"Pretty words!"
"Silver tongue!"
Behind Hakuki, Masako Uchiha ground her teeth.
"I can testify."
Suddenly, a voice rang out, breaking the stalemate once more.
All eyes turned.
Gaara's arm was wrapped in bandages. He repeated calmly, "I can testify. A Rain genin, taking advantage of Sasuke Uchiha's injury and unconsciousness, infiltrated Konoha Hospital. Killed the medic-nin attending to him. Kidnapped Sasuke Uchiha."
His arm had been pierced by Sasuke's Chidori. He'd gone to the hospital to get it bandaged.
That's when he saw it happen. The Rain genin making their move.
After speaking, Gaara's gaze shifted silently to Hakuki.
Hakuki gave him a slight nod, a smile on her lips.
Gaara's ears turned faintly red. He looked away, his posture awkward.
Hakuki: "…"
"Now what do you have to say for yourself?" Masako pressed, unable to wait.
The injured Neji Hyuga had already been taken away by medics.
Hanataki remained expressionless.
Even exposed, he showed no fear.
His gaze fell on the five Rain ninja surrounded by ANBU. Their eyes were full of shame.
"What exactly is the Hidden Rain trying to do?"
The Raikage, high on the platform, frowned, his fists clenched tight.
The current state of the ninja world suited everyone fine. Anyone trying to break that peace was declaring war on the entire world.
The Hidden Rain was a minor village. How could they have this kind of nerve?
Even back when they had Hanzo the Salamander—a man called a demigod—they hadn't won the Second Great Ninja War. Now, without Hanzo, what gave the Rain the audacity?
"I don't think the Rain has the stomach for it," the Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, said lightly.
The Kazekage, Rasa, looked at him. "What do you mean?"
Mei, the Mizukage, also turned, curious to hear the old man's take. This veteran Kage, past fifty, had seen it all. He might have a unique insight.
Only the Raikage snorted in disdain.
"It's possible the Rain is being used too." Ōnoki's eyes settled on Hanataki.
That meaningful look made Rasa frown. "You think this genin is the problem?"
Mizukage Mei chuckled lightly. "He is abnormally strong, that's for sure."
"Using ninjutsu to alter one's appearance isn't strange in our world," the experienced Ōnoki stated flatly.
His words made Rasa's frown deepen. "If someone really disguised themselves as a genin to enter the exams, to sow confusion and target an Uchiha… this becomes a serious matter."
The expressions of the Kage turned grave simultaneously.
"Take him," Hakuki ordered the Konoha ANBU.
Since Hanataki's group's intentions were impure, Konoha had no reason to hold back. Capturing Hanataki and the other Rain genin, extracting their purpose through interrogation—that was the priority now.
A dozen Konoha ANBU moved towards Hanataki.
He shifted his body, dodging the incoming shuriken. Silver-white light erupted from him.
WHOOSH.
Instantly, one was pierced.
In moments, all the Konoha ANBU were on the ground.
Judging by their strength, they weren't weak. For them to fall this fast meant only one thing: the man before them was too strong.
"How… is that possible?"
Up on the high platform, the remaining contestants who hadn't fought yet wore looks of shock.
They were the same age. Yet he had not only defeated Neji with ease, but facing a group of Konoha ANBU, he'd won effortlessly. This level of power was unbelievable.
"Let me deal with you!"
Masako spun her spear. Purple flames ignited along its length.
She leaped high, coming down from above, spear aimed to impale Hanataki.
The moment Masako moved, the gap between her and the ANBU was obvious. Her attack was fierce. Her speed—nothing like the ANBU. The force behind it was shocking. The burning purple flames could turn a person to ash in an instant.
Hanataki's figure blurred. Appeared behind Masako.
Masako's eyes widened. She swung her spear back to block.
Hanataki's fist, wrapped in silver light, slammed into the shaft of her spear.
CRACK.
The spear snapped clean in two.
Masako snorted. An identical spear materialized in her hand. "I underestimated you!"
"Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Technique!"
A crimson fire dragon, wreathed in purple flames, roared from Masako's mouth towards Hanataki.
Golden light shimmered over Hanataki's body. A golden pillar absorbed the fire dragon completely.
The next second.
A larger, more ferocious fire dragon tore free from the pillar and shot towards Masako.
The familiar attack instantly triggered Masako's memory. Her body began to tremble involuntarily. Hanataki's figure began to overlap with the masked man in her memories.
In the distance, Shisui and the others' faces underwent a drastic change.
A deep purple skeletal ribcage materialized before Masako, blocking the attack.
Her Mangekyō Sharingan spun wildly.
She recognized him.
"It's you!" she yelled to those around her. "He's that masked man!"
Exposed.
Hanataki saw no point in maintaining the act. This body was limiting him anyway.
Wrapped in golden light, his form underwent a massive transformation. Silver-white hair, now visible within the golden aura, floated gently. A mask covered his face, hiding his features completely.
The sight of the Akatsuki robe stung everyone's eyes.
He gave them no time to react. Golden light scattered from around him, then coalesced with terrifying speed.
A massive, golden net descended upon the crowd.
"Look out!"
"Lady Hokage!"
The Konoha ANBU stationed in the stands to protect the civilians were helpless against the descending net.
"ROAR!"
A deafening roar split the sky.
Little Azure made his grand entrance.
Golden dragon patterns shimmered across his scales. His sharp claws tore through the golden net with brutal, overwhelming force.
His massive body shielded the spectator stands. The low growl in his throat was a clear warning to Hanataki.
The civilians, now completely protected, sobbed, "Little Azure-sama… sob…"
The Konoha ANBU who'd experienced this before thought, "…Now we get why the civilians worship him. The sense of security is insane."
Seeing Little Azure arrive, Hakuki's worry for the civilians' safety eased.
But Hanataki's figure blurred again.
He appeared instantly on the high platform.
The high platform held either Kage-level ninja or the genin of each village. These genin were the future of the ninja world. They were arguably more important than the Kage themselves.
The Raikage and others shot to their feet.
Hanataki's goal was clear.
Sasuke Uchiha's pupils dilated. Under this immense pressure, he couldn't move.
The Konoha ANBU guarding the remaining Rain genin were instantly pierced and immobilized by tendrils of golden light.
Hanataki's hand closed around Sasuke's vulnerable neck.
"Sasuke!"
In Itachi Uchiha's eyes, the black faded. His Mangekyō Sharingan spun.
"SASUKE!" Naruto bellowed, desperate to charge forward.
Kakashi held him back by the scruff of his shirt. "Naruto! Going up there now does nothing but give the enemy more leverage!" Kakashi said, a headache forming.
Their opponent's strength… even the Raikage and others weren't a match. If Naruto went, he'd just become another hostage.
For Hakuki, one Sasuke was trouble enough. Add Naruto to the mix, and she'd be truly cornered. If the enemy really used Naruto and Sasuke to threaten her… Hakuki would panic.
Kakashi sighed inwardly. He knew exactly how much Hakuki valued her bonds. Even as Hokage, forced to consider the bigger picture, she would never abandon Naruto and Sasuke.
Right now, all Kakashi could do was help Hakuki by keeping Naruto in check.
"Itachi! Stay calm!"
Knowing Sasuke's importance to Itachi, Hakuki's expression was tense. Her first look was towards Itachi Uchiha.
Itachi's face was stern, his eyes filled with a violent, unfamiliar fury. It was the first time the always composed, gentle Itachi had ever worn such an expression.
"Despicable coward!"
The Raikage couldn't stand Hanataki's methods. He charged first.
A flash of blue light—the Raikage was upon Hanataki.
Hanataki stood still, no intention of dodging. He lifted Sasuke, using him as a shield.
The charging Raikage's eyes widened. He cursed loudly but was forced to divert his attack.
The wall behind them exploded into rubble.
Golden threads of light began to weave around Sasuke. He couldn't move. Didn't dare move. A killing intent so strong pinned him. The man's cold aura made him shiver.
"I'll be taking Sasuke Uchiha," Hanataki said. "My visit to Konoha has been… enjoyable. Thank you all for your hospitality."
As his final words fell, silver light dispersed into the air.
The spot was empty.
The remaining Rain genin looked at each other, bewildered. Their teammate Hanataki suddenly turning into someone else… they couldn't process it.
One look at the bewildered expressions on Shigure and the others told the story: the Hidden Rain had been used too.
The fact that the enemy just left the Rain genin behind in Konoha proved he didn't care about their lives at all. Which meant the enemy had no connection to the Hidden Rain. These Rain ninja were just pawns.
But they still needed information from them. How did the impostor infiltrate their ranks?
"Do you know him?" Ibiki Morino stepped forward to interrogate.
"N-no… we don't!" Shigure answered truthfully. They genuinely didn't know why Hanataki had become someone else.
"Why was he on your team?" Ibiki pressed.
"Because our village's jōnin said he was our teammate."
Shigure omitted any mention of Pain. Omission wasn't lying.
Ibiki's hawk-like gaze swept over them.
This matter required Hakuki, as Hokage, to formally engage with the Hidden Rain. Until then, they couldn't lay a hand on the Rain genin.
Otherwise, if the masked man truly had no ties to the Rain, Konoha would be the aggressor starting a war between nations.
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