Big Fat Sheep Appears

Two enormous figures emerged from the trees. They were at least twice as tall as ordinary people, with massive builds and thick arms. They looked incredibly strong.

"Thunder God~ You missed." The other burly man repeatedly tapped the huge head of the one called Thunder God with his gigantic fist.

"Brother, my hand slipped just now. Sorry."

Thunder God, who was even bigger than Wind God, scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

"I won't miss next time."

"Next time, let me handle it," Wind God scolded him impatiently.

"That kid's so skinny. Doesn't look like he has much meat on him. We won't get full. Brother, I'm so hungry." Thunder God complained to Wind God, sounding like a child.

"Shut up. I know. Having something to eat is better than nothing, Thunder God."

As they spoke, all four of their eyes gleamed with a sickly green light as they stared at Kaede. Drool ran down their chins. They'd decided to keep him as emergency rations.

"Those two idiots are... Wind God and Thunder God?" Listening to them talk, Kaede realized who had attacked him. His expression darkened as he considered making a run for it.

Do they think I'm food? I knew those two gluttons would do anything for a meal, but I didn't expect them to eat people when they got hungry. Are they really that vicious?

The Wind God and Thunder God brothers had tough skin and incredible strength. Their physical power alone put them at the level of a Jonin. They were still young, so they probably hadn't reached their peak yet, but Kaede still couldn't take them on.

Even the Anbu member behind him probably couldn't handle these two. If he didn't run now, when would he?

Whoosh...

The Anbu member, who'd been hiding in the shadows, instantly appeared in front of Kaede and stood between him and the Wind God and Thunder God brothers. As an Anbu operative, he had the authority to handle violent attacks within Konoha.

"Leave here and hurry back to the Uchiha Clan Grounds... Get help." Asking the Uchiha for help made Sparrow feel utterly embarrassed. But the two men in front of him looked like trouble. He'd seen the stone that had struck Uchiha Kaede, and its force had clearly surpassed his own. He had no confidence in defeating an enemy like that—let alone two.

The Uchiha Clan Grounds were the closest. As long as Uchiha Kaede could get back there, he'd be able to find ninja reinforcements.

The Wind God and Thunder God weren't wearing Konoha Forehead Protectors. To the Anbu member, that meant they were likely outsiders who'd infiltrated Konoha, so he treated them as a serious threat.

Kaede didn't bother with anything else. He took off on his short legs. Just as the Anbu member had said, there was no point in staying. Running back to get help was the sensible thing to do. But although Kaede wanted to run, Wind God and Thunder God had no intention of letting their food escape. Another, meatier meal had just arrived, but it still wouldn't be enough.

The brothers hurled a dense barrage of stones at Kaede as he ran toward the Uchiha Clan Grounds. Relying on his sixth sense, he weaved through the storm and dodged stone after stone. The wind never stopped whistling past his ears, and splinters of wood and stone kept flying by his sides.

"Idiot! Thunder God, he's getting away! Stop throwing rocks and go after him. I'll deal with the meatier one." Wind God swung his enormous fist at the Anbu member, and the two began to fight.

Thunder God stopped throwing rocks and strode after Kaede. The ground quaked with every step, as if a little tank were charging forward. He moved astonishingly fast. Before Kaede could react, Thunder God was already in front of him, blocking his path.

Without Lightning Armor or the Sharingan, Kaede was just an ordinary Genin. Against an opponent far beyond his level, he had no chance of winning, and escaping would be nearly impossible. But if he exposed his true strength now... that might be even more dangerous. Konoha was no place for him anymore. A six-year-old who stood out too much was an anomaly.

Even if the Third Hokage wasn't interested, he was sure to attract the attention of the great scientist Orochimaru or Danzo. He'd become their tool—or end up dead.

Then he'd have only one option: slash his Forehead Protector and renounce all ties.

Wait... I don't even have a Forehead Protector. I can't even become a rogue ninja.

As his thoughts raced, Thunder God launched his attack. He swung his two long, thin arms, slamming his thick fists into the ground. The rumbling continued, and a crack in the earth had already spread to Kaede's feet.

What a pair of freaks. Those fists can split mountains and shatter rocks. How much strength does that take? If one of those hits my little body, I'll turn into a sheet of paper!

Kaede pushed off with his toes and leaped onto a tree to his left as the crack raced toward him. He looked down at Thunder God. All he could do was dodge the freak's attacks. He was hopelessly outmatched in strength, but Thunder God wasn't very fast.

His attacks were also broad and easy to dodge, so Kaede could hold on for a while. But...

This wasn't a solution.

He kept leaping from tree to tree, buying time. Whenever he could, he glanced over at the Anbu member fighting Wind God. His mask was shattered, blood stained the corner of his mouth, and his right arm bent at an unnatural angle. He was badly injured. If this went on much longer, he might not survive.

"How annoying." The more hopeless the situation became, the calmer Kaede grew. His mind raced as he searched for a way to turn things around.

Do I have no choice but to reveal my strength?

Just to kill two nobodies, I'd have to spend the rest of my life wandering the Shinobi World? What a mess. But I don't have a choice if I want to stay alive.

Kaede jumped down from the tree and waited for Thunder God to come pounding toward him, shaking the earth with every step. Chakra began rapidly gathering in his body. He was about to use Lightning Armor, and a red aura had already appeared in his eyes as the Sharingan neared awakening.

"You're so noisy~~~~!" An enraged, cracking yell came from the cliff above. The enormous sound wave unleashed a fierce gust of wind. The trees trembled, and loose stones tumbled down the cliff.

In the sunlight, a long mane of golden hair had been tied into twin tails. Anger filled her beautiful face, and her green coat billowed despite the still air, stirred by the Chakra surging out of her body.

Most striking of all was her magnificent chest, which she braced with both hands as if it were about to burst out of her clothes. The Konoha Forehead Protector on her forehead did little to conceal her beauty.

"Lady Tsunade!"

When he saw who had arrived, the Anbu member hurriedly dodged Wind God's attack. He used the Body Flicker Technique to appear before Tsunade and knelt.

He explained what had happened. When he mentioned "eating people," Tsunade's gaze grew increasingly dangerous as she looked at Wind God and Thunder God, as if a volcano were about to erupt.

"Tsunade, hold back. I think those two are Konoha ninja as well." A figure appeared beside Tsunade, calming her down.

At his words, Tsunade's agitated Chakra subsided. Only her lover, Dan Katō, could have that kind of effect on her.

Seeing this, Kaede didn't waste another moment. He scrambled toward Tsunade and the others. He climbed the cliff as fast as his little legs could carry him, hauling himself up to the top before sitting down and panting heavily.

Tsunade didn't even notice him, but Dan Katō, the incredibly handsome one, gave him a warm, reassuring look. His eyes narrowed as he smiled brightly, and Kaede could think only one thing.

Kaede: Buddy, you should just die. There's only room for one handsome guy, and that's me.

Down below, Wind God and Thunder God weren't good at climbing because of their enormous size, but they had their own way of getting up. They swung their arms and began pounding the cliffside.

Sitting on the cliff, Kaede immediately felt the earth shake. His head spun.

"What monsters! They're like human cannons!"