"AAAH—!!"
"BOOM! BOOM—!!"
A tall figure screamed as he was sent flying.
Hit directly in the chest by a Rasengan—
His body spun violently like a cannonball—
Crashing through tree after tree.
Trunks snapped in half.
The sheer force made everyone break into cold sweat.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh—"
At that moment—
Multiple figures rushed in from the forest.
ANBU.
All masked.
At the front—
A silver-haired man wearing a cat mask.
Kakashi Hatake.
ANBU captain.
"The Fourth Hokage's technique…!?"
"That's—Rasengan!"
"That A-rank, no-hand-seal jutsu…!"
"…He's only ten, right?"
"And he pushed Tenzo this far?"
"What a terrifying kid…"
The ANBU were shaken.
None of them expected—
Akira Ren to have mastered Rasengan.
Even Kakashi paused.
His eyes flickered.
"…Sensei's jutsu…"
For a moment—
He seemed lost in memory.
—
Inside the Hokage office—
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a slow puff of his pipe.
"…Even Rasengan?"
He was genuinely surprised.
"Tsunade doesn't know that technique…"
"So who taught him?"
Akira Ren's display—
Was beyond expectations.
A complete all-rounder.
And his genjutsu—
Exceptional.
Even Tenzo—
An elite among ANBU—
Had been completely suppressed.
And yet—
He was just ten.
"Unbelievable…"
—
"Wood clone…"
Akira Ren spoke calmly.
He didn't even glance at the "Tenzo" he had just blasted away.
Instead—
He turned toward a massive tree nearby.
Raised one hand lazily.
No full hand seals—
Just a symbolic gesture.
Then—
He exhaled.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"WHOOSH—"
Heat surged.
Flames lit up the sky.
A massive fireball—
Over ten meters wide—
Shot forward at terrifying speed.
"What!?"
"BOOM—!!"
Flames erupted.
The forest burned.
A figure—
Forced out of hiding.
"Single-hand seals…!?"
"And such a large-scale fire release instantly…!"
"As expected of Tsunade's disciple!"
The observing ANBU couldn't help but exclaim.
Akira Ren's strength—
Was shocking.
"Wood Release: Thorn Bind!"
Tenzo, now serious, formed hand seals rapidly.
"SWISH—!"
A massive vine burst from the ground—
Wrapping toward Akira Ren.
More vines surged up—
Blocking all escape routes.
"BOOM! BOOM!"
But in the next moment—
They shattered.
One after another.
Blown apart.
Through the smoke—
Akira Ren emerged.
Unharmed.
Tenzo's expression changed instantly.
He retreated without hesitation.
Like facing a monster.
But—
Akira Ren didn't pursue.
Instead—
He casually put his hands in his pockets.
"Enough. Go report back."
He said lightly.
"I already told you…"
"That half-baked Wood Release of yours—"
"Don't embarrass yourself with it."
"…You!"
Tenzo's face darkened.
He nearly spat blood from anger.
This kid's mouth—
Was vicious.
"Whoosh—whoosh—"
At that moment—
The ANBU surrounded him.
"It's enough, Tenzo."
Kakashi spoke calmly.
"You're not his opponent."
"…I understand."
Tenzo lowered his head reluctantly.
"Poof—"
Smoke cleared.
He returned to standard ANBU attire.
"Oh?"
Akira Ren looked at Kakashi with interest.
"You're Kakashi, huh?"
He had assumed Kakashi already left ANBU—
Apparently not yet.
Though—
That would likely change soon.
Kakashi would become a jonin instructor.
"…You know me?"
Kakashi looked at him steadily.
But deep down—
He was impressed.
This boy—
Was a true genius.
Even compared to his younger self—
Far beyond.
"Technically,"
Akira Ren smiled.
"You should call me uncle."
"…"
Kakashi went silent.
The other ANBU exchanged looks.
Then realized—
Kakashi was the Fourth Hokage's student.
And the Fourth was trained by Jiraiya.
Akira Ren—
As Tsunade's disciple—
Really did outrank him.
If Jiraiya were here—
He'd probably explode from the double standards.
"…Tch. Boring."
Akira Ren shrugged.
Then looked at Tenzo again.
"You still don't accept it, huh?"
"…No."
Tenzo forced out the answer.
But clearly—
He wasn't convinced.
"Honestly,"
Akira Ren said casually,
"If the Hokage wanted to see my strength—"
"He didn't need to go through all this trouble."
—
Inside the office—
Hiruzen coughed awkwardly.
That line—
Was clearly directed at him.
"…Ahem."
—
"But,"
Akira Ren continued,
"I'm a kind, respectful person."
"I believe in solving things peacefully."
He smiled.
Looking at the dozen ANBU—
Including Kakashi.
"Since it's the old man's request…"
"I'll do my best to satisfy it."
Then—
He spoke calmly.
Yet arrogantly.
"You all—"
"Come at me together."
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