Anbu? Root!

"So... let's leave it at that for today!"

"I still have to head over to the Hokage Office Building in a bit."

The two walked all the way to the intersection in the streets of Konoha. Hane suddenly stopped in his tracks, looking with a faint smile at Yugao, whose long purple hair cascaded like a waterfall before him.

"The dango you gave me was delicious. Let's meet again next time!"

"Uh, alright then..." Though she felt a lingering reluctance, Yugao had to smile and wave goodbye to Hane upon hearing he had business to attend to. Before leaving, she didn't forget to offer him some encouragement.

"Keep working hard, Hane! You're the best ninja!"

"Don't worry, I won't lose to anyone."

Only after watching the graceful silhouette of Yugao Uzuki disappear at the end of the street did Hane finally withdraw his gaze, turning to walk into a deserted wooded path nearby.

While dating a girl from the anime world was wonderful, Hane wouldn't forget that increasing his strength was the most pressing matter at hand.

On the road leading to the Hokage Office Building, the wind made the trees on both sides of the path rustle. Hane suddenly stopped walking.

"You've been following me for quite a while now..."

"Isn't it time you came out?"

Hane, having stopped, spoke abruptly to the empty wooded path in front of him.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

No sooner had the words left his lips than two ninjas appeared instantly.

Each wore a cat mask, sandwiching him from front and back, blocking Hane's path.

"Yakushi Hane, is it?"

"Lord Danzo requests your presence."

The ninja with the cat mask in front blocked Hane's way directly.

"Lord Danzo?"

"Sorry, I don't know him. Please move aside."

Hearing that name, Hane's heart skipped a beat, but he remained expressionless on the surface, walking around the ninja in front to continue on his way.

Shimura Danzo...

Hane couldn't help but feel a ripple of unease. Having read the original work, he understood this character better than anyone.

The leader of Konoha's independent underground organization, Root, he was a disciple of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, and a rival to the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

He was ruthless, unscrupulous, and deep-thinking—an absolute old fox. Unless absolutely necessary, Hane didn't want to get involved with such a troublesome figure.

However, the two Root ninjas clearly wouldn't let Hane leave so easily, blocking his path once more.

"Then forgive us. It seems we'll have to knock you out and take you with us."

The ninja in front pulled a sharp kunai from his sleeve, while the one behind drew a katana from his back, surrounding Hane.

Looking at the two Root ninjas blocking his way, Hane didn't need to think to know that his performance in yesterday's graduation exam must have caught the attention of that old fox Danzo, who now wanted to recruit him into Root.

"I didn't expect Root to be so bold as to openly attack a fellow village ninja within Konoha."

Those selected to join the Anbu or Root were at least at the level of a Chunin.

Judging by the aura emanating from these two, Hane could roughly sense that their strength was indeed at the Chunin level.

"Hmph, no one will know..."

"Because very soon... we will knock you out and take you back!"

As the words fell, the Root ninja in front lunged, thrusting his kunai toward Hane's heart.

This was merely a feint; the true goal was to force Hane to reveal an opening so they could seize their chance.

"Hmph, two Chunin, huh..."

"But unfortunately, I think you've underestimated my strength!"

Facing the kunai aimed at his heart, Hane's gaze turned icy.

Lightning Release: Chidori Senbon!!

Hane moved faster than them, his right hand whipping out from his kimono sleeve.

A flash of blue-white lightning erupted, and dozens of razor-thin lightning needles shot out through the air!

Chidori Senbon—like Chidori Current, this was a shape transformation Hane had developed based on Chidori.

While its power wasn't as potent as Chidori or Chidori Current, it excelled in long-range attacks, high speed, and volume.

"What is this?!"

The Root Chunin clearly hadn't expected Hane to strike with such speed.

Caught off guard, he frantically swung his kunai to block, but his hands were still paralyzed by the powerful lightning release.

"My body... I can't move!"

Struck by several Chidori Senbon, the powerful lightning chakra directly paralyzed the Root ninja's muscles and nerves.

At the same time, the katana of another Root chunin behind him had already struck, and Yu could almost feel the bone-chilling cold of the blade against his skin.

"Leaf Whirlwind!!"

Without looking back, Yu swung his right leg rapidly behind him, kicking the incoming katana away with a scorpion-tail motion.

Chakra Scalpel!!

Taking advantage of the moment he kicked the blade away, Yu quickly formed hand seals, and his body vanished from the spot instantly.

When he reappeared the next second, Yu was already behind the Root chunin, a distinct blue blade of chakra blooming in his hand.

"Hnng!!"

The blue chakra blade in Yu's hand sliced rapidly across the chunin's nape.

The Root chunin let out a muffled grunt, collapsing to the ground and losing his ability to fight instantly, without even a chance to scream.

Chakra Scalpel—an A-rank, ultra-high-level medical ninjutsu that concentrates chakra into the hands, allowing the user to cut inside a target's body without causing any external wounds.

Although Yu's current strength only allowed him to maintain the Chakra Scalpel at a length of thirty centimeters, it could cut directly through clothing and any other obstacles to reach the human body, making it an undeniably terrifying medical ninjutsu.

"Chakra Scalpel?!"

Seeing his companion collapse to the ground without a single mark on his body, the Root chunin nearby, whose body was paralyzed by the Chidori Senbon, was struck with sudden alarm.

He had initially underestimated Yu's strength due to his youthful appearance, but he never expected that Yu would not only possess such exquisite skill but also be able to cast such high-level Lightning Release ninjutsu and medical ninjutsu with such ease.

Swish!!

However, a blue light flashed across his neck at extreme speed.

The Root chunin's eyes flooded with crimson as he collapsed to the ground, his breathing ceasing.

Facing these two Root chunin who had intended to kill him, Yu had no intention of showing any mercy.

"What a nuisance..."

Looking at the two Root chunin lying on the ground without a single wound on their bodies, the blue Chakra Scalpel in Yu's hand gradually dissipated, though his brows furrowed slightly.

This was the first time he had truly killed someone.

Fortunately, the Chakra Scalpel could neutralize a target without damaging the surface of the body, and the lack of blood gushing everywhere spared him from the discomfort that might have come with his first kill.