by her hand. He'd gotten off easy. After all, her son and daughter-in-law had both died at White Fang's hands.

Ebizo, standing beside her, nodded.

"Shinobi with such explosive power and mobility have always been difficult for us to handle. And this Nara Dan is frighteningly young."

White Fang had already been in his thirties when he made a name for himself, while Nara Dan was still under twenty. He was even more terrifying than White Fang.

At that age, they didn't even have to defeat them on the battlefield. They could simply wait for them to die of old age.

At that thought, Chiyo's expression eased instead. At least White Fang was dead. If their village had to face two opponents like him, it would have been a disaster on top of a disaster.

Ebizo, however, was struck by another idea.

"Since the Sannin aren't stationed in Konoha right now, why don't we..."

Chiyo shook her head, cutting him off.

"This man isn't just a genius. The fact that he became a Jonin through Taijutsu alone means he's far more dangerous than an ordinary Jonin."

"And given Konoha's nature, anyone promoted to Jonin outside wartime must have been growing for a long time."

Ebizo nodded, understanding Chiyo's reasoning.

It was true. A Jonin had to be flawless in ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and genjutsu to earn the title. Yet this young man had become a Jonin through Taijutsu alone.

Clearly, his advantage in Taijutsu far outweighed the combined strengths of an ordinary Jonin's ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and genjutsu.

Besides, Konoha couldn't possibly be unaware of how conspicuous a Jonin was during peacetime. To protect the village's talented shinobi, Konoha would never let a genius who hadn't fully matured take such a risk.

"And..."

Chiyo gazed toward the village, her heart heavy. They had even more difficult problems to deal with now.

For instance, the Third Kazekage's disappearance.

"We can't keep this under wraps much longer."

"This man has grown stronger again."

Of the Five Great Nations, no ninja village knew Nara Dan better than Iwagakure.

Back then, Nara Dan had wreaked havoc in the Land of Earth and given them a real headache.

A tactical unit of nearly a hundred men had been unable to deal with a single Chunin. They'd been forced to fight their way out for an entire day and night, until the Jinchuriki intervened and salvaged some of their reputation.

That battle had earned Nara Dan the name Black Demon.

The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, stared at the report before him, his head aching. Nara Dan had managed to withstand the Mist Ninja's Lava Release Kekkei Genkai head-on, which meant his defense had improved yet another level.

During that battle, Nara Dan had still been wary of the power of Kekkei Genkai users. At the very least, he wouldn't have taken a Kekkei Genkai technique head-on without a second thought.

After all, Kekkei Genkai users were feared because their techniques were far more powerful than ordinary nature-transformation techniques. Kekkei Genkai techniques could be said to be nature-transformed Five Elements ninjutsu from the outset.

Ōnoki rubbed his aching lower back, feeling his headache worsen.

If Roshi hadn't happened to be passing by and stopped Nara Dan, that tactical unit of nearly a hundred shinobi might have been wiped out.

"But Roshi is always away from the village now."

Ōnoki's face darkened. He was furious that Roshi refused to obey. If Roshi weren't a Jinchuriki, leaving the village without permission would be enough to brand an ordinary shinobi a rogue ninja.

"Only a Jinchuriki can keep a shinobi like that in check."

Having spent his life fighting, Ōnoki understood how shinobi countered one another. Against a high-speed, high-damage shinobi like White Fang, only large-scale ninjutsu attacks could hold him back.

And only a Jinchuriki or a Tailed Beast had enough Chakra to keep up such large-scale attacks.

"But this man is even more troublesome than White Fang."

Ōnoki sighed and waved a hand.

"Keep an eye on Nara Dan. Report any information to me immediately."

"And keep a close watch on Kumogakure too. Those people may look like a bunch of brutes, but they're extremely crafty."

At Kumogakure, in the Raikage's Office.

The Third Raikage slammed a fist on the desk, his whiskers bristling.

"That kid's got potential."

The Third Raikage was interested in a Taijutsu Secret Technique similar to his Lightning Release Chakra Mode—and even felt a hint of battle lust.

But after a few more glances, he stopped paying attention. Nara Dan's current achievements were well within his reach, and he could do even better.

"Our main target isn't Konoha, so there's no need to worry too much about them for now."

The next day, a new guest arrived in Konoha's underground prison.

"Sorry for the trouble, Lin."

Uchiha Fugaku spoke politely. Even the Uchiha had to show proper respect to the head of the Yamanaka Clan.

Especially since they were asking him for a favor.

"Think nothing of it, Fugaku. It's my duty."

Yamanaka Lin had the distinctive blond hair of the Yamanaka Clan, a resolute gaze, and a slightly weathered face.

With that, the two headed deeper into the prison.

As they opened the door to Konoha's prison, the stench of blood mixed with the dampness unique to the underground washed over them, almost unbearable.

But neither Uchiha Fugaku nor Yamanaka Lin so much as changed expression. They seemed accustomed to it.

With cool expressions, they entered the interrogation room one after the other.

The man Nara Dan had sent flying the previous day was inside.

Specially made chains that suppressed Chakra shackled his hands and feet. His body was covered in blood, with bandages wrapped around him.

The terrible injuries he'd suffered the day before were still plainly visible. Some wounds were so severe that even the exposed bones hadn't been bandaged.

Despite all that, the man showed no sign of pain. He remained calm and licked his parched lips.

"Too bad. If Dan-kun hadn't hit him so hard, he might have died even faster under torture..."

"Otherwise, there'd have been no need for you to step in, Lin."