They carefully lifted Rock Lee onto a stretcher, with Guy staying close beside him, as though the moment he let go, the disciple he was proudest of would vanish into thin air. He knew the price of the Eight Gates Released Formation was far too steep. He did not even dare imagine what Rock Lee would face when he woke up.
Low murmurs broke the deathly silence in the arena. Everyone's eyes converged on the figure hovering in midair. Toru Kujyo's clothes were spotless, his expression calm, as though that earth-shattering battle had been nothing more than a casual practice session. His strength had surpassed anything they could comprehend.
"An S-rank ultimate ninjutsu... perhaps even the legendary kekkei tōta..." a jonin murmured, his eyes full of awe. They had witnessed the terrifying power of Storm Release: Judgment firsthand. An attack that perfectly fused chakra with nature transformation and released it as a laser was simply unheard of. "To think Konoha... had a prodigy like this!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly settled back into his seat, his pipe already extinguished. Conflicting emotions flickered in his aged eyes. The strength Toru Kujyo had displayed far exceeded his expectations.
It was not merely his exceptional talent. More importantly, his command of chakra and understanding of ninjutsu had reached an unbelievable level. This child was undoubtedly Konoha's future trump card-perhaps even the key to ending this age of turmoil.
The genin in the spectator stands were even more shaken by Toru Kujyo's strength. Kurenai Yuhi clenched her fists tightly as she watched him, an unusual light shining in her eyes.
She had never seen a ninja so powerful yet so composed. Even Kakashi could not have handled an attack of that magnitude with such effortless ease. Shino Aburame pushed up his sunglasses, concealing the surprise and