Kenya looked at the Root agents groaning in pain amid the rubble.
He scratched his head a little sheepishly, his tone carrying a shameless sort of sincerity.
"Ah, I'm really sorry."
"I haven't been back in two years. How did the gate get so flimsy?"
"I used a little too much strength. I'll have the chamber of commerce replace it with one made entirely of black iron wood later. Guaranteed to stand up to a beating."
Hearing this, the Root agents nearly coughed up blood in fury.
You fucking blew away the gate and its barrier with one punch, and you're calling our gate flimsy?!
But they absolutely did not dare voice that complaint. They could only clutch their broken bones and play dead on the ground.
The tremendous boom and earth-shaking tremors.
Were like a heavy bomb detonating inside Konoha.
In less than two minutes.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Countless figures raced over from every direction in the village.
Large numbers of Konoha patrol ninja, elite Anbu, and even some off-duty Konoha Jonin.
All swiftly assembled near the gate in response to the deafening crash.
When they saw the ten-meter hole blasted through the wall and the twisted iron bars scattered across the ground.
Everyone sucked in a sharp breath.
Even a Tailed Beast Bomb couldn't do much more damage than this!
An enemy attack! This was definitely an enemy attack!
"Everyone, on guard! Prepare for battle!"
A Konoha Jonin leading the group roared.
Hundreds of ninja instantly drew their Ninja Blades, with Shuriken and Kunai held between their fingers.
Flashes of light from Hand Seals for various Ninjutsu flickered through the crowd, their killing intent soaring skyward.
They tightly surrounded the black-haired young man standing before the hole amid the rubble.
At a single order from their captain, they would blast this intruder into pulp.
Faced with hundreds of Konoha Ninja surrounding him on all sides.
Kenya showed no trace of panic.
He did not even activate his Armament Haki. Instead, he did something no one expected.
He raised both hands high, his cold expression instantly turning harmless and even a little aggrieved.
"Everyone, relax! Please, relax! Watch out for accidental fire!"
Kenya shouted in an exceptionally carrying voice.
"I'm not here to fight!"
"I, Senju Kenya, am a respectable businessman who respects the elderly, cares for the young, and abides by the law!"
"I've come back to the village today without any weapons or ill intentions!"
These utterly shameless remarks.
Echoed across the open ruins, sounding utterly ridiculous.
The Konoha Ninja around him were dumbfounded.
You fucking smashed the Konoha Gate to pieces with one punch.
You beat the Root agents half to death.
And now you're raising your hands and calling yourself a law-abiding businessman who respects the elderly and cares for the young?!
Do you take us for three-year-olds?!
"Enough nonsense! Surrender immediately!"
The Jonin leading the group snapped angrily.
"You are suspected of destroying vital village defenses. We have the right to subdue you by force!"
As he spoke, he was about to wave his hand and order the attack.
"Wait!"
Kenya shouted, hurriedly pulling a gleaming golden plaque from his pocket and holding it high.
"I'm the owner of the Iron Fist Chamber of Commerce in the Land of Waves!"
"I've come back to sponsor the Chunin Ninja Exams with two hundred million ryo in cash!"
"And I'm also accompanying my aunt back to visit family!"
Kenya shouted with complete self-assurance.
"If you dare attack me, you'll be sabotaging the Chunin Ninja Exams, suppressing a charitable business, and even showing contempt for our Senju Clan!"
"Your aunt?"
The lead Jonin froze, while everyone else was equally confused.
Since when did Senju Kenya have an aunt?
Just as everyone was wavering in bewilderment.
On the most luxurious open-top carriage at the rear.
Someone swept aside the curtain.
A woman in a green kimono, her blond hair pinned high and a diamond-shaped mark on her forehead.
Slowly stepped down from the carriage.
She stood beside the carriage. Though she said nothing, the powerful presence of someone long accustomed to authority and seasoned by countless battles.
Instantly enveloped everyone present.
The moment he saw this woman appear.
The lead Konoha Jonin's pupils abruptly contracted, and even his breathing stopped.
He was not the only one.
Every Konoha Ninja present, whether Anbu or ordinary Chunin.
After getting a clear look at the woman's face.
Froze in place as though struck by lightning.
"That's..."
"One of the legendary Sannin... Lady Tsunade?!"
"Heavens! Lady Tsunade has returned to the village?!"
Shock, excitement, and disbelief spread wildly through the crowd.
What did the name Tsunade represent in Konoha?
It represented the legitimate line of the Senju Clan, the bloodline of the First Hokage!
It represented the very pinnacle of Medical Ninjutsu and fighting strength in the Shinobi World!
In the hearts of many older Konoha Ninja, her prestige was no less than the Third Hokage's!
Before this legendary figure.
All hostility and killing intent melted away in an instant.
The lead Jonin swallowed and immediately put away his Ninja Blade.
He dropped to one knee, his voice full of respect and excitement.
"Lady Tsunade! It really is you!"
"Welcome back to the village, Lady Tsunade!"
Following his shout.
The hundreds of Konoha Ninja around him also put away their weapons in unison.
Like a tide, they dropped to one knee, paying their highest respects to this legendary princess.
"Welcome back to the village, Lady Tsunade!"
Their unified shout rang through the skies.
The battlefield, bristling with tension just moments before, instantly turned into a grand welcoming ceremony.
Tsunade looked at the Konoha Ninja kneeling before her.
Her gaze swept over those familiar yet unfamiliar faces with mixed feelings.
She drew a deep breath, then nodded.
"Everyone, get up. I just came back to have a look."
Tsunade's voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
She turned to glance at Kenya, who stood on the rubble making faces at her, and sighed helplessly.
"This brat may be a little reckless."
"But he is indeed my nephew, Senju Kenya."
"And the biggest sponsor of this year's Chunin Ninja Exams."
With those words, Tsunade had effectively vouched for Kenya's identity before the entire village.
With Tsunade's protection.
And the halo of being the "two-hundred-million-ryo sponsor."
The ninja who had still wanted to hold Kenya responsible for destroying the gate all shut their mouths.
What a joke.
Hold Lady Tsunade's nephew accountable?
And he was a god of wealth who had come to deliver money.
Who would dare invite trouble at a time like this?
Let Root take the blame themselves.
Kenya smiled in satisfaction as he watched the crisis dissolve in an instant.
Sure enough.
In Konoha, Aunt Tsunade's face worked better than any S-rank Ninjutsu.
He dusted off his hands and hopped back onto the carriage.