"Whoosh—"
The killing-intent-filled figure dashed straight off the top of Hokage Rock.
The momentum carried him several meters past the cliff—
Leaving him with no way to grab onto the rock wall.
His body traced a helpless arc—
Falling straight down.
"Akira Ren… big brother?"
Held in a princess carry, Ino's face turned pale as she clung to his neck.
"It's fine,"
Akira Ren shrugged calmly.
"He shouldn't die from something like this."
He set her down gently.
He didn't even need to think—
He already knew who sent the attacker.
Daring to act openly in broad daylight…
And not fearing ANBU intervention…
With Danzō already under his control—
There was only one person left.
That old man sitting bored in the office.
"What!?"
At that moment—
The falling sensation triggered alarm in Tenzo.
His hair stood on end.
"A genjutsu!?"
"Release!"
He formed hand seals instantly.
The illusion shattered.
The image of chasing Akira Ren across flat ground—
Suddenly warped.
What replaced it—
Was the terrifying sight of sheer cliff walls rushing past.
Tenzo broke into a cold sweat.
He had unknowingly leapt off Hokage Rock.
And worst of all—
He hadn't even seen Akira Ren form hand seals.
He had no idea when he got caught.
"Wood Release: Great Timber Pillar!"
Despite the danger, Tenzo stayed calm.
His hands moved rapidly—
"Boom!"
A massive wooden pillar burst from the rock wall—
Extending downward.
It caught him mid-fall.
Saving him from being smashed into pieces.
—
Inside the Hokage office.
Watching through the crystal ball—
Hiruzen Sarutobi nearly choked on his pipe.
His eyelids twitched violently.
"Tenzo… you idiot…"
The reason?
That enormous wooden pillar—
Was sticking out of his stone face.
Specifically—
Right out of the nose.
It looked utterly ridiculous.
His dignified image—
Ruined.
His chest hurt. His lungs hurt.
What had ANBU training even been for?
"I only told him to test the boy… not to attack on Hokage Rock!"
Still—
His expression turned serious.
"That boy's genjutsu…"
"Impressive."
"Did he complete the hand seals with one hand… while jumping with the Yamanaka girl?"
"To instantly trap an elite jōnin like Tenzo…"
"…remarkable."
Then—
Hiruzen's expression suddenly changed.
"…Wait."
A bad feeling crept in.
"Kakashi!"
"Swish!"
A silver-haired figure appeared instantly.
Kakashi Hatake knelt before him.
"Lord Hokage."
"Go stop Tenzo immediately!"
Hiruzen shouted urgently.
"Don't let them fight on Hokage Rock!"
"If it gets damaged, it'll be a disaster!"
He had almost forgotten—
Akira Ren possessed Tsunade's monstrous strength.
If he struck carelessly—
And the rock collapsed—
The consequences would be catastrophic.
At this point—
Even the usually composed Hokage was sweating.
"That idiot Tenzo… why there of all places!?"
"Understood!"
—
"Whoosh!"
In an instant—
Tenzo regained his footing.
"Forgive me, Lord Hokage!"
He focused chakra into his feet—
Clinging to the rock wall.
And began climbing up—
Stepping directly on the Third Hokage's stone face.
"Boom!"
But before he could reach the top—
Akira Ren smirked.
After signaling Ino to step back—
He vanished.
Appearing instantly above the cliff.
His right leg—
Raised high.
Tenzo's pupils shrank.
And through the crystal ball—
Hiruzen screamed in despair:
"NO—!!"
"BOOM!!!"
Akira Ren's leg came down like an axe.
"Heavenly Split Kick!"
"BOOM—BOOM—!!"
Wood splintered.
Stone shattered.
The entire Hokage Rock trembled.
Massive cracks spread violently—
Rocks collapsed and tumbled downward.
Dust filled the sky.
—
Across Konoha—
Everyone froze.
"What was that!?"
"The Hokage Rock—!?"
"No way…"
"Is that the Third Hokage's face!?"
"Enemy attack!?"
"Go check it out!!"
—
As the dust settled—
A horrifying sight emerged.
The top of the Third Hokage's stone head—
Gone.
Completely shattered.
A massive crack ran down the center.
—
"Ah—!?"
Ino, knocked to the ground by the shockwave, stared in disbelief.
Her mouth hung open.
Wide enough to fit an egg.
—
"You…"
Tenzo emerged from the ground using a wood substitution.
His face pale.
Covered in cold sweat.
But when he saw the destruction—
His expression turned even worse.
Everything went dark before his eyes.
"…I'm finished."
He had messed up.
Badly.
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