In the East District of Hidden Leaf Village, more than a dozen Self-Exploding Puppets gathered in front of an emergency shelter and charged toward its entrance.
A line of villagers awaiting inspection was still blocking the doorway. When the puppets surged toward them all at once, everyone was terrified out of their wits and immediately descended into chaos.
"Damn it!" A Chunin gritted his teeth and stepped forward. Fortunately, these puppets were not skilled in Taijutsu. He dodged one puppet's grab, then sent it flying with a spinning kick, knocking down three or five more puppets in succession.
"To protect the villagers, this is the only way!" He pulled out a Kunai with an Exploding Tag tied to it and prepared to throw it. As long as he blew these things apart beforehand, the Human Bombs would naturally lose their threat.
But at that moment, a pair of thick arms wrapped around him from behind, tightly pinning his hands and making the Chunin's face change drastically.
Heavy breathing sound came from behind his neck, along with a tearful plea. "Please, sir ninja, don't attack! My wife is in there!"
"Damn it! Let go of me!" The Chunin turned around furiously. The one attacking him was a burly strong man, one of the villagers who had been standing in line behind him.
The opportunity was fleeting. Taking advantage of the delay, the puppets charged again. Dark blood foam seeped from their wounds—the sign that they were about to self-destruct.
Having just broken free, the Chunin stared in horror, his pupils shrinking to pinpoints.
At that moment, a deep, powerful voice tore through the air.
"Monkey King Enma: Transformation!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen appeared in a fitted combat outfit. His gaze turned sharp, and he leaped into the air like an agile ape.
Amid