The Great Fat Sheep Appears

Two massive figures emerged from the bushes, each easily twice the height of a normal person, with enormous builds, thick arms, and an imposing, powerful appearance.

"Thunder God~ you missed." The other burly one knocked his huge fist repeatedly against the big head of the one called Thunder God.

"Big brother, my hand just slipped. Sorry."

Thunder God, even bigger than Wind God, scratched the back of his head aggrievedly.

"I won't do it again."

"Let me take the next one." Wind God scolded him with dissatisfaction.

"This kid is so skinny, doesn't look like he has much meat. We won't get full. Big brother, I'm so hungry." Thunder God whined pitifully to Wind God, his mind seeming quite simple.

"Shut up, I know. Food is better than nothing, Thunder God."

With that, both of their four eyes gleamed with a greenish light as they stared frighteningly at Kaede, drool dripping from their mouths. They saw him as emergency rations.

"These two are... Wind God and Thunder God?" Kaede listened to their conversation and realized who was attacking him. His expression turned sour as he thought about making a run for it.

Are they treating me as food? I've long known these two gluttons would do anything for a meal, but I never thought they'd be hungry enough to consider eating people? This savage?

The Wind God and Thunder God brothers had thick skin and immense strength. Purely by brute force, they could reach the level of a jonin. But at this moment, they were still young, their power likely not yet at its peak—still, it wasn't something he could contend with.

Even the Anbu hiding in the shadows probably couldn't match these two. If not now, when would he run?

Swoosh...

The Anbu lurking in the dark instantly appeared before Kaede, blocking the Wind God and Thunder God brothers. Within Konoha, a serious assault gave him the authority to act independently.

"Leave here. Head back to the Uchiha compound... and call for reinforcements." Asking the Uchiha for help—Sparrow felt utterly humiliated. But the two men before him looked tough to handle. The rock that had just struck Uchiha Kaede—he'd seen it clearly. Its force far surpassed his own. Facing two such enemies, he had no confidence in winning.

The Uchiha district was the closest. If Uchiha Kaede could make it back, he could find backup ninja.

Wind God and Thunder God wore no Konoha headbands. To the Anbu, they seemed like foreign ninja invading the village, so he braced himself as if facing a major threat.

Kaede didn't bother with anything else. He bolted on his short legs, just as the Anbu had said—staying here was useless. Running back to rally help was the real priority. But as he tried to flee, Wind God and Thunder God had no intention of letting their food escape. Even though another, meatier target had appeared, it still wasn't enough to fill them.

A dense hail of rocks was hurled by the two brothers, raining down toward Kaede as he sprinted for the Uchiha compound. Relying on his sixth sense, Kaede weaved through the stone storm, dodging one after another. The wind whistled past his ears nonstop, and wood chips and stone fragments flew around him.

"Idiot, Thunder God, he's getting away! Stop throwing rocks and chase him! I'll handle this meatier one." Wind God swung his massive fist at the Anbu, and the two clashed.

Thunder God stopped throwing rocks and took long strides after Kaede. The ground trembled with each step, like a small tank charging recklessly at high speed. Before Kaede could react, Thunder God was already ahead of him, blocking his path.

Without using his Lightning Release Chakra Mode or Sharingan, Kaede was just an ordinary genin. Facing an opponent far beyond his level, he had no chance of winning, and escape seemed nearly impossible. But if he revealed his true strength... that might be even more dangerous. He wouldn't last in Konoha. A six-year-old performing too exceptionally would mark him as an anomaly.

Even if the Third Hokage wasn't interested, it would surely attract the attention of the great scientist Orochimaru or Danzo. He'd end up as a tool in their hands—or dead.

At that point, there'd be only one path: slash the headband and turn his back on everyone.

I... don't even have a headband yet. I can't even become a rogue ninja.

As his thoughts raced, Thunder God had already launched his attack. Swinging his two slender arms, his thick fists slammed into the ground with a constant rumble. A crack in the earth spread toward Kaede's feet.

"What a pair of freaks. Those fists can split rocks and shatter mountains. How much strength is that? If that hit my little body, I'd be flattened into paper!"

Kaede lightly tapped his toes and, as the crack reached him, leaped to a tree on the left, looking down at Thunder God. For now, he could only dodge this monster's attacks. He was completely outmatched in strength, but Thunder God's attack speed wasn't fast.

And his moves were wide and sweeping, easy to evade. That way, he could hold out a little longer, but...

This wasn't a solution.

He kept shifting between trees, buying time. In a spare moment, he saw the Anbu on the other side locked in a direct fight with Wind God. His mask was shattered, blood at the corner of his mouth, his right arm bent at an unnatural angle—clearly badly injured. In a little while, he might lose his life.

"How annoying." The more cornered he felt, the calmer Kaede became. His mind raced, searching for a way to break the deadlock.

Do I really have to reveal my strength?

Just to kill these two losers, I'd have to spend my days as a wandering rogue ninja. What kind of mess is this? But to save my own skin, I have no choice.

Kaede jumped down from the tree, waiting for Thunder God, who was charging toward him, shaking the ground with every step. Chakra began to gather rapidly. He was about to activate his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, and a red tint had already appeared in his eyes—his Sharingan was about to awaken.

"SHUT UP~~~~" A piercing roar came from the cliff above. The massive soundwave kicked up a considerable storm. Trees rustled violently, and gravel on the cliff were shaken loose, tumbling down.

Under the sunlight, long golden hair tied into twin tails, a beautiful face full of anger, a green windbreaker fluttering without wind—likely stirred by chakra bursting from her body.

The most striking feature was her magnificent chest, which she now propped up with both hands, seeming ready to burst from her clothes. On her forehead was Konoha's headband, reining in her beauty somewhat.

"Lady Tsunade."

Seeing her arrival, the Anbu quickly dodged Wind God's attack and Shunshined before Tsunade, kneeling.

He explained the situation. When he mentioned "eating people," Tsunade's gaze toward Wind God and Thunder God grew increasingly dangerous, like a volcano about to erupt.

"Tsunade, go easy. I recall they're also Konoha ninja." A figure appeared beside Tsunade, calming her fury.

That single remark made Tsunade retract the violent chakra around her. The only person with such influence was Tsunade's lover, Dan Katō.

Seeing this, Kaede didn't hesitate. He scrambled toward Tsunade and the others, climbed the cliff with all his might, hauled himself to the top, and sat down, gasping for air.

Tsunade didn't even notice him. But the handsome Dan Katō gave him a warm, reassuring look. With narrowed eyes and a brilliant smile, only one thought crossed Kaede's mind.

Kaede: Buddy, you'd better die. One handsome guy like me is enough.

Below the cliff, Wind God and Thunder God, due to their massive size, weren't good at climbing. But they had their own methods—swinging their arms, they began pounding the cliff face.

Sitting on the cliff, Kaede instantly felt the ground shake and his mind go dizzy.

"What monsters. Human self-propelled cannons."