In an office beneath the Hokage Building in Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed absorbed in the report in his hands.
Danzo, sitting opposite him, and Owl, standing behind him, both looked somewhat puzzled. They had already read the report along with Hiruzen, but they had read it faster.
Unlike Hiruzen, they had not stopped to think it over seriously after finishing, then gone back to read it carefully again.
Having been thoroughly taught a lesson by Xia Yan, Owl naturally knew how terrifying that brat was, even if there had been an element of a surprise attack involved.
Ninjas had to use any means necessary. Although Owl hated Xia Yan deeply, he did not think Xia Yan had done anything wrong.
This time, Xia Yan had voluntarily accepted the mission to Sunagakure. Although Owl had shown nothing outwardly, he had been delighted inside, because he knew this mission would be anything but easy!
The slightest mistake might leave that damned brat in the Land of Wind forever.
What he had never expected was that, although things had initially gone just as he had imagined,
and although he did not know why Xia Yan had sent Kakashi away temporarily, the brat had indeed caught Ebizo's attention.
But what happened next had left him completely dumbfounded. Facing Ebizo and his subordinates alone, this brat had killed six Anbu by himself and then escaped?
And he had done far more than simply escape. Along the way, he had wiped out another five squads, leaving all of Sunagakure on edge and even prompting the garrison forces to mobilize!
This outcome had completely exceeded Owl's expectations, and at the same time, a little fear had crept into his heart.
If that fellow had attacked him like this back then, could he have survived?
The question kept